Dear Friends,
I heard a story recently from a mother who had raised several children. One Sunday morning at Mass she was enjoying herself sitting behind a young family at church. The young family had two children under the age of three and the two-year old was especially filled with energy that Sunday. The two-year old kept escaping from her mother’s arms and would sneak out into the aisle and take off toward the front or the back. The older woman said that by the end of Mass the younger woman looked exhausted. She said she could relate to the experience since she had always brought her own children to Sunday Mass and knew what it felt like to be constantly on guard for what might happen next. She stopped the young mother after Mass as she gathered up the toys, clothes and food putting them back into the huge bag she brought with her. The experienced mother looked at the weary young mother and said to her, “It’s worth it. Bringing your children to Mass each week, it’s worth it.” The young mother apologized and said she hoped that her daughter didn’t drastically disturb anyone’s prayers. The experienced mom said back to her, “No, she did great. She is not disrespectful, she’s two. I was delighted that she felt comfortable enough in this place to play and enjoy herself. Please, children should always feel welcome here.”
What a wonderful story and what a wonderful witness – to care enough about your faith to bring your children with you to church. The story reminded me of the gospel where people were chasing the children away from Jesus and he stopped them and said, “Let the children come to me because it is to just such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs. If you do not welcome the kingdom as a little child, you shall not enter into it.” Then he embraced the children.
I know of too many stories of people who stop coming to church when their children are young because they do not want to disturb others or they find it difficult to pray when they bring their children with them. However, the most important thing they could be doing with their children is bring them to Mass. How else is the child going to encounter God, the church, the power of ritual, and the sacraments? How will they learn the love that God has for them unless it is lived out in the community of faith?
How important it is for the rest of us then to be welcoming of children in our parish. The last thing we want to do is give the child’s parents a mean look because the child’s energy has disrupted our prayers. A couple of weeks ago, I watched a family sitting near the front, help a mom who was in church with three young children. They took care of one child while she managed the other two. It was a loving and kind gesture. The children were not a problem for them, but a joy. They had smiles on their faces as they cared for the little one and helped a mother teach her children to pray in community.
We should complement parents who bring their children to Mass especially when their children have prayed well. Let them know, “it is worth it” and tell them of the joy you feel when young people learn about and encounter Jesus.
Peace,
Fr. Damian