When did a special Mass for children on Christmas Eve begin?

[CatholicZ09]

I have always wondered why a special Mass was created for children on Christmas Eve. I know that the Mass at my parish is not anything different than a regular Mass, but it’s just referred to as the “children’s” Mass. Why do they refer to it as this?

 

[YoungTradCath]

Because

1. They’re allowed to have Childrens’ Masses. I think it is just another pointless division in the Church, but who am I to judge?
2. The masses have somewhat different Eucharistic Prayers, and are somewhat simpler in other areas, such as like using the Apostles’ Creed.
3. As to why it’s only happening on Christmas Eve, I don’t know.

 

[graceandglory]

I have always wondered why a special Mass was created for children on Christmas Eve. I know that the Mass at my parish is not anything different than a regular Mass, but it’s just referred to as the “children’s” Mass. Why do they refer to it as this?

Maybe to coincide with their bedtime? So they can experience a night Mass and be awake for it too?

 

[jmcrae]

1. As to why it’s only happening on Christmas Eve, I don’t know.

Probably because most children are not used to staying up past midnight, and would not be able to stay awake through Midnight Mass - that’s probably why there is an earlier Mass for them.

Even the Easter Vigil usually lets out before midnight (I have seen it finish as early as 10:30, which is still fairly do-able for children), but the Christmas Mass doesn’t even begin until midnight, which makes it very, very late for children.

 

[puzzleannie]

I have always wondered why a special Mass was created for children on Christmas Eve. I know that the Mass at my parish is not anything different than a regular Mass, but it’s just referred to as the “children’s” Mass. Why do they refer to it as this?

about the time evening Mass before a Holy Day became accepted as fulfilling the Mass obligation, I should imagine. Since the lectionary allows for Masses especially for children, and allows for the timing, why is there a problem? I personally like the idea because it means people who would prefer a quieter more traditional Mass can experience that later in the evening.

 

[Filii_Dei]

I’ve always gone for midnight mass since I was a wee kid, and although my parish does have a evening mass, it’s not specifically for children. In any case, midnight mass is still fairly solemn despite the massive overcrowding, so I guess they never really found a need to divert the children elsewhere.

 

[DasErlibnis]

I have always wondered why a special Mass was created for children on Christmas Eve. I know that the Mass at my parish is not anything different than a regular Mass, but it’s just referred to as the “children’s” Mass. Why do they refer to it as this?

I don’t know, but I’m sure its the reason kids dont think of Jesus on Christmas, “Jesus was last night…today is about my present!”

 

[jmcrae]

I don’t know, but I’m sure its the reason kids dont think of Jesus on Christmas, “Jesus was last night…today is about my present!”

What makes you believe that children don’t think of Jesus on Christmas?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I have always wondered why a special Mass was created for children on Christmas Eve. I know that the Mass at my parish is not anything different than a regular Mass, but it’s just referred to as the “children’s” Mass. Why do they refer to it as this?

I don’t think that there is a special children’s Christmas Eve Mass. In a lot of parishes the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass is often publicised in the bulletin as suitable for children or family-friendly or some other like description. Is the Mass you refer to just advertised as being for children or does it take the form of a children’s Mass with the Eucharistic Prayers for such Masses, etc?

 

[Phemie]

It can’t legitimately be a “Children’s Mass” since that requires that children constitute most of the congregation and we know that isn’t the case at that Mass. But because many children do attend that Mass, some parishes will adapt the readings and use the Lectionary for Children and the priest will give a homily geared more toward the kids.

 

[CatholicZ09]

I don’t think that there is a special children’s Christmas Eve Mass. In a lot of parishes the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass is often publicised in the bulletin as suitable for children or family-friendly or some other like description. Is the Mass you refer to just advertised as being for children or does it take the form of a children’s Mass with the Eucharistic Prayers for such Masses, etc?

I’m really not quite sure as I haven’t been to said Mass in quite a few years. From what I remember, the Eucharistic Prayers we the normal ones. It seems to just get advertised with the title “Children’s Mass”, but I never fully understand why it was referred to as such.

 

[Filii_Dei]

It can’t legitimately be a “Children’s Mass” since that requires that children constitute most of the congregation and we know that isn’t the case at that Mass.

I didn’t know there were laws about naming masses.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

I didn’t know there were laws about naming masses.

There’s a large body of liturgical law! Children’s Masses make changes to the Ordo Missæ. There’s a Lectionary too. Finally, as was said most of the congregants must be children.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

We call our’s the “children’s Mass”, because the children put on the Christmas pagent before Mass, and the children usually out-number the adults 3:1!

None of the readings are changed and the EP’s for children are not “usually” used, but the homily is more geared to the kids.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

We call our’s the “children’s Mass”, because the children put on the Christmas pagent before Mass, and the children usually out-number the adults 3:1!

None of the readings are changed and the EP’s for children are not “usually” used, but the homily is more geared to the kids.

I think lots of parishes do this. Christmas, I think, is a liturgical season that holds special wonder for children.

 

[Nelka]

I have never understood this Mass.

I loved, as a child, staying up late and going to Midnight Mass which I still love as much today. Singing carols before Mass, walking home in the early hours of the morning.

It was the one day of the year I was able to stay up so late.

I don’t begrudge anyone taking their children to an earlier Mass but it always felt wonderful to me.

 

[Joannm]

We call the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass the Family Mass because the Youth Choir sings and it is mostly Families with young children that attend. The homily is also geared toward the kids. People can feel comfortable with their kids there. Also many like the earliest Mass because they can get home and begin their other Christmas activities. Our 5:30 Mass had a lot less families with kids and our Midnight hardly has any kids as well as the early morning masses.

 

[Phemie]

We call the 4:00 Christmas Eve Mass the Family Mass because the Youth Choir sings and it is mostly Families with young children that attend. The homily is also geared toward the kids. People can feel comfortable with their kids there. Also many like the earliest Mass because they can get home and begin their other Christmas activities. Our 5:30 Mass had a lot less families with kids and our Midnight hardly has any kids as well as the early morning masses.

I was surprised to see several very young children at Midnight Mass tonight. That included our 10 month old grandson whom our daughter insisted on taking since it was the first time since 2003 that the entire family has been together at Christmas. Now, I’m of the ‘don’t wake a sleeping baby’ school of parenting but they woke him, she nursed him and out he came with us. He was one of 3 babes in arms I saw there and probably the oldest of the three. Luckily he is fascinated by ceiling fans and the church had several. Kept him busy for the whole Mass.

It was strange to see so many children since there had been 4 previous Masses tonight, starting at 4 p.m.