Missing Mass on Sundays

[Padre_Ricardo]

Can you sit down with your children once or twice a week and teach them, using authentic materials (such as the Catechism) about the nature of the Church, the liturgy, and the Eucharist?  If you could do that, perhaps you could explain that you're going to Mass in order to be present at the perfect act of worship and to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, even though you disagree with some of the things that Father does and says.  It's not an ideal situation, but it's better than not attending Mass.

[ServantofMary]

Can you sit down with your children once or twice a week and teach them, using authentic materials (such as the Catechism) about the nature of the Church, the liturgy, and the Eucharist?  If you could do that, perhaps you could explain that you're going to Mass in order to be present at the perfect act of worship and to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, even though you disagree with some of the things that Father does and says.  It's not an ideal situation, but it's better than not attending Mass.

Yes, that's one idea that I have been really thinking about doing.  My kids are ages 9, 5, 2, and 3 months, so I've been thinking about getting some Baltimore Catechisms and going through them with my kids each week.  Do you or anyone else have any other good suggests for resources I could use?

[Padre_Ricardo]

The Baltimore Catechism is probably as good a resource as any that I know for that age group.

[Clare]

Thanks ya all for your replies.  I appreciate it.  Here's my situation:

My family and I are members of a NO parish (the nearest TLM is over two hours away, and it is not feasible for us to drive that far).  Our priest is very liberal.  He has said such things as "it doesn't matter what church a person goes to, as long as they go somewhere."  His liturgies are very casual and irreverent, and he is always adding or taking things out of the liturgy.  In fact, as a former Protestant, I really feel like my Catholic Faith is being Protestantized.

My wife and I have four kids, and we really do not want them to be exposed to these things, since kids are very impressionable, and often simply accept things as truth without questioning them.  For example, we don't want them to hear our priest say things like mentioned above, and believe that it really doesn't matter what church a person goes to.  In fact, we have already had to straighten our nine-year-old (our oldest) out because she heard at our parish that all a person has to do to be saved is have faith.  Nothing about the necessity of baptism, obedience, etc.  We also don't want our kids to think that Mass is suppose to be casual and irreverent.

Now, because of these things, my wife and I are having a hard time being motivated to go to Mass.  In fact, this last Sunday we missed Mass because we simply didn't want to put up with it all.  We feel bad that we missed, because we don't want our kids to think that going to Mass isn't important.  But at the same time, we don't want our kids to be exposed to false teaching and irreverent liturgies.  We're not the only ones in our parish who feel this way, but there doesn't seem to be anything we can do.  I hate thinking that I may be in mortal sin for not going to Mass, but what am I to do?

It is a sin to miss Mass without a good reason. It sounds to me like you have a very good reason, though. You didn't miss Mass out of laziness, or some other frivolous reason. You missed because of the danger it poses to your family's faith.

Personally, I think the Novus Ordo already contains good enough reasons to avoid it, without the additional liberal rubbish being preached during the sermon.

[SouthpawLink]

Can you sit down with your children once or twice a week and teach them, using authentic materials (such as the Catechism) about the nature of the Church, the liturgy, and the Eucharist?  If you could do that, perhaps you could explain that you're going to Mass in order to be present at the perfect act of worship and to receive Jesus in Holy Communion, even though you disagree with some of the things that Father does and says.  It's not an ideal situation, but it's better than not attending Mass.

Yes, that's one idea that I have been really thinking about doing.  My kids are ages 9, 5, 2, and 3 months, so I've been thinking about getting some Baltimore Catechisms and going through them with my kids each week.  Do you or anyone else have any other good suggests for resources I could use?

If I were you, I'd get both the original Baltimore Catechism (Nos. 1-4) as well as the Revised Baltimore Catechism, Nos. 2 (New St. Joseph, Fr. Bennet Kelly) and 3 (Fr. Connell Confraternity Edition). Personally, I think the Revised Baltimore Catechism is better overall than the original, but the original also has some questions which are sadly not found in the Revised version (such as the necessity of prayer for salvation as well as describing the rosary and sacramentals in detail, among other things). In a way, then, the two versions complement one another.

When your children are older, This is the Faith (Canon Francis Ripley) and The Catechism Explained (Frs. Spirago & Clark) may be helpful tools for continuing their religious education. See also Fr. John Laux's (M.A.) series, A Course in Religion (six books).

[Underdog]

I don't use the Our Lady of Victory School's program, but I like some of the materials they offer.  I came across this today, and am thinking about ordering it perhaps in another few pay cycles.  It is for first grade and up:

Living In God's Love Text



Explained and correlated with Bible and Church histor, this traditional catechism program was reproduced from the 1940's edition with no revisions. Based upon the questions and answers of the Baltimore Catechism, these books provide a complete, integrated, and basic course in religion for grades kindergarten through eight. The purpose is to see to it that the pupil has a clear and adequate knowledge of his holy Faith.

Softcover, 160 pages.$15.00

http://www.olvs.org/ShopCart/InvDtl.aspx?InvId=16666&GrdId=&InvCatId=


Also, the Baltimore Catechism can be found online, and the No. 4, which is an explanation of the catechism for teachers, etc. (by Fr. Kinkead) can also be found online.  I like reading the No. 4 lesson before going over the No. 1 or 2 with the children.  You could buy some coloring books at your local Catholic store or online that your children could do to go with each lesson.  Or you could invest in a book like Chats with God's Little Ones that has coloring pages to copy/print.