How young is too young for learning about martyrs?

[waanju]

I need some advice from parents. I’m 18, so I don’t have much experience to draw from.

So I’m running a Bible/saints room for preschoolers at my parish’s VBS this year. I want to tell the children the story of St. Tarcisius, but I’m not sure if I should adapt it or how. Basically, St. Tarcisius was martyred by his playmates at age 12 while trying to deliver the Eucharist to Christian prisoners. Since he died protecting the Eucharist, I thought his life would be a good story to go along with a lesson on the Real Presence.
We told my siblings martyr stories at the age of these kids (3-5), but I’m not sure if there are parents/children out there for whom this would be a problem. Any insight from the parents here?

 

[Pablopedro]

I need some advice from parents. I’m 18, so I don’t have much experience to draw from.

So I’m running a Bible/saints room for preschoolers at my parish’s VBS this year. I want to tell the children the story of St. Tarcisius, but I’m not sure if I should adapt it or how. Basically, St. Tarcisius was martyred by his playmates at age 12 while trying to deliver the Eucharist to Christian prisoners. Since he died protecting the Eucharist, I thought his life would be a good story to go along with a lesson on the Real Presence.
We told my siblings martyr stories at the age of these kids (3-5), but I’m not sure if there are parents/children out there for whom this would be a problem. Any insight from the parents here?

I would leave out any grisly details and maybe just build a little on what you just wrote. See bold passages above. Almost have your lesson completed, good job

 

[hsmomforlife]

I would leave out any grisly details and maybe just build a little on what you just wrote. See bold passages above. Almost have your lesson completed, good job

I’d leave out the ‘by his playmates’ for those tender young souls…just my opinion…

If I were presenting St Tarcisius’ to preschoolers, I’d focus on his obvious love for Jesus in the Eucharist and how important the Eucharist and Jesus must be for such a young man (of 12) to want to risk his life to bring Jesus in the Eucharist to prisoners. I might explain why that would be risking his life. Mostly, I’d work on developing the awe of someone so young loving Jesus SO much that he would put himself in harms way to bring Jesus to others…

 

[George_Stegmeir]

A good rule of thumb to use is the Age of Reason, which the Church defines as 7 years old. Children under that age do not understand what martyrism is, not to speak of suffering for ones faith.
What they do understand is love, and the fact that Jesus loves little children, just as Gd loves everyone. Concentrate on Saints being Saints because they loved Gd, not because they suffered or died for Him. Young children are easily frightened, so you should avoid anything that will scare them…it will also keep you out of trouble with their parents!

 

[Tarpeian_Rock]

Given the prominence of bullying behaviors reported in the media, why would you want to tell this story at all and possibly add to any fears they might already have? Surely the Church’s treasury of saintly figures is vast enough to provide models to teach young children without getting into children’s deaths.

 

[waanju]

Thanks everyone! I think I’m just going to leave off having a saint for that day and show them this “peekaboo Jesus” page instead catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2012/03/crafty-crafters-holy-communion.html
Now that I’m thinking of it, four year olds are really only babies. Martyrs are a bit too much. (Actually, I’m beginning to recall that I didn’t learn about them until at least first grade)

 

[LSK]

Given the prominence of bullying behaviors reported in the media, why would you want to tell this story at all and possibly add to any fears they might already have? Surely the Church’s treasury of saintly figures is vast enough to provide models to teach young children without getting into children’s deaths.

Oh I disagree. I think we need to emphasize martyrs to children and using the Church’s guideline as the age of reason for any grisly details is a good one.

I remember being told this story when I was about 5 or 6. If I remember correctly, it was presented that the little saint was protecting Jesus in the Eucharist and lost his life doing so. The emphasis was put on Jesus in the Eucharist. It made a lasting impression on me. I never once, even when living a sinful life, doubted that Jesus is Fully Present in the Eucharist and I trace that back to the solid catechises I has as a child.

 

[mommamaree]

Honestly, I was unaware that there was a lower age threshold for learning about martyrs. I homeschool, and catechesis is typically done with the whole family occupying the same room. I know my 5yo listens, but the younger ones don’t yet. So my 5yo and 8yo already are aware of martyrdom, as well as other historical and current tragic events like the Holocaust, abortion, and Sandy Hook. They have been taught gently but honestly for years now.

 

[ThyKingdomCome]

I don’t think there is a lower limit to an age that one can talk about martyrs. But I do think that it might be prudent to avoid such discussions in large groups of very young children. Let the parents judge if their preschoolers are ready to learn about martyrs, and to think about all of the follow up questions that discussion of matyrdom will raise. My children learned about martyrs when they were very young, and my 5yo, being the youngest of 4 children, knows a lot more about death (and violence) than my oldest did at her age. But I can talk one on one to her, cater my explanations directly to her understanding, be sensitive to her particular fears, and answer her questions right as they come up. I can also follow up with her next week and beyond if it happens to disturb her more than I expect. It would be impossible to do this with a large group of preschoolers, especially if you’ve only just had them in your “class” for a few days. Some preschoolers really are baby-like, and others are very sophisticated. There is such a range of innocence vs. knowledge about death at that age, that I would leave it for the parents to address until grade school age.

 

[Zekariya]

The bad guy that killed the good guy is pretty much understood at an early age (even in non-religious homes). Most Catholic kids know about Christ being crucified. I see no problem with teaching them the stories of the martyrs (one might hold back on some of the more graphic details depending on their age).

For example: They threw large rocks at St Stephen and he died. They put St Lawrence of Rome on a grill and he died. They lit so-and-so on fire, etc. Depending on the age, there is no need to go further into details here.

 

[waanju]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I was still sort of torn until the children actually showed up and I realized that they had given me ENTERING preschoolers, fresh out of diapers, just turned two year olds who don’t talk much yet. I’ve ended up teaching them really basic stuff like the Sign of the Cross and who “Mama Mary” is. I AM going to use your advice when I have kindergarteners later on, though.