The Mystery of Life and Death (The Growing Seed)

The Grain of Wheat  and the Growing Seed

  In Level II, this has become my setup for the planting of the seeds after presenting "The Grain of Wheat" or as we also know it to be called, "The Mystery of Life and Death."

This was an extremely difficult parable for me to grasp each year comparing it to the Grain of Wheat."  So I studied it carefully and thoughtfully each year before I presented it.  What was difficult for me was the metaphor of the seed itself.  I've had to wrestle with this a lot.  So I've come up with this.  It is actually the entire plant that dies though the seeds, still living, fall to the earth and then create the new life of another new plant.  We are to compare that to ourselves, "dying to self," to mean we give up the material world and things that mean so much to us in life, so that we recreate ourselves to live only for God.  So perhaps we explain it just like that - that the plant in dying is like us dying (but to self and our material world) and in doing so spread our love (seeds) to all others in the world giving example and spreading the word of God verbally and by example and creating (new plants) i.e. new lives, living for God as Christians.  I like that explanation best.  If anyone has a better analogy to offer, please share.  I heard an interesting take in a homily at daily mass today.  Father said there are more storage sheds in the United States than homes.  People worship their belongings, their false Gods.  They should give these "things" to the poor.  How true.

Setup in the Atrium:  As you can see I spread plastic under and on the tables.  It is the messiest project of all and so in Level II I save this until the end of the year and have it spread out like this for the last four or five classes.  That way anyone who was absent will get to do it as well.  I do the same for "The Leaven," as this is another messy one and unlike the other work in the atrium, these two Parables every child will want to do that same day.  I set these two materials up for four children to work at the same time, so that's why you see four scoops.  There are 15 children in each of my Level II classes and I've found that doing it this way gives everyone in the atrium a chance to do it within the hour that we have left after the presentation.   We only have one and a half hours for our atrium.  It's actually two hours in many atria.  Smaller classes can do it

twice.

I usually do the  "Parable of the Growing Seed" also as this parable also compares the seed to us and how we grow in our faith, but you can't see us growing in God any more than we can see our bodies growing.  Almost all of our Level II students have never been to Level I.  Every class is different, so this should be what is best for the children and the catechist's discretion.  For example, you may only have this material set up for one person to work at a time just as we do the other materials.  Level I does not do group work like we do in Level II.   So it makes sense to set it up for one person in that context. 

The Empty Tomb

Kim Sisson, a Level I trainer made the tomb.  It was made during one of the Level I training sessions.  It can be made with Joint Compound or paper mache.  I've used both of these materials.  They both need a solid shape to apply these mediums.  Kim made a wood diorama and then used Styrofoam and casting material for the top.  This made it lighter and easier to carry, she said.  The base was pretty big and cumbersome for a child to carry, so I used the buzz saw to round the edges and then painted it.  You can make the texture with a trough or a sponge.  I've blown up a balloon and then applied paper mache to make giant Easter Eggs in the past. This is another method to make the tomb.  The next day it becomes solid.  Then you can break the balloon and the shape will be intact.  The rolled rock and base are made of a thin plywood.

 I did make the figures, however, out of Sculpy Clay.  I love working with it.  You make the shapes and then bake them at 275 degrees for 15 minutes per half inch.  So I usually bake them for a half an hour.  However, you should check on them at 15 minutes.  If you smell them, you know they're done.  I've had them look too dark but once I've painted them, you couldn't tell that I over baked them.

Below we put wooden separators in the box to hold them in place.  I just repainted the figures and made a new kneeling apostle as I didn't like the old one very much. 

 

There were questions about the people who saw Jesus after He left the women at the tomb and about the Ascension.  So I read from the Bible in Mark 16:19-20 - The Ascension of Jesus.

The Synthesis of the Mass, a Level II material

The Liturgy of the Eucharist is a material which includes everything the children have been learning in Level I and II about the Mass.  Since they have been learning all the gestures of the priest, they are now ready to put it all together in the order of the Liturgy.

At the top of the table  there is a small Holy Bible and this represents the "Liturgy of the Word."  It is the only material for the first half of the mass. There is a green card placed with it which says that "the people of God are ready to listen to the Word of God."

Now the "Liturgy of the Eucharist" begins.  The children will recall the "Preparation of the cruets" and the "Preparation of the Chalice."  These are the first things they learn in Level I, (3-6 year olds).  So the cruets are placed on the table along with the chalice and the Paten with host.  A Yellow Card has the prayer the priest says for the Preparation of the Chalice.   The Orange Card, which is next, gives the prayer of the "Epiclesis" and there are two hands which the child puts on top of the chalice and Paten while they say the prayer of the priest.  We keep moving the chalice and Paten down the table reusing it for each gesture and prayer of the priest.

The next material is a small statue which represents Jesus and the twelve apostles at the Last Supper.  In front of it there are two Orange Cards with the words of Jesus at the Last Supper, "Take this, all of you," which the child will read.  Then the crucifix and the candles are brought out and lit to signify the Resurrection.  The five Orange Cards in front of them are the "Mystery of Faith."  It can be said together or sung in celebration of the Consecration of the bread and wine.  There is still more celebrating in the mass when the priest lifts up high the Chalice and Paten with bread and sings the "Doxology," which we used to call the Offering.   Then all the people sing loudly, "Amen."  There are two Orange Cards placed by the chalice and Paten.  Now the Chalice and Paten appear in the picture above. 

 Next all the people stand and sing the "Our Father" and then there is the "Sign of Peace" represented by the two gray cards: one of the "Our Father" and on the right the photo of a hand shake.

What isn't shown in the photo is something I've recently added and that is the "Breaking of Bread" which is next as well as the words of the Centurian's Servant, "Lord I am not worthy . . ."  These were not included in this material and so I've added these two cards and have also added them to the Missal that the children make of the "Liturgy of the Eucharist."  I felt these were very important as they are the words the children say right before Communion.

(Since this photo was taken I've also made changes to simplify things.  One thing was to tape the Mystery of Faith cards together. Also I've taped the words of the Consecration on the orange cards together and taped the gray cards for the Our Father and the Photo of the Sign of Peace.  Finally, I've also taped the Doxology and the AMEN together.  Fewer cards make it easier to present and for the children to do the work).

I use three small tables and cover them with a white altar cloth which I made to fit the tables.  All of these are kept in the box (right).  I actually found this beautiful handmade box at the Thrift Shop and my husband put the separators in it for me.  I put the handle on the top and stained it.  

In the box you can see that all the prayer cards are in a small holder.  I've laminated everything.  The altar cloth, crucifix, chalice and the small Holy Bible each have their own section.  There is also the chalice, bread made from Sculpy clay, the two candles and the Last Supper statue.  They all fit snugly in the box and I show the children how to put it away.  

 

 

 

 

I use this material three times during the year.  I like to go through the Liturgy of the Eucharist with the children while using their missals as it's good practice for them.  When they finish making their own Missals, they can take them home and use them at Mass.  We see many of the children doing this.  This usually takes them eight classes to do as they do one page each time they come to the Atrium. 

The Pearl of Great Price, A Kingdom of God Parable

The Precious Pearl

This parable is very popular with the Level I children, ages 3-6.  They love looking into the small treasure boxes.  The merchant gives up everything he owns to acquire heaven.  This theme is also seen in The Hidden Treasure parable.   I stained the inside of the merchant's house and painted the outside market with paint and sand for texture .  I also glued rocks outside the door.
   

The small treasure chests I purchased at second hand shops and a store which sells items from around the world.  I glued the jewels in the boxes because otherwise  curious hands take things out of the box and they get all over.  Even when glued after a couple of years they pick them out so I have to glue new ones in to replace them. At the end of every year there are repairs to do over the summer and some repainting of the figures.  I enjoy improving on the materials each summer as I get some creative ideas after I present the Scripture.

I chose a very large pearl to be the pearl of Great Price.  However, I've seen others who have used one small pearl.  The larger pearl makes sense to me when you compare this parable to The Mustard Seed, where it says that the Mustard tree is so large it has branches for all the birds of the air.  Heaven must be pretty big then, right? 

I tried to get a box which would hold everything neatly.  I've drawn the shapes on the bottom of the box to help the children place the objects in the box as shown here so that the lid will close. 

I made sure to make the room so that the box would fit snugly on the small shelf.  It has a ribbon nailed to the lid for easy opening.  It has been very frayed and I'll need to replace it.           

In all honesty, I believe I could make this house myself.   Over the years I've become knowledgeable watching my husband do this work.  He's a perfectionist and uses glue and nails.  I'm sure I'd take short cuts like using Liquid Nails.  However, I now can use the Jig saw and small Band saw pretty well - not as afraid as I used to be. 






Click below "older posts" to see more presentations and postings.  Or click "home" to go to the beginning of the blog.                                                                                                

Level II children at work in the atrium

I love it when all the children are so absorbed working with the materials in the atrium.
This is a very popular work called the Preparation of the Chalice.  They do the gestures of the Priest and have to read his words as they do the work.  They also like doing the Preparation of the Cruets, Washing of the Hands, the Doxology and the Epiclesis pictured on the bookcase above.
 
Here two children are working on the Pin Maps.  There are four control maps:  one for cities, one for mountains, one for bodies of water and  one for land regions and mountain ranges.  They become familiar with all the cities and places that Jesus visited in the Bible by finding each one on the mute map (without the answers placing the flags).

Sometimes the children prefer working alone and so another child may just watch but not touch or ask to join.  I tell the child working that if they want a person to join them, they can invite that person.


I prefer if they work together as then they discuss their choice and name the city they are looking for to help in the search.  This takes a half-hour or more to accomplish if they do all land forms.  So if they begin this work late, I usually suggest they just do the mountain ranges and then the following week, they can work on the cities.

 This girl is doing Bible Research.   She seems to be looking up a maxim in the Bible.  There is a small cabinet in the atrium which has small booklets and each has five questions.  On the back of each question is the Bible Citation where the answer can be found.  If they find an answer, they let me know and I give them a ticket.  I call it "a trip through the Bible."  When they answer all five questions showing me where they found the answer, they get a prize.  It's usually a medal or a rosary, two holy cards, or something of religious value.

I love how they meticulously place the Chasubles on the stands (above) and fold them to put them away in the color coded white plastic drawers.













The two girls to the right are still working on the chasubles.  It looks like they might have already folded them and now are putting them away.  One girl is pictured with a white folded chasuble.

 The two boys on the left have been setting up  the materials for the small altar work.  They always like to unlock the tabernacle when they are finished and look inside at the Tabernacle and the tiny hosts within the ciborium.

This boy is working on the tracing packet for the chasubles.  There are many tracing packets in the atrium for the mass materials as well as every Bible Story in the Atrium.





This girl is working on The Lost Coin.
She is arranging the materials as they are supposed to be from the Scripture and presentation as shown.  Then she will read the Scripture from the blue booklet.  Finally, she will move the figures and meditate on this Bible reading for a while.  

This is "The Books of the Bible Puzzle."  It is a "big work" as I call it, like the Pin Maps because it takes most of the class time.  So I tell them to begin early.  If they start late, I suggest that they do the New Testament first and the following week do the Old Testament or just do one book (section) a week.  There is a control chart and they put the names on the blank puzzle chart. This is definitely a work for two or three at a time.

May in the Atrium and First Holy Communion

First Holy Communion

 Level II:
These photos of our First Holy Communion classes are from eleven years ago (top) and nine years ago (bottom).  (Not really sure.)  This will give you an idea of the number of children that received when we started Level II.   May is the culmination of our year together in Level II learning about God, the Mass and the Sacraments.

Origins of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

(I was asked to give a talk to the Ladies of St. Andrews and this was the talk I gave in 2007.  In turn they graciously helped us financially to get much needed furniture, rugs and materials when we first started Level II.  We only had enough materials for two atrii, so my husband and I worked together building the materials for a third atrium.)

The origins of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd can be attributed to three Catholic Italian women:

Maria Montessori, M.D. (1870-1952)
She was the first woman doctor in Italy.  She did research in Rome on how children learn at different stages of development.  She did this for twenty years after giving up her practice.  She worked with sixty young children of working families.  She was up for the Nobel Peace Prize for her research as she was the first  person to ever do research on developmental psychology and learning of children.  As a woman of those times, she barely stood a chance of  winning, however in any education courses you are bound to study her research and she is held in high regard in education history.

Dr. Sophia Cavalletti (1917-2011)
She was a Hebrew and Scripture scholar; a member of the Vatican Commission for Jewish-Christian relations; and a writer for Vatican II.  She was also a scientist.  She attended a conference of Maria Montessori in England and came away wanting to scientifically study how children at different ages and stages of development could learn the Bible and Liturgy of the Mass.  She did just that after people began asking her to prepare their children for the sacraments.  She then designed the program as we know it as The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.  She discovered early on that three year olds especially love the parable of the Good Shepherd.  They gravitate toward Him as a protector and someone who loves them.

Professor Gianna Gobbi (1919-2002)
She was an educator herself and had worked with Maria Montessori and later joined Sophia in her work.  Together they established the program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

A good definition of the word, "Atrium" then would be that it is an approach to the religious formation of children, ages 3-12 years.  It originated in 1954 with the founding of the children's centre or "Atrium in Rome, Italy.

I looked up the definition of the word, "Atrium."  It means:
1.  A central main room of an ancient Roman private house.
2.  A courtyard, mostly surrounded by colonnades in front of early Christian or medieval churches.
3.  An auricle of the heart.
4.  The entrance to the Vatican, which is sometimes referred to as the Atrium.
So we can conclude that the Atrium is the entrance to learning about God, the Church, the Holy Bible, the Sacraments and the Holy Mass.

The program is based on the conviction that a child has a deep need to experience and enjoy the presence of God and that God and the child are in a relationship.

How wonderful to hear that because it is what we as adults should be aspiring to in meditation and contemplation of Our Lord.  It is what the Protestants refer to when they ask, "Do you have an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ?  This program nurtures that relationship from the very beginning.

This program is also used by Episcopal, Lutheran, Anglican or any non-Catholic church which uses a Liturgy.  It has been adapted for these churches.  Sometimes when there are not enough catechists, the children from these various churches use the same atrium.  The catechists also do their training together if there is only one training available in their area or when the schedule is convenient.

What I loved immediately about the program after observing it was the peacefulness of the room.  There was busy activity going on as the children were deeply involved in whatever materials they were working on.  Three observations about the program also made me know I wanted the training for this.  I was observing a presentation on the small altar as the catechist named each article of the mass: chalice, paten, tabernacle, etc.  However, she hesitated when she got to the article inside the tabernacle, but a child called out "ciborium!" before she could remember the name!  The 3-6 year olds are like little sponges and remember everything you tell them.

Then there was the incident when I had my first class in 2002 as I was assisting the catechist during my training in Phoenix.  I just didn't believe that three year olds could possibly understand a parable in the Bible.  I watched one three year old turning around while sitting on the rug and squirming while the Pearl of Great Price was being read.  Yet as I observed this child using the materials afterward, I could see he knew the story perfectly.  I could hear him telling the story quietly in his own words as he moved the figures exactly as the catechist was doing during her presentation.  After that, I was a believer.  It is truly teaching the children "meditation and contemplation of scripture" at the earliest age.

Also, I was always happiest when I'd get feedback from a grandmother or parent that their child while at mass would call out, "That's the Epiclesis!"  They knew the different gestures of the priest during the mass as well as their names.  What a great program!

Class Schedule:
The class schedule is set up as follows:
1.  The children sit on the rug at the prayer table.  They begin with prayer.
2.  The catechist then gives a presentation on either a Bible Story or demonstrates one of the gestures of the priest during the Liturgy of the Mass.  (about 20-25 minutes)
3.  The children can now choose a work.  There is only one of each Bible Story but there are many art activities relating to the mass and the Bible Stories, so the child can choose one of these or another Bible Story which was already read to them. (about 50 minutes)
4.  The bell is rung (around 10 minutes after the hour.)  This indicates that it's cleanup time.
5.  They gather back on the rug quietly.  We pray.
6.  We sing songs ending the class joyfully.
7.  Dismissal as we call individuals to get their work out of the folders to take home.

About the training of the catechists:
The training for each Level is 2 weeks long.  Sometimes it will be scheduled 1 week during one summer and the following summer will be 1 more week.  Other times I've traveled to Phoenix one weekend every month for the same amount of time.  I finished my Level I training in 2004 after observing and as an assistant for one and a half years during the training.  I certainly learned a lot about my faith.  I feel privileged and honored to prepare children for the sacraments.  I can't think of anything I've enjoyed more.  I was a teacher for 22 years in the public sector and always knew I was where God wanted me to be then and even more now.  I have been blessed with this ministry.

Our Atrium (Level I and Level II) at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Sierra Vista, AZ.

This is a common atrium setup with a few variations.  We have a holy water font and as the children enter, they learn to bless themselves with holy water.

In the small basket on the left is where we serve small paper cups of water for the children whenever they are thirsty as we have no water fountain in the room or nearby.




We also have a table with files where the children keep their artwork or letters to take home.  There is a date stamp on the table for them to stamp their work that day.






Also, as we don't have a sink with running water, there is a pitcher and bowl, typical in a Montessori classroom.  We keep the pitcher filled with some water and they are taught to wash their hands after polishing or pasting.  They throw the excess water into the bucket below when finished.

On the left bookcase is "The Tomb," "The Eucharistic Presence," and on the bottom shelf, "The Eucharistic Presence with International figures."

Most importantly there is the stationary bookcase with colored pencils, paper, glue sticks and scissors.  The first thing they learn in the atrium is how to collect their materials and put them away at the end of class.  It's wonderful to see three year olds in Level I become so comfortable with this structure.  They become competent and learn responsibility.

You can see blue name cards on the top shelf.  These I use for my Level II atrium because so many different family members drop off and  pick up during the year.   In addition, it is dark at 6:30 p.m. by the time they pick their children up.  The parent passes the name card to the relative or friend who will be picking up.  I have found that this makes it so much easier for me when they hand me the card.   I can look directly into their face and after a while I recognize them.  We have a sign in/sign out policy as well.  The sign up sheet is outside the atrium on a stand.

Our Level I atria meet on Sunday.  There are two sessions.  We also have a Thursday, Level I atrium for home school children.  Our Level II is during the week on Wednesday and Thursday.  These classes prepare our children for their First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion, ages 7 to 9 and sometimes older.  Now we have a Family Class for the older children and their parents attend as well.

Pin Maps and Sharing a Level I and Level II Atrium

Sharing a Level I and Level II Atrium

 Level I Practical Life Skills material for the 3-6 year olds is covered with a small curtain while the Level II atrium is in session.  This includes brass and silver polishing, grasping, spooning, and pouring.  This also gets them ready for pouring cruets and makes the three year olds feel very comfortable and at home in the atrium. 










This is the same bookcase but with the curtain over the Level I materials during a Level II atrium.
The Synthesis of the Kingdom of God Parables:  the Mustard Seed, Pearl of Great Price, Grain of Wheat, and the Growing Seed are displayed on a silver tray.  Also, The Found Sheep and The Wolf and the Hireling are kept in the tapestry box on the top of the bookcase.  These are within reach of the Level II children.


 

 Two of the Moral Parables, The Found Coin and The Insistent Friend are covered with a small curtain during Level I.  I keep all the tracing packets and the Presentations for Baptism and Reconciliation in this bookcase that I got at St. Vincent's.  We keep our calligraphy materials in this bookcase, Missals and Prayer Journals along with Altar Work for Level II.

The Moral Parables presented during our Sacrament Retreat

On a bookcase behind this one (seen below) is kept The Healing of the Centurion's Servant, The Forgiving Father, The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (first shelf), The Wedding Feast, the Ten Bridesmaids (2nd shelf) and The Good Samaritan (bottom shelf).   This too is covered by a small white curtain during Level I atrium. 

Displayed is the Invitation to the Wedding Feast.  This is my favorite of all the moral parables.  It suggests so much about what God wants from his people.  It lays out four categories of human choice and what can happen when we have free choice and make wrong decisions.  However, He wants us to all to come to the Wedding Feast.  He is a forgiving Father.
I always compare this with the Good Shepherd when He says, "There are other sheep outside this sheepfold."  But He wants one flock; one shepherd.

Missal Work and Prayer Journals

On this bookcase you can see the Missal Work for Level II and the White Control notebooks for the Missals (left)  The top shelf houses the Level II Altar pasting work.  I am the Level II catechist for this atrium.  We have two atriums.  So I've tried to keep everything out of the main part of the atrium for Level I catechists in that it flows like a Level I atrium only.  I have a Wednesday and Thursday late afternoon/evening class and so I keep their Missal material separate on these two shelves.

The Gifts of the Kingdom are a very popular material for Level II.  There are small boxes of Herbs in the picnic basket and below are two drawers - one with small boxes of rocks and the other is filled with seashells and different sea life.  They like to sit in pairs and discover everything.

There are also a file basket on the top filled with downloaded pictures of animals, people helping others, along with rocks and rock formations, sea creatures and ocean scenes, flowers and trees - all God's creations!

The posters displayed across the wall belong to this work also.  It describes creation and how God put everything in place including this beautiful world of creatures and human helping others. On the four large tables are the foam board maps for the City of Jerusalem and the Pin Maps.  Our trainer for Level II always said, "Big work means big tables."  You can see why.  Normally the children stand to do this work, but when necessary they can use the tables to sit and work too.

                                                                                                                                     The Pin Maps

  The children find the name of the city on the control map (left) and then look for it on the larger mute map and place the flag on that location.  They are to do this with the mountain ranges, large land and mountain ranges as well as the bodies of water.  They are four control maps for them to choose from.  The red flag are the cities, blue for the bodies of water, green for the land masses and yellow

 for the mountain ranges.



The bookcase on the right shows where the Pin Map Flags are stored.  They are covered on the top shelf.  The large foam board maps are kept between the two bookcases behind this one as well as the City of Jerusalem foam board maps.
So everything has a place but does not disrupt the flow of the Level I children.  It becomes the job of the Level II catechist to put everything back in place for the Level I catechists and their children.  "A place for everything and everything in its place."  That's the Montessori way.

 

In the photo below I've taken the pins and replaced them with small wooden pegs and small block bases.  A lot less hurtful than getting stuck with a pin.  We put up with that for years until one of the catechists discovered these posts with bases at Hobby Lobby.  So much nicer now and more attractive.