I had a guest in my atrium this past weekend, and I always wonder what an atrium session will be like when a guest is there. As my husband tells me, it's kind of like an electron: you can't look at it without changing it.
Anyway, the children were doing their work: mostly working on the Rubrics of the Mass work and copying their own missals. And I began the presentation of The Memorial for three of them at a time.
Now the first thing they always say when they see a familiar work is: "I've seen this one." So when they see the Cenacle (which is the Last Supper material) all set up with the altar and candles and bread and wine and crucifix, they want to be sure this isn't a repeat. "I promise," said I, "this work grows with you."
The premise of The Memorial is that we recognize Jesus' presence on earth 2000 years ago was a singular event. Being so close to our Lord was a blessing that was unfathomable, and his disciples and others living at that time got to experience it. But does this mean that we were born too late??
The work that flowed from the Cenacle was on a long orange mat (orange is consistently the color of the Liturgy of the Eucharist in CGS) and on it the children and I worked to piece together the story. Beginning with the Last Supper, it is apparent that Jesus wanted to be with All People of All Times. This is why he said, "This is My Body" and "This is My Blood." And why he said, "Do this in Memory of me."
The children then see the words of the consecration placed on the card speaking of that Passover meal, as well as the bread and wine (the clay paten and chalice) moving from the Cenacle work to sit beside those words on the mat below.
The following events of Jesus' life are highlighted. His Death, His Resurrection, and the Descent of the Holy Spirit.
Then we continue with a new card speaking of the Apostles repeating those words of Jesus: "This is My Body, which will be given up for you." and "This is My Blood, which will be shed for you and for many." And Jesus is again present to them. When I asked the children how it was that Jesus was present again, one group immediately said "In the Bread and the Wine!" While the other had to think for a moment. Both however, were convinced of the Real Presence. They then moved the Bread and the Wine down from the Passover... further down the mat to this time of the Apostles.
The work continues on two more cards, one that speaks of the bishops and one of the priests. We begin to see that the closeness, the intimate presence of the Lord is not something that only happened 2000 years ago, but it continues up to today!
Then one child saw the final card and grabbed it: "Oh, it's my favorite! The time when God will be all in all!" She was referring to the drawing of Jesus returning in glory, with the cross that is over the whole earth. The final point of the presentation was that this Memorial would continue to up until the time that it is fulfilled: at the Parousia!
The children were very peaceful and even sang the beautiful song that goes so well with this presentation: "We Remember." One of them immediately grabbed the booklet that goes with the work and went to copy it. Another found the card from the Rubrics of the Mass material called "The Memorial" and proceeded to compare and contrast that prayer with the one found in the folder.
I never know if what I see is what others see, so I asked my guest what she thought of her day in the atrium. She asked about getting her own children signed up. I suppose that's a good sign.
In the love of the Good Shepherd,
Mandie DeVries, CGS Catechist and DRE
