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Silence in Church
Topic Started: Monday, 7. May 2007, 14:16 (573 Views)
Rose of York
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What do you all think, should we have total silence in Church at all times, other than essential conversation?

Is it acceptable to have long conversations in the pews, from arrival to commencement of Mass, then more conversations in the pews and aisles the moment Mass is over?

At our Church people chat quietly in the coffee area when they arrive. They might see a friend in a pew, nod and say quietly, something like "Hello, how are you?" That is it. After Mass we leave quietly, then chat in the coffee area situationed behind the nave (it is a small church, that area doubles as our hall).

The church up the road used to be bedlam. It closed. Half their congregation joined us. The other half went to a church in the other direction. Now we have "due decorum" in most pews, and an absolute racket in a section of the church our new parishioners requisitioned for themselves. It appears they are unaware that the best friend they will ever have is in the tabernacle, yearning to be recognised and greeted.
Keep the Faith!

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Deleted User
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Rose, you have touched on a subject dear to my heart. Before and after Mass I can accept that some quiet chatter is inevitable - but it should be very quiet and not spread throughout the congregation and it most certainly should not continue during Mass. (The offertory collection and the sign of peace unfortunately seem to be ideal opportunities for a quick chat)
I did once comment on this very subject, to be told that,when we visit family etc. ,we don't just sit and say nothing. I would add that nor do we completely ignore our host and just chat amongst ourselves
KatyA :angry:
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PJD


If we are going to insist on quiet; let those who insist make sure their mobile phones remain quiet also.

PJD
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Em.

My opinion, which does not count to much anyway, I feel that one should go to Church to pray, to preopare oneself for what is going to come, and after to what has happened.
Chat should be reserved for outside the Church before or after.
Divine Mercy
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Deleted User
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Em, you are too modest. Your opinion is as valid and important as anyone else, and FWIW, I agree with you. We go to Church to pray.
KatyA
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Derekap
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In my previous parish, the Saturday Evening congregation were reasonably quiet. The Sunday Morning congregation was very noisy. I suspect in this case it stemmed from the choir loft. The choir leader would give instructions then probably some would probably ask: "Which page did she say?" and the comment "Oh no! not this one again!". Latecomers would ask for the information etc. And so it grew and grew. I am not excusing it, only giving a reason as to how it might have started. People below naturally started to chat also. I think a gentle word from the priest would help but sometimes, sadly, he can be just as guilty. In my present parish the chatter stops immediately the sacristy bell is rung and restarts when the organ or guitar finishes the final line of the final verse of the final hymn. There is no chatter duering the collection, we are too busy singing and a gentle murmour during the Sign of Peace.

The meeting room which can be screened off is the back quarter of the church and is used as an extension for Holy Mass on Sundays and feasts. So chatter at the end is almost inevitable.

Surprisingly some people come early to sit on chairs (no kneelers) in the extension, even though the view of the Altar can be restricted. I don't understand why.
Derekap
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newminster
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Strangely enough, Derek, that is exactly where the disruption comes from in our parish also only we don't have a choir loft so they are sitting close to the door where the welcomers are also holding conversations about Aunt Minnie's arthritis with their friends as they come in and the whole thing spreads insidiously along the aisle.
I did manage to persuade our PP to ask for a certain amount of respect from those who were coming in to Mass while a dozen of us are saying Morning Prayer and holding audible conversations at the back of the church.
Oddly enough the major culprit was one of the choir and the same lady who is in the habit of hitting the override button on the heating if she feels a bit chilly. Needless to say she doesn't switch it off again on her way out!
I say all this because it seems that there is a small group, probably in most parishes, who seem to think that the normal standards of bahviour in church don't apply to them. In my experience the choir are the worst followed by the welcomers (and not just the weeks when it's their turn to welcome, either!)
Please, at the very least, let us have the five minutes before Mass for some quiet converse with God. It surely is not much to ask.
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CARLO
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Derekap
May 7 2007, 02:43 PM
.......................Surprisingly some people come early to sit on chairs (no kneelers) in the extension, even though the view of the Altar can be restricted. I don't understand why.

Here we may find:

* Those who wish to monitor their mobile phones and send/receive text messages during Mass

* Those who like the 'special treatment' of having Communion brought to them

* Those members of the 'side chapel clique'

* Senior and retired members of the Guild of the Green Cardigan

* Poor tramps, waifs and strays who just want a place to keep warm

* Those who dont want to be recognized

Veritas
Truth


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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nelly k

Yes Rose , quite right, nelly
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Rose of York
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CARLO
May 7 2007, 05:23 PM

Here we may find:

* Those who like the 'special treatment' of having Communion brought to them

* Senior and retired members of the Guild of the Green Cardigan
CARLO

'Special treatment' may be essential. Every step is pure agony for some people. Some will suffer extreme pain if another person accidentally comes into contact with their elbows.

The people who choose to sit on chairs include MY HUSBAND, who was told, by a priest and committee types he was talking rubbish when he said he had been told, by a consultant rheumatologist, that he must never, never, sit on any pew, bench or chair made of wood, that has the back at a right angle to the seat. He tried it, several times, and on every occasion, was unable to get out of bed unaided, for several days. He walks, he drives, so they said he was either a liar or had a vivid imagination, "demanding" special treatment. Those were the words used.

Please, CARLO, eat your words when, at some future date, you like the 'special treatment' of having Communion brought to you, or have a couple of vertebrae the size of cricket balls. Your time will come.

Many people who need to sit, segregated on chairs, away from the congregation, do not like sticking out like sore thumbs. They would dearly love to choose where to sit, and to be with the rest of the congregation. Their situation can be the cause of embarrassment and self conciousness.
Keep the Faith!

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Rose of York
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Rose of York
May 7 2007, 02:16 PM


The church up the road used to be bedlam. It closed. Half their congregation joined us. The other half went to a church in the other direction. Now we have "due decorum" in most pews, and an absolute racket in a section of the church our new parishioners requisitioned for themselves. It appears they are unaware that the best friend they will ever have is in the tabernacle, yearning to be recognised and greeted.

This afternoon I had reason to enter into conversation with the woman who thinks she runs our parish (complains when the priest does things without her permission). I mentioned that the new lot were sitting all together, and while the rest of us behaved as always, greeting each other briefly, then being quiet, they were holding long conversations. She said "That is going to stop. I will tell them, and if they take no notice I will put a notice up, saying that in our parish we respect the Blessed Sacrament and all persons are asked to be quiet before and after Mass, until they go into the coffee area. There would have been little point in telling her she drives people potty, dashing around all over the place, disturbing people, and saying "I didn't know you were praying", even when they were kneeling with their eyes closed.

What are we to do with these busy people?
Keep the Faith!

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CARLO
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Rose

Yes I willingly eat my words in the context you describe.

I was thinking of the side-chapel in my own Parish Church where there are only pews and where nobody of the category you describe is to be seen during Mass.

Oremus
Let us pray


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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CARLO
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Rose of York
May 7 2007, 06:52 PM
Rose of York,May 7 2007
02:16 PM

..........What are we to do with these busy people?

Rose

I would gladly tell you but on recent form this would result in some form of admonishment!

:(

Pax tecum
Let someone else answer


CARLO
Judica me Deus
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Our parish is a very vibrant one , I have to say, but the hubbub before Mass is incredible. People seem to think it is OK to have long , loud, conversations about all sorts of non-religious subjects and it annoys me very much

John
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K.T.B.

There's a right old din before, and particularly, after our Family Mass on Sundays, through people talking! :angry: I wish they would would hold on until they come out of church, particularly as you can see some people in the pews knelt in silent prayer. It seems disresptful to them if there is lively conversation and laughter going on around them.

I'm trying to teach my own kids an understanding of the Real Presence in Church, so I get them to kneel down and say a "thinking prayer" before they leave their pews. We then go on to light a candle for their various intentions. This means stifling any inquiries from them about whether they'll get their Sunday treat of chocolate until we're outside of the church!

And whilst we're on the subject, I don't like people rushing past the Tabernacle before and after Mass as if it was of no consequence whatsoever! How are we to teach our children about the Real Presence with this sort of thing going on! :angry:
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