This Is Your Life, Saint Ignatius of Loyola

To become more familiar with the important events in the life of Saint Ignatius of Loyola

The children will be able to identify Saint Ignatius of Loyola as a man who was dedicated to serving the Church.

• Arrange the children in six groups.
• Assign Group One to the first scene of Saint Ignatius taking part in the battle of Pamplona. Assign Group Two to Ignatius injured and praying to Mary, Group Three to Ignatius being inspired to write the Spiritual Exercises, Group Four to Ignatius taking his first vows, Group Five to Ignatius choosing his companions, and Group Six to Ignatius preaching to the crowds in Spain.
• Explain that each group is responsible for acting out their assigned scene.
• Instruct the children to recreate the scene they are given.
• Give the children time to get together with their groups and plan how they will present their scenes.
• Suggest options such as freeze-frame, pantomime, or a scene with dialog.
• After sufficient time for the group collaboration, invite the groups one at a time to present their scenes.
• Conclude the activity by inviting all the groups to come forward and pose in their scenes as if they were the illustrations in the text.

If possible, provide props such as large pieces of cloth. Scenes that require only two actors would be appropriate for children who would like to help create without having to appear.

If your group has fewer than 12 children, create three groups and assign two scenes per group.