
I put this (see below) in the newsletter and got a few irritated reactions from some of our parishioners, all incidently single men. One in particular was absolutely fuming after the evening Mass when we had a family of three older, very quite prayerful children and their younger brother who spent his time tearing around the church, I presume he will eventually become like his elders. I could not help but reflect that if a congregation like a marriage does not welcome children, it is sterile and will die. Children remind us God not only became man but also a child, most people can cope with that but maybe not with ...became man and dwelt amongst us. I always feel for parents who have to dwell with a small child for years not just a few minutes once a week.
CHILDREN AND MILLSTONES
It is a dreadfully distraction when members of the congregation turn round and glare at small children, especially when many of us know the difficulty that parents with children have getting to Mass. We should expect children to be distracting, it is their nature, as it is for adult Christians to bear their crosses, even if these are small children, and pray to be delivered from temptation to show any sign of irritation. Christian love is often simple forbearance, biting a tongue, not giving a shrug.
Remember what the Lord says about how much better it is for people to have millstones tied around their necks and for them to be thrown into the sea than that they should offend one of the little ones, it might apply to offending their parents too.
Small children have an obligation to come to Mass as much soured older people, try to make it easy for them and their parents. A parish family is sterile, and certainly does not reflect the Church’s understanding of family life if it does not welcome small children along with eccentric uncles, mad aunts and black sheep.
CHILDREN AND MILLSTONES
It is a dreadfully distraction when members of the congregation turn round and glare at small children, especially when many of us know the difficulty that parents with children have getting to Mass. We should expect children to be distracting, it is their nature, as it is for adult Christians to bear their crosses, even if these are small children, and pray to be delivered from temptation to show any sign of irritation. Christian love is often simple forbearance, biting a tongue, not giving a shrug.
Remember what the Lord says about how much better it is for people to have millstones tied around their necks and for them to be thrown into the sea than that they should offend one of the little ones, it might apply to offending their parents too.
Small children have an obligation to come to Mass as much soured older people, try to make it easy for them and their parents. A parish family is sterile, and certainly does not reflect the Church’s understanding of family life if it does not welcome small children along with eccentric uncles, mad aunts and black sheep.