Catechesis of the Good Shepherd:
»The Atrium«
One of the capstones of the Lux Christi Homeschool Community is the Atrium. The Atrium is a prepared space in which children come to experience and get to know Jesus, the Good Shepherd, through handmade materials and the solemn reading of Scripture. Children are invited to ponder the great mysteries of our Catholic Faith in a way that only children can, with hearts entirely open and receptive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.
In 1954 in the city of Rome, a mother made a simple request to the Catholic scholar of theology and Hebrew language, Sofia Cavalletti, to provide formation for her young son and his friends. With no experience working with children, Cavalletti declined. However, the mother persisted, and Cavalletti began opening the Word of God with the children and saw them blossoming. After a time, Montessori educator Gianna Gobbi joined her efforts. Gobbi brought with her the handmade model altar and articles of the Mass created on a child's scale, along with her 15 years of first-hand experience working with children in the method Maria Montessori pioneered years earlier. Their collaboration led to wonderful results — children who became more aware of the myriad mysteries of the Mass in new ways, with interest piqued and with confidence in their being loved, deeply and personally, by the Good Shepherd who calls each person by name and knows them.
And so we are deeply invested in continuing this method of formation in not only religious "education" but also in developing prayerful children open to growing closer to our Lord. In fact, there is no facet of our Co-op more important to our parents than the sharing of our Faith, and the Atrium is a space unlike any other in which children can truly experience God's Love. We also are honored to be able to offer the Atrium to our host parish, St. John the Baptist, for the greater local community to be able to experience.
Central Theme of Level 1 Atrium:
The Good Shepherd
This "presentation" (lesson) illustrates in a very real, tangible way, that the covenant God has initiated with His people is with each of us individually, called by name and cared for in every way we need by the love of the Good Shepherd. The proclamation of the parable lays the groundwork for future presentations and nurtures prayer in
The Model Altar:
The Tabernacle area and articles of the Mass
These presentations are "naming" lessons meant to connect the nomenclature of the articles of the Mass with their use and meaning. Children learn about the essential elements they will see on the altar during Holy Mass and near the tabernacle, ambo, and credence table as well. They are able to then connect with and ponder these articles while at Mass with their families.
Beginning Presentations and Songs:
Liturgical Colors and the Vestments of the Priest
Some of the earliest presentations shown in the Level 1 Atrium involve the vestments the priest wears during Holy Mass — their names and functions, and the colors of the Church seasons. Simplified for the youngest children, the colors are presented as red for the Feast of Pentecost (and the Holy Spirit), green for the "growing time" of ordinary time, purple for preparation, and white for celebration. The children LOVE singing simple songs to remember these seasons!
The Sacristy Cabinet:
Sacred Vessels, Linens, and other articles
The Model Altar work is always a favorite of the children because without being rushed, they can carefully set the model altar with an altar cloth, candles, corporal crucifix, paten, chalice, purificator, and Roman Missal. With altar bells at the side, cruets ready for the preparation of the chalice work later in the year, and the lectionary to be placed on the model lectern, children learn and work with the names and functions of the essential elements they will see each day during the celebration of the Holy Mass.
Palpable Joy:
The Pondering of the Child leads to Joy
This three-year-old boy set the model altar and works with the altar bells. He knows that when the bells ring at Mass, it is the most important time. He does not need to fully understand a mystery that humans are nearly incapable of truly understanding; he KNOWS that the bells signify a special moment, and he knows it is through the power of the Holy Spirit. He ponders over this during the Mass and later talks to his mother about it. This is one of our goals—children connecting what they see in the Atrium to the Mass!
Making Connections:
The Good Shepherd is present in the Eucharist
As the children grow, they are presented with new materials to consider. During their first year in the Atrium, they focus on the Good Shepherd calling the sheep by name and ponder who the sheep are. Their second year, we show them a connecting work, where the Good Shepherd story becomes present to us during the Eucharist. The sheep are replaced by people, and one of the sheep is replaced by a priest. Over time, our children in the Atrium come to understand that they themselves are the sheep that Jesus loves!
Click on the images above to see captions with details.
Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
