Holy Spirit
Religious Education
Catechism Instruction: Elementary (k-6)
Curriculum
Seventh Grade
Theme: The Catholic Church leads us into the heart of Jesus, and through Him to the Father. The revelation of Jesus is clarified and applied by the teaching of the Church. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church.
Doctrine
At the end of Eighth Grade, students will demonstrate the following:
1. Realize that the Church is a mystery which can be described with many images: Body of Christ, Bride of Christ, People of God, leaven in the bread of the world...
(CCC 753-757)
2. List characteristics of the early Christian community and cite examples which indicate that the Church founded by Christ continues today.
(CCC 759, 763-766)
3. Be aware that the Holy Spirit is present today, guiding and sanctifying the Church as a whole and each of us individually.
(CCC 739, 767, 797-800, 813, 1742, 2003)
4. Know that the mission of the Church is to proclaim the Good News that we are redeemed and the reign of God is here.
(CCC 6-7, 127, 737-738, 830-831, 1070)
5. Know that the Church proclaims this Good News by teaching of the Bishops, especially the Pope, Ecumenical Councils, priests, catechists and other official teachers.
(CCC 75-79, 91-93, 834, 880-896)
6. Understand that all confirmed Christians have the gift and mission to share their faith with others.
(CCC 74, 91-93, 897-913)
7. Know that membership in the Church requires faith and Baptism, and that one is fully initiated by receiving Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.
(CCC 1210, 1212, 1229, 1253)
8. Explain the Tradition of the Church as the unwritten Word of God, a body of truths revealed by God to the Apostles and reflected on through the centuries for greater understanding. (Jn. 14:25-26; 16:12-13)
(CCC 80-83)
9. Understand that the Church is being “most Church” (in her truest self) when she is celebrating Sacraments.
(CCC 959, 1068, 1071, 1116, 1118)
10. Realize that the Sacraments express the nature and unity of the Church.
(CCC 1068, 1071-1072, 1115, 1136, 1140, 1144, 1416)
11. Perceive oneself as part of the Church, the people of God, the Body of Christ.
(CCC 836-838, 1322-1323, 1391, 1396, 1405, 1691)
12. Understand that the call to service is based on the example of Jesus, who washed the feet of the Apostles.
(CCC 520-521, 544, 555, 896)
13. Know that the Bishops have a threefold role: to teach, govern and sanctify; and that the Pope is the Bishop of Rome and the Head of the Church.
(CCC 857, 880-886, 888, 890, 894, 1558-1559)
14. Know the spiritual and corporal works of mercy and understand their place in the Church’s mission of service, i.e., peace making, achieving justice.
(CCC 849, 1460, 2429, 2443-2449, 2461-2463)
15. Understand that all Christian churches are part of the People of God and have linkages (as well as “elements of truth”) with the one true Church, the Roman Catholic Church, at different levels.
(CCC 77-79, 95, 824, 839-848)
16. Realize that division among people is against the will of God; all must strive for the unity of the Church. All believers must work together for the coming of God’s kingdom.
(CCC 542-543, 782, 817-819, 845)
17. Explain the four marks of the Church:
• the Church is One (CCC 787-790, 866)
• the Church is Holy (CCC 825-826)
• the Church is Catholic (CCC 831, 835, 868)
• the Church is Apostolic (CCC 857, 869)
18. Recognize Mary’s role as Mother of the Church and the perfect model for all Christians to follow.
(CCC 773, 829, 963-975)
19. Explore the Church’s teachings on the Sacraments of Matrimony, Holy Orders and the single or religious life realizing that all are called by God. (Vocations)
(CCC 1533-1666, 1694-1696)
20. Have a proper understanding of the Church’s teaching on creation.
(CCC 283-285, 293-298 )
21. Review:
• the Trinity
• the Identity and saving work of Jesus (Incarnation, Redemption)
22. If time and resources allow, try to cover the following points in Church History: (N.B. please consult the Office of Religious Education for resources on this topic. Church History will be covered more extensively in the grade 9-12 curriculum)
a. The Church of the Apostles and Fathers (A.D. 50 - 600 Laying the Foundation, Defense of the Faith, Persecution and Theological Development, The Christian Empire and the Arian Crisis
b. The Church of the Middle Ages (A.D. 600 - 1300) Church-State Relations in the West, The Crusades, Church Reform and Early Heresy, Theology and Culture, Popes and Councils, Crusades and Inquisitions, The Poverty Movement and the Mendicant Orders
c. The Late Middle Ages, Reformation and Counter-Reformation (A.D. 1300 - 1650) The Avignon Papacy, The Great Schism of the Popes, Challenges to the Church, Spiritual Awakening, Background Causes of the Protestant Reformation, The Protestant Reformation, The Catholic Reformation, The Reform Council: The Council of Trent and Its Effects, The Mystics and Activist Saints, Catholic Missionary Outreach
d. The Catholic Church Confronts the Modern World (A.D. 1650 - 1900) The Emergence of Science and Technology, The New Philosophy, Secularization, The French Revolution: The Appeal to Reason, The Catholic Church and Science, The Quest for a True Catholic Spirituality, The Catholic Church and Liberalism, Pope Pius IX and Vatican I, Pope Leo XIII
f. The Catholic Church in the Twentieth Century (A.D. 1900-1963) St. Pius X; Pope Benedict XV; Pope Pius XI; Pope Pius XII: Communism and Mary, Modern Scholarship; Pope John XXIII; Vatican II
g. The Second Vatican Council to Pope John Paul II Documents and Achievements of Vatican II; Problems and Challenges of Vatican II; Pope Paul VI: Humanae Vitae; Pope John Paul II
h. More information about these topics may be obtained from the following books:
1. A Catechism of Church History by Fr. Robert J. Fox
2. The Compact History of the Catholic Church by Dr. Alan Schreck
3. A Concise History of the Catholic Church by Thomas Bokenkotter
Scripture
Be familiar with passages and stories from Scripture, specifically:
1. Accounts of the Early Church - Acts 1:12-14; 2:42-47
2. Church as God’s people - 1 Peter 2:9-10
3. Promise of the Spirit - Jn. 16:7, 13
4. Pentecost account - Acts 2:1-41; Jn. 20:19-23
5. Command to preach the Good News to all the Nations - Mk. 16:15 -16; Mt. 28:16-20
6. Authority of Peter - Mt. 16:13-19
7. Selection of the Apostles - Lk. 6:12-16
8. Mission of the Disciples - Lk. 10:1-12; Mt. 5:13-16
9. Appointment of Deacons - Acts 6:1-6
10. Tradition - Jn. 21:25
11. On Laws - Mt. 5:17-20; Mt. 5:38-48; Mt. 5:3-12
12. Jesus institutes the Eucharist - Mt. 26:26-28; Lk. 22:14-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26
13. Mary as the Mother of the Church - Jn. 19:25-27
Prayer and Worship
During the Eighth Grade year the child will:
1. Know from memory the following formal prayers:
Sign of the Cross
Our Father
Hail Mary
Glory Be
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Angel of God
The Apostles Creed
The Angelus
The Joyful, Sorrowful and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
Hail Holy Queen
The Memorare
Blessing before and after Meals
Morning Offering
An Examination of Conscience
Act of Contrition
Words of Prayer: O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, All Praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine.
Prayer in the morning and evening
An Act of Faith, of Hope and of Love
Prayer to know one’s vocation in life (use “Vocation Prayer(s)” available through Chancery and utilized in many parishes in our diocese)
2. Continue the habit of personal prayer through brief silent meditation, prayer with Scripture, centering prayer, “listening” to the Holy Spirit.
3. Experience spontaneous prayer; prayer of petition in a general intercessions (“prayers of the faithful”) format; faith sharing.
4. Continue to deepen a habit of prayer.
5. Experience traditional devotions such as praying the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, prayer to patron saint or important saints on their feast days.
6. Recognize and describe the liturgical seasons, the Holy Days of Obligation and other feasts of importance.
7. Develop a habit of daily prayer to know one’s vocation, realizing that each has a special place in the people of God. Be attentive to the possibility of God’s call to priesthood and/or religious life.
8. Actively participate in the Mass, recognizing the importance of this for a member of the Church.
9. Recognize that we continue to live the Eucharist in our daily lives.
10. Experience planning and participating in class liturgies and paraliturgies.
11. Be familiar with and comfortable with reception of the Sacrament of Penance. (Rite I)
12. Experience communal celebration and personal reception of the Sacrament of Penance. (Rite II)
13. Recognize and describe liturgical seasons and feasts of importance, especially Holy Days of Obligation.
14. Experience familiarity with the purpose and ritual of the Sacraments.
15. Some time within the year, try to incorporate a retreat experience which might vary in length, depending upon resources.
Moral Development
The child will:
1. Deepen his/her awareness of making responsible choices according to the mind of Christ in one’s personal life. Understand and describe the relationship between freedom and responsibility.
2. Recognize conscience as that judgment by which we make decisions between what should be done or avoided as evil.
3. Recognize the responsibility to form one’s conscience in relationship with Christ and His teachings through the Church.
4. Realize that Jesus expects His followers to keep the Commandments and to go beyond: “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole soul...and your neighbor as yourself.”
5. Know that sin, a deliberate choice of something one knows to be evil, can also result from the omission of good. Inaction can be the evil chosen.
6. Understand the difference between objective and subjective evil.
7. Know the names and meanings of the seven capital sins and the corresponding Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
8. Come to a deeper awareness of asking forgiveness and giving pardon in the circumstances of daily life, recalling Jesus’ words, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive...” (Faith)
9. Compare the moral values in media with the values of Catholic teachings. (i.e., T.V., movies, videos, popular music and lyrics, advertising) (Prudence)
10. Understand that chastity is the virtue which ensures that our thoughts, words and actions correspond to God’s plan for sexuality.
11. Know that human rights, especially the right to life, are basic Gospel values. (Respect Life) (Hope)
12. Possess a correct Christian understanding about sex and sexuality. (Temperance)
13. Understand the importance of good decision-making regarding sexuality and sexual activity. (Temperance)
14. Understand why addiction to drugs, alcohol, sex, materialism, and violence destroys the fullness of human life. Know some skills for preventing these abuses. (Temperance, Fortitude)
15. Know the Church’s teachings on the issues of abortion and AIDS. (Respect Life)
16. Realize the Church’s moral teachings are a guiding light for us. (cf. Ps. 19)
17. Articulate and use a method for moral decision-making, aware of the prayer dimension within this process. (Prudence)
18. Appreciate as moral models and vocation models the saints and contemporary Christians whose lives are exemplary. (Vocations)
e.g., St. Ignatius of Loyola Leaders in the Parish:
St. Robert Bellarmine Parish Council President
St. Catherine of Siena Director of Religious Education
St. Patrick Principal of School
Director of Liturgy
19. Realize that using one’s gifts and talents is an opportunity and a responsibility. (Stewardship). Be attentive to the possibility of God’s call to priesthood and/or religious life. (Vocations)
20. Be involved (age appropriately) in peace and justice, care for the environment and any of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
21. Continue to enjoy the stories of the saints and good contemporary Christians whose lives are examples of the power of God.
22. Review the Commandments, Precepts of the Church and the Beatitudes.
Glossary
At the end of this grade level, students should know the following:
Abbot Acts of the Apostles adultery
alb amice apostles
apostolate beatification Bishop
candidate Canon Law Cardinals
catecumenate catholic (universal) cincture
communion of saints consecrate chastity
crosier deacon diocese
disciples dispensation divorce
dogma doxology Eastern Churches
Easter Triduum Ecumenical Council encyclical
Evangelist evangelization Eucharistic prayers
euthanasia excommunicate feast
Holy Days of Obligation heresy hermits
human dignity infallibility
inspiration Jerusalem laity
Liturgy (ranks) miter ministry
memorial missionary miter
monastic life morality mortal sin
mystagogia Nicene Creed non-violence
Orthodox Ordinary Time papacy
parable patron of the Universal Church patroness of the U.S.
parousia Pectoral Cross Precepts of the Church
priesthood
pilgrim people Protestant
Reformation
relics Religious Vows
Resurrection
rites Roman Catholic Sabbath
sanctuary sacrifice seven capital sins
schism Seder Meal sexuality
social structures Solemnity stole
Trinity Ten Commandments Tradition
Vatican Council II venial sin vocation