Kids and Latin Mass

[AlwaysAsking]

Hello,

( I am considering conversion to Catholicism and although the doctrinal arguments in support of traditional mass seem like something I should put off investigating for the time being… they seem really important to me)

However, I have a challenge keeping my two little ones occupied in a regular mass and was wondering whether people who attend TLM have had a tough time getting their children to adjust to it?

Any suggestions?

 

[DavidPalm]

Our experience has been that 1) the children sense that there is something really special going on at the TLM and they respond accordingly and 2) there is actually, in a way, more going on and it keeps them more engaged. There are lots of little detailed movements, gestures, and such and it is very interesting to have them watch for them and then learn about and discuss why that is in the liturgy.

Although it may seem like you would want to sit in the back, my suggestion would be to sit far enough forward so that your children can really observe what’s going on. And if you have to leave with the littlest ones because they’re getting a little unruly, don’t worry about it.

My older two vaguely remember the Pauline rite, the younger ones know nothing but the TLM, but believe me once the children get used to the TLM it really gets in their blood.

 

[WhollyRoamin]

You’ve got a common question here. Most parents who do not go to the TLM but have a toddler in tow fear the old Mass. And with due fear! It’s quieter and usually longer than your Ordinary Mass.

But it’s my experience that kids in the 2-year-old age or higher do quite well at a Traditional Mass. For one, it’s quieter-- there’s less action and distraction to disrupt them; the kids pick up on that. Second, there’s usually more to See at a TLM (overgeneralization alert!) because the churches are often older and with more visual interest than the typical sheetrock spaceship parishes in the suburbs. Your TLM/NO may vary in that respect.

I second the recommendation to sit in the front row. Not every child will be an angel at their first, second or twentieth TLM, but they’ll get it as they go.

For youngin’s, the other people in the TLM congregation are MUCH more allowing for crying babies-- babies are not considered annoyances at traditional parishes. Parents with very young children often sit in the last couple pews so they can get up and attend to crying babies-- I’ve even seen one mother duck into a confessional to nurse her baby!

Good luck.

 

[JPUSC]

I’ve seen more children in the Tridentine Masses than in the regular ones, so you will be in good company. People are definitely more open to children here, and I’ve been to quite a few parishes offering the Latin Mass.

I think it’s so nice that the parents take their children to this Mass with the little girls in chapel veils and the boys in dress shirts. For siblings, I’ve noticed that a parent usually sits in between them.

Last Sunday, I saw a mother keeping her sons occupied with a children’s Catholic book. When one of the boys stood up on the pew, I saw the parishioner behind move toward him to keep a watchful eye so that he wouldn’t fall.

Everyone likes looking at all the adorable children.

 

[Gerry_Hunter]

Well, this is what my parents came up with for me, circa 1950.

I was a bit of a handful, I have been told by enough sources to suggest credibility. So, Dad decided that if they were to take me to Sunday Mass, they’d take me to Sunday MASS – the 11:00 Mass at the Cathedral (in Calgary) where the Bishop himself almost always attended, and very frequently presided (there was no such a thing as “concelebration” then). Further, they sat right up front, where I could see everything.

The same sources report that, therewith, I ceased to be a problem to take to Mass.

I wonder sometimes do we give youngsters enough credit, concerning what they are capable of receiving? Mind you, modern liturgists don’t seem to give Catholic adults much credit for what they are capable of receiving, but that’s another topic .

Blessings,

Gerry

 

[AlwaysAsking]

Hello again,

wellllll… I’m smiling ruefully at your replies. Now that you mention it, there was ONE time we sat in front at a [regular] mass. We were late and those were the only empty seats . My toddler was mostly riveted. She loved spotting Jesus, Mary and Jofess in the windows, looking at the candles, watching the ladies with pretty “hats” (scarves) take communion. She did cry “OOPS!” when someone dropped the mike, but it was mostly good.

So I suppose I could set aside my own self-consciousness for the sake of involving my children more. Okay.

thank you for your thoughtful replies!

 

[WhollyRoamin]

Hello again,

wellllll… I’m smiling ruefully at your replies. Now that you mention it, there was ONE time we sat in front at a [regular] mass. We were late and those were the only empty seats . My toddler was mostly riveted. She loved spotting Jesus, Mary and Jofess in the windows, looking at the candles, watching the ladies with pretty “hats” (scarves) take communion. She did cry “OOPS!” when someone dropped the mike, but it was mostly good.

So I suppose I could set aside my own self-consciousness for the sake of involving my children more. Okay.

thank you for your thoughtful replies!

It’s funny, isn’t it? We want our children to sit in the front row during Math class, but the back row during Holy Mass.

 

[Phemie]

Well, this is what my parents came up with for me, circa 1950.

I was a bit of a handful, I have been told by enough sources to suggest credibility. So, Dad decided that if they were to take me to Sunday Mass, they’d take me to Sunday MASS – the 11:00 Mass at the Cathedral (in Calgary) where the Bishop himself almost always attended, and very frequently presided (there was no such a thing as “concelebration” then). Further, they sat right up front, where I could see everything.

The same sources report that, therewith, I ceased to be a problem to take to Mass.

I wonder sometimes do we give youngsters enough credit, concerning what they are capable of receiving? Mind you, modern liturgists don’t seem to give Catholic adults much credit for what they are capable of receiving, but that’s another topic .

Blessings,

Gerry

My memories as a child of the 50s:

Mom & Dad always sat between us so the line-up went: Brother 2, Mom, me, Dad, Brother 1. Dad could always reach a knee to administer the Vulcan knee squeeze to B1 or me if we were too fidgety, looked around or generally didn’t behave like the perfect children he expected us to be.

I had a Mass book with pictures and watched carefully to see if I was on the same page as the priest. To allow us to see we rarely sat any farther back than the 5th pew. Of course in a country parish of the 50s that may simply have been ‘our pew’, I never asked, but I recall Mom and Dad saying that when they entered church they always expected to see some of the old people THEY grew up with sitting in specific pews.

AFA children not being given credit for understanding, I can only look at a friend’s child who came to the OF from the time she was born. At 14 months she was at the Christmas morning Mass and as usual, there was no music and no singing. When the Gospel Procession started a startled little voice was heard to say “Alleluia? Alleluia?” After Mass I looked at her grandmother and said “And people think we NEED the 'Liturgy of the Word with Children” because they don’t understand Mass otherwise. Wow! How wrong can they be??"