Proper Etiquette At Mass

[Blessed&Grateful]

[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323835055' post='2350954']


Yes, and I guess it depends on the type of Mass and songs as well. I am not fond of the hand clapping songs that they like to do for the children of our parish - right now it is especially bad.

I also don't agree with the statement not to sit on the aisle. I am happy to move aside for others but I prefer not to be surrounded by other people on either side, so an aisle seat makes it easier for me to focus on the Mass. I usually choose the outside aisle so I can stay behind after Mass without disturbing people - they usually seem to take the centre aisle to go out so they can shake Father's hand on their way out and if they want to pass me, it only takes a few seconds.
[/quote]

I always preferred aisle as well until I started thinking about it and decided to "give it to the Lord" and sit in the middle. I usually get to church early so that I may kneel in reflection prior to Mass and realized there was no reason (other than personal preference) for me to always try to sit aisle side. Now I am just fine with middle. Only time its bothered me was post-Mass I couldn't get out as some folks decided to catch-up at some length.

[Papist]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1323835306' post='2350959']
Yeah, I think that is more up to common sense. If you know the place, then you know what pews will and will not fill up. Not always necessary to move to the middle.

The attitude that everyone needs to sing is the same attitude that says everyone needs to be 'doing something' to participate, for instance being an emhc. It is a fundamental misunderstanding of what the Church has always taught about active participation.
[/quote]
[quote name='nunsense' timestamp='1323835648' post='2350966']


I just wish more people would 'participate' by being 'present' for the Mass, being silent and praying and preparing themselves before and taking time to give thanks afterwards. Now that is real participation for me!
[/quote]
This is what I try to explain to my family.
For me, active participation is more interior[soul] participation that exterior[body]. I believe participation in the first place is something interior; it means that your mind and heart are awake, alert and engaged. Secondly, participation involves exterior action: saying things and doing things. There’s a relationship between soul and body in liturgical prayer. I believe this interiorness[if that is a word] is lost in our modern world, and has lost this sense of the unity of his being, the unity of body and soul, of the interior man and the exterior man. Basically, most equates participating in Mass as physically[bodily] doing something.

[quia_pulvis]

[quote]At Communion time, we simply follow the pattern established in the church where we are attending Mass. When it is convenient, it is good manners for the man to step back and allow the woman to precede him to the Communion line.[/quote]

I have always had my father do this in regards to our family (he steps back and lets all of us go ahead then he follows) so to me I thought this is what is to be done in your family. I always step aside for veri and will do the same for our children when we have them.
Just a thought what if we go to mass with my parents. I better make sure Veri is sitting ahead of me cause that's confusing to me.

Veri told me about before I came along when she would sit she was always being asked to move and it was getting to points that she move pews further back. and this is when she was sitting in the middle.

At my home parish our cantor told us "If you cant sing sing loud to remind God what he forgot. If you can sing, sing louder to drown them out." And we didn't have an excuse of singing downwards cause our music was projected. At my parish now we just got the projectors and I run the ppt for the school mass. Those kids sound SO much better cause they are looking up.

[cmotherofpirl]

[quote name='quia_pulvis' timestamp='1323870548' post='2351132']

I have always had my father do this in regards to our family (he steps back and lets all of us go ahead then he follows) so to me I thought this is what is to be done in your family. I always step aside for veri and will do the same for our children when we have them.
Just a thought what if we go to mass with my parents. I better make sure Veri is sitting ahead of me cause that's confusing to me.

Veri told me about before I came along when she would sit she was always being asked to move and it was getting to points that she move pews further back. and this is when she was sitting in the middle.

At my home parish our cantor told us "If you cant sing sing loud to remind God what he forgot. If you can sing, sing louder to drown them out." And we didn't have an excuse of singing downwards cause our music was projected. At my parish now we just got the projectors and I run the ppt for the school mass. Those kids sound SO much better cause they are looking up.
[/quote]
You have projectors in the church??

[quia_pulvis]

At first it was for video (from the archdio or of baptisms) then they decided they would put the readings u,p then the music and readings. When we were practicing for the changes in the mass we dropped the readings and put up the cues and music. That is where we are at now.
Because Veri teaches the 2nd grade she got the school involved in that because the song sheets the kids and teachers were using often had tiny print and do you really want hundreds of kids with paper. I have seen one in shreds. The Priest and principal love it because all the kids are singing louder and all the time. It saves on paper too. We still have our missals but those are at the door for those who need to follow along. I never liked that because the readings are meant to be proclaimed and heard, not read.

[Nihil Obstat]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1323874801' post='2351160']
You have projectors in the church??
[/quote]

[MissScripture]

[quote name='cmotherofpirl' timestamp='1323874801' post='2351160']
You have projectors in the church??
[/quote]
Where I grew up, nearly ALL the churches I have been to have them. And if you question it, people start freaking out...

[dominicansoul]

I was successful at stopping the use of a projector at the Parish where I play the organ :D


The screen was so big, it pretty much blocked the view of the tabernacle

[Papist]

[quote name='Papist' timestamp='1323866697' post='2351117']
This is what I try to explain to my family.
For me, active participation is more interior[soul] participation that exterior[body]. I believe participation in the first place is something interior; it means that your mind and heart are awake, alert and engaged. Secondly, participation involves exterior action: saying things and doing things. There’s a relationship between soul and body in liturgical prayer. I believe this interiorness[if that is a word] is lost in our modern world, and has lost this sense of the unity of his being, the unity of body and soul, of the interior man and the exterior man. Basically, most equates participating in Mass as physically[bodily] doing something.
[/quote]
I like to add that with a 5 yr, 3yr and 9 mo old, my interior participation is compromised. And that it is vital that they witness their father's interior participation. It is a conundrum.

My children make me a better faithful Catholic.

Edited December 14, 2011 by Papist

[fides quarens intellectum]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1323842363' post='2351047']
here some gestures for worship [url="http://www.adoremus.org/0210MassGesturesPostures.html"]http://www.adoremus....esPostures.html[/url]
[/quote]

thanks - i was looking for that recently!

[fides' Jack]

How can you say something else in your head while you're also saying, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." I believe the words are actually required in order to be a true Sign of the Cross.

Other than that, great post!

[quia_pulvis]

[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I'm sorry, I will be one of the ones defending it (i hope you don’t think im freaking out) but can I ask why it is wrong?[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4] [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I would like to understand.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4] [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]It is no more distracting than a song book or song sheet. You can either be following along with the music in your book and look up when you don't need the book or you can look slightly to the side follow along with the songs and then look back at the alter when you don’t need to follow along or goes away. The difference is you do not hear the fumbling with paper.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I would understand when something would be hidden and in those churches it would not be appropriate. Nothing is hidden here.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]It has made our transition in the proper translation so much better and those who do sing sound so much better because their voices are going up and out rather than down and muffled.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4] [/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]Besides distraction and blocking something is there anything else?[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I'm just curious what is wrong about it and whether this use of technology is a draw away from our faith?[/size][/font][/color]

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='quia_pulvis' timestamp='1323921615' post='2351504']
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I'm sorry, I will be one of the ones defending it (i hope you don’t think im freaking out) but can I ask why it is wrong?[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I would like to understand.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]It is no more distracting than a song book or song sheet. You can either be following along with the music in your book and look up when you don't need the book or you can look slightly to the side follow along with the songs and then look back at the alter when you don’t need to follow along or goes away. The difference is you do not hear the fumbling with paper.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I would understand when something would be hidden and in those churches it would not be appropriate. Nothing is hidden here.[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]It has made our transition in the proper translation so much better and those who do sing sound so much better because their voices are going up and out rather than down and muffled.[/size][/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]Besides distraction and blocking something is there anything else?[/size][/font][/color]
[color=#000000][font=Arial][size=4]I'm just curious what is wrong about it and whether this use of technology is a draw away from our faith?[/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

I had never been to a parish my entire life that had screens until this August. For me, it took away from the Mass, as everyone was staring at it and not the priest. The church was from the 70s and had no kneelers, so I thought that when the new church was built it wouldn't have them.

It has two. (but it has kneelers).

We're supposed to be focusing on the Mass, not the flashy screens. A single piece of paper with the hymn on it is all that is needed. My home parish (that is 130 years old) has survived using photocopies of hymns not in our hymnals. Most people sing, and their voices aren't muffled.

I also have a problem when those screens are used to show videos during homilies.

[Verissima]

Ever given a sheet of paper to an ADHD 7-year-old? It generally ends up in shreds by the end of Mass, or at the very least, becomes a distraction for others with all the noise. I also look at it from an environmental standpoint--sure, we're using energy for the projectors, but 300+ song sheets per week for a single school Mass adds up QUICK, even when recycled. I love the tradition of our faith, but I think we can embrace technology in an appropriate manner that enhances the Mass for many.

[Vincent Vega]

[quote name='Nihil Obstat' timestamp='1323835306' post='2350959']
The attitude that everyone needs to sing is the same attitude that says everyone needs to be 'doing something' to participate, for instance being an emhc.
[/quote]
I guess I have to ask...why [i]not [/i]sing?