Category Archives: Directory for Masses With Children

Daily Mass in the life of children is questioned. I’m not sure where I stand on the boredom issue. Any Mass led by adults who are not solicitous of the spiritual needs of children will be boring. On the other … Continue reading →

Other commentators have suggested there are a few curious prescriptions ahead, including the notion that a church might not be totally suitable for the celebration of Mass with children. My own sense is that churches should be made to be … Continue reading →

Let’s delve into DMC 24, where a previous question was asked about lay preaching. 24. Since the eucharist is always the action of the entire ecclesial community, the participation of at least some adults is desirable. These should be present … Continue reading →

A lot gets put on the priest. Do seminaries prepare him for this role? Do bishops emphasize this in continuing education with their clergy? Consider that the exodus of many Catholic children begins at the end of their grade school … Continue reading →

Chapter Three’s Part 1. Offices and Ministries in the Celebration addresses liturgical ministries. Internal participationists who complain about multiple liturgical roles won’t like it. While the DMC differentiates between the two, this is where the Church connects ordinary participation with … Continue reading →

In the US, school liturgies are the most common application of Chapter III: Masses With Children in Which Only a Few Adults Participate: 20. In addition to the Masses in which children take part with their parents and other family … Continue reading →

We’re still discussing Masses of mostly adults in which children participate. Give kids something to do: 18. It may also be very helpful to give some task to the children. They may, for example, bring forward the gifts or perform … Continue reading →

In mainstream parish Masses, it is recommended that the priest should address children present. I’ve only ever known one priest who did this consistently: 17. Nevertheless, in Masses of this kind it is necessary to take great care that the … Continue reading →

More often the question arises with the matter of Chapter II, “Masses With Adults in Which Children Also Participate” In other words, what to do when significant numbers of children are numbered among the liturgical assembly: 16. In many places … Continue reading →

The next three sections of the Directory for Masses With Children are brief and address related points. So let’s take them in one gulp: 13. Various kinds of celebrations may also play a major role in the liturgical formation of … Continue reading →

Some good insights into the mind of the church. I like to see liturgical principles outlined elsewhere get mentioned in these other documents. We see more than the modern revisionism claims to teach us about the real motives of the … Continue reading →

Expect slow posting to continue indefinitely. Meanwhile, let’s continue with DMC’s look at the role of the believing community, which I think can be taken broadly in this context: 11. The Christian communities to which the individual families belong or … Continue reading →

Section 10 outlines the Church’s understanding of the rolte of parents. First, an acknowledgement that parents are the primary influence for both Christian and human values: 10. The Christian family has the greatest role in instilling these Christian and human … Continue reading →

The previous section and this are most often quoted as among the highlights of the Directory for Masses With Children. Where DMC 8 dealt with the spiritual and liturgical principle of the Paschal Mystery (Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection) today’s post … Continue reading →

Now we delve into the main part of the DMC. Its first chapter discusses “The Introduction of Children to the Eucharistic Celebration.” 8. A fully Christian life is inconceivable without participation in the liturgical services in which the faithful, gathered … Continue reading →