It is licit, though it’s been a while since I’ve seen such. There’s even a Lectionary just for these children’s liturgies of the word. I’ll check it this afternoon to see if there’s an official text for the dismissal, but I’m pretty sure it’s a “these or similar words” type of deal. I bet you could adapt the Ambrosian competentes dismissal chant, or even find something in the repertoire for it.

There is no provision in the Missal or the rubrics for a dismissal of children or anyone else during the rite, not at the Liturgy of the Word, nor at any other time. There is no text, no rubric, and no tradition for doing this.

At our parish it used to be done with singing Come and Journey With A Saviour, to the Sacred Harp tune called Beach Spring. They come back (usually) by tagging along behind the Offertory procession. We no longer sing for this, but the priest inserts an informal invitation and the little ones gather at the transept and are sent out.

Way back in the day this was done at the parish where I served 26 years. When I inherited this practice I immediately jettisoned the treacly tune that was employed prior, and simply exhibited the responsorial melody with improvisation. Eventually the situation was relieved by a pastoral change.

Permitted/not permitted...... we have bishops in Germany who want non-Catholic spouses and those in open violation of the 6th Commandment to receive Holy Communion, and we're asking what's permitted? Oh,.... wait a minute … tinkering with the liturgy is, in the Ordo of Paul VI, normal, even normative.

Fundamentally, dismissing the children so they can listen to the Word of God proceeds from the catechetical view of the Mass. Instead of an act of worship, Mass is (in this view) about educating people. Children, therefore, kinda-sorta-logically should be separated from the rest of everyone so that whatever the "message" is can be brought down to their level.

Bad understanding of children. Bad understanding of liturgy. Licit or not, it's a really bad idea.

Canadash,

I wish you could get in a TARDIS and travel back to whatever point is necessary to correct this misunderstanding. Sure, children like playing. Some play Mass, some play house, some play Cops and Robbers (or Cowboys and Indians or whatever). They're learning about being adults in their simple, playful way. One reason the older form of the liturgy is so much better for children is that it gives their imagination something to consider while it's giving them the framework in which to worship God.


Years ago I accepted the really bad advice that I should run a children's choir like a day camp, with non-stop pep, caffeine and sugar, or the musical equivalent thereof. After a very short time, the children were miserable and I was exhausted. When I put them on the schedule to sing for Mass, everything improved. When I changed what music they were learning and how they were learning it, more than everything improved. Sure, they were kids, but they were childlike, not childish.

I forgot my books are all packed up for our move to a new house, so I couldn’t check it. I did find this, though. Hope it helps.