Dear Elizabeth,
You said:
No, you are not wrong. You are a faithful Catholic striving to build devotion with Our Blessed Lord; something that should be admired!
Before I had the (11:00 pm to 12:00 am) Friday night adoration hour, I use to go earlier in the day, either at the (6:00 pm to 7:00 pm) hour or the (3:00 pm to 4:00 pm) hour.
Many times I had those people as well. I thought about how their conversation was so casual and was so day-to-day talk and, at the same time, there was a Dunkin Donuts, McDonalds, Burger King or other eating or drinking restaurant just down the street.
With that in mind, I quietly and politely told them that this was a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46) and if they wanted to enjoy some casual talk there was a Dunkin Donuts, McDonald's, Burger King, or some other eating or drinking restaurant, just down the street.
I sometimes got a mean look or a false reasoning of why it was OK to talk aloud in an Adoration Chapel but they got the message and they knew I was right. : )
You said:
Also, people come in when it's not their hour.
That's good!! You want more people, even if they are repeat adorers, willing to make, even a partial hour of Adoration with the hope that, over time and their given family and work circumstances, they too, will be able to commit to an hour and therefore strengthen the stability of your Adoration ministry.
I know one lady in our Adoration Ministry who must do at least 3 hours a week!
I hope this helps,
Mike
|