Religion- Week 5

As we begin our journey through the Mass, we stop first to look at Mass as a whole. The Carmelites, Dominicans, and Franciscans learned that:

1. Mass is divided into two parts: Mass of the Catechumens and Mass of the Faithful

2. Mass of the Catechumens involves the "teaching" part of the Mass, where we hear readings from Sacred Scripture and listen to the priest's sermon. The Dominicans and Franciscans drew a bible on their paper to help them remember what happens during this part of the Mass.

3. I further explained the Three Means God Uses to Teach Us:
           a. Inspired Men (Apostles and Prophets) speak to us through the Epistle
                      ~ The children drew the keys of St. Peter
           b. Jesus speaks to us through the Gospel
                      ~ The children drew a picture of Jesus
           c. Mother Church speaks to us through her priests during the sermon
                      ~ The children drew a picture of a priest

4. Also the Four Kinds of Prayer:
            a. Reparation (asking God's pardon) during the Kyrie
            b. Adoration and Thanksgiving (adoring and thanking God) during the Gloria
            c. Petition (asking God for His gifts) during the Collects

5. The priest would dismiss the Catechumens by saying:
             "Dominus Vobiscum" which translates to "God be with you"


6. Mass of the Faithful involves the re-offering of the Sacrifice of the Cross, and the receiving of our Lord in Holy Communion. The older students drew a chalice and host to help them remember this part of the Mass.

7. The Mass of the Faithful is divided into three parts:
           a. Offertory- offering of bread and wine to be consecrated
           b. Consecration- Jesus is really present and offered
           c. Communion- through Holy Communion we become united with God.

Our littlest ones, the Benedictines, heard a story about the Good Shepherd and made a Shepherd and sheep of their own, from a craft that you can find here.