Virtues

On the fourth Sunday of Lent we celebrate St. John Climacus, who wrote The Ladder of Divine Ascent.  This is quite a hefty work, which even adults find intimidating.  However, it offers a useful guide for leading a Christian life and attaining salvation that is well within the reach of children.  I offer here some ideas for teaching about St. John and what he taught about reaching Heaven.

Brief Life of St. John compiled from OCA.org and Holy Spirit Interactive Kids Zone:

    St. John was born around the year 570.  When he was sixteen, he went to the Monastery of St. Katherine at Mount Sinai submitting to Abba Martyrius as his instructor.  Four years later, St John was tonsured as a monk.  He later spent forty solitary years in the desert "laboring in silence, fasting, prayer, and tears of penitence."  St John knew the importance of moderation and humility in all things.  He said of himself, “I do not fast excessively, nor do I give myself over to intense all-night vigil, nor lay upon the ground, but I restrain myself..., and the Lord soon saved me.”  Word of his holiness spread, and many came to him for spiritual guidance and help.  When he was seventy-five, he was chosen as abbot (igumen) of the monastery.  St John governed the holy monastery for four years. Toward the end of his life, the Lord granted him the gifts of clairvoyance and wonderworking. 

    The abbot of Raithu asked him to write down the rules by which he lived.  St John felt that the task was beyond his ability, but out of obedience he wrote The Ladder of Divine Ascent for monks who wished to attain spiritual perfection.  It would be “a ladder fixed on the earth” (Gen. 28:12), leading people to the gates of Heaven.  The thirty steps of spiritual perfection correspond to the thirty years of the Lord’s age.  The Ladder begins with the renunciation of the world, proceeds gradually from strength to strength on the path of perfection, and ends with God, Who is love.

Read The Monk Who Grew Prayer for a perspective on life as a monk/hermit.

Preparation for Liturgy:

Look at the icon of the Ladder of Divine Ascent and discuss what is happening and what it means.

    Troparion — Tone 1: Dweller of the desert and angel in the body, / you were shown to be a wonder-worker, our God-bearing Father John. / You received heavenly gifts through fasting, vigil, and prayer: / healing the sick and the souls of those drawn to you by faith. / Glory to Him who gave you strength! / Glory to Him who granted you a crown! / Glory to Him who through you grants healing to all!

    Kontakion — Tone 4: The Lord truly set you on the heights of abstinence, / to be a guiding star, showing the way to the universe, / O our Father and Teacher John.

Gospel Mark 9:17–31:

    Key Points: 

• Faith (through God all things are possible), 
• Necessity of prayer and fasting, 
• When we are struggling, we can pray as the father did "Lord I believe, help my unbelief."

Craft Project: Ladder of Divine Ascent

This simple ladder, similar to the icon, is a reminder of some of the virtues St. John mentions that will help us in our journey to salvation.  The devils are reminders of the temptations and passions we must struggle against.  I provide eleven virtues and seven devils in the template.  You can use the book or ask your children for other suggestions to add more, if desired.

Supplies:

Template

Construction paper, cardboard, or poster board

2 Ribbons, twine, or twigs

Black construction paper (optional)

Scissors

Glue (or glue sticks)

Cotton balls

Glitter or glitter glue

Directions:

1. Print template and cut out virtues.

2. Cut devils from template or black construction paper (an adult or older child will probably need to cut these out).  If using construction paper, cut out vices and glue onto devils.

3. Glue ribbon parallel to each other about 1.5 inches apart from top to bottom.

4. Glue the rungs of the ladder to the background paper. Start with prayer at the bottom, and end with love at the top.  The others can go anywhere in between.

5. Decorate the background as desired (we painted on gold glitter glue for an icon feel).

6. Glue cotton balls sprinkled with more glitter at the top of the ladder to represent Heaven.

7. Glue the devils anywhere on the page, but preferably near the bottom.

Ask your child questions:

Which virtues does he think he practices well?

Which could he use more practice in?

What vices tempt him the most?

What virtues might he use to resist those temptations?