Catechesis of the Good Shepherd

O Taste and See

SOFIA CAVALLETTI

As we all know, the occasion of First Communion presents us with an opportunity every year to prepare for the Eucharist in a special way. It is a great privilege to be able to do this with the children. It seems to me that the full wealth of doing the catechesis with the children is found condensed in the preparation that immediately precedes First Communion.

We all know how focusing on a topic helps us see it gradually enlarging before us. Ever wider horizons and deeper depths are opened which appeal to us with ever greater force.

The Eucharist is the focal point of the Christian life, and so we could say, with confidence, that the whole catechesis is a preparation for Eucharist. But, there is a moment when this preparation is intensified. Here are some of the main phases as we “live” them in the atrium at Via degli Orsini:

The announcement by the priest begins the immediate preparation; the child, who thinks that the right moment has come for him/her, may write his/her name on the appropriate card.

Personal interviews by the catechists and priest conducted with each child. Of course, there is a discussion between the child and his/her parents.

When the decision is clear, the priest reads out the name of each candidate during the celebration of the Mass and solemnly presents each child with a copy of the New Testament.

There are five or six special meetings for the children involved in this preparation, devoted to the True Vine, Reconciliation, presented within the framework of the Parables of Mercy, and of the Eucharist (peace, “blessed are those who are called…”) These meetings are special; they are meditations with no work done with the materials. They last slightly longer than an hour. They may be held in a place different from the atrium. At the same time as the children’s meetings, similar topics are being presented to the parents.

Finally, there is the four-day retreat. These days are occasions of great expectation and joy; they provide some of their best memories when these children become adults. It is advisable to have an extended session; presently we operate from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

However, things worked better when the schedule was extended to 8 p.m. so that the evening meal could be shared with the children. I have my doubts whether the children should stay overnight; there is too much novelty, and it may cause overexcitement. We go to a beautiful convent or monastery with a room available for setting up a few materials. The room should be close to the chapel to permit the children to go there on their own, to pray silently or to read their Gospels. It is desirable to have a garden close by so that anyone who feels tired can go there for a little walk if necessary.

I believe it is very important not to give new presentations during the retreat days. Even if there might be some gaps in the children’s preparation, this is not the right time to fill those gaps. Rather, this is a time to enjoy fully, in the perfect calm, what has been achieved and to focus on the grandeur of the gift which is about to be received.

In general, we bring the following materials:

• the Gospel
• the Synthesis of the Mass
• Baptism
• Reconciliation
• The Maxims
• The list of baptismal promises

It is of utmost importance to celebrate the Mass daily. Every morning, the first thing we do upon arrival is to prepare for it. Then we celebrate the Mass in peace and quiet. In this way, most of the morning is taken up with this celebration…

Daily Mass is certainly a very effective way of initiating children to the Eucharist in a gradual manner. These are highly emotional moments for adults and children alike. During the preparation, the children indicate the texts they wish to hear during the celebration. Sometimes, as a start, we seek out a facet of the Eucharistic liturgy we wish to focus upon and taking off from this point, we choose a gospel text which illustrates it. For instance, from the gestures of peace we go back to the Last Supper; from the gesture of epiclesis, and therefore, from the gift of the Spirit and the presence of Christ, we go to the Good Shepherd who gives up his own life; from the gesture of offering we are led to the parables of the Good Samaritan and the Lost Sheep who was found again. This is a very effective way to live the Bible-Liturgy union which can be expressed through different texts.

The remaining portion of the first two days goes by without a scheduled program. The children work with the materials we brought along and engage in simple activities such as decorating candles, preparing small cards with the names of their family members to be placed on the pew during the celebrations. They draw some pictures and might even do some collages. They read the Gospel a great deal. During these days, it is a good idea to stop all activities at least once a day and help the children gradually achieve a deep silence. Let them have all the time they need so that they can enjoy the silence fully.

On Saturday morning, the Mass is celebrated once again. The afternoon is devoted to the solemn celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. First of all, we make an examination of conscience together, starting with the consideration of the gifts we have received and helping one another with a reading of the Maxims.

Then we go to the church together, and individual confessions take place. The children often select one or two maxims to read together with the priest upon which to base their confession. While those in attendance, children, and adults alike, one after the other, go to the priest to make their private confessions, the others sing. However, there is a pause at the moment of the imposition of the priest’s hands over each individual, for everyone, in great silence, to call for the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the person who is making his/her confession. The priest hands out a cross to each child.

Then there is a need for an extended interval prior to continuing the celebration. Together with the parents, the baptismal promises are renewed, the robe is presented and the child puts it on at the foot of the altar with the help of a person chosen by each child; then the Liturgy of the Light is celebrated. There is no set structure for this celebration, and we see no need to create one. What matters is that the presentation of the robe and the light to each child, and the words of the baptismal ritual are not hurried. Everyone should be able to feel united to each child receiving the signs of baptism again. It is also essential to leave room for silence once the presentation of the robe and the light is completed. If the children feel sufficiently free, they should be given the opportunity to express their individual prayers.

Next, having been made beautiful inside and out, everyone goes home to await the following morning. Parents are asked, on an earlier occasion, not to mar the day with photos and gifts…

Once the Mass is over, the children stay with us until the afternoon. After spending some time with their parents in the garden, the children, without being asked, spontaneously return to the room and, one after the other, gradually return to their work, and most importantly, to the silent and peaceful atmosphere of the previous days. In the afternoon, we prepare a final celebration which is attended by the parents. The children help with these preparations. It can assume different structures. Sometimes, if the group is not too large, each child chooses to read a short passage from the Gospel as his/her own personal gift to the family. In any case, on this occasion, too, we do not want to set up a fixed program.

When everything is concluded, it is not easy to send the children home. Though some object to this extended Sunday program, there are several good reasons for it. The children have experienced a high level of intensity during these days. It is essential that they are not taken away from it suddenly. Instead, we must help them to relish these experiences slowly…. To those who argue that, by doing this, we exclude family

participation; we respond that the family is repeatedly called upon to participate, on an exclusively religious level, beginning with the special meetings to which parents are invited at the same time as their children’s meetings, but in another location. It is suggested that parents organize a family celebration the following Sunday.

The main reason, however, is that we see how happy the children are to extend their retreat time… To those who are in doubt about this point, I just want to say, “Try it.” – Sofia

Reprinted from the Journals of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, spring 1994