Last night after he’d read one bedtime story to her, Bella asked Dom to talk with her. And recounted the events of the last couple of days to him. He came out of her room with a sort of wistful look on his face. Nothing like a heart to heart with your daughter!
Sophie has started to laugh now. Real belly laughs. And to grab things. Last night as I was prepping dinner, she was sitting in her bouncy seat and the little cow-head thing started playing Old MacDonald. Thought Bella had pulled it and then heard her moving around in the other room. Knew Dom hadn’t done it as he was sitting at the table. I looked up and sure enough Sophie’s little hand was clamped on and she had this surprised look on her face as the music kept playing and playing. She’s also been grabbing a rattle with some deliberation, has grabbed a blanket and held it up to her face and has caressed my arm, all quite clearly not just random flailing.
Some random thoughts that were triggered reading your reflections….
I recently picked up a book “Anthology of Catholic Teaching on Education” printed by Scepter, which includes the 1997 General Directory for Catechesis, revised in 1997. I’m using it for my plan in my son’s Kindergarten the upcoming year, but I’ve also been studying the Catechesis compared to the documents. The Directory does mention “The fact that Jesus Christ is the fulness of Revelation is the foundation for the ‘Christocentricity’ of catechesis: the mystery of Christ, in the revealed message, is not another element alongside others, it is rather the centre from which all other elements are structured and illuminated.”
I had also wondered why did she have to search so hard on the central message of the catechesis. One of my sisters talks about how the Good Shepherd image was never attractive to her, even now.
My son does talk about the GS, but was drawn more to other parables like the Pearl of Great Price. But I do agree that I see my son making connections, the most beautiful ones, with total simplicity and naturalness. It’s not all deep revelation in those two hours of atrium, but there are lightbulb moments that sometimes I’m able to see.
I’ve found that many times those who had damaged or weak relationship in father figures were able to be attracted to the perfect image of Father even more, because there was a lack in their life. So I don’t totally agree with her there.
My favorite part of the Catechesis is the aid to developing and nourishing a young child’s personal dialogue, love, and spiritual life with Christ. That’s one of the hardest tasks I see before me—for the child to take the Faith and make it his own. Not that other ways don’t, but this does speak a child’s language.
In learning about presenting these parables, like the Good Shepherd, the one principle they exhort is to let the child come to the realization of some of the truths of the parable. He is taught that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but finding out that we are the sheep, that’s for him to find out. There were some other areas that I wasn’t so comfortable waiting on that “personal revelation” and that some truths should be said. I still struggle with totally let the child lead. But I’ll spare you on those thoughts…maybe later.
“it is rather the centre from which all other elements are structured and illuminated.”
Thanks. That’s exactly what I was looking for. That puts it into the proper perspective for me. Don’t know why I didn’t see it before.
Great series of posts. I am really enjoying them!
Oh good. I really only started them for myself, because I needed a way to think through the book at a slower pace. I’m glad that others are getting something out of it too.
And I’m enjoying the conversation. One reason why to me a blog is so far superior to a paper journal. Feedback helps.
And helps keep me going too. Otherwise I might peter out halfway through.