I invite you to ponder a question that lies at the heart of our lives: Who is this child entrusted to our care, particularly in these formative years from birth to age six? And what does it look like to offer them catechesis, the proclamation of our faith?
For many of us, the term "catechesis" might suggest the Catechism, that rich and detailed exposition of Catholic doctrine. And while the Catechism is essential, catechesis itself is the method, the way we transmit our living faith. It's about how we adults, guide children into an encounter with God. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS) offers a powerful framework for this, recognizing that children don't just learn about God; they absorb Him through carefully prepared environments and authentic relationships.
St. John Paul II stated that for authentic catechesis to occur, the method must be as much about the person being catechized as it is about the message of Jesus Christ. Through our work with children, we continue to recognize and respect each child's unique way of knowing and relating. We recognize the Holy Spirit as the primary teacher. When the Holy Bible is proclaimed, both adult and child listen together, responding to that inner voice. We want to share with you this afternoon, some of the most important things we have learned and experienced over the years, sharing time in the atrium with children and how parents can apply this same method at home to share our faith with our children. When the Holy Spirit is the true guide, and Scripture is proclaimed or the essentials of our faith are shared, we are freed from the anxiety that a child must learn a catechism, according to our timetable or understanding. Instead, the Holy Spirit illuminates what is meant for their soul in that moment, and their response, their contemplation, is their prayer.
When God looks at us, what does He see?
He sees His image reflected in us. This understanding of our own divine affiliation helps us recognize that our children, too, are created in God's image. They are children of God, known and loved from the very beginning. God has invited us to know that Jesus is the light of the world, and His plan has always been to draw all people into the fullness of life. This gift of catechesis, this way of revealing God, is a precious inheritance for our children and for us.
To truly understand God, we must understand His relationship with Israel, a history of love and covenant. Knowing God is about relationship and experience. God is love, He creates love from love; to be loved and to receive love. He is our Creator, our Father, He is three persons in one God. God is a mystery.
And who are we? Man is made of dust and God’s breath; we are made in the image and likeness of God and are in relationship with Him. Because we are made in His image and likeness, we are co-creators. He gave us dominion over things, and we name things. (In Genesis, God gave instructions for Adam and Eve to live in their environment, and we as parents must guide our children)/ and our task as parents is to be a “matchmaker” for the mystery of the child and the mystery of God.
And here, at the very beginning of a child's life, we find a unique dynamic: parents are the first reflection of God to the child, and the child is often the purest reflection of God to the parents.
For the infant and young child, their understanding of love, care, and the divine is filtered through their interactions with us. The tenderness of our touch, the security of our embrace, the patience in our voice – these are the first tangible experiences that express our unconditional love and God’s. When we model how to love, how to forgive, how to be present – We model what God does for us, consider Jesus as the Good Shepherd. And the child, in their purity reflects God back to us. Their joy, their forgiveness, their complete trust offers us a deeper sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for God's simple, profound love.
So, who is this child?
Made in the image of God, arriving with a profound capacity for relationship, especially with the divine. They possess a unique way of learning, described by Maria Montessori as the absorbent mind. During the first six years, children unconsciously (0-3) and then consciously (3-6) take in everything from their environment through their senses, without judgment. This information leaves a lasting imprint, shaping who they become. So, we want to offer them an environment rich in love, beauty, kindness, gentleness and the most essential aspects of our faith. This child is already in prayer, absorbing the spiritual atmosphere we create. Their inherent spirituality and their deep religious needs begin even before birth in their need for relationship with God and others.
How can we be an image of the Good Shepherd for our child, especially in the first 1000 days of their life? It begins with modeling our relationships within the family – our kindness, our respect, our communication. It involves our prayer life. Including the child in our audible prayers, even in utero (as hearing is the first sense to develop), is a powerful way to connect. We live according to the liturgical year of the church. For the youngest child, and the materials that we can have in their environment to help us connect or tie into the liturgy are for baptism having the San Damiano crucifix next to the prayer table; the alter table would be the communal dining table; We can also offer:
Space and Time: Creating a calm and peaceful inner space and perhaps establishing gentle rhythms for prayer.
Light: Exposing them to natural light and the gentle light of a candle. Imagine the subtle sound of a match being struck becoming a familiar signal of prayer.
Elements: Connecting them to the life-giving elements of air (being outdoors), water (the sound of rain), earth (our connection to nature), and even the warmth of our touch on the womb (fire).
Silence and Breathing: Our own calm breathing and moments of silence become their first experience of contemplative peace. Silence itself can be a form of profound music.
Chanting: The rhythmic beauty of Gregorian Chant, "word made flesh conveyed tonally," resonates deeply, even without understanding the words. Its connection to the human voice and heartbeat makes it particularly accessible to thisSa new soul.
it’s a conversation with God’s word, the primary relationship is with God; it’s an 8 note scale, 8 is completion, Psalm 8 constant praises so it makes it enjoyable;
In the embryo, the first sense developed is hearing/sound; optimal sounds for newly created soul is music because it is a universal language, it’s the language for the soul – Psalm 150;
The origin of the Gregorian tunes is the word of God, the tunes literally emanate from the words being spoken and transcendently expressed the word, the logos. It isn’t necessary to understand the language to receive the message; all that is necessary is the ability to hear and the capacity to be listening; The word of God – proclaiming Scripture, is inviting us to be present to the events and sentiments that are being expressed with those words. What is Scripture? It’s a story, the great story of Our Creator, His creation and his relationship with the creatures and our response to His gifts… there are events in this story and sentiments and these are all conveyed tonally in chant which is why we don’t need to understand the words to be formed by this music.
Plants: The natural world, with its diverse forms and colors, reflects God's creativity.
Mankind: Our voices, our touch, our acknowledgment of their presence in the womb all build connection.
The release of oxytocin, the "love hormone," during pregnancy, labor, and the symbiotic period after birth, underscores the profound biological basis for bonding and trust. Deep listening cultivates this hormone, creating a sense of safety and love – a reflection of God's own love for us.
Life must come forth therefore there is birth from the womb to the earth, the journey the child now has to take; the familiar sounds from utero (mom’s voice, dad’s voice, everyday life, music, etc.) this hearing/listening has become a communication…is there now a sense of wonder and anticipation for both the child and the parents 🡪 is this a sense of prayer? Listening, preparing, and waiting!
For this journey to begin, there is a hormone, oxytocin, that initiates labor, creates the surges of contractions. This hormone also nurtures the symbiotic period, facilitates bonding between mother and baby, breastfeeding also releases oxytocin in the mother which plays a big role in being a mother, and it nurtures love! It is the love hormone… God is love!!!
This hormone can’t just switch on, it needs to be cultivated (it’s vulnerable) — we have to tap into that hormone, we need to cultivate the feelings of safety and love (deep listening cultivates oxytocin and offers a safe feeling); Oxytocin requires safety but also lets us feel safe, there’s a symbiotic relationship.
The Symbiotic Period, the bonding and adjustment for mom and baby, is derived from the Greek "sym," meaning life together. It is an important transition phase for both mother and baby, during which they should stay together for physical and psychological reasons. This period allows for bonding and the establishment of trust and relationships between them, which is mutually beneficial for the long term. Sometimes referred to as the external pregnancy, this time resembles a nesting period where both mother and baby get to know each other outside the womb.
The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd rests on two pillars: Scripture and Liturgy and is offered through the method given to us by Dr Maria Montessori. We introduce children to the living Word of God and invite them into the prayer life of the Church. The space that we offer is called an atrium: a meeting place of two mysteries: the mystery of God and they mystery of the child.
When offering scripture to young children, we begin with a parable that has been observed over generations to be the most essential and most profound relationship for them.
In the time of Jesus, the people of Israel began to wonder about Jesus and who he was. When asked, Jesus responded, “I am the Good Shepherd” Lets listen to what Jesus said here.
Read John 10.
The parable of the Good Shepherd encompasses so many characteristics for us to consider when reading scripture to young children.
They are drawn toward what is most essential,
They are oriented towards reality (a real shepherd and real sheep in a real relationship),
They are filled with awe and wonder (who is this shepherd and who are these sheep?)
They are attracted toward beauty (we offer a material that is simple and beautiful to go with a parable that is simple and beautiful),
The joy and love of the shepherd matches the joy and love of the sheep
The children fall in love with the shepherd and the sheep and can see themselves in this same pure and loving relationship
Ultimately, understanding who this child is – a being created in God's image, with a deep capacity for relationship and an absorbent mind – informs what they need in catechesis. They need our loving presence, our authentic modeling of faith, opportunities to encounter God through their senses and simple stories, and the freedom to respond to the Holy Spirit's gentle guidance. As parents, we are the primary catechists, and in our love, we offer them their first glimpse of the God who created and cherishes them beyond measure.
Questions for parents to continue to ponder:
How can you intentionally cultivate a sense of the sacred and a connection to God for your child even before they are born, utilizing these sensory experiences and your own prayer life?
How does the concept of the "absorbent mind" influence your understanding of the environment you create for your young child, both physically and spiritually?
Reflect on the idea that the child is often the first reflection of God to you. What qualities in your child have surprised you or deepened your own understanding of God's love?