Introducing Children to the EF

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Angel_Gabriel

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My husband and I have started to attend an FSSP parish. Our bishop made it into a personal parish for the EF last Dec. It is a small parish but I estimate that there are probably at least 100-150 or so people there for the EF if not more…and there is a good mix of all age groups.

My question is how do you introduce this to young children? We have been taking our son with us but have been leaving the younger kids at grandma’s. Our son is almost 7 and the girls are 4 and 14mths. Mass lasts 1.5 hrs. It is a change from our old OF parish. I should add here that we are also members of our local Ukrainian Catholic Mission. So we also attend Divine Liturgy too. (Which with our priest’s current schedule, is once a month. ) However DL is all in English and is sung by us as we have no choir. Our EF is obviously in Latin and has a choir which sings parts.

I don’t want to confuse our son so we’ve been slowly introducing him to the differences between the Byzantine and Roman rites. However he will be making his 1st communion next year. He has some learning disabilities and I wonder how much I can teach him before I overwhelm him. What is appropriate at this age? He doesn’t attend catholic school b/c he receives more help in the public schools currently…and we are hoping to have him enrolled in the public Monetssori school next year.

Thank you!
 
Just introduce him to what he can handle. The only essential information that he must absolutely know to receive first communion is that that host and wine truly do become the Body and Blood of Christ. Make everything tie back to that concept.

The average EF is more sensory, IMO, than the majority of OF masses. I don’t know if your son has sensitivities to things like that, but if he does not, use those things as teaching points. For example, explain the significance of the vestments, of the singing, and of the incense. Rather than be overwhelmed with explaining every little thing and hoping that you’ve “prepared” him, try to cover the simple basics and then go to the mass and try to get him to relate the things he sees, hears and smells to your instruction. Make the mass itself a teaching moment for him (albeit only reflect after the mass is over).
 
There is, in the lobby of our parish, a stack of “see and pray” missals for kids which is like, well, a small children’s picture book with short explanations. I’ll be at morning Mass tomorrow (hopefully), and will pick one up for you if you’d like. It’s small and I can easily ship it for a low cost. I would be happy to do this for you if you wish.
 
jonbhorton said:
There is, in the lobby of our parish, a stack of “see and pray” missals for kids which is like, well, a small children’s picture book with short explanations. I’ll be at morning Mass tomorrow (hopefully), and will pick one up for you if you’d like. It’s small and I can easily ship it for a low cost. I would be happy to do this for you if you wish.
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Jon, Was this created by your parish or is it something that can be purchased online?
 
TrueLight said:
Jon, Was this created by your parish or is it something that can be purchased online?
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They’re here: aquinasandmore.com/catholic-books/my-see-and-pray-missal/sku/446

I didn’t even think about seeing where to purchase online until you said something. This is the website of a store here in town. Coincidentally, the owners attend the same parish which is why we have so many cool booklets around to help people.

They do a lot for the parish, so, it would be cool if you poked around their store to see if you wanted to order anything else. 🙂
 
I’ve noticed children of various ages at the EF Masses I’ve attended. Many of them have children’s missals, and most follow their parents and/or older siblings to stand / sit / kneel at the right times. I’ve even seen infants and toddlers with parents too. I am sure if you sit where your child can see what is happening at the altar, they should be fine. As long as your child knows to remain reasonably quiet, no reason why they cannot be introduced to the beauty & tradition of the EF Mass.
 
May I make one one, perhaps tangential, suggestion?

Sit behind any teenager or young adult that looks particularly devout or already familiar with the EF. Children tend to look up to teenagers and young adults as role models - they’re not too old to look like their parents and they’re not too young that they loose their aura of awe. During the last Mass for the Purification of the BVM and the Presentation of IHC, this family of six children sat behind me and the mother approached me later saying that her children had never been so inspired to behave, to attempt to sing a long and to actually pray.
 
TrueLight said:
Jon, Was this created by your parish or is it something that can be purchased online?
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I still have my 1954 prayerbook “Keeping Close to God.” It has lots of pictures, mostly Stations of the Cross and various priest positions in the TLM. It also has some short prayers with each, even having “Listen for the word ‘Domine’ (dom-ee-nay)” in one spot. I’d say the book is good for 9 yr olds or younger.
 
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I think next week we will try to sit a bit closer to the front. Unfortunately Mass is at 11:30 which is a huge change in our routine from the usual 10 or earlier time we used to go to. I’m thinking DS is having a hard time adjusting to that as well, it being 30 minutes longer and he no longer has the chance to recite the Our Father as he did in the OF and in DL. I’m thinking that it will take a few months for him to get used to this…he even asked me why I was wearing something on my head :D.

We’re going to get some religious type books and children’s missals for him to take along. He’s behind in his reading (learning disability) but this might help him 🙂
 
I still use a children’s missal, its my back up when I’m out of town or simply forget my regular one. I wonder if anyone notices…
 
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