Repetition at School Mass

And be sure to click on BEFORE link in the article as well.

1912 was probably a good year, but way before my time. I expect to get out of puberty by the time I am 95. ;-)

I often say, follow me around and try to keep up with me. I will leave you in the dust. LOL.

And it has, somewhat. If it hasn't really died yet, it seems to be strangely quiet. :-)

The document was written when the revised form of Mass hadn't even been implemented yet in most countries, in the era when translations were guided by the document Comme le prévoit. Now we are in a different era, in which the Church emphasizes the importance of practicing the Roman Rite and not an overly adapted version of it: Comme le prévoit was replaced with Liturgiam authenticam.

I suppose I'm making an argument from silence here, but when the Third Edition of the Roman Missal came out, a decision was made with some relevance to this topic: the Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children were quietly replaced, in the published book, with nothing. That decision was made during the reign of Pope Benedict, and, as far as I know, it hasn't been changed since. Sometimes it seems the Holy See doesn't draw attention to an obsolete document by expressly revoking it; but treats it as irrelevant by ceasing to update it, invoke it or apply it. Is that perhaps what has happened to the Directory for Masses with Children?

If only, Chonak.

According to this article on ZENIT, the Eucharistic Prayers for masses with children were dropped from the 2008 edition of the Roman Missal in Latin (and so in the new English Roman Missal) only because they were not intended to be said in Latin. (They were included in the 2002 Latin edition.)

However, their use is still permitted. In fact they are available from the USCCB website in an updated translation (i.e. they incorporate the new translations of the Preface Dialogue, Sanctus, words of institution, Memorial Acclamations, and Concluding Doxology into the existing translation). A new translation of the main part of the prayers in supposedly on the agenda.

Here are a some other developments that I think tend to support chonak’s suggestion.

1) For many years before the recent Mass translation was implemented, the Directory for Masses with Children (DMC) was printed in all altar Missals (at least in the US) immediately after the GIRM, although the DMC was never in the Latin typical edition of the Missal. Thanks to Liturgiam autheticam’s requirement that translated Missals contain all and only that which is in the typical edition, that is no longer the case.

2) The Lectionary for Masses with Children (LMC) mentioned in DMC §43 was originally approved by the US bishops in 1991. In November 2005 a revised LCM which included a revised Introduction, revised list of readings and a new translation—a modified version of the “adult” Lectionary was approved by the US bishops’ conference. It was sent to the Holy See for recognitio, which has not been granted. I have seen no published reports of any other response from Rome. This suggests at least a lack of encouragement for use of such LMC’s.

3) There was an additional reason given for withdrawal of the Eucharistic Prayers for Children not mentioned in the Zenit article posted by rich_enough. Cardinal Francis Arinze, then-prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship, said the following in an interview with the magazine 30 Days in 2008.
http://www.30giorni.it/articoli_id_19635_l3.htm

The decree also states that the reprinted Missal no longer contains the Eucharistic prayers for Masses with children ... 

ARINZE: In fact it was decided that those two Eucharistic prayers are not considered mandatory for the whole Church. Perhaps it is not then so necessary to have special Eucharistic prayers for children. That said, if there are Bishops’ Conferences that want to keep them, they may do so in their national missals.

This at least makes the point that bishops are not obliged to allow these prayers. It does not impose them on conferences that never requested them nor tend to revive their use in places where they have perhaps already died out or are in the process of doing so, as including them in the Missal would have.

A ‘benign neglect’ approach may not be effective, however. For example, the lack of response on the new LMC has left the older version in use. This employs a seriously defective translation using “inclusive” language and eliminating sacral vocabulary (such as salvation, grace and anointed). This is occurring, apparently, with at least tacit approval from the Bishops even though the earlier LMC originally had permission only for experimental use for short a period. The period was extended several times, but I would think the last temporary extension (given in 2000) would have expired by now.

For more details on the origin, interpretation and implementation of the DMC see the series of articles in Adoremus Bulletin published in 2003 and 2004. I can't seem to get a link to work but if you type
www.adoremus.org/1103ChildrenLiturgy.html
into your browser it should take you to Part I, which includes links to Parts II and III.

I don't recall ever seeing a depiction of Our Lord either as a newborn or in swaddling bands.
[Edit 20 min later]Here's one on the blog Rorate caeli. at 40 days.

What would a good Jesus Onsie Say!

Yes, in fact, I am the most important person in the world ?

Incredible onesie! If I just knew someone appropriate for this gift I would buy it.