Crying Plastic Baby at Mass

[Sabda]

My nephew had one of these also for class. When he had to go to work he had his mom babysit the “baby”. She said it “slept” the entire time he was gone. My advice is to get a babysitter. I do not see how your teacher could object when you are leaving the doll with someone who will care for it. You would do that with a real baby after all.
BTW, what does the teacher expect the students to do with the doll when they have to go to work? My nephew was 16/17 when he had this experience.

 

[rpp]

I wasn’t assigned a wife. Second my teacher is a Methodist with some Catholic knowledge. I was thinking of paying our organist’s daughter to watch the baby during Mass.

Also some people in my class joked that I should “baptize” the baby.

Personally, I think the whole thing sounds more than silly. That there is a hint of religious mockery troubles me as well.

However, you have made a commitment and you should abide by it. I would suggest finding a baby (doll) sitter.

Welcome to parenthood.

 

[CathMass]

It would be weird for me to hold that plastic baby all wrapped in blankets, approach the communion rail, recieve communion and have to tell father,“Don’t bless the baby”

By the way, when the idea of “baptizing” the baby came up, there was really no intention for offense so I just laughed at that idea. I did explain it was a sacrilage to baptize a doll.

 

[CathMass]

It would be weird for me to hold that plastic baby all wrapped in blankets, approach the communion rail, recieve communion and have to tell father,“Don’t bless the baby”

 

[tequilamac]

I guess I shouldn’t take my children to Mass then - heaven forbid they should disrupt other people?

These “babies” are being given for a reason - in order to learn a lesson about the real realities of life with children and babies. Certainly he can serve at another Mass when he doesn’t have this assignment, he can find a replacement for himself, he can find a sitter, or he can arrange for his parents or another mature, responsible adult, like a grandparent, to watch the kid while he serves at Mass.

What I meant by “taking the baby to Mass” is that, while obviously he can’t serve at the altar, he would have to deal with a baby while at Mass, which is a situation I personally face all the time. It’s not going to be all that real, and he may even have to leave Mass for a time to “soothe” the baby, but that is not something I myself haven’t done with a real child.

I fail to see what exactly he is learning by not having to deal with priorities when it comes to having kids? I would love to go to more daily masses, be able to sit through a whole Mass without having any distractions, be able to focus completely on the readings, but I can’t because of my own two babies. But this is an important calling, the vocation of parenthood, where we learn we can’t always have it our way.

Are you honestly equating disrupting Mass with a plastic doll with crying real babies?
if I was in his position, I would ask one of the other ministers to sub for me that day and stay in the pew with the baby.
It’s not that big of a deal. Get a sub for yourself. Most parishes have altar servers subs and lector subs and EMHC subs. Find one. It is what you would do if your own real child was sick and you had no sitter.

 

[CathMass]

Well, I don’t have to serve Mass but it seems awkward being alone with a doll in the back. I am afraid since this is a Tridentine Mass that traditionalists will yell at my “irreverence”. The traditionalists might go off on me and I would have to hear lectures on church reverence and listen to some women rant at me and so forth. I would be ultra-humiliated. I would not be able to concentrate.

I think the sitter thing is a good idea.

 

[Damascus]

It would be weird for me to hold that plastic baby all wrapped in blankets, approach the communion rail, recieve communion and have to tell father,“Don’t bless the baby”



By the way, when the idea of “baptizing” the baby came up, there was really no intention for offense so I just laughed at that idea. I did explain it was a sacrilage to baptize a doll.

:yup:

 

[Damascus]

Well, I don’t have to serve Mass but it seems awkward being alone with a doll in the back. I am afraid since this is a Tridentine Mass that traditionalists will yell at my “irreverence” The traditionalists might go off on me an I would have to hear lectures on church reverence, have women rant at me and so forth. I think the sitter thing is a good idea.

Wow they dont sound like a nice bunch! Are they really that critical of something they should have at least heard of before? Maybe you should go so you can pave the way for others here!

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

If I was your mother, and IF there is another Mass (NO or TLM, it’s still Mass), I would suggest one of your siblings make some quick money by “baby-sitting” while you serve. The sib who baby-sits attends another Mass, but gets, say $2-$5.

I would also have my mother explain to my teacher that Mass is not “just another church service” and would your teacher want her Methodist service disturbed by a crying plastic baby? I’m betting not.

 

[Brenda_V]

I am with all the “get a baby (doll) babysitter” crowd. If you had to go to work or otherwise be occupied while keeping this doll you would have to do the same.

Brenda V.

 

[puzzleannie]

I am taking this Child Development Class and one class requirement is that I take home for a weekend a plastic baby doll that cries, coos and does other things (some wet). My teacher told me I had to take it to Mass on Sunday with me. I

Please give me your opinions

do what other parents do, hire a babysitter.

of course if, like many who prefer TLM, you have a nostalgia for the “old days” in the church, by all means take the baby with you, because the defining difference between a Catholic and a Protestant service, in my youth, was the presence of crying babies at Mass. Protestants kept theirs in nurseries.

 

[tequilamac]

do what other parents do, hire a babysitter.

of course if, like many who prefer TLM, you have a nostalgia for the “old days” in the church, by all means take the baby with you, because the defining difference between a Catholic and a Protestant service, in my youth, was the presence of crying babies at Mass. Protestants kept theirs in nurseries.

This last Sunday at Mass my daughter (14) heard a thump and then much yowling. Alarmed, she said "Mom what was that?) I said “Don’t worry dear, that was a young toddler banging her head on the kneelboard.” And sure enough here comes mama down the aisle with her daughter in her arms and the kid is streaming blood from one eyebrow.
My daughter says Mom how did you know?
“Recognized the sound dear. Now you know why you have two railroad track scars, one over each eyebrow.You got those at the Cathedral.” Reason number 101 to be Catholic.

 

[LilyM]

This last Sunday at Mass my daughter (14) heard a thump and then much yowling. Alarmed, she said "Mom what was that?) I said “Don’t worry dear, that was a young toddler banging her head on the kneelboard.” And sure enough here comes mama down the aisle with her daughter in her arms and the kid is streaming blood from one eyebrow.
My daughter says Mom how did you know?
“Recognized the sound dear. Now you know why you have two railroad track scars, one over each eyebrow.You got those at the Cathedral.” Reason number 101 to be Catholic.

And reason 1001 to have padded kneelers - probably underneath as well as on top!

 

[Jennifer123]

Are you honestly equating disrupting Mass with a plastic doll with crying real babies?
if I was in his position, I would ask one of the other ministers to sub for me that day and stay in the pew with the baby.
It’s not that big of a deal. Get a sub for yourself. Most parishes have altar servers subs and lector subs and EMHC subs. Find one. It is what you would do if your own real child was sick and you had no sitter.

I guess I’m crazy for recommending that a student follow through with his assignment, regardless of what he thinks of it. I just happen to believe that we should do our best to fulfill what is being asked of us within reason. Plastic or not, it represents a real situation that many people face everyday.

BTW - now I know better than to attend TLM with my children. That’s a shame.

 

[Jennifer123]

And yet, in the end, everybody knows they are not real. Nobody would rush into a burning house to save one. So the question is, is it justified to disrupt the Mass as a part of this lesson? Would it be justified for a paramedic class to stage a fake heart attack at a Mass to see how its students react?

 

[Walking_Home]

I guess I’m crazy for recommending that a student follow through with his assignment, regardless of what he thinks of it. I just happen to believe that we should do our best to fulfill what is being asked of us within reason. Plastic or not, it represents a real situation that many people face everyday.

BTW - now I know better than to attend TLM with my children. That’s a shame.

---

Mass is no place for a class project. I believe the teacher is out of line in pushing him to take the doll to Mass.

 

[tequilamac]

I guess I’m crazy for recommending that a student follow through with his assignment, regardless of what he thinks of it. I just happen to believe that we should do our best to fulfill what is being asked of us within reason. Plastic or not, it represents a real situation that many people face everyday.

BTW - now I know better than to attend TLM with my children. That’s a shame.

So following that line of reasoning we should have the local bomb squad perform a pre emergency need drill at the next Sunday Mass. Real or not, it represents a real situation that many people may face. Or maybe just a simple fire drill.
My son is studying to be a paramedic. Maybe I could fake choking on the Host so he could practice in the Communion line.

 

[Jennifer123]

So following that line of reasoning we should have the local bomb squad perform a pre emergency need drill at the next Sunday Mass. Real or not, it represents a real situation that many people may face. Or maybe just a simple fire drill.
My son is studying to be a paramedic. Maybe I could fake choking on the Host so he could practice in the Communion line.

You apparently didn’t see the “within reason” part of my post. I don’t necessarily find the situation all that out of hand considering I do this all the time with my own children by myself since my husband works odd and long hours.

Frankly I don’t appreciate the ridicule.

Good luck OP on your assignment.

 

[tequilamac]

You apparently didn’t see the “within reason” part of my post. I don’t necessarily find the situation all that out of hand considering I do this all the time with my own children by myself since my husband works odd and long hours.

Frankly I don’t appreciate the ridicule.

Good luck OP on your assignment.

Didn’t mean to offend you. I think the point we are trying to make is that Mass should be disrupted only if absolutely necessary. The OP made it clear that parishioners might object to the possible disruption of his plastic baby doll. therefore he needs to not bring it to mass. Because the plastic baby doll does not really need to be fed or changed. And it is not an emergency. These are really the only two reasons for a valid disruption at Mass. To take care of another’s pressing need, such as your baby, or an emergency such as illness or bombing. Other than that, all other potential disruptions should be left at the door. Real live children within reason and fires etc. okay. Class projects-not okay.

 

[netmilsmom]

I guess I’m crazy for recommending that a student follow through with his assignment, regardless of what he thinks of it. I just happen to believe that we should do our best to fulfill what is being asked of us within reason. Plastic or not, it represents a real situation that many people face everyday.

BTW - now I know better than to attend TLM with my children. That’s a shame.

No, the teacher is crazy for recommending that her assignment overrides life. Honestly, the whole thing is a bit odd. Why not have the children volunteer in a situation with babies? A woman’s shelter or children’s hospital would be wonderful.
I suppose a plastic baby who cries could be a deterent, but there is a difference between watching a child and having one of your own. When my child cried, I wanted to attend her, not because I had to.

Just another reason to homeschool. My daughters deal with real babies.