Was I in the wrong?

[Sunbreak]

There is a reasonable expectation that there will be silence in adoration. That’s why people go - it may be the only time all week or all month where they can have that quiet time with the Lord.

 

[TarkanAttila]

I won’t make a commentary on the state of the priest’s soul. But something is wanting in you if you cannot meditate or keep spiritual peace while a babby’s crying.

Babbies cry.
It’s just what they do.
Our Lord doesn’t mind.
And neither should you.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

There is a reasonable expectation that there will be silence in adoration. That’s why people go - it may be the only time all week or all month where they can have that quiet time with the Lord.

That is also a valid point. But one good way to teach children this is to take them. All four of my kids ages 2-9 are able to sit, quietly and read, color or pray. And there is silence for an hour every week during our hour. But we will have a new baby coming soon and it will take a few times where we have to leave early if there are others there that we feel we are disturbing.

We are fortunate enough to live in an area that offers 24/7 adoration at a Chapel near us. There have been times, when training our children that we have signed up for one hour late at night, just for us.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I don’t see anything wrong taking your baby to Adoration. You are exposing and teaching her about the love Jesus has for us. I am sure the baby can feel the peace in the church. And I am sure Jesus approves also!

 

[Ignatius]

My parish only has the option of (official) adoration (with the monstrance on the altar, not just praying in front of the Tabernacle) once a month for about 10 hours, except in the summer (when we don’t have it at all) and after Holy Thursday Mass (in the meeting room for 2.5 hours, before it is put away until the Vigil Mass). As this is pretty rare, my husband and I went today (with the expectation that we’d be alone like most times) with our 9 month old daughter. Of course she doesn’t understand that she needs to be quiet, so we took turns walking her around the church pointing out the Stations of the Cross or the stained glass windows and explaining them (more for our meditation than her understanding).

Around halfway through the old retired priest who has previously told people not to bring their noisy children into the church so as not to disrupt the sanctity of the place and also to not interrupt other prayers came in as I was explaining the Assumption. He gave me a not friendly look and when I gathered her up and left early, leaving my husband so that we did not put extra burden on Fr in case he did not plan to stay until the next person who signed up for an hour came, he gave me another not so friendly look.

Was I wrong to have brought her to adoration, given I don’t have many opportunities to go without her?

You’re good. God bless you.

 

[ClearWater]

I don´t know if it’s a right-wrong situation. I would think of ways to make a given situation work…or go, more smoothly.

It may be that you are “right” to bring a fussy baby into the Blessed Sacrament, if you have no choice.

However, are there really no alternatives?

 

[Secant]

Well, my little girl was not crying. She was making the usual baby babble. She would cry if I wasn’t talking so I was speaking quietly about what was in the Church - the stations of the Cross and the stained glass windows and what they were meant to remind us of and explaining the statues of the saints.

I do not know what other alternatives I have given that most people whom I call to babysit are not typically available on any Friday, much less a first Friday.

Is it really necessary for silence during adoration? I have experienced people praying aloud (rosaries, readings, etc) so I thought explaining the Assumpion or the Suffering in the Garden would be ok.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I wouldn’t worry about it. You said it was just you and your husband and the priest correct? Maybe you misinterpreted his glances or maybe his hearing aid was not adjusted properly and sounds were magnified. You were whispering so as not to distract.

 

[PaulinVA]

Well, my little girl was not crying. She was making the usual baby babble. She would cry if I wasn’t talking so I was speaking quietly about what was in the Church - the stations of the Cross and the stained glass windows and what they were meant to remind us of and explaining the statues of the saints.

I do not know what other alternatives I have given that most people whom I call to babysit are not typically available on any Friday, much less a first Friday.

Is it really necessary for silence during adoration? I have experienced people praying aloud (rosaries, readings, etc) so I thought explaining the Assumpion or the Suffering in the Garden would be ok.

Yes, it is expected. Some people consider a child a ticking timebomb, and just their presence is a little off putting.

I don’t know. I long for quiet in our parish, but at the same time I know what it’s like to have little children.