This sign confronts everyone entering the Carmelite Monastery Church of St. Joseph. This was the 1st convent started by St. Teresa of Avila.
Don’t you wish it was on every church door in America? 🙂
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This Post Has 19 Comments
Peter Shafton April 15, 2015
It’s that little bit of the Divine within each of us that resonates with inspiring thoughts like this. A great way to prepare our mind as we enter God’s house. Thank you Steve for sharing this.
Edna A April 16, 2015
I have reminders projected to the monitors in church before mass and I would add the same message translated into our language. But I do wish and pray we all behave this way upon entering any church any time. Thanks for posting.
DvoraOCDS April 19, 2015
I am a Secular Carmelite and I have visited the Monastery of Saint Joseph on more than one occasion. Because it is a popular tourist attraction in Castilla y Leon, and especially in Avila, there is a need for this type of sign. Tourists forget that it is a “working” monastery where Discalced Carmelite nuns live; they are working, praying, studying, and sharing the common life in that little “college of Christ,” as St. Teresa referred to her Sisters. The monastic choir is adjacent to monastery’s church, ergo the need for respectful silence on the part of the tourists so that the nuns may pray the Liturgy of the Hours with some semblance of serenity.
But honestly, I would not want to see this type of sign on my parish door, even though we are located across the street from a major convention center and have hosted the Super Bowl and Final Four. In our experience, we emphasize invitation and find that our visitors have an instinct for showing respect.
Leo May 12, 2015
Great invitation for true worship. I think why we can worship God wherever we are by varying means, certain places demand special respect. It’s like saying, “shhhh, the president is here”. But this is even bigger. The Decency. Of the Nuns here has to be taken into account too.
Mary November 19, 2019
I would love for this to be on the door at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, MI. It is a beautiful church, but man before and after mass, particularly after, it sounds like a convention hall. It lacks reverence. The same is true of St. Joseph’s in South Lyon, MI.
Dana Tate November 19, 2019
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and confess with our mouth He is Lord, we are not only saved Romans 10:9 but the Holy Spirit makes His home inside us. Colossians 1:27 Yes we can go inside of a building to worship but whats even more beautiful is we can have an intimate relationship with Him bc we have the honor of hosting His Presence all the time. Thank You JESUS
STEVE RAY HERE: Thanks For writing and —what you said is true but there is a whole lot more to the gospel than this dumbed down, out of context version. I would encourage you to do a little homework and realize you can’t pull one or two verses out of context and build the whole Christian faith like that.
Gary November 25, 2019
Ray, does "properly dressed" exclude the underdressed poor?
STEVE RAY HERE: No, immodest or inappropriate clothing. Read James 2:1-6.
Oh how I wish this was on EVERY door !!!! God bless you for posting. Reverence in dress and action have waned greatly, sadly. ?
SteveB November 25, 2019
I was at one parish where the people had a bad habit of leaving as soon as they took Communion. The pastor tried locking the doors with a chain before he started Mass, but the fire department told him he couldn’t do that anymore. So, he put big golden signs up that said Judas Iscariots was the first to leave the last supper.
K.Peter November 25, 2019
Yes, I do wish that every church has a sign like this. I agree that there is more to it then just a sign but as we expect our guests to respect our homes, we have a duty to respect God’s home which is Church. Some of us visit God’s house once a week for an hour to celebrate mass and that should be special time where we are reminded of Jesus’s sacrifice in Eucharist. Jesus is with us all the time every minute of the day. He protects us from danger, give us opportunity to be better and walk his footsteps. Many of us are too busy to think of that and look for the easy and convenient road that not necessary is the way Jesus would like us to walk.
Let’s never forget of the sacrifice Jesus did for us to be happy and do a little when we go to visit His home this Sunday.
Thank you.
Robert Burkholder November 25, 2019
Where can I buy these signs?
RMW November 25, 2019
Someone crafty needs to start making these on Etsy. This message is much more important than any of those other “word” signs – think Live, Laugh, Love – that have saturated the market in recent years. More important and more poignant that “Shop ’til You Drop”!
Fr Michael November 25, 2019
I recently attended the sacred Liturgy, while on vacation and was saddened to see two different people drinking coffee as well as texting during the Mass. At this parish very few people genuflected, let alone bow when entering their seat. There were people continually laughing and chatting until the presider processed down the isle and after Mass, it was a beehive of noise. What made this even more upsetting was at this parish, directly after Mass, in the common area they served rolls, fruit and coffee, yet very few people stayed to socialize.
HoraceJules November 25, 2019
What's with the inverted exclamation point in front of ATTENTION?
STEVE RAY HERE: Not all countries do what we do in the US or with the English language. Other countries, to inform you that the word or sentence is an exclamation or a question insert the punctuation mark upside down (¡ or ¿).In front of the word and an upright one at the end of the word or sentence. This way you know in advance that it’s an exclamation or a question.
Joan November 25, 2019
No I don’t. It is not what’s on the outside that counts. What is proper dress for some may not be for others. Most businesses don’t require that their employees dress up. I think it is time we stop judging one another and just spend our time in prayer instead of worrying about what people are wearing.
The humility that opens us up to grace is well-described in 1Peter 5:5-7 which says: “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (see also Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalms 37:7; 55:22; Isaiah 26:3-4; 55:7-9; and Galatians 5:22-23).
This humility toward God should precede all our acts of prayer and worship.
Dan November 26, 2019
Another sign to be posted when one exits the church: "You are now entering mission territory".
STEVE RAY HERE: Bravo!
HoraceJules November 27, 2019
Reply to STEVE RAY HERE:
Thanks for the info. I was under the impression that inverted exclamation points and question marks were unique to the Spanish language. Can you tell me of an English speaking country that uses these symbols?
Every church needs this. Now we have gathering spaces where people can have coffee etc., and speak with each other this talking does not stop entering then church proper in addition many of our churches have moved the Eucharist and Tabernacle to an area out of the way entitled a Repository where people can go before or after Mass but many don’t because of this there is no honor or silence entering the church proper people take communion as if it were a cookie they are eating and walk away with very little reverence if at all people come to church wearing anything from short shorts to printed t shirts etc. I find the poorest have more love and respect for the Mass and the Eucharist that many who are better dressed. I grew up in a church that was silent so that anyone entering could find peace without the noise of the world.
This Post Has 19 Comments
It’s that little bit of the Divine within each of us that resonates with inspiring thoughts like this. A great way to prepare our mind as we enter God’s house. Thank you Steve for sharing this.
I have reminders projected to the monitors in church before mass and I would add the same message translated into our language. But I do wish and pray we all behave this way upon entering any church any time. Thanks for posting.
I am a Secular Carmelite and I have visited the Monastery of Saint Joseph on more than one occasion. Because it is a popular tourist attraction in Castilla y Leon, and especially in Avila, there is a need for this type of sign. Tourists forget that it is a “working” monastery where Discalced Carmelite nuns live; they are working, praying, studying, and sharing the common life in that little “college of Christ,” as St. Teresa referred to her Sisters. The monastic choir is adjacent to monastery’s church, ergo the need for respectful silence on the part of the tourists so that the nuns may pray the Liturgy of the Hours with some semblance of serenity.
But honestly, I would not want to see this type of sign on my parish door, even though we are located across the street from a major convention center and have hosted the Super Bowl and Final Four. In our experience, we emphasize invitation and find that our visitors have an instinct for showing respect.
Great invitation for true worship. I think why we can worship God wherever we are by varying means, certain places demand special respect. It’s like saying, “shhhh, the president is here”. But this is even bigger. The Decency. Of the Nuns here has to be taken into account too.
I would love for this to be on the door at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Plymouth, MI. It is a beautiful church, but man before and after mass, particularly after, it sounds like a convention hall. It lacks reverence. The same is true of St. Joseph’s in South Lyon, MI.
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior and confess with our mouth He is Lord, we are not only saved Romans 10:9 but the Holy Spirit makes His home inside us. Colossians 1:27 Yes we can go inside of a building to worship but whats even more beautiful is we can have an intimate relationship with Him bc we have the honor of hosting His Presence all the time. Thank You JESUS
STEVE RAY HERE: Thanks For writing and —what you said is true but there is a whole lot more to the gospel than this dumbed down, out of context version. I would encourage you to do a little homework and realize you can’t pull one or two verses out of context and build the whole Christian faith like that.
Ray, does "properly dressed" exclude the underdressed poor?
STEVE RAY HERE: No, immodest or inappropriate clothing. Read James 2:1-6.
Oh how I wish this was on EVERY door !!!! God bless you for posting. Reverence in dress and action have waned greatly, sadly. ?
I was at one parish where the people had a bad habit of leaving as soon as they took Communion. The pastor tried locking the doors with a chain before he started Mass, but the fire department told him he couldn’t do that anymore. So, he put big golden signs up that said Judas Iscariots was the first to leave the last supper.
Yes, I do wish that every church has a sign like this. I agree that there is more to it then just a sign but as we expect our guests to respect our homes, we have a duty to respect God’s home which is Church. Some of us visit God’s house once a week for an hour to celebrate mass and that should be special time where we are reminded of Jesus’s sacrifice in Eucharist. Jesus is with us all the time every minute of the day. He protects us from danger, give us opportunity to be better and walk his footsteps. Many of us are too busy to think of that and look for the easy and convenient road that not necessary is the way Jesus would like us to walk.
Let’s never forget of the sacrifice Jesus did for us to be happy and do a little when we go to visit His home this Sunday.
Thank you.
Where can I buy these signs?
Someone crafty needs to start making these on Etsy. This message is much more important than any of those other “word” signs – think Live, Laugh, Love – that have saturated the market in recent years. More important and more poignant that “Shop ’til You Drop”!
I recently attended the sacred Liturgy, while on vacation and was saddened to see two different people drinking coffee as well as texting during the Mass. At this parish very few people genuflected, let alone bow when entering their seat. There were people continually laughing and chatting until the presider processed down the isle and after Mass, it was a beehive of noise. What made this even more upsetting was at this parish, directly after Mass, in the common area they served rolls, fruit and coffee, yet very few people stayed to socialize.
What's with the inverted exclamation point in front of ATTENTION?
STEVE RAY HERE: Not all countries do what we do in the US or with the English language. Other countries, to inform you that the word or sentence is an exclamation or a question insert the punctuation mark upside down (¡ or ¿).In front of the word and an upright one at the end of the word or sentence. This way you know in advance that it’s an exclamation or a question.
No I don’t. It is not what’s on the outside that counts. What is proper dress for some may not be for others. Most businesses don’t require that their employees dress up. I think it is time we stop judging one another and just spend our time in prayer instead of worrying about what people are wearing.
The humility that opens us up to grace is well-described in 1Peter 5:5-7 which says: “Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you” (see also Proverbs 3:5; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalms 37:7; 55:22; Isaiah 26:3-4; 55:7-9; and Galatians 5:22-23).
This humility toward God should precede all our acts of prayer and worship.
Another sign to be posted when one exits the church: "You are now entering mission territory".
STEVE RAY HERE: Bravo!
Reply to STEVE RAY HERE:
Thanks for the info. I was under the impression that inverted exclamation points and question marks were unique to the Spanish language. Can you tell me of an English speaking country that uses these symbols?
Every church needs this. Now we have gathering spaces where people can have coffee etc., and speak with each other this talking does not stop entering then church proper in addition many of our churches have moved the Eucharist and Tabernacle to an area out of the way entitled a Repository where people can go before or after Mass but many don’t because of this there is no honor or silence entering the church proper people take communion as if it were a cookie they are eating and walk away with very little reverence if at all people come to church wearing anything from short shorts to printed t shirts etc. I find the poorest have more love and respect for the Mass and the Eucharist that many who are better dressed. I grew up in a church that was silent so that anyone entering could find peace without the noise of the world.
Comments are closed.