Ought traditional Catholic chapels to have "cry rooms"?
Aug 28, 2019 10:30:15 GMT
Post by Admin on Aug 28, 2019 10:30:15 GMT
The Angelus - August 2008
Ought traditional Catholic chapels to have "cry rooms"?
It is certainly true that before the Second Vatican Council Catholic churches did not have a specially constructed, sealed-off and sound-proof room in which it was possible for mothers with crying children to assist at Holy Mass. However, there was no need, and the situation at the time was radically different to the situation in which most traditional Catholics find themselves. Each parish had several Masses on a Sunday, and the church was close to home, so that in case of need the parents could each assist at a different Mass while the other parent minded the little children at home.
However, this is not the case for many traditional Catholics, who often have to travel long distances to assist at Mass, and have little or no choice as to which Mass to attend. It is to provide for this real need, and to prevent the disturbance of the sacred action of the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that the custom has been introduced of constructing a separate cry room at the back of the chapel, from which mothers with upset babies can assist at Mass.
Some people object to them, saying that babies should not be at Mass in the first place, or that the children and mothers who are present are so distracted and removed from the altar that they are not really assisting at Mass anyway. They object that these rooms encourage laziness of parents in disciplining their children, and that children ought to be in the church proper, learning to be respectful and attentive from a very young age.
It seems to me that the objections come from the abuse of cry rooms rather than from their existence. It is certainly very true that they encourage laziness on the part of parents, who bring young children of all ages into the cry room so that they can make noises, play, be distracted and act in a generally undisciplined manner. This certainly does not teach them how to assist at Mass correctly, as they will be obliged to do after the age of seven years. They ought, rather, to be disciplined to sit still, be quiet, and pay attention according to their age.
However, there are many cases of mothers with babies whom they are obliged to bring to Mass with them, and who cannot be stopped from fussing, or even crying. In the absence of a cry room, they are obliged by consideration for others to leave the church. The end result is that they do not assist at Mass. For such mothers, under limited circumstances with their babies (not toddlers), the cry room within sight of the altar and with a speaker to hear what is going on, is a valuable asset, both for the mother and for the rest of the congregation. It is because experience has demonstrated this that cry rooms have been built. However, it remains for parents to pay attention that they not abuse them.
Questions & Answers
Fr. Peter R. Scott
Fr. Peter R. Scott
It is certainly true that before the Second Vatican Council Catholic churches did not have a specially constructed, sealed-off and sound-proof room in which it was possible for mothers with crying children to assist at Holy Mass. However, there was no need, and the situation at the time was radically different to the situation in which most traditional Catholics find themselves. Each parish had several Masses on a Sunday, and the church was close to home, so that in case of need the parents could each assist at a different Mass while the other parent minded the little children at home.
However, this is not the case for many traditional Catholics, who often have to travel long distances to assist at Mass, and have little or no choice as to which Mass to attend. It is to provide for this real need, and to prevent the disturbance of the sacred action of the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that the custom has been introduced of constructing a separate cry room at the back of the chapel, from which mothers with upset babies can assist at Mass.
Some people object to them, saying that babies should not be at Mass in the first place, or that the children and mothers who are present are so distracted and removed from the altar that they are not really assisting at Mass anyway. They object that these rooms encourage laziness of parents in disciplining their children, and that children ought to be in the church proper, learning to be respectful and attentive from a very young age.
It seems to me that the objections come from the abuse of cry rooms rather than from their existence. It is certainly very true that they encourage laziness on the part of parents, who bring young children of all ages into the cry room so that they can make noises, play, be distracted and act in a generally undisciplined manner. This certainly does not teach them how to assist at Mass correctly, as they will be obliged to do after the age of seven years. They ought, rather, to be disciplined to sit still, be quiet, and pay attention according to their age.
However, there are many cases of mothers with babies whom they are obliged to bring to Mass with them, and who cannot be stopped from fussing, or even crying. In the absence of a cry room, they are obliged by consideration for others to leave the church. The end result is that they do not assist at Mass. For such mothers, under limited circumstances with their babies (not toddlers), the cry room within sight of the altar and with a speaker to hear what is going on, is a valuable asset, both for the mother and for the rest of the congregation. It is because experience has demonstrated this that cry rooms have been built. However, it remains for parents to pay attention that they not abuse them.
