The mother of a young family was talking to me today about the new translation of the Mass. She said that her children have really latched onto the word "consubstantial" and look forward to it in the Creed. They were disappointed last week because we did not say the Creed at the school Mass (it was a weekday.)
I know that the younger ones may not yet understand what the word means. They probably like it because it is a long word that is difficult to say and to spell, and there is a sense of achievement in getting it right so that they can say it at Mass (actuosa participatio n'est ce pas?). With that enthusiasm, it is quite likely that when they are old enough to understand a little trinitarian theology, they will be keen to know exactly what "consubstantial" means.
It is not a good idea to shield children from difficult words. Better that they know them and are fascinated by them and then learn more about them as they grow older.
16 comments:
Quite Father
My seven year old daughter explained that a chalice is not a cup that you would use to drink hot chocolate from.
Children can spot the difference.
I think the psychology and pedagogy here is spot on. Children know they are children and cannot (like adults) understand everything, but they like fancy words, they like the idea that discoveries lie ahead of them, and they like not being talked down to.
Hear, hear, I couldn't agree more about children and 'difficult' words. It's much more helpful to think of them as 'interesting' words. Goodness me, if we stuck to 'the cat sat on the mat' what a boring world we'd live in and how much poorer our language would become.
After all, anyone with any experience of children will tell you that many 5 year-olds, and often younger, have no problem with words like 'diplodocus', 'tyrannosaurus' and 'triceratops' :-)
Amen! It is worth noting that, when people (young or old) say "of one substance" over and over, they are inclined to believe (wrongly) that they "get it." The new (old) word doesn't lend itself to this conceit.
Interestingly, Conn Iggulden (Dangerous Book for Boys) who is 40, wrote in the Sunday Telegraph Seven Magazine P5;
"The familiar words are comforting, part of my personal tradition. But last week, the basic parts of each service were retranslated and made new - or made old, more in keeping with the Latin. Why? Well there has been talk of making the Mass more "accessible".......Because using "consubstantial" will bring the congregations flocking back".
I quote at length, not because I agree with his rather sarky (though essentially good humoured) view, but because it is interesting to see that it is actually being commented on outside the blogosphere - as is the Friday Penance elsewhere. There seems to be a new confidence among Catholics in discussing things in the public forum.
I remember as a child being delighted the first time I managed to apostolic and not stumble over it. I hope they bother to find out what it means quicker than I do. I do not think that my inability to pronounce it for many years was a great barrier to the faith contrary to what many corrected translation opposers would contend.
Children love new words and the longer and more complicated the better.
It's like going through a door marked "Grown-up".
That is a good thing about the new translation: It will require new and better catechesis. "What do we mean by 'and with your spirit?" "What does 'consubstatial' mean?" or just in general: "Why are we changing the words at the Mass?" just to name a few of the questions that will need to be answered.
What a perceptive post, Father. I sometimes recall the number of times when we read in the Gospels that the Apostles did not understand something Our Lord said or did. And yet still He said or did it. And at the right time,the Holy Spirit helped them to understand...
We patronise people terribly by limiting our discourse to what they can already, easily, grasp!
They might like this hymn too!
Christ is made the sure foundation,
Christ the head and cornerstone,
chosen of the Lord, and precious,
binding all the Church in one,
holy Zion's help for ever,
and her confidence alone.
To this temple, where we call thee,
come, O Lord of Hosts, today;
with thy wonted loving-kindness
hear thy servants as they pray;
and thy fullest benediction
shed within its walls alway.
Here vouchsafe to all thy servants
what they ask of thee to gain,
what they gain from thee for ever
with the blessed to retain,
and hereafter in thy glory
evermore with thee to reign.
Laud and honour to the Father,
laud and honour to the Son,
laud and honour to the Spirit,
ever Three, and ever One,
consubstantial, co-eternal,
while unending ages run.
Father
When I was about 10 years old and we were being taught to sing the various parts of the Mass, I used to look forward to
'Deum de Deo, lumen de lumine. . .'
so I am not surprised that young children can enjoy words such as 'consubstantial'
Fr. Finigan,
"(A)ctuosa participatio", oui!
And, even though not a child, let alone a small one, but rather a (relatively recent) convert from (American) Episcopalianism to Holy Mother Church, I also look forward to it.
Pax et bonum,
Keith Töpfer
Oh my, yes. The Orthodox service of Great Vespers begins with the sublime acclamation: "Glory to the holy, consubstantial, life-creating, and undivided Trinity, always, now and ever, and unto ages of ages".
I've been Orthodox for years, but this never fails to send a shiver down my spine, whether it is bellowed out by a middle-aged English priest who would be more at home on a parade ground, or whispered by a six hundred year old Russian priest who looks like he would blow away on a stiff breeze. There are few occasions when so much meaning is packed into so few words.
It sounds trite to say I thought this about "consubstantial" as a child, but I did.
As a convert, another word which fascinated me was "indifferently", as in "...truly and indifferently administer justice". It made sense to a child who had not learned its modern meaning - to me is clearly meant "without difference".
These words, and other 'grown-up' words, I loved saying over and again.
@ motuproprio, Henry Purcell - Christ is made the sure foundation Ecumenical Celebration at Westminster Abbey, City of Westminster, 17 September 2010 as posted by Papalmusic on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cR9NHXnbxlU
Our Lady of the Rosary pray for us!
PAPA VERO ORA PRO NOBIS!
My primary school's (5-11yo) children were really excited about using (little bits of) Latin in the school masses and this was in a school in one of the very most deprived areas of the country.
As has been said, they delight in learning new words, languages, codes etc and it really deveops their communication skills.
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