Or, in this case, playing it.
Once upon a time, we purchased a miniature Mass kit from Our Father’s House. This was years ago, and it has seen a lot of use since then.
I am always willing to take an hour or so out of our school day to teach our children about the Mass. Parts are assigned; liturgical costumes donned.
There is always at least one pint-sized nun.
Poor Sister Angela. She got into a sledding accident an hour earlier and scraped her face up.
(This, incidentally, was the sad result of trying to push Father Jem off his sled while he was on it.)
(Scandalous, isn’t it?)
Father Jem said Mass assisted by his deacon, Zaccheus. Zaccheus was a wee little man! A wee little man was he!
I’m sorry. I don’t know what just came over me.
Deacon Zacchaeus took his job seriously, as you can see.
Not so his sister, Sister Cate, who got a bad case of the giggles during the service.
And then she made a face at the photographer, who was clearly taking way too many photos.
Seriously, it got so bad that the priest had to reprimand her (the photographer) from the pulpit.
Repeatedly.
Photographer Mom apologized and promised that she’d stop.
(She lied.)
(She couldn’t help herself!)
(It’s an obsessive-compulsive disorder.)
Speaking of the good padre…
He belongs to a discalced order.
Friar Jem of the Unshod Schoolboys. Have you heard of them?
It’s a smallish order.
Now then. I’m wondering what you think about one’s children playing Mass. I know that some people might object to it, but I think the more exposure to these sacred rituals, the better. Like that they come to learn the Mass; like that they come to know and love it.
My youngest sometimes "plays" Mass also. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about it (what with her being a female priest and all:))but I've seen her engagement and participation at Sunday Mass improve. Originally started because she was furious that everyone else got to get "one of those Munions".
I, for one, love it! For goodness sake, if they know the Mass, then they KNOW the Mass! That can never be a bad thing, truly.
And I love the order of the Unshod Schoolboys. I see you have at least one Discalced Carmelite sister in your midst, as well.
I think maybe you need to hand out cookies before Mass, however, since at least one of your Communion of Saints is cranky and possibly needs a snack. Or maybe just stop taking pictures. 😉
It's never boring at your house, dear Margaret.
You mean those Necco wafers don't count, Barbara?
i dont know what i'm more jealous of – your roomba or your kids playing mass (or the mass kit).
i SO want this to be my family one day!! 🙂
oh and SBD (schoolboys, discalced) – i LOVE it! 🙂
That very same Mass kit will be given to our children very soon. I've been saving it for a little while … I'm not sure why.
I'd be snapping away, too! I didn't see the littlest … was he asleep under the pew??
He was asleep, Suzie! I told the kids they had to get some bookwork done before Mass, and as such it was a NOON Mass. 🙂
I think this is just beautiful, Margaret. I can't even find the words … How we spend our time—as adults and as children—says a lot about what we find to be important. It is obvious what is important in your family!
When my children first started playing Mass, I thought it was just…inappropriate. Then I realized that they were being rather reverent and that I just needed to chill out. We never got a mass kit, though. Hello Kitty plasticware did the job instead.
We have a scooba. It vaccuums AND mops AND dries. Its a beautiful thing. I'm waiting for the day it goes crazy and I hear my husband call out "Jane! Stop this crazy thing!"
I've heard of quite a few Religious who started off just the same way…
🙂
We have the same Mass kit. I totally agree with you, I think it is a great way to help them understand.
And I am so laughing here because we use Necco Wafers as well! That or Trader Joe's Banana chips. My altar serving son is teaching his younger brothers how to be altar servers and my 11 year old daughter has stitched a small chalice on a hanky to use as well.
We didn't splurge for the case to hold everything though and now we regret that decision. It takes so long to wrap things up and put them in a cardboard box.
Do you have any other suggestions for storage??
I also join all the other comments and agree…this is a good way to learn the beauty of the Mass.
I can still remember cutting little bread wafers and setting up an alter when I was a kid.
I'm dying to know, does the Roomba work? I'm supposed to be mopping the kitchen floor right now and not reading your blog! =)
My kids, too, have played Mass for many years, although we do not have the Mass kit….
Now-a-days they use Hi-Ho-type crackers for the Eucharist.. except once or twice they had to 'substitute' with bite-sized Tostito Chips… but in the old days (when my oldest three were little), they used saltine crackers, carefully broken into fourths!
Btw, my middle boy belonged to the Unshod Schoolboys order. Small wonder!
Beautiful to see, Margaret. Thanks!
Our kids play Mass often. We had weddings and baptisms too…LOL.
I think it's wonderful!
We have the same Mass kit and my kids love it. They "play" Mass quite often and are quite authentic. Our only rule is – no women priests – as we've had my youngest daughter try to move into that role 🙂
Our youngest son is playing Mass with his Necco wafers and mass kit as I type this. Little does he know that his mama is making him a new chasuble to give to him for St. Nicholas' Day and we have the child size monstrance to give him too! He will be on cloud nine!
Even Archbishop N. has told us that he himself played Mass as a three year old, and many other priests have told us the same. How can you not witness it and smile? I think Jesus the High Priest and Mary would be smiling too 🙂
You are so lucky as to get pics. Mine won't let me. They love to "play" Mass and just did yesterday. I love hearing them. They all follow along in little booklets. My older ones are not so much into letting Mom in on the Mass right now, but they are teaching the others. They call it a children's Mass. I hope Necco never stops making those wafers.
Thanks for the post.
Cheri
I'm an Unshod Schoolboy (outside at least)
(much to my mother's displeasure)
I'll confess the first time I saw the Mass kit in question I was very uncomfortable with it. I'm still torn between thinking it would be a beautiful teaching tool and feeling uneasy. All the positive testimony here and elsewhere does mollify that some; but still there is a part of me that isn't sure about whether I want to go there and it's not only about the expense… though that is certainly a factor too.
I think what it may come down to is that I'm very attracted to the Montessori philosophy; but the more I read and ponder the more I wonder if I'm really suited to being that kind of teacher. We don't have the space or the budget and I don't have much personal discipline. At least at this stage in our family's life, I don't know that a Mass kit would be a good idea. I'm open to reconsidering in a year or two.
But my girls do love throwing receiving blankets over their heads, opening up books and pretending they are at Mass.
I could not have said it better than scmom. I think it's great!
I grew up Lutheran . . . and I knew too much so some of the time Ken and Barbie were being inappropriate. Ahem.
So, yeah, playing Mass is AWESOME. Highly encourage it!
So funny! I was just looking at that same mass kit day before yesterday! I wanted to get it for my kids for Christmas!
i am not Catholic and my Father is a Pastor….and i remember many times "Preaching" to my dolls, my sister, my friends.
In fact when a beloved pet would die, i would MAKE the neighborhood children have a procession, then stand around the grave, while i preached or read from the Daily Bread, then we would have to say something nice about the pet, pray and sing a hymn.
Also, my sister, brother and i often snuck into the church and played church.
i believe it is what is in the family's culture that children are drawn to. Church strikes a deep note within us and we want to play it. Does that make sense? Anyway, i think it is totally normal and completely healthy for kids to play Mass or Church…AND it helps them learn.
Great pics!!
We did spring for the mini-monstrance. Since the mini-priest is now 16 and 6 ft, our Mass kit sits neglected in cardboard box
I love, love, love this! When my sons were little they used to say mass too, in their father's bath robe!!!! I still have the statues set up in the same way they were back in those days. I can't bring myself to move them. I love what you called them "The order of the Unshod School Boys" Hahahaha!!! Where are the Necco wafers though? (That's what we used to use for the hosts when I was growing up.)
Molly B! I'm so glad someone else uses Necco wafers too!! : )
That is great! What a good idea to have priest/nun outifts in their dress up bin. I'm going to have to make some.
I think this is just lovely! Although I will admit that when I saw the mini Mass kit the first time, I thought, "Huh – not sure what I think about that." But, then when I knew children in other families that used things like that, I could really see the beauty in it.
Thanks for sharing all of your lovely pictures!
Do you know where you can still get the mass kit? I am trying to find it to buy. Thank you. Could you please send me an answer at jmmps@rocketmail.com
God bless you all,
Jackie
Hi – just wanted to let you know that I purchased this mass kit and after it was revealed that my children had elevated lead levels I tested the kit (they play with it often). The set is made of lead. Please do not buy!