In the more than 35 years that I can say I have been a regular churchgoer, I have observed a modest deteriorating of manners. They include cell-phones ringing, leaving pews strewn with paper and garbage after worship, stuffing gum-wrappers and tissues into hymn racks, letting children mark up materials in pew racks and a lot of restless people constantly coming and going throughout services. But they are our friends, right?
I came across a news story, online, from the April 17, 1939, issue of Time Magazine. It is titled, Manners in the Church. Time writers noted that how to behave in church has to be learned. Not only outsiders but often confirmed believers are appallingly ignorant of church etiquette, they said Cited were the practice of some Catholics and Episcopalians to not properly genuflect, that is, to momentarily kneel as they step into their pews and at other moments in church. For some, its simply bending their heads. Time called Catholic church-goers in Eastern Orthodox nations the least well-behaved, but it did not explain that finding further.
The article looked at two guides dealing with church manners, both Catholic, one printed in the U.S. and one in England. Church Manners, which cost 10 cents, was put out by
Sacred Heart Church in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Time thought it important to report that church acquired an electrically heated baptismal font last year.) That booklet informed parishioners when to sit, stand, kneel, genuflect (drop briefly on the right knee) during services. When receiving the Eucharist, parishioners should keep your eyes downcast or closed. Then after receiving Holy Communion, it instructs, Close your mouth slowly do not snap it shut.
The booklet has this advice to women: Please walk the aisles quietly, without accenting your hard heels; if you are not too fat, tiptoe it. Other rules: keep feet off kneeling benches; no lady or gentleman will chew gum in church. Do not rush to the communion rail Do not pray in solo. Keep in unison with others who are answering the prayers. Do not rattle beads or play with your gloves or purse during the sermon.
The other booklet of instruction referenced was At Your Ease in the Catholic Church by Mark Perkins and approved by a Southwark, England, and Catholic diocese. ($2) It includesthe correct way to greet church officials like a bishop or a cardinal, what kind a gift is acceptable to a priest or others (a check is proper). It says it would be OK for a Catholic to break rules about eating meat if refraining to eat it would embarrass a meal host. There is also advice how on how a Catholic should engage a non-Catholic is discussions on issues, including birth control or communism.On fasting before communion: You can gargle or use mouthwash, or brush your teeth before communion, and you do not need to worry about getting rid of every drop The fast can only be broken by sometime digestible, so if you chew your fingernails, there is no need to worry.
Two more fascinating parts of that article from almost 70 years ago: In illnesses in which the stomach rejects all food, Holy Communion may not be received, out of reverence for the Sacrament. Regarding confession: You cannot shock the priest There is nothing interesting about your sins so there is no need to make a good story out of them.
A couple months later, the priest of the Pittsburgh church, the Rev. Thomas Coakley, reported that the Time article had precipitated big demand for their booklet. Since that time we have been deluged with orders from all over the U. S. and Canada, Mexico, and the Hawaiian Islands, and the pamphlet has now run through four editions. He added that, by the way, people of his parish have manners that are perfect.
Seen a booklet at your church lately on how to behave?
I always thought that the bible gave pretty advise on manners or how to behave. I guess most people don’t read the bible, just use it to hold down the end table.