Celebrating Liturgy With Celebrating Liturgy With ChildrenChildren

When you hear the word When you hear the word LITURGY what do you think?LITURGY what do you think?

What is your experience of What is your experience of Liturgy?Liturgy? As a child? Now?As a child? Now?

Sacrosanctum Concilium Sacrosanctum Concilium ( 1963)( 1963)

Promulgated by the Second Vatican Promulgated by the Second Vatican Council says thatCouncil says that

“ “ Liturgy is thus the outstanding Liturgy is thus the outstanding means by which the faithful can means by which the faithful can express in their lives, and manifest to express in their lives, and manifest to others, the mystery of Christ and the others, the mystery of Christ and the real nature of the true Church.” (SC real nature of the true Church.” (SC 2).2).

Originally a Greek term, letourgia , meant service done for the common good, whether of a political, religious, or pragmatic nature. Any service performed for the sake of others would have been considered liturgy.In time, however, the word “liturgy” came to be used in an exclusively religious sense, and took on Christian usage as well.

Post Vatican II a new emphasis for liturgy emerged.Liturgy was not to be understood as primarily self serving but outwardly directed. When people go to public worship they do it for the community gathered as much as they do for themselves.This communal worship becomes the activity which identifies and shapes those who gather.

In the Roman Catholic Church today “liturgy” would include celebrations of the seven sacraments, Liturgy of The Hours, Eucharistic worship outside Mass, rites of profession, blessings, and the rituals of the Order of Christian Funerals.

“ Liturgy is both Word and Action.” Upton, J. (1994)

Liturgy involves Universal Liturgy involves Universal and Communal symbolsand Communal symbols

Water is a universal symbol, Water is a universal symbol, communicating death, life, re-birth and communicating death, life, re-birth and cleansing; used in its fullest expression at cleansing; used in its fullest expression at Baptism.Baptism.

The crucifix is a communal symbol. To The crucifix is a communal symbol. To the believing community it is a powerful the believing community it is a powerful symbol- worn, venerated, covered, symbol- worn, venerated, covered, carried and sometimes decked in flowers.carried and sometimes decked in flowers.

Liturgy is PrayerLiturgy is Prayer

Enabling the community as a Enabling the community as a whole, and individual members as whole, and individual members as well, to deepen their relationship well, to deepen their relationship with God. This relationship is with God. This relationship is nurtured by private prayer, but nurtured by private prayer, but expresses itself most eloquently in expresses itself most eloquently in times of public celebration.times of public celebration.

Liturgy is SeasonalLiturgy is Seasonal

Through the cycle of feasts and Through the cycle of feasts and seasons the Church recalls the story seasons the Church recalls the story of salvation and offers us the of salvation and offers us the opportunity to savour again and opportunity to savour again and again the stories and mysteries of again the stories and mysteries of the Christian tradition that then in the Christian tradition that then in turn supports us as we journey turn supports us as we journey through our own cycles of life.through our own cycles of life.

““The Nature of Liturgy” The Nature of Liturgy” by B. Gassleinby B. Gasslein

Read through article independently Read through article independently and then as a group.and then as a group.

Complete Think Pad Activity. Complete Think Pad Activity.

The Christian Sacramental The Christian Sacramental System.System.

The liturgy of the Eucharist is a sacramental The liturgy of the Eucharist is a sacramental experience-”it is a sign which reveals God to experience-”it is a sign which reveals God to human beings.”human beings.”

The religious dimension of life cannot be The religious dimension of life cannot be divorced from the rest of one’s life- life is a divorced from the rest of one’s life- life is a unity.unity.

As children grow in their awareness of God’s As children grow in their awareness of God’s saving presence in the world around them saving presence in the world around them the liturgy will become more accessible to the liturgy will become more accessible to them.them.

Liturgical SpaceLiturgical Space

Liturgical space is very important.Liturgical space is very important. The space for worship needs to draw The space for worship needs to draw

the children into ritual.the children into ritual. Simplicity should prevail.Simplicity should prevail. Avoid overloading the sacred space Avoid overloading the sacred space

with redundant symbols.with redundant symbols.

The Fundamental Christian The Fundamental Christian Mystery.Mystery.

We need to speak of Jesus as being the fullness of We need to speak of Jesus as being the fullness of God’s self-communication.God’s self-communication.

““The word became flesh and made his dwelling The word became flesh and made his dwelling amongst us.” (John 1:14).amongst us.” (John 1:14).

The whole of Jesus' ministry was, his preaching The whole of Jesus' ministry was, his preaching and his mighty works, was directed towards the and his mighty works, was directed towards the kingdom of God.kingdom of God.

Liturgy must relate to life.Liturgy must relate to life. The ordinary events of life can be interpreted The ordinary events of life can be interpreted

against the backdrop of the life of Jesus and his against the backdrop of the life of Jesus and his ministry.ministry.

The Fundamental Christian The Fundamental Christian Mystery.Mystery.

The liturgy is thus able to inform the The liturgy is thus able to inform the life experiences of the children.life experiences of the children.

The quality of the school and parish The quality of the school and parish is crucial.is crucial.

The liturgy is the community’s The liturgy is the community’s celebration of the community’s celebration of the community’s involvement in the mission and involvement in the mission and ministry of Jesus.ministry of Jesus.

The Directory for Masses with Children provides us with some very sound principles for the celebration of liturgy with children.

“ A fully Christian life cannot be conceived without participation in the liturgical services in which the faithful, gathered into a single assembly, celebrate the paschal mystery. Therefore, the religious initiation must be in harmony with this purpose.” (n.8)

“ All Eucharistic and liturgical formation should be directed toward a greater and greater response to the Gospel in the daily life of the children.” (n15).

Children and MusicChildren and Music

The Directory for Masses with Children The Directory for Masses with Children says that attention must be given to the says that attention must be given to the music capability of the children.music capability of the children.

Music must always be seen be seen as an Music must always be seen be seen as an aid to the liturgy and not a distraction.aid to the liturgy and not a distraction.

Liturgy should never be seen as a concert Liturgy should never be seen as a concert performance.performance.

Music encourages full and active Music encourages full and active participation of those present.participation of those present.

A GuideA Guide

The celebrant.The celebrant. InvitationsInvitations Ministries.Ministries. PreparationPreparation CommentaryCommentary Entrance Entrance

processionprocession ReadingsReadings

HomilyHomily Procession of the GiftsProcession of the Gifts Eucharistic PrayerEucharistic Prayer Communion RiteCommunion Rite Sign of PeaceSign of Peace Communion Communion

ProcessionProcession Concluding CommentsConcluding Comments DismissalDismissal

Word ServiceWord Service

SongSong Hear the WordHear the Word Reflection or Reflection or

Response to the Response to the Word.Word.

Prayers of Thanks Prayers of Thanks or Petitionor Petition

State our BeliefsState our Beliefs SongSong

Liturgical Understandings.Liturgical Understandings.

Rocket Writing. Rocket Writing.

Write freely for 5 mins recording Write freely for 5 mins recording your understandings about liturgy your understandings about liturgy and how liturgy contributes to our and how liturgy contributes to our understanding of understanding of Revelation.Revelation.

Think/Pair/share your understandingsThink/Pair/share your understandings