Children's Eucharistic Prayer?

[Irenaeus]

Hey friends,

I have a question that troubled me today at Mass.

A visiting Priest said the "children's prayer" for the Eucharistic Canon. Since he did about a half dozen other illicit things (including breaking the host before the Agnus Dei), I was worried that this prayer may not even exist.

It had sayings like, "Jesus came to take away hate which keeps us from being friends." and other things like that. With an attendance that was nearly 75% adults and about 15% were about 8 and under, I thought it was somewhat infantile.

Does anyone know about it?

 

[Epiphanygirl]

I've not heard of it. You might want to repot this to your regular parish priest upon his return(if he wan't there to witness it)

 

[Irenaeus]

Epiphany,

No, my regular Parish Priest was not present at this today.

My regular Parish Priest I haven't seen much of late...instead I attend the Parish of my regular Confessor, who is both holy and orthodox, at which I also have the honor and joy to serve at the Altar of our Lord. This Church which he serves at is not a Parish, but a Chapel where he serves (I believe) as the Spiritual director of the convent, the grounds of which he lives on, is also a retirement home, and the tenents are given care of by the nuns, as much as possible.

Anyway, my Parish Priest (not my Confessor) introduced last Ash Wednesday a new "teen mass", which is attended more by adults than it is by teens, who go with their parents together in the morning. When he introduced it during an 11:00 AM service near Ash Wednesday as an introduction, I was caught between an angry rage and tears. The Responsorial Psalms were changed/omitted, as was/is the creed...the music is extremely loud and obnoxious (so much that they have two huge bass amps in a Church that only can seat about 200 comfortably, 400/500 at a strain.

I couldn't pray, so I vowed never to go again. It was moved eventually to 5:00 PM on Sundays, and I've only had to go once, when I was unable to attend in the morning. I was a little less upset because I knew what would happen, even though the incessant hand holding and clapping drove me nuts.

So my fear = that my Parish Priest would do next to nothing about this. This guest Priest is a Jesuit, and I even had him for Confession one day and he spoke at Confession and on a homily on spiritual insights from "Joan of Arcadia."

Sometimes I don't know what the heck these Priests are thinking. I have respect and reverence for all Priests, even those who are the worst, but I do not have to like or respect some of the things they do that scandalize the weak and/or destroy the spirit of reverence for the most Holy, August, Living and Life-giving Sacrifice of the Mass.

 

[Irenaeus]

Here is something I have found:

http://www.adoremus.org/1203ChildrenLiturgy.html

 

[Markh]

Irenaeus, I agree with you.

 

[Markh]

why should we adapt the liturgy for children? The present liturgy seems dummed down enough anyway.

 

[Epiphanygirl]

I am so sorry to hear this. It seems we are at a time here in the U.S. where we are struggling with a few priests like this. Not that its all bad mind you, just that I don't think this type of mindset is for Mass, a retreat maybe, but not Mass.
I place a lot of hope in our younger priests who are in teh St. Peter Fraternity. It gives me such joy to know that they respect, but most importantly, understand the importance of keeping the Mass sacred and respectful.
I will keep this in mind when I say my prayers, as we all need to!!
Remember to pray for our Priests, Bishops, and Pope. As the gates of hell will not prevail, but it can sure reak havok upon those who take the Faith for granted and do not adhere and pray for our Church leaders!

I wish I were as faithful and knowledgable as you are when I was your age! It is with your generation that so much is being placed upon. May the Lord always bless and keep you. You are a bright spot on this board, and I hope you inspire the young ones here half as much as you inspire us "older" ones!

 

[Irenaeus]

Markh,

I don't know what some people are thinking.

The purpose of the faith and of the Church is to bring people to holiness, to the Son of God, by her sacraments, her sacramentals, her devotions, her precepts, her liturgies...

All of these means are meant to bring about holiness in her children and a greater fidelity to the vows of our baptism. It's meant to bring us all to the spiritual maturity in Christ. I don't see why they have to afflict the mature who need meat, by giving them milk.

Children don't grow up if we keep giving them milk. Eventually we MUST give them solid food, or they will be retarded.

Such theological lunacy and quite frankly, stupidity, makes me extremely sad. This is not an issue of "conservative" vs. "liberal" liturgies (or else I would never have started this thread, breeding quarrels), but rather, if this prayer is acceptable, why, and if it isn't, why are some still trying to practice it?

It just makes me want to weep when I have children who come to the Catechism Class I assist at who think dead people become angels and don't know what the Trinity is by 5th grade.

 

[Markh]

wow! You assist a catechism class! I should get involved with something like that thanks for mentioning it.

 

[Irenaeus]

Markh,

I'm glad I inspired you.

Are any of you reading the adoremus article I posted earlier? It is quite good.

 

[Markh]

yes I am having a look of it, you can understand the sceme's author's mindset- but history has shown us it doesn't and isn't working.

 

[Paul S]

The children's Eucharistic prayers do exist, but I'm not familiar with them so I couldn't tell you whether the one you heard is one of them. There's also one for reconciliation, which I've heard used - that one confused me, since it wasn't one of the usual four.

For better news, our pastor used the Roman Canon today for the Epiphany, complete with the list of saints.

From what I've heard, "teen Masses" and "children's Masses" are to be avoided. I fortunately haven't had to go to one. I wonder if they're any worse than funeral Masses with guitars and drums.

 

[Irenaeus]

Paul,

This article essentially addresses what I experienced;

Effect on Children

The most important thing to determine in a study of the use of the children's Lectionary and the DMC is the effect on children.

What about the two-year-old that Bishop Robert Tracy was so concerned about in 1966? He is now approaching forty. Has he had "many more opportunities for meaningful religion"? Have children's Liturgies helped his spiritual development?

If there has been no formal study of the results of decades of experimentation on children, there is considerable anecdotal evidence that should be disturbing.

It is widely accepted that young Catholics often abandon the practice of the faith in their teens or twenties. Why?

In an interview in the July 2002 issue of Catholic World Report, physicist Dr. Anthony Rizzi describes the results of his own early catechetical experiences:

Those of us who grew up in the post-Vatican II Church know how little the life of the mind was respected.... In CCD [Confraternity of Catholic Doctrine], for the most part, we made collages and talked about how we felt. So I had evidence, it appeared, that Catholicism was just about feeling. (p. 52)







​

Furthermore, he writes:

The new rite had made the Mass somewhat opaque to me; I thought that it was a celebration, a meal. Well, if that's all it was, I had more fun celebrating by playing football or baseball and eating afterwards!







​

Only later, after reading some old books did, he learn that the Mass is a sacrifice.




Many similarly grim stories can be found in the recent book by journalist Colleen Carroll, The New Faithful: Why Young Adults Are Embracing Christian Orthodoxy (Chicago: Loyola University Press, 2002). For example, Miss Carroll tells of a twenty-nine-year-old lawyer who had attended Catholic schools, but found his religion classes mostly "psychobabble":

It wasn't until after college that he realized what Catholics believe about the Eucharist - that after the consecration of the host at Mass, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ are truly present.... (p. 26)







​

This is not an isolated example. Carroll conducted hundreds of interviews and says she heard too many "wacky" stories to recount. Her overall impression:

If you want to make a Generation-X Catholic laugh, ask him about his childhood religious education. (p. 66)







​

The Eucharistic Prayer was something like this" (I haven't been able to find it on the internet, even on the Vatican website)


Jesus, you have come to take out of our lives hate which makes us unhappy. Help us to love our neighbors and to be good. It did have "This is my body," and a simplified prayer for the Wine.


Then he broke the bread during the Eucharistic Prayer! Aah!! Aaah!!!! <breathes deeply>



I don't even remember the majority of it, I thought it was so idiotic and ridiculous, with absolutely NO mention of "redemption," "sin," "sacrifice," etc. etc. It was based on feelings. I was very upset with it. Now that I can't even find it on any website, I am doubly suspicious.

If you think Guitar and drum Funerals are bad, my Confessor told me about a Mass his other Priest friend served where all the attendees drank beer during the eulogy. The Priest sat, stupified at this. What can you do?

 

[cool2bCatholic]

It wasn't until after college that he realized what Catholics believe about the Eucharist - that after the consecration of the host at Mass, the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ are truly present.... (p. 26)

If you want to make a Generation-X Catholic laugh, ask him about his childhood religious education. (p. 66)

Unfortunately, I can relate. Until last year I had no idea either and I do blame a lot of it on my pathetic RE classes. I attend a teen Mass every Sunday, though (in addition to morning Mass) and it's not too bad.The choir is what annoys me, at both masses. I get the feeling they don't mean what they sing.Plus they are really distracting. IMO choirs should be at the back of the church so you can't see them.
God bless you and Pax Christi!
Angela

 

[marciadietrich]

St Joseph Sunday Missal lists Eucharist Prayer C (Children) 2:

God our loving Father,
we are glad to give you thanks and praise because you love us.
With Jesus we sing your praise.


Glory to God in the highest ( or Hosanna in the highest) ...


Because you love us, you gave us this great and beautiful world.
With Jesus we sing your praise.


Glory to God in the highest...


Because you love us,
you sent Jesus your Son
to bring us to you
and to gather us around him
as the children of one family.
With Jesus we sing your praise.


Glory to God in the highest ...


For such great love
we thank you with the angels and saints
as they praise you and sing (say)


Holy, Holy...


Blessed be Jesus, whom you sent
to be the friend of children and of the poor.
He came to show us
how we can love you, Father,
by loving one another.
He came to take away sin,
which keeps us from being friends,
and hate, which makes us all unhappy.

He promised to send the Holy Spirit,
to be with us always
so that we can live as your children.


Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord...


God our Father,
we now ask you
to send your Holy Spirit
to change these gifts of bread and wine
into the body and blood
of Jesus Christ our Lord.


The night before he died,
Jesus your Son showed us how much you love us.
When he was at supper with his disciples,
he took bread,
and gave you thanks and praise,
Then he broke the bread,
gave it to his friends, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
This is my body which will be given up for you.


Jesus has given his life for us.


When supper was ended,
Jesus took the cup that was filled with wine.
He thanked you, gave it to his friends, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant.
It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven.


Jesus has given his life for us.


Then he said to them:
do this in memory of me.

And so, loving Father,
we remember that Jesus died and rose again to save the world.
He put himself into our hands to be the sacrifice we offer you.


We praise you, we bless you, we thank you.


Lord our God,
listen to our prayer
Sent the Holy Spirit
to all of us who share in this meal.
May this Spirit bring us closer together
in the family of the Church,
with N, our Pope,
N, our bishop,
all other bishops, and all who serve your people.


We praise you, we bless you, we thank you.


Remember, Father, our families and friends (...)
and all those we do not love as we should.
Remember those who have died (...).
Bring them home to you
to be with you forever.


We praise you, we bless you, we thank you.


Gather us all together into your kingdom.
There we shall be happy for ever
with the Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our mother.
There all the friends
of Jesus the Lord
will sing a song of joy.


We praise you, we bless you, we thank you.


Through him, with him, in him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours,
almighty Father,
forever and ever.


Amen.

 

[Irenaeus]

Marcia,

Thank you very, very much!

I must have been so caught up in the stangeness of it that I didn't hear "sin."


<Relaxes>

 

[Wiffey]

I believe that children and adolescents are spiritually hungry AND able to understand much more than we as adults give them credit for. So many young people have been exposed to SO much sin, they know perfectly well that sin exists and understand the need for forgiveness and redemption. So many have already experienced so much turmoil: minimally present or absent parents, being packed up and schlepped around for weekend visitation, dreadful schools, immoral entertainment and a peer group that makes "The Lord Of The Flies" look like the Brady Bunch.

It is my personal opinion that our children need MORE real substance, not less. As parents we can do much to counteract the deleterious effects of our overly PC and secularized, permissive society. We can teach our children about the Eucharist, we can read the Gospels with them, we can discuss our faith and we can PRAY with them every day. We can tell them WHY we don't like some of the shows on TV and emphasize modest clothing.

Our children are hurting and looking for the healing and love that can be found only in Christ. I do not believe that anything else will satisfy them. God bless all the dedicated priests and monastics (whether Orthodox or Catholic) who point the way to Him! They are living icons of Christ for our young to emulate. There are so many good priests who live holy lives dedicated to the Lord. We should all seek out and do our utmost to support these faithful and dedicated priests. (The clergy have taken so many horrid hits of late. We should all be praying for priests everywhere.)

Sorry for rambling!

 

[Alexis OCA]

Are any of you reading the adoremus article I posted earlier? It is quite good.

Yes! And here is a very loaded and very frightening paragraph:

The initiative for the children's Lectionary, then, came from liturgists, not bishops. The FDLC group decided on the list of readings, but did not themselves do a new, simplified translation. Instead they recommended a translation by the American Bible Society (ABS), a Protestant translating agency. The BCL approved the FDLC's recommendation without examining the complete translation, which was in preparation.

I am speechless....but not at all surprised.

Great thread.

 

[Irenaeus]

I think this lack of reverence also explains a lack of vocations in liturgically compromising dioceses, because if a Priest is just "one of us," why become one?

 

[Alexis OCA]

It is my personal opinion that our children need MORE real substance, not less. As parents we can do much to counteract the deleterious effects of our overly PC and secularized, permissive society. We can teach our children about the Eucharist, we can read the Gospels with them, we can discuss our faith and we can PRAY with them every day. We can tell them WHY we don't like some of the shows on TV and emphasize modest clothing.

Our children are hurting and looking for the healing and love that can be found only in Christ. I do not believe that anything else will satisfy them. God bless all the dedicated priests and monastics (whether Orthodox or Catholic) who point the way to Him! They are living icons of Christ for our young to emulate. There are so many good priests who live holy lives dedicated to the Lord. We should all seek out and do our utmost to support these faithful and dedicated priests. (The clergy have taken so many horrid hits of late. We should all be praying for priests everywhere.)

Sorry for rambling!

You can ramble like that anytime. I, and I am sure many others here, share your cry of the heart.

I am just grateful that the orthodox and our eastern rite brothers and sisters have not found it necessary to dumb down the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom.

What do we think we are doing?