Why don't priests "correct" the laity?

[Maximilan_Kolbe]

The Priest at our old parish used to put reminders or words of wisdom in the bulletin to avoid in-Mass confrontations. I still remember the one where he mentioned the “don’t hold hands during the Our Father” and cited the Bishop’s explanation that caused quite a stir. It gave me ammo though since I have never been a fan.

 

[Padres1969]

I went out and bought a hand-missal back in 2012 because I couldn’t master the changes to the Mass (and also because reading along keeps my mind from wandering).

I’ve learned all of the new parts and responses by heart since then except for the Nicene Creed. Still don’t have that memorized.

Yeah if I’m honest I always liked the old Catholic, current Episcopal Rite II style Nicene Creed better than the current Catholic one (or my own church’s Rite I version). I prefer saying “we” since we’re professing what we as a faith believe, not just us personally. But that’s just me.

Though I’ve found I’m not alone. I still hear a few “we’s” when the Nicene Creed is said at Catholic masses too.

But to tie it back into the thread topic. None of this seems worth disrupting mass to stop and point out as being “wrong”. If anything it would seem more disrespectful to stop mass to chastise someone for relatively minor missteps. Many of which aren’t even them purposely disrespecting the mass or Christ.

 

[rfournier103]

None of this seems worth disrupting mass to stop and point out as being “wrong”. If anything it would seem more disrespectful to stop mass to chastise someone for relatively minor missteps. Many of which aren’t even them purposely disrespecting the mass or Christ.

I would never ever suggest stopping Mass for ANY reason.

What I would like to see happen is something put in the “from the pastor’s desk” letter in the bulletin and something said when they make the announcements at the end of Mass. THAT would be the time to say something. Aside from a fire in the church or someone having a heart-attack (or some other emergency), I don’t think the Mass should ever be stopped.

 

[pianistclare]

My Mother’s parish had a cross-stitched sampler above the back doors of her mission parish/church that read :
“Judas was the first person to leave Mass before it was over”.

You could see people turn around and sit back down.

 

[Jeanne_S]

My Mother’s parish had a cross-stitched sampler above the back doors of her mission parish/church that read :
“Judas was the first person to leave Mass before it was over”.

You could see people turn around and sit back down.

I love it!

 

[hausofferni]

Let me make a quick correction here, I’m not talking about the new comers, I’m talking about the same people who I’ve seen for years attending mass. And even if they’re late, I really don’t think it’s an excuse to be fumbling around looking for a chair when the priest is speaking. If you wouldn’t do it when arriving late to some event, why would you do it at mass? Some people wait until the priest has finished his homily to go find a seat, but some people literally go crazy for seats, and I know one might say that they may have a medical condition of some sort, but whole families? I don’t think so. And also, they walk down the aisle, and to add, some don’t even wait for our priest to walk out after mass has ended, he has to deal with parishioners cutting in front of him trying to run out of church. I don’t know, I just think it’s so disrespectful. I’ve seen new comers that don’t even know how to do the sign of the cross in mass, and they are so courteous and kind and respectful.

 

[Rau]

I mean in the sense that, they correct our wrong doings. People walking in late to mass, people walking by the tabernacle and not giving any reverence to our Lord. People not bowing or making any sign of reverence before receiving Holy Communion. People leaving mass early, or leaving as soon as they receive Holy Communion. Are people forgetting to humble themselves before God? This seems to happen at every parish I visit. When people walk in late to mass, during our priests homily, he stares at them and stays quiet until they they find their seats, and he usually turns a bit red because of how rude they’re being. Are priests allowed to correct things like this? Or allowed to advise us? Are people forgetting??

Priests are different and may address these matters in varying ways and I’m sure in general they do that in a kind way and without causing embarrassment.

Circumstances in each parish may also dictate what is appropriate, and what is the accepted practice (eg. does one enter the Church upon arrival if late, or wait for particularly suitable times to enter).

It would be most unwise of a Priest to publically embarrass a parishioner who arrives late, or who, perhaps through ignorance/lack of awareness, is careless in some other way in Church. [Such an approach might well be the greater wrong, and in such a circumstance I might not think poorly of a parishioner who responded “in kind” to that priest! ]

Where a Priest perceives a need to make known what is required, or what practices are preferred, I am sure he has ample means to do that properly, and in a manner which will be productive, and not the reverse.

 

[pianistclare]

Priests are different and may address these matters in varying ways and I’m sure in general they do that in a kind way and without causing embarrassment.

Circumstances in each parish may also dictate what is appropriate, and what is the accepted practice (eg. does one enter the Church upon arrival if late, or wait for particularly suitable times to enter).

It would be most unwise of a Priest to publically embarrass a parishioner who arrives late, or who, perhaps through ignorance/lack of awareness, is careless in some other way in Church. [Such an approach might well be the greater wrong, and in such a circumstance I might not think poorly of a parishioner who responded “in kind” to that priest! ]

Where a Priest perceives a need to make known what is required, or what practices are preferred, I am sure he has ample means to do that properly, and in a manner which will be productive, and not the reverse.

Right.
One of my pastors from the past told me that he NEVER stares at a a parishioner for a crying baby, or dropping something, arriving late or anything., IN fact, he made a concerted effort to not appear affected in any way. He said that some people are just itching for an excuse to leave the church, and he never ever wanted someone to say “oh the priest was so mean, he humiliated me in Mass. I never went back”.

 

[Padres1969]

Right.
One of my pastors from the past told me that he NEVER stares at a a parishioner for a crying baby, or dropping something, arriving late or anything., IN fact, he made a concerted effort to not appear affected in any way. He said that some people are just itching for an excuse to leave the church, and he never ever wanted someone to say “oh the priest was so mean, he humiliated me in Mass. I never went back”.

Why would he stare at someone for a crying baby anyway? Babies are God’s children too, and sometimes they cry as God intended. And we were all crying babies at some point, even our Lord.

 

[Glennon_P]

In our parish, we all kneel and pray the “O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine” after the end of the recessional hymn.

We began doing that in 1995 when our diocese hosted a Eucharistic Congress as a spiritual preparation for a diocesan synod. Each parish was directed to develop some spiritual exercises to foster our love for the Eucharist, and our pastor chose that prayer. We’ve been doing it ever since.

Keeping people in the pews until the end of the recessional hymn wasn’t the purpose of the prayer, but it is one side effect. To be fair, we never had much of a problem of people leaving before the end of the hymn prior to 1995, and yes, once the “O Sacrament” prayer is over, 99% of the people leave immediately. But at least the choir isn’t singing the last verse to an empty church.

 

[pianistclare]

In our parish, we all kneel and pray the “O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine” after the end of the recessional hymn.

We began doing that in 1995 when our diocese hosted a Eucharistic Congress as a spiritual preparation for a diocesan synod. Each parish was directed to develop some spiritual exercises to foster our love for the Eucharist, and our pastor chose that prayer. We’ve been doing it ever since.

Keeping people in the pews until the end of the recessional hymn wasn’t the purpose of the prayer, but it is one side effect. To be fair, we never had much of a problem of people leaving before the end of the hymn prior to 1995, and yes, once the “O Sacrament” prayer is over, 99% of the people leave immediately. But at least the choir isn’t singing the last verse to an empty church.

The Catholic school I taught in here used to do that, but the Pastor of the parish said no way. He said that the Mass is over when he declares it over, and that NOTHING should be added in for of prayer afterward.
We were sad to see it go. I felt like ti encouraged the children in their understanding, but we obey, of course. I suppose there is an argument fro each way. We certainly did not intend to lead the children astray in their understanding of the Mass.

 

[Wildgraywolf]

There are times when I’m tempted to bring a sign saying: “Judas was the first person to leave mass early and look how he ended up”.

 

[Pug]

I’ve seen this my entire life in almost every single parish I’ve visited - and not once have I ever heard a priest make a peep about it. Very disappointing.

Is it because they (the clergy) are afraid that people will stop coming to Mass altogether if they get a little verbal slap on the wrist?

Well, over the years I have seen the priest make a peep several times. The results are always the same. That day, no one leaves early. But the second week, there are inevitably people present who did not hear last week’s talk, perhaps because they were traveling or sick, etc., so some wander out. Then the “lemming effect” TM sets in and by the third or fourth week after giving a peep, they are mostly straggling out again during the recessional hymn. Sooooo, usually the priest says nothing at that point and we wait until the priest is reassigned as he inevitably will be by the bishop, and lo and behold the new priest gives a peep…

The only “peep” that ever stuck around here was extensive practice over a period of time with at least three reinforcement lectures and demonstrations during the homily about bowing before receiving, and lots of explanation about how it needed to be done this way. I think they did this at the same time that they made us stand up at a different moment in the mass, I don’t recall for sure. Not everyone does it nowadays, though, probably because we have eventually gotten new people in the parish over the years, people who never heard the lectures.