Children at Latin mass of the EF form

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I notice that in latin Masses have a lot of little children. Sometimes crying. What’s everyone’s opinion on this.

I think that Mass is known for families with a lot of children. Just one of my observations.
 
“Let the little children come to me!” Yes, it can be distracting at times (and not always because they’re crying, but because they can be, and do, incredibly cute things), but for me, I refocus by thanking God for all of these blessings (though sometimes I cannot suppress the laughter, and I pray that God understands). These children are the future of the Church (either by answering God’s call to a religious vocation, or one day raising holy families themselves). Besides, how are kids going to learn how to act in Church unless they are made to… Granted, kids under a certain age have a very short attention span, and some, regardless of age, have very high energy levels, so it can be a bit more difficult to be able to manage them at times, but like with anything worth doing, consistency is very important, if not necessary. They’ll eventually grow out of it.

Perhaps those who attend a Tridentine Mass tend to be more open to accepting any children God sends them, though I do know of some big families who have never prayed an EF Mass, who are equally as open to that call.
 
It is a good thing! I always say that the future will bring a surge in the EF, but nobody believes me:(😉
 
datingtrappists said:
“Let the little children come to me!” Yes, it can be distracting at times (and not always because they’re crying, but because they can be, and do, incredibly cute things), but for me, I refocus by thanking God for all of these blessings (though sometimes I cannot suppress the laughter, and I pray that God understands). These children are the future of the Church (either by answering God’s call to a religious vocation, or one day raising holy families themselves). Besides, how are kids going to learn how to act in Church unless they are made to… Granted, kids under a certain age have a very short attention span, and some, regardless of age, have very high energy levels, so it can be a bit more difficult to be able to manage them at times, but like with anything worth doing, consistency is very important, if not necessary. They’ll eventually grow out of it.

Perhaps those who attend a Tridentine Mass tend to be more open to accepting any children God sends them, though I do know of some big families who have never prayed an EF Mass, who are equally as open to that call.
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So true
 
At the Melkite parish I attend, we have a large number of toddlers and even infants.

Result: there is a constant undercurrent of cooing, gurgling, babbling, and little voices going “LA DA LA DA” during the singing. I love it.

And there’s a more or less constant stream of mothers and small fussy children with needs to be tended. But these are the future of the church!

One thing–all children understand eating very well. They open their mouths like hungry robins at Communion.
 
Our TLM church is small, but with a lot of kids and no cry room. I have five, but most are old enough to know better than to be a distraction at Mass.

If a little kid is too noisy, I think everyone understands that but really they have to be taken out for a break. It can actually throw the priests off to the point that they can lose their concentration if the overall noise level gets to loud. I’ve seen it happen twice, and one priest verified this to me later on.
 
a83192 said:
I notice that in latin Masses have a lot of little children. Sometimes crying. What’s everyone’s opinion on this.

I think that Mass is known for families with a lot of children. Just one of my observations.
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Depends on the parish and the mass, but as others have said, that is a good thing as it is the future of the church. I have a toddler and she does quite well, but like all of the parents, if your little one starts a meltdown you just take them to the back so they can regroup/be tended to etc.
 
bpbasilphx said:
it.

And there’s a more or less constant stream of mothers and small fussy children with needs to be tended. But these are the future of the church!
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Recently a study came out praising the fathers more for bringing children to Mass for that’s whom the kids follow in practice later. Sorry, mothers! 🙂
 
I’ve actually found that children seem to make more noise at ordinary form Masses than at low Mass in the extraordinary form.

My theory is that the singing and dialogue at the ordinary form make small kids think it’s ok for them to make noise as well, not understanding that everyone else is participating in the Mass and they’re just making noises.

I’ve been attending Latin Mass regularly for over a year now and it’s usually very quiet and solemn (which is why I love it). When kids do start to act up the parents are very quick to stop them or get them outside. Every now and then we’ll have a high Mass that is sung and it always seems like the kids are more edgy.

In either case, it’s the parents’ responsibility to get their kids to Mass and teach them about the faith so I’m always glad to see them there, even if the kids act up from time to time.
 
Phr3d said:
I’ve actually found that children seem to make more noise at ordinary form Masses than at low Mass in the extraordinary form.

My theory is that the singing and dialogue at the ordinary form make small kids think it’s ok for them to make noise as well, not understanding that everyone else is participating in the Mass and they’re just making noises.

I’ve been attending Latin Mass regularly for over a year now and it’s usually very quiet and solemn (which is why I love it). When kids do start to act up the parents are very quick to stop them or get them outside. Every now and then we’ll have a high Mass that is sung and it always seems like the kids are more edgy.

In either case, it’s the parents’ responsibility to get their kids to Mass and teach them about the faith so I’m always glad to see them there, even if the kids act up from time to time.
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I think you’re absolutely correct.
 
Phr3d said:
I’ve actually found that children seem to make more noise at ordinary form Masses than at low Mass in the extraordinary form.
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I’ve noticed something else about the Ordinary Form and kids. They generally sit on one side, and that side happens to be where the priest tends to distribute communion. Probably because they expect to get blessed at communion time. So if you want to avoid them, your chances are better sitting on the side where EMHC will be distributing. 🙂
 
I have assisted at Traditional Latin Masses - almost exclusively - for about 20 months. In that time I have attended Mass at 5 parishes in three dioceses, plus 3 SSPX chapels.

In my experience, EF masses tend to have more young children in attendance than do OF masses. Naturally, infants and toddlers are attend to by their parents. Elementary school kids seem to have an appreciation for where they are and typically follow the mass in their own missals. Anyone older participates like an adult - setting an example for their younger siblings. I seems as though parents invest a bit of time before mass to ensure that their family is prepared for mass. I cannot recall an instance when a young child caused a disturbance that required their removal from Mass. Many of these kids act like veteran Catholics, despite their youth.
 
Phr3d said:
I’ve actually found that children seem to make more noise at ordinary form Masses than at low Mass in the extraordinary form.

My theory is that the singing and dialogue at the ordinary form make small kids think it’s ok for them to make noise as well, not understanding that everyone else is participating in the Mass and they’re just making noises.

I’ve been attending Latin Mass regularly for over a year now and it’s usually very quiet and solemn (which is why I love it). When kids do start to act up the parents are very quick to stop them or get them outside. Every now and then we’ll have a high Mass that is sung and it always seems like the kids are more edgy.

In either case, it’s the parents’ responsibility to get their kids to Mass and teach them about the faith so I’m always glad to see them there, even if the kids act up from time to time.
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That’s an interesting theory and I can see the truth in it to a point. I disagree that it all has to do with it being a EF for children being quiet as opposed to the OF. I think it has more to do with the parents at either form of the Mass knowing their faith and how to pass it on to their children so they learn it.

My children do really well at the OF, know the responses and know when the be quiet. Note: The oldest is 5. However, we also sit as close the front as we can get. Once in a great while, I need to take the 2 yr old to a quiet corner to calm him down. Now the 2yr is pretty much out of that stage, it’s starting up with the 6mo old. I don’t like taking any of my to the ‘back/ crying’ area since that is where all of the ‘brats’ are who are running/playing around while their parents are talking with each other. My kids have learned that church is the house of God, not a Gym.

I must also note that the last three EF Masses my family have attended, one of my children was ‘irritable’ and was a horrible experience since I had to take him out the church, and could NOT follow along in the Latin-English missal and felt that is was a spiritual/prayerful dry experience. I like to think of it as a ‘negative flow of grace’ due the thoughts of rage/anger towards my child’s behavior when I’m trying to participate in the liturgy and worship and hear the words during the Eucharistic Prayer. There are 'element’s that I love out of both Masses, but at this time, I’ll take a OF that is celebrated in the way it was intended without any liturgical abuses, over the EF Mass. Yes, it is possible to attend a OF without abuses that does the Kyrie in the Greek, and the Sanctus and Angus Dei in Latin…which my 5 yr old does well.
It has also been my experience that there are also a lot fewer small children at the EF Mass at either of the two parishes within a 30 minute drive from my house.
 
Lance_O said:
That’s an interesting theory and I can see the truth in it to a point. I disagree that it all has to do with it being a EF for children being quiet as opposed to the OF. I think it has more to do with the parents at either form of the Mass knowing their faith and how to pass it on to their children so they learn it.

My children do really well at the OF, know the responses and know when the be quiet. Note: The oldest is 5. However, we also sit as close the front as we can get. Once in a great while, I need to take the 2 yr old to a quiet corner to calm him down. Now the 2yr is pretty much out of that stage, it’s starting up with the 6mo old. I don’t like taking any of my to the ‘back/ crying’ area since that is where all of the ‘brats’ are who are running/playing around while their parents are talking with each other. My kids have learned that church is the house of God, not a Gym.

I must also note that the last three EF Masses my family have attended, one of my children was ‘irritable’ and was a horrible experience since I had to take him out the church, and could NOT follow along in the Latin-English missal and felt that is was a spiritual/prayerful dry experience. I like to think of it as a ‘negative flow of grace’ due the thoughts of rage/anger towards my child’s behavior when I’m trying to participate in the liturgy and worship and hear the words during the Eucharistic Prayer. There are 'element’s that I love out of both Masses, but at this time, I’ll take a OF that is celebrated in the way it was intended without any liturgical abuses, over the EF Mass. Yes, it is possible to attend a OF without abuses that does the Kyrie in the Greek, and the Sanctus and Angus Dei in Latin…which my 5 yr old does well.
It has also been my experience that there are also a lot fewer small children at the EF Mass at either of the two parishes within a 30 minute drive from my house.
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You make some good points. My husband & I took all 4 of our children to Mass every Sunday until they left for college. We started taking them when they were 2 wks. old. Didn’t have a choice, other than go to Mass separtely, as no family lived nearby at that time. The only time we went to separate Masses is when one (or 4) of them were sick. We attended a small Church at that time. We had no “crying” room. It worked really well for us to schedule our Baby (whichever one was the baby at that time) to have just eaten & he’she was usually asleep by the time we reached 10 AM. Mass. By the time they were each 3 yrs. old they understood that they had to be still during Mass.

I think it’s really important for Mass to be a part of their life from the beginning. I do realize that the ages 1 & 2 are the trying times, but I don’t mind a baby crying or a restless toddler. It’s the older kids…4-10yrs. of age…running up & down the aisles, they’re excuse being the bathroom which should have been tended to before Mass. I have NEVER seen that kind of behavior at a Latin Mass, though it flourished at the NO. parish I used to attend.

I agree with you that the parents are the ones who are usually either to blame or to admire, because they set the tone for the behavior at Mass. I find the parents at the EF. Masses, though they have several children, more devout & reverant & this seems to be passed to the kids.
 
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