(Still in development, quotes coming)
Virtue to be studied for the month of October:
Step 2 in the Ladder of Divine Ascent
Detachment from the world
“For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” -Matthew 16:26
“and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.” -Mark 4:20
Overview:
Initial preparation:
Read ‘Step Two’ in “Ascending the Heights: A Layman’s Guide to The Ladder of Divine Ascent“ or for young adults if more appropriate, the same chapters in the actual: “The Ladder of Divine Ascent,” by St. John Climacus.” Have children look up the meaning of detachment in a dictionary and discuss. Explain and compare its meaning from a secular context and a spiritual one.
Week 1: “In the Beginning”
“And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.” -1 John 2:17
- Day 1: Read the story of Noah. Have a discussion on his necessary detachment/separation from the activities of the world around him. What was the world’s response? What was the end result? Explain how the Ark also symbolizes the Church and how sometimes the world may make fun of our own relationship with the Church but we have hope in salvation as Noah did.
- Day 2: Read or listen to the story of Lot and his wife. Especially discuss Lot’s wife’s inability to fully detach herself from Sodom and Gamorrah.
- Days 3-5: We will choose from the remaining OT suggestions listed in the overview as we are able.
Week 2: The Theotokos: a primary example among the saints of detachment
Quote coming…
- Read the “Protoevangelium of James” or the “Illustrated Life of the Theotokos for Children” and/or the New Testament narratives regarding the incarnation and the ‘world’s’ response to her pregnancy.
Week 3: Life of Christ, the supreme example of detachment
“You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” -John 8:23
- Read the Gospel of John
Week 4: The Lives of Saints as Examples of Detachment from the World
Quote coming…
- Each child chooses a saint who epitomizes detachment from the world and reads about him or her
- Each child narrates, written and/or orally (depending on age of child) what they have read and then discuss how the saint they studied is an example of detachment
- Each child builds or paints an object (or objects) for the garden that commemorates what they have studied this month.
- Photograph objects, print them and have the children paste them as well as copywork quotations and their narrations in each of the children’s Nature/Virtue Journals. Have them decorate the pages using rubber stamps, and scrapbooking supplies
This is the perfect study for the month before the elections. Thanks!