That is my response to Mike Parrott's article today at Crisis Magazine Online "Do Children Belong at Mass?"
Mr. Parrott argues that it is wrong to deprive small children of the Mass, without ever defining what he means by "small children." And he altogether neglects to address the proper decorum of the Mass, especially of the parts that are read aloud and are therefore intended to be heard and understood, even, especially, in Latin.
Two points need to be made in this regard, both related to the scholastic truism "Whatever is received is received according to the mode of the receiver."
If there is screaming and yelling during the proclamation of the gospel, those present who were supposed to hear the words being read are not able to hear them and will not, therefore, be able to consider them, because the Word needs to be heard! Faith comes through the hearing. And the hearers need to clearly hear it, according to their proper mode of reception. If they do not hear it, they will not catch it by the normal way of receiving, which is the ear.
On the other hand, a very small child (before the age of three) has no comprehension of the words being read, and they are not being read per se for those who cannot understand them. It is fine and ideal that even those who are not capable of understanding the word should nevertheless hear them. But according to the mode of the receiver, in this case the receiver's mode does not include understanding based on hearing. They do not need to hear the word which they have no capacity to understand. And, if their presence obstructs the proper mode of hearing and understanding of those who should here, they should not be present, for the sake of the others, and to no real detriment to themselves at that tender age. It is quite fitting, therefore, to absent disturbing children from the liturgy, especially the very young ones.
All churches should have trained ushers to escort the unruly (of whatever age), those who obstruct the proper reception of the rites, out of the ceremonies
Mr. Parrott also criticizes the internet social media common people complaining saying they have no competence in the matter. I strongly disagree. They have just as much a right and a duty to express their religious sensibilities in this matter as he who has no special theological or pastoral training.
Pace. --Plinthos.
