Psalm 100 1-2
Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness;
Come before him with joyful songs.
Cross of Life Montessori is one of the few schools in the Atlanta area to incorporate the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum. Many of the materials for this work are kept in a place we call 'The Atrium,' which is where children are invited into a relationship with God.
Here, children experience God as love. Between the ages of 3-6 years, the capacity for prayer is that of praise and thanksgiving. Children learn there are many ways to pray, including silence and singing. In the silence is where we can learn to hear God. This silence is nourished, not enforced during the child's time in the atrium.
Similar to a way a new presentation is given with the Montessori teaching materials, the Catechist (teacher) introduces a scripture passage and a corresponding material. For example, she will read the parable of the Good Shepherd and pause in her reading to act out the story with the sheep and shepherd.
After a scripture reading and introducing the children to the material the catechist (teacher) asks the children questions like 'What does a good shepherd do?' 'Why won't the sheep follow a stranger's voice?' or 'What does it mean that he knows all their names?' It is ok if the child doesn't know or doesn't want to talk about the answers. This is a time to wonder and reflect on the mystery of God. In asking the reflection questions about the materials we become aware of the child's capacity to understand and respect their responses.
In another similarity to the work in a Montessori casa, the children are given a simple, limited amount of material. This way they are not overwhelmed and they can begin to generalize the lessons learned to other areas of their lives. Sophia Cavalettti, one of the co-founders of CGS said 'the youngest children are capable of the greatest love.'
God and children are already in a relationship - their work with the CGS materials simply affirms what they already know. As one of our parents said 'Children show you the simple things God wants you to see.' It is our hope at COLCM that nurturing the children's faith through joyful and loving experiences will stay with them for a lifetime, leading them to many years of happiness, service, fulfillment and peace.
"May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Numbers 6:24
