Is this inappropriate during the Consecration?

[RosaryFan]

My daughter is making her First Holy Communion next spring. As part of the school’s preparations, they designate one Sunday Mass per month as a “First Communion Theme Mass” where the children process in with the celebrant at the beginning of Mass and offer canned goods during the offertory. This is all well and good, however, during some of these theme Masses the plan is to invite the children to gather around the altar at the Consecration. I feel like this in very inapprorpriate to have a mob of seven year olds standing with the priest during the Consecration. Shouldn’t all attention be on Our Lord made present during this most sacred part of the Mass, and not on the seven year olds? Am I correct in this thinking, or am I being too scrupulous? Any feedback would be helpful because I plan on bringing it up at the “Parent Meeting” at the end of the month and I want to make sure my feelings are legitimate before I go spouting off.

 

[Debra_C]

My daughter is making her First Holy Communion next spring. As part of the school’s preparations, they designate one Sunday Mass per month as a “First Communion Theme Mass” where the children process in with the celebrant at the beginning of Mass and offer canned goods during the offertory. This is all well and good, however, during some of these theme Masses the plan is to invite the children to gather around the altar at the Consecration. I feel like this in very inapprorpriate to have a mob of seven year olds standing with the priest during the Consecration. Shouldn’t all attention be on Our Lord made present during this most sacred part of the Mass, and not on the seven year olds? Am I correct in this thinking, or am I being too scrupulous? Any feedback would be helpful because I plan on bringing it up at the “Parent Meeting” at the end of the month and I want to make sure my feelings are legitimate before I go spouting off.

If I recall correctly, the organization Lifeteen was asked to cease this practice several years ago. Perhaps you could run a search and find out more using Lifeteen as a keyword?

 

[Sam_Maloney]

On the now defunct ‘CatholiCity’ groups, we had a member who insisted it was perfectly fine.

I said it was not, and he became very angry with me. So I simply offered to donate $100 to any charity he named if he could provide any official documentation supporting his position.

I still have that money, and hereby renew my offer-- first person who can find church approval, tell me where to send the check.

 

[Seatuck]

It is absolutely not allowed.

jimmyakin.org/2004/03/lifeteen_masses.html

ewtn.com/expert/answers/non-ordained.htm

 

[japhy]

My daughter is making her First Holy Communion next spring. … the plan is to invite the children to gather around the altar at the Consecration.

The thing that makes their First Holy Communion special is that it is their first (and one other thing, which I note at the end of my response). They should prepare themselves for it the same way the rest of the congregation does, by kneeling in adoration during the Eucharistic Prayer, not by standing up at the altar (where they will surely be the center of attention, and not our Lord being made present on the altar).

I feel like it is very inappropriate to have a mob of seven year olds standing with the priest during the Consecration. Shouldn’t all attention be on Our Lord made present during this most sacred part of the Mass, and not on the seven year olds?

I see I spoke too soon! You already know this!

Apart from being the center of attention, the fact that they’re standing is also suspect. In the Roman Rite, the proper posture is to kneel during the Eucharistic Prayer, and other postures are only allowed out of absolute necessity (usually personal).

Am I correct in this thinking, or am I being too scrupulous? Any feedback would be helpful because I plan on bringing it up at the “Parent Meeting” at the end of the month and I want to make sure my feelings are legitimate before I go spouting off.

You are right in being concerned. The only people who should be at the altar during the liturgy of the Eucharist are the priest and his ministers (other priests, deacons, altar servers).

I would also caution you on this: nowadays, parishes have “extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion” (EMHCs, more commonly – and incorrectly – referred to as “Eucharistic Ministers” or EMs) who assist the priest(s) and deacons (if you’re lucky enough to have any) in the distribution of Holy Communion. These EMHCs regularly (which is a shame!) assist at Mass. There might be a temptation to speed up the First Communion process by having the children receive their First Communion from one of several people. But the Church made it clear four years ago that it is entirely inappropriate for a child to receive his or her First Holy Communion from anyone other than a priest: “The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution. Moreover First Communion should always be administered by a Priest and never outside the celebration of Mass.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, n. 87) Please make sure your pastor knows about this.

 

[RosaryFan]

I would also caution you on this: nowadays, parishes have “extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion” (EMHCs, more commonly – and incorrectly – referred to as “Eucharistic Ministers” or EMs) who assist the priest(s) and deacons (if you’re lucky enough to have any) in the distribution of Holy Communion. These EMHCs regularly (which is a shame!) assist at Mass. There might be a temptation to speed up the First Communion process by having the children receive their First Communion from one of several people. But the Church made it clear four years ago that it is entirely inappropriate for a child to receive his or her First Holy Communion from anyone other than a priest: “The First Communion of children must always be preceded by sacramental confession and absolution. Moreover First Communion should always be administered by a Priest and never outside the celebration of Mass.” (Redemptionis Sacramentum, n. 87) Please make sure your pastor knows about this.

Thank you! I did not know that.

 

[Genesis12345]

RosaryFan:

I personally do not think there is anything wrong with it. You can still focus your attention on the Consecration. I think that is a beautiful gesture having the children in the sanctuary and being a part of the liturgy.

I know that at Christmas. our pastor has the children gather around the altar. In no way is it disrespectful. Just think of it as this: your child is surrounded by God who loves children.

 

[benedictgal]

I personally do not think there is anything wrong with it. You can still focus your attention on the Consecration. I think that is a beautiful gesture having the children in the sanctuary and being a part of the liturgy.

I know that at Christmas. our pastor has the children gather around the altar. In no way is it disrespectful. Just think of it as this: your child is surrounded by God who loves children.

However, I would beg to differ. I have heard this argument before, including folks who have cited Jesus admonition to let the little chlidren come to Him. However, His comments were not made in a liturgical context.

We need to teach our chlidren respect for the Eucharist. We need to teach them that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the Church’s principle and highest form of prayer.

At the Mass, the veil between time and space is lifted and we are just as much present at the Upper Room, at Calvary and at the Tomb as were the Apostles, the Blessed Mother and St. Mary Magdalene. However, even the Blessed Mother and St. Mary Magdalene weren’t surrounding the altar. The Blessed Mother and St. Mary Magdalene were beneath the cross, but not up front and center. Even at that point, beneath the cross doesn’t necessarily mean standing directly under it. They probably had to stand at a small distance away from it. Even at the Resurrection, Jesus told St. Mary Magdalene not to touch Him. Thus, there was a boundary of the sacred, because, later on, he invites St. Thomas to probe the holy wounds with his fingers and hands. One could interpret, then, that only the priest was allowed to have that close of an access to the glorified Body nf our Lord, which is what we receive at Holy Communion.

The Apostles were surrounding Jesus at the Last Supper because they would be sharing in his Sacramental Priesthood. That is why the concelebrants surround the celebrant during the Mass. That is why the priest concelebrants surround the bishop, the High Priest of the Diocese, during the Chrism Mass.

These children are not concelebrants. Their place is not around the altar. They are not serving in any liturgical function whatsoever, nor should this be treated as some sort of teaching moment. That is for the parents and the religious education staff to handle. The Mass is a time for prayer, not for practice.