Just Too Cool: playing Mass

Posted on 11 April 2013 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

I occasionally receive questions about or photos of boys “playing Mass”.

I received a photo from a reader of a lad being helped by a Dominican Sister of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist.   (NB: She is neither serving nor is she trying to shove junior out of the way).

His grave expression reveals a better ars celebrandi than is found in many suburban parishes.

 

About Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Fr. Z is the guy who runs this blog. o{]:¬)
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15 Comments

  1. HighMass says:
    11 April 2013 at 9:23 AM

    Wow Look at that fiddle back chasuable ! Good to see a young man “Practicing” !!!

    Sia Lodatto Gesu Christo! :)

  2. AdDeum says:
    11 April 2013 at 9:34 AM

    and, might I add? that chausible is more that what you see in many parishes

  3. Choirmaster says:
    11 April 2013 at 9:39 AM

    The grave expression is, indeed, rather striking.

    I also remember a short video posted here some time ago where the little guy was giving the “Ecce Agnus Dei” but was becoming confused, spinning around and around, between versus populum and versus apsidum.

    Here we see a perfect reflection of the ideal solemnity required for offering the sacrifice. Pretty cool.

    I used to “play Mass” as a child, but I was more focused on being the budding “choirmaster” :) but I cannot claim to have had the right ideas of solemnity and sacrality like the boy in the picture seems to have.

  4. pseudomodo says:
    11 April 2013 at 9:42 AM

    Of course if he was playing ad orientum we wouldn’t be commenting on his grave expression at all!

    Wonderful.

  5. TopSully says:
    11 April 2013 at 10:41 AM

    What is the woman in the photo wearing? I have some faint memory somewhere of having seen it before somewhere maybe but I can’t remember what it was called.

  6. DBuote says:
    11 April 2013 at 10:48 AM

    Certainly the altar is set-up like a table, therefore they think it’s the ‘table’ of our communal meal, they must not even believe in the real presence! o{];-)

  7. Indulgentiam says:
    11 April 2013 at 10:58 AM

    @TopSully–that is the Habit of a Dominican Nun God bless her. Every time I see a Nun in a Habit or a Priest in his Clerical it directs my mind like a laser to the transcendent. I am instantly reminded that this is not all there is and my day is brighter for it. These days, at least where I live, you’d be more likely to spot Bigfoot then a Priest in Clericals or a Nun in a habit. Sad :(

  8. ghp95134 says:
    11 April 2013 at 11:58 AM

    Indulgentiam, I think TopSully’s tongue was firmly planted in cheek.

    At least I got a chuckle from the comment.

    –Guy

  9. MuchLikeMartha says:
    11 April 2013 at 12:00 PM

    Oh! They are the most wonderful nuns!! They came to our parish two years ago, and I have pictures of my girls with that very sister. They also have a children’s program that runs on EWTN during the afternoon hours (or at least they used to). We’ve been privileged to receive visits from the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist as well as the Sisters of Reparation to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, both full habit-wearing, Magesterium-following orders. Fr. does what he can to foster vocations, and my own daughters have been able to see firsthand the beauty and worthiness of how real nuns should conduct themselves. It’s always an honor to have them visit.

    On a slight side note, I noticed on Holy Thursday at our parish that the girl altar servers were dressed in different new robes than the boys – they looked appropriately feminine (like the top of the Dominican habit with a sash around the waist; kind of well, girly), and their role was minimal – more so than I’ve ever noticed before. The boys’ robes are more like scaled-down versions of a priest’s vestments. On Good Friday, it was males only, and what a sight to behold!! It brought tears to my eyes to see so many of our young men serving, and I can only pray that we will soon see more than a few of them open to the calling. Fr. is making subtle changes for the better here and there – brick by brick; may his efforts bring great fruit!

  10. BLB Oregon says:
    11 April 2013 at 1:09 PM

    This does not seem to me to be play, but some rather serious instruction about the Mass, no doubt for the benefit of a larger group of students. The term “Heavenly Banquet” on the chalkboard looks to be the right-most of a longer list.

    Children being taught about the Mass in all seriousness by a sister who wears a habit, and a young one, at that. What fortunate students those are!!

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  12. claiborneinmemphis says:
    11 April 2013 at 3:09 PM

    God bless those Dominicans, and our own Nashville Dominicans! Their distinctive habits-and their holy, faithful lives- do my heart good every day. Any child taught by them will be taught the Faith well and accurately.

  13. Crucesignata says:
    11 April 2013 at 4:06 PM

    Ah! It makes me wish the retreat in May were already here. :)

  14. backtothefuture says:
    11 April 2013 at 9:17 PM

    Turn around kid,lol. awesome!

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