The second half of the last class is a weaving-together of assorted Biblical threads into the fabric of the Mass, especially by way of the by-now-familiar handout that compares the plan and function of a Catholic church to the Meeting Tent/ Temple:
This is enhanced by reading excerpts from the Missalette and the book of Hebrews, which the kids then apply to the plans. Of course the board gets covered with sketch'n'scribble:
1. The kids help compose this quick chart which compares the Old Covenant liturgy in the Temple with that of the New Covenant's in a Catholic church:
The people can see the Levites & priests; but the High Priest's work in both cases is hidden behind a veil.
2. The Missalette lists some of the first martyrs who participate with us at Mass, such as Stephen. Here's Stephen with his attribute, which is rocks: he was stoned to death.
Photo of the church for comparison:
I do a blow-up of the cherubim. I like to draw their wings overshadowing the Tabernacle even though ours don't actually do so:
Photo of the Cherubim:
4. With only few minutes left in the year, I ask the kids to tell me everything they can think of from the Bible that's present in the Mass. Going clockwise from the lower left they name the Loaves & Fishes, Melchizedek, Cana, Manna, Abraham & Isaac, the Last Supper, Abel, the Crucifixion, and John da Baptis'. No prior class has done this well.
I compliment their thinking skills and add the Wedding Feast of the Lamb; then close by singing the last lines of Supper's Ready by Genesis:
There's an angel standing in the sun, and he's crying with a loud voice,
"This is the supper of the mighty One",
The Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
Has returned to lead His children home,
To take them to the new Jerusalem.
"This is the supper of the mighty One",
The Lord of Lords,
King of Kings,
Has returned to lead His children home,
To take them to the new Jerusalem.
The children count down the last seconds on the clock, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, ZERO!!! and their Year of Suffering is over.
5 comments:
Your church is beautiful. If only all Catholic churches had the same beauty before Modernism turned them into theaters in the round, et al. Your church makes teaching about the Mass a lot easier.
It's a treasure trove of visual catechesis.
You are blessed to have such a lovely church. Your kids are blessed to have you as catechist!
If only the adults in my church were as smart as your 6th graders. Any other music teaching tips?
I sing Regina Coeli after Easter....that may be about it for music in my class.
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