In the Atrium the Model Altar and the Gestures Altar have different purposes, or, we might say, address different "difficulties", a fact which is made clear through the direct aims of the presentations associated with them. The Model Altar is a nomenclature presentation and thus seeks "To name, identify, and make accessible..." while the Gestures presentations intend "To set afire the gesture and ponder..." One of the ways this distinction of purpose is shown is by the size of the materials involved. The Model Altar is intended to be model sized. According to the Materials Manual on CGSUSA.org the altar is to be about 9" in height and 15" by 10" in surface area. At this space the child works to repeat the names and the placement of the items and then is invited to prayer. In contrast, the gestures area is to have "a small work table." The height of this table, to the 3yo child, should be proportionate to the real altar's height in relation to the priest. At this space the child looks at one gesture of prayer as led by the priest during the Mass, and ponders its meaning. Because the purpose of the material is different, the size of the material is different as well. This distinction helps "isolate the difficulty" for the child.
There is a principle in Montessori called "Isolation of Difficulty." This principle is applied within an individual Practical Life presentation by slowing down, focusing on one or two movements in particular, especially those which may be challenging to the child. However, this principle is also applied on the larger scale. In a Montessori environment each material has a specific purpose and there is only one material which isolates that particular "difficulty" or concept for the child. According to Montessori herself, "The difficulty that the child must discover and understand must be isolated in a single piece of material. The isolation simplifies the child's task for him and enables him to perceive the problem more readily" (Montessori: A Modern Approach, 61).
In the Atrium the Model Altar and the Gestures Altar have different purposes, or, we might say, address different "difficulties", a fact which is made clear through the direct aims of the presentations associated with them. The Model Altar is a nomenclature presentation and thus seeks "To name, identify, and make accessible..." while the Gestures presentations intend "To set afire the gesture and ponder..." One of the ways this distinction of purpose is shown is by the size of the materials involved. The Model Altar is intended to be model sized. According to the Materials Manual on CGSUSA.org the altar is to be about 9" in height and 15" by 10" in surface area. At this space the child works to repeat the names and the placement of the items and then is invited to prayer. In contrast, the gestures area is to have "a small work table." The height of this table, to the 3yo child, should be proportionate to the real altar's height in relation to the priest. At this space the child looks at one gesture of prayer as led by the priest during the Mass, and ponders its meaning. Because the purpose of the material is different, the size of the material is different as well. This distinction helps "isolate the difficulty" for the child. Additional "Rite of Communion" Missal illustrations by second grade children. The Our Father: The Sign of Peace: The Reception of Communion:
Additional "Eucharistic Prayer" Missal illustrations by second grade children. The Epiclesis: The Consecration of the Bread: The Consecration of the Wine: The Mystery of Faith: The Offering or Doxology:
Additional "Liturgy of the Word" and "Preparation of the Gifts" Missal illustrations by second grade children.
So many Atrium children have received their First Communion in the past few weeks and months! It is truly such a gift to walk with these children in both preparing and celebrating this great gift of being invited to the feast in a new, most intimate, way. May we each approach the Table of the Lord every week or day as if it were our First Communion.
When pondering the gesture by which the priest prepares the chalice with so much wine and a tiny drop of water at Mass, I often ask the children, "What happens to the wine at Mass? It becomes..." to which the answer almost always given is "Jesus!" Continuing, I say, "Jesus, who is so great and has so much love like all of that wine. But who would Jesus want to be so close to and never apart from like all of that wine is so close to that tiny drop of water?"
Over the past year, here are a few of the children's responses:
As we finish up this summer of Prayer Art, it is good to return to the youngest of children. In this drawing we see the essentiality of the child who chose to use one color to draw the chalice and paten on the altar with the priest beside it. The Eucharist, Jesus truly present, remaining with us as a testament to His incomprehensible love, is at the heart of our faith. Truly, God is so good.
One of the great works of the Level 2 Atrium is the copying of a personal missal. In this work there are ten prayer cards which are copied and then illustrated by the child. This is often a work which extends throughout the whole 2nd grade year. One child this year, after completing her missal, chose to "redo" four of her images. Here are the ones she chose to remove from her missal and replace.
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Carolyn Kohlhaas
CGS Catechist and Formation Leader (Levels I, II, and III) Categories
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April 2024
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