www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Allowed to recieve Divine Mysterys?

Yes Sunday school, catachism, or whatever it is called I think would be great, the kids get to squirm and learn (hopefully) and the parents can worship in peace...I don't know, the crying room at my regular parish has a sound system so weak I could barely hear the priest the other day, with the speaker all the way up, and it was just me and my boy! AND, he wasn't being all that loud, just the noise of the wheels of the toy car against the pew was enough to make it hard to hear...plus you are in a glass box room, I feel like I'd be better off staying at home and watching mass on TV! Well, I guess this too shall pass as they say...it is cute sometimes though, my boy (2.33 years old) can make the sign of the cross (kinda) and says,"Fada,son,hoee spit"

I sort of cringe when I hear about children being removed from Divine Services. We are in the House of our Father, and if the little ones act up, let them crawl around on the floor.

Alexandr

I don't like taking him out either, I guess it's just a feeling of people are judging you because you don't have control of your kid or something, in combination with the disruption to one's own ability to pray, but I guess that is selfish.
When we went to the eastern liturgy for the first time last Sunday, yeah, I was a little extra anxious as well, being unfamiliar with the whole thing, but it's funny, my boy starts crawling under the chairs they had there instead of the pews, but you don't want him running up behind the altar either...

It's OK to let the little ones roam and crawl. He won't be able to get past the iconostas, and is he gets up too close, someone will retrieve him. No Orthodox I know would judge you for bringing he little ones to Church.

Alexandr

peso73:

Ignore what others think. We had the same situation when we moved to a place where we had no relatives or outside help. You do the best you can as a parent. Maybe when your child is a bit older you can explain what is going on and get a place closer to the action so he can watch what's going on.

I agree with our brother, Alexandr, take the child to the Father's House and let him get used to the fact that he is precious in the Father's sight. He belongs in his Father's House.

My take on your being able to pray is that when I have trouble praying, the Holy Spirit makes up what I lack by filling up my poverty in prayer with the perfect prayers of the Mother of God and the saints in Light: that, to me, is part of what the Communion of Saints is all about. Having been there, I make it my special attempt to pray for the parents who have boisterous children and feel that way. I even make it a point to tell them they are to be commended for bringing their children to Liturgy. Been there; been chastised for bringing my children; resolved not to do that to others. I can pray quietly at home or stay to pray after everyone goes home. Parents with young children do not have the luxury that I have. It's my duty to carry them as a brother in Christ by Baptism. We've all got to be Simon of Cyrene to our brethren with young children IMHO. Some day one of these young children might offer a prayer for me when I am old, sick, or dying. I hope so.

In Christ,

BOB

I can't imagine actually using the term, even if we have taken up the practice

I have seen several RC churches, including at least one I attended, that took children out for a parallel Liturgy of the Word, usually being blessed by the priest on the way out, returning for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Typically, it's not done for the entire year.

hawk