...in vast quantities, at a suburban Family Mass, off my usual beat. Today J. and I were due to visit some friends, clashing with my normal late-morning Mass, so I found an alternative. Golly, what a packed Mass! Squeezed in near the back. Quantities and quantities of children...and then, just before the Offertory, more and more poured in, trotting quietly up the aisles to join parents and siblings, having been busy at their own instruction-classes during the Liturgy of the Word...
They mostly seemed remarkably well-behaved, except for one boy immediately in front of me, who seemed intent on being as disruptive as possible and encouraging his companion to do likewise, within the constraints of the crowded pew and the general reverent atmosphere. When the Consecrtion was about to happen, and he was having a busy time removing his sneakers and pushing his friend about, I grabbed him by the back of his hoodie and whispered savagely:"It's the Consecration. Kneel and pray!" And to my surprise, he did, or at least went through the motions of doing so. With one shoe off and one on.
There was music, beautifully played - even a violin - but it included a couple of hymns with awfully trite tunes, and a too-jazzy Gloria...there is so much beautiful, beautiful music from which to choose...we surely don't need to keep on flogging those tunes from the late 1970s?
One thing which was noticeable, however, was the very reverent way in which the children went up for Holy Communion, and the smaller ones for a blessing, arms crossed in front. They had obviously been told about this and were following an established parish tradition. That, plus the glittering candles and the incense, would impress this Mass on a child's mind, week by week. I can see why the numbers attending are high.
4 comments:
Well done Joanna.
You expect children to mess about occasionally. But you also expect adults to put them back into line. Then it stays at chatting and pulling off trainers, and doesn't escalate into taking drugs, knifings, etc.
Yes, my compliments, Joanna. Surely, you must have considered that the boy's mother or father would have given you a tongue-lashing for daring to discipline their boy, but you did the right thing anyway. And you may have made a lasting impression upon him.
I agree about the generally poor quality of the music usually chosen for Sunday Mass, but can also remember some really smaltzy hyms from my childhood such as "To Jesus Heart All Burning", etc. You mentioned beautiful music available to us. Would you please share some titles? We do have a choir, and parishioners sing also. What would be some hyms which would be beautiful AND appropriate for a parish which has a chronologically diverse congregation?Thanks so Much!
Some good ideas for church music can be found at The Music Makers:http://www.themusicmakers.org/ with helpful advice for choirs and for working with children. For some good hymns, try The Catholic Hymnal published by Gracewing. Among modern hymns, I like The Servant King". You can find it here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwIukabdw3E although it's a rather dreary crooning version...You might also try "Meekness and Majesty".
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