Perhaps SSG members would like to discuss the latest issue of the Society's journal here. If any topics really take off, we can spin them off to a separate thread.
Musicus
Music and Liturgy - issue 315
Moderators: Dom Perignon, Casimir
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Vox Americana
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 2:35 pm
- Location: Over the pond
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Tsume Tsuyu
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:40 am
- Location: UK
M & L
Ah, so there's hope that I'll receive mine yet then! After Vox's post, I wondered whether it had been incorrectly addressed to me in the States and and whether I'd have to fly over (all expenses paid by the SSG, of course) to fetch it back!
'Tis very annoying when folk are talking about what's in it, and I haven't even seen it yet!
'Tis very annoying when folk are talking about what's in it, and I haven't even seen it yet!
TT
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excathedra
- Posts: 40
- Joined: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:11 pm
- Location: Malvern, UK
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Tsume Tsuyu
- Posts: 191
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:40 am
- Location: UK
:-(
Wot, no magazine? 
Perhaps someone in the States could mail me theirs to have a read whilst I'm waiting.
Perhaps someone in the States could mail me theirs to have a read whilst I'm waiting.
TT
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Vox Americana
- Posts: 67
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 2:35 pm
- Location: Over the pond
Children's Liturgy of the Word
Well, my copy of Music and Liturgy has gotten here.
I read Tim Menezes' article on Children's Liturgy of the Word and the problems it brings. He suggests, in the title, a radical approach. I was a little disappointed! Fr Menezes lists a number of problems with the existing arrangements:
In his suggestions to overcome the shortcomings, Fr Tim tells us that we need to be receptive to children and give them their rightful place within the Eucharistic community - a chnageof priorities giving the children a role among the readers, those who welcome, the money-collectors as well as the accepted roles of servers and among the musicians.
But he is not radical enough!
Sure, we need to do that - and many parishes here do exactly that. The crucial question is this: are the children catacumens ? In as much as they have been baptised, no they are not; in as much as they cannot receive the Eucharist, yes they are. Typically, we send the children out during the Liturgy of the Word and then have them back at the Offertory to be bystanders at our feast. Wrongly, in my opinion, they are brought up to the communion distribution to receive a blessing. No - these children ought not be brought up, as they are not of an age of reason, not full members of the church; they are not invited to this table. I know that this is a very hard line - after all, JC told us to let the little children come to him; and it is a man-made (canon) law about the age of reason. But the bottom line is that they cannot partake and we must not substitute something else in its place, because that kinda waters down Communion.
But problem could easily be overcome, Fr Menezes' opportunity to make a sense of graduation could be simply realised: keep the children in the assembly during the Liturgy of the Word and 'dismiss' them (as if they are catecumens), along with the adult catecumens, before the Offertory. The children can then go to their own session - not a liturgy - exploring the scriptures of the day, how those fit into the liturgical season, having a time of catechisis, being trained to serve or to read or to collect the money or whatever is needed. Then, after they have celebrated their First Communion, there is a very obvious transition into full member and they will remain in the assembly for the whole Mass. Of course, it would mean that the homily would need to be understandable by the children too... no bad thing!
Comes back to these threads on the initiation of children and Children's Liturgy of the Word.
I read Tim Menezes' article on Children's Liturgy of the Word and the problems it brings. He suggests, in the title, a radical approach. I was a little disappointed! Fr Menezes lists a number of problems with the existing arrangements:
- Children's familiarity with the Mass as a whole diminishes
- Children see leaving Mass as preferable to remaining
- Adult catechists miss the integrated celebration of Mass regularly
- Children grow out of the Children's Liturgy
In his suggestions to overcome the shortcomings, Fr Tim tells us that we need to be receptive to children and give them their rightful place within the Eucharistic community - a chnageof priorities giving the children a role among the readers, those who welcome, the money-collectors as well as the accepted roles of servers and among the musicians.
But he is not radical enough!
Sure, we need to do that - and many parishes here do exactly that. The crucial question is this: are the children catacumens ? In as much as they have been baptised, no they are not; in as much as they cannot receive the Eucharist, yes they are. Typically, we send the children out during the Liturgy of the Word and then have them back at the Offertory to be bystanders at our feast. Wrongly, in my opinion, they are brought up to the communion distribution to receive a blessing. No - these children ought not be brought up, as they are not of an age of reason, not full members of the church; they are not invited to this table. I know that this is a very hard line - after all, JC told us to let the little children come to him; and it is a man-made (canon) law about the age of reason. But the bottom line is that they cannot partake and we must not substitute something else in its place, because that kinda waters down Communion.
But problem could easily be overcome, Fr Menezes' opportunity to make a sense of graduation could be simply realised: keep the children in the assembly during the Liturgy of the Word and 'dismiss' them (as if they are catecumens), along with the adult catecumens, before the Offertory. The children can then go to their own session - not a liturgy - exploring the scriptures of the day, how those fit into the liturgical season, having a time of catechisis, being trained to serve or to read or to collect the money or whatever is needed. Then, after they have celebrated their First Communion, there is a very obvious transition into full member and they will remain in the assembly for the whole Mass. Of course, it would mean that the homily would need to be understandable by the children too... no bad thing!
Comes back to these threads on the initiation of children and Children's Liturgy of the Word.