IX. Laypeople
by catholicnews ~ May 8th, 2008. Filed under: Liturgy.
If you aren’t Catholic, you may have gotten the idea from watching television shows from the 1960s or even old movies like, “On the Waterfront,” that priests are really important. Now, if confession or receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus is a Catholic’s thing, then yes, priests are very significant. For other Catholics, though, there is another group that is held in high esteem: the lay people. That’s right, the regular folks who sit in mass, lead the singing, play the instruments, process in with “the Book”, flood the altar with extraordinary visitors, pick out the hymns to sing, crank out the bulletins, usher, etc, are held in special reverence.
If you are not Catholic and attend mass for the first time, you may have a hard time telling the difference between the priest and the lay people. This is because the lay people are generally in prominent positions in front of the church, facing the people. They are in and around the altar, and have numerous speaking and singing parts during the mass. Many times they are distributing communion, as well. Here is a hint if you get confused: the priest wears a long, flowing robe. Lay men wear pants; lay women wear whatever they want. That tip should help you.
Some laypeople have a fondness for guitars, banjos, bongos, tambourines, drums, etc. This gives them the chance to display their musical skills. Other laypeople have pretty voices and enjoy singing. They probably hope this will make up for all the other laypeople who aren’t singing. Laypeople like to choose songs that use the pronoun “I.” It gives them the chance to play God’s part during a song. They get to be the Bread of Life, they get to raise everyone up on the last day, etc. Laypeople want you to be able to play God, too. Despite this tremendous opportunity, most laypeople in the pews still choose not to sing very loud, if at all. Perhaps the pewsitters are embarrassed at their comparable lack of talent.
Still other laypeople use their considerable talents to distribute communion to parishioners. Laypeople like affirmation, so if you see one after church, be sure to tell her what a great job she did. Don’t be scared. A layperson will not immediately warm up to you or try to get you to be Catholic. This type of thing generally makes a layperson uncomfortable. Laypeople believe that “evangelizing” should be left to Protestants.
It is important for you to realize that all lay people are equal, but some are more equal than others. Although laypeople look, by and large, pretty much the same, some lay people wield special power. For example, if a parish priest used to give homilies (another word for sermon) on issues such as abortion, divorce or birth control at a church – and doesn’t anymore – well you can be sure one of these laypeople exerted his special power on him. Laypeople generally do not like homilies that deal with tough subjects like Hell or sin. That kind of stuff is for Protestants. Laypeople with the most special power usually 1) have a great deal of money 2) make their opinions known, often and 3) are very active in the church. If they have a problem with Magesterial teaching, that is usually a plus.
For some Catholics, other laypeople can be a real trial. Besides their desire for affirmation and need to participate, they can do some pretty irritating things. Laypeople sometimes like to bring their 11 and 12-year-olds into the cry room when they can’t get them to be quiet during mass. Laypeople will talk to each other and answer their cellphones during mass. Some laypeople have been known to eat Cheez-Itz, chew gum and drink cokes during mass (but respectfully put all these things away once communion starts) Whatever you do, do not complain to the office about these laypeople. The people in the office will always take the other group’s side. After all, no one likes a tattletale.
Other laypeople –generally pewsitters and people who spend a lot of time kneeling in prayers — will glare at you if you cough or if your baby cries. These types of laypeople are very holy and do not want their holy time disrupted. These types of laypeople have also been known to give the priest tips on how to improve his homily or bring more reverence to the mass. The best way to deal with these laypeople is to be very quiet and not make eye-contact.
In extreme cases, laypeople have actually caused other laypeople to leave the Church. However, for most faithful Catholics, leaving is not an option. Starting a blog and complaining about it is, however.
May 8th, 2008 at 12:55 pm
“In extreme cases, laypeople have actually caused other laypeople to leave the Church. However, for most faithful Catholics, leaving is not an option. Starting a blog and complaining about it is, however.”
Simply hilarious.
Can you do a post on “pew blocking”?
http://www.3saints.com/rules.html
May 8th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
Lay people are also Directors of Religious Education, which is a real problem if the DRE thinks that women should be priests or priests should be allowed to be married.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
This post is pretty mean-spirited…not in tone with the “light-hearted look” that this blog purports to have.
Not that I don’t agree that some of the things described are prevalent and problematic.
May 8th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I tire of the pronoun I in songs. I am simply not doing most of what the songs say I am doing. I want God to be God so I can be me. I am humble gosh-darn-it. HUMBLE!
May 8th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Hey Joseph,
Thanks for the kind words. Is “pew blocking” where someone sits on the end and refuses to move and makes your entire family crawl over him? If so, hey maybe!
Hi St. Leo the Great,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Hi Frances,
My husband warned me that it might not be a good idea to write a post and drink five mint julleps at the same time (I am still really depressed about Eight Belles and needed to finish off the mint from Albertson’s before it went bad.) Anyway, the moral of the story is…writing + alcohol+pregnancy= mean spirited post. Oh well, live & learn. Thanks for stopping by and commenting!
Hi Jimmy,
I think you are humble. You seem humble to me and I’ve met a lot of people in my time. I think you are humble, really. Stop beating yourself up!
God bless, Maureen
May 9th, 2008 at 8:42 am
Oh come on! That was NOT a mean-spirited post. I laughed out loud and so did my 80 year old devout Catholic Dad. Let’s keep it tongue in cheek people. We all know there’s a grain of truth in what she said. Keep it coming, girl.
Jeannie
May 9th, 2008 at 10:14 am
As an unemployed music director I found myself laughing my ___ off at the “they get to be the Bread of Life; they get to raise everyone up on the last day” line.
Well done.
pew blocking should definitely be a future topic. Or the over exaggerated bower/kneeler in the communion line
May 9th, 2008 at 11:01 am
This was perfect. And just as I was beginning to feel smug about all those you were writing about, you insert the last few lines about those who “do not want their holy time disrupted.”
Ouch!
May 9th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
Hi Jeanne,
Thanks for stopping by (and your dad, too) and for the nice comment (affirmation). I hope this means I can continue writing and indulging in mint juleps.
Hi Amanda,
Thank you! The over exaggerated bower/kneeler. Interesting idea. I fear I have become an exaggerated bower. Between making sure my clothes stay in place, that I don’t tip over due to gravity (seven months pregnant), and the nervous look I have on my face, I am sure the priest is hoping I will quickly move to the side. Good luck in your job search!
TNP,
Thanks for stopping by. Well, I don’t want you to beat up yourself. Go treat yourself to something. Since I am telling you to, it would be uncharitable to do otherwise. Drop everything and go.
God bless, Maureen (lay cantor, advent wreath maker, apologist, apostolate starter, blogger, light to the masses, wife, mother, dog owner)
May 9th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
You forgot to mention knitting or text messaging.
No tattling because of the suggestion implied: “Father’s homily was dull.” Who wants to defend THAT? Easier to let the laity eat, drink and whatever!
May 10th, 2008 at 8:24 am
“However, for most faithful Catholics, leaving is not an option. Starting a blog and complaining about it is, however.”
LOL!
May 10th, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Funny!!!
On Pew-blocking–sometimes the person at the end of the pew is there for a reason–like she’s the pregnant mom of two under two’s and Dad’s out back with one of them and she’s trying to save his seat in the hope that he makes it back with the recalcitrant baby to sit with the toddler so she can dart to the restroom before her bladder explodes. Not that that’s ever happened to me personally, or anything.
On exaggerated bowing–um, it’s called for. In the U.S. instructions for receiving communion. Which have their deficiencies, but too much reverence isn’t one of them.
On the choir members–sometimes they really, really hate the music. Really. And want it to change, and agitate for Latin and Really Good Old Songs and chant-like psalms. But if you think laypeople complain about Father’s homilies, just try being in a choir that has ventured too far or too often into the Latin territory–the complaints about pre-VII music and trying to set the clock back and a secret desire to oppress women (!) will burn your ears off. So the choir director shrugs and schedules “Here I Am, Lord,” again, and all the aging liturgical malcontents snort with satisfaction and go back to not-singing, but in a much more satisfied way than when they weren’t singing the Latin stuff.
May 11th, 2008 at 10:42 am
Hi Pewsitter,
Thanks for dropping by! Hey textmessaging is an idea! I guess the upside is they aren’t textmessaging while they drive or cross the street.
Hey Fr. V,
Good to see you! Come back again!
Red Cardigan,
Thanks for the nice comment. Yeah, there is probably just no pleasing us laypeople! You select a bad song, we complain. You select a good song, we complain. Although I have to say, I have really liked it when they bring out the old songs/Latin/chant, even if I can’t sing them well.
God bless, Maureen