Teaching the

Sacred Liturgy
to Children
Liturgical Catechesis
and Formation
Information and Preparation
Celebration and Participation
Vocation and Transformation
Our Game Plan
• Some Challenges in teaching
Children about the Sacred Liturgy.
• Why is the Sacred Liturgy so
important?
• Why is teaching about the Sacred
Liturgy so important?
• Focus on four catechetical ways to
teach about the Sacred Liturgy.
• Share some ideas that seem to be
working.
Common Mistakes
The Cheerio Solution
Sometimes …
We ignore children completely.
• We see the Liturgy is an Adult
Experience
• If they are ignored in and by the
Liturgy, why would the want to be
interested in it.
We infantilize the Liturgy.
• We create “liturgies” that are
childlike or even childish.
• The Liturgy celebrated with
children should always be modeled
after, flow from, and return to the
Communal Celebration of the Holy
Mass on the Lord’s Day.
A Reality and a Goal
• Children are baptized Christians.
• Children have a right to pray and
worship with the assembly.
• That right implies a
responsibility of the Church to
help them pray and worship with
the assembly.
• Children should learn more and
more of what it means to be a
member of the worshipping
assembly as appropriate for their
age and development.
A Birthday Party
Challenges to Teaching Children
about the Sacred Liturgy
So how do we teach children
about the Liturgy?
• It takes attention. Liturgy means work!
• We can’t rely completely on osmosis.
• Be intentional.
• Start early … or wherever they are!
• The process is ongoing. It bears repeating.
• Spiral, rather than linear. (Birthday Party)
• There is no "graduation" from liturgical
catechesis. There may be ebb and flow.
• Balance between the different stages,
expressions, and experiences of
Catechesis.
 GUIDING PRINCIPLE
Lex Orandi
Lex Credendi
Lex Vivendi
Prayer, Belief, Life
Worship, Faith, Witness

How you pray reflects what you believe.

What you believe calls you
to a certain way of living.
Liturgical Formation
Preparation and Information
Celebration and Participation
Vocation and Transformation

Environmental
Formal
Experiential
Mystagological
Sacrosanctum Concilium
Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy
Why is the Sacred Liturgy
so Important?
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

• Increase vigor in the Christian life of the faithful

(CSL1)
• Help us manifest the mystery of Christ and the
real nature of the true Church.(CSL2)
• Builds us up into a holy temple of the Lord, the
dwelling place for God in the Spirit (CSL2)
• Brings us to mature measure of the fullness of
Christ. (CSL2)
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

• Strengthens our power to preach Christ and

show the Church to all the nations. (CSL2)
• Gather the scattered children of God together
until there is one sheepfold and one shepherd.
(CSL2)
• Encounter the presence of Christ is always
present in His Church, especially in her liturgical
celebrations. (CSL7)
• God is perfectly glorified and we are sanctified.
(CSL7)
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

• Is a sacred action surpassing all others; no other

action of the Church can equal its efficacy by the
same title and to the same degree. (CSL7)
• Is the summit toward which the activity of the
Church is directed and at the same time it is the font
from which all her power flows. (CSL7)
• Gives us a foretaste of the heavenly liturgy. (CSL8)
• Moves the faithful, filled with "the paschal
sacraments," to be "one in holiness" (CSL10)
• Draws the faithful into the compelling love of Christ
and sets them on fire. (CSL10)
Why is the Liturgical Catechesis
so Important?
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

11. … Pastors of souls must therefore realize that,

when the liturgy is celebrated, something more is
required than the mere observation of the laws
governing valid and licit celebration; it is their
duty also to ensure that the faithful take part fully
aware of what they are doing, actively engaged in
the rite, and enriched by its effects.
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

14. Mother Church earnestly desires that all the

faithful should be led to that fully conscious, and
active participation in liturgical celebrations
which is demanded by the very nature of the liturgy.
Such participation by the Christian people as a
chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
redeemed people, is their right and duty by reason
of their baptism.
THE CONSTITUTION ON THE SACRED LITURGY

In the restoration and promotion of the sacred

liturgy, this full and active participation by all the
people is the aim to be considered before all else;
for it is the primary and indispensable source from
which the faithful are to derive the true Christian
spirit; and therefore pastors of souls must
zealously strive to achieve it, by means of the
necessary instruction, in all their pastoral work.
THE GENERAL DIRECTORY FOR CATECHESIS

85. Christ is always present in his Church, especially

in liturgical celebrations. Communion with Jesus
Christ leads to the celebration of his salvific
presence in the sacraments, especially in the
Eucharist. The Church ardently desires that all the
Christian faithful be brought to that full, conscious
and active participation which is required by the
very nature of the liturgy and the dignity of the
baptismal priesthood.
TGeneral
HE GENERAL
DirectoryD
forIRECTORY 85 CATECHESIS
Catechesis, FOR

85. For this reason, catechesis, along with

promoting a knowledge of the meaning of the
liturgy and the sacraments, must also educate
the disciples of Jesus Christ "for prayer, for
thanksgiving, for repentance, for praying with
confidence, for community spirit, for
understanding correctly the meaning of the
creeds...", as is all of this is necessary for a true
liturgical life
 CATECHESI TRADENDAE
Catechesis in Our Time

23. Catechesis is intrinsically linked with the

whole of liturgical and sacramental activity,
for it is in the sacraments, especially in the
Eucharist, that Christ Jesus works in fullness for
the transformation of human beings.
 CATECHESI TRADENDAE
Catecheis Tradendae, 23
Catechesis in Our Time
23. Catechesis always has reference to the sacraments.
On the one hand, the catechesis that prepares for
the sacraments is an eminent kind, and every form
of catechesis necessarily leads to the sacraments of
faith. On the other hand, authentic practice of the
sacraments is bound to have a catechetical
aspect. In other words, sacramental life is
impoverished and very soon turns into hollow
ritualism if it is not based on serious knowledge of
the meaning of the sacraments, and catechesis
becomes intellectualized if it fails to come alive in the
sacramental practice.
THE DIRECTORY FOR
MASSES WITH CHILDREN
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

8. A fully Christian life is inconceivable without

participation in the liturgical services in which
the faithful, gathered into a single assembly,
celebrate the paschal mystery. Therefore, the
religious initiation of children must be in
harmony with this purpose.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

The Church baptizes children and therefore, relying

on the gifts conferred by this sacrament, it must
be concerned that once baptized they grow in
communion with Christ and each other. The sign
and pledge of that communion is participation in
the Eucharistic table, for which children are being
prepared or led to a deeper realization of its
meaning.

This Liturgical and Eucharistic formation may

not be separated from their general
education, both human and Christian; indeed it
would be harmful if their liturgical formation
lacked such a basis.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

9. For this reason all who have a part in the

formation of children should consult and
work together toward one objective: that even
if children already have some feeling for God and
the things of God, they may also experience in
proportion to their age and personal development
the human values that are present in the
Eucharistic Celebration.
 THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN
These values include
– the community activity,
– exchange of greetings,
– capacity to listen;
– to seek and grant pardon,
– expression of gratitude,
– experience of symbolic actions,
– a meal of friendship,
– and festive celebration.

Eucharistic catechesis … should develop such

human values.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

10. The Christian family has the greatest role in

instilling these Christian and human values.
Thus Christian education, provided by parents
and other educators, should be strongly
encouraged in relation to the liturgical
formation of children as well. By reason of the
duty in conscience freely accepted at the baptism
of their children, parents are bound to teach
them gradually how to pray. This they do by
praying with them each day and by introducing
them to prayers said privately.
 THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

11. The Christian communities to which the

individual families belong or in which the children
live also have a responsibility toward children
baptized in the Church. By giving witness to the
Gospel, living communal charity, and actively
celebrating the mysteries of Christ, the
Christian community is an excellent school of
Christian and liturgical formation for the
children who live in it.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

12. Even in the case of children, the Liturgy itself

always exerts its own inherent power to
instruct. Yet within religious-education programs
in the schools and parishes the necessary
importance should be given to catechesis on
the Mass. This catechesis should be directed to
the child's active, conscious, and authentic
participation. Suited to children's age and
capabilities, it should by means of the main
rites and prayers of the Mass, aim at
conveying its meaning, including what relates
to taking part in the Church's life.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

13. Various kinds of celebrations may also

play a major role in the liturgical
formation of children and in their
preparation for the Church's liturgical life. By
the very fact of such celebrations children
easily come to appreciate some liturgical
elements, for example, greetings, silence, and
common praise (especially when this is sung
together). But care must be taken that the
instructive element does not become
dominant in these celebrations.
THE DIRECTORY FOR MASSES WITH CHILDREN

15. While all that has been said remains true,

the final purpose of all Liturgical and
Eucharistic Formation must be a
greater conformity to the Gospel in the
daily life of the children.
So how does this all happen?
• Environmental Catechesis (Indirect)
• Formal Catechesis (Direct)
• Experiential Catechesis
• Mystagological Catechesis
Foreign Language Class
• The learning environment.
• The vocabulary and grammar.
• The Overseas Trip: Immersion!
• Using the language.
Liturgical Formation
Lex Credendi
Preparation and Information:
Environmental Catechesis
Formal Catechesis

Lex Orandi
Celebration and Participation
Experiential Catechesis

Lex Vivendi
Vocation and Transformation:
Mystagological Catechesis
1. Environmental Catechesis:
• Indirect
• Situation/Location
• We are products of our
environment.
• Tan line from the sun
• Family Life
• Basic Signs and Symbols
• Liturgical Colors
• Ritual experiences.
• How do we celebrate birthdays in
the classroom?
• What are we doing for November?
• The Word
2. Formal Catechesis
• Direct
• Information
• Curriculum
• Meaning and Mystery
• Words and Vocabulary
• Postures and Gestures
• Texts and Responses
• Whys and Wherefores
• Theology
2. Experiential Catechesis
• Celebration
• What does celebration mean?
observe, commemorate, make
known publicly, proclaim, praise
widely, present widespread and
favorable public notice, perform with
appropriate rites and ceremonies,
solemnize
• Full, Conscious, Active Participation
• Getting their Attention
• If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing
well.
• Liturgical Ministries
4. Mystagological Catechesis
• Transformation
• Vocation
• Mystagogy: Unpacking the Mystery
• What just happened? What does it
mean? To them?
• What did you see, hear, say, feel, etc.?
• Don’t explain it away before hand.
• It’s not just another experience and
then moving on to the next experience.
• How are we different or supposed to be
different from what we experienced?
• Example: Sacrament of Penance and
Rite of Reconciliation
The Witness of the Catechist
• Our Mystagogy
• Prayerfulness
• Full, Active, Conscious
Participation
• Enthusiasm
• Authentic Testimony
• Our own expression of
Faith, Worship, and
Witness
• Faithful, not perfect.
Important Ritual Components
• The Liturgical Year • Word
• The Catechumenal • Language
Process • Song
• Signs and Symbols
• We best teach Liturgy to children if we are
people of the Liturgy in our own lives.
• Make ritual a part of every class/gathering.
• Do as little explanation about its meaning
as possible before. Unpack following
• Temporarily leave the role of teacher and
be participant. For instance, don’t
discipline children during the Liturgy
unless it is absolutely necessary.
• Assign children and teenagers, as
appropriate, to be readers, candle bearers,
cantors, etc.
• Develop parish-wide or school-wide
rituals.
Reverend
Johannes Höfinger, SJ
“Here is the last and most decisive
reason why teaching through
worship is superior to all other
forms of Christian teaching: the
liturgy gives what it teaches, it
not only presents the mystery of
Christ concretely: it also lets us
immediately participate in this
mystery.”
Visible Signs
• Incarnational
• reaches out to the whole person (body
and soul)
• The senses.
• The body is included by actually doing
things:
– going to the Church,
– genuflecting,
– kneeling to pray,
– standing for a Gospel
– reading,
– using holy water
– and making the sign of the cross
Go into the Church!
• The Church building itself!
• Dome, symbolizing the dome of
heaven;
• pointed arches pointing upwards
like hands in prayer;
• The centrality of the altar
• Stained glass windows.
• Images
• Font
• What else?
In the Classroom…
• Use a Crucifix, ad crucem
• A prayer table, center, place, or
“classroom altar”.
• Candles
• A beautiful book copy of the
Sacred Scriptures.
• A clean white cloth represents
Christ’s shroud at death and his
swaddling clothes at birth.
• Liturgical colors for the seasons.
• The Saint of the Day
• Advent Wreath, Easter Water, etc.
• Sacred images and icons.
Catechize from and for
the Whole Treasury
of the Liturgy
• Its not only the Holy Mass
• The Liturgical Life that flows
from the Mass.
• Adoration and Benediction
• Divine Office
• Sacrament of Penance
• Example: Blessing of Animals
Family Catechesis
• Parent Meetings
• PTO
• Social Media
• Getting Ready for Sunday
• Indirect and Direct
• Environmental
• Experiential
• Put resources in their
hands.
Reflecting on Thanksgiving Dinner
Breaking Open the Word
Getting Ready for Sunday
Penance Service
Holy Thursday Morning Prayer
SOME PRACTICAL IDEAS
Thanksgiving Dinner
• Where is it?
• What happens to get ready for
dinner?
• Who is there?
• Who isn’t there?
• Who sits where?
• What do you eat?
• Who does the talking?
• What do you talk about?
• What happens when dinner is over?
Breaking Open the Word
• Eighth Graders
• Small Group
• Lunch or Snack
• Readings
• Questions for Reflection
• Ideas and Images
• What would you say in the homily?
• What should I say in the homily?
Social Media Blast
Get Ready for Sunday | October 20, 2013
This Sunday’s Gospel will encourage us to be
persistent. We know we get results when
we are persistent in our exercise regimen,
athletic training, and practice of a musical
instrument. It’s the same way in our
relationship with God. When we are
persistent in our prayer and participation
in the Mass and the Sacraments, we get a
very special result: grace, strength, and
courage. Let us be persistent! Masses or
the Lord’s Day at Saint Catherine Laboure
Church, are Saturday at 4:30 p.m., and
Sunday at 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.,
and 7:00 p.m. See you in Church!
Penance Service
• The Rite of Rite of
Reconciliation of Several
Penitents with Individual
Confession and Absolution
• Communal Proclamation of
Praise
• Environment
Holy
Thursday
Morning
Prayer
• The Liturgy
of the Hours
• Don’t have to
invent
something!
Catechetical Methodology Liturgical Catechesis
by Marianne Cuthbertson and Caroline Farey
http://www.thesowerreview.com/Subscribers/Files/File/pp14-16_Catechetical_methodology.pdf

Liturgy, Catechesis, and Conversion

by Barbara Morgan
http://www.ignatiusinsight.com/features2005/bmorgan_catech1_oct05.asp
Questions | Insights | Comments
 Teaching the
Sacred Liturgy
to Children
Liturgical Catechesis
and Formation
Information and Preparation
Celebration and Participation
Vocation and Transformation