Above all, the room has a certain solemnity. The young child is shown how to walk slowly and speak softly so that, eventhough everyone in the atrium is busy and active, an atmosphere of silencepermeates the atrium. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd takes its name from one of thearliest and most central presentations offered to children, the parableof the Good Shepherd. The Catechist tells the scriptural story inher own words, seated beside a low table with the children gathered aroundher. They are loved so much.
Some children suggest sheep they have seen.
Others beginto name people. The catechist will leave to them the discovery thatwe are the sheep. Often the children respond with only silence. A candle is then lit and the passage from the Bible is read. Cavalletti mentions that for a long time she thought the most powerfulpart of the good Shepherd image was the protective aspect of the shepherd.