Masses with children--a question regarding the gospel readings

[Tantum_ergo]

This morning, due to the nasty state of the roads here in Vermont, I went to a different church (closer driving distance), for the 11 a.m. Mass which is considered the “family Mass.” (This church has a parish elementary school).

So I was expecting to hear the gospel for today as being “the man born blind.”

Instead, Father read (very briefly) the story of the man who lost his sheep, left the other 99 and brought it home. Maybe all of 2 paragraphs total. He then had a chair placed in front of the altar and had all the first-communion candidates come up and sit with him while he talked to them about being a ‘peacemaker.’ Then the choir and the children sang, Peace (is flowing like a river). Then we went on to the Creed.

And while we had a preface and a Eucharist prayer from the Masses with Children, I believe, we had the regular Nicene Creed, not the Apostles Creed which I had thought was to be used at the Masses with Children.

Anyway, I was a little surprised to find the gospel and readings ‘changed’. Did anybody else (perhaps attending another Mass with Children) experience the same thing?

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the 1973 Directory of Masses with Children:
“49. If the profession of faith occurs at the end of the liturgy of the word, the Apostles’ Creed may be used with children, especially because it is part of their catechetical formation.”

 

[Tantum_ergo]

Thanks, John. It had been a while since I had attended a Mass which was apparently in this format.

But I still wonder why the gospel and readings were changed.

 

[benedictgal]

From the 1973 Directory of Masses with Children:
“49. If the profession of faith occurs at the end of the liturgy of the word, the Apostles’ Creed may be used with children, especially because it is part of their catechetical formation.”

However, this is assuming that a majority of the faithful are comprised of children, as happens at parochial school Masses. Here is what the DMC says regarding Masses where the adults compose a majority of the faithful:

1. Nevertheless, in Masses of this kind it is necessary to take great care that the children present do not feel neglected because of their inability to participate or to understand what happens and what is proclaimed in the celebration. Some account should be taken of their presence: for example, by speaking to them directly in the introductory comments (as at the beginning and the end of Mass) and at some point in the homily.

Furthermore, the EP’s for children should only be used when children make up a majority of the faithful.

And, regarding the matter of the readings, this is what the General Introduction to the Lectionary states:

1. Lent
   a) THE SUNDAYS

1. The Gospel readings are arranged as follows:

The first and second Sundays maintain the accounts of the Temptation and Transfiguration of the Lord, with readings, however, from all three Synoptics.

On the next three Sundays, the Gospels about the Samaritan woman, the man born blind, and the raising of Lazarus have been restored in Year A. Because these Gospels are of major importance in regard to Christian initiation, they may also be read in Year B and Year C, especially in places where there are catechumens.

Other texts, however, are provided for Year B and Year C: for Year B, a text from John about Christ’s coming glorification through his Cross and Resurrection, and for Year C, a text from Luke about conversion.

Therefore, Lent is the only time that such a substitution may happen. However, the substitutions only occur during Years B and C, never during Year A. So, the priest must read the Gospel for Year A.

I hope this helps.

 

[bpbasilphx]

But I still wonder why the gospel and readings were changed.

It’s possible he just made a mistake and prepared for the wrong pericope.

 

[benedictgal]

But I still wonder why the gospel and readings were changed.

It’s possible he just made a mistake and prepared for the wrong pericope.

No, not really. The ordo, the lectionary and the Roman Missal all coincide for this. Even the Roman Missal directs the celebrant to use those prefaces that specifically correspond to the Samaritan Woman, the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus during those particular Sundays when these readings are proclaimed. The only time that one can legitimately make any subsitutions during years B and C is when the Scrutinies are observed. Then, you switch to cycle A. But, you never switch from Cycle A to B or C.

 

[OutinChgoburbs]

The Children’s Lectionary for yesterday shows the same as the plain old Lectionary, John 9.