Christmas Midnight Mass with toddlers--yay or nay?

Am I crazy to try my very first midnight Mass this year with a 1 year old and 3 year old in tow? I have longed to go to a midnight Mass for years, and now that I'm a TLM-goer I crave it even more.

Did you take little kids to the midnight Mass once upon a time? Do you remember it from when you were little? I'd love to hear your thoughts and memories and if it was ever a disaster lol.

 

Well, I hope you do get to go to Midnight Mass. There is nothing that says you have to take your small children. In my day (medieval times) the parents often did not take small children to Mass. I know that sounds awful today. The only problem as I see it, the timing is Christmas Eve, and you might actually cross paths with Santa Claus. And because of that, you might want to take your children with you to Mass. The hour is late. That might be problematic for children being fussy. I'm anxious to hear from some people who have successfully done this. We did not go to Midnight Mass until my son was about 9.

 

I did 3 boys probably 9 11 and 13 and a 4 year old. She pretty well slept.

 

I can certainly understand your desire to attend the Midnight Mass. I have seen a few little ones at this Mass over the years, most of them fell asleep, but you just never know with small children. Unfortunately I have no childhood memories of Midnight Mass, as HH said, it just wasn't done back in the day. I began to take the family to Midnight Mass when my son became an altar server, and I truly cherish those beautiful memories. One year we had a vicious lightning storm on Christmas Eve, the thunder was so bad it shook the church. The power went out and the Mass continued by candlelight, it was such a blessed and Holy night. Time has flown by, and now it is our eldest grandson who serves at Midnight Mass. It is a joy for us to see this tradition carried on in our family.

 

We tried Midnight Mass with our toddlers several years. Sometimes it worked, mostly it did not. That means we had to stay home (couldn't wake up people), or back out of the Church due to young toddler playing up, and try again on Christmas morning.
That said, Midnight Mass is so beautiful, I would definitely try!
I was baptized at age 35, so I have no childhood memories of Holy Mass.

 

Nay.

 

Ha, it might have been too late for my kids, but I never tried because it was too late for me. I was usually worn out by evening and knew the next day had its own challenges, so I didn’t go. But I do have wonderful memories of going with my sisters walking to midnight mass on a beautiful, awesome winter night with a soft gentle snow that we all remember to this day. The choir accompanied by trumpets was so beautiful…..back in the olden days……

 

I would say give it a try but keep behaviour expectations low for the kids. They will probably fall asleep so be prepared for that. Is it a candlelight Latin mass? If so they'll probably love it but struggle to stay awake. I'm hoping to go to one myself and bring my 18 year old, also a challenging age but for different reasons.

 

Tried it once, never will try it again as they completely melted down. Unless you allow your kids to stay up that late regularly they'll be miserable, or best case asleep on the pew next to you which also will be distracting. But midnight Mass is beautiful, get a babysitter and go with your husband. Take the kids back the next day and just don't receive the Eucharist again

 

Lol…hide the 18 year olds cell phone before mass

 

I though you could receive the Eucharist everyday…? Am I wrong? Is it because it’s after midnight by the time you receive?

 

I think it’s technically that both are Masses of obligation for the same feast of
Christmas.

 

[

I wondered and looked it up and found this:


https://canonlawmadeeasy.com/2008/12/18/can-we-receive-holy-communion-twice-on-christmas-day/

 

I am not taking Trixie or Sandy.

 

I don't mind at all if they sleep through Mass! We don't have a babysitter and the 1 year old doesn't sleep without me, so if we're going to go at all, they're going too.

Their usual bedtime is 10-10:30 (they sleep late in the morn), and they've been known to stay up till 11:30 from time to time, so midnight isn't TOO extreme, but it'll still be pretty late by the time they get home to bed. I just wish I could know if they'd fall asleep there. I feel like I'm never gonna know until I try it.

 

I would say give it a try. Worst case, have to give up and try again next morning. Midnight Mass is so beautiful. Your older kids will fondly remember.

 

Dont do it, It is cruel to treat small children like this. They can go when they are Teenagers.

 

Pray on it. It may be too much for the Little ones.