Priest inviting kids onto altar during consecration?

[Flatty10]

I know of this priest in my diocese that sometimes just before the consecration during Sunday mass invites the kids up onto the altar and stand next to him while he consecrates the host and such. I’m guessing he’s trying to make the mass more appealing to the younger guys, but it’s still mass?! whats your opinion on this?

 

[MarkThompson]

Yes, it’s still Mass, of course! But hopefully this, from EWTN has the information you’re looking for –

 

[Flatty10]

thanks alot, helped quite abit!

and yeah obviously still mass, just seems to be becoming less sacred and more like entertainment sometimes

 

[mardukm]

I know of this priest in my diocese that sometimes just before the consecration during Sunday mass invites the kids up onto the altar and stand next to him while he consecrates the host and such. I’m guessing he’s trying to make the mass more appealing to the younger guys, but it’s still mass?! whats your opinion on this?

I think they do it on the principle of Jesus’ exhortation, “let the children come unto me for to such as these the kingdom of heaven belongs.”

Some may think (innocently) that this is a strong argument. But it should be noted that Jesus did not do this on Holy Ground.

Finally, it must be affirmed that the GIRM does not permit laypersons to approach the altar during the consecration.

Priests who do this have their heart in the right place, but they should practice obedience to their bishop first, as the the Apostles obeyed Christ (in the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch).

Approach this priest privately on the matter. If that does not work, approach him with two or three others (or perhaps get a petition going). If that does not work, then go to the bishop.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[WetCatechumen]

If the priest was literally inviting them onto the altar during the consecration, that’s inappropriate and you should have pointed that out.

If it was the sanctuary and they were only around the altar, do what other people are saying.

 

[Flatty10]

lol yeah they’re not actually on the altar,. just standing next to the priest facing towards the rest of us.

 

[mardukm]

thanks alot, helped quite abit!

and yeah obviously still mass, just seems to be becoming less sacred and more like entertainment sometimes

It is not “less sacred and more like entertainment” to have children approach the altar. If it wasn’t explicitly uncanonical, I’d find it very endearing.

Just because something is not canonical does not automatically give certain people the right to blithely toss around the words “sacrilege,” “profane,” or “disrespectful to God.” I’ve lurked on the Traditional Catholic Forums for several years, and I’ve rarely found extreme traditionalists who are willing to give the benefit of the doubt first and investigate investigate the matter, but are rather more than willing to spew insults at those who do not think like them.

How ironic that extremist traditionalists so very often accuse their perceived opponents of injecting too much emotionalism into the Liturgy, when in fact, emotionalism is the very thing that drives their own criticisms.

Blessings

 

[Flatty10]

it’s not that I’m extremely conservative or anything, its just super distracting having the priest hold up the body of Christ, and then have little kids there just being silly haha.

and its not that i think mass should be no laughing or no joy, it’s just this part especially is sooo sacred i don’t think it’s a good idea.

 

[mardukm]

If the priest was literally inviting them onto the altar during the consecration, that’s inappropriate and you should have pointed that out.

If it was the sanctuary and they were only around the altar, do what other people are saying.

Our Liturgy is modeled after the Jewish service. If one investigates the OT, one discovers that laypersons were not permitted even in the sanctuary - only the Aaronic priests, and the Levitical priests.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[mardukm]

it’s not that I’m extremely conservative or anything, its just super distracting having the priest hold up the body of Christ, and then have little kids there just being silly haha.

and its not that i think mass should be no laughing or no joy, it’s just this part especially is sooo sacred i don’t think it’s a good idea.

Thank you for the the clarification. In truth, I suspected you were not an extremist, which is why I worded my post in the third person.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[roveau]

‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’ (Luke 18:16).

I don’t think that needs qualifying footnotes. It is a message that children should be permitted to approach Jesus… and…we are to be like little children, ‘for such is the Kingdom of God’.

The priest was obviously thinking of divine scripture when he first thought of doing this.

 

[SunnaB16]

I know of this priest in my diocese that sometimes just before the consecration during Sunday mass invites the kids up onto the altar and stand next to him while he consecrates the host and such. I’m guessing he’s trying to make the mass more appealing to the younger guys, but it’s still mass?! whats your opinion on this?

Whether or not some folks think its a good idea, its an abuse, and it could be another thin edge of the wedge.

More reverence and dignity would make the Mass more appealing, and reinforce the fact that something awesome is happening; not just some friendly get-together. Children are more able to catch on to the good stuff than a lot of adults think. Feed them the Mass the way it should be celebrated, and theyll appreciate its worth better than if its just “alright”, with t(name removed by moderator)ot alterations.
Raise it above the secular.

Later on, the priest might “invite” the children to say the words of Consecration with him, or “invite” the parents up to say the words. (and at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer hand the Chalice to one person and the Host on the paten to someone else while they all say the Doxology together?)
Downplay the role of the priest, and overplay the role of the laity.
The key word is “MIGHT”; not “WILL”!

This is a “Traditional Catholicism” thread…

 

[mardukm]

‘Suffer the little children to come unto me’ (Luke 18:16).

I don’t think that needs qualifying footnotes. It is a message that children should be permitted to approach Jesus… and…we are to be like little children, ‘for such is the Kingdom of God’.

The priest was obviously thinking of divine scripture when he first thought of doing this.

Yes he was, but he is interpreting the Scripture against the mind of the Church. The passage is relevant for the distribution of Holy Communion, not during the consecration.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Joannm]

I worked with a priest who used to do it and his explanation was that he wanted the kids to pay close attention to what he was doing and this, he felt, was a good way. He has since stopped it after reading documentation against it.

 

[mardukm]

Whether or not some folks think its a good idea, its an abuse, and it could be another thin edge of the wedge.

I’ll agree with you there.

More reverence and dignity would make the Mass more appealing, and reinforce the fact that something awesome is happening; not just some friendly get-together. Children are more able to catch on to the good stuff than a lot of adults think. Feed them the Mass the way it should be celebrated, and theyll appreciate its worth better than if its just “alright”, with t(name removed by moderator)ot alterations.

I disagree. I’ve spoken to Latin priests on this matter when I’ve seen it done, and they’ve assured me that they use the time to instruct the children on the profound meaning of the Sacrament. It shouldn’t be done, but these mischaracterizations are just straw men argument.

Raise it above the secular.

There’s nothing secular about the action. That’s an unwarranted judgment.

Later on, the priest might “invite” the children to say the words of Consecration with him, or “invite” the parents up to say the words. (and at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer hand the Chalice to one person and the Host on the paten to someone else while they all say the Doxology together?)
Downplay the role of the priest, and overplay the role of the laity.
The key word is “MIGHT”; not “WILL”!

The sensationalism just keeps getting better and better.:dts: These arguments do more damage to your cause than the “liberals” ever could, for it demonstrates a lack of intergrity from the traditionalist camp.

This is a “Traditional Catholicism” thread…

I’d encourage you to stick with the apologetics and divest yourself of the polemics.

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[mardukm]

I worked with a priest who used to do it and his explanation was that he wanted the kids to pay close attention to what he was doing and this, he felt, was a good way. He has since stopped it after reading documentation against it.

From what I’ve heard, read, and seen, this practice has almost disappeared in the Latin Church in the past 5 years.

Blessings

 

[SunnaB16]

I disagree. I’ve spoken to Latin priests on this matter when I’ve seen it done, and they’ve assured me that they use the time to instruct the children on the profound meaning of the Sacrament. It shouldn’t be done, but these mischaracterizations are just straw men argument.

There’s nothing secular about the action. That’s an unwarranted judgment.

Cant help whom youve spoken to. It trivializes (the externals of) the Mass. There are more appropriate times to instruct children.
ive seen the exact opposite effect. A lot of (ex)Catholics have wandered off into Fundamentalism or whatever because of the way the celebration of the Mass has so often degenerated: eg the pastor of the local Baptist church is an ex-Catholic who left "because he didnt like what was going on". If the Mass (on the surface) is no better than a Protestant worship service (and SOME of them arent), then whats to stop the badly catechised from drifting away?
i know an ex-Catholic now Christadelphian (actively anti-Catholic) who left the Church largely because of “indifferent” liturgy. There are heaps.

Lex orandi lex credendi.

The sensationalism just keeps getting better and better.:dts:

If you think this is sensationalism, its obvious that youve never seen the comments of the extremists.

These arguments do more damage to your cause than the “liberals” ever could, for it demonstrates ***a lack of intergrity ***from the traditionalist camp.

A “lack of intregrity from the traditionalist camp”?*** In what way; pray tell?*** The term “traditionalist camp” is insulting; you didnt have to come to this thread! Maybe the term "trendy camp" is relevant for some. As far as "doing more damage to your cause......" is concerned, its the “liberals” (your quotation marks) who have given the extremist traditionalists all, or most, of their ammo.
And some of their rantings have some foundation.

I’d encourage you to stick with the apologetics and divest yourself of the polemics.

Having been driven out of the local parish because of assorted abuses, i dont need to be "encouraged" by you or anyone else to do or not do. IT WAS THE ABUSES THAT DROVE ME OUT! Maybe you should be a bit careful with wording when youre on a trad thread. What do you expect me to say? And, before inferring again that im an extremist, ive been involved in more than one brawl with that type, including the SSPX promoters. But a liturgical liberal i aint!
Your convictions carry no more weight than mine do.

What would Pope Benedict say?

 

[Johane]

I know that the last post was a few years ago, so I’m not sure if anyone is reading this…

I need a clarification. I had a conversation with a friend of mine about an experience we had with a priest of ours.

Our priest invites children to the altar, but he invites them up for the Our Father, and sends them back to the congregation with the Peace of Christ. He will speak to the children about the the miracles and gifts of God that surround us (as appropriate to the readings and the homily of the day), and segway into the prayer that Jesus taught us. He doesn’t ask them to raise their hands, or stand in any special way. He just leads them in the prayers that we say as a community.

Is this permitted by the Magistrum?

I have to admit, I would have serious concerns if members of the congregation would stay up at the altar from the time the gifts are brought up… It’s a Mass, not a circus!

Thanks for the clarification.

Johane