Preparing for Masses with Children
and Other Considerations of the New
Translation of the 3rd Edition of the
Roman Missal
Rev. Patrick J. Beidelman, STL
Director of Liturgy
Archdiocese of Indianapolis
Preparing for Masses with Children…
Directory for Masses with Children
November 1, 1973
Congregation for Divine Worship
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• “The Directory for Masses with Children is a
landmark document about the pastoral care of
children, laying the groundwork for a more
unified process of faith formation for children by
reinforcing the dynamic relationship between
liturgy and catechesis. Although the ministries of
Catholic school and religious education provide
for children as students, the DMC is a constant
reminder that the Christian identity of children is
not as learners but as believers.” (Sandra DeMasi, “The
Directory for Masses with Children: Thirty Years Later”,The Living Light,
USCCB, 2003. http://www.usccb.org/education/catechetics/spring2003.pdf
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• Not “some entirely special rite but rather of
retaining, shortening, or omitting some elements
or of making a better selection of texts.”(DMC, 3)
• “…is concerned with children who have not yet
entered the period of preadolescence”(DMC, 6)
• “…they may…experience in proportion to their
age and personal development the human
values that are present in the Eucharistic
Celebration” (DMC, 9)
Preparing for Masses with Children…
Receiving the new translation of the Mass:
• DCM 12: “Even in the case of children, the Liturgy itself
always exerts its own inherent power to instruct. Yet
within religious-education programs in the schools and
parishes the necessary importance should be given to
catechesis on the Mass. This catechesis should be
directed to the child's active, conscious, and authentic
participation. ‘Suited to children's age and capabilities, it
should by means of the main rites and prayers of the
Mass, aim at conveying its meaning, including what
relates to taking part in the Church's life.’ This is
especially true of the text of the Eucharistic Prayer and
of the acclamations by which the children take part in
this prayer.”
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• Chap. II: Masses With Adults in Which
Children Also Participate
– “…the witness of adult believers can have a
great effect upon the children.” (DMC, 16)
• children acknowledged and included simply
• origin of children’s Liturgy of the Word in a
“separate, but not too distant room”
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• Chap. III: Masses With Children in
Which Only a Few Adults Participate
– “It is always necessary to keep in mind that
these Eucharistic Celebrations must lead
children toward the celebration of Mass with
adults…apart from adaptations that are
necessary because of the children's age, the
result should not be entirely special rites,
markedly different from the Order of Mass
celebrated with a congregation.” (DMC, 21)
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• DMC, 22: The principles of active and conscious
participation are in a sense even more significant for
Masses celebrated with children. Every effort should
therefore be made to increase this participation and to
make it more intense.
• children should have special parts in the celebration:
– preparing the place and the altar (see no. 29)
– acting as cantor singing in a choir, playing musical instruments
(see nos. 24 & 32)
– proclaiming the readings (see nos. 24 and 47)
– responding during the homily (see no. 48)
– reciting the intentions of the general intercessions, bringing the
gifts to the altar, and performing similar activities in accord with
the usage of various peoples (see no. 34).
Preparing for Masses with Children…
•
“Each Eucharistic celebration with the children should be carefully
prepared beforehand, especially with regard to the prayers, songs,
readings, and intentions of the general intercessions” (DMC, 29)
•
“Singing must be given great importance in all celebrations, but it is to be
especially encouraged in every way for Masses celebrated with children, in
view of their special affinity for music.” (DMC, 30)
•
“…participation by means of gestures and posture should be strongly
encouraged in Masses with children…” (DMC, 33)
•
“…visual elements...should be given great prominence with children.” [e.g.
the veneration of the cross, the Easter candle, the variety of colors and
liturgical appointments, etc.] (DMC, 35)
•
Silence: “In their own way children are genuinely capable of reflection.”
(DMC, 37)
•
Pacing/clarity: “the liturgical texts should be proclaimed intelligibly and
unhurriedly, with the necessary pauses” (DMC, 37)
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• The Lectionary for Masses with Children was
published in English in 1993 as an adaptation of the
regular Lectionary for Mass. It was designed to be
used at Masses where a large number of (preadolescent) children are present.
– Examples of such gatherings include:
• Sunday Masses at which a large number of children are present
along with adults (under certain circumstances)
• Masses in which a separate liturgy of the word for children is
celebrated
• Masses at which most members of the assembly are children, such
as school Masses or Masses for religious education students
• other liturgical celebrations that include a liturgy of the word
• family prayer
• Currently under consideration for a revision.
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• DMC, 52:
“The Eucharistic prayer is of the greatest importance…much
depends on the manner in which the priest proclaims this prayer and
on the way the children take part by listening and making their
acclamations.
“must make the children as attentive as possible. Their attention
should be on:
– the real presence of Christ on the altar under the elements of bread and
wine
– on his offering
– on the thanksgiving through Him and with Him and in Him
– on the Church's offering, which is made during the prayer and by which
the faithful offer themselves and their lives with Christ to the eternal
Father in the Holy Spirit.”
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children:
– Not in the Roman Missal, Third Edition
– Will be published by USCCB as a supplement
• ‘new’ text of the Order of Mass
• ‘new’ concluding formulae of the orations should be updated
to reflect the newer text
– Should be available before Advent
– Will include the Directory for Masses with Children
• includes regulations regarding the use of the Eucharistic
Prayers for Masses with Children
Preparing for Masses with Children…
• Good resources:
– Directory for Masses With Children, ‘new’ supplement
published by the USCCB this fall: www.usccb.org
– Preparing Liturgy for Children and Children for
Liturgy, by Gabe Huck, LTP: www.ltp.org
– A Guide to the Lectionary for Masses with Children,
by Peter Mazar and Robert Piercy, LTP, www.ltp.org
– Liturgy of the Word for Children, by John and Jill
Boughton, The Liturgical Press, www.litpress.org