Who may proclaim the gospel at Liturgy of the Word for Children?

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saratogatravel

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Someone recently asked me if liturgical guidelines permit a lay person to proclaim the gospel during Liturgy of the Word for Children. I was surprised to discover that the Directory for Masses with Children does not address this question. Chapter III, #24 states that an adult other than the priest may “speak to the children after the gospel” during a children’s Mass. But it doesn’t say another adult may actually proclaim the gospel. Is there a document that addresses this issue?
 
If you are at mass on a Sunday, and the children leave at the time of the gospel…so that the gospel may be proclaimed from the Children’s Lectionary…then a lay person may proclaim the gospel.

If a mass is being said with mostly school children present, then a priest or a deacon will be proclaiming the gospel.
 
Do you know if there is a church document that outlines this procedure? Thanks.
 
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stbruno:
If you are at mass on a Sunday, and the children leave at the time of the gospel…so that the gospel may be proclaimed from the Children’s Lectionary…then a lay person may proclaim the gospel.

If a mass is being said with mostly school children present, then a priest or a deacon will be proclaiming the gospel.
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Can you please give us your source document on that one? (and a link to it)

Thank you,
Angel
 
catholic.org/featured/headline.php?ID=1999
: At many U.S. parishes there has been the practice of “Children’s liturgies of the Word,” when, after the opening rites, the young children leave to a church hall to have their own version of the Liturgy of the Word. At the beginning of the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the children return to the church. In “Redemptionis Sacramentum,” No. 60, it says: “In the celebration of Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are intimately connected to one another, and form one single act of worship. For this reason it is not licit to separate one of these parts from the other and celebrate them at different times or places.” Does this mean that such a practice of a children’s Liturgy of the Word cannot continue as it has been? – R.L., Lowell, Massachusetts
A: I do not believe that “Redemptionis Sacramentum” was referring to this practice but to a grave abuse propagated by some groups in which the celebration of the two tables, that of the Word and that of the Eucharist, was carried out at different times and in different places – sometimes even separated by several hours and interrupted by other activities.

The practice of separating young children, above all those who have yet to receive first Communion, for a special Liturgy of the Word is an entirely different case.

First of all, we usually are dealing with children who are not yet obliged to assist at the Eucharistic celebration, and the special Liturgy of the Word is more resonant of catechesis which prepares them for full participation later and opens them to the treasures of Scripture.

Second, and I would say decisively, this practice is legitimate because it is actually foreseen in the liturgical norms.
 
Thanks be to God the Childrens Liturgy is out as soon as the new Missale Romanum (Sacramentary) comes out. It was a bad idea in the first place.
 
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mosher:
Thanks be to God the Childrens Liturgy is out as soon as the new Missale Romanum (Sacramentary) comes out. It was a bad idea in the first place.
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How do you know this, and when will it be out?
 
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Elzee:
How do you know this, and when will it be out?
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The Missale Romanum is out and in effect but it is only in latin so far and does not provide for Childrens Liturgies. I can only recommend that you purchase a copy of it in Latin perhaps as a gift for the parish after you have read through it. It is quite beautiful in the language of the Church. It was also a subject of discussion at the seminary a few years back. As far as its date of publication in english that is a question that I can’t answer. I know that recently ICEL did some work on it and presented it and Vox Clara said that it was not good enough so it may be another couple years before we see it and have to relearn all the responses from what we currently use.
 
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mosher:
The Missale Romanum is out and in effect but it is only in latin so far and does not provide for Childrens Liturgies. I can only recommend that you purchase a copy of it in Latin perhaps as a gift for the parish after you have read through it. It is quite beautiful in the language of the Church. It was also a subject of discussion at the seminary a few years back. As far as its date of publication in english that is a question that I can’t answer. I know that recently ICEL did some work on it and presented it and Vox Clara said that it was not good enough so it may be another couple years before we see it and have to relearn all the responses from what we currently use.
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Please excuse my ignorance but what is the difference between the GIRM and the Missale Romanum?
 
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mosher:
Thanks be to God the Childrens Liturgy is out as soon as the new Missale Romanum (Sacramentary) comes out. It was a bad idea in the first place.
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We have Children’s Liturgy of the Word at the 9:00 am Mass at my parish. The children are called forward, given a blessing, and they go downstairs. As aonther poster noted, this is more like catechesis than actual liturgy, and the readings and lesson are done by lay persons, often by teens in the confirmation class. The children return to the main church after the homily. I have taken my grandkids, and I think it is wonderful - the children hear the Word on their own level, the parents participating with the children are hearing the Word, and caring for their children, and less distraction during the readings and homily for the rest of the congregation. It is all done in a very reverent and respectful way.

Over the years, we have tried several different methods for dealing with toddlers and pre-schoolers being disruptive during Mass - babysitting, pre-school CCD classes at the same time as Mass, cry rooms, etc… Including them in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word has been the most effective so far.
 
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thistle:
Please excuse my ignorance but what is the difference between the GIRM and the Missale Romanum?
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The GRIM is the guide that explains how to use the Missale Romanum (formerly called the Sacramentary).
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DiZent:
Over the years, we have tried several different methods for dealing with toddlers and pre-schoolers being disruptive during Mass - babysitting, pre-school CCD classes at the same time as Mass, cry rooms, etc… Including them in the Children’s Liturgy of the Word has been the most effective so far.
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My parish just recently instituted a babysitting program (of which I will be making a formal complaint to the pastor) and there is a cry room. Unfortunatelly, these children that are being seperated from the Church have a right to be at mass. I am always disturbed when these things are put into place. It reminds me that we really don’t understand the sacramental character of our faith.
 
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mosher:
My parish just recently instituted a babysitting program (of which I will be making a formal complaint to the pastor) and there is a cry room. Unfortunatelly, these children that are being seperated from the Church have a right to be at mass. I am always disturbed when these things are put into place. It reminds me that we really don’t understand the sacramental character of our faith.
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I was extremely grateful for the babysitting program that my parish had when my daughter was a toddler - when I first came back to the Catholic faith. I volunteered my time helping once a month. My daughter’s parish now has a cry room, but no babysitting. Her toddler is a handful - loud and active. He will evertually learn, but right now he is very disruptive - for his mother and for those sitting around them. They have a Children’s Liturgy once a month, though her neighbor has suggested that she take attend the Teen Liturgy on Sunday evenings.
 
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DiZent:
I was extremely grateful for the babysitting program that my parish had when my daughter was a toddler - when I first came back to the Catholic faith. I volunteered my time helping once a month. My daughter’s parish now has a cry room, but no babysitting. Her toddler is a handful - loud and active. He will evertually learn, but right now he is very disruptive - for his mother and for those sitting around them. They have a Children’s Liturgy once a month, though her neighbor has suggested that she take attend the Teen Liturgy on Sunday evenings.
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Does that mean that the teens are a handful, too? Loud and active and can’t control themselves, either? Is that why they get their own (mostly disgraceful) “Teen Mass”? with scantily clad girls around the altar swaying during the consecration and rock and roll party music (the GIRM calls for SACRED music, preferring chant and polyphony!)

ALL public masses should be for ALL the public - a mass needs to be a mass, needs to be a mass…

Why do teens get their rock and roll mass and the adults can’t have one that is reverent and quiet and liturgically correct, Gregorian chant and all?

That’s it, I’m protesting!!! I want an “Adult Mass”!!! and I’m going to be a handful and loud and disruptive until I get one!!!

God bless,
Angel
 
Angels Watchin:
Does that mean that the teens are a handful, too? Loud and active and can’t control themselves, either? Is that why they get their own (mostly disgraceful) “Teen Mass”? with scantily clad girls around the altar swaying during the consecration and rock and roll party music (the GIRM calls for SACRED music, preferring chant and polyphony!)

ALL public masses should be for ALL the public - a mass needs to be a mass, needs to be a mass…

Why do teens get their rock and roll mass and the adults can’t have one that is reverent and quiet and liturgically correct, Gregorian chant and all?

That’s it, I’m protesting!!! I want an “Adult Mass”!!! and I’m going to be a handful and loud and disruptive until I get one!!!

God bless,
Angel
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If you wanted a more “adult” Mass at my parish, then the 7:30 am or 12:30 pm on Sunday would be for you - definitely more sedate. I’ve been told that the absolute worst is the 4:00 pm children’s Christmas Eve Mass, that it is a zoo. I haven’t yet attended the Teen Mass. My parish doesn’t have one, but I have only heard positive things about it from my daughter’s parish - doesn’t sound at all like what you’ve described. The other advise given to my daughter was to do what parents of unruly toddlers have always done - arrive late and leave early.
 
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saratogatravel:
Someone recently asked me if liturgical guidelines permit a lay person to proclaim the gospel during Liturgy of the Word for Children. I was surprised to discover that the Directory for Masses with Children does not address this question. Chapter III, #24 states that an adult other than the priest may “speak to the children after the gospel” during a children’s Mass. But it doesn’t say another adult may actually proclaim the gospel. Is there a document that addresses this issue?
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CLOW is not a Mass for children, so of course the sacramentary would be silent on that issue. It is a Liturgy of the Word outside Mass, and just like a similar service for adults (such as a weekday communion service in the absence of a priest), any adult may proclaim the Gospel. A deacon should do it if available, failing that a male is preferred, a religious sister, or a laywoman may proclaim. Youth who have been confirmed may also proclaim. The teaching must clearly be differentiated from a homily, usually is read or based on a printed resource prepared by a priest with an imprimatur. What is to be avoided is an ad hoc teaching on the scriptures by an untrained uninformed adult volunteer, passing on their own opinion to innocent children. This unfortunately is what usually happens in parishes with this program.

by the way any Liturgy of the Word must be conducted as a liturgy, formally according to the rites provided (the new Missal is not available yet so no point in commenting). If it is called a liturgy it must be true liturgy. That is not to say that children in a catechetical setting, a prayer group, nursing home residents etc. may not be gathered, here the Sunday readings proclaimed by a trained layperson, read a prepared reflection or teaching guide on the readings, and have a discussion and faith sharing on the readings. Very good practice, but not a Liturgy of the Word.

Personally, I am against removing infants, children and teens from the Sunday assembly where they belong because it distorts the meaning of the Mass and the community formed by Christ when we gather for the Eucharist. CLOW was a long-standing custom when I came to this parish, is tolerated by the pastor, so it is not my call, I am just trying to educate the volunteers who have been doing it and provide better resources for them to use. It is an act of Christian charity, however, to provide parents a comfortable place they can take screaming infants and restless toddlers, without having to go outside in bad weather, and a place for nursing moms.
 
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