I ended up a local parish doing penance through a children's liturgy (I was clueless). It featured the infamous Eucharistic Prayer I in Masses for Children. Here is just a sampling of this mush which thankfully, is being dropped by the Holy See when the new Missal comes out! (emphases mine in bold).
Priest: On the night before he died, Jesus was having supper with his apostles. He took bread from the table. He gave you thanks and praise. Then he broke the bread, gave it to his friends, and said:
Take this, all of you, and eat it:
this is my body which will be given up for you.
When supper was ended, Jesus took the cup that was filled with wine. He thanked you, gave it to his friends, and said:
Take this, all of you, and drink from it:
this is the cup of my blood, the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Then he said to them: do this in memory of me.
We do now what Jesus told us to do. We remember his death and resurrection and we offer you, Father, the bread that gives us life, and the cup that saves us. Jesus brings us to you; welcome us as you welcome him.
It's Sunday. It's not suppose to be penitential!!!
Now, in this setting it was not even appropriate to be using a children's liturgy. The USCCB states that use of this Eucharistic Prayer is only to be used in Masses where the participants are either exclusively children, or where they make up the vast majority of participants. That was hardly the case.
When may the Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children be used? Is it the decision of the priest celebrating the mass or are there guidelines for this?
Concerning Eucharistic Prayers for Masses with Children, I would refer you to number 4 of the 1974 decree of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship, Postquam de Precibus:
"Use of a Eucharistic Prayer for Masses with Children is restricted to Masses that are celebrated with children alone or Masses at which the majority of the participants are children.
"A community of children means one so considered by the Directory for Masses with Children, that is, one consisting of children who have not yet reached the age referred to as preadolescence." [source]
Te Deum Laudamus! Home
The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!
