Children's Mass
At our parish, school extended to Sundays in that the pupils of the school were strongly encouraged to attend the nine o'clock Mass. The nuns required us to sit with our respective classes. First grade in front, eighth grade at the back. We pretty much took up one side of the center aisle. The Sisters kept note of our presence, whether or not we received Holy Communion and naturally of our deportment.
On Monday morning, we were asked to raise our hands if we attended the nine o'clock Mass. Those who did not had to inform all which Mass they had attended. Sometimes students said they were traveling out of town with their family, altar boys told which Mass they had served, thus discharging our obligation. Sometimes, for some reason, we attended a different Mass than the nine o'clock. That was tacitly accepted.
If any students were ferreted out as missing Mass, I recall one nun who made the offender(s) write 100 times on the board: "I am sorry dear Jesus.".
This sort of thing made such a deep impression on all of us. Even now, over sixty years later, a classmate of mine reminded me of attendance at the Children's Mass. He had not forgotten either.
On Monday morning, we were asked to raise our hands if we attended the nine o'clock Mass. Those who did not had to inform all which Mass they had attended. Sometimes students said they were traveling out of town with their family, altar boys told which Mass they had served, thus discharging our obligation. Sometimes, for some reason, we attended a different Mass than the nine o'clock. That was tacitly accepted.
If any students were ferreted out as missing Mass, I recall one nun who made the offender(s) write 100 times on the board: "I am sorry dear Jesus.".
This sort of thing made such a deep impression on all of us. Even now, over sixty years later, a classmate of mine reminded me of attendance at the Children's Mass. He had not forgotten either.
