Theme:

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN

• Objetive :

That the children understand  that the Virgin Mary, conceived without original sin, was taken up into Heaven in body and soul.

 

•  1-Environment:

Place an image of the Virgin Mary on a table, decorated with a lighted candle and flowers.

• 2- Renewal of commitment.

-We shall review the commitment of the previous week.

-Have we prayed for the Christians who do not trust entirely in God the Father?

-Have I shared some of my money with someone in need?

• 3- Prayer.

Dear Jesus, we thank You because when You died on the Cross, You left the Virgin Mary as our Mother and since then, She is our help and consolation at all times.  We beg You to teach us to respect Her and to love her with true affection. Amen.

• 4- Activity.

-Let us work a little remembering the qualities and gifts that God the Father gave to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

-The catechist will invite the children to write the qualities and gifts on pieces of paper prepared before hand and put these on the notice board. Then the catechist together with the children will  write a  prayer to Mary with the words on the notice board.

• 5- Gospel

Let us listen to what Saint Luke tells us in Chapter 1, 39 - 56

and we will realize how the Virgin Mary used to work in her time.

“In those days, Mary hurried to a town in the mountains in Judea and entering Zacharia´s  house, greeted Elizabeth.  As soon as she heard Mary´s greeting, the child jumped in her womb.  Then Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit  and raising her voice, she exclaimed: “Blessed art Thou among women and Blessed is the Fruit of Thy womb!  Who am I that the Mother of My Lord should visit me?  As soon as I heard your greeting, the child in my womb jumped for joy.  Happy are Thou, for Thou hast believed, because what was proclaimed to you by the Lord, will be fulfilled.”  Then Mary said,” My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, because He has seen the humility of his servant.   From now onwards, all generations shall called me blessed, because My Savior has done great things in me, for whom nothing is impossible. Holy is His Name and His Mercy will go from generation to generation for those who fear Him.  We have seen the power of His Hand, He has dispersed the proud, dethroned the powerful and exalted the humble.  He has filled the hungry with great things and the He has sent away the rich empty handed.  He has shown mercy to Israel, his servant has He had promised Our forefathers, to Abraham and his descendants forever.  Mary remained  with Elizabeth three months and then returned to her home.

 

• 6- Reflexion

When Mary learned that  her cousin was with child, what did she do?

What was Elizabeth´s greeting to Mary?

How did Elizabeth find out that Mary had been chosen by God to be the Mother of Jesus?

What did Mary do in Elizabeth´s house and how long did she accompany her?

 

• 7- Enlightenment

          Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is our Mother. Jesus left Her as our Mother when He died on the Cross, as the greatest gift.  That is why She knows us and knows our names.  She takes care of us and accompanies us and She pleads for us before God.  Mary was chosen by God among all women and he adorned Her with all the graces.  Mary freely chose God´s will all her life and at every moment and accepted it willingly.  For Mary to be the Mother of Jesus, She has to be without sin and she was born without original sin unlike us.  Death is the result of sin and that is why, as Mary did not have sin, her death was in the form of  sleep and her sacred body was lifted up to Heaven.  We believe in this truth that the Church teaches us because, for God everything is possible and He does not stop giving examples of His love.  That is why we celebrate this great feast: the Assumption of the Virgin.

• 8- Celebration

     All the children form a circle, around the table where the Blessed Virgin´s image is placed.  Each one reads the prayer that was written.  Finally they  sing a hymn to Our Lady or say the Hail Mary.