Following the Murphy Children: Preparing the Worship Environment for a Revival of Liturgical Participation

In conversation with liturgical theology, disability theology, child liberation theology, and the educational model of Maria Montessori, this essay argues that revival in liturgical participation, especially participation by children, requires attention to the worship environment—including furniture, space design, and social norms and expectations around reverence and participation. Reviving participation in worship requires viewing children at every age as primary theologians. The essay concludes with some brief practical suggestions, drawn from Maria Montessori and the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, for preparing the environment for a revival of liturgical participation.