www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall I wish to offer an apology

Awhile back in one of these sub forums I asked about the 3 parts of the Mass that you must be attentive to in order to hear a full Mass. I was basically being a bit testy because I once again had come home from a Mass that was disturbed by parents walking in and out with young children and babies thru the entire Mass. I was taken to task a bit and reminded to be more forgiving because children sometime need to be attended too even during the Mass. WELL - this weekend I had the pleasure(?) of taking my 3 1/2 yr. old granddaughter to Liturgy. Fortunately we only made 1 trip to the little girls room (right at the homily) and only had several small and quiet incidents of talking. But my admonishment to others came back to bite me in the - well you know where. So to all I upset and to all parents and grandparents please forgive a cranky grandma and say a prayer to increase my patience.

Sue,

If you could just talk your Church into removing the annoying pews you would find the Church to be much more user friendly for all ages and have less occasion to be cranky.

CDL

This subject strikes near and dear to me.

Our 1.5 year old is CRAZY(and loud)during church. I've never seen a child at church with so much energy. I'm actually a person who always have been in favor of keeping your kids well behaved in church (was raised that way), but you can't really discipline a 1.5 year old can you?

Right now we are always bringing him out of the church to the area between the doors leading into the sanctuary and the outside doors. That way his loudness doesn't disturb others and we can still participate in the liturgy.

Any advice on how to keep him a little more relaxed? Remember he is 1.5 years old, so my long lectures are just not doing the trick .

Maybe we'll just have to deal with it now until he's old enough to "get a good talking to".

Coming and going is natural and normal in the Byzantine Church. We are in our Father's house and there should be reverence and a sense of the many generations brought toghether as happens in the Father's house. Yes get rid of those RC seats, they are so alien.

No parent should be made to feel bad because the kids are having a bad hair day. They would be only to well aware that everyone is turning to check where the crying has come from.

Worrying about not getting all the points for "hearing Mass" is alien to the Byzantine mindset. As the Dean of the ROCOR told the visiting group at his church. He explained that it was normal for people to move around in the Church, as they arrive to venerate the Icons and to move to the side to sit if they feel the need or to go outside to get the blood moving in the legs (not to smoke of gossip).

P

The other day at church our grandbaby and another baby were by the icons to the left facing the iconostas on the floor - we are talking 4 & 6 months, they were having a grand time being babies.

All the children are loved and you know one thing for sure - you usually see them by Communion when they are handed back to you by whoever they have gone to visit. For sure they will be with you by the time Divine Liturgy is over.

As they get older they become attentive, less busy and definately aware of Jesus in the Eucharist, because from there first time of receiving Christ - they hear from everyone 'Jesus Bread'. I remember a little five year old (who is now 13) turning excitedly to me one day going, "I am going to get Jesus Bread are you?" What a delight that must have been to our Lord. We have one little one that cries from the time of the Great Entrance until she receives Eucharist - she knows when the procession begins that Jesus is coming.

Children are awesome in church - yeah there are always a few who are out of hand - but Jesus made them too. Some of those young ones that were out of hand when my kids were little, are just awesome young adults - full of faith, and faithfully serve God and his Church. Jesus said suffer not the little children to come unto me - how are we to know their relationship with God?

Sadly, if you do not have a lot of children in your church making potty trips, crying, visiting relatives, trying to talk - you know what? Look out, your church is dying.

So thank God everytime you hear a little on cry.