Children gathered around the alter during consecration - Page 3

superamazingman · #31 May 10, '12, 5:59 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by aicirt

At the children's Mass, the children are called up by the priest who says a few words to them and then they are led out by the person in charge who holds the Bible above her head as they follow her. I find this latter part contrived. Sorry. Just hits me wrong.

They are then led back after the Gospel. I just don't understand how much they could have learned in the short time they've gone. These kids range in age from six to 12. They're not babies. If this is all the instruction they receive, then it is a shame. They need a good hour after Mass for religious instruction.

I agree. I think they should just stay. If the primary goal is instruction, then that is an epic failure of a job. But our primary job at Mass is not instruction. Our primary objective at Mass is our corporate worship of the Father through the Son.

Why can't they have the bible time during CCD or something?

Kathryn Ann · #32 May 13, '12, 4:38 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatriceA

This link may help explain why it its not permitted:

http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/non-ordained.htm

Thank you, PatriceA, this was very helpful.

Diana Catherine · #33 May 13, '12, 5:11 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by superamazingman

But note that Jesus didn't gather the children around his feet when he taught in the temple. There's a time and place for everything.

You don't need to teach them DURING Mass. When you do that, you are failing to teach them some important points: the immeasurable sanctity of the Mass, and in particular, the altar.]

Exactly.

It is better to teach the children at times other than at mass, so when they get to mass they know what is happening and how to behave and learn to respect what is happening.

Diana Catherine · #34 May 13, '12, 5:12 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by domandcarols

Please contact the bishop. That's insanity. There are so many problems with that..

I agree. Contact the bishop.

Diana Catherine · #35 May 13, '12, 5:35 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWright

Our Parish has a weekly family mass / childrens liturgy. ( I would descibe our parish as being traditional, in terms of the style of building, the solemnity of the liturgy, general practices etc).

During the Liturgy of the Word, the children go elsewhere for their own liturgy. I dont really know what they do, but I presume its the message of the readings and gospel pitched in a more accessible way for kids (they probably range in age from 5 - 10/11 years).

The kids then rejoin the main service for the bidding prayers, (which they read), and they help with the offertory as well.;-)

I have seen this before and it is a version of the protestant children's church. The protestant churches I was in for years used to call the children half way through service and read bible stories to them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by GWright

During the consceration, they are allowed to gather around the altar and the priest will explain to them the importance of what he is doing etc. I guess the idea is to make the kids feel invovled and to teach them about parts of the mass.

I personally have no problem with this - there is nothing disrespectful about it. In many ways, I can imagine Jesus sitting with children gathered around his feet - as he is often portrayed - so our childrens mass seems to mimick that idea.

I am usually against any kinds of new initiative etc and I really value tradition, but I think:

- it is good the kids are being included and taught about the mass. As a kid I never felt included at mass and had next to no catechis, from either the church or my Catholic school. This is undoubtedly the main reason why I was always bored at mass and couldnt wait to stop going (which I did, from age 16 - 28/29). So, I am glad (and a little envious lol) that someone cares enough to teach these kids whats is going on.

- I am sure God - and any right thinking Catholic - would rather have children up on the altar learning about the mass, than no children at all*;-)

I have seen some great Catholic kids brought up by moms who taught their kids what was going on right from the pew they were in. There was no need to take the kids up to the altar. Many years of history shows this also.

It is wrong and being included in mass does not mean we have to be up at the altar.

pjbshark · #36 May 20, '12, 3:05 pm

I observed this practice today at a church I attended while travelling. The liturgy was clearly geared toward the children, as they took on many of the roles during Mass (lector, cantor, choir, etc.). The priest delivered an excellent homily on Christian unity, using manipulatives that the children could understand. However, in addition to the children standing around the altar there were three things that bothered me: the second reading was omitted, the Creed was omitted and the Eucharistic Prayer was not one of the forms found in my Missal. I suspect it was a special from for Masses with Children, but it clearly hadn't been rewritted for the new Roman Missal because the words of consecration were of the "old" form ("eat it" instead of "eat of it", etc.). It was all very nice but it wasn't proper. My wife said she really liked it but I felt that the priest could have included the children without blurring the lines between everyone's proper role at the Mass. One of the children started to feel ill during the consecration and sat down for a moment before returning to her pew with her parents. Of course, all the other children started to focus on her instead of what they were there to observe.

I didn't think it was right for me, a guest, to comment to the celebrant about what I observed. Was I wrong?

Phemie · #37 May 20, '12, 4:18 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatriceA

See, I consider 50 a small number. My daughter's First Communion class had close to 200.

But I see you're in the Pittsburgh Diocese, so am I, and I can guess what parish you might have been at. One or two immediately jump to mind. I would also bet the parish that asked the children to come up to the altar also have a Lifeteen Mass where they still practice that inappropriate activity, even though Lifeteen has asked them to no longer do that.

For our parish, 50 would be huge. We usually have 12-15. There was one time, when the sacraments hadn't been celebrated in a few years due to changes in the school system,when our Confirmation/First Communion class numbered in the 70s but that was a major exception. Back when we still had Catholic Schools it might have numbered 30.