Catholic Chronicles VBS

Day One: Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy (listed in order of age) are staying in the countryside, to escape the war that is raging in London. While playing hide-and-seek, Lucy discovers Narnia through an old wardrobe. She meets a faun named Mr. Tumnus and they have tea. She and tells her brothers and sister, but they don’t believe her. Later, when they are playing again, Edmond follows her into the wardrobe and also enters Narnia. Lucy doesn’t know this because she is having tea with Mr. Tumnus again while Edmond enters alone and ends up meeting the White Witch. The White Witch tells Edmond to bring his other siblings next time to her castle. Lucy finds Edmond and they leave Narnia, but once back in England, Edmond denies having entered Narnia. Finally, Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy all enter Narnia on another day. The older siblings get angry at Edmond for lying about having seen Narnia, and Lucy is heartbroken to find that Mr. Tumnus has been arrested by the White Witch for meeting with Lucy. The four siblings then meet Mr. Beaver who takes them to his dam, where Mr. and Mrs. Beaver feed them dinner, tell them about the White Witch, explain the old prophecies (below), and tell them about Aslan’s coming. While this is happening, Edmond sneaks out and goes to the White Witch’s castle. He tells the White Witch that his brother and sisters are at the Beavers’ dam and the Witch sends out her wolves to capture them.

When Adam’s flesh and Adam’s bone,
Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,
The evil time will be over and done.

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

Day Two: Peter, Susan and Lucy realize Edmond is gone and they put two-and-two together that he must have met the White Witch on his previous trip into Narnia. They know they have been betrayed, so they set off at once to meet Aslan at an ancient meeting place – the Stone Table. The White Witch’s wolves pursue the siblings, while Edmond is imprisoned and mistreated in the castle; he begins to understand that he made a terrible mistake in trusting the Witch and he is sorry for what he has done. The castle is filled with talking animals who have been turned to stone by the White Witch. On their way to the Stone Table, the siblings and the Beavers they run into Father Christmas – a sure sign that Winter is coming to an end – who gives them gifts: Peter gets a sword and shield, Susan a bow and arrows and a magic horn, and Lucy a healing cordial and a dagger. They arrive to Aslan’s camp and tell him what has happened to Edmond. Wolves attack the camp, but they are defeated and Aslan’s captain’s rescue Edmond from Witch’s. Aslan and Edmond speak together and he is forgiven; Edmond reunites with his siblings. After this, the White Witch comes to camp and demands that Edmond be punished for his escape and treason. Aslan speaks to the Witch and he leaves camp.

Day Three: Aslan, Peter, Edmond and Aslan’s army make a plan to defeat the White Witch. In the evening, however, Aslan leaves in secret to meet the White Witch. Susan and Lucy follow him and witness that he gave himself up to the White Witch – in Edmond’s place – and is killed. The White Witch’s army rejoices, and Susan and Lucy – hidden in the bushes – cry. In the morning, they go to Aslan’s body and there is an earthquake and a bright flash. Aslan is resurrected and the Stone Table cracks in two. Aslan and the sisters go to the White Witch’s castle and breathe life into everyone that has been turned into stone. Then, all together as a great army, they go out to defeat the White Witch and her supporters. Lucy heals people with the oil that Father Christmas gave her. Once all of Narnia is freed, Aslan crowns Peter, Edmond, Susan and Lucy as Kings and Queens of Narnia. They eventually return back home to England, where they are once again in the old country house.

Day 1 – Discussion Questions:

1. Describe each sibling’s personality. Do you think their names are significant of their mission to help
   Aslan save Narnia?
2. How does the book describe Aslan?
3. What do you think causes Edmund to run away from his mission?

Day 2 – Discussion Questions

1. Do we discover any more details about why Edmund ran away?
2. How does the Witch treat Edmund when they meet a second time?
3. As the children journey to the Stone Table, what happens?
4. What are the gifts that the children received? How are they meant to be used?
5. Describe the scene where Edmund receives forgiveness? How is it like the sacrament of Confession?

Day 3 – Discussion Questions:

1. What is the “Deep Magic” that the Witch refers to? What is the “Deeper Magic” that Aslan refers to?
2. How is Aslan a figure like Christ?