Comments on: Mary and Martha Moment: How do You Receive the Eucharist?

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 08:10:42 +0000

Terry,
Awesome, thanks! Welcome aboard! Katie

By: Terry George

Terry George — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:19:51 +0000

Katie,

I wanted to let you know how much I appreciate a great blog about my 2 favorite topics Catholic stuff and Real food! Thank you so much for all your work. It is wonderful to run across a blog by a young mother who loves her faith and proclaims it on her site.
God Bless you and your Family,
Terry

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:49:33 +0000

Karen,
Thank you for the great question. I am blessed in that my oldest is an angel – truly – at Mass. I’m not sure if I did anything to promote that or not. Here are my best tips:
1. Get them into the music – we go to the kids’ school Mass specifically for that reason. He used to dance in the aisles!
2. Let them participate whenever possible – the sign of peace is a big one, genuflecting towards “Jesus’s Little House” (i.e. the Tabernacle), waving to Jesus on the Cross, holding hands during the Our Father if your church does that, anything you can think of.
3. Bring soft books that don’t make noise, crayons, etc.
4. Get a little kids’ missal (Magnificat has one, or check your Catholic bookstore) for the older one and help him/her follow along with the Mass.
5. My FAVorite Mass bag item is a book of puzzles we have that are all saints or feast days. That book lasted through the “take the pieces out and put them everywhere” phase to the “I can put it back together by myself” phase.
6. Remember to let them have a little room to roam (in the pew) but not too much. The toddler can make a bit of a mess and still not detract from your Mass experience or others around you.
7. Tell Daddy about Mass when you get home (w/their help) just like you’d tell him about a trip to the park. Not to convert him, but to teach your little ones about telling the story of their day and the importance of what they did.

I wonder what other people have to say? This might be a great “asking for information” post someday soon!

blessings,
Katie

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:20:59 +0000

Hi there, just found your website and love it! You are so right about drawing our kids attention when “this is the most important part of Mass”. Your comment prompted me to ask if you have any tips for managing littlies at Mass?

My DH is not Catholic so I go to Mass alone with the kids. I can not manage the two on my own (4 & 1/2 y/o and 18months) they are both soooo active! So I usually only take my oldest, but feel so guilty about not taking the younger. I had thought about taking him to a weekday Mass instead, but know I should be taking him on Sunday. Any thoughts?

Cheers!

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:18:33 +0000

Jen,
What a beautiful reply! Good to have you here… Katie

By: Paula

Paula — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:24:02 +0000

Amazing post Katie! I also have heard new translations for different parts of the Mass are coming soon. We had a snippet in our bulletin a few weeks back. It’s going to take FOREVER for the people to get on board with this, as people still struggle on when to stand “may the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands….”

I find myself really riveted at the moment of Consecration. I too say “My Lord and my God” when the Host is raised and “Jesus, have mercy on us” when the Precious Blood is raised. I also pray “May our Lord Jesus Christ grant our souls eternal life. Amen” after Communion. I just find after Communion so busy, with all the singing and shuffling and cute babies passing by. It’s difficult to stay focused, the most important time of the Mass and the week.
.-= Paula´s last blog .. =-.

By: LindsayPal

LindsayPal — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:35:08 +0000

Thanks, Katie, though I’m not sure I know more, just different things. I just reread the part about cleaning our souls and remembered that the last part of this is translated in some missals as “but only say the word, and my soul shall be made clean” (sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea).

Prayer for direction, it is!

Pax Domini,
LP

By: Jen

Jen — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:10:38 +0000

Thank you so much for your post! It opened my eyes more to this wonderful mystery that is the Church and how I can bring my intentions to the Lord during Mass.

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:40:17 +0000

Lindsay,
I just LOVE hearing from people who know more than me! Thank you so much for enhancing this post with those prayer links and, of course, the Latin. What’s a Catholic blog without a little Latin?! Love it. Katie

PS – for direction!

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 02:39:08 +0000

Lenetta,
How very, very cool. Thanks for the links lately, too! Katie