Leave early or stay?

[Eli_Joshys_Mom]

I am a returning Catholic and my husband is converting (to Catholic). When everyone goes up to recieve communion, is it ok to leave because we are in the paths of others and we have not been to confession or started our classes yet?? We have done that a few times, but it seems inapropriate. What are we supost to do?
Also, when my 9 month old starts crying I have to take him outside. Is there a certain time I should not get up and go outside? I feel like people look at me funny when I have to do this.
I always sit in the back in case my 2 yr old or baby start to get fussy. I know poeple don’t want to hear screaming children while at church.
Oh! one more question! i notice somtimes they will say for the children to go to a seperate place for a short time during the mass. is there a age requirement? What do they do in the seperate room?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

[buzzcut]

You can go up for a blessing. Make sure you get in the priest’s line. Cross your arms and the priest will bless you rather than offering you communiom.

 

[Eli_Joshys_Mom]

thank you! I had no idea that I could do that. Do I say anthing when I go up? Can my husband go up as well? How about my children?

 

[Toni]

buzzcut:

You can go up for a blessing. Make sure you get in the priest’s line. Cross your arms and the priest will bless you rather than offering you communiom.

After listening to Father Coropi talk about the Communion police. I have also taught the students to get a blessing if they are not in the state of grace.

 

[AJV]

I would suggest that you first make sure that the priest does offer blessings at the time for Communion. Some dioceses do not encourage the custom. In my parish for example, it is not offered and I have never seen anyone avail of it.

 

[KCT]

buzzcut:

You can go up for a blessing. Make sure you get in the priest’s line. Cross your arms and the priest will bless you rather than offering you communiom.

When dh was in Berlin visiting his (Presbyterian) cousins, one cousin went w/ him to Mass to translate. Dh told her about getting a blessing, so she went up and got one! I thought that was cool of her! —KCT

 

[buzzcut]

Eli&Joshys_Mom:

Can my husband go up as well? How about my children?

I’ve seen people bring up infants for a blessing. But I think it’s up to the priest. Going up for a blessing is actually an unofficial practice, not mentioned in any books, and so there are no real rules about it. Pope John Paul II did it, so the justification for it is “papal precedent.”

 

[asquared]

you can stay in the pew during communion and pray, joining your prayers with those who are receiving, praying that Christ is present in your heart. This is called a “spiritual communion”. You may take your baby out if she is fussy, a good time if you have to go out with a child is while people are singing, reciting a prayer, or in the act of standing or kneeling, so the shuffling around kind of covers up the minor disruption of leaving. It is best not to leave during the Eucharistic prayer, that is after the Holy Holy Holy, while everyone is kneeling, it is more quiet, the priest is saying the prayer that includes the consecration. This is the holiest part of the Mass (you should kneel but you can sit if you have to hold the baby). Try not to leave during this part, but if the baby is being impossible sometimes you can’t help it.

Before they start the readings in the first part of the Mass (liturgy of the Word) sometimes they call for the children to leave for their own children’s liturgy of the Word. That is for children from about 3-4 up until they have made their first communion. They here the readings from the children’s lectionary and hear a homily geared to their level, and come back before the Eucharistic Prayer begins.

You might ask an usher if your church has a nursery or cry room. This is the Catholic Church, where families are expected to be receptive to new life, which means we love babies and children, and if anybody gives you another impression, their behavior is not in line with our theology.

 

[Maureen_Fiore]

In our parish the 9:30 mass takes children who are around the age of 5 or so and they go off to another room to hear the Word of God in terms for the younger children to grasp. This allows the rest of the congregation to listen attentively to the Gospel with no distractions. Of course, there is an occasional cry from a small baby, but that is OK. Leaving early though other than for reasons of the children fussing I would discourage that practice. It is not proper to leave right after Communion. I think you and your husband should go up and receive a blessing from the priest. That is a good idea.