The flame rose

Walter had just finished the Leaven, in which he reflected on the parable of the Kingdom of Heaven and the leaven. In the work, he mixed two bowls of flour, one with yeast and the other without, and waited to see the results. Once he had finished, he moved on to the Baptism work. As he lit a baptismal candle he said, "Look, the flame rose, just like the leaven!"

Wash away the dark clouds

During his second presentation on Baptism in the atrium,  Nick, age 5 said, "Water helps wash the dark clouds inside of you away."

Following his second lesson on Baptism, Sam, age 5, cut out a black cross and asked for yellow paper to make a yellow cross the same size. These he pasted together, one side yellow, the other black. He made about five of these. He took water from the font and traced the cross on the black side. "See?" he asked, and turned it to the yellow. (He was cutting crosses when the children needed to clean up. He refused to come to the prayer table and the catechist was so glad she did not insist.)

Without this light

As she was receiving a presentation on Baptism, Morna, age 5, received a candle and heard the words, "Receive the light of Christ." Morna reflected, "Without this light, we would be in darkness forever."

Beautiful and Precious

During our Liturgy of the Light, we were reflecting on the Women at the Tomb. I asked my group of 6-9 year old children, how the women felt, (afraid and full of joy,) and if it reminded them of any other stories in the Bible. Nan, in second grade, suggested the Parable of the Pearl, because the merchant felt happy about finding the pearl, but perhaps was frightened by how beautiful and precious it was. I had never thought of that parable in this way before.

Thank you for the treasure

Diana, 5, and another child were receiving the presentation on the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. Following the reading and meditation questions, I invited the girls to pray. Diana's prayer was, " Thank you God for the treasure you buried . . . (pause) . . . when Jesus died."

When the light comes, there is Life

After the presentation of the Cenacle, a work that tells the story of the Last Supper, Damian, 7, remarked, "I know why they put lots of candles on the altar in church. Because the world is dark and when the Light comes, there is Life."