After my recent post on
Peace in the Pews I feel the need to address some things briefly for those who have commented and/or emailed me.
I hope that my post in no way inferred that my children sit with folded hands in the pew and occasionally the priest is blinded by the light gleaming from their halos. Keeping peace for us and for the church is often a difficult job even when we use all of our devices.
When I first started my job as a DRE I brought my family to the parish where I was going to be working to introduce my family to the parish. Halfway through Mass one of the boys scooted to the end of the pew and proceeded to run down the middle aisle toward the back of Church. I guess he had had enough of the homily. Once in our home parish, our third child was standing on the pew while mom and dad were deep in prayer after communion a gasp arose from the parishioners behind us as this 18 month old proceeded to flip over the pew and land on floor behind us. The second child often had fits in the middle of Mass asserting himself. It hasn't always been roses as you can see.
I also wanted to express that my list of ideas was exactly that - my list of ideas. It is what has worked for us and may not work for every family or even every child in the family. Nor was there in the post any intention of condemnation. No one should feel guilty for not doing what we do. Each child is different, each family is different. It works for us and Iwanted to share.
The family rosary is also often a struggle. For a long while we prayed only a decade. We now pray the whole thing but not in a rigid legalistic manner. We try to be faithful but if we are at grandma's or hiking late, we simply say some night prayers or just a decade. We don't expect the boys to be perfect angels during the rosary but it offers them good "practice" in self-control. It is also an excellent way to teach them their prayers and to work on
catechesis. This nightly rosary is sometimes interrupted by our two-year-old who likes to get up and wander. But more often it is interrupted by a group of whitetail deer walking up the hill or some rabbits frolicking in the yard beneath the bird feeder.
Finally, for those of you that asked, our boys are 6, 4.5, 2.5, & 9 months. One person hit the nail on the head when he or she said, "
I think the important thing is that we are attending mass, paying attention, and making the effort..."Thanks for your comments, suggestions, and questions. And thanks for reading!
May God Bless You and Your Families!
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