Lamb of God or shake hands?

[Greg72]

At Mass this morning, one young girl (around 10?) actually extended the sign of peace by leaving her pew and walking right down the centre aisle, shaking hands with people in every pew on the one side. By the time she had reached the front of the Church, the “Agnus Dei” had finished. She returned to her pew shortly after the rest of us knelt.

So, she basically -

1. ignored our Lord during the time when we are supposed to be recognizing his sacrifice (the irony of not saying “Lamb of God…” on the Baptism of Our Lord was lost on me at the time)
2. possibly distracted everyone (including the Ministers on the Altar) since she headed to the front as if she was bearing a gift.
3. interrupted everyone to whom she extended the sign of peace so that they couldn’t focus on Our Lord.

Now, in a way it was sweet, and I didn’t have the heart to completely ignore her (when she reached my pew, I glanced sideways, nodded and said “Peace”) but in another way it was troubling. I’m sure that she didn’t mean any disrespect and I’m fairly certain that she wasn’t “showboating” either. I think that she had a sincere desire to reach out to more of the congregation.

There is much on my mind. My preference is definitely towards the vertical (actually the TLM is offered today, and I do want to go to it but was very lost the first time and have been too lazy to familiarize myself with it since. After this incident, I’ll be studying hard . I wonder, however, what God’s preference is.

Any thoughts?

 

[benedictgal]

At Mass this morning, one young girl (around 10?) actually extended the sign of peace by leaving her pew and walking right down the centre aisle, shaking hands with people in every pew on the one side. By the time she had reached the front of the Church, the “Agnus Dei” had finished. She returned to her pew shortly after the rest of us knelt.

So, she basically -

1. ignored our Lord during the time when we are supposed to be recognizing his sacrifice (the irony of not saying “Lamb of God…” on the Baptism of Our Lord was lost on me at the time)
2. possibly distracted everyone (including the Ministers on the Altar) since she headed to the front as if she was bearing a gift.
3. interrupted everyone to whom she extended the sign of peace so that they couldn’t focus on Our Lord.

Now, in a way it was sweet, and I didn’t have the heart to completely ignore her (when she reached my pew, I glanced sideways, nodded and said “Peace”) but in another way it was troubling. I’m sure that she didn’t mean any disrespect and I’m fairly certain that she wasn’t “showboating” either. I think that she had a sincere desire to reach out to more of the congregation.

There is much on my mind. My preference is definitely towards the vertical (actually the TLM is offered today, and I do want to go to it but was very lost the first time and have been too lazy to familiarize myself with it since. After this incident, I’ll be studying hard . I wonder, however, what God’s preference is.

Any thoughts?

Inasmuch as I’ll probably get blasted by someone who will quote Jesus saying, “Let the little children come to me…”, there is a time and place for everything. The parents, as the child’s first teachers of the Faith need to gently instruct her that the exchange of peace is only done with your pewmates in a charitable, but, sober, manner.

I admit that when I was a little kid (even though my parents sent me to a Catholic school), I pulled some pretty bad stunts in Church, but, my mother was rather quick on the draw and corrected me, and, made sure that whatever happened the previous Mass didn’t repeat itself at the next one. While children may do things innocently, it is the parents’ responsibility to teach them appropriate behavior at Mass.

While the little girl in question probably didn’t mean to harm anyone, perhaps she needs to be gently told to focus on Jesus at the altar. I think that once children are taught and explained (it may take some repetitions), they will get the idea. But, it’s usually the really young ones (3-5 year-olds) who would do this. They don’t know any better. But, at the age of 10, this child has already received her First Holy Communion and should have some idea of when to do what and why.

 

[Greg72]

Inasmuch as I’ll probably get blasted by someone who will quote Jesus saying, “Let the little children come to me…”, there is a time and place for everything. The parents, as the child’s first teachers of the Faith need to gently instruct her that the exchange of peace is only done with your pewmates in a charitable, but, sober, manner.

I admit that when I was a little kid (even though my parents sent me to a Catholic school), I pulled some pretty bad stunts in Church, but, my mother was rather quick on the draw and corrected me, and, made sure that whatever happened the previous Mass didn’t repeat itself at the next one.

I’m hoping that this one doesn’t happen again.

While children may do things innocently, it is the parents’ responsibility to teach them appropriate behavior at Mass.

While the little girl in question probably didn’t mean to harm anyone, perhaps she needs to be gently told to focus on Jesus at the altar.

Again - I’m hoping that someone does (ideally the parents). I don’t feel that I should be the one to do it, but I don’t know if that’s cowardice on my part.

I think that once children are taught and explained (it may take some repetitions), they will get the idea. But, it’s usually the really young ones (3-5 year-olds) who would do this. They don’t know any better. But, at the age of 10, this child has already received her First Holy Communion and should have some idea of when to do what and why.

You’re right - she should have, but I’ve already seen enough in my short time in the Church and in my long time around Catholics to not assume that she actually has.

I fully agree with what you wrote, but my real question was a bit stranger -

Do you think that God gets upset about situations like this or might He even find it pleasing (assuming the girl had a pure intention)?

I still don’t think that it’s excusable and I certainly don’t want to see it spread - I’m just imagining how it might have looked to God.

 

[Phemie]

I’ve heard enough choirs jump in with the Agnus Dei to fill the silence during the Sign of Peace and have witnessed the surprise when we tell them it’s supposed to accompany the fractioning rite to realized that there’s been a lack of catechesis on exactly what the Agnus Dei is.

Since our choir members often don’t know, I’m sure there are many parents who are also unaware.

 

[sphilomena]

What she did is way over the top, but as others have said, her parents need to do some teaching. You have to wonder where she saw this, or thought it was the right thing to do.

It’s along the lines of what I see the EMHC do all the time: they go up to the altar, and even though the priest may already be praying the Agnus Dei, they reach around shaking hands with each other. Boy, we sure need catechesis in what is going on at the altar. Before I gave up being an EMHC I wished I could genuflect when I reached the altar.