Pet Peeves From the Pews

In actuality, these points I’m about to bring up are not so trivial as to be called “pet peeves”, but that general classification will do for now. There are certain actions that I see even in our parish here in the Philippines, where reverence for the things of God is generally a way of life. Part of the problem is poor catechesis of the people and part may be the result of personal attitude. Perhaps no one has ever corrected them on proper behavior of the laity in the Sanctuary in which the Tabernacle and the Real Presence of the Lord is contained. If that’s the case, I hope this article will help them start to think about it a little.

People talking during the Liturgy, as well as allowing children to play with cell phones and video games at these times. Cardinal Robert Sarah, the head of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican recently wrote a very good article on this very subject. There are time prescribed in the Liturgy for the laity to speak and the Vatican II document "Sacrosanctum Concilium" encourages our participation at those appropriate times.

If you look at your missal there are responses required from us such as “And with your spirit” (“maana usab kanimo” is used here and corresponds to the old “And with you also”) or “Lord Hear Our Prayer” or “Lord, I am not worthy…” Those are the times we get to speak and notice to whom our speech is aimed: either to the Priest or to the Lord…not Sally or Jimmy sitting in our pew or a pew ahead of us. The only interaction allowed between ourselves and those around us is one word: “peace”. This quiet at the appropriate times is what Cardinal Sarah calls “virtuous, mystical silence” Quiet at the times that we are supposed to participate he calls “reprehensible silence”. As Solomon says, “There is a time to speak and a time to stay silent.” Your missal and your experience as a Catholic should tell you which is which.

The normal entrance into the Sanctuary is anoint our head with Holy Water in the Sign of the Cross (or if this isn’t available bow reverently toward the Tabernacle), move quietly to our pew, genuflect, move into the pew, kneel, pray and then sit down. In doing this we show reverence to where we are and what we are about to participate in and witness. We remind ourselves that it’s not about us but all about Christ. People who just walk in and plop themselves down in the pew with no respect shown whatsoever to where they are and into Whose Presence they have come say “It’s all about me. I’m here now. You can begin the show!” I doubt that if one truly believes in the Real Presence of the Lord one would act that way. Once again, it may be that no one has ever correctly instructed them…or it may be they are merely performing a habitual or even inherited tradition with no clear understanding of it.

The normal exit from the Mass should involve many of the same thing the entrance did. First, it doesn’t come immediately after Communion. People that rush out after receiving the Host show disrespect to the Lord and lack of reverence to the Mystery they have just received. It’s like someone coming to your house, eating and the minute they are done heading for the door. No fellowship or communion with the host…or in this case “Host”. Once the priest says “The Mass is ended, go in peace” or equivalent words it would be appropriate to leave, however my personal preference is to not depart before the priest does. When we do leave we should kneel and at least say “Thank you”, leave the pew, genuflect again and on exiting anoint ourselves again with Holy Water…preparing to go forth and share the Gospel. Once again, it’s not about us, but about Christ.

As I said in the beginning, these are hardly trivial matters but signs of a spiritual poverty that needs to be addressed. They show a disrespect and lack of reverence for the things of God and the provision that God has made for our salvation. They are a poor witness to the world of how serious we are about being Catholics and how seriously we take the words of the Lord:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)