Several recent comments and a recurring observation sparked this brief
reflection. The comments center on having “greater participation” by
children in our Masses. The observation is that many of our children
infrequently attend Masses in our parishes. It seems to be a habit in
our parishes for children to miss Mass when CCD ends, and especially
during nice weather. The obvious may need to be stated: the first and
foremost way for children or anyone to have “greater participation” in
Mass is to attend regularly, to listen attentively, and to join in
communal singing and praying. Our children who attend regularly may also
serve at Mass, join our musicians, bring up gifts, greet strangers at
the door, offers prayers, and so on. To serve in ministries of reading
the Word and distributing the Eucharist are for trained ministers only,
and require understanding and demonstration of living a faithful
Christian life.
A highly important question to consider is this:Why should our children attend Mass? Why should parents require them to attend Mass, rather than just let them decide to “do whatever they want?” Often, children do not know what is in their long-term best interest; and that is why we have a duty to guide and instruct them. Where are our children? “Where have all the flowers gone?” Sometimes I have been told, “They are attending Mass at Holy Spirit when they are not here.” If so, Holy Spirit must have a rich abundance of flowers.
We may not sufficiently understand the destructive forces our children are facing now, and will face in the future. Attending Mass in our parishes in no guarantee that they will indeed develop a healthy spiritual life and cultivate genuine faith and Christian virtues. Some may attend and still go far astray from the way of Christ. But this much I know well: Our American culture is indeed “a culture of death,” and forces in our society damage and corrupt millions of people, especially the youngest and most vulnerable. Mass media corrupt many. And from years of experience I know that our young people will face highly corrupting influences in college, in the military, or in other places where they will spend the crucial early years of their lives, from about ages 17-25. During these years, most people make life-changing choices: marriage, careers, having children, living responsibly or not. And during these decisive years, many young Americans become addicts of one kind or another. Alcohol, drugs, promiscuous “life-styles” (death styles), laziness, excessive play and leisure, pornography, bad friendships and associations, and other destructive forces pressure our young people from many sides.
Many young Americans turn their backs on God, and live without faith in anything but their fleeting desires and so-called "dreams." What they need is reality. Attending Mass and developing a genuine life of faith and Christian virtue is no guarantee that one will not succumb to death styles and squandered lives, but as a life-long teacher of young adults, I do all that I can in the homilies to strengthen us and our children against destructive forces in us and around us. Our children and young adults need the strengthening of soul and character offered in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, too many are not accepting the strengthening that we seek to offer.
A highly important question to consider is this:Why should our children attend Mass? Why should parents require them to attend Mass, rather than just let them decide to “do whatever they want?” Often, children do not know what is in their long-term best interest; and that is why we have a duty to guide and instruct them. Where are our children? “Where have all the flowers gone?” Sometimes I have been told, “They are attending Mass at Holy Spirit when they are not here.” If so, Holy Spirit must have a rich abundance of flowers.
We may not sufficiently understand the destructive forces our children are facing now, and will face in the future. Attending Mass in our parishes in no guarantee that they will indeed develop a healthy spiritual life and cultivate genuine faith and Christian virtues. Some may attend and still go far astray from the way of Christ. But this much I know well: Our American culture is indeed “a culture of death,” and forces in our society damage and corrupt millions of people, especially the youngest and most vulnerable. Mass media corrupt many. And from years of experience I know that our young people will face highly corrupting influences in college, in the military, or in other places where they will spend the crucial early years of their lives, from about ages 17-25. During these years, most people make life-changing choices: marriage, careers, having children, living responsibly or not. And during these decisive years, many young Americans become addicts of one kind or another. Alcohol, drugs, promiscuous “life-styles” (death styles), laziness, excessive play and leisure, pornography, bad friendships and associations, and other destructive forces pressure our young people from many sides.
Many young Americans turn their backs on God, and live without faith in anything but their fleeting desires and so-called "dreams." What they need is reality. Attending Mass and developing a genuine life of faith and Christian virtue is no guarantee that one will not succumb to death styles and squandered lives, but as a life-long teacher of young adults, I do all that I can in the homilies to strengthen us and our children against destructive forces in us and around us. Our children and young adults need the strengthening of soul and character offered in the Eucharist. Unfortunately, too many are not accepting the strengthening that we seek to offer.
