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Religion Curriculum

- Diocese of Santa Rosa Department of Catholic Schools Religion Curriculum Guidelines
  
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Milestones of our Catholic Faith
Essential Concepts TK - 12
Kindergarten
First Grade
Second Grade
Third Grade
Fourth Grade
Fifth Grade
Sixth Grade
Seventh Grade
Eighth Grade
High School (Freshman)
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Electives
Appendix
Catholic Resources
Prayers by Grade
Prayers

Milestones of our Catholic Faith

Transitional Kindergarten:
Introducing students to simple prayers and blessings through stories and activities, students will learn about God's love and care.
Kindergarten:
Inquisitive students embark on a fascinating journey, discovering that God is our Father as they eagerly immerse themselves in captivating stories from the Bible
1st Grade:
Grasping the basic understanding of the Ten Commandments and their importance, students will be introduced to the life and teachings of Jesus through the Gospels and begin to connect to their faith.
2nd Grade:
Awareness of Jesus, especially in the Sacraments, students seek forgiveness by partaking in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and receiving First Holy Communion. As students prepare for First Holy Communion, they will deepen their understanding of the Mass and how to participate in liturgical celebrations actively.
3rd Grade:
Engaging in exploring the Bible, students establish meaningful connections between the elements of Bible stories and their own personal experiences. They come to acknowledge the significance of Mary, Our Mother, and Queen and the importance of the Rosary in their faith journey.
4th Grade:
Discovering the lives of saints, students learn valuable insights into the contributions they made to the Church. Students learn about the Creed. Students begin understanding and engaging in service projects to put faith into action.
5th Grade:
Examining Scripture, students understand its relevance for daily life. Students have a broader awareness of God and community; they deepen their understanding of the Trinity, comprehending the intricate relationship between the Father, Son (Jesus), and Holy Spirit. They continue to strengthen their relationship with Jesus through prayer and reflection.
6th Grade:
Appreciating the worship of God in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Students will begin Confirmation preparation. Students will be engaging in evangelization efforts within the school and local community. Students are able to explain the Ten Commandments in depth.
7th Grade:
Nurturing their academic skills, students are presented with challenging opportunities to enhance their understanding of Catholic doctrine and teachings. Students actively learn about the Stations of the Cross. They explore moral and ethical issues, analyzing them from the Catholic perspective. Furthermore, students participate in retreats and engage in various spiritual activities that promote personal growth, fostering a deeper connection to their faith and individual development. Students receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.
8th Grade:
Emphasizing the importance of prayer, discernment, and personal responsibility, students are challenged to begin the journey of their adult faith life. Students are encouraged to do service hours in parish ministries and evangelization. They will explore and respond to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit and begin to consider a vocation. They also begin to ponder the concept of vocation, contemplating their unique calling and purpose in life. This stage marks a significant transition as students embrace their faith with a sense of ownership and actively seek to align their lives with God's plan.
Freshman
Gaining insight into our Catholic faith, values, and spirituality, students demonstrate an understanding of the mature themes and grasp an overview of the Catholic faith. Students study Scripture and have the ability to navigate the Bible with an understanding of its structure and message.
Sophomore
Cultivating meaningful connections, students will understand the Bible's structure, content, and message and that it, along with Sacred Tradition, makes up the deposit of faith. Students will dive into Church history and see how the Catholic Church has influenced the world. This comprehensive understanding of the Church's historical impact will deepen their appreciation for its rich heritage and continued relevance in the contemporary world.
Juniors
Understanding that they can make conscientious moral judgments according to Catholic principles, students delve into philosophical questions, ethical dilemmas, and social justice issues from a Catholic perspective. This exploration equips students with decision-making principles rooted in their faith, empowering them to navigate the moral landscape with integrity and conviction.
Seniors
Following Jesus Christ as the ultimate model, students and graduates can identify their purpose and passion through study, prayer, reflection, community, and service. They come to comprehend their vocation, which refers to their unique calling and purpose in life, such as being a spouse, parent, religious, or serving in a specific profession or ministry. Ultimately, graduates endeavor to follow in the footsteps of Christ, living out their faith authentically and embodying His love, compassion, and grace in their interactions and endeavors.

Essential Concepts TK-12

Transitional Kindergarten	Learning about our savior through prayer and song
Kindergarten	Learning basic prayers such as the Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be Learning about God as a loving Father who created them and all things ➢ Learning about Jesus and his teachings, especially his love and compassion for all people
First Grade	Prayer helps us be close to God Prayer is listening to and speaking with God Continued learning of basic prayers and teachings about God and Jesus ➢ Learn about the life of Jesus
Second Grade	Holy Trinity ~ 3 Persons in one God Sin is turning from God and choosing to do wrong Introduction to the Mass and its basic parts and prayers Deeper understanding of the Mass and its significance as a celebration of Jesus Preparation for and reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) in the manner of knowing the difference between sin and mistake ➢ Preparation for and reception of First Holy Communion
Third Grade	God’s plan for salvation Jesus gave Mary to all men to be their mother. Understand they belong to God's chosen people and that the child's family is an important part of God's family, the Church. ➢ Encourage prayer and love for God's law.
Fourth Grade	Continued study of the Bible and its stories Cain and Abel Understand their purpose and goal in life, and to see God's plan in history and society to lead us all to Heaven, our true, eternal home. ➢ Review of Ten Commandments
Fifth Grade	Continued study of the Bible and its stories Deeper understanding of the Trinity Introduction to angels ➢ Acquire a solid knowledge of God and his Church through the understanding of the Creed we profess, and the distinguished truths of our faith from errors that lead away from the love of God.
Sixth Grade	Learn to love the moral law as Christ did, cherish and love the Mass as our best prayer to God, and especially to revere and adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In-depth of Ten Commandments ➢ Continued awarenes to learning the celebration of Mass
Seventh Grade	The students receive the sacrament of Confirmation and all the teachings associated with the significance of the sacrament. Treasure the sacraments as indispensable to a full Christian life of love and truth. ➢ To understand how grace works and its relation to practicing the virtues and to appreciate our gifts of reason and faith.
Eighth Grade	To know and love the Church as Christ's Body and respond to the teaching of the Magisterium as the sure voice of Jesus so that young people may be strengthened through their lives in the Church to face the confusion and secularism of modern-day society.
Freshman	Freshman year consists of an introduction to/overview of the Catholic faith as outlined by the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Sophomore	Sophomore year includes a study of Sacred Scripture and Church History.
Junior	Junior year consists of focusing on Christian morality and Catholic Social Teaching
Senior	➢ Senior year consists of learning about the Catholic Church's teachings on vocations and discernment. They will deepen their understanding of the Mass and its significance as the source and summit of Catholic life and worship.

Kindergarten

Kindergarten
Transitional Kindergarten
Teachers should use appropriate materials to introduce the faith to the students. A formal program begins in Kindergarten.
Students should be introduced to prayer and begin reciting simple prayers.
Kindergarten
In Kindergarten, the teacher will provide the following catechesis:
1. The proper way to fold hands during prayer.
2. The proper manner of sitting, standing and kneeling in church.
3. The regular use of holy water - with the right hand.
4. Make a genuflection (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle because Jesus is present there. (CCC 1378 and the Glossary of CCC under Genuflection) As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church.
5. Bow one’s head slightly when hearing or saying the Name of Jesus/Jesus Christ.
6. The importance of being quiet and reverent while in church.
7. Make the Sign of the Cross with the right hand correctly, emphasizing that the words be spoken clearly, especially, “In the name of …” (CCC 2157, cf. CCC 786) (See Appendix 1)
8. Formal prayers, such as: The Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory Be. (CCC 2759-2865, 2676-2677, 2680- 2682, 2639-2649) (See Appendix 1)
9. Prayer before Meals and Prayer after Meals. (See Appendix 1)
Note: Early catechesis needs to be particularly specific. When teaching the prayers, gently and patiently teach the children to use the precise words of the prayers. The same is true of the Ten Commandments. At this early age do not emphasize putting prayers, Commandments, etc., into their own words.

First Grade

First Grade
GRADE One (Faith and Life Series)

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown
In Grade One, the teacher will provide the catechesis listed below. All points in black are covered in the scope and sequence of the textbook and all points in red are in addition to the textbook but organized thematically with textbook chapters.

Content and chapters may be taught in any order as long as all of the material is presented.
Chapter 1        God is Our Father
L1 God the Father is a loving Father Who is in heaven.    He always loves us.   (CCC 218-221, 604-605, 2786-2787)
L1 God made heaven and earth.      God the Father is the Creator of all things, and all things were created
good.    (CCC 292)
L1 People are to respect and care for themselves, others and all things created by God. L2 The natural world is the Father’s gift to His children.
L2 Our families, our faith, our education, etc., are also gifts from God.
L3 Everyone should thank our Father for His gifts, His love and His care.   Everyone must be alert to recognize God’s gifts.            Sometimes God’s gifts come through other people.
L3 We pray the Our Father.
L3 Demonstrate the proper ways to fold hands during prayer.
L4 Just as we talk to our fathers on earth, we should talk to our Father in heaven; prayer is talking and listening to God.
L4 There are different reasons and times for prayer.      We can pray when we are alone, with others, and we can pray everywhere. (CCC 2691, 2696)
L4 Silence helps us to pray and to be close to God.     (CCC 2717)
L4 Since God is the Father of everyone, we are all brothers and sisters; and we should love everyone in the family of God.

Chapter 2          Heaven is Our Home
L1 God made us to know, to love and to serve Him in this life, and to be happy with Him in heaven. (CCC 1721)
L1 Heaven is God’s home, the place of perfect happiness.
L1 If a person is good and has faith, he will go to heaven after his death.
L2 Earth is only man’s temporary home.     Heaven is our true home which will last forever. L3 When Jesus died on the Cross, He opened the gates of heaven for man.
L3 The Sign of the Cross expresses two truths of the Catholic Faith:    (CCC 253)

There are three divine Persons in one God:     God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The death of Jesus on the Cross made it possible for man to go to heaven.

L3 Make the Sign of the Cross with the right hand correctly, emphasizing that the words be spoken clearly; especially, “In the name of…”                                                             (CCC 2157, cf. CCC 786)
L3 Teach the proper and regular use of Holy Water - with the right hand.
L4 At Mass Jesus Christ, true God and true man, is truly present on the altar.
L4 Angels and saints come to the altar from heaven to pray and worship during Mass. L4 The Mass is a foretaste of heaven.
L4 Teach the proper manner of sitting, standing and kneeling in church; the importance of being quiet and reverent while in church.
Chapter 3            God Watches Over Everything

L1 God is eternal, everywhere, all powerful, all knowing and all good. L1 God’s care for His children extends to every time and place.
L1 Introduce the vocabulary and significance of prayers to be learned. L2 To “create” means “to make from nothing without effort.”
L2 Only God can create.
L2 God created everything that exists and gave it to us.
L3 Creating is different from making.    God creates, man makes.
L3 God was not created or made.      (CCC 213)
L4 Angels are invisible spirits created by God.    Pure spirits do not have a body.     They were created to be God’s helpers.
L4 Some angels turned against God and became bad; we call them devils or demons.

Chapter 4          God’s Special Gifts

L1 God creates every human person with a body and a soul. L1 Our bodies have five senses:                                                      these are gifts from God.
L1 God gives us gifts and talents to share with others.      (CCC 306)
L2 There is a hierarchy of “being” in creation.     Human beings are the highest of all God’s earthly creatures.          Only the angels are higher because their nature is greater; they are pure spirits.                                                                    (CCC 343, 356)
L2 Man is the only creature on earth with a soul that will live forever. L2 With his soul, man can think, love and choose good.
L3 There are three things man must do to attain heaven:        know, love and serve God. L3 Our senses should be used for good.
L4 God has given every person a guardian angel (CCC 336).   Guardian angels protect our bodies, and especially our souls.
L4 Guardian angels help us to know, love and serve God; devils tempt us to fail at these goals. L4 Everyone should pray to his guardian angel.
L4 Introduce the Guardian Angel prayer

Chapter 5          Adam and Eve

L1 Adam was the first man and Eve was the first woman; both were created by God.
L1 The Garden of Eden was a happy place where Adam and Eve had everything they needed. L1 Among the many gifts God gave Adam and Eve was immortality.
L2 When God created the world and all of its creatures; He made them to live in perfect harmony. L2 God placed Adam and Eve in dominion over the animals and plant life He created for them.
L3 Adam and Eve were good stewards of God’s creation; we must be also.
L3 The best gift God gave Adam and Eve was sanctifying grace, His own life in their souls. (CCC 2258, 362-368)
L3 We receive sanctifying grace in Baptism.    (CCC 356-361)
L3 Grace enables man to attain his Heavenly goal:     life with God in heaven. L4 Grace makes man become a child of God and His friend.
L4 Adam and Eve are our first parents, the parents of everyone who has ever existed.

Chapter 6          A Sad Story

L1 Sin is saying no to God.    It is an offense against God and a failure to love God and neighbor.    (CCC 1849-1850, 1871-1872)
L1 There is a difference between a sin and a mistake.      (CCC 1857-1860, 1862) L1 Adam and Eve committed the first sin on earth; this was the original sin.
L1 The devil had tempted Adam and Eve and he tempts us, too.
L2 When they sinned, Adam and Even lost the special gifts God had given them. L2 The natural world suffered when Adam and Eve sinned.
L2 They were very sorry after they sinned, but they could not repair the damage by themselves.
L3 The most terrible loss for Adam and Eve was the loss of grace, God’s life in their souls.   Their minds and wills were weakened and without grace they could not go to heaven.
L3 Adam and Eve sinned and lost the fullness of God’s gifts.    We, the children of Adam and Eve, come into the world wounded by original sin without God’s life in us.
L3 We must be sorry for our sins and ask God for forgiveness when we do wrong.     (CCC 1847). L4 God still loved Adam and Eve, even though they had turned away from Him.
L4 God promised to send a Savior.     The Savior would win back God’s grace and open the gates of heaven once more.

Chapter 7          A Time of Waiting

L1 While waiting for the Savior, most men became displeasing to God through sin.
L1 Noah and his sons, however, were obedient to God; they were chosen to save creation and themselves from the flood.
L1 Obedience is doing what one is told to do.
L1 The world had a new beginning through Noah.
L1 Noah and his family offered a sacrifice of thanksgiving when they left the ark. L2 Abraham obeyed God, even when it was difficult.
L2 Abraham is a model of obedience.
L2 We obey God by obeying those He has given to love and care for us.
L3 Faith is a gift that makes a person able to believe all that God says, even when he does not fully understand.
L3 The Savior was one of Abraham’s descendants.
L3 Just as people before the Savior prepared for His coming by being obedient and faithful, we must prepare to see Christ in heaven by also being obedient and faithful.
L3 Each year, before Christmas, the Church has a special “waiting period” called Advent. L4 God called Abraham to sacrifice Isaac.
L4 Abraham trusted in God and did as He was asked. L4 God rewarded Abraham for his faith.

Chapter 8          Getting Ready For the Savior

L1 Prophets were holy men who called God’s people back to a relationship with Him and prepared the people for the coming of the Savior.
L1 Advent means ‘coming.’    Advent is a time of preparation for Christ’s coming at Christmas.    The color for Advent is violet.
L2 Moses was God’s first prophet.
L2 God had a special plan for Moses.     God has a special plan for each of us. L3 God gave Moses the Ten Commandments.
L3 The Ten Commandments were given to us by God so that we know how to live correctly and find happiness.
L3 The love of God is the first and greatest Commandment. The love of God is shown in deeds, like obedience and prayer.

L3 The love of neighbor is the second great Commandment. Everyone is a neighbor, deserving of help. L3 If we disobey the Ten Commandments, we sin and must be sorry.
L4 John the Baptist was the last Prophet of the Old Testament.
L4 He told people to be sorry for their sins and prepared them for the Savior.
L4 John the Baptist baptized Jesus and pointed Him out as the Savior, the “Lamb of God.”

Chapter 9          Mary Hears Some Wonderful News

L1 Mary was conceived without original sin.
L1 Mary never sinned and always pleased God.
L1 The first joyful Mystery is the Annunciation.    Mary is the perfect servant of God. L1 Begin to learn about praying the rosary.                                                             (CCC 2678, 2708, cf. CCC 1674)
L2 Mary’s “yes” replaces the “no” of Adam and Eve.
L2 Though Mary did not know how it could be that she would be the Mother of God; her great faith in Him prepared her to say yes.            (CCC 509)
L2 Saint Joseph is the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.
L3 The second Joyful Mystery is the Visitation.    Mary’s visit to Saint Elizabeth showed that her love was an active love, springing into loving service.
L3 St. Elizabeth’s words, recorded in Scripture, form the second part of the Hail Mary. L3 Mary is our model for cheerful helpfulness and obedience.
L4 Because Jesus is our brother, and Mary is His Mother, Mary is also our Mother who loves us very much.
L4 Mary is the Mother of God, Mother of the Church and the Queen of Heaven.
L4 We say prayers and meditate on the lives of Jesus and Mary when we pray the rosary.

Chapter 10        The Savior is Born

L1 Read/discuss the traditional Christmas story from the Gospel of St. Luke and the Gospel of St.
Matthew.
L1 By helping those in need, we express our love for Christ. L2 God the Son became man; His name is Jesus.                                                                      (CCC464)
L2 Bow one’s head slightly when hearing or saying the name:     Jesus/Jesus Christ.
L2 The Savior did not come into the world as a worldly king, but in great humility.    His first visitors who came to worship Him were only humble shepherds.
L2 Like the shepherds, we should tell all we meet that Jesus is good and wonderful and came to save us. L2 The Third Joyful Mystery is the Nativity.
L3 Jesus is fully God and fully man.   (CCC 469) This is a mystery.
L3 Jesus is God the Son.    Jesus is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.   (CCC 469, 495) L3 Christmas is the celebration of the Birth of Christ.                   (CCC 525)
L3 Teach the liturgical season of Christmas.     The color for Christmas is white.
L4 Christmas trees, lights, presents and special foods are some of the things associated with Christmas. L4 The best gift to Jesus on Christmas is a loving heart offered to Him at Holy Mass.

Chapter 11        Three Wise Men Arrive

L1 The three wise men came to adore Jesus and they brought Him gifts.
L1 The wise men represent all gentiles; their visit is a sign that Christ came into the world to save everyone, not just the Jewish people.
L1 Just like in the time of Jesus not all people were Jewish, so in our time not all people are Catholic.
Yet Mary welcomed the wise men to come and worship Jesus.     In the same way, we can invite others who are not Catholic to come and worship Jesus with us at Mass.

L1 Jesus Christ is the “King of Kings.”
L2 Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.
L2 Catholics worship Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament as the wise men worshiped Him in the stable at Bethlehem.
L2 Make a genuflection (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle because Jesus is present there. (CCC 1378 and the Glossary of CCC under Genuflection)                                                         As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church.
L2 We are reverent in church by our silence, by our vocal prayer, by our dress and by our care for the furnishings of the church.
L2 Benediction is a special service during which Catholics worship our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and receive His blessing.
L3 Mary and Joseph, humble and poor, received the wise men who worshiped their divine Son. L3 Every person should offer his talents and do his best for Jesus always.
L3 The story of the Little Drummer Boy teaches that a person need not be rich, powerful nor important to be loved by Jesus.
L4 Though the wise men offered magnificent gifts, everyone can offer gifts to Jesus.
L4 In the Morning Offering, people offer all of their daily activities to Jesus.    In doing so, they become gifts to Jesus and He blesses them.

Chapter 12        Jesus Grows Up

L1 Baby Jesus was presented to God in the Temple.
L1 Simeon and Anna recognized Him as the promised Savior.
L1 Since King Herod wanted to kill the Christ Child, Saint Joseph took Mary and Jesus and fled to Egypt. L1 The Fourth Joyful Mystery is the Presentation.
L2 The Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) is a model and good example of family life.
L2 Saint Joseph, as head of the Holy Family, was its protector and provider.     Saint Joseph is protector of the Catholic Church.
L2 Honest, hard work is very pleasing to God.
L3 Jesus grew up and lived a simple, ordinary, humble life in Nazareth.
L3 “Ordinary” does not mean boring, but it follows an orderly pattern. Explain the liturgical season of Ordinary Time as the time in which we daily show our love for Jesus. The color for Ordinary Time is green.
L4 Everyone should follow the example of Jesus’ life.
L4 In the Fourth Commandment, God tells us we must love and obey our parents.
L4 Jesus was lost for three days in the temple. Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple and He returned to Nazareth with His parents.
L4 The Finding in the Temple is the Fifth Joyful Mystery.

Chapter 13   Jesus Begins His Work

L1 Jesus spent His public life teaching, in word and in deed, about God’s love for man. L1 Jesus was called “rabbi” which means “teacher.”
L1 Jesus taught some special rules for a happy life called the Beatitudes. L2 Jesus has a special love for children.
L2 Today priests bless children just as Jesus did. L3 Jesus called twelve apostles to be His helpers.
L3 The apostles lived with and learned from Jesus and then carried on His work on earth.
L3 One main way in which Jesus’ work is carried on is through the sacraments. “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ to give grace.” (CCC 1131)
L4 The Pope and bishops, with assistance from priests, are the successors of the apostles and carry on their work.

L4 Everyone can be an apostle of Jesus by behaving as He would and by learning about Him in order to teach others. This is called evangelizing.
L4 Help the students recognize ways adults and children can serve the needs of others. L4 Tell some stories about saints who served the needs of the poor.

Chapter 14        Jesus Tells the Good News

L1 The Good News (Gospel) tells of God’s love for everyone and His offer of salvation.
L1 God wants all people to be His children and to one day live with Him forever in heaven.
L2 Jesus taught the Good News by word and deed. He teaches us to do good and avoid evil. Virtue is the habit of doing good. (CCC 459)
L2 Many people were happy to hear the Good News.
L2 Jesus taught everyone how to love God and one another.
L2 We give special care for those who are weak and small; especially the unborn, special-needs people, the sick, babies and children and the elderly.
L3 The Good News is in the Bible, to be read and heard by everyone. We can understand God better by learning the stories and teachings in the Bible. (CCC 54-56, 59-60, 62-64, 65)
L3 The Bible is God’s Word. God speaks to people through the Bible about His love for us and how we are to live. (CCC 81, 101, 102, 135)
L3 Though God is the author of Sacred Scripture, Jesus’ friends were inspired to write down in the Gospels the things He said and did.
L4 Catholics can hear the Good News at Mass. The Mass is the offering of Jesus to the Father.
L4 The first part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Word; the second part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
L4 Catholics are called by Jesus to evangelize, to share the Good News with others, especially those who do not know Jesus.
L4 All people can live the Good News by loving God and neighbor as Jesus taught in Scripture.

Chapter 15        Jesus Does Wonderful Things

L1 Jesus performed miracles to show that He was the Son of God and that He loved His People. L1 Relate the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes.
L1 God continues to feed His children today in the Eucharist. L2 Miracles are not magic.
L2 Only God can work miracles.
L2 One miracle of nature is the calming of the storm. L3 Jesus, as God, has the power to perform miracles.
L3 Jesus will perform miracles if they are for a person’s good.
L3 A miracle of healing was the raising of Jairus’ daughter.    (CCC 1503-1505, 2616) L4 Another miracle was when Jesus miraculously healed the paralyzed man.
L4 Only God can forgive sins.   We should ask God for forgiveness when we do wrong.    (CCC 1847)
L4 Today, Jesus still heals people and forgives sins in the sacraments of the Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation.
L4 One way of preparing for the Sacrament of Penance is by forgiving others and by saying that we are sorry after we do something that we know we should not have done.                                                                        (CCC 1435)

Chapter 16        We Believe in Jesus

L1 Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He wants all people to believe in this truth.
L1 Many people in our world do not know and love Jesus. We can share about Jesus with our relatives, friends and neighbors so they can come to know and love Him, too.
L1 Jesus taught people to live as God’s children.

L1 He performed many miracles so that people might believe.
L1 The Apostles’ Creed is a list of the basic Catholic beliefs we pray at the beginning of the rosary. L2 Jesus healed a blind man.
L2 He healed him because of his faith. L2 He cured him immediately.
L3 Jesus cured the centurion’s servant.
L3 The centurion had great faith and he was humble.
L3 Jesus cured the servant without being present at his side. L4 Jesus also wants us to believe in Him.
L4 The faith of the people in these stories pleased Jesus.
L4 The reward for steadfast faith is happiness with God forever in heaven.

Chapter 17        The Best Gift of All
L1 Jesus promised to remain with His Church for all time.
L1 He instituted the Eucharist at the Last Supper. The Holy Eucharist is the sacrament and sacrifice in which Christ is contained, offered and received.
L1 By receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion, a person receives Christ and His grace.
L2 The apostles, through Jesus, received the power to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus, our Lord.
L2 This power has been passed on through apostolic succession. L3 The Eucharist is the source and summit of Catholic life.
L3 Jesus prepared people for the Eucharist in the Bread of Life discourse.
L4 The Real Presence of Jesus is in the Eucharist:    Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
L4 The Catholic church building is a sacred place where Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle.    (CCC 2691, 2696)
L4 In the Catholic church at Mass, the faithful assemble and the presence of the Son of God our Savior is worshiped. Jesus is offered for us on the sacrificial altar for the help and consolation of the faithful. (CCC 1181)
L4 Teach the children to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and introduce Eucharistic adoration. Encourage students to speak to Jesus from their hearts when they visit Him.
L4 Holy Days of Obligation are special days, other than Sundays, when we come together to worship God at Mass and are to rest from work. (CCC 2180, 2185) The Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are: Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the Ascension (40 Days after Easter)*, the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25). (CCC 2042- 2043, 2180). *In many dioceses, the Bishop has transferred the Feast of the Ascension to the following Sunday.
Chapter 18        Jesus Dies For Us
L1 Relate the story of Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension.     (CCC 1169) L1 We say that we are sorry for our sins in the prayer called the Act of Contrition.
L1 Introduce the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. L2 A Crucifix is a cross with an image of Jesus on it. L2 Pray a simple version of the Stations of the Cross.
L2 Explain the liturgical season of Lent as a preparation for the celebration of Easter.     (CCC 524) The liturgical color for Lent is violet.
L3 The Blessed Virgin Mary had an important role in the Passion of Christ. L3 Mary suffered with Jesus. Introduce the Seven Sorrows of Mary.
L3 Jesus gave Mary to man to be the Mother of all the living by order of grace. L4 Christ is the New Adam.
L4 Jesus’ sacrifice made up for Adam’s sin and gave sanctifying grace back to mankind.
L4 Give an explanation of the Holy Week celebrations: Palm Sunday, Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Vigil of Easter.

Chapter 19        Jesus Was Raised to New Life
L1 Jesus, by His own power, rose from the dead to new life on Easter Sunday.
L1 When Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning, His soul brought life to His body. L1 Relate some of Jesus’ appearances after the Resurrection.
L2 The apostles were filled with joy at the Resurrection of Jesus.
L2 Catholics celebrate the Resurrection at every Mass and in a special way on Easter Sunday. L2 Explain the liturgical season of Easter. The liturgical color for Easter is white.
L3 By His Resurrection, Jesus merited the gift of grace so that man can live forever with God in heaven.
L3 The Resurrection is the greatest miracle of Jesus. Because of His death and Resurrection, Jesus opened the gates of heaven for us. This is the Good News (Gospel) that we should share with everyone.
L3 Jesus gives His life and gift of grace to Catholics through the sacraments and in a special way in Holy Communion.
L3 Offer an introduction to the theological virtues of faith, hope and love which come to us through baptism.
L4 Jesus has a resurrected body.
L4 Mary was taken to heaven, body and soul, which is called the Assumption (the Fourth Glorious Mystery).
L4 The resurrection of the body is the miracle when God has the soul and body reunite at the end of time.
L4 Every human person will have his/her body and soul forever either in heaven or in hell.

Chapter 20        Jesus Begins the Church

L1 Jesus’ mission on earth was to teach the Good News, win back God’s grace and give it to others. L1 Grace is God’s life. It is a gift that He gives to help people live holy lives and to reach heaven.
People may choose to accept or reject God’s grace. (CCC 1999, 2021-2024)
L1 Jesus wanted His work to continue on earth after He returned to the Father so He founded the Catholic Church. The Church’s mission is to evangelize, or share the Good News of God’s love for us.
L2 The Church teaches about Jesus and dispenses His graces. L2 Jesus works in and through the Church.
L2 Catholics enter the Church (become members) when they are baptized. L3 Jesus started the Catholic Church with Saint Peter as the first Pope.
L3 The four marks of the Church are:     one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
L3 The Pope and the bishops take the place of the apostles, who were the first bishops.        They are the leaders of the Catholic Church.
L4 Teach about the present leadership in the Church including the Pope, the local bishop, the parish pastor and other priests.
L4 A church/church building is a holy place where Christians go to worship God.    (CCC 1198)
L4 Explain the difference between a church building and the Catholic Church, which is God’s family.

Chapter 21        Jesus Goes Back to Heaven

L1 Jesus spent forty days with the apostles after His Resurrection.
L1 During this time, Jesus told the apostles many things which they would need to know to continue His work.
L1 Jesus was going to return to the Father.
L2 Jesus gave the Great Commission to the apostles to go and teach all nations, to preach and to baptize in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Great Commission is the work of evangelization Jesus entrusted to His Church, which includes us.
L2 The Church baptizes new Catholics just as the apostles did; through Baptism, Catholics enter the Church and receive grace.

L3 Jesus promised to remain with the Church for all time, even if they could not see Him. L3 Jesus promised that He would send the Holy Spirit after He returned to the Father.
L3 Jesus rose into heaven body and soul; we call this the Ascension.     It is the second Glorious Mystery. L4 Two angels appeared to the apostles after the Ascension.
L4 The angels announced that Jesus would return. L4 Jesus will come in glory at the end of time.

Chapter 22        The Holy Spirit Comes

L1 The apostles and Mary prayed for nine days before the descent of the Holy Spirit. L1 On the tenth day, the Holy Spirit came; we call this day Pentecost.
L1 Pentecost was the beginning of the Catholic tradition of the nine days of petitionary prayer.       This kind of prayer is called a novena.
L1 The Holy Spirit teaches Christians how to pray. Prayer is talking and listening to God. L1 Teach the importance of daily prayer, especially in the morning and in the evening.
L1 Help the children to pray in their own words, spontaneously. Help them to simply ‘BE’ in God’s presence.
L2 The Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the apostles on Pentecost. L2 The Holy Spirit filled the souls of the apostles with grace.
L2 The Holy Spirit helped the apostles to remember and understand all Jesus had taught them.
L3 The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the grace to fulfill the Great Commission courageously. (Mt. 28:16- 20)
L3 Peter preached after the descent of the Holy Spirit and many were converted. Three thousand were baptized that very day.
L4 The Holy Spirit gives life to the Church today and guides Her in truth.
L4 The Holy Spirit helps the Pope and the bishops to teach the truth and govern the Church. The Holy Spirit helps us to make good decisions in our everyday lives.                                                                   (CCC 1695, 1830-1831)
L4 The Holy Spirit helps everyone to love one another and become holy. He teaches us how to do good and how to pray.
L4 Briefly introduce the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Knowledge, Fortitude, Piety and Fear of the Lord.

Chapter 23        The Blessed Trinity

L1 In Baptism, persons are baptized, “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” L1 There is only one God. (CCC 200-202)
L1 There are three divine Persons in the one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. (CCC 253)
L2 The Mystery of the three Persons in one God is called the Holy Trinity or Blessed Trinity.
L2 The Persons are distinct: The Father is not the Son, nor the Holy Spirit. The Son is not the Father, nor the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father, nor the Son.
L2 The three Persons had no beginning and have no end. They are equal. No one Person is greater than another.
L3 Jesus told us about the Blessed Trinity: one God in three Persons. L3 The Blessed Trinity is a mystery of the Faith.
L3 The family is an image of the Blessed Trinity: father, mother and child.
L4 Prayer is said to the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, therefore calling upon the name of the Blessed Trinity.   Review the Glory Be prayer.
L4 The Sign of the Cross reminds Catholics of the mystery of the Blessed Trinity and of the sacrifice of the Son, who became man as Jesus and saved mankind by dying on the cross.
L2 The Nicene Creed is a list of the basic Catholic beliefs that we pray during the Mass. L4 When grace resides in a soul, the Blessed Trinity dwells in it.
Chapter 24        God Gives You His Life
L1 All people except Jesus and Mary are born with original sin. L1 The consequences of original sin include:

loss of grace, absence of justification,

spiritual disharmony,

concupiscence, weakened nature,

death and illness,

error in education, politics, social actions and morals. L1 Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins (including original sin). L2 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Baptism.

L2 The symbols of baptism include:

water - The baptismal water signifies the baptized person has been washed clean from sin and has been set free from the devil.        (CCC 1238)

white garment - The baptismal white garment symbolizes that the baptized person has put on Christ, so that Jesus lives in him/her. (CCC 1243)

candle - The baptismal candle symbolizes that Christ has enlightened the person who has been baptized.      (CCC 1243)

oil (Holy Chrism) - The Holy Chrism symbolizes the baptized person shares in the prophetic, priestly and kingly ministry of Christ.

L3 The effects of baptism on a person’s soul include:     (CCC 1267-1270, 1279)

forgiveness of sins (including original sin and any personal sin),

an infusion of sanctifying grace,

full membership into the Church,

an indelible mark,

becoming a new person in Christ,

the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit,

the three theological virtues of faith, hope and love (charity). L4 There is a minister, matter and form for every sacrament.

L4 The minister of baptism is a priest or deacon.
L4 The matter for baptism is water; the form is, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
L4 Baptism is necessary for salvation.
Chapter 25        Many Gifts from God
L1 God is all good.
L1 God is the Creator of all things:    the world and every person.
L1 God sent His Son to be the Savior of the world so that man can share in God’s life forever in heaven. L2 Man is called to respond to God’s gifts with thanksgiving and prayer.
L2 People can thank God through prayer and good works. L2 This gratitude includes reverent behavior at Mass.
L2 The ‘Confiteor’ is the prayer at the beginning of Mass when we tell God we are sorry for our sins.
During the words, “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault,” we should strike our breast.
L2 At the beginning of the Gospel reading, make a ‘cross’ with the right thumb on the forehead, lips and heart asking God to be “in my mind, on my lips and in my heart.”
L3 Jesus appeared and spoke to two disciples on the road to Emmaus.
L3 The Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist can be seen in Christ’s words and actions in the story of Emmaus.
L4 Jesus is made present in the Eucharist through the words of Consecration said by a priest at Mass.
L4 The matter of the Eucharist is bread and wine.      The form of the Eucharist is: “This is my Body,” and “This is the chalice of my Blood.”
L4 Communion is a sacramental union with Jesus as He is consumed in the Eucharist. L4 Teach students how to make a Spiritual Communion.
Chapter 26        Our Mother, Mary
L1 The Blessed Virgin Mary is the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, and Queen of Heaven.    Mary is also our mother.           (CCC 963)
L1 Jesus gave Mary to all people to be their Mother by the order of grace.
L1 Mary was assumed (body and soul) into heaven.      The Feast of the Assumption of Mary is celebrated on August 15.
L1 The Assumption is the fourth Glorious Mystery of the rosary.
L1 Mary is the Immaculate Conception because she was conceived without sin from the first moment God created her.        This Feast Day is December 8.
L2 Mary is a model of faithful discipleship.
L2 Mary is an intercessor between Jesus and man. L3 Jesus is the King of heaven and earth.
L3 In the Old Testament, the mother of the king is the queen.      Using this model, Mary is the Queen of heaven and earth.
L3 The fifth Glorious Mystery of the rosary is the Coronation of Mary as Queen of heaven, earth, angels and men.
L4 Mary appeared to three children at Fatima.
L4 At Fatima Mary asked the children to make sacrifices.

Chapter 27        Following Jesus

L1 Jesus called His disciples, saying:   “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” (Mt. 16:24)
L1 To follow Jesus is to become His disciple.   Disciples evangelize by sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.
L1 Everyone has a cross to bear in life which is part of God’s plan to help him reach heaven. L2 Jesus is a model of perfection.
L2 By examining the life and teachings of Christ, one can learn to imitate them and follow Him. L2 By following Jesus, a person can go to heaven.
L2 Every person should think of how Jesus would act in a given situation and then act accordingly. L3 Jesus taught the apostles how to pray and taught them specifically to pray the Our Father.
L3 Prayer is the lifting of one’s heart and mind to God.     Silence helps us to pray and be close to God. (CCC 2717)
L3 There are many forms of prayer.     Some of these are:     blessing, adoration, praise, petition, intercession and thanksgiving.
L4 There are different reasons and times for prayer. L4 Love is sacrificial.
L4 Children can offer sacrifices of love to God including: knowing, loving and serving God; as well as offering works, words, daily sacrifices, talents and their very selves at Mass.

Chapter 28        Jesus Will Come Again

L1 God made man to know, love and serve Him in this life and be happy with God forever in heaven. (CCC 1721)
L1 The Communion of Saints includes the Church Triumphant, the Church Militant and the Church Suffering.

L1 The students belong to their family and to God’s family, the Church.     (CCC 2685, 946-962) Jesus promised to remain with the Church for all time.
L1 The saints in heaven are real human beings who lived holy lives.     (CCC 1477)
L1 Saints are good examples of discipleship.     Martyrs are saints who gave their lives for Jesus.    The liturgical color for martyrs is red.
L1 The saints help us with their prayers and we should ask them to pray for us.      (CCC 956) Foster devotion to the patron saint of the parish/school.
L2 Heaven is eternal.
L2 God’s plan for man is to be united with Him and with Mary, the angels and saints and with those we love forever in heaven.
L2 God wants all people to be saints, to live in His way.
L3 At the end of the world, the bodies of men will rise and be united with their souls for all eternity. L3 Discuss the qualities of the resurrected body.
L4 To go to heaven, one must die in a state of grace (have God’s life in his soul).
L4 Some must go through Purgatory to reach heaven.      Purgatory is the cleansing of the person’s soul after death in order to be perfect to enter heaven.
L4 In heaven, one sees God face to face.      The saints in heaven are also called “the just.”    They shall be happy forever.
L4 The heavenly reward is given according to the love and goodness of the life each person led on earth.

Second Grade

Second Grade
Second Grade
GRADE Two (Faith and Life Series)
Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown
In Grade Two, the teacher will provide the catechesis listed below.All points in black are covered in the scope and sequence of the textbook and all points in red are in addition to the textbook but organized thematically with textbook chapters.
Content and chapters may be taught in any order as long as all of the material is presented.

Chapter 1        Our Heavenly Father

L1 God is our Father in heaven.     We are His children.    He is all good, all knowing and all holy. L1 God created each person and loves each person.
L1 We show respect for all people, regardless of their race, color, sex, or creed, simply because they are children of God and all people are made in God’s image.                                                                      (CCC 356-361, 374)
L2 Each person has a soul which gives him life.    The soul lives forever.
L2 God created us body and soul.     Our soul gives life to our body, and the soul thinks and chooses using its powers of intellect and will.
L2 People can freely choose to do good or bad.
L3 God is everywhere and He watches over mankind.
L4 God inspired men to write the different books of the Bible to tell us His message.      The Bible is God’s Word.   (CCC 81, 101, 102, 135)
L4 The Bible teaches us Who God is and who we are.    (CCC 279, 286-290)
L4 The Bible consists of two sections that reveal salvation history:     a) The Old Testament (before Jesus) and b) the New Testament (from the time of Jesus).                                                              (CCC 120-129) The readings at Mass come from the Bible.
L4 The Gospels are part of the New Testament and are about the life and teachings of Jesus.       The four Gospel writers are Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.                                                                    (CCC 120, 125-127)
L4 The Bible is one of the ways that God speaks to people; Church Tradition is another way.

Chapter 2          The Blessed Trinity

L1 God is eternal.     He has no beginning and no end.
L1 Before Creation God was neither unhappy nor alone. L1 God created freely.
L2 There are three Persons in one God:      God the Father, God the Son (Jesus Christ) and God the Holy Spirit.       (CCC 253)
L2 The mystery of one God in three Person is call the Holy Trinity or Blessed Trinity.
L2 The three Persons are equal and eternal.       They are all wise, all powerful and all holy.
L3 With the Son and the Spirit, God the Father created heaven and earth.       He is the First Person of the Blessed Trinity.
L3 God the Son is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity.    He came down from Heaven to become our Savior, Jesus Christ.      He taught us about God, died for our sins and rose from the dead.
L3 Teach the children to bow their head slightly when hearing the name of Jesus/Jesus Christ.
L3 The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity. He helps us to pray, be good and love God. L4 The Sign of the Cross reminds us of our faith in the Blessed Trinity.

L4 Practice making the Sign of the Cross with the right hand correctly, emphasizing that the words be spoken clearly, especially, "In the name ….”                                                                       Practice proper and regular use of Holy Water, with the right hand.
L4 Practice proper ways to fold hands during prayer.

Chapter 3          God the Creator

L1 God created to reveal His love for others.
L1 God the Father freely created all things from nothing.      All creation reflects the glory of God and teaches us about the wisdom of God.
L1 Through creation man can have knowledge of the existence and beauty of God.
L2 Through the order of the world man can know about the wisdom and providence of God. L3 God created all things for the enjoyment of His creatures.
L3 Man's response to God for His creation should be to give God praise and glory.
L3 It is the responsibility of all people to practice stewardship: care for the gifts God has given.
L3 A sacrilege is any irreverence toward persons, places and things which are sacred (dedicated to God).
L4 Through man’s rational soul, he can express his love and praise for God through words, song and poetry; as well as actions and gestures.
L4 All creation gives praise to God through its very nature.     Man, however, can also choose to give praise to God.

Chapter 4          God Made Us (This chapter could potentially be integrated with TOB.)

L1 God made man, who lived in the Garden of Eden. L1 He made Eve to be the helpmate of Adam.
L1 Adam and Eve are the first man and woman.
L2 Adam and Eve were created by God in a wonderful relationship with Him and with each other.      (CCC 374-378, 384)
L2 Adam and Eve had original justice, which meant that they were never sick or hurt, would not die, did not have an inclination to sin, knew everything they needed to know to live, had all the food they needed and lived in harmony with one another and the animals.    They lived in the presence of God.
L2 Adam and Eve also had the supernatural gift of grace, which is a share in God's life.
L2 Grace is a gift from God that helps us to be holy.    Grace is needed to do good and to avoid evil. (CCC 1999, 2021-2024)
L3 We first received sanctifying grace when we were baptized.     (CCC 1999, 1266)
L3 God created all other people in the world, too.      He made everyone in His image and likeness, yet each person is also unique and distinct from anyone else.
L3 All people are created to know, love and serve God, and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. (CCC 1721)
L3 God gives everyone special gifts to use for the good of others.
L4 God has given each of us a guardian angel to guide and protect us.      (CCC 336)
L4 The holy angels are powerful beings who are pure spirits, who give glory to God without ceasing and who serve as His messengers.       (CCC 329-331)
L4 Teach the children to have a special devotion to their guardian angel.      Practice the Prayer to the Guardian Angel.

Chapter 5          God is Offended

L1 Angels are created pure spirits.     They are intelligent and free.
L1 Some of the angels created by God fell from grace.     We call the fallen angels devils or demons. L1 The good angels that serve God are with God and carry out His work on earth.
L2 God tested Adam and Eve.     Their test was to not eat of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.

L3 In the beginning, Adam and Eve were obedient to God.
L3 Eve was tempted by the devil who was disguised as a serpent.      She was tempted to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit.
L3 Eve ate the fruit, then gave it to Adam, and he ate the fruit, too.       This was the original sin.   It was a free and intentional act of disobedience.
L3 Satan and the other fallen angels are in hell.      Satan and the demons try to tempt us to do evil.      God does not want any human being to go to hell.                                                                    (CCC 391-395, 1037)
L4 Making the choice to disobey God is a sin.
L4 Adam and Eve's sin caused the loss of original justice and grace for all mankind.    Without grace, man cannot go to heaven.
L4 Though Adam and Eve sinned, God still loved them and promised that He would send a Savior to open the gates of heaven.
L4 God hates sin, but loves the sinner.     We, too, should hate sin, but love the sinner.     (CCC 211, 1850)

Chapter 6            Becoming a Child of God

L1 Original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, is passed on to all human beings, except Mary. (CCC 397- 406)
L1 Adam and Eve disobeyed God and lost a share in God’s life (sanctifying grace) and the ability to go to heaven. As a result, we, the descendants of Adam and Eve, are also born without sanctifying grace. (cf. Genesis 3: 15)
L2 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Baptism when He made the command to go and baptize all nations. (cf. Matt. 28: 19-20)
L2 Baptism is the first sacrament that we receive. (CCC 1212, 1213) Baptism washes away original sin and gives the gift of sanctifying grace, making it possible for us to go to heaven.
L2 Baptism makes us children of God and members of His family, the Church.
L2 At baptism, the Blessed Trinity comes to live in our souls; this is the life of God in our soul.   It is sanctifying grace.      (CCC 2023-2024)
L3 We can be baptized only once because we are marked with a sacramental character (indelible mark), which means that we are known by God as His adopted children, that we share in the priesthood of Christ and that we are temples of the Holy Spirit.           (CCC 1265-1268, 1272)
L3 As baptized Christians, we strive to keep our souls free from sin.
L3 The grace received at Baptism is necessary to be able to go to heaven.
L3 Everyone can be baptized; as Christians we have a mission to invite others to accept Baptism, the gift of salvation.
L4 Most Catholics are given a saint's name, a patron saint. L4 Foster devotion to the patron saint of the parish/school.
L4 Saints are those honored for living like Jesus and serving God faithfully in this life.   They are united with God forever in heaven.

Chapter 7    Obeying God Our Father

L1 God promised Adam and Eve that He would send a Savior.
L1 For many years, God prepared the world for the coming of the Savior.      He did this through Noah, Abraham, David, the prophets and many holy people.
L1 Because of original sin, many people became very sinful in their actions, forgetting about God’s promise.
L2 Noah was called by God to build an ark in order to save His creation and Noah’s family from the great flood.
L2 Noah responded faithfully out of obedience to God.
L2 In the flood, all that was evil was washed from the earth and new life came forth.      This prefigures Baptism.
L3 Abraham was called by God to be the father of God’s nation.     Abraham and Sarah, his wife, were elderly when Isaac, their son, was born.
L3 God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice his beloved son.     God stopped Abraham who was ready to make this sacrifice and blessed him for his obedient love.
L4 David was a simple shepherd called by God to become the king of His nation.     David fought a giant named Goliath in order to save God’s nation, then David became king.
L4 Mary, Joseph and Jesus are descendants from the family of David.

Chapter 8            God Gives Us His Laws

L1 God's Chosen People became slaves in Egypt.    Moses was sent by God to deliver these slaves.
L1 Through Moses, God gave the Ten Commandments to His Chosen People. This is known as the Old Covenant. (CCC 205-207, 210-211, 2056-2063)
L2 The Ten Commandments are grouped under the two Great Commandments:
1. To love God. (Commandments 1-3)
2. To love neighbor. (Commandments 4-10)
L2 Discuss the meaning of the first three Commandments and practice reciting. L3 Discuss the meaning of Commandments 4, 5 and 8 and practice reciting.
L4 Discuss the meaning of Commandments 6 and 9, 7 and 10 and practice reciting.
L4 God reveals how to live human life correctly through the Ten Commandments.      (CCC 2070-2073) L4 Through Baptism, the Ten Commandments become God’s laws for us, too.
L4 Introduce the nightly practice of the Examination of Conscience based on the Ten Commandments. (CCC 2072, 1776, 1786)

Chapter 9          I Choose to Love God

L1 Review the Ten Commandments.
L1 Jesus is the one who summarized the Ten Commandments into the Two Great Commandments of love of God and love of neighbor.                                                        (CCC 2055)
1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul and all your strength.”
2. “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
L2 Prayer and worship are forms of responding to God with love.     As Catholics, participating at Mass on Sunday is one of the greatest ways we can worship God in community.
L2 Prayer is talking and listening to God.    Conversation with God also shows our love for Him. L3 Love of neighbor is expressed in charity (kindness to others).
L3 Virtue is a habit of doing good.    (CCC 1803)
L3 Virtues that help us to love our neighbor are: kindness, helpfulness, obedience, cheerfulness, sharing, truthfulness and prayer for others.
L4 Man chooses to do what is right or wrong.     He has free will.
L4 Choosing to do something bad on purpose is a sin, which weakens God’s grace in our souls and turns us away from God.
L4 There are two kinds of personal (actual) sin: mortal and venial.

Chapter 10        Preparing for Our Savior

L1 In original sin, man could not merit (earn) heaven for himself. L1 God promised to send a Savior, His own Son, Jesus Christ.
L1 God prepared His people for the coming of the Savior, using the help of the prophets. L2 God Chose Mary to be the Mother of His Son.
L2 Original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, is passed on to all human beings, except Mary.    (CCC 397- 406)     Mary is the Immaculate Conception.                                                    She was without sin and is full of grace.
L3 God sent the Angel Gabriel to ask Mary to be the Mother of Jesus.     This event was the Annunciation.
L3 Mary agreed by giving her fiat: “I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to Your word.”
L4 Advent means ‘coming.’    Advent is the time to prepare for and to celebrate the coming of Jesus at Christmas and at the end of time.
L4 Review Advent traditions.

Chapter 11        The Savior is Born

L1 In obedience, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. L1 Jesus was born in the poverty of a manger.
L2 The first people to learn about Jesus were poor shepherds.
L2 Angels came to proclaim the birth of the Lord to these Jewish people, who were full of faith. L3 From far away, three wise men followed a star to the place of Jesus’ birth.
L3 The wise men, who were gentiles (not of the Jewish faith), brought gifts for Jesus that were fit for a king.
L3 Jesus came to save all peoples of every land.     The shepherds and the wise men were the first to evangelize, or share the Good News (Gospel) with, others that the Savior had come.
L4 Joseph took Jesus and Mary and fled to Egypt to escape the evil plans of King Herod.    He was jealous of Jesus and wanted to kill Him.
L4 The Holy Family lived in Egypt until Herod was dead.
L4 Let us thank God for the gifts that He has given us, especially the gift of Jesus.    (CCC 2337-38, 2648)

Chapter 12        The Holy Family

L1 When Herod died, the Holy Family returned from Egypt to live in Nazareth.
L1 St. Joseph is the husband of Mary and the foster-father of Jesus.      He is a carpenter and a great saint.
We can pray to St. Joseph for our own fathers and ask him to watch over and protect our families.
L2 Mary is the Mother of Jesus and the wife of Joseph. L2 Mary had an important role in the Holy Family.
L2 Mary is our heavenly mother who loves and watches over all her earthly children.      We can turn to Mary whenever we are in need and she will be there for us.                                                                    (CCC 501, 969)
L3 Jesus was the son of Mary and foster-child of Joseph.     His real father is God. L3 Jesus lived obediently with Mary and Joseph whom He loved dearly.
L3 Jesus knew what God, His Father, wanted of Him, and He was obedient.
L3 Although Jesus was God, He teaches us by His example that we should always be obedient to our parents and those in charge of us.                                                           (CCC 532)
L4 The Holy Family is a model for all Christian families and is made up of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. We celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family on the Sunday after Christmas.
L4 We help our family to be holy by loving and serving one another, even when it is hard.

Chapter 13        Good News

L1 At the beginning of the public ministry of Christ, Jesus went to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist.
L1 At the Baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended on Him in the form of a dove, and God the Father spoke from heaven: “This is My Beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
L1 Jesus went into the desert for forty days to prepare for His public ministry.
L2 After Jesus was tempted by the devil in the desert, He began to preach the Good News (Gospel) of salvation.
L2 Every baptized person is called to imitate Jesus in evangelizing, sharing the Gospel, with others.     We
do this by talking freely about our love for Jesus and by our good example in how we treat others. (CCC 850-851)
L2 Jesus chose twelve disciples to be His apostles.
L2 Using parables, Jesus taught about the coming of the Kingdom of God. L3 Relate the parable of the Mustard Seed.
L4 Relate the parable of the Buried Treasure.

Chapter 14        Jesus Our Teacher

L1 In the parable about the Good Samaritan, Jesus taught what it truly means to love our neighbor. L2 Jesus taught the law of love, and called us to love God and neighbor.                                                                        The story of the Good
Samaritan teaches us who our neighbor is: everyone.
L2 Man can love God through loving his neighbor.
L3 Jesus taught us ways that we can care for the bodily needs of others.       These ways are the Corporal Works of Mercy:
1. Feed the hungry.
2. Give drink to the thirsty.
3. Clothe the naked.
4. Shelter the homeless.
5. Visit the sick.
6. Visit the imprisoned.
7. Bury the dead.
L4 The Corporal Works of Mercy are to be lived by all people.    Carrying out the Works of Mercy with joy and love is a way to evangelize by drawing others to see the goodness of Jesus in our actions.
L4 Discuss ways by which people in the parish provide service to others.
L4 Have the children participate in service activities, when and where it is safe and appropriate to do so. L4 Present Jesus’ teaching about the sheep and the goats at the Last Judgment.

Chapter 15        Let Us Pray

L1 In His instruction to His disciples, Jesus taught us how to pray.    (CCC 2765) L1 In the ‘Our Father,’ Jesus taught us what to pray.
L1 Help the children to obtain a spirit of prayer through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. L2 Teach the meaning of the words in the Our Father and introduce the petitions of the Our Father.
L3 Prayer is conversation with God, and we should talk with Him every day.    (CCC 2559)
L3 Stress the importance of daily prayer (especially in the morning and in the evening).
L3 Help the children to pray in their own words, spontaneously.      Help the children to simply ‘BE’ in God’s Presence.
L3 The two types of prayer are vocal and mental prayer. L3 There are different forms of prayer:
1. Adoration/Praise
2. Thanksgiving
3. Supplication/Petition
4. Intercession
5. Contrition
L4 God hears man’s prayers and responds according to His will. (CCC 1127, 2737)
L4 Spend time memorizing, as needed: Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Prayer to the Guardian Angel, Act of Contrition.
L4 Sacramentals are sacred signs (material objects, prayers, or actions) that people use to help themselves and others become holy, e. g. pictures, statues, rosaries, holy water, blessed palms, candles, ashes, medals and crucifixes. (CCC 1667-1678)
Chapter 16        We Believe
L1 Jesus’ first public miracle was the changing of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. L1 Mary interceded for the bride and groom.
L1 Miracles evoke faith.
L2 Jesus was able to calm a storm at sea (nature miracle).
L2 When Jesus calmed the storm, His disciples learned that He had power even over nature, and their faith increased.
L3 Offer an understanding of ‘miracle’, using the story of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. L3 This miracle leads to the Bread of Life discourse, referring to Jesus present in the Eucharist.
L4 Jesus' miracles also directly healed people: the blind, the paralyzed, the sick and the hurt (healing miracles).
L4 Jesus was even more powerful than death, demonstrated by the raising of Jairus' daughter from the dead.
L4 One of the most powerful ways Jesus works miracles today is through the sacraments.       God gives us His life, sanctifying grace, in the sacraments.
L4 Jesus instituted all seven of the sacraments.      (CCC 1114)
L4 Students should memorize the definition of sacrament:       “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” (CCC 1131)
Chapter 17        Asking Forgiveness
L1 When man breaks God's laws intentionally, he sins.     Sin is choosing to do evil that offends God, and hurts us and others as well.         (CCC 1849-1850, 1871-1872)
L1 There are two types of sins: mortal and venial.      Venial sins do not destroy the life of grace in the soul, but mortal sins do.       (CCC 1855, 1861-1863)
L1 For a sin to be mortal, there are three conditions:      (CCC 1857)
1. The bad thought, word, or deed must be serious in itself. (CCC 1858)
2. One must know the sin is serious. (CCC 1859)
3. One must freely choose to commit the sin anyway. (CCC 1859)
L1 God hates sin, but loves the sinner.     We, too, should hate sin, but love the sinner.     (CCC 211, 1850)
L1 God does not stop loving us, even if we have sinned.     God is all-loving and all-merciful and always ready to forgive us if we are sorry.                                                         (CCC 211, 218-220)
L2 Sin can be commission (that is, something bad that is done), or omission (that is, something good that we should do, but we do not do it).                                                          However, sin is never an accident because it always involves a choice.
L2 Review the story of the Prodigal Son.
L3 By sinning, man turns away from God.    Sin offends God.
L3 God always calls us back to Him.   We must respond by being sorry for our sins and asking forgiveness. This is called contrition.
L3 Teach the meaning of the words in the Act of Contrition. L4 God’s mercy is greater than any sin.
L4 The way to lose sanctifying grace (God’s life in our souls) is by committing mortal sin, and the ordinary way that persons who commit mortal sin can recover sanctifying grace is through the Sacrament of Confession, by which they are absolved from their sins.         (CCC 1440, 1861)
L4 By confessing our sins and seeking His forgiveness, we are reconciled with God.
Chapter 18        Jesus Forgives
L1 Jesus cured the sick in body.     He also forgave sins (cured the sick in soul).
L1 Jesus will forgive sin when the sinner is sorry for having offended Him.   No sin is too big for God to forgive.    (CCC 982, 1446)
L1 There should be a hatred for sin because it offends God’s love, and because it could cause “the loss of heaven and the pains of hell.”
L2 Only God can forgive sins.   Jesus is God.
L2 Jesus made the disciples His first priests and gave them the power to forgive sins.      God forgives sins through them, as the priests act in the person of Jesus.                                                                 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Penance (confession) on Easter night.
L2 When a priest forgives sin it is called the Sacrament of Penance.     This sacrament removes both mortal and venial sins. (CCC 1493)
L2 When a person guilty of mortal sin confesses with true sorrow and receives absolution from a priest, the penitent’s sins are truly forgiven and the gift of grace is restored.
L3 There are five steps to make a good confession: (CCC 1480, 1491)
1. Examination of Conscience
2. Sorrow for one’s sins (contrition) and purpose of amendment (a firm resolve, with God’s grace, to avoid sin)
3. Confession of one’s sins (mortal in kind and number; venial) to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance
4. Receiving absolution from the priest
5. Penance (prayers or actions to help make up for the damage of sin)
L3 The formula for absolution is: “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.      Amen.”
L4 Jesus gave us the Sacrament of Penance to forgive our sins and to give us grace to do good and avoid future sins.           (CCC 982, 1446, 1468)
L4 Grace gives us a share in God’s life and it helps us to be stronger against sin.
L4 The priest is bound by the seal of confession, meaning that he can tell our sins to no one.

Chapter 19        The Sacrament of Penance

The children must receive the Sacrament of Penance before receiving First Holy Communion (cf. Canon 914). Students should not disclose sins or moral faults in class. The appropriate context for the disclosure of sins is the Sacrament of Penance.

L1 A mistake, a temptation and a sin are different things.
L1 The first step to a good confession is an examination of conscience. L2 The second step to a good confession is sorrow or contrition.
L2 There are two types of contrition: perfect and imperfect.       Perfect is when one is sorry for sin because one is truly sorry for having offended God.                                                              Imperfect is when one is sorry for sin because of fear of God’s just punishment.
L2 Along with contrition is the purpose of amendment, which means you decide not to sin again.
L3 The third step to a good confession is to receive the sacrament: the confessing of sins to a priest and making the Act of Contrition.
L3 We may go to confession behind the screen or face to face (with the priest’s permission).
L3 Introduce the rite for Penance. (cf. CCC 1450-1460) The formula to use in the Sacrament of Penance is: To begin, the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross and says: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
It has been             since my last confession.
My sins are           (the penitent states mortal sins in kind and number and any other venial sins).
I am sorry for these and all my sins.
The priest advises and then gives a penance. The penitent makes an Act of Contrition.
The priest gives absolution.
Priest:        “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
Penitent:    “His Mercy endures forever.”
Priest:        “The Lord has freed you from your sins.   Go in peace.”
Penitent:    “Thanks be to God.”
L4 The fourth step to a good confession is to receive absolution from the priest. L4 The fifth step is to do the assigned penance.
L4 A penance helps the sinner to make up for offenses against God and neighbor.

Chapter 20        Making Up for Our Offenses

L1 Relate the story of Zacchaeus.
L1 The purpose of amendment which is part of confession means that the person, with God’s grace, will try not to sin again.
L2 Jesus redeemed us from our sins and atones for our sins with God by His death on the Cross.
L3 Forgiveness is when our relationship is made right with another after one is offended and the other says they are sorry.
L3 It is important to say, “I’m sorry, forgive me” to anyone offended.
L3 Penance is making up for our sins, or a removal of our punishment.     Doing penance is to help restore the damage caused by our sins. (CCC 1460, 1485-1498)
L4 Receiving the Sacrament of Penance frequently gives us the grace to overcome sin. L4 We should also do regular penance to overcome sin.
L4 Penance should be done out of love for Christ.

Chapter 21        The Good Shepherd

L1 Jesus knew that He would die for the sins of mankind.
L1 On Palm Sunday, Jesus rode into Jerusalem as the Messianic King.
L1 Jesus was not to be a king of this world, but to be the Savior and lead people to heaven.
L2 Jesus is our Good Shepherd, who nourishes us, guards us, calls us back from sin and leads us to heaven. We are His sheep who are cared for by Jesus and follow Him.
L3 Jesus nourishes man’s soul in the sacraments; the sacraments strengthen man spiritually. L3 Jesus guards man from sin and evil and calls man back to His love when man sins.
L4 Jesus is our model of love and goodness.     (CCC 1694, 1698)
L4 Jesus is the way to heaven.     Man must become like Him, especially in the virtues of obedience, humility, forgiveness, prayerfulness and mercy.
L4 Jesus lays down His life for the lives of all people in the world. L4 The lives of the saints illustrate how to live like Jesus.

Chapter 22        The Last Supper

L1 The Jews celebrate the feast of Passover annually, commemorating the exodus from Egypt.
L1 At the Last Supper, on the night before he died, Jesus changed the Jewish Passover into the Mass.
This was the first Mass.   (CCC 1323)
L1 Review the story of the Passover and the Last Supper and have the children be able to retell the two in their own words.
L2 Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper.
L2 With the words of Jesus, bread and wine were changed into His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, really and truly present under the appearance of bread and wine.                                                                    (CCC 1323)
L2 At the Last Supper, the apostles received Jesus into their souls, sacramentally.      This event was the First Communion.

L3 The sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood is the Holy Eucharist.
L3 Jesus gave the power to the apostles (and through them to every priest) to change bread and wine into His Body and Blood when He said, "Do this in memory of Me."
L4 The miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish prefigured the Eucharist. L4 Jesus is the Living Bread from heaven.

Chapter 23        Jesus Dies for Us

L1 After the Last Supper, Jesus and the disciples went to the Garden of Olives, where Jesus experienced the Agony in the Garden.
L1 Jesus prayed and accepted the will of God.
L2 Jesus was arrested.     He was condemned to death by Pontius Pilate.
L2 Jesus was scourged, crowned with thorns, made to carry His Cross and was crucified.     (CCC 1096, 1362-1365)
L3 When Jesus was crucified He prayed for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind, which included mine. (CCC 1432)
L3 On the Cross, Jesus gave Mary to all mankind to be the Mother of God's children. L3 Jesus was obedient to His Father unto death.
L4 Jesus died upon the Cross and opened the gates of heaven.
L4 Discuss the significance of the Feast of the Sacred Heart (Third Friday after Pentecost). L4 The death of Jesus bought back man’s friendship with God.
L4 Review the Stations of the Cross.
L4 Discuss the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week: Palm Sunday, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil.

Chapter 24        He Is Risen, Alleluia!

L1 The Sunday after Jesus died, women went to the tomb of Jesus, but it was empty. L1 Angels told the women that Jesus was risen.
L2 The women told the disciples who disbelieved, even though Jesus predicted His own death and Resurrection.
L2 Share Scripture stories of encounters of disciples with the Risen Lord.
L3 Jesus appeared to the disciples in the upper room.       He ate with His disciples to verify that He was not a ghost.
L3 Jesus gave His apostles (and all future priests) the power to forgive sins on Easter Sunday night. L4 Jesus gave His apostles His peace.                                                              Jesus' peace comes to all who receive Him into their lives.
L4 During Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ Resurrection and the grace He won for us by overcoming sin and opening the gates of heaven.          The fact that Jesus loved us so much that He would do this for us is so great we call it the Good News (Gospel) and it should be shared with everyone!
L4 At Easter the Paschal Candle is lit to signify Christ, the Light of the World.

Chapter 25        The Holy Mass

L1 We celebrate Mass in obedience to the Commandments and to follow Jesus' instruction, "Do this in memory of Me."
L1 At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the priesthood.
L1 The power to consecrate the Eucharist has been passed on to all validly ordained priests.
L2 The Paschal Mystery is the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus Christ, true God and true man.

L2 The Mass re-presents the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross to the Father.      It is not the same sacrifice offered over and over again, but one time for all, made sacramentally present on the altar. We participate at the one, saving Paschal Mystery every time we are at Mass.   Distinguish the difference between represents and re-presents.
L2 Jesus, through the priest, makes present His one sacrifice at every Mass.      (CCC 1382) L3 The Mass is the greatest prayer, the center of the Church’s life.                                                                   (CCC 1343)
L3 Mass is celebrated by the whole community on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection.
L4 Mass is the perfect prayer because it is the prayer and sacrifice of Jesus.      Mass includes praise and thanksgiving, petition and intercession.
L4 We are called to actively participate in Mass.
L4 Review the Third Commandment, including the obligation of attending Mass on Sunday.
L4 In addition to Sunday, the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are: Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the Ascension (40 Days after Easter), the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25). (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)

Chapter 26        What We Do at Mass
L1 We gather as a parish family at Mass to celebrate the Paschal Mystery:      the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.                                                             (CCC 1362, 1372)
L1 At Mass, we gather to listen to God’s Word, celebrate what Jesus has done for us and receive His gift of the Holy Eucharist, which is His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.                                                                 (CCC 1348-1355, 1408)
L1 The Mass has two main parts:     Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist.   (CCC 1348, 1408) L1 Define the Introductory Rites.
L1 We strike our breast during the ‘Confiteor’ at the words: “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”
L2 Define the Liturgy of the Word and discuss the various parts, especially focusing on spoken/sung responses.
L2 The Liturgy of the Word is an important opportunity to receive God’s message to us today and respond in love. (CCC 1153-1154)
L2 At the beginning of the Gospel reading, make a ‘cross’ with the right thumb on the forehead, lips, and heart, asking God to be “in my mind, on my lips and in my heart.”
L3 Define the Liturgy of the Eucharist and discuss the various parts, especially focusing on spoken/sung responses.
L3 The bread and wine become the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus when a Catholic priest or bishop, during Mass, says the words that Jesus said at the Last Supper.
L3 Recognize the key items used at Mass:     ciborium, chalice, paten, cruets, missal and priest vestments.
Identify the location of the tabernacle, altar, lectern (ambo) and baptismal font in the church.
L4 Define the Concluding Rite and review the overall structure of the Mass.
L4 Teach the proper manner of sitting, standing and kneeling in church.      Review the importance of being quiet and reverent while in church.

Chapter 27        Jesus Comes to Us

L1 The Consecration is the part of the Mass when the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus. The consecrated bread and wine are no longer bread and wine but are really the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus, even though they still have the form/appearance of bread and wine.    (CCC 1376)
L1 Only unleavened wheat bread and pure grape wine can be used at Mass, because this is what Jesus used at the Last Supper.
L1 Transubstantiation means ‘change of substance.’      God, through the priest, changes bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.

L1 Transubstantiation occurs at the time of the Consecration at Mass.
L1 Review the acclamations sung/said at Mass after the Consecration.
L2 Jesus comes to man through Holy Communion.     Receiving Holy Communion deepens a person’s union with God.
L2 Make an act of reverence (bow, genuflect, kneel) before receiving Holy Communion.
L2 Teach the proper way to receive Holy Communion on the tongue (tipping head back slightly and extending the tongue flat) and in the hand (forming a throne for Jesus with the dominant hand resting beneath the non-dominant hand, stepping to the side and placing Jesus in the mouth with the dominant hand, checking for crumbs before folding hands again).
L2 Holy Communion must be received on the tongue when receiving at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form or when receiving Holy Communion from the Holy Father.
L2 When Holy Communion is given by ‘intinction’ (the priest or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion dips the Sacred Host into the Precious Blood), one must receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
L2 The Eucharist is heavenly food for the soul.
L2 Have the children memorize: “The Holy Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.”
L3 Jesus beckoned the children to come to Him.
L3 Once we have received our First Holy Communion, we participate more fully as members of the Catholic Church.          (CCC 1396)
L3 Teach students how to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament and a Spiritual Communion when they are outside of Mass.
L4 Jesus waits for man to come to Him in the Eucharist.
L4 Jesus, as God, is present everywhere.     However, when we refer to the Real Presence, we are
referring to Jesus’ substantial, incarnate presence in the Holy Eucharist - Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity - fully God and fully Man.
L4 Jesus is entirely present in every part of the Eucharist (even the smallest crumb or tiniest drop).

Chapter 28        Jesus, My Lord and My God
L1 The first step of a worthy Communion is to have a healthy soul in the state of grace.
L1 Anyone who is aware of having committed mortal sin must receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance before he/she receives Holy Communion.                                                              (CCC 1415)
L1 Only Catholics may receive Holy Communion because receiving Holy Communion shows that the person is an official member of the Catholic religion.
L1 When Catholics receive only the consecrated Host, or only from the Chalice, they are receiving the entire Christ, i.e. the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.
L2 We are to fast from all food and drink for at least one hour prior to the reception of Holy Communion. Water and/or medicine do not break the Eucharistic fast.                                                                    (cf. Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law)
L2 We should actively participate in the Mass out of love for Jesus.
L3 We should consider Whom we are about to receive in Holy Communion and to receive Him reverently with the intention of being united with Jesus Christ.
L4 We should thank Jesus for the gift of Himself in Holy Communion.   This is called making a thanksgiving after Communion.
L4 Discuss the significance of Holy Thursday and the Feast of Corpus Christi.

Chapter 29        Jesus Returns to the Father
L1 After the Resurrection, Jesus remained on earth for forty days. L1 Jesus gave His apostles the power to forgive sins.

L1 Jesus commissioned His apostles to evangelize, to share the Good News of His love.     This command was not only meant for the apostles, but for everyone who loves Jesus and has been baptized.                                                     We are to share the Gospel with those around us so they, too, can have the joy of knowing and loving Jesus.
L2 Jesus appeared to the apostles on the shore after the Resurrection.
L2 Meeting Jesus causes us to respond with joy and love, like the apostles.      We can meet Jesus each day through prayer, visits to the Blessed Sacrament and treating Him with love in our neighbors.
L3 Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him to make up for his three-fold denial.      Jesus told Peter to feed His sheep.
L3 Jesus chose Peter to be the first Pope and the apostles to be the first bishops of the Church.
L4 Jesus returned to the Father in heaven; this is called the Ascension.      We celebrate the Ascension of Jesus into heaven forty days after Easter.
L4 At His Ascension into heaven, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His apostles to go to all nations, to teach, to preach the Good News and to baptize.                                                                  (Mt. 28:16-20)
L4 Jesus promised to be with His Church always and He promised to send the Holy Spirit. L4 Jesus will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Chapter 30        The Coming of the Holy Spirit

L1 After the Ascension, the apostles stayed in the upper room with Mary, preparing for the coming of the Holy Spirit.
L1 The time between the Ascension and Pentecost was the first novena.       A novena is a prayer or prayers said for a period of nine days to God, to Mary, or to one of the saints.                                                       Novenas show our faith and love for God by waiting and trusting in His intercession.
L1 After nine days, the Holy Spirit came; this is called Pentecost. L1 We celebrate Pentecost fifty days after Easter.
L2 After the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost upon the apostles, they preached about Jesus, and three thousand people were baptized.
L2 Pentecost is called the birthday of the Church.
L3 God the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
L3 The Holy Spirit comes to man at Baptism and thereafter lives in the souls of those who are in God’s grace.         (CCC 733-736)
L3 The Holy Spirit helps us to do good and to avoid evil. He helps us to pray and to love. He gives us grace.            (CCC 736)       We can rely on His power to share the Gospel with others, just as the apostles did at Pentecost.
L4 There are seven sacraments: Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Matrimony, Holy Orders and Anointing of the Sick.
L4 Review the definition of a sacrament:     “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.”    (CCC 1131)

Chapter 31        God's Family - The Church

L1 The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ here on earth.    Today there are Catholic Christians in every part of the world.
L1 Jesus made Peter the head of the Church.      Today, the Pope has Peter's job. L1 The Pope is the visible head of the Church and is called the Vicar of Christ.
L2 The Pope and bishops teach in Jesus’ name.
L2 The bishop is the head of the diocese.      The pastor is the head of the local parish.     Students should be able to name their bishop and pastor(s).
L2 Priests receive powers from the bishop and are his helpers.      They can forgive sins and consecrate the Eucharist.

L3 Religious sisters and brothers give their entire lives to Jesus out of love for Him.     They promise to spend their lives doing God's work.
L3 Their apostolates include:     prayer, teaching, hospital work and serving the poor.
L4 Those who have not received Holy Orders are called ‘the laity.’     The laity also have an important role in the Church.
L4 The laity together with the Pope, bishops, priests and religious form the Church – like a body with many parts.
L4 Each person is called to serve the Church in a unique way.
L4 God has a special vocation, or calling, for your life.   It is important to begin praying to ask God to know your vocation and to say yes to it so you can live the happiest life possible for you.

Chapter 32        Mary, Our Mother

L1 Mary was with the apostles at Pentecost.
L1 At the end of Mary’s life, she was assumed (body and soul) into heaven. This is called the Feast of the Assumption which is celebrated on August 15 and is a very special holy day.
L1 Mary is the Queen of heaven and earth.      She always leads us to her Son, our Lord Jesus Christ the King.         (CCC 963-75)
L2 Jesus gave Mary to us to be our Mother when He was dying on the Cross.     Mary is the Mother of the Church. (CCC 466, 495, 509, 494, 511, 411, 501, 963-70)
L2 Mary is the model for all Christians, because she is the Mother of Jesus and because she always did God’s will with faith and trust.        (CCC 494)
L2 Mary intercedes on our behalf especially in times of need or temptation.       (CCC 2617-19, 2622, 2673- 79, 2682, 2683-84, 2692)
L3 Mary has a special love for children.
L3 Mary appeared in many places around the world over the years.       One place she appeared to children is at Fatima, Portugal.
L3 Mary asks for sacrifices for sinners and that men pray the rosary.
L4 Today, millions of people have a devotion to Mary and pray the rosary.
L4 Devotion to Mary is shown especially on Saturdays and during the months of October and May. L4 Introduce an understanding and recitation of the rosary.                                                              (CCC 2678, 2708, cf. CCC 1674)

Chapter 33        Jesus is Always Present

L1 Jesus promised to be with the Church always.
L1 He is with the Church through the Holy Spirit, whom He sent with the Father.     He is with the Church in the sacraments and most especially in the Eucharist.
L1 The consecrated Host is the Body and Blood of Christ even after Mass, when the Host is reserved in the tabernacle. Jesus is present sacramentally in the tabernacles of Catholic churches.                                                       A special candle is kept burning, called a sanctuary lamp, to remind us that He is present.
L2 To receive Jesus in Communion is a tremendous gift.    Jesus gives us grace, love and mercy in the sacraments of Penance and the Holy Eucharist.      God wants us to receive these sacraments frequently.          (CCC 2837, 149)
L2 Jesus waits for man to visit Him in the Blessed Sacrament; graces can be received by such visits.
L2 The more we love Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, the more we will love and serve others.     (CCC 1397)
L3 Because Jesus is in the Blessed Sacrament, it is right to worship the Lord in the Eucharist. Review how to make a Spiritual Communion and visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
L3 The Catholic Church offers special times of Eucharistic worship called adoration and Benediction.    For adoration, the Sacred Host is placed in a vessel called a monstrance (meaning ‘to show’ – like
demonstrate) and placed on the altar.      For Benediction (meaning ‘blessing’), the priest or deacon raises the monstrance in the Sign of the Cross to give the people Jesus’ blessing.

L4 Man is called to be reverent in the presence of the Lord.      Reverence includes church etiquette, such as genuflecting, silence in church and devotion and attention at Mass.
L4 As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church.            Make a genuflection (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle because Jesus is present there. (CCC 1378 and the Glossary of CCC under Genuflection)

Chapter 34        Heaven, Our Home

L1 Death is a consequence of original sin.     At death, our bodies and souls are separated.      Our soul will live forever because it is spiritual.
L1 When we die, we need to be in the state of sanctifying grace to go to heaven.       (CCC 1129) L1 Heaven is the eternal reward of the just.
L1 Purgatory is the transitional state of purification for those who have died in the friendship of God but are not yet ready for heaven (either they have venial sins or have not done sufficient penance in this life).
L1 Hell is for those who choose to reject God and do not have His life in their souls (i.e. by mortal or original sin).
L2 At the end of the world, man's body will be reunited with his soul.      This is called the resurrection of the body.
L2 The body will be resurrected with different qualities:
- It will be the same body we have now, but glorified.
- It will not be limited by space and time.
- It will not suffer or die again.
- It will be beautiful and glorious.
- It will have a spiritual nature.
L3 Man's life on earth determines his eternal state, and therefore, he should love God and abide by His laws.
L4 Heaven is our eternal home, and if man lives according to God's love and laws, he will be happy in this life and the next.
L4 In heaven, we will be in the presence of God, Mary and the saints, as well as our loved ones who have gone before us and who are in heaven.
L4 Explain that the saints include all the human beings who are with God in heaven, including any relatives or friends who may be in heaven. Some of the people in heaven have been canonized saints, but most of the saints are not canonized. (CCC 1721, 1024)

Third Grade

Third Grade
GRADE Three (Faith and Life Series)
Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown
In Grade Three, the teacher will provide the catechesis listed below.All points in black are covered in the scope and sequence of the textbook and all points in red are in addition to the textbook but organized thematically with textbook chapters.
Content and chapters may be taught in any order as long as all of the material is presented.


Chapter 1        God Loves Us

L1 Attributes of God include: almighty, all holy, all wise, all perfect, all loving and all merciful. These attributes of God are called His perfections.
L1 God made each person unique, out of love, and gave him free will.
L2 God creates out of love, God created us, His children, in His image and likeness with the power to think, choose and love.
L2 God created us with body and soul. Our soul gives life to our body, and the soul thinks and chooses,
i.e. intellect and will (makes decisions).
L2 God created His children with a free will to know, love and serve Him - to choose good and avoid evil - by using reason to see in the world around us that God exists.                                                            (CCC 1721)
L2 God is our loving Father, and is always faithful to us and cares for us.    (CCC 2589) L2 God is pure spirit.
L3 The mystery of the Holy Trinity is one of the greatest mysteries of our Faith. God is the Holy Trinity.
There are three Persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.    (CCC 253) L3 God the Son became Man in the Divine Person of Jesus.
L3 We should bow our head slightly when hearing or saying the Name of Jesus/Jesus Christ.
L4 Jesus taught His followers about prayer, which is talking and listening to God. Jesus taught the apostles to pray the Our Father. Review the Our Father.
L4 Prayer is raising our minds and hearts to God, and we should speak with Him many times every day in our own words and spontaneously. Help the children to simply ‘BE’ in God’s Presence.
L4 As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect (touching the floor) on the right knee toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church.

Chapter 2          God Created the World

L1 God freely created all things from nothing. All creation reflects the glory of God and teaches us about the wisdom of God. Read account of Creation from Genesis 1 and 2.
L2 God created all things good and created all people very good.      (CCC 356-361)
L2 To rightly exercise stewardship of natural resources and material possessions, one uses God’s gifts wisely, as a response to His giving many gifts to us. One way we exercise stewardship is by tithing in support of the Church and the poor.
L3 God has a loving plan for every person He has created.
L3 God loves and respects us so much He wants us to cooperate with Him in His work and gave man the free will to do it. (CCC 306)
L3 God wants us to know, love and serve Him by the right use of our minds, hearts and bodies. L3 Sin is the rejection of God’s plan for man, whereby man offends God and neighbor.
L4 The gifts God has given us are to help us and others live holy lives and get to heaven. One way we do this is by respecting others and ourselves in thought, word and deed.                                                                      (CCC 783)

L4 Heaven is man’s greatest hope. It is a state of union with God forever. Every person is called to eternal life in heaven.

Chapter 3          Learning About God

L1 From the world around him and by use of his reason, man can know that God exists and can know some of his perfections.
L1 Some things about God will always remain a mystery because God is so much greater than we are.
We call these “mysteries of the Faith.”    (CCC 40, 42)
L2 God chose to reveal Himself to man through the prophets who speak the truth to their fellow human beings, in order to bring them closer to God
L2 Moses was the greatest of the Old Testament prophets.
L3 God chose to reveal Himself directly through His Son, Jesus Christ. This occurred through all Jesus said and did and by Who He is.
L3 Jesus taught man about God and His Kingdom through parables.
L4 The Bible is made up of the Old Testament and the New Testament.
L4 The Old Testament is writings about God’s relationship with His chosen people, the Israelites.     The Old Testament is the time of preparation for the coming of Jesus.                                                                     (CCC 62-64, 121-123)
L4 The New Testament is writings about the life of Jesus and the early Church.
L4 We can come to know Jesus better when we read, study and pray with the Scriptures.       (CCC 2705 2708)
L4 God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition (the truths of God handed on from Christ and the apostles that have been passed on by word of mouth).                                                                    (CCC 85-87) The Church safeguards this revelation.
L4 Jesus founded the Church. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ. The bishops of the world, in union with the Pope, help govern and guide the Church.

Chapter 4          The Promise of A Savior

L1 God created angels. An angel is a pure spirit with free will. The good angels have chosen to serve God permanently and are with Him in heaven.
L1 Teach a special devotion to one’s guardian angel.     Review Guardian Angel Prayer.
L1 Some of the angels created by God refused to serve Him and fell from grace.      We call the fallen angels ‘demons.’
L2 Satan (the devil) and the other fallen angels are in hell.      Satan and the demons try to tempt us to do evil.          God does not want any human being to do evil or to go to hell.                                         (CCC 391-395, 1037)
L2 Original sin was the sin of disobedience of Adam and Eve against God.
L2 The consequence of original sin includes the loss of the preternatural gifts and grace.       Original sin is passed on to all people.
L3 Although Adam and Eve sinned, God did not abandon them. God promised a Savior.
L3 Baptism removes original sin, makes us adopted children of God and members of the Church with Christian dignity.      (CCC 1267-1270)
L4 Sanctifying grace is a sharing in God’s divine life, making us adopted children of God. (CCC 1996-2000) L4 Actual grace is help from God so that we can do His Will.                                                            (CCC 2000)
L4 Sin lessens or destroys the life of grace in our souls. Therefore we must not sin, but obey God’s laws in order to be happy.

Chapter 5          Abraham: the Father of God's People

L1 After the Fall, man had to wait many years for the coming of the Savior.
L1 Many people did not remain faithful to God, but instead forgot God and prayed to false gods.

L1 God chose Abraham to prepare the people for the coming of the Savior. L1 The response of faith is obedience.                                                                Abraham is our father in faith.
L2 God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to take his family to a faraway country called Canaan.
Canaan was called the Promised Land.
L2 Abraham responded to God in faith and obedience.
L3 God blessed Abraham and Sarah in their old age with a son, Isaac.
L3 God called Abraham to offer Isaac as a sacrifice to God.    In faith and obedience, Abraham prepared his sacrifice.
L3 An angel stopped the sacrifice, saying God was pleased with Abraham. L4 God promised Abraham descendants as numerous as the stars.
L4 From Abraham’s descendants would be born the Savior.
L4 All peoples face tests of obedience to God and His will.    God asks that we be faithful to His laws; in doing so we will be richly blessed.

Chapter 6          The Prophet Moses

L1 The descendants of Abraham grew to be a nation of people, God’s Chosen People, also called the Israelites or Hebrews.
L1 The Israelites became slaves to the Egyptians.
L2 Pharaoh ordered the slaughter of the male babies of the Israelites. L2 God chose Moses to bring His people out of bondage.
L3 Moses spoke on behalf of God.     Moses demanded that Pharaoh free God’s people.
L3 God sent ten plagues upon the Egyptians.      The greatest and last plague was the death of the Egyptians’ first born sons.
L3 The Israelites were spared from the final plague because they participated in the Passover. L4 Moses led God’s people out of Egypt and across the Red Sea to safety.
L4 On their way to the Promised Land, God nourished His people with manna and fresh water from a rock.
L4 Through Moses, God gave all His people the Ten Commandments and established a covenant (family bond) with them.

Chapter 7          God's Law of Love

L1 God protected His people on their way to the Promised Land.      God gave them quail meat and manna to eat, and water from a rock to drink.
L2 Have the children begin to memorize the Ten Commandments.
L2 God gave us these Commandments because He loves us and if we obey them they will nourish our souls and help us to live in right relation with God and others.
L2 Commandments 1-3 help us to love God; Commandments 4-10 teach us to love our neighbor. L2 Obeying God’s laws protects us from sin.
L3 The Ten Commandments are meant for all people and for all times.
L3 Jesus said that the first and greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.
L3 Jesus said that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor as yourself.
L3 An important way to love our neighbor is by evangelizing, sharing the Good News of Jesus, whenever we have an opportunity.
L3 Encourage students to notice opportunities for evangelization.
L4 Keeping God’s Commandments is difficult, but is good for the soul.    The Commandments help us to love God and neighbor.
L4 When we keep the Ten Commandments, we show our love for God and our neighbor.        When we break the Commandments, we sin. (CCC 2055, 2072-2082)
L4 Encourage the children in the daily practice of the Examination of Conscience.     (CCC 1454)
L4 God promises us eternal joy with Him in heaven if we follow His laws.

Chapter 8          King David

L1 The Israelites decided they wanted a human king for their nation, instead of God. L1 Samuel, the prophet, anointed the new king, Saul, by pouring oil over his head.
L1 Saul was a weak king, so God chose David to be the new king. L1 David was a good king and loved God greatly.
L2 David taught man about God’s abiding love.     David knew that we should love God in return. L2 David slew Goliath in a battle, relying on God’s help.
L3 David taught his people the importance of prayer, to trust God always, and that with God’s help and strength we can do anything.
L3 David wrote many of the Psalms.     The Psalms are special Old Testament prayers of praise, petition, thanksgiving and sorrow. They may be set to music and are prayed or sung at Mass.                                                                  (CCC 1156- 1158) (CCC 1176, 2585-2589)
L4 God promised that the Savior would come from the descendants of David.
L4 David foreshadowed the Savior in many ways: he was a good shepherd, he was willing to lay down his life for his people, he was a good and wise king, he listened to the Father and he inspired people to worship God.

Chapter 9          Loving God Most of All

L1 God is perfect.     Review God’s perfections.
L1 Man is made to know, love and serve God in this world, and to be happy with Him in the next.
L1 At our Baptism, we receive three gifts from God called the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity.
L1 The virtue of religion is to give worship to God because He is God and all good.
L1 The Apostles Creed is a prayer that states what we as Catholics believe about God. L1 Angels, too, are creatures who give worship to God.
L2 The First Commandment is, “I am the Lord your God.    You shall not have other gods besides Me. L2 Sins against the First Commandment include: superstition and idolatry, magic and witchcraft.
L3 The Second Commandment is, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. L3 God’s name is holy and should be blessed.
L3 We are to always use the name of God and Jesus Christ with reverence.      Sins against the Second Commandment include:       blasphemy, cursing and using God’s name carelessly.
L4 The Second Commandment tells man to respect holy places and things. L4 Proper gestures and postures show our reverence in holy places.
L4 Sacramentals and holy things should be respected.

Chapter 10        The Lord's Day

L1 In the story of Creation, God rested on the seventh day.
L1 Man is to rest and worship God on one day of the week.      In the Jewish tradition, this is Saturday, the Sabbath. In the Christian tradition, we worship and rest on Sunday, the day our Lord rose from the dead.
L2 The Third Commandment tells us to keep holy the Lord’s Day. L2 Going to Mass is the greatest gift we can give God on Sundays. L2 At Mass, we offer God ourselves.
L3 We have a serious obligation to go Mass on Sundays and all Holy Days of Obligation.
L3 The Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are:   Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the Ascension (40 Days after Easter), the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25).        (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)
L2 We keep holy the Lord’s Day by going to Mass on Sunday and Holy Days, doing works of charity, resting from work and school, participating in family activities, and by avoiding work and shopping.

Chapter 11        Obedience and Love

L1 The Fourth Commandment is, “Honor your father and your mother.” L1 God chose our families and has a special plan for them.
L1 Within the family, there are roles for the parents and the children.       Both of these roles demand love and respect.
L2 The Holy Family is a model for all families.
L2 St. Joseph is the foster-father of Jesus.     Mary is Jesus’ Mother. The angel told Joseph to give the name ‘Jesus’ to Mary’s child.                                                Jesus obeyed Mary and Joseph.
L2 Obedience and love are due to our parents. L2 The family is called the domestic church.
L3 The Fourth Commandment also demands that we love and obey authorities. L4 The Fifth Commandment is, “You shall not kill.”
L4 This Commandment teaches the value of all human life from the moment of conception to natural death. We should pray for the protection of all human life.
L4 Sins against the Fifth Commandment include: hurtful anger against others and the killing of innocent human life.
L4 The Good Samaritan is an example of how to love our neighbor.

Chapter 12 Purity and Truth

L1 The body is a gift from God.    We are to enjoy it and the world around us with the gifts of the senses and our talents.
L1 The body is holy: it is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
L1 The Sixth and Ninth Commandments tell us to respect our bodies and those of others. L2 The Sixth and Ninth Commandments call us to faithful relationships.
L2 In marriage, we must be faithful to the vows we make. L2 God will help us and bless us in living our vocations.
L3 The Seventh and Tenth Commandments teach us to be fair with property.
L3 We must be satisfied with the things we have, taking care of them and sharing them. L3 We must also respect other people’s belongings.
L4 The Eighth Commandment tells us to be honest: “You shall not bear false witness.”

Chapter 13        God's Tender Mercy

L1 God’s merciful love is endless.    It is greater than any sin man can commit.     God can forgive any sin and wants to reconcile man to Himself.
L1 Sin is the refusal to love God and others, the refusal to obey God’s Commandments and is an infinite offense against God.
L1 Sin is any intentional thought, word, deed, or omission that breaks God’s law.
L1 God’s merciful love and His desire to forgive our sins is shown in the Good Shepherd image of Jesus.
L2 Jesus taught man about the forgiveness of sins through healings, stories and through the forgiving example of His life.
L2 Perfect contrition is inspired by love and acceptance of God’s mercy.     Peter and Mary Magdalene are examples of repentant sinners who were shown mercy and compassion.
L2 God gives each of us a conscience, telling us what is good and what is evil.    It is important that we have a well-informed conscience.   (CCC 1776)
L3 Only God can forgive sins.   Jesus, as God, forgives sins.
L3 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Penance for the forgiveness of sins. He gave the power to forgive sins to the apostles. The apostles have handed on this power through their successors, the bishops, and the bishops hand on this power to the priests to the present day.
L4 In the Sacrament of Penance, Christ forgives man’s sins (both mortal and venial) through the priest.
L4 Venial sins do not destroy the life of grace in the soul, but mortal sins do. For a sin to be mortal, there are three conditions:
1. The bad thought, word, or deed must be serious in itself. (CCC 1858)
2. One must know the sin is seriously wrong. (CCC 1859)
3. One must freely choose to commit the sin anyway. (CCC 1859)
L4 For a sin to be venial, only one or two of the three conditions for mortal sin are present.       (CCC 1862) L4 The Sacrament of Penance also restores the life of grace to man’s soul.

Chapter 14        Meeting Jesus in Confession

L1 When we are sorry for offending someone, we should say we are sorry.      This is true in friendship and also in our relationship with God and his Church.
L1 In the Sacrament of Penance, we repent of our sins against God and man (His Church), accept forgiveness and are reconciled with God and man.
L1 With God’s grace, we strive to avoid sin in the future.
L2 Man must prepare to receive the Sacrament of Penance.
L2 With the aid of the Holy Spirit, man first examines his conscience.
L2 Man must be sorry for his sins (perfect or imperfect contrition).      Man must also amend his life. L2 Review the Act of Contrition and the importance of sorrow for sin.
L3 Review the five steps to make a good confession:
1. Examination of Conscience
2. Sorrow for one’s sins (contrition) and purpose of amendment (a firm resolve, with God’s grace, to avoid sin)
3. Confession of one’s sins (mortal in kind and number; venial) to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance
4. Receiving absolution from the priest
5. Penance (prayers or actions to help make up for the damage of sin)
L3 It is good to go to the Sacrament of Penance frequently, that is, at least once a month. L3 The formula to use in the Sacrament of Penance:                                                                        (cf. CCC 1450-1460)
At the beginning the penitent says: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
It has been             since my last confession.
My sins are           (the penitent states mortal sins in kind and number and any other venial sins).
I am sorry for these and all my sins.
The priest advises and then gives a penance. The penitent makes an Act of Contrition.
The priest gives absolution.
Priest:        “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
Penitent:    “His Mercy endures forever.”
Priest:        “The Lord has freed you from your sins.   Go in peace.”
Penitent:    “Thanks be to God.”
L4 The sacrament of Penance is a Sacrament of Healing.
L4 One who goes to confession can receive Jesus’ love, healing and mercy, and strengthen their conscience.
L4 Christians forgive those who hurt them, bear wrongs patiently and pray for both the living and the dead. (CCC 2842-45, 2447)
L4 Communal penance services have large groups of people prepare for the Sacrament of Penance together. After this, each person goes to confession individually.
L4 General absolution is only permissible where individual confessions are not possible; however, one is obliged to confess individually at the first possible opportunity.
Chapter 15        The Christ Child is Born

L1 Discuss the Liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas and teach that violet is the liturgical color for Advent and white is the liturgical color for Christmas.                                                                (CCC 2698, 2720)
L1 The people of Israel waited for thousands of years for the coming of the Savior.      (CCC 464)
L1 God sent His Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, to redeem humanity.     The Son of God became man while remaining God.                                                          He was born of the Virgin Mary.   (CCC 464)
L2 God sent the angel Gabriel to Mary to invite her to be the Mother of His Son, and she said, “Yes.” This event is called the Annunciation and it is celebrated on March 25.
L2 Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and remained a virgin.
L2 Mary went to visit her cousin Elizabeth.    This event is called the Visitation. L3 God predestined Mary to be the Mother of God.
L3 From the very first moment of her life (conception), Mary was free from original sin.     We call this gift from God to Mary the Immaculate Conception.
L4 Joseph is the foster-father of Jesus.      Joseph took Mary to Bethlehem, where Jesus was born.
L4 Review the Christmas story including the stable, manger, swaddling clothes, shepherds, angels and wise men.
L4 The first people to evangelize were the shepherds (poor men) and wise men (gentiles who were not even Jews).
L4 All of us who love Jesus are called to evangelize by sharing the Good News of Jesus coming to save us from our sins.    By sharing the real meaning of Christmas we can help others to remember Jesus’ great love.
L4 Give examples of how the parish reaches out in service to others and how the children can help.

Chapter 16        Jesus Grows in Age and Wisdom

L1 The first thirty years of Jesus’ life are referred to as Jesus’ ‘hidden life.’
L1 Jesus led an ordinary life.     He is our model for how to live as God’s holy children in ordinary daily life. (CCC 1694, 1698)
L1 Introduce the liturgical season of Ordinary Time and teach that the liturgical color is green. L2 The Holy Family models the virtues found in daily life and is a model for all families.
L2 God the Father sees all and is all-knowing.
L3 At age thirty Jesus, though He was sinless, was baptized by John the Baptist and began His public life. L3 At the Baptism of Jesus, God the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, God the Son.                                                             With this, God the
Father was heard saying, “This is my Beloved Son.”
L3 Jesus was anointed by the Holy Spirit and was prepared for His mission of salvation.
L4 When man is baptized, the Holy Spirit descends upon him, too.     The Spirit of God brings the life of God, sanctifying grace, to the soul of man.
L4 Like Jesus, our Baptism prepares us for our mission: to love God and neighbor and to reach our final goal of heaven.
L4 The followers of Jesus are known by their love for God/others, especially for the unborn, weak, sick, special-needs people and aged people.
L4 Introduce the children to the Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Chapter 17        Signs and Wonders

L1 Jesus began His public ministry at age thirty, when He started preaching the Gospel (Good News) of the Kingdom of God.
L1 Jesus shows His followers how to live so they can go to heaven.
L1 Jesus performed many miracles to show that He is the Savior of the world and the goodness that will be ours in the Kingdom of heaven.
L1 His first miracle was the transformation of water into wine at the wedding at Cana. L2 Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fish.
L2 Jesus performed many healing miracles, as prophesied by Isaiah 35:5-6. L2 Jesus healed the centurion’s servant.
L3 Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead.
L3 Jesus healed souls by teaching people to love and forgive.
L3 Many of Jesus’ miracles and parables were to prepare man for the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
L4 Jesus preached parables to foster conversion and to teach about the coming of the Kingdom of God.
L4 Gratitude for what Jesus had done for them caused many people who were cured to evangelize others.    When we are grateful for all Jesus has done for us, we will desire to share the Gospel of His love with others, too.
L4 The children should be able to name/explain at least three parables.        (CCC 543, 546, 605, 681, 1465, 2613, 2707)
L4 Many people did not love Jesus and could not accept His message because of their pride.

Chapter 18        The Last Supper. Our First Mass
L1 Jesus celebrated the Passover with His disciples.     This is referred to as the Last Supper.
L1 Jesus anticipated His death on the Cross through the gift of His Body and Blood at the Last Supper. L1 Introduce the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week.
L2 Jesus taught His apostles a lesson in service and humility by washing His apostles’ feet. L3 At the Last Supper, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
L3 The change of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus is called Transubstantiation.
After the Consecration there is no longer bread and wine present, only the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, although the appearance of bread and wine remains.                                                                            Jesus gave the power to consecrate the Eucharist to His apostles at the Last Supper.
L4 Jesus gives Himself to man in Holy Communion.
L4 This gift of Himself is made possible through the celebration of the Mass, wherein the priest consecrates the Holy Eucharist.
L4 Teach children a Spiritual Communion that they can pray at any time. L4 Catholics show reverence in church by:
1. keeping a quite atmosphere
2. sitting, standing and kneeling in a proper manner
3. genuflecting (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle when entering or leaving church
4. blessing ourselves with holy water with the right hand
Chapter 19        Jesus Gives His Life for Us
L1 After the last Supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane.
L1 His Agony in the Garden included seeing all of man’s sins, knowing the price He must pay for them and reconciling His will with the Father’s.
L1 Jesus was arrested, stood trial and faced death.
L2 The Jews sought the permission of Pontius Pilate to put Jesus to death.      Pilate gave in to public outcry and sentenced Jesus to death.
L2 Jesus was treated like a criminal, was beaten and died on the Cross.
L3 Assist the children in participating in the Stations of the Cross, especially during Lent. L3 Jesus suffered in love and forgave the sins of the Good Thief and the soldiers.
L3 Mary and John were present with Jesus when He died upon the Cross.
L4 Out of love, Jesus chose to suffer and die to redeem the world; no one forced Him.
L4 Jesus’ sacrifice was so complete that it conquered death forever.       It healed the wounds of original sin and restored grace and friendship between God and man.                                                           Jesus saved all people by His death and Resurrection.
L4 The Good News of Jesus’ sacrifice out of love for us should motivate us to evangelize others so they can know and love Jesus also and receive the gift of salvation.
L4 Jesus’ Passion taught man the value of suffering and sacrifice.     We share in the Cross of Christ in the hope of heaven.
L4 Present the liturgical season of Lent.     Violet is the liturgical color for Lent.
L4 The Church Seasons of Advent and Lent are times to strengthen the positive moral habits of prayer and sacrifice and are good times for receiving the Sacrament of Penance.                                                              (CCC 524, 540, 1438)

Chapter 20        Offering Gifts of Love
L1 Sacrifices in the Old Testament were burnt offerings or offerings of oblation to God.     They showed that God was more valuable than His gifts.
L1 Examples of such sacrifices were given by Abraham and Old Testament priests.
L2 In the time of Jesus, Temple worship was celebrated with sacrificial offerings to God. L2 Jesus was the perfect gift from God and the perfect offering to God.
L2 Jesus offered Himself to the Father by dying on the Cross.     As the perfect sacrifice, He opened the Father’s heart and the gates of heaven.
L3 Jesus’ Body and Blood are offered continually in the one perfect sacrifice of Christ through the Mass. L3 The sacrifice of the Cross and the Sacrifice of the Mass are one and the same sacrifice.
L3 We share in this sacrifice by actively participating in the Mass.
L4 The Sacrifice of the Mass is the continual offering of Christ in an un-bloody manner. L4 Through the Mass, Jesus’ sacrifice is made present in a real and sacramental way.
L4 Together with the priest, uniting ourselves to Jesus, we offer Jesus the perfect sacrifice to the Father as the most pleasing and powerful offering.
L4 The Mass has four parts:
1. The Introductory Rite of the Mass, including the Confiteor and the Gloria.
2. The Liturgy of the Word, including Scripture readings, a homily, the Creed and the Prayers of the Faithful.
3. The Liturgy of the Eucharist, including the Offertory, the Consecration, the Our Father and Holy Communion, which take place at the altar.
4. The Concluding Rite, including the Blessing and Dismissal.
Chapter 21        The Holy Mass
L1 The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross reconciled man with God.
L1 At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us a way to share in His sacrifice to the Father for all time.
L1 Jesus gave His apostles – and through them, all priests – the power to consecrate the Eucharist. L1 We share in the sacrifice of Christ at Mass.
L2 We gather as a parish family at Mass to celebrate the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.         (CCC 1362-72)
L2 As Catholics we are obliged to participate in Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation. (CCC 1167, 2043, 2180-82) There may be children who cannot attend Mass because nobody will take
them.    In these cases, the child is not guilty of sin. The sin would be if the child could attend Mass on his/her own and does not do so. However, children should be encouraged to ask their parents if they can go to Mass.
L2 The Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are:   Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the Ascension (40 Days after Easter), the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25).        (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)
L2 The Mass begins with the Sign of the Cross, the Kyrie and the Gloria.
L2 Teach the children to strike their breast during the ‘Confiteor’ at the words: “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”
L3 The Liturgy of the Word includes readings from the Scriptures, the Word of God. The Gospel contains Jesus’ own words; therefore, when the priest reads the Gospel, we stand to show our respect.
L3 The priest explains the Gospel during the homily.
L4 After the homily, we stand to profess our faith by saying the Creed.      Bow or kneel when we say ‘and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man’ in the Creed.
L4 Explain the significance of the ‘Sign of Peace’ at Mass.
L4 Jesus comes into our hearts at Mass.      He teaches us through the readings. L4 The Mass is the greatest prayer.
L4 Practice the proper manner for reading at Mass (whenever this begins in the parish/school).

Chapter 22        Offering Jesus to the Father

L1 The Liturgy of the Eucharist comes after the Liturgy of the Word.
L1 During the Offertory the gifts are brought forward to the altar.      This represents the gift of ourselves being offered to God and we should unite our hearts with these gifts.
L2 At Mass, we unite our prayers with the angels and the saints, who are present around the altar. L2 We sing or say the Sanctus (Holy Holy).
L2 During the Consecration at Mass, through the words and actions of the priest, the bread and wine are changed into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.              The Consecration occurs when the priest says the words of Jesus:       “This is My Body” and “This is My Blood” over bread and wine during the Mass.                                  (CCC 1352, 1353, 1412)
L2 After the Consecration, there is no more bread and wine, but only the appearance of bread and wine.
Jesus is present under the appearance of bread and wine.       Have the children memorize: “The Holy Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.”        (CCC 1376)
L3 The Body and Blood of Christ are offered up to the Father as the one perfect sacrifice. L3 We are called to unite ourselves with Christ in this offering to the Father.
L4 Jesus present in the Eucharist is our greatest treasure.       He is truly present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
L4 Jesus, as God, is present everywhere.     However, when we refer to the Real Presence, we are
referring to Jesus’ substantial, incarnate presence in the Holy Eucharist – Body,    Blood, Soul and Divinity - fully God and fully Man.
L4 Jesus is entirely present in every part of the Eucharist (even the smallest crumb or tiniest drop). L4 The Eucharist is reserved for adoration and ministry to the sick.

Chapter 23        The Bread of Life

L1 After the Consecration, God gives us the precious gift of Jesus in the Eucharist to come into us through Communion.
L1 In the Old Testament, covenants were sealed with a sacrifice and a meal.
L2 In the New Covenant, Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed and eaten as indicated by the Agnus Dei
(Lamb of God) prayer.
L2 We are not worthy to receive Jesus in Communion; we receive Him by God’s grace.
L2 As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church.            Make a genuflection (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle because Jesus is present there. (CCC 1378)
L3 The Mass is a Sacred Banquet at which, if we are in a state of grace, we may receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus. The Eucharist is food for our souls.
L3 The Holy Eucharist is the center of our Catholic Faith and the greatest gift that we can receive in this life, because the Holy Eucharist is Jesus Himself.

L3 Jesus is the Bread of Life.
L4 The Mass is the perfect prayer.
L4 Jesus commanded that the Mass be celebrated when He said, “Do this in remembrance of Me.”
L4 Teach the children to make visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and introduce Eucharistic adoration.           Encourage students to speak to Jesus from their hearts when they visit Him.
L4 Encourage familiarity with how to participate at a Benediction Service.

Chapter 24        Jesus Comes to Us in the Holy Eucharist

L1 Jesus prepared us for the Eucharist by His miraculous multiplication of loaves and fish. L1 Jesus Himself told us that He is the Bread of Life.
L2 Being properly prepared to receive Holy Communion means a person must:      a) be Catholic    b) be free from mortal sin (i.e. to be in the state of grace)                                                                      c) have fasted from food and drink for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion and d) have the right intention of being united with Jesus Christ.
L2 Anyone who is aware of having committed mortal sin must receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance before he/she receives Holy Communion.                                                              (CCC 1415)
L2 Water and/or medicine do not break the Eucharistic fast.
L3 In Holy Communion we are united with Jesus and we should pray to Him.    There are different forms of prayer: Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication/Petition (ACTS).
L3 Make an act of reverence before receiving Holy Communion (bow, genuflect, kneel).     Review the proper way to receive Holy Communion on the tongue and in the hand.
L3 Holy Communion must be received on the tongue when receiving at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form or when receiving Holy Communion from the Holy Father.
L3 When Holy Communion is given by ‘intinction’ (the priest or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion dips the Sacred Host into the Precious Blood), one must receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
L3 We should offer thanksgiving to God.
L4 When we receive Holy Communion we receive grace and become more like Jesus.     The Holy Eucharist helps us be committed to the poor.                                                                  (CCC 1397, cf. CCC 2021)
L4 Jesus gives us strength to be generous, forgiving and kind.
L4 We should want to receive Communion because we love Jesus.      The best way to be with Jesus is in Communion.
L4 Inviting others to Mass, even family members or friends who do not go often, is a way to evangelize and share our love for Jesus.

Chapter 25        Jesus Rises in Splendor

L1 The events of the Paschal Triduum are:     the Last Supper; Jesus’ Passion, death and burial; the Resurrection.    (CCC 1085, 1103-1106, 610-618, 1382)
L1 Describe the events of the Resurrection on the first Easter Sunday: the women at the tomb, Peter and John running to the tomb and Mary Magdalene.
L1 At the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter, His soul brought His body to life again.    Every Sunday is a celebration of Easter.
L1 Present the liturgical season of Easter.      The liturgical color for Easter is white.
L1 Jesus saved all people by His death and Resurrection. Christians share in the death and rising of Jesus when they are baptized.
L2 The disciples were in the upper room when Jesus appeared among them.
L2 Jesus said, “Peace be with you.”     He gave the apostles the power to forgive sins. L2 Thomas said that in order to believe, he had to place his hand in Jesus’ wounds. L3 Jesus taught that His suffering and death lead to everlasting life.
L3 On Easter Sunday we celebrate the miracle of the Resurrection of Jesus and rejoice because Jesus’ death on the Cross destroyed death. Joy at what Jesus has done for us should cause us to share this Good News with others.
L3 The 4 last things are: death, judgment, heaven and hell:
1. Death is the separation of the soul from the body.
2. Judgment (particular) is being judged individually by God for how we have lived our life.
3. Heaven is everlasting joy, happiness and glory with God.
4. Hell is everlasting suffering, the primary pain of which is separation from God.
L3 Purgatory is a temporary state, after death, in which holy souls (those who have died in a state of grace but are not yet perfectly purified) are made free from the effects of sin so as to enter heaven.
L4 Jesus forgave Peter and made him the first Pope.
L4 Jesus taught the apostles to go forth and to baptize and teach all nations.        This is called the “Great Commission” and we are called to imitate the apostles by teaching others about Jesus.
L4 Forty days after Easter, Jesus ascended into heaven to begin His reign as King of heaven and earth.

Chapter 26        The Coming of the Holy Spirit

L1 The Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity.
L1 Ten days after the Ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles at Pentecost. L1 The apostles were filled with the grace to do the will of God in evangelizing or spreading the Good
News.
L1 The time between the Ascension and Pentecost was the first novena.       A novena is a prayer or prayers said for a period of nine days to God, to Mary, or to one of the saints.                                                       Novenas show our faith and love for God by waiting and trusting in His intercession.
L2 Peter preached the Good news and three thousand people were baptized. L2 Pentecost is the birthday of the Church.
L2 Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on His Church to continue His mission to teach, govern and sanctify (make holy).
L3 The Holy Spirit lives in us, too. He came to live in us at our Baptism. L3 We are temples of the Holy Spirit.
L4 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, piety, fortitude and fear of the Lord.
L4 We are called to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit we received at our baptism to share the Faith with others.

Chapter 27        God's Family on Earth

L1 Jesus founded the Church on earth, and entrusted to Her the care and work of the apostles. L1 Peter was given the role of leader in the Church.
L1 The four marks of the Church founded by Jesus Christ are: one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
L1 The Church is made up of people united by their profession of the Faith, reception of sacraments and submission to the leadership of the Pope and bishops in union with him.
L2 The pope is the visible head of the Church on earth and the successor of St. Peter.      (CCC 882) A common title for the pope is Vicar of Christ.
L2 A bishop is the head of a diocese and is under the authority of the Pope.       A bishop teaches, guides and preaches to a church in a geographical region called a diocese.                                                   (CCC 886)
L2 Recognize responses to the Bishop’s Blessing.
L3 Each bishop has many priests to help him.     Priests bring us the grace of the sacraments.
L3 Priests work in parishes and neighborhoods.      There are missionary priests and religious brothers and sisters who also bring the Good News to people.
L3 The children should know the names of the Pope, their bishop and pastor and pray for their special intentions.
L3 The laity are the other members of the Church. They help the priests to bring the Gospel out into the world. Our parents and we, ourselves, are members of the laity, so our role is to evangelize in our daily lives by how we live and act.
L4 Martyrs are people who witness to Christ through the laying down of their lives for the truth. L4 We are members of the Mystical Body of Christ and are destined for heaven.

Chapter 28   Our Life in the Church

L1 Signs call our attention to a greater reality.
L1 Sacraments are signs of grace.     The matter and form used in each sacrament tell us what grace God is working in our souls.
L1 Jesus instituted seven sacraments.      Teach the children to memorize, “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” (CCC 1131)
L1 Sacraments are grouped into three categories:       Sacraments of Initiation, Sacraments of Healing and Sacraments of Vocation/Service.
L2 Baptism is the first Sacrament of Initiation.     The matter of Baptism is water.    The form of Baptism is the pronouncement, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
L2 Baptism washes away all sin from the soul and infuses it with God’s life of grace.
L3 The Eucharist is a Sacrament of Initiation.    The Sacrament of the Eucharist is the Body and Blood of Jesus, which nourishes our souls.
L3 Confirmation is a Sacrament of Initiation in which we receive the full outpouring of the Holy Spirit and His gifts, so we can do God’s will in His Church.
L3 Penance is a Sacrament of Healing given for the forgiveness of sins.
L4 Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament of Healing, which strengthens us and prepares us for a happy death.
L4 The sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders help us to serve the Church.
L4 To keep the life of grace received in the sacraments, we must also obey the Commandments and have a healthy prayer life.

Chapter 29        Mary, Our Mother and Queen

L1 Jesus gave Mary to all men to be their Mother.      She is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church.         (CCC 509, 963)
L1 By Mary’s yes to God, she helped to bring salvation to all people, becoming Mother to the Son of God.
Mary was the perfect disciple of Jesus.
L1 Review how to pray the rosary.     (CCC 2678, 2708, cf. 1674) Explain that the mysteries of the rosary are key events in the life of Jesus and Mary.
L2 God prepared Mary for her role in salvation history by her Immaculate Conception (she was conceived without original sin).      The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, is the patronal feast of the United States and of the Diocese of Lincoln.
L2 Special devotion to Mary should be shown especially on Saturdays, and during the months of October and May. Pray a litany to Mary.
L2 Explain proper use of sacramentals:     rosaries, medals, scapulars, crucifixes, holy cards, etc. L3 Mary lived her whole life without sin.
L3 Mary holds the highest place in heaven after her Son.
L3 Mary helps to bring us closer to Jesus, sometimes through visions and messages.

L3 The rosary was introduced to St. Dominic and encouraged in the apparitions at Fatima.
L4 Mary interceded for the married couple at the wedding at Cana. We can ask Mary to intercede for us. L4 At the end of her earthly life, Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven. This feast of the
Assumption is celebrated on August 15th.
L4 Mary is Queen of heaven and earth.

Chapter 30        The Communion of Saints

L1 Death is not the end of life, but its real beginning, which is why a saints’ feast day is often the day of his/her death.
L1 Jesus won eternal life by His death on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead.
L1 People who live with God in heaven are called saints.     It is good to pray to the saints.    Introduce a Litany to the Saints.
L1 Everyone is called to be a saint.
L2 Saints love God with all their hearts and live according to His laws.    Have the children be able to name at least five saints who are models of service.                                                                    The liturgical color for a martyr is red.   The liturgical color for saints who were not martyrs is white.
L2 The virtues are strengths or habits of doing good.      Children can grow in virtue by being peacemakers in their families and with their classmates (e.g. through kindness, thoughtfulness and helpfulness to others).       (CCC 1803, 1833-1834)
L2 Have the children memorize the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. L2 God called even great sinners to be great saints.
L3 People who die in the friendship of God, but are not ready for heaven, go to Purgatory and are purified so they may go to heaven.
L3 We can help the souls in Purgatory by praying for them and by offering Masses and sacrifices for them.
L3 The saints in heaven, the souls in Purgatory and all people on earth make up the Communion of Saints.   (CCC 2673-84)
L4 At the end of the world, God will judge all people.
L4 Every saint in heaven is “crowned with glory” for the life of virtue they have lived on earth. L4 Foster devotion to the patron saint of the parish/school.

Fourth Grade

Fourth Grade
GRADE Four (Faith and Life Series)
Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Students should have access to a Bible in their classes in Grade Four and all subsequent grade levels.
In Grade Four, the teacher will provide the catechesis listed below.All points in black are covered in the scope and sequence of the textbook and all points in red are in addition to the textbook but organized thematically with textbook chapters.
Content and chapters may be taught in any order as long as all of the material is presented.

Bible Supplement Chapter
Due to the Fourth Grade curriculum’s emphasis on salvation history, it is important to prepare students to be familiar with the nature and use of Sacred Scripture.

L1 The Bible, or Sacred Scripture, is a collection of sacred books/letters.     The Holy Spirit inspired men to write these books and then guided the Church to put these books together as the Bible.                                     (CCC 120)
L1 The Pope and bishops of the Church, given the authority of Jesus, determined which early writings were actually inspired by God and which were not.                                                                     The Councils of Hippo (AD 393) and Carthage (AD 397) determined and stated with authority which books were part of the canon (list) of the Bible.
L1 All of Sacred Scripture is inspired by God.   It is God’s Word through which He reveals Himself. God is the Author, but used men to be authors of His message.                               (CCC 81, 101, 102, 105-106, 135)
L2 The Bible is made up of two sections: a) the Old Testament – including Creation, the Fall and salvation history in preparation for the Savior, and b) the New Testament – including the coming of the Savior, Jesus, and the life of the early Church. (CCC 120-129)
L2 There are 73 Books in the Bible:    46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament.     Protestant churches chose to remove some of the books, therefore a “Protestant” Bible is different from a “Catholic” Bible.                             (CCC 120)
L2 Introduce or review how to look up Bible passages according to book, chapter and verse.
L2 The Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).        The Pentateuch is also known as the Law or the Torah.                                                            (CCC 702)
L2 Identify the major sections of the New Testament: the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles (Letters) and the Book of Revelation.                                                        (CCC 124-126)
L3 God’s revelation to men is two-fold:     through Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition.    Scripture is a central part of Apostolic Tradition and cannot be understood without that Tradition.                                                                  Neither one is complete without the other.                                                Therefore, as Catholic Christians, we do not follow "Scripture alone" or Scripture apart from tradition.                                                   Catholics and Protestants have a common love and devotion to Sacred Scripture. (CCC 80-82)
L3 God’s greatest and fullest revelation to man is His own Son, Jesus, as the Word of God, to teach and guide us.    The Gospel of John shows us that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” Jn. 1:1, 1:14 (CCC 108, 2598)
L3 Jesus established the Church to be our guide for interpreting Scripture and Tradition through the teaching office of the Magisterium. (CCC 85-86, 95)
L4 In Scripture, God continues to speak to us today.     Since God is eternal, His Word is not just something written in the past, but has power to speak to our hearts each time we read or hear it. “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword…able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.” Heb. 4:12 (CCC 108, 131-133)
L4 Scripture can be considered God’s love letter to man.      Scripture is the heart and soul of our understanding of the Faith.CCC 104)
L4 Praying with Scripture, such as through Lectio divina, allows God’s Word to penetrate our hearts with a personal message.        (CCC 1177, 2653)

Chapter 1          The Fall of Man

L1 God created heaven and earth.      Responsible stewardship includes care of personal belongings, public property and God’s creation.
L1 God created the angels to love and serve Him.      Some of the angels rebelled against God and fell.
These evil angels are called devils or demons.
L1 God created man in His image and likeness. (CCC 356-361, 374)   Our first parents, Adam and Eve were given the preternatural gifts and the supernatural gift of grace.                                                              They lived in friendship with God.
L1 God made us to know, love and serve Him in this life, and be happy with Him in heaven.    (CCC 1721)
L2 Because human beings are made of both body and soul, they have the ability to think, to make choices and to love.         (CCC 362-368)
L2 The two main powers of the soul are:
1. Intellect, by which we think, judge and understand
2. Will, by which we freely choose good or evil. (CCC 1705-1706)
L2 Adam and Eve were tempted by the devil to disobey God.     They gave in to temptation and ate the forbidden fruit.
L2 The first sin of Adam and Eve is called original sin. Because they are our first parents, this sin is passed on to all people.
L3 In sin, man is divided against himself and others, as seen when Adam blamed Eve for their sin.
L3 As a consequence of their sin, Eve would have pain in bringing forth children and Adam would need to labor to produce food.   Both Adam and Eve would eventually die.
L3 Temptation is a struggle for everyone, but God’s grace is always present to help us to choose good. We must avoid the occasions of sin which are any person, place, or thing that we know might lead us to sin. (CCC 1853)    Temptation is not a sin if we don’t give in to it.           Prayer can help us in times of temptation.
L3 We should be devoted to our guardian angels who can help us avoid sin.
L4 Adam and Eve lost grace.    They lost friendship with God and had to leave the Garden of Eden. L4 God in His mercy promised to send a Savior who would again open the gates of heaven for us.

Chapter 2          The World’s First Murder

L1 Cain and Abel were Adam and Eve’s first sons.
L1 Cain became a farmer and Abel a shepherd.     They both offered sacrifices to God.
L2 God accepted the sacrifice of Abel, who is a prefigurement of Christ.     As a shepherd, he offered his best lamb.
L2 Cain was jealous of Abel and hated him.    God was not pleased with Cain’s sacrifice because of his hardness of heart.   Cain slew Abel.
L2 Cain did not follow his conscience.    A well-formed conscience is a law, inscribed by God and aided by grace, which helps us to choose what is right.                                                 (CCC 1776, 1785-1786)
L2 Review the Fifth Commandment: respect human life as a gift; protect life in all its stages.     Pray as a class for the protection of all human life from conception to natural death.                                                                     (CCC 2258-62)
L3 God saw the sin of Cain.    He punished Cain by sending him to wander the earth.     He would no longer be able to raise crops for food.
L3 Cain went out to the land of Nod, east of Eden.
L3 God showed that murder is a sin and would be punished. L4 Adam and Eve had another child, Seth.
L4 Eventually Cain and Seth had families of their own and filled the earth. L4 God would bring forth the Savior from the lineage of Seth.

Chapter 3           Turning Away From God

L1 Gradually the earth became populated with sinful people. God saw that men were sinful and that they planned sinful things.
L1 Noah was a descendant of Seth and he was faithful to God.
L1 God chose to wash away all evil from the world with a flood.    He told Noah to make an ark so that the goodness of creation would be saved.
L2 Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth, built an ark.     They herded the animals inside the great boat and only their family, eight persons in all, entered the ark and sealed it before the flood came.
L2 It rained for over a month, but Noah and his family were saved from the flood.      The Ark prefigures the Church where people live with God and are saved from sin.
L3 The great flood washed the earth clean from sin. The narration of Noah and the Flood shows that we need the Sacrament of Baptism to save us from sin.
L3 The Sacrament of Penance was given to us by Jesus.     In the Sacrament of Penance, we ask for and receive forgiveness of our sins from God through the priest.                                                        (CCC 1444)
L3 Review the importance of receiving the Sacrament of Penance and the five steps to making a good confession:
1. Examination of Conscience
2. Sorrow for one’s sins (contrition) and purpose of amendment (a firm resolve, with God’s grace, to avoid sin)
3. Confession of one’s sins (mortal in kind and number; venial) to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance
4. Receiving absolution from the priest
5. Penance (prayers or actions to help make up for the damage of sin)
L3 God made a covenant with Noah and his family.     The sign of this covenant is a rainbow. L3 Ham was not a good man and the descendants of his son Canaan were wicked.
L4 The descendants of Shem began to build a tower using the talents God gave them, but they forgot their talents were from God and committed the sin of pride.
L4 God confused their language so they could not complete their tower.       It is known as the Tower of Babel.
L4 Review mortal sin.    For a sin to be mortal, there are three conditions:      (CCC 1857)
1. The bad thought, word, or deed must be serious in itself. (CCC 1858)
2. One must know the sin is serious. (CCC 1859)
3. One must freely choose to commit the sin anyway. (CCC 1859) L4 Encourage frequent confession (at least once a month).
Chapter 4          God Prepares a People for a Savior

L1 Abram was a descendant of Shem.     God called Abram from his homeland of Ur.   He trusted in God to lead him and his family to the Promised Land.
L1 God promised to give Abram the land of Canaan and descendants to fill the land, even though he was very old.
L1 Discuss the meaning of the gift of faith and the means to deepen faith.
L1 Melchizedek, king of Salem, offered bread and wine as a sacrifice and blessed Abram.     Melchizedek was a prefigurement of Christ.
L1 Review the responses to the Bishop’s Blessing.
L2 God made a covenant with Abram, promising that he would have land and many descendants.       God changed his name to Abraham and Sarai’s name to Sarah.
L2 For the covenant, God would watch over Abraham’s descendants and give them the land of Canaan. For his part, Abraham and his descendants would worship God alone and would await the coming of the Savior.
L3 Abraham and Sarah had a son named Isaac.
L3 God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac.
L3 God sometimes allows us to be tested in order to strengthen our trust and faith in God.
L4 God saw that Abraham was faithful and Isaac was saved. He offered a ram that God provided as a sacrifice instead.
L4 Isaac prefigures Christ, the sacrificed Son.
L4 Abraham is our father in faith. Our Faith is summarized in our Creed. Review the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. (CCC 184-185)

Chapter 5    The People of Israel

L1 Abraham’s son, Isaac, married Rebekah.     Their twin children were Jacob and Esau. L1 Esau sold Jacob his birthright for a bowl of stew.
L1 We receive a birthright of sanctifying grace when we are baptized.      We must be careful not to “sell” this inheritance by sin.
L1 We must die in a state of sanctifying grace to enter into heaven, and the best way to make sure that we die in a state of sanctifying grace is to live consistently in God’s favor.
L2 Jacob tricked Isaac into giving him the family blessing, which rightfully should have gone to Esau.
L2 Esau was angry that Jacob received the blessing and planned to kill him.     Jacob fled in order to save his life.
L2 Review the meaning of Jesus’ words: “As often as you did it for one of My least brothers, you did it for Me.”
L2 Review the Golden Rule: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.”     (cf. Matt. 7: 12 and Luke 6: 31)
L3 Jacob went to work for his uncle, Laban.     Jacob loved his daughter Rachel and agreed to work seven years to marry her.          Laban tricked Jacob into marrying Leah, his older daughter.                                                            Jacob agreed to work seven more years for Rachel.
L3 Review the Eighth Commandment: speak the truth; keep promises and secrets. L4 Jacob took his family back to the Promised Land and reconciled with Esau.
L4 Review Jesus’ New Commandment of love: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
L4 God appeared to Jacob and promised the land of Abraham to Jacob.       God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.
L4 Israel’s twelve sons became a great nation called the People of Israel.

Chapter 6          Joseph Goes to Egypt

L1 As Jacob grew to be an old man, he favored his son Joseph.
L1 Joseph had dreams in which his eleven brothers served him.      They were jealous of Joseph and planned to kill him.
L1 Review sin.    Sin is any intentional thought, word, deed, or omission that breaks God’s law.
L1 Clarify the difference between temptation, sin and a mistake, and between a venial and a mortal sin.
Venial sins do not destroy the life of grace in the soul, but mortal sins do.    (CCC 1855, 1861-1863)
L2 Instead of killing Joseph, his brothers decided to sell Joseph into slavery in the land of Egypt, telling his father that he was killed by wild animals.
L2 Joseph suffered at the hands of his brothers, but God brought about a greater good from that evil.
When we suffer, we unite ourselves with Jesus and grow closer to Him, allowing God to work through us when we surrender to Him.
L2 There are three supernatural/theological (God-given) virtues and these are:
1. Faith: believing all that God reveals, because He can neither deceive nor be deceived. (CCC 1814)
2. Hope: trusting that God will give us all the grace we need to be holy and get to heaven. (CCC 1817)
3. Charity: loving God above all else and loving our neighbors as ourselves for the love of God. (CCC 1822)
L3 God took care of Joseph in Egypt.    He was put in the service of a rich man and given many privileges.
L3 Joseph was wrongly accused of a crime and sent to prison.      He there correctly interpreted the dreams of Pharaoh’s baker and butler.
L4 After he interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams of a coming famine, Joseph was made governor of Egypt.      In this position he could save also the Israelites from famine.
L4 Discuss stewardship of natural resources and material possessions. L4 Teach the practice of tithing in support of the Church and the poor.

Chapter 7          The People of Israel Go to Egypt

L1 The land of Canaan was affected by famine, so the brothers of Joseph set off to Egypt to buy food. L1 Trials in daily life help us to learn many things, including patience, trust in God and perseverance.
L2 Joseph’s brothers came to him for food, but did not recognize him.      Joseph tested his brothers in several ways to find out their sincerity.
L2 At one point Joseph celebrated a feast with his brothers.       Discuss the importance of family celebrations and meals.
L3 Joseph revealed his identity to his brothers and forgave them.       He also gave them the best land in Egypt.
L3 Compare the surprise of Joseph’s brothers seeing him alive to when the apostles saw Jesus alive after the Resurrection. On Easter Sunday night Jesus offered peace (forgiveness) to the apostles and also breathed on them giving them the power to forgive sin.           Joseph gave his brothers land.                       What “land” would Jesus give to His apostles?
L4 Joseph sent for his father, Israel (Jacob) to come to Egypt.
L4 God told Israel to go and that his descendants would live there for many years before returning to the Promised Land.
L4 Israel eventually died in Egypt, but Joseph took his body back to be buried in the Promised Land.

Chapter 8          God’s People Suffer in Egypt

L1 The Israelites became slaves in the land of Egypt because Pharaoh feared them.
L1 Pharaoh decided that the sons of the Hebrews would be thrown in the Nile in order to control their numbers.
L1 Review the Fifth Commandment: respect human life as a gift; protect life in all its stages.     Give examples of respect for all life as a gift from God.                                                                (CCC 2258, 2319)
L2 Moses’ mother placed him in a basket and sent him down the Nile River when he could no longer be hidden.
L2 Through the waters, Moses was given life and a mission from God.     We too, receive life through the waters of Baptism and God has a plan for each of us.
L2 In Baptism, God gives His life and power to enable us to always choose the good and to enter into heaven.
L2 Pharaoh’s daughter adopted Moses and he was raised in the palace.        However, Moses knew that he was a Hebrew and he worshiped the one true God.
L3 Moses saw a Hebrew slave being beaten and, in anger, came to the slave’s defense, killing the Egyptian.
L3 Moses went to the Land of Midian in order to escape punishment for his crime.      He became a shepherd for a man named Jethro.
L4 God remembered His covenant with Abraham and sent Moses to free His people.
L4 God appeared to Moses in a burning bush which was not consumed. God revealed His name as “I Am.”
L4 Review the Second Commandment.     God’s name is holy.   We should not take God’s name in vain. L4 We should bow our head slightly when hearing or saying the Name of Jesus/Jesus Christ.
L4 God gave Moses signs to perform so that he would be believed, and He sent Aaron with him as his spokesman.
L4 Give an introduction of the Precepts of the Church with memorization.

Chapter 9          God Saves His People

L1 God sent Moses and Aaron to speak to Pharaoh and tell him to set God’s people free so that they could worship Him.
L1 Review the Third Commandment: keep holy the Lord’s Day.
L2 There were ten plagues.      All of them were means of teaching the Egyptians about their false gods and the one true God.
L2 Review the First Commandment: adore God alone, pray to Him. L3 The Tenth plague was the death of the first born.
L3 The Israelites were saved from this plague with the celebration of the Passover.      They killed a lamb and spread its blood on the door posts.                                                                 Then, ready to flee to freedom, they ate the lamb.
L3 The Last Supper was a Passover meal.    Parallel the Passover meal with the sacrifice of Jesus.
L3 The Passover sacrifice and meal prefigures the Mass.     The Mass is a meal and a sacrifice instituted by Jesus.
L3 Jesus is the perfect Priest that makes the offering of Himself, as a sacrifice to the Father, at Mass as He did on the Cross.
L4 After the Passover, Pharaoh commanded the Hebrews to leave Egypt.
L4 Through Moses, God led the Israelites out of Egypt and through the Red Sea, opening up a path through the waters.
L4 Crossing the Red Sea parallels Baptism. L4 Parallel Moses and Jesus.

Chapter 10        Great Things Happen on the Way to the Promised Land

L1 God gave the Israelites manna from heaven to eat on their way to the Promised Land.       God provided for all their needs in the wilderness.
L1 The manna in the desert prefigures the Holy Eucharist.
L2 God made a covenant with the Israelites and gave them the Ten Commandments to teach human persons how to live.
L2 Give examples of the living out of the Ten Commandments, as a fourth grader would live them.
L2 The Israelites fell into idolatry, worshipping a golden calf.    In anger, Moses destroyed the tablets of the Ten Commandments and begged God to forgive the people.
L3 God renewed His covenant with Israel after Moses returned to Mt. Sinai and received the Ten Commandments again.
L3 Give encouragement to do a daily examination of conscience, using the Ten Commandments as a guide.
L3 God desires to renew His covenant with all people, but so many turn away or simply do not even know Him.      As children of God we are called to share with them, by our words and deeds, the joy of following God’s Commandments of love.
L4 God instructed the people to make the Ark of the Covenant to hold the Ten Commandments and to serve as a sign of God’s presence.
L4 Moses gave the people instructions on temple worship.
L4 The Ark was a prefigurement of the tabernacle in the Catholic Church.     As Catholics, we respectfully genuflect (touching the floor) on the right knee toward Jesus in the tabernacle when entering and leaving church because Jesus is there.         (CCC 1378)

L4 The Real Presence is the whole Christ:    truly, really and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. L4 Encourage devotion to the Holy Eucharist, frequent Communion, Spiritual Communions and visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Encourage students to speak to Jesus from their hearts
when they visit Him.
L4 After forty years in the desert, the Israelites were finally ready to enter the Promised Land.       Moses saw it, but died before they entered because he had doubted God in the desert.
Chapter 11        Life in the Promised Land

L1 Joshua led the Israelites into the Promised Land after forty years in the desert.
L1 The people who lived in the Promised Land of Canaan worshiped false gods and committed many evil deeds.
L1 A sin of commission is any intentional thought, word, or deed that offends God.      A sin of omission is the neglect or refusal to perform good actions that one’s conscience urges one to do.
L1 Joshua led the people through many battles and they took the Promised Land.       The land was then divided among the tribes of Israel.
L2 Samson was a strong and mighty warrior, whom God blessed so that the Israelites would be rescued from the Philistines, their greatest enemies.
L2 The sign of Samson’s strength was in his hair, which had never been cut.     He foolishly entrusted this secret to Delilah, who deceived him and allowed the Philistines to cut his hair and capture him.
L3 Relate the events of Samson after he was captured and how he destroyed more Philistines in death than in life.    Samson was a type of Christ who died to save his people.
L3 Martyrs are saints who died for Christ.     It is good to pray to the saints, especially one’s patron saint.
L4 Relate the story of Ruth, who was loyal to her mother-in-law to a heroic degree.      She came to worship the one true God.
L4 Ruth married Boaz and King David was one of their descendants.
L4 Just as Ruth came to worship the one true God, there are four marks of the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ: one, holy, catholic and apostolic.                                                                 (CCC 811)
L4 Introduce a preliminary understanding of ‘indulgences.’     (cf. CCC 1471-1479)

Chapter 12        A King for God’s People
L1 Samuel was a prophet.     His mother Hannah dedicated him to God when he was born.     He was sent to the temple as a child and helped Eli, the priest.
L1 Parents are to raise children to help them give their lives back to God in His service.
L1 God called to Samuel and he responded, “Speak, Lord, Your servant is listening.”    Samuel loved God and was His chosen prophet.
L1 Discuss how to open our hearts in prayer and listen to God, praying the words of Samuel.      Encourage children to also pray for the grace to be open to God’s calling to their future vocation.
L2 The Ark was captured by the Philistines because the Hebrews were using it like a good luck charm instead of with faith. When they realized what they had done, many returned to God.
L2 Discuss proper use of sacramentals: holy water, medals, scapulars, rosaries, crucifixes, holy cards, statues, etc.
L3 When the Israelites asked for a king to take Samuel’s place, they were rejecting God as their King.
L3 God warned the Israelites that an earthly king would not be good for them, but they would not listen and insisted on having a king.
L4 God chose Saul to be the first king of the Israelites.     He was anointed by Samuel.
L4 Saul was a good king at first, but became evil as he turned away from God.     God thus rejected him as king and chose another.
L4 Teach children to pray for the needs of others and to remember to pray for those in positions of authority.
L4 Discuss the capital sin of pride.

Chapter 13        King David
L1 Relate the story of how God told Samuel to anoint David, the son of Jesse, as king.
L1 Discuss the concept, “Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.” (1 Sam. 16:7)
L1 David worked in the court of Saul and would sing songs to the king, who was going insane.    David composed Psalms.
L1 Discuss the Book of the Psalms and how they express all human emotions.
L2 Trusting in God’s strength, David fought and slew Goliath, saving the Israelites from slavery to the Philistines.
L2 The virtues are strengths or habitual practices by which we do good.      (CCC 1803, 1833-1834) L2 Contrast the virtues of David and the vices of Saul.
L3 Saul became jealous of David, who was now a commander in his army.
L3 David had an opportunity to kill Saul; instead he refused to harm the Lord’s anointed.
L3 Discuss the need to respect all leaders and human authorities even when they are not following God’s laws.
L3 God took care of David during Saul’s lifetime because David trusted in God.
L4 David became king and conquered Jerusalem, making it his capital city, the City of David.   He brought the Ark of the Covenant into his city, after offering many sacrifices to God.
L4 King David sinned greatly but repented, and God forgave him. L4 Explain the significance of the Sign of Peace at Mass.

Chapter 14        King Solomon and the Promise of a New King

L1 After David’s death, his son Solomon became king and was granted great wisdom by God. L1 Solomon always judged trials rightly and was thanked with gifts of wealth.
L1 Discuss sharing your gifts to give glory to God.
L2 King Solomon built a great temple in Jerusalem in which he put the Ark of the Covenant.     Christians become temples of the Holy Spirit at Baptism.
L2 Review church etiquette: quiet and reverence while in church, proper manner of sitting, standing and kneeling.
L2 Provide times of Eucharistic Adoration and teach how to participate at a Benediction Service.
L3 King Solomon’s heart began to turn away from God because he had many wives and began to follow their gods.
L3 Due to King Solomon’s infidelity, God did not allow his son to become the next king.
L3 Solomon could have kept his focus on God if he had practiced mortification and not tried to please his wives more than God.     Discuss peer pressure and how to resist.
L4 Later in Israel’s history, Isaiah became a great prophet who preached a message of repentance to the people and the coming of the Savior.                                                             As he prayed in the temple, he had a vision of God.
L4 Isaiah told of God’s Savior being born of a virgin and coming from the house of David.   The Savior would suffer and offer His life for His people.                                                               The Savior would heal God’s people.
L4 Isaiah shared the Good News of the coming of the Savior.     So many people in our world do not know of Jesus and what He has done for us.                                                              Like Isaiah, we are called to evangelize and be prophets to those around us.

Chapter 15        The Final King

L1 The kingdom of Israel was divided into two kingdoms:    Israel in the north (10 tribes) and Judah in the south (2 tribes).
L1 About 600 years before Christ, the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple, and took many Israelites to live in Babylon.
L1 After seventy years in Babylon, the Israelites returned to Jerusalem and built a second Temple for God. But now they were ruled by Rome and awaited a Savior.
L2 John the Baptist was the last and the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. Some thought he was the Messiah but he clearly told them he was not.
L2 John helped people prepare for the coming of the Savior by calling them to a baptism of repentance.
L2 Discuss ways that we are called to evangelize others by encouraging them to make holy choices.      Our words will only be effective if we have humbly repented in our own lives.
L3 Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and, then, proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand.

L3 When John baptized Jesus, the Heavens opened up.      The Holy Spirit came upon Jesus in the form of a dove and the voice of God was heard to say: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” God did this to show that Jesus is the new King.
L3 Demonstrate proper and regular use of holy water - with the right hand.
L3 Review ways to fold hands during prayer, making the Sign of the Cross with the right hand correctly, emphasizing that the words be spoken clearly, especially, “In the name of…” (CCC 2157, cf. CCC 786)
L4 Many Israelites had a hard time accepting Jesus as King because He was not what they had expected.
L4 Jesus was poor and did not live in a palace.     He travelled with some fishermen whom He had chosen to be His disciples.         Jesus was also often with sinners so He could help them.
L4 Discuss ways we can serve the poor or those whom others reject.      Examine our own attitude towards those whom we consider poor, outcast or different from us.

Chapter 16        An Invitation to Heaven

L1 Jesus came to be King of the whole world (not just the Jews).     We entered the Kingdom of Jesus with our Baptism through His Catholic Church.
L1 We are on a journey to heaven and to enter heaven we must choose the right path.
L1 Purgatory is the final purification of the soul after death and before entrance into heaven to make one perfect for Eternal Life.
L2 Human persons are made up of both body and soul.      The body will die, but the soul is eternal. L2 Because we are made In God’s image, we have the ability to reason, to make choices and to love.
(CCC 362-368) This places us above the animals.
L2 Free will is the ability to choose whether or not to do something.      God loves and respects us so much He wants us to cooperate with Him in His work and gave man the free will to do it.                                    (CCC 306)
L2 Abraham and Mary are two models of faith who used their free will to say yes to God.
L2 Mary is the Church’s perfect example of faith, hope and love of God and of neighbor.     (CCC 493- 494)
L3 God gave us the Ten Commandments through Moses on Mount Sinai.      Review the Ten Commandments - God’s laws of love to guide our life on earth.
L3 All people are obliged to keep the Ten Commandments, but are called to do so with love.
L4 Ask the students to give examples of how to live out Jesus’ Two Great Commandments which summarize the Ten Commandments:
1. Love God above all things.
2. Love your neighbor as yourself. (CCC 1878)
L4 Give an introduction to the Beatitudes, a guide to Christian living - encourage memorization.      (cf.
Matt. 5)

Chapter 17        Road Signs Along the Way

L1 The First Commandment teaches that there is one true God and we are to worship Him alone. L1 There are three Divine Persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.
(CCC 253) This is the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.
L1 The first Commandment teaches us to avoid idolatry, including magic, psychics, fortune-telling, Ouija boards and horoscopes.   Idolatry also includes giving too much importance to possessions, money, power, etc.
L1 We know about God through revelation:     He reveals Himself through Sacred Scripture and through the Church.
L2 We should incorporate prayer into daily life in imitation of Jesus. (CCC 2607-16, 2757)
L2 Prayer is raising our minds and hearts to God, and we should speak with Him many times every day in our own words and spontaneously. We can learn to simply ‘BE’ in God’s Presence as well as listen to Him with our hearts.
L2 Discuss the different kinds of prayer: vocal, meditation, contemplation, blessing, adoration, supplication (petition), intercession, thanksgiving, praise. (CCC 2623-49)
L2 God will always listen to our prayers and answer them according to His will.
L3 The Second Commandment teaches that God’s name should be used with reverence in prayer, making vows or by using God as your witness on a solemn occasion.
L3 God’s name can be used in vain (improperly) by swearing, cursing or blasphemy. L4 The Third Commandment teaches us to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
L4 Catholics celebrate the Lord’s Day on Sunday, the day of the Resurrection.
L4 Review the proper observance of Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation: going to Mass, doing works of charity, resting from work and school, participating in family activities, and avoiding unnecessary work and shopping.
L4 Be able to name the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States:    Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the Ascension (40 Days after Easter), the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25).

Chapter 18   Loving Others

L1 We are called to love ourselves, body and soul, because we are made in the image of God. L1 God became man to die on the Cross out of love for us.
L1 We must love others as we love ourselves (not instead of ourselves) and we must care for our bodies and souls out of love for ourselves.
L2 The Fourth Commandment tells us to honor (which means to love, respect and obey) our parents. L2 Our parents have the task of guiding us to heaven.
L2 We must honor the authorities our parents place over us.
L2 The family is the basic unit of the Church and of society, and it needs to be protected and respected. (CCC 1655-1657)
L3 The Fifth Commandment tells us not to kill - not to harm another physically or spiritually. L3 We must take care of our bodies and the bodies of others, never putting them in danger.
L4 We must care for our souls to keep them in the life of grace.      We do this by receiving the sacraments, doing works of charity, praying, and not sinning.
L4 We must care for the spiritual well-being of others by not setting a bad example or causing them to sin. We must never wish harm to another and we must love our enemies.
L4 Through the example of the Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth, we learn how to respond willingly to God’s call to help others.       (CCC 717)
L4 Introduce the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.    Encourage memorization.

Chapter 19        Growing in Love

L1 The Sixth and Ninth Commandments protect marriage and families and teach us to be pure and modest in thought, word and action.
L1 Unfaithful marriages are forbidden because they destroy the relationship of the spouses and their family.
L1 We must enjoy only good books, television shows, etc., and we must keep our minds and bodies pure and holy.
L2 The Seventh and Tenth Commandments protect property. L2 We must not steal or damage another’s goods.

L2 We must be content with the goods with which God has provided us. L3 The Eighth Commandment tells us to love the truth.
L3 We must say things as they really are.     This means speaking the truth.     This forbids lying or keeping truths from others who have a right to know.                                                     This forbids exaggeration, flattery, gossip and little white lies.
L3 We often lie out of pride.
L4 We must make reparation for our sins, especially those committed against our neighbor.
L4 Obeying the Commandments will give us joy and peace in this life and eternal happiness in heaven. L4 Discuss the example of Mary and the saints to illustrate living a moral life.
L4 Participate in different kinds of prayer and devotions to strengthen our spiritual life.       (Prayers to Mary, angels and the saints, Stations of the Cross, etc.)                                                                  (CCC 2678-84)

Chapter 20        Jesus, Our Guide

L1 Jesus is true God and true man.
L1 Jesus was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
L1 The Incarnation means God the Son, Jesus, took on a human body to live a human life.      Jesus is one Divine Person with two natures: human and divine.
L2 Jesus spoke with authority in a way that no other great teacher had spoken. L2 A miracle is an act above the laws of nature which only God can perform.
L2 Jesus performed miracles so people would believe his teachings and know that He is God. L3 Jesus performed many miracles over the natural world.
L3 Jesus also used His authority over the fallen angels, or demons.
L4 Understand that, in the Gospels, we learn from Jesus how we are to live our lives.      (CCC 124-127, 133, 134, 141)
L4 Jesus is our role model for the Christian life and the only way to heaven.         (CCC 1694, 1698) L4 Jesus wants a relationship with each of us.
L4 To get closer to Jesus, we can receive Him in Holy Communion, pray and keep the Commandments.

Chapter 21        “For This I have Come into the World”

L1 Review that God gave us free will so that we can truly love Him.
L1 Sin and evil are against the will of God, though God can bring good from sin and evil.
L1 God is ever merciful.    He sent His Son to save us from our sins.   Jesus’ Incarnation gave great honor to the human race.
L2 Review the term Paschal Mystery:     the Passion, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.
L2 Jesus, as God, could not suffer, but, as man, Jesus suffered greatly and died for us.      Jesus’ agony was both spiritual and physical.
L2 The Passion of Jesus was His Suffering and Crucifixion. Through His Passion, Jesus opened the gates of heaven.
L2 Teach observance of the liturgical season of Lent and the liturgical celebrations of Holy Week.
L3 Jesus foretold His death and Resurrection, especially when He referred to Himself as the Temple that would be destroyed and rebuilt in three days.
L3 Three days after His death, on Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead, body and soul. L3 Teach the observance of the liturgical season of Easter.
L4 Jesus appeared to His disciples many times to show the world He had risen from the dead.       By eating and drinking with them, He showed that His body was truly alive.
L4 Jesus came to save all people and give them eternal life.      We hope in the resurrection of the body.
L4 Jesus ascended into heaven 40 days after Easter.      He sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost to guide us through His grace and help us to lead holy lives.                                                              (CCC 1091)
L4 Jesus remains with us still in the Holy Eucharist.
L4 Continue to encourage visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle and Eucharistic adoration.
Encourage students to speak to Jesus from their hearts when they visit Him.
Chapter 22   The Perfect Sacrifice

L1 Man offered sacrifices to God out of thanksgiving and for the forgiveness of sins. A sacrifice required giving everything, and one’s best, to God.
L1 Sin offerings were animal sacrifices. Jesus grew up in the time of Temple sacrifices.
L1 During the Penitential Rite (at the beginning of the Mass), we humbly acknowledge our sinfulness and ask God for mercy.
L2 Jesus would become the perfect sacrifice by offering Himself to the Father on the Cross, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ sacrifice involved the shedding of His Blood. He was not only the spotless Victim, but also the perfect holy Priest.
L3 The Sacrifice of the Cross is still present today in our Mass. Jesus offers Himself, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity to God the Father in the Mass. We can offer ourselves to the Father with Jesus at the sacrifice of the Mass.
L3 The Consecration occurs when the priest says the words of Jesus: “This is My Body” and “This is the chalice of My Blood” over bread and wine during the Mass.    After the Consecration, there is no more bread and wine but only the appearance of bread and wine.                              Transubstantiation occurs at the time of Consecration.            Transubstantiation means that the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.
L3 Have the children memorize: “The Holy Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine.”
L4 The Mass is divided into two main parts: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. L4 In the Liturgy of the Word, we listen to God’s Word found in Sacred Scripture.
L4 We participate fully at Mass by listening to the readings, responding, singing and offering ourselves with Jesus to the Father.     Catholics may participate at Mass for the weekend beginning with 4:00
p.m. Mass on Saturday (Vigil Mass) and at any time on Sunday. L4 Some ways we use our bodies to worship at Mass are by:
1. Striking one’s breast during the Confiteor at the words: “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”
2. Making a ‘cross’ with the right thumb on the forehead, lips and heart at the beginning of the Gospel while asking God to be “in my mind, on my lips and in my heart.”
3. Bowing or kneeling when we say “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man” in the Creed.
L4 In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Word of God (Jesus) becomes truly present and is offered to the Father in the Sacrifice of the Eucharist.
L4 The Mass is our greatest prayer and we need to participate at Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation.    (CCC 1167, 2043, 2180-82)
L4 Review the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States:   Mary, Mother of God (Jan. 1), the
Ascension (40 Days after Easter), the Assumption (Aug. 15), All Saint’s Day (Nov. 1), the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8) and Christmas (Dec. 25).                                                          (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)
L4 Teach the proper manner for reading at Mass (whenever this begins in the parish/school). L4 Review the proper manner for serving at Mass (whenever this begins for boys in the parish).

Chapter 23        Bread From Heaven

L1 God gave manna in the desert to the Israelites.
L1 Jesus multiplied loaves and fish to feed the five thousand.
L1 Jesus is the bread come down from heaven, which, when eaten, gives eternal life.
L2 At the Last Supper, Jesus gave us the Living Bread: Himself, present in the Eucharist.   The Holy Eucharist is the source of living the Christian life.                                                          (CCC 1324)
L2 Jesus instituted the priesthood so that His presence will remain with us throughout time.
L2 The matter of the Eucharist is the bread and wine; the form is the words: “This is My Body” and “This is the chalice of My blood.”
L2 Jesus is entirely present in every part of the Eucharist (even the smallest crumb or tiniest drop).
L3 The Mass is a sacrifice and a sacred meal. Jesus is our food on the way to heaven. We need this spiritual food for grace to survive in our souls.
L3 The Eucharist unites the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church.
L3 In Holy Communion Jesus comes to live in our hearts. There is no greater gift in this life than the Holy Eucharist. (CCC 1325)
L4 To be properly prepared to receive Holy Communion, means a person must:
1. be Catholic,
2. be free from mortal sin (i.e. to be in the state of grace),
3. have fasted from food and drink for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion (Water and/or medicine do not break the Eucharistic fast. cf. Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law),
4. have the right intention of being united with Jesus Christ.
L4 When receiving Jesus in Holy Communion we should show reverence and love by:
1. bowing, genuflecting or kneeling before receiving Him,
2. receiving Him properly on the tongue or in the hand,
3. receiving Him frequently (at least every Sunday).
L3 Holy Communion must be received on the tongue when receiving at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form or when receiving Holy Communion from the Holy Father.
L3 When Holy Communion is given by ‘intinction’ (the priest or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion dips the Sacred Host into the Precious Blood), one must receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
L4 Anyone who is aware of having committed mortal sin must receive absolution in the Sacrament of Penance before he or she receives Holy Communion.                                   (CCC 1415) To deliberately choose to miss Mass on Sundays or Holy Days of Obligation is a mortal sin, which must be confessed before one receives Holy Communion again.    (CCC 2181)
L4 There may be children who cannot attend Mass because nobody will take them. In these cases, the child is not guilty of sin. The sin would be if the child could attend Mass on his/her own and does not do so.    However, in this situation, children should be encouraged to ask their parents each week if they can go to Mass.
L4 Jesus remains present in the tabernacles of all Catholic churches.

Chapter 24        Mistakes Along the Way

L1 Evil entered the world through the original sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve.     God immediately promised to send a Savior.         (CCC 407-409; cf. Genesis 3: 15)
L1 The effects of Original sin include death, loss of grace and temptation to sin (concupiscence). L1 In Baptism, God restores grace to our soul, but the effects of original sin remain with us.
L2 Our conscience is the faculty by which we judge what is right and wrong in every situation.     Each person must obey his or her conscience.
L2 Everyone has a duty to form his or her conscience well with the help of God through the Catholic Church’s teaching.     Conscience can be formed well through the Ten Commandments and through discipline.
L2 Sin is choosing to do what we know is wrong. All sin injures the whole Body of Christ. God’s grace, especially in the Sacrament of Penance, restores us to right relationship with Him and with the Church and heals us spiritually. (CCC 1469)
L2 Jesus not only suffered for our sins, but also for the sins that others committed against us. L3 Review the difference between temptation, sin and a mistake.
L3 For a sin to be mortal, one must freely break God’s laws in a grave matter (serious object) with the knowledge that his action is seriously wrong.
L3 Mortal sin kills the life of grace in our soul.
L3 If we die in the state of mortal sin without repentance, we will go to hell.
L3 If one commits mortal sin, he or she should go to confession as soon as possible.
L4 Venial sin is breaking God’s laws in a small way, or in a grave way without sufficient knowledge or freedom.    Venial sin should be avoided.
L4 Sin can include thoughts, words, deeds or omissions.

Chapter 25        Turning Back to God

L1 God is always waiting for us to turn back to Him when we sin.    He wants to forgive our sins.    The normal means of forgiveness is the Sacrament of Penance.                                                            In this sacrament, Jesus forgives our sins and gives us grace to overcome our sins.
L1 Jesus can forgive any sin.
L1 Going to confession each month, or more often, is a very good practice in order to become holy.
L1 Inviting others to come to confession when you do is a beautiful way to evangelize and show your care for their souls.
L1 The Precepts of the Church command going to confession during Lent or Easter each year, if we have committed serious sin.
L2 The story of the Prodigal Son shows us God’s love, mercy and desire to forgive.
L2 Temptation is a struggle for everyone, but God’s grace is always present to help us to choose the good.   Prayer helps us in times of temptation.                                                           (CCC 2846-2849)
L2 Like God the Father, we are called to also be merciful to others. L3 Jesus wants us to return to Him in the Sacrament of Penance.
L3 To receive the Sacrament of Penance, we must know our sins, be sorry for our sins and decide not to sin again.
L3 Review the proper manner of making a good confession - the steps for going to confession.
1. Examination of Conscience
2. Sorrow for one’s sins (contrition)
3. Confession of one’s sins (mortal in kind and number; venial) to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance
4. Purpose of Amendment (a firm resolve, with God’s grace, to avoid sin)
5. Absolution and Penance from the priest
L4 The formula to use in the Sacrament of Penance:      (CCC 1450-1460)
To begin, the penitent makes the Sign of the Cross and says: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
It has been             since my last confession.
My sins are           (the penitent states mortal sins in kind and number and any other venial sins).
I am sorry for these and all my sins.
The priest advises and then gives a penance. The penitent makes an Act of Contrition.
The priest gives absolution.
Priest:        “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
Penitent:    “His Mercy endures forever.”
Priest:        “The Lord has freed you from your sins.   Go in peace.”
Penitent:    “Thanks be to God.”
L4 Review the Act of Contrition.    We say this prayer to express to God our sorrow for sin.    (CCC 2631) L4 We accept the penance assigned to us and receive absolution.
L4 We leave the confessional and do the penance given to us.

Chapter 26        The Holy Spirit

L1 In the Old Testament, holy men knew about the attributes of the one true God.
L1 Jesus revealed that the one true God is three Divine Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
L2 The First Person is God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth.      The Second Person is God the Son, the Father’s Word.         Jesus is the Son of God made man.     The Third Person is the Holy Spirit, who is the love between the Father and the Son.
L2 God the Holy Spirit is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity, sent by God the Father and God the Son to dwell within us and to help us always to choose what is good and to avoid what is evil.                                                                   (CCC 245, 263, 2847)
L3 Whenever God gives us something out of love, we say it is a work of the Holy Spirit.   The Holy Spirit is always active in our world.
L3 When we receive the Holy Spirit at Baptism, we become a temple of the Holy Spirit.    We will receive a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Confirmation.
L3 In Confirmation, the Holy Spirit strengthens in us His seven gifts that, when lived out, produce the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
L3 Even before we are confirmed, we can call upon the Holy Spirit to activate His gifts in us just as He did the apostles at Pentecost when they went out to preach for the first time.                                                                        It was not their own words that drew people to Jesus, but the Holy Spirit acting through them.                                                                             We are called to evangelize in the same way.
L3 Have the children memorize the seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit.
L3 The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophets and, by his power, Mary was made the Mother of Jesus. L4 Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His disciples.
L4 The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete, the Counselor and the Spirit of Truth. L4 The Holy Spirit descended upon Mary and the apostles on Pentecost.
L4 Pentecost is the birthday of the Church and the first Confirmation.

Chapter 27        The Church of Christ

L1 Jesus started His Church and chose Peter to be the leader. (CCC 763-766) The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. The Holy Spirit gives this Body life.
L1 Jesus is with us through the Church, especially in the Eucharist.
L1 The Communion of Saints is made up of all of the baptized persons on earth, all the saints in heaven and all the souls in Purgatory. (CCC 954 -959)
L2 We share in the threefold ministry of Christ as priest, prophet and king.
L2 As priests, we offer ourselves and our prayer to God. As prophets, we bear witness to the truths of God. As kings, we rule over ourselves by keeping the Commandments and preparing to inherit the Kingdom of heaven.
L3 Jesus is the Good Shepherd.
L3 The apostles, and through them all bishops, are shepherds of Jesus’ Church. We are the sheep. L3 The role of the Church’s leaders is to teach, govern and sanctify. In following the teachings of the
Church, Catholics follow Jesus. Introduce the Precepts of the Church and encourage memorization.
L3 The bishops, in union with the Pope, safeguard the Church’s teachings, since Jesus gave His Church the fullness of truth and the authority to teach the truth.
L3 The students should know the names of and pray for the intentions of the Pope, their bishop and their parish pastor.
L3 Recognize the responses to the Bishop’s Blessing.
L4 Jesus established the Church as the means for us to receive the grace He won for us by His life, death and Resurrection.
L4 We must encourage non-Catholic Christians and members of other religions to seek the fullness of truth found in Christ and His Church.                                                             This can be done through friendly discussions and by inviting them to Mass.

Chapter 28   Channels of Grace

L1 Sanctifying grace is a share in God’s own life, won for us by the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. (CCC 2023-2024)
L1 Grace is a gift from God to which we must respond.     Without grace, we cannot love God or neighbor.
Without grace, we cannot do works of charity.
L1 Actual grace is a gift from God that helps us respond to Him in a particular instance.     (CCC 2000) L1 With God’s help we can, and should, increase grace in our souls.                                                        Through prayer, sacraments,
Scripture, and the intercession of the saints, we become disposed for grace.

L2 Memorize the definition of a sacrament:      “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.” (CCC 1131)
L2 The seven sacraments are specific means by which Jesus chooses to give us the grace He won for us.
- The Sacraments of Initiation are Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist. (CCC 1212)
- The Sacraments of Healing are Penance and the Anointing of the Sick. (CCC 1421)
- The Sacraments of Service or Vocation are Holy Orders and Matrimony. (CCC 1534)
L3 Baptism is the sacrament by which all sin is washed away and we are adopted as God’s children. L3 The Eucharist is food for our souls, which is Jesus Himself.
L3 In Penance, we are forgiven our sins, healed and given grace to overcome our sins. L4 Confirmation strengthens the Christian life by an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
L4 Holy Orders and Matrimony serve other people and help them get to heaven. L4 Anointing of the Sick heals us spiritually and physically.

Chapter 29 Our Mother, Mary

L1 Mary is the new Eve. She was obedient to the will of God.
L1 Mary assisted in Jesus’ saving mission by being His Mother, faithfully following Him and joining in His sufferings.
L2 Mary is the Immaculate Conception. This means that she was created without original sin. From the first moment of conception in her mother’s womb, Mary was free from sin and full of grace.
Mary never sinned throughout her life. (CCC 490-492)
L1 The Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, is the patronal feast of the United States and of the Diocese of Lincoln. It is also a Holy Day of Obligation.
L2 Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven.
L2 The Feast of the Assumption on August 15 celebrates Mary being taken up by God to heaven, body and soul, at the end of her earthly life. It is also a Holy Day of Obligation. (CCC 966)
L2 Review how to pray the five decades of the rosary. (CCC 2678, 2708, cf. CCC 1674) L3 Mary is our heavenly Mother.
L3 Jesus gave Mary to us to be our Mother while He was on the Cross.
L3 Mary intercedes for us with her Son. Introduce the term, “to Jesus through Mary,” (ad Jesu per Mariam) referring to Mary’s role as an intercessor.
L3 Give an explanation of the Mysteries of the Rosary.
L4 During the Wedding Feast of Cana, Mary gave the servants (and us) a wise command: “Do whatever He tells you.”
L4 Catholics have devotion to Mary because she leads us to Jesus. Saturdays (due to Mary’s faith on Holy Saturday that Jesus would rise) and the months of October and May are especially devoted to Mary.
L4 Clarify how we as Catholics venerate (honor), but do not worship Mary, since worship is due to God alone.
L4 It is also good to be devoted to St. Joseph and the other saints. Foster devotion to the patron saint of the parish/school. Introduce the children to various litanies of the saints, the Blessed Virgin Mary and of the Sacred Heart.
Chapter 30        We Reach Our Goal

L1 The four last things are: death, judgment, heaven and hell. L1 At the time of death, the soul ceases to keep the body alive.
L1 The Particular Judgment is at the end of our lives, when Jesus will judge us on how we have loved through our words, deeds, thoughts and omissions.
L1 If we die in a state of perfection, we will go directly to heaven.     If we die in friendship with Jesus but still need purification, we will go to Purgatory.                                                           If we reject God, we will go to hell.
L1 Purgatory is the final purification of the soul after death and before entrance into heaven to make one perfect for Eternal Life.    A soul in Purgatory always goes to heaven.
L2 The General Judgment occurs at the end of time when Jesus will appear before all humanity.
L2 Jesus will come to gather all souls from earth, heaven, Purgatory and hell.      Jesus will judge every person who has ever been born.      Each will go either to heaven or hell for all eternity.
L2 Teach the significance of the feasts of All Saints and All Souls.
L3 The resurrection of the body will occur at the end of the world; our bodies will be reunited with our souls.
L3 Men do not become angels when they die.
L4 Heaven is the unending happiness of union with God.
L4 In heaven we will be with the angels, the saints and our loved ones for all eternity.

Advent and Christmas Supplement

L1 Present the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas.
L1 The Incarnate Jesus is the perfect revelation of the Father.      His presence on earth is the supreme sign of God’s love for us.
L1 Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He grew up in Nazareth, and He died in Jerusalem.
L1 Have the children locate Bethlehem, Nazareth and Jerusalem on a map, or copy a map of Israel and place these three cities on the map.

Fifth Grade

Fifth Grade
GRADE Five (Faith and Life Series)
Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Students should have access to a Bible in their classes in Grade Five.

In Grade Five, the teacher will provide the catechesis listed below. All points in black are covered in the scope and sequence of the textbook and all points in red are in addition to the textbook but organized thematically with textbook chapters.

Content and chapters may be taught in any order as long as all of the material is presented.

Chapter 1        I Believe

L1 Faith is a supernatural gift from God.     Faith allows us to believe the truths that God has revealed.
L1 God reveals Himself through creation, Scripture, Tradition and (perfectly) in the Person of Jesus Christ. L1 Touch upon St. Thomas Aquinas’ Proofs of the Existence of God.
L2 Faith is a free gift from God for those who choose to receive it.     Man may choose to reject the gift of faith.
L2 God gives man the grace he needs to accept the gift of faith.
L2 By accepting the gift of faith we are called to evangelize, or share it with others. Our love for Jesus and for our neighbor impels us to speak to others about our faith. Each believer is thus a link in the great chain of believers. (CCC 166)
L3 The Apostles’ Creed summarizes our Faith, as revealed to us by Christ and His apostles, according to the teaching authority of the Church.
L4 The Creed is our profession of faith.
L4 The Creed identifies Catholics and defines our beliefs in summary form.    The Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed contain the same beliefs with different emphases and details.
L4 Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition form the foundation of what we believe as Catholics.
L4 The Bible is the written Word of God.    We need to listen to God’s Word and respond in mind and heart.
L4 The Bible teaches us Who God is and who we are in relation to Him. (CCC 268-271, 205-221, 222-227)
L4 God is the author of Sacred Scripture, and He inspired the prophets, evangelists and other various human authors of the Books of the Bible.                                                                    (CCC 105-107)
L4 The Bible is divided into two main sections - the Old Testament and the New Testament.     (CCC 120, 121-123, 124-127)
L4 The Pentateuch refers to the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy).        The Pentateuch is also known as the Law or the Torah.                                                            (CCC 702)
L4 The major sections of the New Testament are: the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistles (Letters) and the Book of Revelation.                                                             (CCC 124-126)

Chapter 2          The Blessed Trinity

L1 Man can know by reason alone that God exists. L1 God is transcendent.
L1 God is the Creator of heaven and earth. L1 God created man out of love.
L2 Nature describes what something is, while person defines who someone is.
L2 God is all perfect.    God’s further attributes are: all holy, almighty (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), all-present (omnipresent), all-loving, all-merciful, eternal and unchanging

L2 Introduce what the transcendence of God means. (CCC 300, 1028)
L3 God is one God (one nature) in three Divine Persons. This mystery is called the Blessed or Holy Trinity.
L3 The mystery of the Holy Trinity is the central mystery of our Faith, because it is the mystery of God in Himself. The Trinity is the source of all goodness and of all other mysteries of the Faith. (CCC 249)
L3 The First Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Father, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Son and the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity is the Holy Spirit. These three Persons are distinct, yet all are one God.
L3 All three Persons are equal and eternal.      All three Persons have every perfection and attribute of God.
L4 God has revealed the mystery of the Blessed Trinity, otherwise we would have no knowledge of this mystery.
L4 A mystery of the faith cannot be fully understood and must be accepted in faith because God is trustworthy.

Chapter 3    Creator of Heaven and Earth

L1 God is the Creator of heaven and earth (of all things visible and invisible).    (CCC 253) L1 God creates out of nothing. He created because He loves us.
L1 God alone is uncreated.     He has no beginning and no end (He is eternal).    God is the cause of all creation.
L1 Creation is a work of the Trinity.
L2 We can know of the existence of God by looking at the created world. L3 God, in His providence, cares for and upholds the created world.
L4 God created the world for the service of man.      Man must be a good steward of creation.
L3 God gives us all good gifts – the greatest of God’s gifts is His own life, which is called sanctifying grace.
L3 Grace, especially received in the sacraments, is not a right but a gift.      God is continually loving us into the fullness of our being.
L4 The created world should remind us of the goodness of God and inspire prayers of praise to God. L4 Discuss several definitions for prayer.                                                                    (CCC 2559-65)
L4 There are many forms of prayer:     Blessing, Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication/Petition, Intercession and Praise.                                            (CCC 2625-2649)
L4 There are many expressions of prayer: vocal (e.g. rosary); meditation (Lectio divina on Bible passages); contemplative prayer.   (CCC 2700-2719)
L4 Help the students participate in guided meditative prayer based on Gospel stories, e.g. prayer based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
L4 Sometimes there may be difficulties in prayer, but there are ways to overcome these.        (CCC 2725-45)

Chapter 4          Realm of Angels

L1 God created the angels.      Angels are persons who are intelligent and who choose to love. L1 Angels are pure spirits; they do not have bodies.
L1 There are nine choirs of angels.
L1 Angels and men are two different types of created persons. L2 God tested the angels.
L2 The angels who chose not to follow God are called demons and their leader is Satan. L2 The demons were sent to hell. They hate God and try to turn man away from Him. L3 The word angel means “messenger.” Angels are God’s messengers.
L3 There are biblical accounts of the angels in both the Old and New Testaments. L4 Angels are active in the world, even today.

L4 Every human person is given a guardian angel to protect and guard him/her and to help that person get to heaven.
L4 Angels are part of the Communion of Saints.

Chapter 5          Made in His Image
L1 We are made in God’s image and likeness, with intellect and free will (two powers of the soul), and God wants us, but does not force us, to live in communion with Him.                                                                 (CCC 1934)
L1 God created us body and soul from the moment of our conception.       The soul will never die.   The body dies, but will rise again.
L1 Human beings are persons in search of the truth.      We are called to do good and to avoid evil.    (CCC 2104, 1206)
L2 Adam and Eve were the first man and woman; they are our original parents.
L2 Adam and Eve were created in original justice with preternatural gifts: they could not suffer or die; they had all the knowledge necessary to live their lives in Eden; they lived in harmony with God, one another and all creation.
L3 In addition to all the other gifts God gave to Adam and Eve in Eden, He gave them the gift of grace. L3 Grace is a share in God’s life.
L3 God made us to know, love and serve Him in this life, and be happy with Him in heaven.    (CCC 1721)
L4 Being made in God’s image means every person has great dignity from the moment of conception until natural death.
L4 God loves and chooses the existence of every person.      As a class, pray for the protection of all human life from conception to natural death.                                                              (CCC 2258-62)

Chapter 6          The Fall from Grace

L1 God tested Adam and Eve in order for them to freely choose to love and obey Him or not. L1 Adam and Eve committed original sin.
L1 Original sin was very grave because Adam and Eve had knowledge of God’s goodness and the consequences of their action.      Their sin was a sin of pride and of disobedience.
L2 Through original sin, Adam and Eve lost God’s gifts of grace and original justice. L2 Original sin and its effects are passed on to all human beings.
L2 One of the effects of original sin is a strong inclination toward sin.     This inclination is called “concupiscence.” (CCC 400-401)
L3 After sinning, Adam and Eve were banished from Eden.
L3 Adam and Eve were punished for their sins with pain, labor, death and disharmony with God and one another.    The gates of heaven were closed by original sin.
L3 God still loved Adam and Eve and promised a Savior.   (cf. Gen. 3: 15)
L3 Christ redeemed mankind.     He won grace for man and dispenses it primarily through the Sacrament of Baptism.
L3 At Baptism, we receive a share in God’s life through sanctifying grace and this is what makes us holy.
God dwells in the soul through grace.    (CCC 2023-2024)
L3 God’s grace helps human beings to live a life of virtue and goodness, to find the truth and to choose the good.    As part of the Baptismal commitment, Christians are called to bring Christ to the world through their daily lives. (CCC 1270)
L4 Suffering is a result of sin.    Sin damages or kills the life of grace in the soul.
L4 God does not cause suffering, but He allows it.     God can bring good out of suffering.

Chapter 7          The Chosen People

L1 Many years passed between the promise of a Savior and His coming into the world. L1 God chose a special people to be His own and to prepare for the coming of the Savior.

L1 Abraham is the father of the chosen people.
L2 God tested Abraham, telling him to sacrifice his beloved son, Isaac. L2 Abraham passed the test and God told him to spare Isaac.
L2 God promised Abraham numerous descendants, the Promised Land and a blessing for all people through one of his descendants (Jesus).
L3 Isaac married Rebecca and bore twins (Jacob and Esau). L3 Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew.
L3 Jacob tricked his father into giving him the blessing intended for Esau.
L4 Jacob married Rachel and Leah and had twelve sons.     They were the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.
L4 God changed Jacob’s name to Israel.
L4 Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt.    God used Joseph to bring the Israelites into Egypt and save them from famine.

Chapter 8          Moses Leads God’s People

L1 The Egyptians eventually enslaved the Israelites (also called Hebrews) and killed their baby boys. L1 Moses was a Hebrew baby saved from the Nile by Pharaoh’s daughter and adopted by her.
L1 Moses fled Egypt when he killed an Egyptian who had beaten a Hebrew slave.
L2 Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh to ask for the freedom of the Israelites.       Pharaoh refused.
L2 God sent ten plagues upon Egypt as a sign of His power and as proof that Moses spoke on behalf of God.
L2 Pharaoh’s heart was hardened.      He should have listened to God’s messenger.     Encourage obedience to those who have authority over us.
L3 The tenth plague was the death of the first born.       The Israelites celebrated the Passover, which protected them from the tenth plague.
L4 After 430 years of slavery, Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt.    As they left they were chased by the Egyptians.        God saved the Israelites by allowing them to pass through the Red Sea before the waters closed and drowned the pursuing Egyptians.

Chapter 9          The Forming of God’s People

L1 The Israelites complained against God and Moses in the desert.
L1 Because of their disbelief in God’s promise to settle them safely into the Promised Land, the Hebrews (Israelites) wandered about the desert for forty years.                                                                      (cf. Exodus 13: 17 - 14: 38)
L1 The forty years in the desert prefigures the Christian life between Baptism and the Promised Land of heaven.
L1 In the desert, God provided manna and quail for His people.      The manna given to the Hebrews for food in the desert prefigures the Holy Eucharist.
L1 God provided water from a rock that Moses struck with his staff. L2 God established a covenant with His people at Mount Sinai.
L2 God gave Moses the Ten Commandments for the Israelites (and all people through them).
L2 The Ten Commandments represent God’s covenant with the Israelites and their promise to keep God’s laws.      (CCC 205-207, 210-211, 2056-2063)
L3 God commanded Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant and to put the Ten Commandments in the Ark. The Ark would be the sign of God’s presence among the Israelites and the focal point of their worship.
L3 Discuss the relationship between the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament and the tabernacle within the Catholic Church.
L3 The Israelites made a false god (golden calf) while waiting for Moses to return from Mt. Sinai.    God forgave the repentant and punished those who did not repent.                                                                        God blessed those who were faithful.
L4 The Israelites wanted a human king in order to be like other nations.      By doing so they were rejecting God as their King.
L4 King David was Israel’s greatest king.   He led the people to worship the one true God.      David’s son, King Solomon, was also a great king who built a magnificent temple to the Lord.                                                             Unfortunately, his heart turned to foreign gods before his death.

Chapter 10        The Words of the Prophets

L1 The prophets spoke God’s word to the Israelites and called them to live their covenant with God faithfully.
L1 All those who are baptized are called to be prophets and speak the truth in Jesus’ name to those around them. Today this is known as evangelization.                                                              (CCC 897)
L2 The prophets spoke the truth (and were often unpopular).       They reminded the people of Israel that they had broken their promises to God.
L2 God punished the Israelites until they repented.       When they were faithful to God they were blessed.
L3 The prophets helped the Israelites to prepare for the coming of the Savior.       Isaiah was one of those prophets.
L4 Jeremiah was a prophet who predicted the Babylonian exile and also foretold the coming of the Messiah.
L4 The last and greatest of the prophets was John the Baptist.

Chapter 11        In the Fullness of Time

L1 Elizabeth and Zechariah were blessed in old age with a child.    The child was John the Baptist.
L2 The Annunciation took place when the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary God’s desire for her to bring the Savior into the world.
L2 When Mary replied to the angel with her fiat (“Let it be done to me”), Jesus, true God and true man, was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit.                                                                     (CCC 484-486)
L2 Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus, who is God. L2 An angel told Joseph that Mary’s baby was the Son of God.
L3 The Visitation took place when Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist.    Mary stayed for about three months.
L3 Elizabeth and Zechariah named their son John.
L4 Mary was prepared by God to be the Mother of the Savior.
L4 Mary was conceived without original sin and her soul was filled with grace as a special gift from God.
This is called the Immaculate Conception.
L4 The Immaculate Conception was proclaimed as a dogma of the Church on December 8, 1854.     The Feast of the Immaculate Conception is a Holy Day of Obligation.
L4 Holy Days of Obligation are special days, other than Sundays, when we come together to worship God at Mass and to rest from work.   (CCC 2180, 2185)                                 The bishops of the various countries are permitted by Rome to establish rules about the observance of Holy Days of Obligation in their particular countries.
L4 Guidelines for the Holy Days of Obligation in the United States are: (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)
- Immaculate Conception (December 8) and Christmas (December 25) are always Holy Days of Obligation, regardless of the day of the week on which they fall;
- Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (January 1), Assumption of Mary (August 15) and All Saints Day (November 1) are normally Holy Days of Obligation, but not when they fall on a Monday or a Saturday, although, even at such times, attendance at Mass is always to be encouraged;
- In some dioceses, the Feast of Ascension Thursday is transferred to the Seventh Sunday of Easter. (CCC 2042-2043, 2180)
- Even if the days are not obligatory for Mass, they are always ‘solemnities’ in the Church.
Chapter 12        Born in the City of David

L1-2 Review the Christmas story including the Annunciation, the census, the nativity in Bethlehem, the presentation in the Temple.
L3 The Incarnation means that God took on a human nature.       Jesus is one Person with two natures: divine and human.    Thus, we say He is true God and true man.
L3 Jesus is God the Son, our Savior, Who came to reveal the Father to us, to teach us how to live and to open heaven to us.God the Son is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity.                                                                  (CCC 457-459, 461)
L3 God became man so that we might share in His glory. L4 The Magi came to give reverence and homage to Jesus.
L4 Encourage the children to show reverence when visiting Jesus in Church:
1. Review making the Sign of the Cross with the right hand correctly, emphasizing that the words be spoken clearly, especially, “In the name of…” (CCC 2157, cf. CCC 786).
2. Fold hands during prayer in proper manner.
3. Make a genuflection (touching the floor) on the right knee toward the tabernacle because Jesus is present there. (CCC 1378)
4. Bow one’s head slightly when hearing or saying the Name of Jesus/Jesus Christ.
5. Review proper manner of sitting, standing and kneeling in church.
6. Quiet and reverence while in church.
7. A proper and regular use of holy water – with the right hand.
8. Striking one’s breast during the ‘Confiteor’ at the words: “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault.”
9. At the beginning of the Gospel reading, make a ‘cross’ with the right thumb on the forehead, lips and heart and ask God to be “in my mind, on my lips and in my heart.”
10. Bow or kneel when we say “and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became man” in the Creed.
L4 Teach the children how to compose ‘Prayers of the Faithful’ for Mass. As a rule, the series of intentions is to be:
1. For the needs of the Church;
  
  For public authorities and the salvation of the whole world;
  
  For those burdened by any kind of difficulty;
  
  For the local community.
Nevertheless, in a particular celebration, such as Confirmation, Marriage, or a Funeral, the series of intentions may reflect more closely the particular occasion. (General Instruction of the Roman Missal, #70)
L4 Teach familiarity with how to participate at Exposition, Adoration and Benediction.
L4 Be able to identify the fixtures in a church as well as vessels and vestments used for Mass.

Chapter 13        The Holy Family

L1 The years of Jesus’ life after the return from Egypt until his Baptism are called the “hidden life.” L1 Joseph, Jesus’ foster father, was a carpenter.
L2 Mary is the Mother of Jesus.     She lived the life of an ordinary woman in Nazareth. L2 The Holy Family followed and obeyed the laws of the Jewish religion.
L3 When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph took him to Jerusalem for the Passover.      Jesus stayed behind at the temple and was found “doing his Father’s business.”
L3 Jesus returned to Nazareth with Mary and Joseph.      Emphasize that Jesus was obedient to His parents even though He was God.         This is an example of obedience for all of us.
L4 The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is a model for all families.
L4 Discuss the responsibilities of parents toward children and the duties of children toward their parents.
Chapter 14        The Kingdom of Heaven

L1 For thirty years, Jesus lived in Nazareth with Joseph and Mary.    Jesus began His public ministry at age thirty with His Baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist.
L1 When Jesus was baptized, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in the form of a dove and the Father said from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
L2 Jesus went into the desert for forty days to fast and pray.
L2 Encourage daily prayer, especially in the morning and evening. Teach the students how to pray in their own words, spontaneously.        Help the children to simply ‘BE’ in God’s Presence.
L2 Satan tempted Jesus in the desert, but Jesus did not sin.       Discuss the importance of renouncing (saying no to) the devil when we are tempted by calling upon the name of Jesus.                                      (CCC 434, 538-539)
L2 In order to resist temptation and sin, make a brief Examination of Conscience followed by the Act of Contrition before going to bed each night.                                                              (CCC 1454 and cf. Glossary of CCC)
L2 After forty days Jesus came out of the desert and began preaching the Good News and the call to conversion in the villages of Galilee.
L3 Jesus taught the people about God and the Kingdom of heaven.
L3 Reflect on the love which impelled Jesus to share about the Kingdom of God with those around Him. He desires that we, out of love for Him, also share the Gospel with those around us so they can know, love and serve God, too.
L3 God desires that all human beings go to heaven and gives every human being sufficient grace, but He won’t force anyone to go to heaven.
L3 Jesus taught with parables.
L4 Jesus chose twelve apostles. They were his closest followers and friends. Someday they would carry on His work through the Church.
L4 Jesus came to fulfill the will of God the Father.

Chapter 15        The Father and I Are One

L1 Jesus is God the Son, both human and divine.     He is the New Adam.
L1 Jesus is the Messiah – long awaited by the Israelites as the Redeemer of God’s People.      (CCC 436- 439)
L1 The Israelites expected the Messiah to be a descendent of David, but not God become man. L2 Jesus performed miracles by His own power as a proof of His divinity.
L3 Jesus revealed His truths to His apostles before He revealed them to anyone else.
L3 Knowledge of Jesus and His teachings changed the lives of the apostles.     We are blessed to know Jesus and His teachings as well.      If we truly believe in Jesus, it will be reflected in how we live and act toward one another and a desire to share His truth and love with others.
L3 Review the different types of prayers and devotions that reflect the truths of our Faith, e.g. prayers to saints, Stations of the Cross, Divine Mercy Chaplet, rosary, etc.                                                                      (CCC 1674)
L4 The Transfiguration reveals Jesus’ divinity and His perfect humanity. L4 Jesus taught that He is God; He was persecuted for this.
L4 Jesus’ greatest proof of His divinity is the Resurrection.

Chapter 16        Your Sins Are Forgiven

L1 Sin is any intentional thought, word, deed, or omission that breaks God’s law.      (CCC 1849-1851)
L1 A sin of commission is any intentional thought, word, or deed that offends God.      A sin of omission is the neglect or refusal to perform good actions that one’s conscience urges one to do.
L1 Sin has personal and social consequences.      When we sin, we weaken our friendship with God and with the Church.     (CCC 1869)
L1 Only God can forgive sins. Jesus was able to show, through miracles, that He is God.    Thus, Jesus, as God, forgives sins.

L1 Jesus knew the thoughts of men.
L2 Jesus healed people physically and spiritually.
L2 Jesus is merciful; He is always ready to forgive sins. L2 People who encounter Jesus are converted.
L2 It is good to go to the Sacrament of Penance frequently, that is at least once a month. L2 The formula to use in the Sacrament of Penance:                                                                        (CCC 1450-1460)
At the beginning the penitent says: Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.
It has been             since my last confession.
My sins are           (the penitent states mortal sins in kind and number and any other venial sins).
I am sorry for these and all my sins.
The priest advises and then gives a penance. The penitent makes an Act of Contrition.
The priest gives absolution.
Priest:        “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.”
Penitent:    “His Mercy endures forever.”
Priest:        “The Lord has freed you from your sins.   Go in peace.”
Penitent:    “Thanks be to God.”
L3 God calls all to conversion. Conversion is God’s grace at work in us to turn us to Christ by resisting sin and living our life united with Jesus.                                                           (CCC 1431-1432)
L3 We are to avoid the occasions of sin which are any person, place, or thing that might easily lead us to sin.           (CCC 1853)
L3 It is the responsibility of each person to form one’s conscience correctly, and to strengthen the will to choose good and avoid evil.         (CCC 1783-1785)
L4 We are to forgive injuries caused by others in imitation of Christ.     This is a Spiritual Work of Mercy.
L4 Forgiving someone is an act of the will, not an act of emotion.     We are called to choose to forgive and to act in charity toward others
L4 In imitation of Jesus, we are to forgive our enemies.     This is difficult, but can be done through God’s grace.

Chapter 17        True God and True Man

L1 Jesus is true God and true man.
L1 Jesus was like us in all things but sin.
L2 Jesus, God the Son, is eternal.     The Incarnation is the mystery of God made man. L2 Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
L2 Jesus is a Divine Person.    The union of God and man in Jesus is called the hypostatic union. L3 Jesus is our model and example in the moral life.
L3 Jesus is the mediator between God and man. L3 We should obey the will of God.
L4 Jesus is our Savior and our brother in God’s family.    Have students reflect on what role different people play in a human family and what role God might be calling them to in His divine family.
L4 God has called us to holiness before the foundation of the world and has a plan for us, our vocation. (cf. Eph. 1: 11)       Discuss with the students the idea of a vocation to heaven, holiness, apostolate, a state in life.
L4 The different states in life are: marriage, religious life and priesthood.      Remind the students to pray to know one’s vocation in life.
L4 Everyone has a vocation to serve God and others.      Teach the children to pray for the needs of others. (CCC 1877)

Chapter 18        Rejected by the Proud

L1 Many people did not recognize Jesus as the Savior, the Son of God made man. L1 Jesus associated with everyone, including sinners and ordinary people.
L1 We are called to imitate Jesus in seeing the good in our neighbors and treating everyone with the respect due to them as children of God and our brothers or sisters.                                                                         (CCC 1931, 1932)
L1 Jesus spoke the truth, but many would not accept it.
L1 Jesus taught that unless a man “eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood,” he does not have life within him.
Jesus spoke of the Holy Eucharist.
L2 Jesus, as God, is present everywhere.     However, when we refer to the Real Presence, we are referring to Jesus’ substantial, incarnate presence in the Holy Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – fully God and fully Man.
L2 Have the students memorize: “The Holy Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, under the appearance of bread and wine.”
L2 The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of living the Christian life.   (CCC 1324) Encourage frequent reception of Holy Communion (at least every Sunday) and visits to the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. Encourage students to speak to Jesus from their hearts when they visit Him.
L2 Receiving Holy Communion deepens a person’s union with God. By receiving Holy Communion, we are also given the power to live and love like Jesus in the world.                                                             (CCC 1397)
L2 Being properly prepared to receive Holy Communion, a person must: a) be Catholic; b) be free from mortal sin (i.e. to be in the state of grace); c) have fasted from food and drink for at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion; and, d) have the right intention of being united with Jesus Christ.
L2 Water and/or medicine do not break the Eucharistic fast.       (cf. Canon 919 of the Code of Canon Law)
L2 Practice making an act of reverence before receiving Holy Communion (bow, kneel, genuflect) and receiving Holy Communion properly and with reverence in the hand and on the tongue.
L2 Holy Communion must be received on the tongue when receiving at a Mass in the Extraordinary Form or when receiving Holy Communion from the Holy Father.
L2 When Holy Communion is given by ‘intinction’ (the priest or extraordinary minister of Holy Communion dips the Sacred Host into the Precious Blood), one must receive Holy Communion on the tongue.
L3 God has a special love for the poor and humble.
L3 When confronted with the truth, man must choose to follow it or not to follow it.
L3 It is the responsibility of everyone to form his/her conscience correctly, and to strengthen the will to choose good and avoid evil.
L3 Many religious leaders in Jesus’ time turned away from Jesus. L4 When we commit sin, we are turning away from God.
L4 Teach the students to make a brief Examination of Conscience followed by the Act of Contrition before going to bed each night.                                                    (CCC 2068)
L4 Teach the children to say “I’m sorry, forgive me” to anyone offended.
L4 We can respond to Jesus with love by choosing to be His disciple and following His example of loving and forgiving those who ridiculed, persecuted and hated Him.

Chapter 19        The Acceptance of the Father’s Will
L1 Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
L1 Jesus foretold His Passion, death and Resurrection.
L2 Jesus celebrated the Last Supper (the first Mass) on Holy Thursday with the apostles. (CCC 1323)   It was at the Last Supper that Jesus instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
L2 During the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, Jesus changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. Today the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus (Transubstantiation) during the Mass at the Consecration through the words and actions of the priest.    (CCC 1323, 1352, 1353, 1412)

L2 The Consecration is when the priest says the words of Jesus:      “This is My Body” and “This is the chalice of My Blood” over bread and wine during the Mass.   After the Consecration, there is no more bread and wine.        There is only the appearance of bread and wine.         (CCC 1376)
L2 At the Last Supper Jesus also instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
L2 Jesus washed the feet of the apostles to teach them the virtues of humility and service.
L3 Jesus accepted the Father’s will at Gethsemane. Jesus knew every person’s sins. He died for all mankind.
L3 Judas turned Jesus over to the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin handed Jesus over to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, and Herod, the governor of Galilee. Jesus was sentenced to death on a Cross.
L4 Jesus accepted the will of the Father and was obedient unto death on the Cross.
L4 Jesus suffered and died for the sins of all men in order to restore grace to mankind. L4 On the cross, Jesus gave Mary to us to be our Mother.
L4 The Paschal Triduum, which is celebrated from Holy Thursday evening through Evening Prayer on the Easter Vigil, is the most sacred time of the Liturgical Year.
L4 Encourage proper observance of the liturgical season of Lent.

Chapter 20   The Perfect Sacrifice

L1 A sacrifice is an oblation or offering to God.
L1 Every sacrifice has a priest, a victim and an altar. L1 Jesus, as priest and victim, is the perfect sacrifice.
L2 Man could not make up for his sin and restore grace by the sacrifices he offered.      Jesus was without sin and, therefore, could offer a pleasing and perfect sacrifice to God.
L2 Jesus, as both God and man, was the perfect mediator between the Creator and His creation. L2 Jesus opened heaven and redeemed man, offering him grace through Baptism.
L3 Jesus offered Himself to the Father during the Last Supper in the Holy Eucharist and on Good Friday on the Cross, and continues this offering in the Heavenly Liturgy to the Father where we are joined in glory.
L3 Jesus was sacrificed once for all on the Cross. The Sacrifice of the Mass is the same sacrifice as the sacrifice of the Cross offered (perpetuated) in an unbloody manner (with the same priest and same victim).
L3 We are to participate in the Mass, as both a privilege and obligation, offering ourselves in union with Jesus as a sacrifice to the Father.
L4 The Mass is the greatest form of prayer and worship.
L4 Christians have been persecuted throughout the ages, but Mass has always been celebrated, even in times of persecution.
L4 Encourage students to invite people to join them for Mass as a means of sharing the greatest treasure of our Faith with others.    This is a beautiful means of evangelization, especially for those who are not Catholics or don’t practice their faith regularly.        It gives an opportunity for ongoing conversation. (n.b. It is important to share with the students that non-Catholics should not receive Communion but discuss why, and how this could be an opportunity for them to grow in their understanding of our Faith and perhaps desire a closer relationship with Jesus.)
L4 Teach the proper manner for reading at Mass (whenever this begins in the parish/school). L4 Review the proper manner for serving at Mass (whenever this begins for boys in the parish).

Chapter 21   He is Risen

L1 On Easter Sunday, Jesus rose from the dead and conquered death.
L1 Jesus’ resurrected body was the same body that He had throughout His earthly life, though His resurrected body was glorified.
L1 An angel announced that Jesus had risen from the dead and Jesus appeared to people after the Resurrection.
L2 Redemption is brought about by Christ in His death and Resurrection. Jesus was victorious over sin and death.
L2 Jesus’ Resurrection showed that He is God.
L3 Jesus had a glorified body after the Resurrection. Some of the qualities of a glorified body include:
1. The body is subject to the will.
2. The body is beautiful and spiritual.
3. The body will no longer suffer and die.
L3 We guard our purity and respect and care for our bodies because they are temples of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 1004, 2519)
L3 There are various means to preserve purity of thought, word and action.       Discuss these possibilities.
L3 Because Jesus rose again, we share in the life of grace.     We hope for the resurrection of our bodies at the end of time.
L4 The Easter Vigil Mass teaches us about the new life of Christ offered to us all.    Discuss the rich symbolism present in the Easter Vigil Mass and encourage students to attend.
L4 In Baptism we die with Christ and rise with Him, sharing in His life of grace.

Chapter 22        Jesus Sends the Apostles

L1 Jesus commissioned the apostles to continue His work through the Church He founded.
L1 On Easter, Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit into the apostles and gave them power to forgive sin.      By instituting the Sacrament of Penance, Jesus enabled future bishops and priests have this power, also.
L2 Jesus forgave Peter’s sins and chose him to be His first Pope, the visible head of the Church.     The Pope, as successor to Peter, is also the Bishop of Rome.
L2 Papal Infallibility means that the Holy Spirit keeps the Pope from teaching error in matters of faith and morals.   (CCC 891)
L3 After forty days, Jesus ascended body and soul into heaven. L3 Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit.
L3 A novena is a prayer prayed for nine days for a special intention.     The concept of ‘novena’ comes from the nine days of prayer by Mary and the apostles between Ascension Thursday and Pentecost Sunday.
L3 At His Ascension into heaven, Jesus gave the Great Commission to His apostles to go to all nations, to teach, to preach the Good News and to baptize.                                                                  (Mt. 28:16-20)
L3 The Great Commission is not just for the apostles!     Rather, it is a call to all the baptized to share the Good News of God’s saving love with those around them.                                                    Discuss with students ways of evangelizing at this age level.          (CCC 3)
L3 Jesus will come again.
L4 Jesus is present to His Church in His priests, in the Word of God proclaimed, in the People of God gathered in His name and (most perfectly) in the Eucharist.
L4 Jesus is present in our neighbors.     We love Christ in them.    This can be done through the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy.
L4 Mary’s care for her children on earth is a good example for us to follow.     (CCC 1932)
L4 Identify examples of God working through the lives of the saints, using human effort to build His Kingdom of justice, peace and mercy on earth.

Chapter 23        The Giver of Life

L1 The Holy Spirit comes to us in many ways.
L1 In Baptism, the Holy Spirit incorporates us into the Body of Christ, the Church, and the Communion of Saints.
L1 We receive a strengthening of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Sacrament of Confirmation.
L1 The gifts of the Holy Spirit are wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, piety, fortitude and fear of the Lord.
L2 On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Virgin Mary, the apostles and other disciples gathered in the Upper Room.     On this day the Church began its saving mission in the world and this is why Pentecost Sunday is often called the “birthday of the Church.”      (CCC 726, 731, 1076 and cf. Acts 2:33-36)
L2 The apostles were filled with courage and zeal to preach the good News.      They were given the gift of speaking in foreign languages.
L2 On Pentecost, 3000 people were baptized.
L3 Fire, wind and the dove are symbols of the Holy Spirit.
L3 The Holy Spirit, the Third Divine Person of the Blessed Trinity, is the love between the Father and the Son.
L3 God the Holy Spirit was sent by God the Father and God the Son, to dwell within us and help us always to choose what is good and avoid what is evil.                                                                    (CCC 245, 733-736) This is why the Holy Spirit is called the Sanctifier (one who makes us holy).
L4 Through Baptism, we have become temples of the Holy Spirit.
L4 The Holy Spirit has many titles, including Spirit of Truth, Counselor, Comforter, Sanctifier, Advocate and Paraclete.

Chapter 24        The Mystical Body

L1 Jesus is the founder of the Catholic Church.
L1 Jesus chose the apostles to be the leaders of His Church and taught them more than any other people.
He established Peter as the first Pope. The Pope is the Vicar of Christ, the visible head of the Church.
L2 The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ.   Jesus is the invisible head of this Body, the Holy Spirit is the soul. We are baptized into this Body as its members.
L3 Sadly, non-Catholic Christian denominations broke away from the Catholic Church.
L3 At the Last Supper, Jesus prayed, “That they may all be one.” (Jn. 17:20) Out of love for our “separated brethren” we are called to pray for and work toward unity with one another.                                                                   Discuss with students ways of reaching out to those of other faiths and inviting them to explore the Catholic Faith.
L3 Jesus promised to keep the teaching of His Church free from error until the end of the world.
L3 Many Christians believe in the Bible and faith for salvation, though they do not accept the importance of Tradition.
L4 The Communion of Saints is the members of the Church in heaven (Church Triumphant), in Purgatory (Church Suffering) and on earth (Church Militant). Discuss the role of each of the members assisting one another. (See CCC 957-958)
L4 Foster devotion to the patron saint of the parish/school. Teach the children to pray to their own patron saint.

Chapter 25        The Identity of the Church

L1 Catholics profess their faith by saying the Creed.    It is a summary of our Faith.
L1 The Nicene Creed identifies the four marks of the true Church of Christ: one, holy, catholic and apostolic.
L2 Jesus founded one Church and provided Her with one sacrifice.
L2 The public worship of the Church is called liturgy.   The Church’s liturgy is made up of the Mass, the sacraments and the Liturgy of the Hours.
L2 Discuss the significance of the Liturgical Calendar:   Church seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time.     (cf. Appendix “Celebrating the Church Year”)
L2 There are different rites within the Catholic Church, but all Catholics share one Faith.
L3 The Church is holy because Jesus founded Her and because the Holy Spirit guides Her.    The purpose of the Church is to make all its members holy.
L3 The Church is catholic, or universal.    This means that the Church serves all people and offers the fullness of the means of salvation.
L3 All Catholics are united in their brotherhood of faith.
L3 The Church is apostolic – the priesthood and papacy can be traced back to the apostles; the teachings of the Church are based upon the teachings of the apostles.
L4 There are many symbols for the Church, including the sheepfold, the vineyard and the ship.

Chapter 26          The Church Rules

L1 Because She is the Mystical Body of Christ, the Church is human and divine.
L1 The apostles were given the authority to govern the Church. The Church is governed today by the legitimate successors of the apostles – the Pope and the bishops in union with him.
L1 Christ instituted the sacraments of the Eucharist and of Holy Orders at the Last Supper when He commanded His chosen apostles to offer the sacrifice of the Mass, saying: “Do this in memory of Me”.
L1 Holy Orders consists of three orders or levels: deacon, priest and bishop.
L1 The effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders are: the men chosen to receive this sacrament are configured to Christ (made like unto Christ) in order to lead the Church to holiness by teaching, sanctifying and shepherding God’s flock. (CCC 1581)
L2 Each bishop, as a successor of the apostles, has the power to govern his diocese, teach the true Faith and administer the sacraments.
L2 A bishop is in charge of his diocese (usually, a geographic region).    The priests are his helpers and representatives.       The bishops share their powers with their priests by ordination so they can teach, govern and administer sacraments in their parishes.     The work of a priest is dependent upon his bishop.
L2 The priest is an “Alter Christus”, i.e. ‘Another Christ.’ The priest acts “in persona Christi,” which means that he acts ‘in the person of Christ’ as head of the Body of Christ.                                           A priest must be a male because he stands in the person of Jesus Christ, who took on a male body at His Incarnation and is the Bridegroom of the Church.
L2 The patron saint of all priests is St. John Vianney.
L2 Students should know the names of the current Holy Father, their diocesan bishop, their parish and their pastor.
L2 Deacons are ordained by a bishop to help with Baptisms, marriages and funerals.      They can preach at Mass, offer Benediction and visit the sick.                                                             They have a special ministry to the poor.
L3 Saint Peter was the first Bishop of Rome.     The Bishop of Rome is the Pope.   Today, the Pope is elected by the College of Cardinals.
L3 The Pope governs and teaches the entire Church.      The Pope is infallible when teaching on matters of faith and morals.
L4 The precepts of the Church are:
1. Attend Mass and refrain from unnecessary work on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
2. Confess serious sins at least once a year.
3. Receive Holy Communion during the Easter time.
4. Fast and abstain on the days appointed.
5. Contribute to the support of the Church. (traditional 5 precepts CCC 2042-2043)
6. Obey the laws of the Church concerning Matrimony. (CCC 1621, 1625-1632)
7. Participate in the Church’s mission of evangelization. (CCC 3)
L4 The precepts of the Church are binding on all Catholics. While they focus on minimal external observance, the goal of a faithful Catholic is to go beyond the minimum and live the Faith as fully as possible. (CCC 2041)
Chapter 27        Teach all Nations

L1 Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to the Church to preserve it from error.
L1 The Church has the duty of teaching the Faith as Jesus taught it, in truth with certainty.
L2 The teaching authority of Peter and the apostles is passed down to the Pope and the bishops in union with him.   This is called the Magisterium, or the teaching office of the Church.
L2 The Magisterium’s duty is to interpret Scripture and Tradition and to safeguard the truths of the Faith. L2 Scripture is the Word of God written down.                                                                    Tradition is the Word of God in its entirety.
L3 The Pope is infallible in teaching on faith and morals.    Infallibility, or protection from error, is a papal charism.
L3 The bishops are infallible when, in union with the Pope, they teach something that must be held true by all members of the Catholic Church on matters of faith and morals.
L3 Ecumenical councils, or meetings of all bishops, must have papal approval.
L4 The Church has the duty of evangelization – preaching the Good News to all nations and all peoples.
L4 Another name for missionaries is evangelizers.     Missionaries do not just share the Gospel in foreign lands, but are called to share it wherever they live.                                                              Missionaries are motivated by love:           knowing they are loved by Jesus and wanting to share His love with others.                                   Identify situations in the students’ lives that indicate there is still a need for evangelization in the present circumstances of our culture and potential means of evangelizing friends and neighbors.
L4 Some ways to work for peace and justice include:
1. Tithing 10% of your income to the Church,
2. Practicing good stewardship of natural resources,
3. Being involved in pro-life activities,
4. Completing safe and appropriate service projects.
Chapter 28        Called To Holiness

L1 The spiritual life parallels the physical life.    From His pierced Heart on the cross, Jesus instituted, and entrusted to the Church, the seven sacraments as a sure way to receive His grace and become holy. (CCC 1114, 1122-1123, 1131) This is not a right but a gift.
L1 Have the students memorize the definition of sacrament:       “A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ, to give grace.”                                                          (CCC 1131)
L1 Have the students find in the Bible the Scriptural foundations of the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist); the Sacraments of Healing (Penance and the Anointing of the Sick); and the Sacraments of Service/Vocation (Holy Orders, Matrimony). (CCC 1212, 1420-1421, 1533-1535)
L1 The Church has the mission to sanctify her members through the sacraments.
L2 In Baptism, Jesus gives us grace, God’s life, to avoid sin and to share His Resurrection, the life He has prepared for us in heaven.                                             Baptism unites us to God and gives us the three theological virtues of faith, hope and charity,
L2 The matter (substance) of Baptism is water.     The form of Baptism is the words, “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”                                          The primary effects of Baptism are sharing in God’s life through sanctifying grace, forgiveness of sin and becoming a child of God.
L2 Faith, hope and charity are the theological virtues given to human beings by God at Baptism, to help them throughout their entire lives. (CCC 1812-13)
L2 Review the Baptismal Promises.
L3 Actual sin is comprised of two types: venial and mortal.
L3 Venial sins do not destroy the life of grace in the soul, but mortal sins do.     For a sin to be venial, it does not meet all three conditions for mortal sin.                                                                (CCC 1855, 1861-1863)
L3 For a sin to be mortal, there are three conditions:      (CCC 1857)
1. The bad thought, word, or deed must be serious in itself. (CCC 1858)
2. One must know the sin is serious. (CCC 1859)
3. One must freely choose to commit the sin anyway. (CCC 1859)
L3 There is need for the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Communion, if one is guilty of mortal sin.
L3 In the Sacrament of Penance, we receive God’s mercy. The effects of the Sacrament of Reconciliation are: a) the forgiveness of sins; b) reconciliation with God and the Church; c) strengthening of the resolve to do good and to avoid sin in the future; and, d) the restoration of the penitent to sanctifying grace, if this grace has been lost through mortal sin. (CCC 980, 1468)
L4 When a person receives absolution in the Sacrament of Penance, one recovers sanctifying grace if he/she had lost it through mortal sin. The Sacrament of Penance is the ordinary way that a baptized person recovers grace, if it has been lost through mortal sin.
L4 There are five steps to a good confession: (CCC 1491)
1. Examination of Conscience (often based on the Ten Commandments)
2. Sorrow for one’s sins (contrition or attrition) and purpose of amendment (a firm resolve, with God’s grace, to avoid sin)
3. Confession of one’s sins (mortal in kind and number; venial) to a priest in the Sacrament of Penance
4. Receiving absolution from the priest
5. Penance (prayers or actions to help make up for the damage of sin)
Chapter 29        The Mother of God in our Lives

L1 Mary was the intercessor for the first miracle Jesus performed in Cana. L1 Jesus gave Mary to be our Mother when He was on the Cross.
L1 Mary is the model and Mother of the Church.
L2 Mary is the New Eve.    Mary was always obedient to God’s will and never sinned.    Mary is the Immaculate Conception.         Mary, under the title of the Immaculate Conception, is patroness of the Diocese of Lincoln and of the United States.
L2 Mary is the Mother of all the living by the order of grace.
L2 At the end of Mary’s earthly life, God assumed her, body and soul, into heaven.       The Feast of the Assumption is celebrated on August 15th.
L3 The rosary is a sacramental that we pray while meditating on the mysteries of the lives of Jesus and Mary.          Encourage the recitation and praying of the rosary daily.
L3 Encourage devotion to Mary, especially on Saturdays and during the months of October and May. L3 Clarify the difference between a sacrament and a sacramental.                                                              (CCC 1667 and 1670)
L3 Sacramentals (holy water, blessed palms, candles, ashes, rosary, medals, scapulars, crucifixes, religious images, statues, etc.) help to enhance one’s spiritual life.                                                                (CCC 1667-79)
L4 Mary, under the title of Our Lady of Guadalupe (December 12th), is honored as Patroness of the Americas and patroness of unborn babies.
L4 Over the centuries, Mary has appeared to visionaries in the form of an apparition.       Examples include Guadalupe in 1531, Lourdes in 1858 and Fatima in 1917.
L4 Mary encourages all to be faithful followers of Jesus.

Chapter 30        Unto Everlasting Life

L1 God desires that all human beings go to heaven and gives every human being sufficient grace, but He won’t force anyone to go to heaven.                                                            (CCC 74, 1742)
L1 The four last things are:     death, judgment, heaven and hell.
L1 Death occurs at the end of our earthly lives.      It is the separation of the soul from the body.     The body will die, but the soul will live forever.
L1 The body will be reunited with the soul at the end of time.
L1 Explain the proper manner of participating in a rosary or wake service and funeral for the deceased.
L2 The particular judgment occurs for each person at the time of death.       One must be in a state of sanctifying grace (having the life of God within him/her) to enter heaven.
L2 Those who die in the state of mortal sin without repenting go to hell. We may send ourselves to hell by the choices we make.
L2 If we die in the state of grace, we go to heaven. We may need to spend some time in purgatory first, however.
L3 Eternal Life in heaven is the perfect happiness of being totally united with God, who is Love. L3 In heaven, we will be with God, the angels and the saints.

Religion Curriculum

Diocese of Santa Rosa Department of Catholic Schools Religion Curriculum Guidelines

Essential Concepts TK-12

Essential Concepts TK-12

Kindergarten

Transitional Kindergarten

Kindergarten

First Grade

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Second Grade

Second Grade

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Third Grade

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Fourth Grade

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown

Fifth Grade

Scope and Sequence Link

Individual Chapter Breakdown