Appalled at attitudes of the young

[PatriceA]

When , as appears to be the general consensus , compulsory Mass in school cannot be celebrated with reverence , it should be available before school or during lunch-time for those who wish to celebrate on a voluntary basis .

Let’s have some recognition of what the Mass is . It is not a teaching aid .

If that’s the reason why mass shouldn’t be celebrated in Catholic schools, maybe we need to start looking at the weekly Sunday masses and daily masses as well for the general public. I’ve witnessed adults carrying on the same way as the OP described the school children. I don’t know why we should expect the children to act any differently when its a problem even amongst the adults and not much is done to correct their behavior.

 

[TheDoors]

I have been laughing at this post all day.

And that quote has been haunting me. What is the context? Where can I learn about it.

-Tim-

Saint John of Damascus is the “last of the Fathers” of Eastern Orthodoxy. He is a doctor of the Catholic Church, and wrote on many subjects including defense of Icons and a rather scathing review of the Koran. He also wrote extensively against the heresies of his time.

Though to be fair, I first heard the quote from the good Father Titus, over at his very excellent blog:

byzantineramblings.blogspot.com/

 

[Diana_Catherine]

When , as appears to be the general consensus , compulsory Mass in school cannot be celebrated with reverence , it should be available before school or during lunch-time for those who wish to celebrate on a voluntary basis .

Let’s have some recognition of what the Mass is . It is not a teaching aid .

So, in other words instead of teaching them what mass is and how to be reverent at mass and learn from the priests during the homily, we should just say kids you only have to go to mass at school if you want and forget it if you don’t. If you say that they won’t go and it is the parents responsibility to make sure their children are getting a Catholic education, part of that education is attending mass and learning how to attend respectfully. Maybe it is time to get more parents involved or even made aware of the situation because it is a very serious responsibility for a parent to be sure their child is learning the faith and mass is part of that faith.

I fully understand what the mass is. It is also a place where the Bible is read, so they learn scripture, an opportunity for a priest to reach out and talk to the kids about scripture and how it applies to their life and to speak to them about the mass. Having mass at Catholic schools is one of the big things that makes it a Catholic school. As it is now there is only one sister and only a couple of priests, all the rest are lay teachers, not all even Catholic, so only the Catholic teachers are left saying prayers before class. What more of Catholic do we want to take out of the Catholic schools, now the Mass? With many parents both working today, where will they get their religious training? Parents are too tired in the evening and don’t have the time to take their kids to daily mass in the morning. These are not times to take more away but to give them more.

Maybe we need to have a little more faith in our kids and expect a little more out of them and teach them.

Also, adults need to be examples to them. Many times at daily or Sunday mass, there are many adults who have a hard time being quiet. Before mass starts and as soon as it is over adults begin talking and ignoring the fact that there are people there praying. No, you don’t have that commotion going on during communion but on occassion adults will talk during communion. The other day at daily mass a couple of people held up the communion line while taking a few minutes to discuss something, I am of what was the utmost of importance.

Sorry, I rarely follow general consensus and when it comes to the word can’t or cannot, I believe all things are possible with God.

God bless.

 

[GEddie]

The UK has State schools that are denominational as well as non-denominational - Catholic , Jewish, Moslem and Anglican

Again wow!

QE1 must be doing backflips in Purgatory!

 

[creole54]

We had a little boy last year who, after receiving his First Holy Communion, did the Moonwalk back to his pew and high-fived his brother. I was mortified on behalf of his parents, who seemed to think he was just so cute. He obviously hadn’t been properly prepared by either his parents or his PSR teacher. What can we expect from a child who hasn’t received guidance and instruction from his elders?

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

We had a little boy last year who, after receiving his First Holy Communion, did the Moonwalk back to his pew and high-fived his brother. I was mortified on behalf of his parents, who seemed to think he was just so cute. He obviously hadn’t been properly prepared by either his parents or his PSR teacher. What can we expect from a child who hasn’t received guidance and instruction from his elders?

The goods news is that it sounds like that church doesn’t have carpeting…

 

[GEddie]

We had a little boy last year who, after receiving his First Holy Communion, did the Moonwalk back to his pew and high-fived his brother. I was mortified on behalf of his parents, who seemed to think he was just so cute. He obviously hadn’t been properly prepared by either his parents or his PSR teacher. What can we expect from a child who hasn’t received guidance and instruction from his elders?

You can’t expect mature behavior from children, especially those of 1C age.

You can expect it from teenagers, at least temporarily.

ICXC NIKA

 

[ndeparis88]

I work at a Catholic high school in rural Australia. We had a school Mass yesterday. I don’t go to receive the Eucharist for personal reasons but, being raised as a Catholic, I know the significance of it and would never dream of treating it lightly or disrespectfully.

As the students lined up to recieve the Host, I assisted with the lines and just generally supervised from the back of the hall (we “worship” in a gymnasium, by the way–a fact which might go some way towards explaining what follows).

Many students were laughing, smirking or chatting as they returned to their seats. It’s all “in the hand” in this part of the world, yet students had no idea how to hold their hands to receive the Eucharist. I’m told that one student typically says “Thanks” when receiving the host. One student I saw place the host in his coat pocket (I reported him to his year coordinator, but I don’t yet know what the result was).

Having said that, many students were reverent and respectful, including those who opted to receive a blessing.

I just found myself incensed at those immature, arrogant, smarmy kids who think everything is about themselves and nothing matters apart from what they are doing at that moment.

I’m going to complain to the RE coordinator, so anything or nothing might happen.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences?

As a Extraordinary Minister, I see kids that barely hold their hands out like if the host touches the skin they will get burned or something.

That said however I also have kids who are like 6 or 7 just got their first communion and they get the host on the tongue like bosses. I get a lot of hope from that especially when they come up and are actually excited about receiving the body of Christ .

 

[The_Curt_Jester]

You can’t expect mature behavior from children, especially those of 1C age.

You can expect it from teenagers, at least temporarily.

ICXC NIKA

Actually, you can. Children old enough receive First Communion are old enough to know how to behave, and also old enough to be taught properly. I’ve been at churches in which the children know how to act in church long before six years old.

 

[creole54]

You can’t expect mature behavior from children, especially those of 1C age.

You can expect it from teenagers, at least temporarily.

ICXC NIKA

I have to respectfully disagree. I remember my brothers and sisters and I being taught proper behavior for Mass even before kindergarten and our preparation for First Communion was very, very specific about the sanctity of the event. If anyone had been deemed too immature, their first communion would have been delayed for a year.

I’ve seen dozens of children in 1st or 2nd grade conduct themselves beautifully, so I know it isn’t asking too much of the average child, as long as they’re taught properly.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

I have to respectfully disagree. I remember my brothers and sisters and I being taught proper behavior for Mass even before kindergarten and our preparation for First Communion was very, very specific about the sanctity of the event. If anyone had been deemed too immature, their first communion would have been delayed for a year.

I’ve seen dozens of children in 1st or 2nd grade conduct themselves beautifully, so I know it isn’t asking too much of the average child, as long as they’re taught properly.

I remember, also being taught to conduct ourselves respectfully at mass in grade school. If you messed up you were told about it you were instructed on proper behavior. Adults need to instruct and be witnesses of correct behavior.

 

[TimothyH]

I have to respectfully disagree. I remember my brothers and sisters and I being taught proper behavior for Mass even before kindergarten and our preparation for First Communion was very, very specific about the sanctity of the event. If anyone had been deemed too immature, their first communion would have been delayed for a year.

I’ve seen dozens of children in 1st or 2nd grade conduct themselves beautifully, so I know it isn’t asking too much of the average child, as long as they’re taught properly.

Having the right teacher makes all the difference in the world.

http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/amanda and sister jacinta.small.jpg

-Tim-

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

That said however I also have kids who are like 6 or 7 just got their first communion and they get the host on the tongue like bosses. I get a lot of hope from that especially when they come up and are actually excited about receiving the body of Christ .

Until they become teenagers, when they will learn to act in ways they know will push adult buttons. And in 10 years someone will start a thread here complaining about their behavior.

Luna

 

[MissRose73]

My mother and her sister had to go to Mass EVERY day they attended school as they went to Catholic schools. They knew better not to misbehave as my mother has related stories of a few nuns slapping students’ hands with rulers for misbehavior in the classroom as an example. Keep in mind they went during a time where Catholic school costs were far less than it is now and the majority if not all of students in attendance were already Catholic.

I’ve been to a few all school masses at a few churches when they had daily Mass (and the public was allowed to attend) and the students were in attendance in their dress school uniform. There seemed to be plenty of teachers and chaperones sitting among the students to ensure decent behavior. Although I wished that some of the students were a bit more quieter when entering and leaving the worship space.

 

[ndeparis88]

Until they become teenagers, when they will learn to act in ways they know will push adult buttons. And in 10 years someone will start a thread here complaining about their behavior.

Luna

One can always hope right. lol I think they can already start to push buttons around 5. those wipper snappers catch on quick.

 

[creole54]

The goods news is that it sounds like that church doesn’t have carpeting…

This made me laugh out loud.

No, thank Heaven, it isn’t carpeted. Great acoustics throughout.

 

[Jestergirl]

I work at a Catholic high school in rural Australia. We had a school Mass yesterday. I don’t go to receive the Eucharist for personal reasons but, being raised as a Catholic, I know the significance of it and would never dream of treating it lightly or disrespectfully.

As the students lined up to recieve the Host, I assisted with the lines and just generally supervised from the back of the hall (we “worship” in a gymnasium, by the way–a fact which might go some way towards explaining what follows).

Many students were laughing, smirking or chatting as they returned to their seats. It’s all “in the hand” in this part of the world, yet students had no idea how to hold their hands to receive the Eucharist. I’m told that one student typically says “Thanks” when receiving the host. One student I saw place the host in his coat pocket (I reported him to his year coordinator, but I don’t yet know what the result was).

Having said that, many students were reverent and respectful, including those who opted to receive a blessing.

I just found myself incensed at those immature, arrogant, smarmy kids who think everything is about themselves and nothing matters apart from what they are doing at that moment.

I’m going to complain to the RE coordinator, so anything or nothing might happen.

I wonder if any of you have had similar experiences?

Hi Hansard,

I’m glad you posted this.

(This is all just my opinion and how I feel about things personally).

I’m in high school myself and all our masses go like this and they should.
You’re expecting teenagers to behave like adults and that (i think) makes you judgemental and not understanding of people.
Also as a teenager its these silly rules that make most young people leave the church.
You have to hold your hands in this way and say this to recieve the eucharist. Its such nonsense.
I love Jesus so much and I try to be good and I’m usually a good person. I’ll bet even though those teenages at that mass were showing off for their friends many of them actually have a great love for Jesus but follow peer pressure. As you don’t recognise this makes you judgemental.
I not an expert in anything religious but kind of like in Jesus time with us when people said why are they doing this or that on the sabath day and Jesus was like “get a life you think thats the thing that is important?” (not a direct quote).
Also look at this froma teenagers point of view. I love Jesus but think some catholic rules are silly ( and i don’t mean sex because I think people should be married and think its awful the families some of my friends are in with diffrent dads and half brothers and sisters). At a high school mass with my friends you are all acting silly then I would too because sometimes we follow peer pressure because we want to fit in and be liked and accepted. If the message teenagers recieve from the church is that the church is so unloving that if you don’t follow the silly rules your a bad person then they lose interest because they don’t see the love. When I went to church I never felt any love between the people. Following rituals is not whats important but showing love is.

 

[englishredrose]

it was about the student who typically said thanks after receiving it.

One time only a few year ago and remember I’ve been actively receiving communion since 1986. Some reason I got flustered at the priest and said ‘thanks’ when given it and realised what I had done and received the chalice and kind of crawled back to the pew. I didn’t know the priest as it was at some civic event I think but knowing what a lot of you had posted on here in the past about people who shouldn’t receive and think if one doesn’t know what they are doing then they aren’t confirmed etc. I have been receiving since 1986 and yeh blundered that one time for some reason. If the priest wondered then it wouldn’t have taken him long to work out in the denery that yeh am a regular and okay. But…

Yeh, back to thread, we are often shocked about how others treat communion if it different from our own church. But in reality is it any more disrepectful? We cannot see what is happening in there hearts and I am often saddened to see that people find it wrong to smile in church in the service or at communion. I find it quite depressing that before and after people are happy and smiley etc but in the service their faces are so severe? This to me is wrong and would much rather a bunch of teens chatty and happy as you have suggested - they could be more focused than the ones who look depressingly seriouse because that is how they are taught to look. But who are we to judge who is or who isn’t focused by our outward attitude-pose.

 

[ThePaladin]

Hi Hansard,

I’m glad you posted this.

(This is all just my opinion and how I feel about things personally).

I’m in high school myself and all our masses go like this and they should.
You’re expecting teenagers to behave like adults and that (i think) makes you judgemental and not understanding of people.
Also as a teenager its these silly rules that make most young people leave the church.
You have to hold your hands in this way and say this to recieve the eucharist. Its such nonsense.
I love Jesus so much and I try to be good and I’m usually a good person. I’ll bet even though those teenages at that mass were showing off for their friends many of them actually have a great love for Jesus but follow peer pressure. As you don’t recognise this makes you judgemental.
I not an expert in anything religious but kind of like in Jesus time with us when people said why are they doing this or that on the sabath day and Jesus was like “get a life you think thats the thing that is important?” (not a direct quote).
Also look at this froma teenagers point of view. I love Jesus but think some catholic rules are silly ( and i don’t mean sex because I think people should be married and think its awful the families some of my friends are in with diffrent dads and half brothers and sisters). At a high school mass with my friends you are all acting silly then I would too because sometimes we follow peer pressure because we want to fit in and be liked and accepted. If the message teenagers recieve from the church is that the church is so unloving that if you don’t follow the silly rules your a bad person then they lose interest because they don’t see the love. When I went to church I never felt any love between the people. Following rituals is not whats important but showing love is.

You are, in a sense, correct. However, one needs to consider in the Eucharist how.one shows love. Do they show love by pocketing the host and behaving poorly, or do they show love by respecting the precepts and rituals of the Church? It all comes sown to love, yes but it is in how one expresses that love that they become closer to God. In this case, one of those ways is by respecting the Eucharistic rituals. One respects those rituals not out of some rote sense of duty but rather because their love and respect for Jesus compels them to.

Now, on the other hand, adults getting so down about teen behavior at mass that they ultimately view the Church as this harsh arbitrary system of rules and regulations…week, that is another deal altogether.

 

[Diana_Catherine]

You are, in a sense, correct. However, one needs to consider in the Eucharist how.one shows love. Do they show love by pocketing the host and behaving poorly, or do they show love by respecting the precepts and rituals of the Church? It all comes sown to love, yes but it is in how one expresses that love that they become closer to God. In this case, one of those ways is by respecting the Eucharistic rituals. One respects those rituals not out of some rote sense of duty but rather because their love and respect for Jesus compels them to.

Now, on the other hand, adults getting so down about teen behavior at mass that they ultimately view the Church as this harsh arbitrary system of rules and regulations…week, that is another deal altogether.

I agree. It is true that many times people will say, “it is what is in my heart that matters” but if it is in your heart then you will show it in your actions. If you love someone you want the best for them and that includes showing them the respect they deserve and Jesus in the Holy Eucharist deserves our most respect.

IMHO

I see it as we need to remember teens are still learning and still growing and yes they should at that age be able to show respect but we still need to be teaching them.

Also, I have been to several school masses for younger grades, where the little ones are taught to sing and do all kinds of cute little jumps and hand motions to songs and the priest comes down and talks to them and gets them to laugh and answer questions so maybe we need to stop making mass cute and fun when they are little and by the time they are teens they will better know how to behave.