Weapons of Mass instruction. (editors' note).

The planning and execution required to pull off a family's timely arrival at Sunday Mass rival the Normandy invasion, wrote a U.S. CATHOLIC reader years ago. Another friend of the house told us this story: It's Sunday morning, and Mom and Dad plan to arrive at Mass on time this week. Dad tells the 4-year-old it's time to get dressed. She gets distracted, however, and 20 minutes later has arrayed her Barbie doll in a stunning new outfit but has donned only one sock herself. The 11-year-old decides that this is the morning to stage an argument over why he has to go to Mass in the first place, none of his friends' parents force their kids to go, etc.

As the family finally gets into the car, it becomes apparent the baby needs a major diaper change. Dad gets into an argument with a guy who cuts him off on the way into the church parking lot. They arrive at Mass during the second reading. The adolescent son sulks in the pew. The baby bawls. The 4-year-old loudly demands the Cheerios Mom left at home on the counter.

The celebrant proclaims the gospel and strides to the center aisle with a broad smile on his face to begin the homily. "I bet you're wondering," he says, "why I'm wearing green."

Families face a host of challenges in attempting to attend Mass together (not the least of which is the homilist who won't get a clue as to what goes on in the lives of his parishioners). Let's appreciate, however, the ingenuity that many parishes and families show in addressing the dilemmas surrounding children and Mass. There's the classic one-spouse-goes-while-the-other-stays-home solution. While this has deficiencies if you actually like worshiping with your spouse, at least each gets a peaceful hour at Mass (assuming the spouse can attend another Mass). My parents embraced this habit for so long that, when my father in his 70s started attending Mass with my mother, she was tickled that many in her parish wondered where she had suddenly picked up the handsome older gentleman friend.

Some parents thank God for the parish-sponsored nursery during Mass, although this can lose its appeal if your sobbing 2-year-old attaches himself to your pants leg each week as you try to sneak away. Other parishes plan Masses especially for families with children, and then we have the separate Liturgy of the Word for children featured in this month's cover story by Leslie Scanlon (pages 12-17).

It may surprise you to hear that there is even a debate over these liturgies, but Scanlon felt the heat as liturgists, pastors, and religious education folks argued the merits of removing children for part of the Mass. When done well, the kids love it and learn from it. We might wish the standard Sunday liturgy would likewise captivate children, but often that's not a reality. In the meantime, can't we give everyone credit for trying?