Ways to Celebrate with Your Children: August 6 – Transfiguration of the Lord (Feast)

In the liturgical calendar, August 6 marks the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a beautiful and meaningful celebration for Christians around the world. For families seeking to raise their children in the light of faith—and especially within a Montessori framework that honors wonder, reverence, and deep engagement—this feast offers a unique opportunity for prayerful reflection and joyful celebration.

Here are some Montessori-inspired ways to celebrate the Transfiguration with your children:

1. Tell the Story with Wonder and Simplicity

The Transfiguration can be found in the Gospels of Matthew 17:1–9, Mark 9:2–10, and Luke 9:28–36. Read one of these accounts together, using a children’s Bible if appropriate. In true Montessori fashion, present the story with reverence and let the mystery unfold.

Try this: Create a quiet prayer space, light a candle, and read the story slowly, perhaps pausing to ask:

• “I wonder how the disciples felt when they saw Jesus shining with light?”

• “I wonder why Jesus showed His glory to His friends?”

  
  

2. Create a Simple Mountain Diorama or Scene

The Transfiguration happened on a mountain—traditionally believed to be Mount Tabor. Invite your child to build a mountain using natural materials: stones, fabric, greenery, or clay. Add small figures to represent Jesus, Peter, James, and John. You can use wooden peg dolls, drawn figures, or simple printed images.

Art meets catechesis: This hands-on approach helps children process the sacred story through tactile learning, central to the Montessori method.

3. Explore the Symbolism of Light

Jesus’ face “shone like the sun,” and His clothes became “dazzling white.” Light is a powerful symbol of divinity and transformation. Invite your child to explore light through creative and sensory experiences.

Ideas:

• Make sun catchers or stained-glass art with tissue paper.

• Go outside during sunrise or sunset and observe the changing light.

• Light a candle during a moment of prayer and reflect on how Jesus brings light to the world.

  
  

4. Pray the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

The Transfiguration is one of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary. For older children familiar with the Rosary, consider praying this decade together. You can also invite children to simply sit quietly, holding a Rosary, while you pray aloud.

Montessori tip: Use a small wooden Rosary or a picture of the mystery to make this prayer more tangible for children.

5. Share a Feast to Celebrate the Feast!

Mark the day with a special meal or treat. Since the Transfiguration is a feast of light and glory, include bright, fresh foods—lemonade, summer fruits, or a white cake decorated with gold sprinkles.

Involve your child: Let them help prepare and set the table as an act of celebration and gratitude.

6. Reflect on Change and Growth

The Transfiguration reminds us that Jesus revealed His divine nature and that we, too, are transformed by God’s love. Use this time to talk with your child about how we grow and change in love.

Activity: Plant a small flower or herb together and discuss how, like the seed, we are transformed by God’s grace as we grow.

7. Sing or Listen to Music that Celebrates God’s Glory

Music can be a profound expression of worship. Sing a hymn like “Shine, Jesus, Shine” or play instrumental music that lifts the heart.

Montessori bonus: Play gentle sacred music while your child draws or paints what the story of the Transfiguration makes them feel.

In the Montessori approach, we trust that children are naturally capable of encountering the sacred. Celebrating the Transfiguration of the Lord with your child—through beauty, silence, storytelling, and creativity—nurtures their inner life and invites them into the mystery of Christ’s glory.

Let August 6 be a day of light, wonder, and joyful transformation in your home.