Kids "playing" Mass?

I am glad Fr. Z made a post about this after a reader asked a question if kids are committing a sin for simulating Mass.

In fact, that is a very valid question.  In Canon Law, it is very specific what will happen to a person who simulates doing the Mass.

Let us see the entry in the Canon.

Can. 1378 §1. A priest who acts against the prescript of ⇒ can. 977 incurs a latae sententiae excommunication reserved to the Apostolic See.

§2. The following incur a latae sententiae penalty of interdict or, if a cleric, a latae sententiae penalty of suspension:

1/ a person who attempts the liturgical action of the Eucharistic sacrifice though not promoted to the sacerdotal order; 

A person under interdict forbids that person to celebrate or receive any of the sacraments, including the Eucharist, or to celebrate the sacramentals. One who is under interdict is also forbidden to take any ministerial part (e.g., as a Lector or Acolyte if a layperson or as a deacon or priest if a clergyman) in the celebration of the Eucharist or of any other ceremony of public worship.

These penalties apply to those person who have incurred, as mentioned by the canon, a laetae sententiae interdict or an automatic interdict committed at the time of the offense.

This type of interdict applies to ALL CATHOLICS WHO JOIN FORBIDDEN ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE MASONIC LODGE!

Catholics who are Masons are also forbidden to stand, as the Canon stipulates, as godfather to baptisms, confirmations and weddings!

But getting back...

Kids "playing" Mass, sinning?!

Fr. Z, was right!

They do not!

Why?

Simple!

Kids do not do that with MALICE!

Adults are in the age of reason, and they KNOW that it is wrong to do that, especially if it is not during a stage play!

Kids do it not for fun.  Kids do it because they EMULATE what they see.

See it as more like when we were kids we fool around doing what the Three Stooges do to each other.

Kids playing Mass?  A quick way to foster priestly vocation!

Let me share this video from a good friend of his only son, playing Mass.



PS: If my daughter would do this, she'd be grounded. No more TV! :)

I'd rather buy her a complete set of what Mother Angelica and her nuns are wearing. :)