Posted on 12/13/2005 9:55:03 AM PST by Pyro7480
Today, I went to Mass, and as I was entering the church, before the Mass had started, there was a group of people "carrying on" in the vestuble. There was a handful of them, so their voices carried into the nave. The priest hearing Confession could hear them conversing, and he was seated near the sanctuary. There were people in there already praying, so I thought what they were doing was inconsiderate. Even more important, there were acting irreverently in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament.
When Mass ended, they did the exact same thing. I decided to say something to them, so I gathered the courage I needed, and walked over to back, and said, "Ladies and gentleman. Could you please take this outside. There are people trying to pray here." Some of them started to walk, but others, either not hearing, or ignoring me, continued to talk. As I was leaving, I was disappointed to see the deacon was also back there, talking to so them.
I left the church I grew up in partly due to the noise. I would have to cover my ears to pray so I wouldn't have to listen to what the folks behind me did last night. I found a wonderful QUIET church closer to my home. I didn't want to raise my kids in a noisy church!
There is no excuse for rudeness and inconsideration.
EVER.
What happened to the respect that is due to others? And more importantly, what happened to the "reverent silence" that is proper in front of the Blessed Sacrament?
I remember reverent silence. The nuns stressed it to us. Jesus was present, we needed to shut out the noise of day to day life to best hear Him, and it seemed at that time everyone did.
My parish, several years ago, assigned 'greeters' and encouraged people, this came right from the top, to chat with each other and greet their pewmates before and after Mass. Quiet reverence was referred to negatively as an oldfashioned notion from people who were too fearful of God, God wanted a 'joyous noise'. This pastor and some of these folks have left, but the idea of quiet, or asking someone to be quiet, is an affront to most here. A neighboring parish has in recent years insisted on the idea of silent reverence and adoration. The talkers and smokers congregate outside, regardless of weather!, and afterward when there is a parish social. It seems much more respectful and reverent. That parish is thriving.
It is so wonderful to go to a parish where that kind of reverence is present.
I wish they would "carry on" in the vestibule in my church. Instead, they show off jewelry, talk football, expound on the latest vacation INSIDE the Church proper. The worst are the ushers! Some of them talk during Mass. I've complained to the associate pastor; but it's still happening. If it doesn't improve very soon, I'll talk to the pastor.
Amen, brother. The Din of Talking is nearly as bad as the Den of Thieves
There's a great book out called "Talk to the Hand" that discusses this very thing. It's not just you. There isn't much respect for much of anything happening these days.
No, this was St. Joseph's on Capitol Hill.
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