Play Mass Kit

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We used to play Mass. Definately good for at least 2 hours of play time! My Mom would let us cut bread with a pop cover or similar size cover…sometimes the ketchup bottle! My sister and I would gather EVERY doll and place them in the “pews”. Of course we would wash their faces, etc. before attending “Mass”. The only thing I think back on now was how I didn’t understand how my brother ALWAYS got to be the Priest! Now, four adult children later, I know God was helping to nuture the Mother in me…
 
Gummajeane said:
My sister and I would gather EVERY doll and place them in the “pews”. Of course we would wash their faces, etc. before attending “Mass”.
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adorable! i wonder if there’s any correlation with home schooled kids…
 
Hello Everyone,
I personally think it would be ok to give a child such a toy under certain conditions. The biggest thing would be the outlook of the child. Does the child express a sense of awe or wonderment at the mass? Then go ahead and buy it. Teach that putting this away at the end of playing mass is also a form of respect for Christ.
If the child doesn’t, then maybe at 10 years (or a little older) ask a priest or deacon to take the child “on a tour” around the church.

Side Note: I think Christ respects this kind of play. With people falling away from the church, and now this toy comes out. That’s cool. True, there is no transubstantiation, however, kids who love to play with this toy can’t be accused of not having their mind on Christ. He also told us to enter Heaven we need to have faith like a child’s.
 
I remember as a kid, me and my cousins would get the table set up as an alter. My mom cut a hole in the top of a green blanket (origanaly red, but i told her it was ordinary time LOL!) We cut out small circles of bread and use grape juice. I would pick out any 3 passages in the Bible and read them. I would take their money in the offering (oops! LOL) Sence we did not have a real processional crucifix, we used a rosary crucifix tied to a broomstick. Just goes to show you anyone can play church!
 
SacredHeartFan said:
Sence we did not have a real processional crucifix, we used a rosary crucifix tied to a broomstick. Just goes to show you anyone can play church!
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hilarious! i can’t imagine what nun/sister/priest/brother wouldn’t smile ear to ear at such a sight and watch intently as the kids play!

did anyone ever accidentally drop the Host? “AHHH! everyone stop. mom, call the police!”
 
Red_Meg said:
My oldest “said Mass” once when he was about eighteen months old. It was unbelievable, the amount of detail he was aware of. He set up a little “altar” on a trunk in my room, spreading his blankie over it, then placed a celtic cross on it standing up. He put his bottle of milk at the other end, on a window ledge, then retrieved it for the “offertory,” brought it around to the “altar” like one of the congregation, then took over as the priest and held it up for “consecration.” He then brought it over to me and offered me a sip.
Code: 
   If anyone has ever wondered if it's "worth the trouble" to bring the little ones to Mass, I think it is...  :thumbsup:
Margaret
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So true. My friend’s little one was 14 months old on her second Christmas. Christmas Day Mass at our parish usually has no music and little if any singing depending on the pastor – yes, I know, that’s just weird.

Anyway we were at Mass and when the time came for the Gospel Fr. went to get the Book of Gospels and started to process with it in silence. At that moment a little voice behind me said “Alleluia?? Alleluia??” Her grandmother and I had to confer with each other after Mass because we both thought we’d misheard. But no, it was as plain as day, she knew exactly where we were in the Mass and she knew that there was something missing.
 
Servulus said:
It could work the other way, too…

A midwestern Mom and Dad were raising 15 children. Among their many activities, the youngsters would often “play Mass”. Using common items from around the house (card table, table cloth, handkerchief “corporal”, wine glass "chalice, “vestments” made from old bedspreads, etc.), they would faithfully pretend the words, postures, and gestures they had seen so often. There was never a “lesson plan” or lecture associated with it. (Mom and Dad knew and approved, but the kids did it on their own.) Even so, the younger siblings - by participating - learned about proper behavior at Mass and began to learn the prayers they’d say when they were old enough to attend. All seven of the boys became altar servers at their parish and at least two of them, as adults, still perform that function occasionally.

Years later, when both Mom and Dad were homebound due to advanced age and terminal illnesses, there were some touching and grace-filled moments in that house when their oldest son, now a priest, would genuinely offer the Holy Sacrifice on a card table very much like the one he’d used so many years before.
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aww that’s sweet!
 
I played Mass when I was little also. Why? I wasn’t trying to be irreverent; I LOVED MASS.

… THEN I realized that females can’t be priests. At the same time, my cousin (now a seminarian) realized that males can’t be nuns. It was quite a funny time. We switched roles.

But we played Mass with everyday objects around the home. It was much cheaper. LOL.

We talked to our spiritual directors about it, and they said that God knows the reason why we played Mass. He knows we did it because we loved Him. Really, the reason for playing Mass is very important, I think. If it’s done in a mocking manner, then it would be sacrilegious.
 
ancilla_Domini said:
I played Mass when I was little also. Why? I wasn’t trying to be irreverent; I LOVED MASS.

… THEN I realized that females can’t be priests. At the same time, my cousin (now a seminarian) realized that males can’t be nuns. It was quite a funny time. We switched roles.

But we played Mass with everyday objects around the home. It was much cheaper. LOL.

We talked to our spiritual directors about it, and they said that God knows the reason why we played Mass. He knows we did it because we loved Him. Really, the reason for playing Mass is very important, I think. If it’s done in a mocking manner, then it would be sacrilegious.
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aw now that is even sweeter. seems innocent enough, as long as they don’t get the notion to become one of those female “Catholic priest” rebels - why can’t they just play make believe and and keep it to themselves!
 
johnnydigit said:
aw now that is even sweeter. seems innocent enough, as long as they don’t get the notion to become one of those female “Catholic priest” rebels - why can’t they just play make believe and and keep it to themselves!
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LOL!! If only! The world would be a better place…
 
I remember “playing Mass” too as a kid. Complete with using bedsheets as a chausable, “baptizing” anything I can get my hands on with “holy water” (and making my mom not too pleased) and attaching several markers together to make a processional cross.

Ah, those were the days… :o
 
I think that is perfect to help inspire little boys!! I love it! I may keep that in mind for my Grandson–John Paul 🙂

They are just objects that inspire spiritual play. As long as they are not “blessed” or “consecrated” I see nothing wrong with them playing make believe.

Whatever it takes, we need priest now and in the future!
 
I’ll add my 2cents here.

We also “played mass” nilli wafers were usually the “host”, and any kind of “Challicy” lloking cup would work.
In our case there was an old set of fireplace end-irons that could be taken apart. One piece made a pretty nice chalice with it’s brass finish. unfortunatly the “Base” was small and it had a tendency to fall over. (No fluid inside).
Long story short, our mother didn’t mind, we recognized the reverence of mass (as much as small children can) and we were occupied in a “healthy” playtime. Of course we certainly didn’t need to spend any money on this.
This back in the “Latin” days, so we didn’t know the prayers, we would just solomnly face the “Altar” bend slightly over and just mumble (what does a 4 year old know?)then hold up the "Host or “Chalice”. Then we would go straight to “communion”.

On a side note, once we were setting up the “Altar” in the playroom and drew a “Crucifix” and two “Candles” on the wall with Crayon. Boy did we catch heck for that!! 30 years, and at least 2 coats of paint later you cold still make out the outlined remnants of our “Sanctuary”.
Mea Culpa Mom.

Peace
James
 
I just remembered! My brother was given a Mass kit by our pastor when he was 6 or 7 years old. He was also given a package of unconsecrated ‘hosts’. The pastor and another priest, both of whom were family friends, had high hopes that he’d become a priest. At that time they were planning his future education at the Redemptorist seminary. Boy were they barking up the wrong tree!

We did play Mass a couple of times but he never had much use for this ‘toy’. Both priests died before we reached our teens and any plans they had died with them.
 
chicago said:
What marketing!

That isn’t a “+Miniature Mass Kit for Children”, it’s a portable Mass kit for real priests! What parent would let their child play with materials of that sort, anyway?
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I have seen the set in question. It did not used to come with the lectionary or lectionary stands. The ornate box is a new thing, too.

These look like the pieces I saw, which are not a true Mass kit. All of the pieces are reproductions of a real Mass kit, but made from brass, and on a miniature scale.

The one I have seen is a nicely-constructed teaching tool. It comes with materials and suggestions about teaching a catechism class what the names of all the different vessels and linens are, what their use is, and so on. The directions specifically suggest that children be allowed access to the set only with supervision. It also comes with directions for making an “altar”, to scale, from plywood. This turns over to form a box for storing the materials; the “legs” of the altar close to form a lid.

It most certainly is NOT envisioned as something that is going to go into the rest of the tumble in some toybox! :eek:
 
Pious_Mat said:
I don’t know if I agree that this it is quite appropriate for a child to play Mass. For me, it seems to lessen the sanctity of the Mass as a whole.

In my opinion, if a young man really likes that sort of thing, find a good parish, and have him enlist as an altar boy. This is especially good in an EF parish, since 1) The complex role of the altar server in the EF gives the little fellow a greater sense of being active and possibly having vocation and 2) I know for a fact that most could use more altar boys.
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I agree. Take the boy to Mass after explaining what he will see there. No play stuff. Give them reality, not fantasy. Also at Mass don’t be afraid of disciplining your little critter to be quiet and pay attention. This of course, depends upon the age of the child. One little trick I have seen parents do is let the child bring paper and pencil/a crayon, or two and draw during Mass. Also a nice bibilical/Christian book for s/him to look at would help too.

A PLAY priest set! What next? A little play boy and girl exchanging wedding rings???
 
Pious_Mat said:
I don’t know if I agree that this it is quite appropriate for a child to play Mass. For me, it seems to lessen the sanctity of the Mass as a whole.

In my opinion, if a young man really likes that sort of thing, find a good parish, and have him enlist as an altar boy. This is especially good in an EF parish, since 1) The complex role of the altar server in the EF gives the little fellow a greater sense of being active and possibly having vocation and 2) I know for a fact that most could use more altar boys.
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EasterJoy said:
I have seen the set in question. It did not used to come with the lectionary or lectionary stands. The ornate box is a new thing, too.

These look like the pieces I saw, which are not a true Mass kit. All of the pieces are reproductions of a real Mass kit, but made from brass, and on a miniature scale.

The one I have seen is a nicely-constructed teaching tool. It comes with materials and suggestions about teaching a catechism class what the names of all the different vessels and linens are, what their use is, and so on. The directions specifically suggest that children be allowed access to the set only with supervision. It also comes with directions for making an “altar”, to scale, from plywood. This turns over to form a box for storing the materials; the “legs” of the altar close to form a lid.

It most certainly is NOT envisioned as something that is going to go into the rest of the tumble in some toybox! :eek:
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I agree. Use it as a “teaching tool”, not a “play” set.
 
Rosarynana said:
I think that is perfect to help inspire little boys!! I love it! I may keep that in mind for my Grandson–John Paul 🙂

They are just objects that inspire spiritual play. As long as they are not “blessed” or “consecrated” I see nothing wrong with them playing make believe.

Whatever it takes, we need priest now and in the future!
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If you do give one of these to your Grandson, please plan to be around to see that it is played with properly. Children do not attain the concept of “spiritiual play” by osmosis. Have you ever seen the full destruction of a toy by a child? Tain’t pretty.
 
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