On Babies and Bringing the Very Young to Mass

It is always inspiring to see a young couple with children, especially these days, where it seems it is all too uncommon a sight.

However, I must confess that, it is growing to not be a very welcome sight at Mass.

I came across a recent article by Joseph Shaw at OnePeterFive referencing another article of his at Catholic Answers that speaks very positively about the above subject.

I respond, however, that it seems that most young parents today lack the maturity, in whatever way, as do most children, to prevent the Mass from turning into a fairly noisy and distracting time, which for some might even even become an occasion of sin.

I admit that Dr. Shaw’s point of the intellectual receptivity of even very young children being very real and true, and not one that I had considered, initially.

But, in many cases today, I cannot but question whether the motive of young parents is not more for their own convenience, or (treading gently but truthfully here) the woman leading the man, or some “magical” belief in “we all have to be at Mass together,” or even some levels of mental illness.

My ultimate point is, This is The Mass. The Source, Center and Summit of the Church, and of every person who is there present. Most persons only have that blessed one hour per week with The Lord. This time should not be allowed to be turned into a vocal free-for-all by those too young to understand. And, with the emasculation of our pastors from many directions (from the chancery if an angered young mother complains, from the priest’s own upbringing, from our cultural & spiritual pressures to “just be a nice guy,” etc – everything that militates against authentic spiritual fahterhood, starting from our worldly bishops on down), there is virtually no hope for correction from where once we could have expected it.

A parent “shooshing” a young one during the homily, during the Canon, or any other time grows to be maddenning if it is not working…after ten minutes(!).

Standing up and bringing the child to the side, or to the back, or even into a vestibule with an open door, does not work, either.

Now, certainly, one hopes that parishes will provide “cry-rooms” and appropriate encouragement to use them, consistently. But, it seems that whether they are provided or not, young parents could and should be advised that, for this “season” in their lives at least, leaving the young ones at home for The Mass is a real and good option.

Yes, many in our feeling- and me- centered culture will recoil in horror at such a suggestion. And, emasculated fathers will do so also. But, please see above. Again, This is The Mass, our one hour of communal worship of God. A time for prayer, for adoration, for receptivity, for listening…and not to crying babies or other young ones.

Responding “this offends me” brings us back to the 4th paragraph above, immaturity and even mental illness, and much conformity to the world instead of to Christ, Who has the Primacy in all things. And hopefully, one day, again, in His Mass…