i really needed some quiet prayer tonight, so i left for the 7 pm Mass early. i got to the church in pedro santana about 615 and there were people moving around and making a racket. i went and sat down in the sanctuary and the din continued. about 630 the deacon came to check the tabernacle and i knelt down. the noise ceased. he closed the tabernacle, i sat back down, the babel resumed. i then decided to kneel and the hubbub dissipated. it appears that as long as i am kneeling the people will remain quiet. they must think that i can only pray on my knees, or perhaps that's where God wants me so He quiets them down only then. either way, the solution appears to have been found.