So humble

We were meditating on the Nativity and the visit of the shepherds in the elementary atrium.  Suddenly, Isabel (age 6) blurts out, “It's all so humble!  The baby, Mary, the manger, the shepherds … everything is so humble!”  This was said in a most heartfelt way.

The cross drives the darkness away.

The cross appears to be rising out of the manger.  The love from the cross drives the darkness away.

Go, go, go to Bethlehem

After church on Sunday, Kevin, age 4, came home singing. He sang one line about Mass, like "The bread is my body" and then a line about Christmas. Back and forth for about five minutes. One of the Christmas lines was, "Well, Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This lady, this lady named Mary, Had to go, go, go, to Bethlehem."

Good Shepherd

Rohan (age 9) was working with the figures from the Nativity and the Adoration of the Shepherds.  He asked me to look at their arrangement:  The Child Jesus was towards the front of the table, on the green felt representing the fields where the shepherds lived.  The other figures were also on the green felt, in rows behind Jesus:  First, Mary and Joseph, then, the angel and two shepherds. In the back row, the sheep and another shepherd.  Rohan said they were lined up in order of importance.

The catechist remarked, “It looks as though they are following him.”  Rohan lifted up the Christ Child to indicate that he could not yet move on his own and remarked, “He would be floating.”  [The catechist was struck by this image of the nations following a child who was completely unable to move himself.]  The catechist recalled, “It reminds me of the sheep following the Good Shepherd.  Do you think this Child is the same Good Shepherd?”  Rohan said, “Yes.”

After a period of silence he said, “I have always wondered if God, who had no hands or arms or legs but who made the whole world, knew what he would look like when he came to earth.”

Little Hearts

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From Taryn's mother:

We sang a lot at home and Taryn loved singing Christmas carols this year. "Joy to the World" was such a favorite that for a couple weeks we added it to her bedtime lullabies. However she insisted on a word change as follows: Instead of "Let every heart prepare him room", she (and we) would sing, "Let every little heart prepare our room." I thought perhaps it was sung this way in her atrium at school, but apparently not. In any case, it says a lot to me about her feeling at "home" and claiming space (collectively) at school..."little" hearts are important, and "our" room is special.

Was Mary wealthy?

On the Annunciation -

Q: Do you think Mary was wealthy?

A: Yes! She had Jesus. (Quinn, 5)

Hail Mary, the Lord is with you

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The Annunciation as retold by Helen, age 4:

Mary lived in a house. She was poor.

One day, an angel came and said to Mary, "Hail Mary, the Lord is with you."

Mary thought, "Ohhhhh!"

"Mary, do not be afraid of me," said the angel. "You are pregnant."

Jesus was in Mary's tummy.

-->  I think God was in Mary's heart.

Thank you for telling me

After the presentation of the Annunciation Gretchen was working alone with the material. She said, "Thank you for telling me about the baby." She made the figure of Mary kiss the angel.

Advent Prayer

An Advent prayer by Monica, 9

Preparation

When it is time

The Lord will come down

He'll show us his crown

Then we'll believe it's him.

We'll be shown the golden-paved highways we've learned in books of Jesus,

And we'll know it's Parousia because our handicapped friends will be able to play with us at recess!!!