Mass at Yellowstone

In 18 days, we head out on our journey to visit my parents in California. We've found the churches where we plan to attend Mass along the way. We were very excited to find out that Yellowstone National Park has Mass and Communion Services in the park. My parents think we are crazy for mapping out Mass locations, but we like to be prepared.

Check out this link for information on Mass in Yellowstone  I was really excited to see that they had services in the park because al of the Catholic churches seem to be quite a distance from where we are camping.

We have most of our camping gear clean and ready to go. 18 days and counting!

Let the Quiet Children Come to Me?

I often wonder if "quiet" is a word many Catholics insert into Jesus' words when He says, "Let the children come to me." He didn't qualify that statement with "quiet", "well-behaved" or "mute".  Our parish instituted a new policy last year sometime.  Announcements about disruptive children being brought out were being made every week along with announcements about the "training room".  We eventually began a nursery at one Mass.  Note: this is not a teaching of the Catholic Church, it is a policy of our local parish.  One I hope will change. Here is a good article on the subject: For Crying Out Loud

Not long after the policy went into effect, the priest asked a woman to take her child out during the homily.  I was shocked, as the child was not being noisy.  He was moving around a bit, sure, but 3 year olds do that. I complained.  Then, the policy changed to making awkward pauses during the Mass for any noise or disruption. It has evolved into an atmosphere of complete intolerance for any noise, good or bad - from children. Adults talking during Mass goes without any punishment at all.  I call the pauses and the asking people to leave Mass punishments.

Yesterday, this policy escalated into a new level of intolerance.  Not only was Mass paused, but several parishioners, including an adult parishioner serving up on the altar, stared down a family whose baby cooed, babbled and made a few grunting noises.  This baby was not crying.  I was sitting directly behind this family with their precious children. Two well behaved toddlers and a baby in a car carrier. Really? A baby coos and people feel it is okay to turn their heads and stare them down?  I'd never seen this family at Mass before and I hope they were not scared away.   I was shocked by their actions and found it ironic that the man on the altar and one other parishioner staring had often disturbed me and my family with their conversations during the homily and even the Consecration! 

I am opposed to cry rooms, training rooms and nurseries.  We do not raise Catholic children by keeping them out of the church. We raise Catholic children by having them celebrate the Mass with us in the actual church and teaching them proper behavior and reverence.

My letter to the parish council (I just emailed it to them all):

Dear Parish Council,

The quiet baby policy has now escalated to an unacceptable level of intolerance.  I’ve addressed each of these issues with Father XXX in the past, and have decided that it is best to inform the council of my thoughts regarding this matter.  I find it quite ironic that those who stare down families whose babies coo or babble are often the ones who have disturbed me and my family with their endless chatter during Mass (even during the homily and Consecration!). I suggest adding announcements for restless, talkative adults.  Perhaps suggest that the training room is there for them, as well.

Yesterday, there was a family directly in front of me with a baby and two young sons.  Very well behaved young sons, I might add.  The baby DID NOT cry during Mass. They baby cooed and babbled.  I was embarrassed by the level of intolerance shown by my fellow parishioners, including one adult male serving up on the altar.  At one point, the man on the altar stared at this family for at least one entire minute.  I was horrified—he was standing sideways and adjusted his head so as to give them the “evil eye” when all their baby was doing was making a few coos and babbles. 

My husband and I have already decided we would no longer attend Mass at this parish if we have any more children.  No matter how wonderful, generous or brilliant the other parishioners are, they can never make up for the torment, embarrassment and torture parents must go through when their baby is cooing and babbling.  A crying child seems to be an unforgivable sin. If we are truly a pro-life people, we would be filled with joy when we heard the voices of children. Jesus said, “Let the children come to me.”  He didn’t qualify that statement with “quiet”, “well-behaved” or “mute”.  Perhaps, the noise of children are the prayers God enjoys most.

Crying babies are a completely different matter, and not the point of my letter.  We do not agree with cry rooms, training rooms or nurseries.  We do not raise Catholic children by keeping them out of the church. We raise Catholic children by having them celebrate the Mass with us in the actual church and teaching them proper behavior and reverence. Children are not perfect, just as adults are not perfect.  I personally am more irritated by adults who talk during Mass than any child who babbles or even cries. If you are going to punish families with pausing the Mass, evil looks and announcements, you need to treat the adult offenders accordingly.  I am utterly disgusted by the treatment this precious family received on Sunday.  I’ve not liked the policy from the very beginning, have voiced my opinion on the matter and believe, we, as a parish, have finally crossed the line.

One last note—while I do not care about the change in Mass times, I find it quite ironic that you expect parents to make their children behave inside the church, but do not require it outside the church. Isn’t is a bit ridiculous to be changing the Mass times when all that would be required would be to make parents be responsible for their own children? How about a few announcements about that?

If interested, here is a link to an article called “For Crying Out Loud”  http://www.patheos.com/blogs/deaconsbench/2012/01/for-crying-out-loud-a-pastors-message-to-parents/

Pattie Curran

Solemnity of Corpus Christi

Today is the Feast of Corpus Christi. The feast of the Body and Blood of Christ. At the request of Pope Urban IV, St. Thomas Aquinas composed the office (prayers)for the feast. The picture above is from EWTN.

As Catholics, we believe that we receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. We receive His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.

Matthew has been really excited the past several weeks as he has been reflecting upon the miracle that takes place at every Mass. He said the other day in speaking about a priest friend, "WOW! It is so cool that Father _____ gets to perform a miracle at every Mass!"

Today is grandma and grandpa's 40th wedding anniversary. When talking about the special feast day today, Joseph said, "WOW! What a cool day to get married! That is so neat that they got to have their wedding on the Feast of the Body and Blood of Jesus!" He was so cute. We explained that they had not gotten married on this feast day, but that this year their anniversary fell on this special day. The priest at church this morning offers Mass at two churches and was a bit late in getting to church. After Mass, Joseph asked why and we explained that he had two churches to take care of. Joseph replied, "We really do need more priests!" Bless his heart.

Here is the Gospel Reading from today's Mass:

John 6: 51 - 58
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."
52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
53 So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you;
54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.
57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever."

We were in Linville, NC over the weekend and attended Mass at St. Bernadette's. The view is wonderful. Even with the constructon, you can still see the gorgeous view from the windows behind the altar. Here is a picture of St. Bernadette's. Grandfather mountain is in the background and can be seen from inside the church. Click on the image to see a full size picture.

Mass Kit for Children

Mass Kit for Children

Today, the boys turned our basement into a church. They had an altar, chairs for pews and a pulpit all set up. Joseph wore his red robe to offer mass because he was pretending to be a bishop. At the link above, you can purchase a Mass kit for children. They also have patterns for child-size vestments and a child-size monstrance! GREAT stuff.

Here's what the website lists as the contents in the kit:

A must for every Catholic home and classroom. Use for altar boy training, or First Communion preparation. For children ages 3-12. Kit includes

lesson plan book with activity sheets
brass chalice 4 1/2"
brass paten 3 1/4"
brass crucifix 4"
brass and glass sanctuary light 4 1/2"
brass snuffer 10"
brass set of 4 bells
brass match tray
brass censer 5"
glass cruets (pair) 4"
glass finger bowl
glass votive candles (pair)
brass incense boat w/spoon 2 1/4"
incense grains and instant lighting charcoal
patterns for making a wooden altar

Joseph Pretends to Offer Mass

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com