If you’re a regular visitor to my blog, you know that I have previously talked about the concept of a language of mystery. What is a language of mystery? It is a language that transcends words and relies on sign, symbol, ritual, song and music, silence, gesture, and movement. It is the language that God uses to communicate with his people. Think of how, in Scripture, God’s presence is manifested through a burning bush, a mighty wind, a whispering sound, a pillar of fire, a column of smoke, a dove, tongues of fire, and so on.
So, you can imagine how thrilled I was to learn that Loyola Press has published a book that teaches children how to “speak” a language of mystery! The book, authored by none other than the amazingly talented Amy Welborn, is the Loyola Kids Book of Catholic Signs and Symbols. This is a gorgeous book, and it operates on a very simple premise, that simple images still convey deep messages if we learn how to see and understand them. This book, which is a fascinating sourcebook on the signs and symbols of the Catholic faith, has exquisite illustrations, which will inspire conversation and prayerful reflection for readers of all ages. Each image appears with a brief, child-friendly explanation coupled with a more detailed description on the opposite page. From the sign of the fish to the Stations of the Cross, from the palm branch to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Loyola Kids Book of Catholic Signs and Symbols will enable children and adults to experience faith with curiosity and wonder.
As a catechist, you will love the activities that are available to interact with this book, most notably, the Catholic Signs and Symbols Matching Game. You can also use the Find the Signs and Symbols in Your Church download that I offered here on the blog not long ago. Finally, this book and the accompanying activities are great resources to put in the hands of parents who have children in faith formation!
Teaching a language of mystery is crucial to faith formation, because it is a language that touches the heart as well as the head!
This book should be on every DRE’s shelf to share with Catechists and families!
The illustrations are beautiful, and the content is interesting to learn about.
It would make a great gift too!
I agree Jo…Amy Welborn has gifted us with such a beautiful book!