What is with people bringing bottles of water into Mass?

[Fergal]

Scout:

Because that’s what we expect others to do for us. We expect others to give us every courtesy, give us the benefit of the doubt. Don’t they deserve the same?

If it bothers you that much, ask the priest to say something about it. Or, say something to the person yourself. But don’t sit in the corner and whine and complain without doing anything about it.
Scout :tiphat:

Hi Scout!
What did you just say about giving the benefit of the doubt? You just ate your own words! Well done!

In fact I did say something. When approached the man just frowned and then laughed. Another woman did it too and was shoved by this man as she lined up for Holy Communion some days later.

By the way folks, I had serious chemo treatment 2 years ago and never had a need to bring water to Church. Can’t just see what that one is all about.

 

[TeriGator]

This is all really interesting to me. After 15 years in steamy Florida (love it!), I have yet to see anyone drinking during mass, and the only time anyone had a medical emergency was when one unfortunate fellow had a heart attack. Don’t know if that was related to dehydration or not.

I had no idea it had become a problem, and I wonder why it hasn’t been an issue wherever I’ve been.

 

[CatholicCid]

netmil(name removed by moderator):

The exeption should not make the rule.
People here are talking about a percentage of the congregation, not one person.
Even so, if you are slurping a bottle of water, making a production number out of it and being loud, I don’t care what the reason, you are rude.
Having a father who went through two years of chemo, I can tell you that he never brought a water bottle to Holy Mass. I have no clue what’s up with your friend, but if he is doing any of the above, he is rude as well.

That’s the thing… There is no rule on it… If it is an annoyance, the Pastor should handle it…
If one or two people go crazy because they see someone with a water bottle, then they have the problem, not the other way around.
And he had chemo in his neck area. So it kinda swells and water helps sooth the pain.

Even so, if you are slurping a bottle of water, making a production number out of it and being loud, I don’t care what the reason, you are rude.

I say the same thing about watches, jewerly or anything reflective…
If the sun hits it, a reflection is given off… It can hit people in the eyes or it can distract others…
If you see someone wearing anything reflective, you should ask them to remove it and put it in their pocket/purses/bags/whatever.

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

Pariah Pirana:

…While serving as an usher at a Easter Mass I came across someone trying to use a cell phone inside the church…I asked her to please put the phone away or go outside. When she gave me a nasty look I snatched the phone out of her hand, turned it off and held onto it until the end of Mass…

While cell phone use inside the church is extremely rude, you are nonetheless fortunate that she did not leave immediately to call the police and have you charged with petty theft. I imagine the value of most cell phones would class such an offense as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, but aggravating factors, such as whether you are a large or intimidating male and she a small or elderly woman might have been considered had charges been filed against you. Additionally, in your capacity as an usher you may be considered to be an official representative or agent of your parish with regards to your interactions with other persons in the course of your service as usher, possibly exposing your parish to liability for your actions. On the whole, I would not consider such a course of action as you have followed as advisable.

 

[Pariah_Pirana]

Joseph Bilodeau:

While cell phone use inside the church is extremely rude, you are nonetheless fortunate that she did not leave immediately to call the police and have you charged with petty theft. I imagine the value of most cell phones would class such an offense as a misdemeanor rather than a felony, but aggravating factors, such as whether you are a large or intimidating male and she a small or elderly woman might have been considered had charges been filed against you. Additionally, in your capacity as an usher you may be considered to be an official representative or agent of your parish with regards to your interactions with other persons in the course of your service as usher, possibly exposing your parish to liability for your actions. On the whole, I would not consider such a course of action as you have followed as advisable.

I don’t know what sorta place you live in, but the police aren’t going to arrest an usher in a Catholic Church around here for taking a cell phone away from someone who is acting rude.

Your little diatribe is a perfect example of focusing on the secular and not the divine inside every Catholic parish.

Rest assured that I would never accept advice from anyone holding the view you have shown herein…

 

[Brenda_V]

Several thoughts crossed my mind while reading the posts on this subject.

1. If there are a large part of the congregation bringing in water bottles - why? I am of the mind that if it isn’t necessary then they can keep the bottle in their vehicle (I almost never go without a water bottle but I don’t take it in every where I go esp. to Mass).
2. The people who do medically need the water are now attending Mass, they may not have gone 20 years ago. I know that when I had my last child, almost 19 years ago, I missed Mass for almost three months because of extreme “morning sickness”, just about any scent could set me off and Mass was not a place I wanted to “lose” it (and like the other poster, water was a great stomach settler).
3. (dripping sarcasm here) Since it is distracting to hear someone taking a sip from their water bottle, we should complain about all those people using portable oxygen tanks too - gosh but those tanks pumping oxygen can be soooo noisy! (in all seriousness, until I figure out what the noise is it can be very distracting for me but I sure don’t begrudge these people the ability to go to Mass).

Brenda V.

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

Pariah Pirana:

I don’t know what sorta place you live in, but the police aren’t going to arrest an usher in a Catholic Church around here for taking a cell phone away from someone who is acting rude.…

It could be argued that stealing a phone is the ruder of the two acts. You are probably correct that no arrest might be made, but if a complaint is made that an usher in the parish stole a cell phone the police would have to investigate it, which could be embarrassing for the parish. If the phone was not returned to its owner or if it was damaged you (and possibly the parish) might be liable for the cost of its replacement and other damages.
Pariah Pirana:

…Your little diatribe is a perfect example of focusing on the secular and not the divine inside every Catholic parish…

What diatribe? As for focusing on the secular rather than the divine, is the Seventh Commandment not a Divine injunction?
Pariah Pirana:

…Rest assured that I would never accept advice from anyone holding the view you have shown herein…

The only view I have put forward is that stealing phones from women in church is probably not a good idea.

 

[Dr.Bombay]

The priest at my mom’s parish has a water bottle sitting by his chair, but I’ve never noticed him drinking out of it. And in all the different churches in my diocese I’ve been too, I’ve never noticed anyone in the congretation sucking on a bottle, except maybe a bambino.

I agree with a previous poster. It must be a regional thing. You guys are kooky. :whacky:

 

[Pariah_Pirana]

Joseph Bilodeau:

It could be argued that stealing a phone is the ruder of the two acts. You are probably correct that no arrest might be made, but if a complaint is made that an usher in the parish stole a cell phone the police would have to investigate it, which could be embarrassing for the parish. If the phone was not returned to its owner or if it was damaged you (and possibly the parish) might be liable for the cost of its replacement and other damages.

What diatribe? As for focusing on the secular rather than the divine, is the Seventh Commandment not a Divine injunction?

The only view I have put forward is that stealing phones from women in church is probably not a good idea.

Don’t be so quick to make a fool out of yourself. I stole nothing. I confiscated her phone until she was ready to leave – and she knew it.

(I’ve seen it done at the movies more than once when people continued to take calls – they could leave or have their phone confiscated until the end of the show. I also haven’t seen a large number of movie ushers arrested for cell phone theft by the way)

Seeing postings like your’s I now know why people treat the insides of Catholic churches like Starbucks.

Please understand that some people will simply not tolerate others treating a holy space with the crudeness so common in today’s secular society.

You should be ashamed of yourself for making such nasty claims, no matter how much my comments upset your own personal agenda.

 

[rcn]

Pariah Pirana:

When she gave me a nasty look I snatched the phone out of her hand, turned it off and held onto it until the end of Mass.

Yeah. Sure you did. Ushers that are confrontational and confiscate personal property don’t remain ushers for very long.

Your little diatribe is a perfect example of focusing on the secular and not the divine inside every Catholic parish.

Again, anyone who points out the arrogance of your posts is on a “diatribe”. How’s life up there on the soapbox?

Rest assured that I would never accept advice from anyone holding the view you have shown herein…

I don’t think you accept advice from anyone.

You should be ashamed of yourself for making such nasty claims, no matter how much my comments upset your own personal agenda.

Pardon me… but who is the one with the agenda here? Your story is laughable.

 

[CanonAlberic]

What a waste! A bottle of water indeed… Real people would spirit (no pun intended) in a bottle of Chinaco Anejo or Blanton’s Single Barrell. Gosh, there’s just no understanding some folks…

Peace.

 

[DJJG]

My Mom had radiation therapy, on her throat, 2 years ago and her salivary glands do not function to full capacity. Therefore she needs to take a bottle of water with her everywhere, even to mass, just to keep her mouth moist.

I know that this is not the case for most people, but we have to give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[Zooey]

Detroit Sue:

I am concerned about the poster who passed out in the library after drinking all that liquid. TOO MUCH water is bad - even 8 glasses a day is being re-thought. You flush out all of your electrolytes with that much fluid. Maybe that’s why you passed out. There was a woman who died here recently from drinking too much water.
.

I am fine now…I was genuinely dehydrated. The ER doctor gave me more fluids, & I went home later the same night. ('Lytes were fine.)
I have written doctor’s orders to drink a minimum of 96 ounces of water daily, preferably 120-128… (It’s a weird thing I inherited from my mom’s side of the family. She used to do the same thing).
But I get upset with people who assume they can “see” if someone is ill or handicapped. It’s not true. Most handicaps & chronic illnesses are entirely invisible.

 

[netmilsmom]

CatholicCid:

That’s the thing… There is no rule on it… If it is an annoyance, the Pastor should handle it…
If one or two people go crazy because they see someone with a water bottle, then they have the problem, not the other way around.
And he had chemo in his neck area. So it kinda swells and water helps sooth the pain.

I say the same thing about watches, jewerly or anything reflective…
If the sun hits it, a reflection is given off… It can hit people in the eyes or it can distract others…
If you see someone wearing anything reflective, you should ask them to remove it and put it in their pocket/purses/bags/whatever.

I’m sorry that you will not get the point.
Thank God I am in a parish where water bottles will not become the norm. That my friend is the point. Not one person.

 

[SnorterLuster]

I have been reading through this thread and can only come to the conclusion that as a group, we Catholics have lost our sense of suffering and of sacrifice.

In 1954 my childhood parish built a new church. It was not air conditioned, not heated, the kneelers were wooden–no padding and the pews did not have cushions. I recently went back for a funeral and they have built another new church. Climate controlled atmosphere including humidity, 2-3 inch padding on the kneelers (at least they had kneelers) and fully padded pews.

Time was, and still is for some of us, that suffering and sacrifice were considered as opportunities to become closer to our Lord. In our very small way we could emulate His suffering on the Cross. Now, we don’t want anything to be even uncomfortable. Come to mass in casual clothes (coats and ties are just so totally uncomfortable), have an entertaining liturgy because our attention span can’t be left alone for even one hour, do away with kneeling because it is just too hard, bring your water bottle because a dry mouth is almost as bad as having a broken bone. As long as mass is not too hard, we will “sacrifce” by attending.

 

[Joseph_Bilodeau]

Pariah Pirana:

Don’t be so quick to make a fool out of yourself. I stole nothing. I confiscated her phone until she was ready to leave – and she knew it…

Ushers do not have any right to confiscate any personal property from anyone for any length of time.
Pariah Pirana:

…(I’ve seen it done at the movies more than once when people continued to take calls – they could leave or have their phone confiscated until the end of the show. I also haven’t seen a large number of movie ushers arrested for cell phone theft by the way)…

This is correct, if the policy of the movie theatre is to give offending patrons the choice between surrendering their phones for the duration of their stay or leaving the premises; then if the offending parton refuses to do either, call the police and let them handle the situation. If a theatre employee on his or her own initiative was to simply snatch phones from patrons without their consent, that employee (and possibly his or her employer) would also be liable for theft.
Pariah Pirana:

…Seeing postings like your’s I now know why people treat the insides of Catholic churches like Starbucks.

Please understand that some people will simply not tolerate others treating a holy space with the crudeness so common in today’s secular society.…

Agreed, such as the crudeness shown by the purse-snatcher who grabs other people’s property right out of their hands.
Pariah Pirana:

…You should be ashamed of yourself for making such nasty claims, no matter how much my comments upset your own personal agenda.

Do you mean my claim that it is wrong to take things that do not belong to you?

 

[msproule]

mercygate:

It still breaks the fast. “Water” means that the beverage must be seen, perceived, and understood as water. Not tea. Not coffee. Not Sprite Zero . . .

I was joking when I suggested that coffee might be considered water. Sorry, it should have been more clear (another joke).

 

[msproule]

Dr. Bombay:

The priest at my mom’s parish has a water bottle sitting by his chair, but I’ve never noticed him drinking out of it.

That reminds me; I have seen a number of priests with glasses of water and some have sipped during Mass. Usually you could hear their voices were hoarse so they were likely suffering from some form of illness. Since they have no option but to be there and use their voice, I have always understood. However, I must say that it* is* distracting.

 

[Giannawannabe]

SnorterLuster:

I have been reading through this thread and can only come to the conclusion that as a group, we Catholics have lost our sense of suffering and of sacrifice.

In 1954 my childhood parish built a new church. It was not air conditioned, not heated, the kneelers were wooden–no padding and the pews did not have cushions. I recently went back for a funeral and they have built another new church. Climate controlled atmosphere including humidity, 2-3 inch padding on the kneelers (at least they had kneelers) and fully padded pews.

Time was, and still is for some of us, that suffering and sacrifice were considered as opportunities to become closer to our Lord. In our very small way we could emulate His suffering on the Cross. Now, we don’t want anything to be even uncomfortable. Come to mass in casual clothes (coats and ties are just so totally uncomfortable), have an entertaining liturgy because our attention span can’t be left alone for even one hour, do away with kneeling because it is just too hard, bring your water bottle because a dry mouth is almost as bad as having a broken bone. As long as mass is not too hard, we will “sacrifce” by attending.

I agree. This, I believe, is the problem in a nutshell. Thanks for posting this SnorterLuster.

 

[fix]

SnorterLuster:

I have been reading through this thread and can only come to the conclusion that as a group, we Catholics have lost our sense of suffering and of sacrifice.

In 1954 my childhood parish built a new church. It was not air conditioned, not heated, the kneelers were wooden–no padding and the pews did not have cushions. I recently went back for a funeral and they have built another new church. Climate controlled atmosphere including humidity, 2-3 inch padding on the kneelers (at least they had kneelers) and fully padded pews.

Time was, and still is for some of us, that suffering and sacrifice were considered as opportunities to become closer to our Lord. In our very small way we could emulate His suffering on the Cross. Now, we don’t want anything to be even uncomfortable. Come to mass in casual clothes (coats and ties are just so totally uncomfortable), have an entertaining liturgy because our attention span can’t be left alone for even one hour, do away with kneeling because it is just too hard, bring your water bottle because a dry mouth is almost as bad as having a broken bone. As long as mass is not too hard, we will “sacrifce” by attending.

Amen. The idea that there are large numbers of folks with so-called medical conditions that require constant hydration is really stretching things.

How are folks losing so much fliuid in 45 minutes? Excessive perspiration, diarrhea, uriniaton? Every mass? They cannot have water before they go?

Radition to the head and neck…ok…xerostomia…alright, but they can use other methods to moisten there oral mucosa for that limited 45 minute period.

I can see on a rare occasion someone may need to have a drink of water, but the idea that so many need a water bottle in mass for a short period of time really seems over the top.