[Magdalen] Sermons

[Marion Thompson]

They will however sit very  quietly in their pew while the good organist 
plays the postlude -- and then applaud appreciatively when he finishes.  
Funny they don't sit so quietly during the prelude.

Marion, a pilgrim


On 8/7/2016 7:32 PM, Scott Knitter wrote:
> Very hard to make a change in either direction, either toward less
> chat or more social interaction before a service. My mom's suburban RC
> church has always been moderately chatty before Mass (and uproariously
> chatty as soon as Father has departed the aisle after Mass), and I get
> the distinct sense they'd be bewildered by any suggestion that it be
> silent (other than the organ) before Mass. I visited Mom for Mothers'
> Day and sang in the choir (she had this on her bucket list...singing
> in choir with me); the choir area is on the same level as the rest of
> the fan-shaped seating, and we talked at normal audible voice levels
> before Mass as we reminded each other which hymn was first, which
> anthem to have ready, etc. Mom and I suspect most of the parishioners
> love the pastor to death: he's a bright, energetic, talkative,
> outgoing man and could easily run a TV talk show.
>
> On the other end is my parish, Ascension, Chicago, where it's always a
> hushed or silent setting in church, and I think the design of the
> place fosters that. Our parishioners on the whole would be equally
> bewildered by any suggestion we should loosen up and chat a bit. Not
> until coffee hour (or the narthex just after Mass).
>
> On Sun, Aug 7, 2016 at 6:22 PM, Cantor03--- via Magdalen
> <magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
>> It never works, because the delegates, instead of falling on their
>> knees preparing for Eucharist, run hither and yon chatting, nay
>> screaming, at acquaintances throughout the host church (which
>> has often been the local Procathedral).  This is despite signs  at
>> the rear of the church suggesting quiet prayer, not chit-chat.
>>
>> Any change in this behavior is tantamount to swimming upstream.
>
>
>