Our Mission of Love THE CHURCH CARRIES ON JESUS MISSION TEACHER S MANUAL. A program to encourage you and your child to grow in faith together.

Transcription

1 I M A G E O F G O D S E R I E S A program to encourage you and your child to grow in faith together. TEACHER S MANUAL 5 Our Mission of Love THE CHURCH CARRIES ON JESUS MISSION Second Edition

2 CONTENTS Introduction.. Unit 1 God the Father 1 Blessed Trinity Communion of Persons. 3 2 Creation. 9 3 Our Dignity and Uniqueness Making Choices 22 5 Commandments Growing Up Unit 2 Jesus: God and Man 7 God the Son Became Man Jesus as Prophet, Priest, and King Parables and Miracles. 65 vii. Unit 5 Grace and Prayer 21 The Virtues and the Gifts of the Holy Spirit The Beatitudes Prayer The Holy Rosary After Death There Is Life Angels and Saints 225 Unit 6 Church Year and Sacramentals 27 Advent Preparing for Christmas Lent Preparing for Easter Sacramentals. 245 Appendix Unit 3 The Church 10 The Church Is Born Functions and Titles in the Church The Pope Leader of the Church Our Mission as Prophets, Priests, and King Living the Works of Mercy Mary, Mother of God. 114 Unit 4 The Sacraments 16 The Sacraments Signs of Jesus Love Sacraments of Initiation The Mass Jesus Sacrifice of Love Sacraments of Healing Sacraments at the Service of Communion. 168

3 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON FOCUS Emphasis We are welcomed into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist. They are called Sacraments of Initiation because they make those receiving them full members of the Church. The Sacraments give us the grace to carry on Jesus mission of love: to love God, ourselves, and others here on earth and to live with God someday in Heaven. Jesus shows us His great love in the Sacraments. When we receive a Sacrament, Christ is there, giving us the Sacrament. We receive grace in the Sacraments through the power of the Holy Spirit. In each Sacrament, Jesus touches us in a loving and gentle way. Each Sacrament uses a different sign through which Jesus shows His love. The first Sacrament we receive is Baptism. Through Baptism we are welcomed, or initiated, into the Church. In Baptism we receive grace, God s life. Baptism takes away Original Sin, and if the person is an adult, Baptism takes away all of the person s sins. The sign of Baptism is the water and the words spoken by the person who is baptizing. In Confirmation we are initiated into the Church as full members. We receive the Holy Spirit in a special way that strengthens our faith. Confirmation increases our courage to be witnesses for Jesus and to carry on Jesus mission of love by acting as prophets, priests, and kings in a mature way. The sign of Confirmation is oil and the words spoken by the minister of the Sacrament. Jesus shows us His merciful love by giving us the Mass. The Mass is the representation of Jesus sacrifice of love on the Cross. At Mass, Jesus gives us Himself, His Body and Blood under the appearances of bread and wine, as our spiritual food when we receive Him in Communion. After Mass, Jesus remains with us in the Holy Eucharist in the tabernacles of our churches. The sign of the Holy Eucharist is bread and wine and the words of Consecration. The changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is called transubstantiation. Correspondence to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Baptism: CCC , 1276 Baptism in the Church: CCC Baptism of Jesus: CCC , 565 Confirmation: CCC , Consequences of Original Sin: CCC 55 58, , 402 9, Eucharist: CCC , Consecration of the Mass: CCC , 1413 Do this in memory of me : CCC , 1409 Fruits of Communion: CCC , 1416 Holy Communion: CCC 1355, , 1415, 1417 Institution of the Eucharist: CCC Presence and Adoration of Christ in the Eucharist: CCC , 1410, 1418 Signs of bread and wine in the Eucharist: CCC , 1412 Faith: CCC , 1842 Grace: CCC , Grace conferred by the Sacraments: CCC , 1131 Grace of Baptism: CCC 265, , Hope: CCC , 1843 Human freedom: CCC ,

4 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Correspondence to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (continued) Jesus messianic entrance into Jerusalem: CCC , 570 John, precursor, prophet, and baptist: CCC 523, Last Supper: CCC , 621 Love: CCC , 1844 Mystery of faith: CCC 42, 50, 158, 206, 230, 234, 237, 1066 Original Sin: CCC , , 415 Pentecost: the Holy Spirit and the Church: CCC , , Sacramental signs: CCC , Sacraments of Initiation: CCC 1212, 1275 Theological virtues: CCC , 1841 Concepts of Faith (continued) What are the words of Confirmation? Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. What is the sign of the Holy Eucharist? Bread and wine and the words of Consecration. What are the words used to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus? This is my body ; This is the chalice of my blood. What is the Consecration? The changing of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ by the Holy Spirit through the priest s words at Mass. Concepts of Faith What are the three Sacraments of Initiation? Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. What is faith? The power God gives us to believe in Him and all He has revealed. What is the sign of Baptism? Water and the words spoken by the person who is baptizing. What are the words of Baptism? I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. What is the sign of Confirmation? Oil and the words spoken by the minister of the Sacrament. Vocabulary initiation: to be welcomed into a group as a member Original Sin: the first sin committed by Adam and Eve. We inherit Original Sin from Adam and Eve, which means that we are conceived and born without grace. Pentecost: the day that Mary and the Apostles received the Holy Spirit in a visible way. The first Pentecost was fifty days after Easter. It is the birthday of the Church. witness: to show through our words and actions what we believe plague: something that causes great trouble or misery and, in some cases, death Passover: when God spared the Israelites from the final plague in Egypt. The Jewish people celebrate this event each year by praising and honoring God. It is the meal Jesus celebrated with the Apostles at the Last Supper, during which He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood. 132

5 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Vocabulary (continued) Palm Sunday: the day on which we remember Jesus final entry into Jerusalem. We celebrate this day the Sunday before Easter. tabernacle: a blessed container for the consecrated Hosts Corpus Christi: a Latin phrase meaning the Body of Christ. The feast of Corpus Christi honors the Holy Eucharist. re-presentation: presenting again mortal sin: a sin so serious that it breaks our relationship with God completely Dig deeper with YOUCAT Learn about the significance of our names given to us during Baptism by reading YOUCAT 361. LESSON PRESENTATION Preparation Create a sacred space for students to gather for prayer. Begin by offering up prayers of thanksgiving to God. Have each child complete the sentence: Dear Lord, I am thankful this day for. The materials needed for this lesson are Bibles, religion journals, mementos or photos of Sacraments being received, and a candle. Proclamation Through the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist we become full members of the Church. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Vocabulary initiation: to be welcomed into a group as a member Original Sin: Adam and Eve, which means that we are conceived and born without grace. Pentecost: the day that Mary and the Apostles received the Holy Spirit in a visible way. witness: to show through our words and actions what we believe plague: something that causes great trouble or misery and, in some cases, death Passover: people celebrate this event each year by praising and honoring God. It is the meal Jesus celebrated with the Apostles at the Last Supper, during which He changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood. Palm Sunday: celebrate this day the Sunday before Easter. tabernacle: a blessed container for the consecrated Hosts Corpus Christi: a Latin phrase meaning the Body of Christ. The feast of Corpus Christi honors the Holy Eucharist. presenting again mortal sin: a sin so serious that it breaks our relationship with God completely Concepts of Faith What are the three Sacraments of Initiation? What is faith? What is the sign of Baptism? Water and the words spoken by the person who is baptizing. What are the words of Baptism? Oil and the words spoken by the minister of the Sacrament

6 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Concepts of Faith (continued) 126 What is the sign of the Holy Eucharist? Bread and wine and the words of Consecration. What are the words used to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus? What is the Consecration? through the priest s words at Mass. Dig deeper with YOUCAT YOUCAT 361. Initiation Many times, in order to join a group or organization, we must we say we are initiated into the group. Through initiation we are not only welcomed into a group, but we usually are helped to feel we are a part of the group. It is important to note that being initiated into the Catholic Church is not like other initiations. Other initiation ceremonies make people members of a purely human group or organization. The Sacraments of Initiation do much more for us. Baptism, Church, which is both a human and a divine organization. Remember, the Church and Christ are mysteriously united as one. The Church is Jesus Mystical Person, and Jesus is both man (human) and God (divine). The Church too, then, is both human and divine. When we become members of the Church, we are united to Jesus Himself. Saint Paul tells us this in many of his writings. For example, he writes to the Church in Galatia: For as many of you as were LESSON EXPLANATION Read and discuss the vocabulary words and the Concepts of Faith with the students. Write the word initiation on the board. Ask: Can anyone give me a word or a phrase that defines the word on the board? Write the students responses on the board. Students think about times they joined new clubs or groups. (If students need ideas, suggest Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, sports teams, dance groups, academic clubs, a new group of friends, a new school, etc.) Ask: Why did you join the group? How did you feel on your first day with the group? How did the other members make you feel? What did you have to do to join? What responsibilities did members have? Why do you like being in the group? Does anything make it difficult for you to be in the group? Have the students read and discuss the Initiation section on pp in the textbook. Ask: How is the initiation into the Catholic Church like no other initiation? Other initiation ceremonies make people members of a purely human group or organization. Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation make us members of the Church, which is both a human and divine organization. When we become members of the Church we are united to Jesus Himself. 134

7 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Have the students read and discuss the Baptism section on pp in the textbook. Then have them complete the Review Questions on p LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus (Galatians 3:27 28). We are all one in Christ through the Sacraments of Initiation, because through these Sacraments Christ shares His life with us, uniting us to Himself. Initiation into the Catholic Church is like no other initiation because, through the Sacraments of Initiation, Jesus personally meets us, welcomes us as members of the Church, and makes us one with Him by sharing His life with us. No other initiation can claim to do anything close to what the Sacraments of Initiation do for us! receiving them full members of the Church. As members of the Church, the newly initiated are called to work together with the other members of the Church to carry on Jesus mission of love: to love God, ourselves, and others here on earth and to live with God someday in Heaven. The Sacraments give each member the grace to carry on Jesus mission. The Sacraments are physical signs, given to us by Jesus, through which He meets us and gives us grace. Baptism Jesus talks about the Sacrament of Baptism in the following Bible story: came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him. Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of second time into his mother s womb and be born? Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (John 3:1 5) 1. Why did Nicodemus visit Jesus? He wanted to talk with Jesus. Review Questions baptized, we are welcomed, or initiated, into God s family. We begin life as members of the Church. Everyone who is baptized as a Catholic is a member of the Church. Many people are baptized as babies. Because babies cannot speak for themselves and ask for Baptism, their parents and godparents make a profession of faith for themselves and for the children. The parents and godparents say that they believe in God, our loving Father; in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior; and in the Holy Spirit. They promise that they will teach their children to live as images of God. Through Baptism, Jesus touches us in a loving and special way. Through the water that is used in Baptism and the words that are spoken, Jesus touches us physically, but He also touches our souls. When we are baptized, we receive grace, God s life, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Grace makes us friends of God and makes it possible for us to live in Heaven someday. Each of us is conceived and born with Original Sin, which means that we do not share God s life. Baptism gives us grace. Baptism takes away Original Sin. If the person being baptized is an adult, Baptism takes away all the person s sins. 2. Jesus said that we must be born of water and the Spirit to enter what Kingdom? The Kingdom of God. 3. How can we be born of water and the Spirit so we can share God s life here and live with Him someday in Heaven? We can receive the Sacrament of Baptism. Along with grace, we also receive in Baptism the gifts of faith, hope, and love. Faith is the power God gives us that makes it possible for us to believe in Him and all He has revealed. Hope is the power that makes it possible for us to desire to share God s life and to trust that, if we follow Jesus, we will share His life here on earth and someday in Heaven. Love is the power that makes it possible for us to love God, ourselves, and others here on earth and someday to live with God in Heaven

8 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Read and discuss the Jesus Baptism section on p. 129 in the textbook and complete the Review Questions on p Have the students read and discuss The Sign of Baptism section on pp in the textbook. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Jesus Baptism Jesus showed us how important Baptism is when He Himself was baptized. When Jesus was about thirty years old, He was ready to begin His work teaching people about God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. Jesus was ready to show people how to act as images of God. At this time, John the Baptist was baptizing people in the Jordan River. People came to him as a sign that they were sorry for the wrong choices they had made, and that they wanted to change and live as images of God. Even though John s Baptism was not the same Sacrament of Baptism that we receive, it was still a sign that people wanted to be close to God. Jesus did not have to be baptized, because He was God. But He went to be baptized by John to show us how important it is for us to receive the Sacrament of Baptism that He gave us. We can read about John the Baptist and Jesus Baptism in the Bible passage below. In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Now John wore a garment of camel s hair, and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.... Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? But Jesus answered him, Let it be so now; for baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and behold, a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:1 6; 13 17) Jesus showed us again the importance of Baptism through these words to His disciples: Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age. (Matthew 28:16 20) Share the details of your Baptism with the class. Ask the students if they have ever discussed their own Baptisms with their parents. Ask them if they would like to share some of the details of their Baptisms with the class. 129 The Sign of Baptism Baptism is water and the words spoken by the person who is baptizing. Usually a priest or deacon baptizes, but in an emergency anyone can baptize. We receive Baptism only once in our lives. Why do you think water is the physical sign of Baptism? We need water in order to live. The water of Baptism is a sign of life. It is a sign of God s life, grace, that we receive in Baptism. We use water to cleanse ourselves. The water of Baptism is a sign that Baptism cleanses us of Original Sin. We are cleansed because we have received grace. Usually the water is poured over the head of the person being baptized. In some churches, a person may be sprinkled with water or immersed in water What did John the Baptist tell the people? Review Questions He told them to repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is coming, to prepare the way of the Lord, and to make straight his paths. 2. Why did the people want to be baptized by John? They were sorry for the wrong choices they had made; they wanted to change and live as images of God. 3. Why did Jesus go to John to be baptized? He wanted to show the importance of the Sacrament of Baptism. 136

9 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION The words of Baptism are the same words Jesus told His Apostles to use when He sent them to baptize all people: I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. The person who is baptizing says these words as the water is being poured. Have the students complete the Review Questions on p. 132 in the textbook. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION A baptismal candle, oil, and a white garment may also be used at Baptism. A lighted candle can brighten a dark room and help us to see and feel less afraid. The lighted candle we receive at Baptism reminds us that Jesus helps us to see how to love God and how we are to act as images of God. Jesus is a light that shows us the way. He is the Light of the World. Review Questions 1. Why do we say that Baptism is a Sacrament of Initiation? When we are baptized, we are welcomed or initiated, into the Church. Two oils are used during Baptism. One of the oils is called chrism. Chrism is a special scented and blessed oil. The priest or deacon uses chrism to anoint the head of the person being baptized. Chrism reminds us of God and that we share His life. It also reminds us that by Baptism we are made prophets, priests, and kings. When we are baptized, we wear a white garment. Sometimes the priest or deacon will put a white garment over us. White reminds us of something new and clean. The white baptismal garment is a sign that we have received a new life, God s life, which has cleansed us from Original Sin. It is a reminder that we have put on Jesus and that we should act as images of God. As we have learned, our parents and godparents are very important people at our Baptism. Because we are usually too young to answer for ourselves at Baptism, they make a profession of faith for themselves and for us. They promise to teach us to love God, ourselves, and others through words and actions. We renew our baptismal promises at different times in our lives. Each time we renew our baptismal promises, we are reminded to keep those promises. 2. What do our parents and godparents promise at Baptism? They make a profession of faith for themselves and for us. They say that they believe in God, our loving Father; in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior; and in the Holy Spirit. They promise to teach us to act as images of God. 3. What are the effects of Baptism? cleansed of Original Sin. We become members of the Church. We become friends with God, ourselves, and others here on earth, and we are able to live with God someday in Heaven. We receive faith, hope, and love. 4. What are the words of Baptism? I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit

10 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Have the students read and discuss the Confirmation section on pp LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Renewing Our Baptismal Promises Leader: Do you reject sin, so as to live in the freedom of God s children? All: I do. Leader: Do you reject the glamor of evil, and refuse to be mastered by sin? All: I do. Leader: Do you reject Satan, father of sin and prince of darkness? All: I do. Leader: Do you believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and earth? All: I do. Leader: Do you believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? All: I do. Leader: Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting? All: I do. As we grow older, our responsibilities at home and school increase. As members of the Church, the same is true regarding our responsibilities to continue Jesus mission of love. We have the helps us to do this. Through this Sacrament, Jesus touches us in a special way by giving us the grace Easter. We celebrate Pentecost on the seventh Sunday after Easter. When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly a tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:1 4) ourselves, and others in a mature way. We receive the Holy Spirit in a special way that strengthens our faith. 133 members. It is the beginning of our responsibilities as full members of the Church. Jesus. With this courage, we can show others, through what we say and what we do, that we are carrying on Jesus mission of love. as a teenager. Those who receive this Sacrament renew the promises they made when they were baptized. Now, instead of having parents and godparents answer Yes for them, they say Yes themselves. Through the strength received from the Holy Spirit in Becoming an adult involves taking on more responsibility. It gives us more choices and more freedom. As full members of the Church, we need to learn how to make right choices. We need to know how to use our talents and freedom properly, to serve God and others in a mature way. Under special circumstances, the bishop can designate a priest to act as minister. And, like Baptism, In ancient times, athletes applied oil to their arms and legs to loosen their muscles and strengthen them. usually blessed by the bishop on Holy Thursday. chrism. As he does so, he says, [Name], be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. The chrism and the words of the bishop tell us that, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, we are strengthened to carry on Jesus mission of love and to serve others in a mature way

11 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Ask: When you were in kindergarten, what responsibilities did you have at home, at school, and at church? At home: to put my toys away and dress myself. At school: to follow the rules. At church: to listen quietly. Now that you are in fifth grade, what added responsibilities do you have at home, at school, and at church? At home: babysitting brothers or sisters, housework, helping in the yard, and chores. At school: more academic work, and school patrol. At church: reading at Mass, serving, and participating in all the prayers and songs. When you are in junior high or high school will you have more responsibilities at home, at school, and at church? Give examples. (Answers will vary.) How about when you are an adult? Give examples. (Answers will vary.) What are some of the positive things you gain when you have more responsibilities? You have more freedom to be on your own, have more choices, serve others in a better way, and accomplish more. Have the students read and discuss The Sign of Confirmation section on pp in the textbook. Then have them complete the Review Questions on p LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION responsibilities on those who receive the Sacrament. This gesture also reminds us that Jesus many times used His hands to bring comfort and healing to others. the name of a saint, one whose qualities we can imitate in our own lives. your sponsor. The person you choose can help you prepare for the Sacrament, can pray daily for you, bishop and declare that you are ready to receive this Sacrament. It is appropriate, but not necessary, in a mature way. For example, as a prophet, you might be in a position to encourage a non-catholic friend or fellow worker to become a Catholic. Or you might be called on to defend the Catholic Faith when others ridicule it. As a priest, you can give your own sorrows and discomforts to God the Father others in need. And as king, you can volunteer your time and talents to serve meals to the hungry, to donate clothing and other items needed by the poor, or to be a friend to someone who needs a friend. Review Questions Jesus touches each person in a special way by giving the Holy Spirit. The grace received in the Sacrament brings the person closer to God. The Sacrament strengthens the faith mature way. Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit. 3. In what way would you like to be of service to your own parish after you have been I could be a lector, Eucharistic minister, cantor, organist, choir member, usher, parish council member, etc

12 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Ask: What do you remember about your First Holy Communion? Allow time for student answers. Have the students read and discuss The Last Supper and the Mass section on pp in the textbook. Have the students read and discuss The Holy Eucharist section on p. 136 in the textbook. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION The Holy Eucharist The Holy Eucharist is the Sacrament in which Jesus gives us Himself, Body and Blood, soul and divinity, under the appearances of bread and wine. Because this is the greatest gift Jesus could have given us, the Holy Eucharist is the greatest of the Sacraments. It is called the Sacrament of Love. In the United States, most children receive their First Communion when they are about eight years of age. After receiving First Communion, a person can receive this Sacrament often, even daily, as long as no serious sin has been committed and not confessed in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus touches us in a loving and special way. He gives us the grace that we need to act as images of God. The grace we receive helps us to continue to love God, ourselves, and others in a kind and merciful way, the way that Jesus loves. The Holy Eucharist is not merely a symbol of the Body and Blood of Jesus. Through the words of Consecration at Mass, Jesus, acting through the priest, changes the bread and wine into His Body and Blood. When the priest says, This is my body, over the bread, and, This is the chalice of my blood, over the wine, the bread and wine still appear to be bread and wine. But, in fact, the bread becomes Jesus Body, and the wine becomes Jesus Blood. This change is one of the mysteries of our Catholic Faith. We will never fully understand it. The name for this change is transubstantiation. Jesus gave His Church the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper. He and His Apostles were seated at the were slaves in Egypt. In summary, this is what the feast of Passover celebrates: More than three thousand years ago, God s Chosen People, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt. God called a man named Moses to lead them out of Egypt and into freedom, especially freedom to practice their religion. In God s name, Moses asked the king of Egypt to let the Israelites go free, but the king refused. By rejecting God and His request to free the Israelites, the king brought a series of plagues upon the land and people of Egypt. There was much suffering, and many Egyptians died from the plagues. But even after nine plagues, the king, or pharaoh, would not allow Moses to lead the Israelite people out of Egypt. Before the tenth plague, God had Moses instruct the Israelites to kill a young lamb and to wipe blood from the lamb onto the door frames of their homes. They were to roast the lamb and eat a special meal that evening. During the night, the plague struck and the In this way, God protected the Israelites from the tenth plague. After this plague, Pharaoh freed the Israelites, and they left Egypt. The Jewish people celebrate the event each year by praising and honoring God. (Based on Exodus 12:1 36.) The Last Supper and the Mass Jerusalem to celebrate that Jewish feast. The crowds of people waved palm branches and laid down their cloaks on the road as a way of praising Jesus. Today we remember Jesus Easter. Several days after His arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus and the twelve Apostles celebrated the Passover. This Passover We can read about the Last Supper in the Bible. Jesus gave the Apostles the Holy Eucharist as an act of love. bread and changed it into His Body and took wine and changed it into His Blood. Jesus asked His Apostles to do the same in remembrance of Him. In other words, Jesus commissioned the Apostles to celebrate Mass and to ensure that Mass would be celebrated in the Church throughout the ages. When we participate in the Mass today, we celebrate what Jesus celebrated at the Last Supper. When the priest, acting in the Person of Christ, says the words of Consecration, the bread becomes the Body of Jesus and the wine becomes the Blood of Jesus. Jesus gives His Body and Blood to us, just as He gave His Body and Blood on the Cross. Mass. Instead, it means that at each Mass Jesus offers to us the same love that He showed on the Cross. We accept that love by participating fully at each Mass we attend. sign of the Holy Eucharist, Jesus shows us His love. Bread and wine are used because they are food and drink for our bodies. Bread and wine remind us that the Eucharist is our spiritual food and drink. If our bodies did not have food and drink, we would die. Food and drink give us the energy we need to work and play. In the Eucharist, Jesus gives us Himself as our spiritual food and drink. By receiving Jesus Body and Blood in the Eucharist, we receive the grace and strength we need to act as images of God and to live with God someday in Heaven. Even though bread becomes Jesus Body at Mass, the whole Christ, true God and true man, is present under the appearances of bread. It is also true that the whole Christ, true God and true man, is present under the appearances of wine at Mass

13 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION When we receive only the consecrated Host at Mass, the words we hear are: The Body of Christ. But we must remember that, when we receive Jesus Body in the Eucharist, we are receiving the whole Christ, Body, Blood, soul, and divinity. Jesus own words tell us of the importance of receiving the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who him. (John 6:54 56) Jesus remains with us in the Holy Eucharist. In most Catholic churches, the Hosts (the Body of Jesus) remaining after Mass are placed in the tabernacle: Jesus waits for us in the tabernacle. We can be with Him whenever we want by making a visit to church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is with us always. We honor the Holy Eucharist in a special way on the feast of Corpus Christi. The words Corpus Christi mean the Body of Christ. Corpus Christi is a day set aside to express our love and thanks for the gift of Christ given to us in the Holy Eucharist. This feast is usually celebrated in June. Preparing for Communion We should be ready to receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. We show we are ready by going up to receive Communion respectfully and by receiving the Host with reverence. and love. When we respond Amen after receiving Christ, we are saying, So be it, or, Yes, we believe that the Host is Christ. When we receive Holy Communion, we should be free from mortal sin we must have God s life in us. We should be fasting we should not eat or drink anything but water for one hour before receiving Communion. (When Communion is brought to the sick, they do not have to fast for one hour.) We should be acting as images of God. Read Luke 22:14 20 to the class, or ask a student to read it after reading and discussing The Last Supper and the Mass section. Ask: What are the parts of the Mass being described in this Scripture reading? The Consecration of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Look it up in the Catechism of the Catholic Church Read CCC 1345 to the class to learn about Saint Justin Martyr and the Mass in a.d Have the students read and discuss the Preparing for Communion section on p. 138 in the textbook. Discuss the guidelines for receiving Communion. To receive Holy Communion one must be fully incorporated into the Catholic Church and be in the state of grace that is, not conscious of being in mortal sin. Also, one must fast from all food and drink (except water and medicine) for one hour before receiving Holy Communion

14 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Have students complete the Review Questions on p. 139 in the textbook. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Review Questions 1. Why is the Holy Eucharist the greatest Sacrament? In this Sacrament Jesus gives Himself to us under the appearances of bread and wine. 2. What is transubstantiation? It is a mystery of our Faith. Transubstantiation is the complete change of the substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ by the priest at Mass. 3. What is the Passover? Jewish people celebrate the event each year by praising and honoring God. He celebrated it at the Last Supper, the night before He died. 6. How do we prepare ourselves to receive Holy Communion? We should be free from mortal sin. We should fast from food and drink (except water) for one hour before receiving Communion. We should be acting as images of God. 7. What is a tabernacle? A blessed container in which the consecrated Hosts are kept. 139 LIVING THE LESSON APPLICATION Journal Entry Have the students answer the following questions in their religion journals: Why are the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist important for me today? Why are the Sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Eucharist celebrations? Why should I be looking forward to my Confirmation? Suggestion: Ask your parish priest to show the class some of the religious articles used in the Sacraments of Initiation, for example, chrism, baptismal candle, baptismal garment, unconsecrated host, chalice, stole, and other vestments. Take the class to church to visit Jesus in the tabernacle. CELEBRATION Prayer Renewing Our Baptismal Promises Gather around a lit candle. Tell the class that the lit candle reminds us that Christ is the Light of the World. Renew your baptismal promises with the students using the text on page

15 L E S S O N 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION ACTIVITIES Have the students complete the Activity on p. 140 in the textbook. LESSON 17: SACRAMENTS OF INITIATION Activity Directions: Fill in the blank with the correct word or words. 1. John the Baptist told the people they must repent. 19. The Mass is the re-presentation of Jesus 2. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. on the Cross. 20. The Sacrament that welcomes us into the Church as full 3. Through these Sacraments we are welcomed into the members is Church: Sacraments of Initiation Godparents 4. The consecrated Host looks like bread, but it is make a profession of faith for a really the Body of Christ. baby being baptized. 22. A bishop chrism 23. Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit are the words reverence 24. Jesus in the Holy Eucharist gives us Himself as 7. We receive faith, hope, and love in spiritual food. Baptism. 25. Blessed container where the consecrated Hosts are 8. The physical part of the sign of Baptism: water kept: tabernacle. 9. Bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of 26. The Sacraments help us to love God, ourselves, Christ through the words of Consecration. and others. promises 10. The Jewish feast Jesus celebrated with the we Apostles at the Last Supper: Passover made when we were baptized. 28. Through the Sacraments we experience His gentle and by giving us the grace of the Holy Spirit loving touch: Jesus. Holy 29. At our First Communion we receive the are teenagers Eucharist. 13. As Christians we carry on Jesus mission of love. witnesses for Jesus. Corpus 14. Feast day of the Holy Eucharist: Christi Jerusalem: Palm Sunday. 15. A special scented and blessed oil used in some of the sponsor stands with the Sacraments: chrism 16. The birthday of the Church: Pentecost bishop. 17. The power God gives us to make it possible for us to 33. Amen means So be it. believe in Him and all He has revealed: faith 34. God s Chosen People: Israelites 18. Takes away Original Sin: Baptism Sacrament Quilt Find out the name of an infant soon to be baptized in your parish. Explain to the class that this project involves making a welcome quilt for the child. When the students have the quilt squares and needed art materials, give them examples of baptismal symbols and words (e.g., quotations from Scripture) they could use to decorate the squares that will form the quilt. When they have finished, have then punch holes along the edges of the squares and use yarn to lace them together to form the quilt. Arrange to give the completed project to the family of the child as a welcoming gift from the class. Prayer Partner In this project, the students write a note of encouragement to someone preparing to receive First Communion or Confirmation. The notes could be an offer of a specific number of prayers to be said for the prayer partner either before or after the Sacrament is received. Materials needed: crayons markers hole punch 4 4 squares of colored paper or fabric (one per student) fabric pens Materials needed: heavy paper for making note cards scissors envelopes postage stamps

16 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE LESSON FOCUS Emphasis The Eucharist re-presents Christ s sacrifice of love on the Cross. This sacrifice established a New Covenant between God and His people. Through this sacrifice, Jesus returned God the Father s love and helps us to return God s love. A New Covenant was needed after the sin of Adam and Eve. A covenant is a solemn agreement between God and human beings. It is an act of merciful love. It includes a promise of continued love, expressed in words and actions. The New Covenant is renewed every time Christ s sacrifice of love is made present at Mass. The Mass consists of many parts. It begins with the introductory rites, which include the entrance song, procession, greeting, Penitential Act, Kyrie, Gloria, and Collect. The Liturgy of the Word follows: the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading, Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation, Gospel, Homily, Profession of Faith, and Prayer of the Faithful. Through the readings and the Gospel, God s Word is proclaimed. The next part of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist: the Preparation of the Altar and the Offerings, the Prayer over the Offerings, the Eucharistic Prayer, the Communion Rite, the Prayer of Communion, and the Concluding Rites. Correspondence to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Adoration of the Eucharist: CCC , 1418 Altar: CCC 1383 Christ s redemptive death in the divine plan of Salvation: CCC , Christ s whole life as a self-offering to the Father: CCC , Eucharist as sacrifice: CCC , 1414 Eucharist as thanksgiving and praise to the Father: CCC Eucharist as sacrificial memorial of Christ and of His Body the Church: CCC , 1408, 1414 Presence of Christ in the Eucharist: CCC , 1410, 1418 Liturgical celebration: CCC , Liturgical seasons: CCC Liturgical year: CCC , 1194 Movement of the liturgical celebration of the Eucharist: CCC Sacrifice: CCC Sunday: the Lord s Day Day of the Resurrection: the new creation: CCC 2174, 2191 Sunday fulfillment of the Sabbath: CCC , 2190 Sunday Mass: CCC Sunday obligation: CCC , 2192 Day of grace and rest from work: CCC ,

17 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Concepts of Faith Dig deeper with YOUCAT What happens at the Consecration of bread and wine at Mass? The gifts of bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Discover the different names for Jesus meal with us and their meanings in YOUCAT 212. Vocabulary acclamation: a prayer of joy, spoken or sung, before the Gospel is read at Mass, and in other parts of the Mass alleluia: Praise God commemorate: to honor the memory of someone covenant: a solemn agreement between God and human beings. It is an act of merciful love. It includes a promise of continued love, which is expressed in words and actions. Prayer of the Faithful: prayers said at Mass for the needs of the Church, for the leaders of the Church and of nations, for local communities, and for the needs of all people Gospel: the good news (stories) about Jesus life and teachings Psalms: prayers and hymns from the Old Testament that praise God, thank Him, or ask for forgiveness and help rite: a solemn ceremony chasuble: a sleeveless outer garment worn by a priest at Mass alb: a full-length white vestment worn by a priest at Mass LESSON PRESENTATION Preparation Create a sacred space for students to gather for prayer. Pray together the Act of Faith found in the Prayers to Know section. Proclamation The Mass re-presents Christ s sacrifice of love on the Cross. 145

18 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE LESSON EXPLANATION Read and discuss the vocabulary words and the Concepts of Faith with the students. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE The textbook presents the Mass as it is celebrated on Sundays in Ordinary Time. The Roman missal contains instructions for celebrating Mass in other seasons of the Church year. Have the students read and discuss The First Eucharist section on pp in the textbook. Then have them complete the Review Questions on p LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Vocabulary acclamation: a prayer of joy, spoken or sung, before the Gospel is read at Mass, and in other parts of the Mass alleluia: Praise God commemorate: to honor the memory of someone covenant: a solemn agreement between God and human beings. It is an act of merciful love. It includes a promise of continued love, which is expressed in words and actions. Prayer of the Faithful: prayers said at Mass for the needs of the Church, for the leaders of the Church and of nations, for local communities, and for the needs of all people Gospel: the good news (stories) about Jesus life and teachings Psalms: prayers and hymns from the Old Testament that praise God, thank Him, or ask for forgiveness and help rite: a solemn ceremony chasuble: a sleeveless outer garment worn by a priest at Mass alb: a full-length white vestment worn by a priest at Mass Concepts of Faith What happens at the Consecration of bread and wine at Mass? The gifts of bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus. Apostles, and, through them, He gave His Body and Blood to His Church. The gifts of Jesus Body and Blood in the Mass love, and it helps us return God s love. Because Jesus returned the Father s love and enabled us to return it, too, a New Covenant was established between God and people. A covenant with God is a solemn agreement between God and people. It is an act of merciful love. It includes a promise of continued love, which is expressed in words and actions. The need for a New Covenant with God became necessary after the sin of Adam and Eve. Adam and Eve turned away from God. But God did not abandon people. He sent Jesus to establish a New Covenant Covenant is renewed. Jesus love for us is expressed in words and actions, and our love for Him is expressed in words and actions. We all take part in the great love that takes place at the celebration of the Mass. Dig deeper with YOUCAT Discover the different names for Jesus meal with us and their meanings in YOUCAT 212. The First Eucharist Some of the more important words that Jesus spoke are recorded in this passage from Scripture: And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood. (Luke 22:19 20) With His words spoken at the Last Supper, Jesus changed the bread and wine into His Body and Blood, even though they still appeared to be bread and wine. He then gave His Body and Blood to the Review Questions A solemn agreement between God and human beings. It is an act of merciful love. It includes a promise of continued love, which will be expressed in words and actions. 3. How did Jesus establish the New Covenant? 146

19 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE The celebration of the Mass includes many parts. Have the students read and discuss The Mass section on p. 143 in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Ask: Can you name some of the parts of the Mass? (List responses on the board.) Check this list against the outline of the Mass in the student text. Have the students read and discuss The Liturgy of the Word section on pp in the textbook. The Mass LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE The Mass is made up of many parts. The Mass begins with the introductory rites (a rite is a solemn ceremony). The introductory rites include the following: Introductory Rites Entrance Song and Procession Penitential Act Kyrie Gloria Collect Sometimes Mass begins with a procession, and all present sing a joyful song praising God. Next, the priest makes the Sign of the Cross and greets us. He then begins the Penitential Act by inviting us to remember what we have done wrong and to ask God for forgiveness. In one of the forms of the Penitential Act, we offer a prayer asking Mary, the other saints, and all the people in Church to pray for us. Then the Kyrie ( Lord, have Mercy ) is said or sung by the priest and people. Next is the Gloria, a prayer in which we praise God for all His great and wonderful works. The Introductory Rites conclude with the Collect. The priest says a prayer of thanks and petition. We respond, Amen. The Liturgy of the Word The next section of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Word. During this part of the Mass, we listen to God s teachings. We should listen carefully, to hear what God is saying to us. We can learn about God and ourselves and about how we should act as images of God. are prayers asking for God s forgiveness and help. The Responsorial Psalm is followed by the Second Reading, which is a passage from the New Testament from the Acts of the Apostles, Revelation, or a Letter. In this reading, we hear about the life and teachings of Jesus as they were presented in the early years of the Church. From this reading, we learn who we are and how we should act as images of God. The Gospel is introduced by singing or saying Alleluia, which means praise to God. In this way, we express our joy and praise God as we prepare to hear Jesus speak to us through the Gospel. Jesus is with us through the Gospel. The priest (or deacon) reads a passage from one of the Gospels, the good news about the life and teachings of Jesus. There are four Gospels in the New Testament. These Gospels were written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. After the Gospel reading, the priest (or deacon) will explain the meaning of the readings. This part of the Mass is called the Homily. It helps us to understand Jesus teachings and how we can act like Jesus in our daily lives. After the conclusion of the Homily, we make our Profession of Faith. We tell God, ourselves, and others what we believe as Catholics. Then, we offer the Prayer of the Faithful. These are prayers of petition in which we ask God s help for the Church, for the Holy Father (the Pope), for our bishops, for public authorities (such as the president and other people who serve in the government), for the Salvation of the world, and for the poor, the sick, and the lonely. We pray also for the special needs of our parish and community. Liturgy of the Word First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation Gospel Homily Profession of Faith, Prayer of the Faithful Bible. It contains stories about the creation of the world and human beings and about the history of God s people, the Israelites, before the birth of Jesus. The Old Testament contains God s revelation about who He is and who we are as images of God. The Old Testament tells us how we should act as images of God. The First Reading is followed by a Responsorial Psalm, which is sung or said. It is usually a passage from the Book of Psalms in the Old Testament. Some Psalms give praise and thanks to God. Others

20 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Have the students complete the Review Questions on p. 145 in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Have the students read and discuss The Liturgy of the Eucharist section on pp in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Review Questions 1. What do we do during the Liturgy of the Word? should act as images of God. 2. Where does the First Reading usually come from? It comes from the Old Testament. 3. What is the Old Testament? The part of the Holy Bible containing stories about the creation of the world before the birth of Jesus. The Old Testament tells us about God, who He is, and who we are as images of God. The Old Testament tells us how we should act as images of God. 4. What is the Gospel reading? The Gospel reading is from one of the four Gospels in the New Testament. 5. What do we pray for in the Prayer of the Faithful? We pray for the needs of the Church, the Pope, public authorities, the Salvation of the world, those in need, and special needs of the local community. 145 The Liturgy of the Eucharist The Mass continues with the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Acting through the priest, Jesus does what He of love is re-presented for us. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, we can receive Holy Communion and be nourished by Jesus Body and Blood. The main elements of the Liturgy of the Eucharist are listed in the outline below. Some of these elements are divided into parts, as you will see in the outline. 146 Liturgy of the Eucharist Preparation of the Altar and the Offerings Prayer over the Offerings Eucharistic Prayer Preface Communion Rite The Lord s Prayer Sign of Peace Breaking of the Bread Communion Prayer after Communion Concluding Rites Blessing Dismissal The altar is prepared by placing upon it the chalice, Roman missal, and other items used to celebrate Mass. Some of those present at Mass often members of a family may bring the gifts of bread and wine to the priest. These gifts are offered as a sign of our love for God. The priest prays over the gifts, thanks God for them, and asks God to accept them. If he says the prayers out loud, we say the responses out loud. The priest then begins the great prayer of thanksgiving called the Eucharistic Prayer. He begins by asking God to be with us. He asks us to give our love (our hearts) to God, and he invites us to offer thanks to Him, especially for the gift of His Son, Jesus. And we give our responses to the priest s prayers. Then the priest continues to pray, praising God and thanking Him for His goodness and love. He concludes the prayer by inviting us to join with the angels in praising God the Holy, Holy, Holy. During the Eucharistic Prayer, the priest does what Jesus did at the Last Supper. At the Consecration, the priest speaks the words of Jesus. Over the bread, he says, This is my body. Over the wine, he says, This is the chalice of my blood. After he says these words, the bread and wine are not merely symbols of Jesus Body and Blood. The bread becomes the Body of Christ, even though it still looks and tastes like bread. The wine becomes the Blood of Christ, even though it still looks and tastes like 148

21 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE wine. The priest is able to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus through the power of Jesus, God the Son. This change of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is called transubstantiation. It is impossible to understand fully the mystery of transubstantiation, but our Catholic Faith helps us to believe in this mystery. physically at Mass. Jesus died physically two thousand years ago. But even though Jesus doesn t die physically at Mass, the same love that He showed for the Father and for us on the Cross is made present at Mass. The Eucharistic Prayer continues when the priest prays, saying, The mystery of faith. We then proclaim that Jesus died for us, that He is our Savior. We then pray that all of us grow in love. We pray for the people in our lives who have died. We remember how Mary, the Apostles, and other saints lived and acted and ask them to pray for us. We ask God to help us be like the saints so that we too can share God s life in Heaven. This prayer concludes with the doxology, as the priest holds up the chalice containing the Blood of Christ with one hand and the paten (plate) containing the Body of Christ with the other, saying, Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, for ever and ever. And we respond, Amen. The Communion rite follows. It begins with the prayer that Jesus taught us the Our Father, or the Lord s Prayer. It continues with the priest praying that God will watch over us and help us to make right choices. We respond: For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever. In the Lord s Prayer, we ask to be forgiven in the same way that we forgive others. To show that we mean these words, we offer each other a sign of peace. During the Breaking of the Bread, to prepare ourselves for Holy Communion, we say the Lamb of God prayer, asking God to have mercy on us and to grant us peace, and also the Lord, I am not worthy prayer. We then receive the Holy Eucharist reverently. (Remember, to receive Holy Communion, we should be free from mortal sin, make sure we are acting as images of God, and follow the laws of the Church regarding the Communion fast. We must fast abstain from eating solid foods or drinking beverages with the exception of water for one hour before receiving Jesus, unless health reasons prevent us from doing so.) After receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, we return to our places and pray to Him. After Communion, the remaining consecrated Hosts are placed in the tabernacle. And the priest offers a prayer, asking God that the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist will help us to act as images of God here on earth so that we can share God s life in Heaven one day. The Liturgy of the Eucharist comes to a close with the Concluding Rites a blessing from the priest, and the words of dismissal, for example, Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life. In these words, we ask that Jesus be with us in all our actions, so that we will act as He taught us to act. There is usually a concluding hymn as the priest and altar servers leave the sanctuary. Have the students complete the Review Questions on p. 148 in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE It is good for us to remain a few minutes after Mass to thank Jesus for coming to us in Holy Communion. We should say our prayers of thanksgiving silently, in our hearts. Going to Mass should be the most important thing we do. We know it is important to go to Mass, evenings or Sundays, we follow the third commandment. In the third commandment, God asks us to keep holy the Sabbath day. We also go to Mass on holy days. By participating at Mass and receiving Holy Communion, we strengthen God s life in us. We are nourished by God s grace, which helps us to love God, ourselves, and others. Review Questions 1. What is the most important part of the Liturgy of the Eucharist? The Eucharistic Prayer because it includes the Consecration. 3. Why is it important to go to Mass? Jesus commanded us to do this at the Last Supper. We should follow the third commandment. We should receive the Holy Eucharist, which nourishes can love as images of God. 4. How can we be good participants at Mass? We should pray, sing, show reverence, and listen

22 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Ask: Why does the priest wear vestments of different colors at different times of the Church year? Each color has a meaning and is chosen to fit the liturgical feasts or Church season. Have the students read and discuss The Color of Vestments section on p. 149 in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE List the following words on the board: chalice ciborium paten lectionary cruets Roman missal LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE vestments Ask the students to give definitions of these words. Then go on to p. 150 of the textbook and compare their responses to the descriptions given there. The Color of Vestments During the Church year, the priest wears some vestments of different colors. Each color has a meaning. The color white is a sign of purity, joy, and triumph. Vestments of this color are worn during the Christmas and Easter seasons. White is worn also at marriage ceremonies, on feasts and memorials of our Lord, and on feasts and memorials of Mary, the angels, and the saints who were not martyrs. The priest may also wear white at a funeral Mass. Sunday, and Pentecost. Red is worn also on feast days of the martyrs. The color green is a sign of hope, life, and growth. Vestments of this color are worn during the Ordinary time of the year. In other words, green is worn when we are not celebrating a particular season in the Church year, such as Advent, Lent, Christmas, and Easter. Purple stands for a time of penance and expectation. Purple vestments are worn during the seasons of Advent and Lent. Advent is a time of expectation for the birth of Jesus and preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus. Lent is a time of expectation of the Lord s Resurrection. We prepare for the birth of Christ (Christmas) and for His Second Coming, and for the Lord s Resurrection (Easter) by doing Items Used at Mass In addition to wearing vestments, the priest uses many different items at Mass. These include the following items: chalice: the special cup that holds the wine to be consecrated at Mass ciborium: the special cup or bowl that holds the Hosts to be consecrated. If it has a cover, it can be used to store consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle. paten: the special plate that holds the large Host used by the priest, as well as the Hosts for the people lectionary: the book used at Mass that contains readings from the Bible cruets: the containers for the water and wine used at Mass Roman missal: the book that contains the priest s prayers for Mass vestments: the special clothes worn by the priest and other ministers for the celebration of the Mass. These special clothes include the alb, chasuble, and stole

23 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE LIVING THE LESSON APPLICATION Take the students to the parish church so they can see the vestments and other items used at Mass. Prayer Plan a class Mass or a prayer service. CELEBRATION Order of Mass Activity ACTIVITIES Have the students complete the Order of Mass Activity on p. 151 in the textbook. LESSON 18: THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Order of Mass Activity Directions: Below are the names of parts of the Mass. Write the name under the proper heading and in the correct order. Blessing Gloria Kyrie Preface Dismissal Profession of Faith Concluding Rites Homily Penitential Act First Reading Gospel Breaking of the Bread Eucharistic Prayer Communion Second Reading Communion Rite Prayer over the Offerings Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation Prayer of the Faithful Collect Prayer after Communion Lord s Prayer Responsorial Psalm Entrance Song and Procession Preparation of the Altar and Sign of Peace the Offerings INTRODUCTORY LITURGY OF LITURGY OF RITES THE WORD THE EUCHARIST Entrance Song and Procession First Reading Preparation of Altar and Offerings Penitential Act Kyrie Gloria Collect Responsorial Psalm Second Reading Alleluia or Gospel Acclamation Gospel Homily Profession of Faith Prayer of the Faithful Prayer over the Offerings Eucharistic Prayer Preface Communion Rite Sign of Peace Breaking of the Bread Communion Prayer after Communion Concluding Rites Blessing Dismissal

24 L E S S O N 1 8 : THE MASS JESUS SACRIFICE OF LOVE Holy Eucharist Bookmarks Review with the students the various symbols that are associated with the Holy Eucharist. Then have them cut out a strip of paper of bookmark size large enough to contain a decoration and the words: I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst (John 6:35). Encourage Materials needed: construction paper or tag board rulers pencils crayons markers scissors the students to use this bookmark in their religion book or in some place where it will remind them of the importance of the Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food. 152

25 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON FOCUS Emphasis Jesus showed His great love for us many times while He was on earth. He felt compassion for the sick and dying, and often He healed their physical pain. But there is also spiritual pain. Spiritual pain is caused by our sins or the sins of others. The healing of spiritual pain is the most important healing that Jesus did. Jesus gave us two Sacraments so that we could experience His healing touch. The Sacraments of Healing are Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Both Sacraments heal spiritual pain by forgiving sins. Sometimes the Anointing of the Sick heals physical pain. Those who have been ordained as priests are the ministers of the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. The sign of Reconciliation is the sorrow we have when we say our sins to the priest and the words of forgiveness said by the priest. The sign of the Anointing of the Sick is the prayer the priest says and the oil used to anoint the sick person. This Sacrament is a celebration of hope. The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick are celebrations of the Church. We celebrate them together with other members of the Church. Through Reconciliation we are reconciled with God and all members of the Church. Through the Anointing of the Sick, the Church prays for all its members who are sick. Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick are personal celebrations. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation Jesus touches us personally by forgiving our sins and healing the hurt caused by sin. Through the Anointing of the Sick Jesus touches us personally by healing us spiritually and sometimes physically. Jesus gives us the personal strength we need to give our pain to God as a sign of our love for Him. Correspondence to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Anointing of the Sick: CCC , Celebration of the Sacrament of Penance: CCC , 1497 Childlike trust in prayer: CCC , 2756 Christ the physician: CCC Confession of sins: CCC , 1493 Contrition: CCC , 1492 Definition of sin: CCC , 1871 Different names for the Sacrament of Penance: CCC Effects of the Sacrament of Penance: CCC , 1496 Forgiveness: CCC , 2862 Forms of penance in Christian life: CCC God alone forgives sin: CCC Grace conferred by the Sacraments: CCC , 1131 Jesus as our Teacher and Model of holiness: CCC , 516, , 561 Mercy and sin: CCC Minister of the Sacrament of Penance: CCC , 1495 Need for a Sacrament of Reconciliation after Baptism: CCC , Sacrament of Penance as Sacrament of Forgiveness: CCC Sacramental signs: CCC , Sacraments of Healing: CCC Satisfaction for sin: CCC , 1494 Sickness in Christian life: CCC Sickness in human life: CCC

26 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Concepts of Faith Vocabulary What are the two Sacraments of Healing? Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Whom do we hurt when we sin? We hurt God, ourselves, and others. What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation? It is the Sacrament received after Baptism that forgives our sins and restores our relationship with God through the absolution of the priest. What is the sign of Reconciliation? The sorrow we have when we say our sins to the priest and the words of forgiveness said by the priest. What are the words of forgiveness, or absolution? I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. What is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick? It is the Sacrament that, through anointing with oil by a priest and through his prayer, gives us the spiritual strength we need to give our suffering to Jesus as a sign of love. We can receive this Sacrament when we are sick, elderly, in danger of death, or about to have surgery. Sins are forgiven through the Sacrament, and sometimes a person is healed physically by the Sacrament. What is the sign of the Anointing of the Sick? The prayer the priest says and the oil of the sick. paralytic: a person who cannot move arms or legs blaspheme: to speak about God or sacred things in the wrong way compassion: a feeling of sharing someone else s suffering, along with a choice to help reconciliation: healing a loving relationship that has been hurt by sin sin: freely and knowingly making a wrong choice; not loving as an image of God should mortal sin: a serious sin that hurts our relationship with God in such a way that it makes it almost impossible for us to return God s love venial sin: a less serious sin that hurts our relationship with God, making it harder for us to return God s love penance: a prayer or a loving act that will help us to make up for the sins we have committed absolution: the words spoken by the priest that take away our sins confession: telling our sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation merciful love: a strong, unselfish love that brings good out of evil Viaticum: Holy Communion given to a person who is in danger of death Dig deeper with YOUCAT Learn more about the beginning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation by reading YOUCAT

27 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON PRESENTATION Preparation Create a sacred space for students to gather for prayer. Pray together the Act of Contrition found in the Prayers to Know section in the textbooks. The materials needed for this lesson are Bibles, a prayer candle, and religion journals. Proclamation Jesus touches us personally and heals us through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Vocabulary paralytic: a person who cannot move arms or legs blaspheme: to speak about God or sacred things in the wrong way compassion: a feeling of sharing someone else s suffering, along with a choice to help reconciliation: healing a loving relationship that has been hurt by sin sin: freely and knowingly making a wrong choice; not loving as an image of God should mortal sin: a serious sin that hurts our relationship with God in such a way that it makes it almost impossible for us to return God s love venial sin: a less serious sin that hurts our relationship with God, making it harder for us to return God s love penance: a prayer or a loving act that will help us to make up for the sins we have committed absolution: the words spoken by the priest that take away our sins confession: telling our sins to a priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation merciful love: Viaticum: Holy Communion given to a person who is in danger of death Concepts of Faith What are the two Sacraments of Healing? Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Whom do we hurt when we sin? What is the Sacrament of Reconciliation? It is the Sacrament received after Baptism that forgives our sins and restores our relationship with God through the absolution of the priest. What is the sign of Reconciliation? The sorrow we have when we say our sins to the priest and the words of forgiveness said by the priest

28 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Concepts of Faith (continued) 154 What is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick? gives us the spiritual strength we need to give our suffering to Jesus as a sign of love. physically by the Sacrament. What is the sign of the Anointing of the Sick? The prayer the priest says and the oil of the sick. Dig deeper with YOUCAT Learn more about the beginning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation by reading YOUCAT 227. Scripture Story The Healing of a Paralytic Based on Luke 5:17 26 n one of those days, as Jesus was teaching, there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, Owho had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into their midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith he said, Man, your sins are forgiven you. And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only? When Jesus perceived their questionings, he answered them, Why do you question in you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins he said to the man who was paralyzed I say to you, rise, take up your bed and go home. And immediately he rose before them, and took up that on which he lay, and went home, glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and LESSON EXPLANATION Read and discuss the vocabulary words and the Concepts of Faith with the students. Write the word Healing on the board and ask the students the following discussion questions: Ask: When do we need healing? When we are sick or hurt. When we sin. Why do we need healing? We need healing to feel better; for forgiveness; for reconciliation. Where do we go for healing? We go to the hospital or church. To whom do we go for healing? We go to a doctor, parents, or a priest. Who is the greatest Healer? Jesus is the greatest Healer. In the Bible story of the Healing of a Paralytic, Jesus tells us what He came to heal. Have the students read and discuss The Healing of a Paralytic section on p. 154 in the textbook. Ask: In what two ways did Jesus heal the paralytic? Jesus healed him both physically and spiritually. What did Jesus think was the most important part of His healing? The most important part was forgiveness of the man s sins. Why did Jesus heal the man s body? To show that He had authority on earth to forgive sins, and to show His compassion. 156

29 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have the students read and discuss the Jesus Compassion section on p. 155 in the textbook. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Jesus Compassion Jesus showed His great love many times while on earth. When He saw people suffering and in pain, He wanted to help them. In other words, He felt compassion for the sick and dying. Compassion is examples of the times Jesus helped people. Many times He healed their physical pain. However, we learned from the story about the paralytic that Jesus compassion was not only for the physical pain of a person, but also for the spiritual pain of a person. Spiritual pain is caused by our sins and the sins of others. The healing of spiritual pain is the most important healing that Jesus did for people. We realize the importance of this healing when we think about the suffering and pain Jesus endured on the Cross to take away our spiritual pain. Jesus gave us two Sacraments so that we could experience His healing touch. The Sacraments of Healing are Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick. Through them we experience the compassion and healing power of Jesus. Reconciliation While Jesus was on earth, He gave us many examples of the forgiveness of sins. He showed us the importance of forgiveness. A powerful example of Jesus forgiveness is contained in His words while 23:34). Jesus forgave those who hurt Him and put Him to death. Jesus forgives our sins through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which He gave to His Apostles after His Resurrection. The Apostles were hiding in the upper room after Jesus Resurrection. They had great fear that those who had killed Jesus would kill them because they were friends of Jesus. Suddenly, even though the doors of the room were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He wished them peace. Jesus showed them His hands and His side, and the Apostles were overjoyed to see Him. Once again, Jesus wished them peace and said, As the Father has sent me, even so I send you (John 20:21). Then Jesus breathed on them and said, Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained (John 20:22 23). With these words Jesus gave the Sacrament of Reconciliation to His Apostles. By giving the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Apostles, Jesus gave this Sacrament to the Church. Those who have been ordained as priests in the Church are the ministers of this Sacrament. The Sacrament of Reconciliation forgives sins. Any sin that is confessed with sorrow in the Sacrament of Reconciliation can be forgiven. Sin is not loving God, ourselves, and others as an image of God should. When we sin, we are usually thinking only about ourselves. We can sin not only by making a wrong choice, but also when we fail to make a right choice. When we sin, we hurt God, ourselves, and others. We hurt God by not returning His love. God still loves us when we sin, but sin weakens our loving relationship with God. A mortal sin is a serious sin that hurts our relationship with God in such a way that it makes it almost impossible for us to return God s love. A venial sin is a less serious sin that hurts our relationship with God, making it harder than before to return God s love. In hurting our relationship with God, sin also hurts the loving relationship we have with others and the love we have for ourselves. God can help us Ask for three volunteers to act out in front of the class a situation that you will explain to them. Quietly, so the other students will not hear, tell the volunteers the following: The three of you have been close friends since first grade. You tell each other everything and have agreed not to share your secrets with others. Then one of you tells someone else one of your secrets. The other two are very upset. I want the three of you to role-play what you would say to each other after finding out that one of your secrets has been told to another person. When the conversation is over, two of you walk away from the one who told the secret. When that person tries to continue to talk with you, keep walking away. Before the role-playing begins, explain to the class that these three students have been good friends since the first grade, but something has just happened to hurt their friendship. Ask: How do you think the friend who told the secret felt? The friend felt hurt, alone, and left out. How do you think the other two felt? They felt hurt, angry, upset, and betrayed. Do you think that the other two should forgive their friend who told the secret? Why? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Have the students read and discuss the Reconciliation section on pp in the textbook

30 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have the students read and discuss the Forgiving Others section on p. 156 in the textbook. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have the students read and discuss the following sections on pp in the textbook: The Sign of the Sacrament of Reconciliation Preparation for Reconciliation The Celebration of Reconciliation feel sorry for venial and mortal sins, and they can be forgiven in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. When we sin, we should show our love for God by celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation. (This Sacrament is also known as the Sacrament of Penance and Confession.) LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Ask: Reconciliation means healing a loving relationship that has been hurt by sin. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Healing, because it heals the hurt brought about by our sins. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus gives us grace. He forgives our sins and restores a loving relationship with God, ourselves, and others by healing the hurt caused by our sins. The Sacrament of Communion, when we are about eight years old. But in order to receive Jesus healing touch in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we must admit our sins, be sorry for them, tell God we are sorry, and ask for God s forgiveness and His help not to sin again. admitting his sin, by being sorry, and by asking Jesus, God the Son, for forgiveness and help. In other words, he repented of his sins. We read about the thief s repentance in the following Scripture story. 156 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us! But the other rebuked him, saying, Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong. And he said, Jesus, remember me when you come in your kingly power. And he said to him, Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. (Luke 23:39 43) In the Sacrament of Reconciliation we, like the thief, can repent with the help of Jesus. When we do, Jesus forgives our sins and gives us grace. The grace Jesus gives us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation enables us to return God s love and helps us to love and forgive others the way Jesus loves and forgives us. Grace helps us to act as better images of God and to make the right choices. In the following Bible story Jesus tells about forgiving others. Forgiving Others And he [Jesus] said to his disciples, Temptations to sin are sure to come; but woe to him by whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung round his neck and he were cast into the sea, than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Take heed to yourselves; if your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him; and if he sins against you seven times in the day and turns to you seven times, and says, What is Jesus telling us about sin in this story? We should not be the cause of sin. The Sign of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is the sorrow we have when we say our sins to the priest and the words of forgiveness said by the priest. When the priest says the words of forgiveness, it is Jesus who forgives and heals us, because the priest acts for Jesus in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The words of forgiveness, or absolution, that take away our sins are, I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Preparation for Reconciliation Before celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we should examine our consciences, asking God to help us remember our wrong choices. We should ask ourselves if we have been living as images of God and how we could live as better images of God. We use the Ten Commandments as a guide, because the Ten Commandments are the directions God gives us so that we can act as Christ acted and act as images of God. When we have freely and knowingly broken one of the Commandments, we have not acted as images of God. We have sinned. When we have determined our sins, we should pray to the Holy Spirit to help us be sorry for our sins. The Celebration of Reconciliation When we go to the priest for Reconciliation, he may share a Bible reading. We confess our sins to toward God and others. Then he gives us a penance to do. A penance is usually a prayer or a loving act that will help us to make up for the sins we have committed. We recite an Act of Contrition or tell God we are sorry for our sins. Through the words of absolution spoken by the priest, we experience the healing touch of Jesus. Jesus forgives our sins and shows us God s mercy. After celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we should do our penance. Performing our penance shows God we are sorry and helps us to avoid sinning again. The grace that Jesus gives us in the Sacraments helps us to follow His example and to forgive others. We should receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation often. Remember, in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, only God, the priest, and yourself know what is said. The priest must not ever tell anyone what is said in Confession. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can be celebrated in two different ways. We may choose to receive the Sacrament with the priest in the confessional. There we speak to the priest behind a screen or faceto-face. Or we may choose to celebrate the Sacrament at a communal service. At a communal service, a group of people gather to pray together and to receive the Sacrament individually. At a communal service all the elements of Reconciliation are present, and often there are songs and additional prayers. At a certain point in the service, the people will go individually to a priest to confess their sins and receive absolution. What is Jesus telling us about forgiveness in this story? We should always forgive others when they are sorry

31 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have students complete the Review Questions on p. 159 in the textbook. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING The following are ten steps that can help you receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation: 1. Make a good examination of conscience. Be ready to tell the priest your sins. 2. Go into the confessional and kneel down, or go into the reconciliation room and sit or kneel down. Greet the priest. 3. Make the Sign of the Cross and say, Father, I have sinned. It has been [months/days/years] since my last confession. and others. 6. The priest will give you a penance. Review Questions 1. How does the Sacrament of Reconciliation affect us? We experience the compassion and healing of Jesus, the healing of spiritual pain caused by sin, and the forgiveness of sins. It gives us the grace to 2. What four things do we do when we want to show God that we love Him and repent of our sins? We admit our sins; we are sorry for our sins; we tell God we are sorry for 7. The priest will ask you to say an Act of Contrition. 8. The priest will give you absolution. Listen carefully so that you hear the words of forgiveness and so that you know when to make the Sign of the Cross and answer Amen. (Accept any reasonable answers.) 9. The priest will tell you to Go in Peace. Thank the priest and leave the confessional or reconciliation room. 10. Do your penance right away. 4. Why is it important that we forgive others? By forgiving others, we can love as God loves. 5. What line in the Our Father speaks to us about forgiveness? Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. 158 Note to the teacher: If your parish has the custom of using a Scripture quotation, instruct the students to insert the quotation at the appropriate step

32 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Journal Entry Have the students answer the following questions in their religion journals: How do you feel about going to confession? Why? How do you feel after receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Why? Have students think of times when they felt very sick and had to be in bed, or when they were hurt and had to stay in the hospital. Ask: What were some of the things you needed? What were some of the things you wanted? Who or what made you feel better? Have you ever visited someone who was very sick, or dying? Were you able to help that person to feel better? How? Who brings the most comfort to someone who is very sick, or dying? Have the students read and discuss The Anointing of the Sick section on p. 160 in the textbook. Then have the students read and discuss the Jesus Sends His Apostles section on pp in the textbook. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING The Anointing of the Sick Because of Original Sin, we will get sick, and someday we will die. Sickness, suffering, and death we brought these tragedies upon ourselves. But God does not abandon us to the pain and suffering compassion for people who are sick, in pain, or dying. Jesus is the greatest healer. While on earth, Jesus loved, comforted, and cured many sick and dying people. Jesus used His healing power to show us how much God loves us and how much He cares about our suffering. Read John 9:1 39. This Bible story is an example of Jesus healing power. Jesus Sends His Apostles As part of Jesus mission of love to the sick, suffering, and dying, He sent His Apostles to cure the sick. He sent His Apostles out to carry on His work. So they went out and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them (Mark 6:12 13). Jesus entrusted to the Apostles and to the Church the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Through this Sacrament Jesus touches sick, suffering, and dying people in a loving and special way. Saint James mentioned the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick in a letter he wrote. Is any among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [priests] of the Church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven (James 5:13 15). Today the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may be given to those who are very sick, to elderly people who are not in good health, to those in danger of death, and to those about to have serious surgery. Young children who are

33 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Begin by reading to the students John 9:1 39, explaining that it is an example of Jesus healing power. Students should use their Bibles to follow along as you read. Discuss the Bible story using the following questions. Have the students read and discuss the We Offer Suffering to God and Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret on p. 161 in the textbook. Ask: What reason did Jesus give to explain why the man was born blind? So that the works of God might be made visible through him. What other Bible stories have we read that show how Jesus touched people with His love by healing them? Students may want to look back in their books to find the answers. Some examples include: The Healing of a Paralytic, Matthew 9:1 8; The Healing of the Official s Daughter, Matthew 9:18 26; The Cleansing of the Lepers, Luke 17: What do you think was the blind man s response to Jesus miracle? He felt joy, happiness, wonder, and faith. What was the Pharisees response to Jesus miracle? They felt unbelief. What is your response to Jesus miracle? Accept all reasonable answers. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING sick can receive this Sacrament at the minimum age required to receive the Sacrament. It is a Sacrament of Healing, because through it Jesus comforts and loves the person receiving the Sacrament by forgiving the person s sins and healing the hurt caused by those sins. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick heals a person spiritually and sometimes heals a person physically. The grace that is received in this Sacrament strengthens and helps a person to offer pain and suffering to God as Jesus offered to God the Father His pain and suffering on the Cross. We Offer Suffering to God When we offer our pain and suffering to God, it means that we trust God even when we are afraid, sick, are not things that we like to think about. God did not intend for us to suffer, but, because of Original Sin, pain and suffering are part of our lives. Although we may be afraid of suffering, our faith helps us to trust in God. We should turn to God in prayer to help us when we are afraid or sad. God is a source of comfort for us. We remember how bravely Jesus suffered and died on the Cross. When we are sick or in pain, thinking about Jesus can help us to be brave. We can also remember all the times Jesus comforted and healed the sick while He was on earth. In the Bible we read about a time when Jesus healed many people. Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret shore. And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, [Jesus], and ran about the whole neighborhood and began to bring sick people on their pallets to any place where they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well. (Mark 6:53 56) Jesus has the same care and concern for us as He had for the sick and suffering when He was on earth. He shows His care through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. When someone is sick, seriously ill, or near death, it is important to remember that Jesus greatest healing came through His death and Resurrection. Through His death and Resurrection, Jesus restored the grace that human beings lost through Original Sin. The grace that we receive in the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick helps us to overcome sin and death. Grace, God s life, helps us to love God, ourselves, and others. It enables us to share God s life here on earth and to live with God someday in Heaven. In Heaven we will be free from all pain, suffering, and death. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick helps the person who receives it to reach Heaven

34 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Ask: How did Jesus treat people who were sick? He healed them, comforted them, loved them, and felt compassion for them. How do you think the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick reflects the attitude that Jesus showed? Accept all appropriate answers. Have the students read and discuss The Sign of the Sacrament section on p. 162 and then complete the Review Questions on p LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have the students read and discuss the We Offer Suffering to God section on p. 161 in the textbook. Ask: What does offering your pain and suffering to God mean? Offering up one s suffering to God means that we bravely face our pain and suffering. We turn to God in prayer to help us in our time of need. We trust God in our pain. (Accept all appropriate answers.) Have the students read and discuss the Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret section on p The Sign of the Sacrament the Sick is the prayer the priest says and the oil used to anoint the sick person. The minister of the Sacrament is a priest, who is acting for Jesus. The Sacrament can be celebrated at home, in church, in a hospital, or in a nursing home. Sometimes the Sacrament is celebrated during Mass. At all these times family, friends, and the Church pray for the one who is suffering. This Sacrament may be received more than once if the person s illness becomes more serious, or if the person recovers and becomes sick again. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a celebration of hope. The Sacrament gives us the strength we need to offer our suffering to Jesus as a sign of love. The Sacrament helps us to trust in God, even when we may be strongly tempted not to. The Sacrament usually begins with a greeting from the priest to the person to be anointed and to the others present. An opening prayer is said for the person who is to receive the Sacrament. The Sacrament of Reconciliation may also be offered to the sick person at this time. Someone may read from the Scriptures. Then the priest lays his hands on the head of the sick person, preparing the person for the healing touch of Christ. The priest, acting for Jesus, anoints the person on the forehead and on the palms of the hands with the oil of the sick. The oil is made from olives. It is specially blessed for its use in the Sacrament. It is a sign of the strength that the Sacrament gives. While the priest is anointing the person, he prays: Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in His love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up. Amen. With these words, the priest prays that the person may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to give any suffering to Jesus, that the person may be healed spiritually through the forgiveness of sins, and that the person may be healed physically. After the priest completes his prayer, all present pray the Our Father. The person receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may then receive the Holy Eucharist. The Eucharist is brought by the priest from the tabernacle. Holy Communion given to a person who is in danger of death is called Viaticum

35 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Read and discuss The Sacraments Are Celebrations section on p Pray together the Prayer for the Sick, found on textbook p LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Review Questions 1. How does the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick affect the person receiving it? healing the hurt caused by those sins. The person is healed spiritually and, sometimes, physically. The Sacrament strengthens and helps the person to offer any pain and suffering to God. Grace received in the Sacrament helps the person to overcome sin and death; to love God, oneself, and others here on earth; and someday to live with God in Heaven. 2. How can Jesus help you when you are sick? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Anointing of the Sick? (Accept all reasonable answers.) Prayer for the Sick God of compassion, You take every family under Your care, and You know our physical and spiritual needs. Transform our weakness by the strength of Your grace, so that we may grow in faith and love. We ask this through our Lord, Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. ACTIVITY The Sacraments Are Celebrations The Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick are celebrations of the Church. We celebrate them together with other members of the Church. All members of the Church who are of age may receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and, if they are ill or in danger of death, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we are reconciled with all members of the Church. Through the Anointing of the Sick, the Church prays for all her members who are sick. Reconciliation and the Anointing of the Sick are also personal celebrations. In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus shares Himself with each of us personally by forgiving our sins and healing the hurt caused by sin. Through the Anointing of the Sick, Jesus touches us personally by healing us spiritually and sometimes physically. Jesus gives us the personal strength we need to give our pain to God. 163 Remembering First Reconciliation The Sacraments are important celebrations. Many times we remember the Sacraments we have with the class. You may need help from family members. Remember that the sins you told the priest and what he said to you are only for God, yourself, and the priest to know

36 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LIVING THE LESSON APPLICATION Priest Visit Invite a priest to talk to the students about the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Ask him to show the class some of the signs and symbols of the Sacraments of Healing for example, the stole worn by the priest, and the oils. Perhaps you can invite someone who has received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to share the experience with your students. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Remembering First Reconciliation Help the students with the details of their first reception of the Sacrament of Reconciliation by having them complete the My First Reconciliation form on textbook page 165. Students may wish to share these details in class. Journal Entry Have the students complete in their religion journals the following statements: Reconciliation is still important for me today because My First Reconciliation Date of my First Reconciliation: I think Reconciliation is a celebration because.. Church where I received my First Reconciliation: Priest who heard my confession: People who helped me prepare for my First Reconciliation: What I remember most about my First Reconciliation: My favorite part of my First Reconciliation:

37 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING CELEBRATION LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Prayer Celebrate the Forgiveness Prayer Service in the textbook. It can be used as a preparation for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Check with your parish priest to see whether he can set up a time after the prayer service for the students to receive the Sacrament. Assign parts to the students and then gather the class around a lit candle. Begin by explaining that today the class will pray together to ask God s forgiveness for their sins and His help in forgiving those who have sinned against them. The service begins with an examination of conscience. After each question is asked, students think about how it relates to them and their relationship with God and others. Go through the examination of conscience on page 167 in the textbook. Forgiveness Prayer Service The following prayer service allows us to pray together to ask God to forgive us for our sins and to ask His help in forgiving those who have sinned against us. We will begin with an examination of conscience. After each question is asked, think about how it relates to you and your relationship with God and others. Examination of Conscience ( pause after each question) Teacher: 2. Do I say bad words? 3. Do I miss Mass without a good reason? 4. Do I think of Jesus and pray to Him during the day? 5. Do I share with others? 6. Do I show respect toward my father and mother? 7. Do I show kindness to my brothers, sisters, and friends? 8. Do I try to be helpful to those around me? 9. Do I have a positive attitude toward things? 10. Do I do what is expected of me at school and at home? 11. Do I tell the truth? 12. Do I make fun of others or put them down? 13. Do I take care of the things God has given me? 14. Do I try to be friendly to all students at school? 15. Do I set a good example? 16. Do I try to help those who have less than I do? 17. Do I walk away from activities that I know are wrong? Student 1: Dear God, we are sorry for the times we have sinned against You. Help us to carry on Your mission of love. Help us to forgive those who have hurt us. All: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. I have hurt myself and others. I sin. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. In His name, My God, have mercy

38 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Student 2: In this passage from John, Jesus tells us how we should act: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another (John 13:34). Student 3: Lord, help us to be more like You in our words and actions. We pray to the Lord. ACTIVITIES Have the students complete the Reconciliation Activity Sheet on p LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING All: Lord, hear our prayer. Student 4: Help us to admit our sins, be sorry for our sins, and ask for your forgiveness. We pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Student 5: Help us to forgive those who ask for our forgiveness. We pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Student 6: Anyone who would like to offer a petition may say it at this time. (Pause.) We pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Student 7: For our own private intentions, which we hold in our hearts. (Pause.) We pray to the Lord. All: Lord, hear our prayer. Student 8: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me (Psalm 23:1 4). Teacher: Share a sign of peace with those around you. As a sign of our forgiveness to all those around us and as a symbol of our oneness in the Church, we will pray the Our Father. Please join hands in a circle. All: Our Father RECONCILIATION ACTIVITY SHEET Directions: Fill in the blanks with the words from the word bank. Word Bank absolution compassion sin prayer Apostles sorry spiritual paralytic sorrow admitting examination of conscience loving act words priest God others ourselves asking relationship 1. In the Bible story of the paralytic, Jesus shows us His compassion for someone s spiritual and physical pain. 2. Jesus endured the suffering and pain of the Cross to take away our spiritual pain. 3. Sin weakens the loving relationship between God and us. 4. By giving the Sacrament of Reconciliation to the Apostles, Jesus gave the Sacrament to the Church. 5. Sin hurts God, ourselves, and others. 6. We can show our love for God by admitting our sins, saying we are sorry for our sins, and by asking for God s forgiveness and His help not to sin again. 7. Reconciliation not only restores our loving relationship with God but also restores our loving relationship with ourselves and others. sorrow we have when we say our sins to the priest and the words of forgiveness said by the priest. 9. The words of absolution take away our sins. 10. In an examination of conscience we ask ourselves whether we have been living as images of God and how we could be better images of God. 11. Penance is a prayer or loving act that will help us to make up for the sins we have committed

39 L E S S O N 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING Have the students complete the Activity Sheet on p. 170 in the textbook. LESSON 19: SACRAMENTS OF HEALING ANOINTING OF THE SICK ACTIVITY SHEET Directions: Fill in the blanks with the missing words from the word bank. Word Bank priest Viaticum physically suffering oil death anoints healing faith Resurrection trust comforts spiritually celebration the Holy Eucharist 1. Jesus has love and compassion for people who are suffering, in pain, or dying. 2. Through the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, Jesus comforts and loves the person receiving the Sacrament by forgiving the person s sins and healing the hurt caused by those sins. 3. The Anointing of the Sick heals the persons spiritually and sometimes physically. 4. The grace that is received in this Sacrament strengthens the sick person and helps the person to give any pain and suffering to God. 5. When we are afraid, our faith helps us to trust in God. 6. Jesus greatest healing came through His suffering and death. 7. The sign of the Anointing of the Sick is the prayer the priest says and the oil of the sick. 8. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament of hope. 9. The priest who acts for Jesus anoints the forehead and the palms of the hands of the sick person. the Holy Eucharist 10. During the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, the Sacraments of and Reconciliation may also be given. 11. Holy Communion given to a person in danger of death is called Viaticum. Prayers for Healing Activity Have the students make cards or small gifts to be brought to hospitals or nursing homes. Prayer Books for Healing Discuss the idea of healing spiritual as well as physical. Tell the students they are going to make booklets that contain the names of people they know who are ill or recovering from an injury. Materials needed: pocket folders lined paper adhesive scissors old magazines crayons and markers Divide the class into groups of three or four. Give each group some old magazines and a pocket folder. Have the groups use magazine pictures and markers or crayons to decorate the covers of the folders with images of healing. Then have the groups write down the names of relatives, friends, and neighbors who are ill. Use the completed folders at prayer time in the classroom, offering a prayer of petition for God s healing grace. Perhaps once a week, have the students bring the lists of names up-to-date

40 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON FOCUS Emphasis The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony are Sacraments of commitment, or vocation. If we pray to God and open our hearts to Him, we will someday know if God is calling us to Holy Orders or to Matrimony. As members of the Church, those who receive the Sacraments at the Service of Communion are called to work together with the other members of the Church to carry on Jesus mission of love. In this way, they serve to strengthen the unity of the Church. Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders at the Last Supper. He made the Apostles the first priests and bishops. Jesus asked Peter and the other Apostles to carry on His mission in a special way. They were to teach the people truth, to celebrate the Sacraments, and to lead the people. In these ways, they helped to strengthen the unity or communion of the Church. Before the Apostles died, they celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Orders and ordained other men to carry on their work. Many Popes and bishops have carried on the work of the Apostles. When a man and a woman fall in love, they should ask God if they are called to fulfill the three essential elements of marriage: permanence, faithfulness, and openness to children. When a baptized man and woman hear God s call to marriage and choose to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, they commit themselves to a Christian marriage. A loving marriage is a communion of persons. When two people marry, they become a family. Usually their family grows to include children. Children become members of the communion of persons of the family. Loving families help to strengthen the unity or communion of the Church. Through the Sacrament of Matrimony, Jesus meets the bride and groom, touches them, and gives them grace. The grace helps them to give the constant love and attention that marriage and family life need. The sign of the Sacrament of Matrimony is the bride and groom and the Yes they say to their marriage vows. The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony are celebrations of the Church. The whole Church rejoices, because the whole Church is enriched by the celebration of the Sacraments. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, through the touch of Jesus, men are ordained bishops, priests, and deacons. A man ordained as a deacon receives graces that make him able to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony and to do works of love. Certain men are called to become priests. A man ordained as a priest receives graces that enable him to celebrate all the Sacraments except to ordain other men in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. After serving as priests, certain men are called by God to be bishops. A man ordained as a bishop receives graces that enable him to celebrate all the Sacraments and to teach as the Apostles taught. Bishops are responsible for the leadership of the Church. The sign of the Sacrament of Holy Orders is the bishop laying his hands upon the head of the man receiving the Sacrament and the prayer the bishop says. Bishops, priests, and deacons all serve to strengthen the communion or unity of the Church. 168

41 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Correspondence to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Concepts of Faith Apostolic succession: CCC Church s hierarchical structure: CCC , Do this in memory of me : CCC , 1409 Duties of parents: CCC , Family in God s plan: CCC , 2249 Institution of the Eucharist: CCC Last Supper: CCC , 621 Love of spouses: CCC , Priesthood of the faithful: CCC , , 897, 901 3, 941, 1268, 1546, 1591 Sacrament of Holy Orders: CCC , Celebration of the Sacrament: CCC , 1597 Effects of the Sacrament: CCC , 1597 Minister of Ordination: CCC , 1600 Recipients of the Sacrament: CCC , Sacrament of Holy Orders in the economy of Salvation: CCC , Three degrees of the Sacrament of Holy Orders: CCC , Sacrament of Matrimony: CCC , Celebration of marriage: CCC , 1663 Domestic Church: CCC , 1666 Effects of the Sacrament of Matrimony: CCC , 1661 Goods and requirements of conjugal love: CCC , Marriage in the plan of God: CCC , Matrimonial consent: CCC , 1662 Sacramental signs: CCC , Sacraments at the Service of Communion: CCC What are the two Sacraments at the Service of Communion? Holy Orders and Matrimony. Who celebrates the Sacrament of Holy Orders? Bishops. What is the sign of Holy Orders? The bishop laying his hands upon the head of the man receiving the Sacrament and the prayer the bishop says. What is the sign of Matrimony? The bride and groom and the Yes they say to their marriage vows. What are the three essential elements of marriage? Permanence, faithfulness, and openness to children. Vocabulary vocation: a call from God to love Him, ourselves, and others by acting as prophet, priest, and king in a specific way diocese: the people and the parishes under the care of a bishop crosier: a staff carried by a bishop communion: our fellowship and union with Jesus and other baptized Christians in the Church Dig deeper with YOUCAT Read more about priestly ordination by reading YOUCAT

42 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON PRESENTATION Preparation Create a sacred space for students to gather for prayer. Pray an Act of Faith together, found in the Prayers to Know section in the textbooks. The materials needed for this lesson are Bibles, crayons or markers, and religion journals. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Vocabulary vocation: a call from God to love Him, ourselves, and others by acting as prophet, priest, diocese: the people and the parishes under the care of a bishop crosier: a staff carried by a bishop communion: our fellowship and union with Jesus and other baptized Christians in the Church Concepts of Faith Proclamation A man who is ordained and a man and woman who are married are called to serve the communion or unity of the Church and thus to carry on Jesus mission of love. What are the two Sacraments at the Service of Communion? Who celebrates the Sacrament of Holy Orders? Bishops. What is the sign of Holy Orders? The bishop laying his hands upon the head of the man receiving the Sacrament and the prayer the bishop says. What is the sign of Matrimony? What are the three essential elements of marriage? Dig deeper with YOUCAT Read more about priestly ordination by reading YOUCAT 254. A Way of Life The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony are Sacraments at the Service of Communion. They help to build up the unity of the Church. They require commitment, because those who receive them accept God s call and make a commitment, or promise, to love and serve God by following a certain way of life. They are Sacraments of vocation, because a vocation is a call from God. It is God who calls

43 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON EXPLANATION Read and discuss the vocabulary words and the Concepts of Faith with the students. Have the students read and discuss the A Way of Life section on pp in the textbook. When a man is ordained or a man and a woman enter into marriage, they make a commitment. The following questions will help to generate discussion. Ask: What does to make a commitment mean? It means to make a pledge or a promise. Have you ever made a commitment to something or someone? Accept any reasonable answers. What does making a commitment require? It requires loyalty, time, support, unselfishness, work, and sharing of talents. How does one benefit from carrying out a commitment? It gives a sense of self-respect; a sense of belonging, fun, friendship, and knowledge. Have you made a commitment to this classroom? In what ways? To help others, to be kind to others, to respect myself and others, to follow rules, and to share talents. Have you made a commitment to your family? In what ways? Answers will be similar to those for question 5. Have the students read and discuss the Holy Orders section on pp in the textbook. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION people to be married or to be deacons, priests, or bishops. Like the other Sacraments, Holy Orders and Matrimony are physical signs, given to us by Jesus, through which Jesus meets us and gives us grace. At your age, you cannot commit yourself to God through the Sacraments of Holy Orders or Matrimony. But regardless of age, all of us, as members of the Church, are called by God through Baptism to act as images of God. If you pray to God and open your heart to Him, you will someday know if God is calling you to Holy Orders or Matrimony. As members of the Church, those who receive the Sacraments at the Service of Communion, are called to work together with the other members of the Church to carry on Jesus mission of love: to love God, ourselves, and others here on earth and to live with God someday in Heaven. The Sacraments give those who receive them the grace to carry on Jesus mission. Holy Orders When Jesus ascended into Heaven, He did not abandon us. He left us the Church, which He founded. Jesus is present to us in and through the Church. At the Last Supper, Jesus gave the Church the Sacrament of Holy Orders, through the Apostles. When Jesus changed bread and wine into His Body and Blood, He said to the Apostles, Do this in the other Apostles to carry on His mission in a special way. They were to teach the people the truth, to celebrate the Sacraments, and to lead the people. Through the leadership of Peter and the other Apostles, Jesus mission of love was spread to many people. Before the Apostles died, they celebrated the Sacrament of Holy Orders and ordained other men to carry on their work. These men were bishops, priests, and deacons. Since the time of the Apostles two thousand years ago, many bishops, priests, and deacons have carried on the work of the Church. Today, the Pope and the bishops who are in union with him teach us the truth about who we are and how we should act as images of God. They help us return God s love through the celebration of the Sacraments. They guide and lead us so that one day we might live in Heaven. Priests and deacons assist the bishops in their work. All the men who serve the Church as bishops, priests, and deacons have received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. In the Sacrament of Holy Orders, through the touch of Jesus, men are ordained bishops, priests, and deacons. They all serve to strengthen the communion or unity of the Church. The minister of the Sacrament is the bishop. A man ordained as a deacon receives graces that make him able to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism and Matrimony and to do works of charity. Through his works of charity, the deacon helps us to know how to love God and others

44 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Begin the discussion of Holy Orders by asking the students the following questions and writing their responses on the board. Responses to questions 2 and 3 will be used later in the lesson. Certain men are called by God to become deacons. They seek approval of their bishop to study to become deacons. If the bishop accepts them, they begin their studies. Once they are ordained deacons, they assist the priest at Mass. They also can preach, baptize, and witness marriages. Some deacons Certain men are called by God to become priests. A man who accepts this call is ordained a priest after many years of study. When a man is ordained a priest, he receives graces that enable him to celebrate all the Sacraments, except for Holy Orders. The most important work of a priest is to celebrate Mass. When he celebrates the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, he speaks the words of Jesus that change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus. It is also through the ministry of the priest that Jesus forgives our sins. (Read John 20:21 23.) The priest also preaches the Word of God, counsels persons with problems, serves the poor and the needy, and often takes care of a parish. The following prayer is from the Rite of Ordination of a priest. Almighty Father, grant to these servants of yours the dignity of the priesthood. Renew within them the Spirit of holiness. As co-workers with the order of bishops may they be faithful to the ministry that they receive from you, Lord God, and be to others a model of right conduct. May they be faithful in working with the order of bishops, so that the words of the Gospel may reach the ends of the earth, and the family of nations, made one in Christ, may become God s one, holy people. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The men who are being ordained promise to carry out these duties and to obey their bishop. The man to be ordained kneels before the bishop, who places his hands on the man s head. Read 1 Peter 5:1 4 for the description of the service to be given by a priest. Ask: Whom do you consider leaders? (Examples of leaders are) A president, Pope, Scout leaders, coaches, team captains, and teachers. What qualities make a good leader? A good leader is honest, understanding, helpful, and knowledgeable. What are the responsibilities of a leader? A leader guides, gives support, and teaches

45 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Have the students read and discuss the Saint John Vianney story on p. 174 in the textbook. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Story of Faith ohn Vianney was born in France on May 8, His family was very poor. He worked on a farm Jas he was growing up. When John was about eighteen years old, he heard God s call to serve Him as a priest. John decided to answer God s call. But because he was needed to help with the farm work, he was unable to begin his studies for the priesthood. Then John was mistakenly drafted into the army, and his studies were delayed. Finally, after he left the army, John was able to enter the seminary. a priest. Father John was sent to the small rural village of Ars. The people there had turned away from God and were living unchristian lives. Father John fasted and prayed that the people would turn back to God. When the people saw how much Father John loved them, they began to turn back to God. God gave Father John special gifts. When people came to confess their sins to him, he would know their sins before they could say them aloud. Father John helped people to see the wrong they were doing and to begin living their lives as images of God. Soon people from the cities began to hear about Father John s gift. Hundreds of people came each day to have him hear their confessions. He heard confessions day and night, leaving him little time to sleep and eat. Father John was known also for the loving way he taught religion. He spent long hours praying, and he celebrated Mass with deep faith and reverence. Father John remained at his parish of Ars until his death on August 4, Today people can visit the church of Ars and see where Father John lived. His body is preserved. It lies in a golden shrine in the church. John Vianney was declared a saint on May 31, In 1929, he was named the patron saint of parish priests. In 2009, Pope Benedict XVI named Saint John Vianney the patron saint of all priests. His feast day is celebrated on August 4. Saint John Vianney s love of God and his devotion to God and His people are examples for priests and people everywhere. Ask: What are some reasons why the Church considers John Vianney a saint? He is considered a saint because he brought people back to God; his gift of knowing the sins of others; his faith, reverence, and dedication to God; his unselfishness; and he accepted his sufferings as a way to show his love for God. What can Saint John Vianney teach us through his example? He taught us not to give up even when things are difficult; the importance of prayer and penance; the importance of celebrating Mass; and the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Have the students read and discuss The Work of the Apostles section on p. 174 in the textbook. Ask: Who is our local bishop? What is the name of our cathedral or the bishop s church? The Work of the Apostles Jesus gave the Apostles their mission before He ascended into Heaven. (Read Matthew 28:18 20.) Today the bishops carry on the work of the Apostles. After serving as priests, certain men are called by God to be bishops. Priests who accept His call are ordained bishops. When a man is ordained a bishop, he receives the Sacrament of Holy Orders in a different way. Through the graces received in the Sacrament, he is now able to celebrate all the Sacraments and to teach as the Apostles taught. Bishops are responsible for the unity and leadership of the Church. When we speak about the bishops, we include the Pope, because he too is a bishop, the bishop of Rome. You can read about bishops in the Bible, Titus 1:7 l

46 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Have the students read and discuss the Saint Patrick story on p. 175 in the textbook. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Ask: What are some reasons why the Church considers Patrick a saint? He is considered a saint because of his faith, his dedication to God, his unselfishness, and his efforts in spreading the Faith. What can Saint Patrick teach us through his example? He teaches us that prayer keeps faith strong, that we mustn t give up, and that we can trust in God. Saint Patrick Story of Faith e don t know very much about Saint Patrick s origins. He was born somewhere in Europe, Wprobably Britain, during the fourth century. When he was a teenager, he was captured and taken to Ireland as a slave. There he lived as a poor shepherd, but he lived a life of prayer. He prayed constantly to God, and each day his faith grew stronger. Finally he was able to escape from Ireland. Then he began to study to be a priest. After Patrick was ordained a priest, he wished to return to Ireland, where most of the people did not even know about God. Patrick wanted to teach the people about Jesus. After Patrick was ordained a bishop, he was sent to Ireland. He traveled all over the country, teaching about Jesus. Not everyone wanted to hear what Patrick was preaching, and at times he feared for his life. But he continued to spread the Word of God. He prayed and did penance for the people of Ireland so that they would be open to the teachings of Jesus. Patrick was a gifted teacher. He often taught about Jesus and the Catholic Faith through stories. For example, he used the shamrock to teach the people about the Blessed Trinity. He compared the shamrock, with three leaves on one stem, to the Blessed Trinity, with three Persons in one God. Patrick was humble. He praised God for all that he was able to do in His name. Patrick did not stop preaching and praying until most of Ireland was Christian. He prayed that the people of Ireland would always be faithful to God. Once he wrote: May God never permit it to happen to me that I should lose His people that He purchased in the utmost parts of the world. I pray to God to give me perseverance and to deign that I be a faithful witness to Him to the end of my life.... From the time I came to know Him in my youth, the love of God and the fear of Him have grown in me, and up to now, thanks to the grace of God, I have kept the faith. (The Confession of Saint Patrick, 58) Ask: What are some of the responsibilities of a priest? List key answers on the board, such as celebrate the Mass, teach, preach God s Word, baptize, forgive sins, console, pray for the people, lead the people, help the needy. Ask the students to compare this list with the list of responsibilities of a good leader. Discuss the similarities and differences. Have the students read and discuss The Sign of Holy Orders section on pp in the textbook. Ask: If we were to create a recipe for a long-lasting friendship, what ingredients would you put in the recipe? (Write the students responses on the board. Discuss why the ingredients are important to a friendship.) Saint Patrick s faith remained strong until his death. When he died, in about 461, most of Ireland was Christian. The feast of Saint Patrick is celebrated on March 17. Saint Patrick s love of God and devotion to Him and His people are wonderful examples for bishops and people everywhere. The Sign of Holy Orders hands upon the head of the man receiving the Sacrament and the prayer the bishop says for the man. There are three different ordination prayers: one for a bishop, one for a priest, and one for a deacon. The celebration of Holy Orders takes place during Mass. Many things are done during the ceremony

47 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION that emphasize the importance of Holy Orders. In the ordination of priests, the bishop anoints the priest s hands with oil. blessed by the bishop at a Chrism Mass just before Easter. Anointing is an ancient tradition. The Bible has several examples of anointing. We read about one in the Old Testament, when the Lord was seeking someone to be the king of Israel. be king. Jesse presented seven of his sons to Samuel, but Samuel said that none was the one the Lord had chosen. Samuel asked whether Jesse had any more sons. Jesse said that his youngest son was tending the sheep. Samuel instructed Jesse to send for him. And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him; for this is he. Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came (1 Samuel 16:12 13) In addition to the anointing of his hands, the new priest is given a paten and a chalice. The paten and chalice symbolize the priest s responsibility to celebrate the Holy Eucharist for the people. Further, preaching the Word of God and celebrating the Sacraments. In the deacon s ordination, the new deacon is presented with a book containing the Gospels. This book represents the role that the deacon has in preaching the Word of God. In the ordination of a bishop, the miter, ring, and crosier that the new bishop receives symbolize his responsibility as a shepherd of the people. Bishops, priests, and deacons take part in a special way in Jesus mission of love. Their most important responsibility as leaders is to serve God and others. In this way, they serve to strengthen the communion or unity of the Church. As baptized members of the Church, we should support and pray for bishops, priests, and deacons. Have the students complete the Review Questions on p. 177 in the textbook. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION should pray always and celebrate the Sacraments. We should use our talents to help others. Our bishops, priests, and deacons help us to make a commitment to serve God. They help us to answer God s call to us at the end of every celebration of the Mass: to go forth in peace, glorifying the Lord by our lives. Review Questions 1. Do Holy Orders require a commitment? Why? to love and serve God as an ordained person. 2. How does the Sacrament of Holy Orders affect those receiving it? 3. How can we support those who are ordained? We pray for them; help at Mass by reading, singing, bringing up the gifts; and help with programs for the needy. We cannot forget our role in carrying on Jesus mission of love. We have a responsibility as members of God s family to lead others to Him. We should listen to God s Word and share it with others. We

48 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Have the students read and discuss the Friendship section on pp in the textbook. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION The following prayer has been attributed to Saint Patrick. Friendship 178 I arise today through the strength of heaven: light of the sun, radiance of the moon, speed of lightning, swiftness of the wind, depth of the sea, stability of the earth, I arise today through God s strength to pilot me, God s might to uphold me, God s wisdom to guide me, God s ear to hear me, God s word to speak for me, God s hand to guard me, God s way to lie before me. When Jesus was on earth, He showed us how to be true friends. He was a friend to all people. He shared His love, forgiveness, and kindness with all those around Him. His love and friendship for us Corinthians 13:1 8.) We form different friendships throughout our lives. True friendships last for a long time. When you become an adult, you will continue to have friends. Some of those friends will be men, and some will be women. Sometimes a special friendship grows between a man and a woman. They fall in love with one another. As their love and friendship grow, they may want to make a special commitment to one another. They may want to spend the rest of their lives together. They may want to share everything, including their thoughts, choices, and way of living. When a man and a woman fall in love, they should ask God if He is truly calling them to marriage, a lifelong commitment to each other. They should ask God to let them know if He is calling them to love only each other in a married way, a way that is open to children. In other words, they should ask and openness to children. When a baptized man and woman hear God s call to marriage and choose to receive the Sacrament of Matrimony, they commit themselves to a Christian marriage. They make a loving covenant with one another and with God. They make a solemn agreement, which includes a promise of continued love that will be expressed in words and actions. They promise to love and care for one another for the rest of their lives. They promise to be equal partners and to honor one another. When a man and a woman marry, they should love each other during good times and bad times and in sickness and in health. Their love should be unconditional. A loving marriage is a communion of persons. A communion of persons is a loving union of two or more persons. A loving marriage shows God s love to the world. When a man and a woman marry, they become a family. Usually their family grows to include children. Children become members of the communion of persons of the family. Loving Christian parents practice their Catholic Faith, and they teach their children the Catholic Faith. Parents should also provide for the educational and physical needs of their children. A loving family serves to build up the communion or unity of the Church. Jesus entrusted the Sacrament of Matrimony to the Church through the Apostles. In the Sacrament of Matrimony, Jesus meets the bride and groom, touches them, and gives them grace. The grace that Jesus gives in the Sacrament of their marriage commitment to each other and to their family. The grace of the Sacrament helps them to give the constant love and attention that marriage and family life require. The union formed by the Sacrament of Matrimony is sacred. The Sacrament is not only a sign of the love between the bridal couple but a sign of the love Jesus has for us. To show the importance of The Sacrament of Matrimony is usually celebrated during Mass. Family, friends, and members of the Church community join in the celebration and express their support for the marriage through prayer. The bride and groom are the ministers of the Sacrament. In other words, they give the Sacrament to each other. Catholics, however, are required to be married before a priest or deacon and two witnesses. In certain circumstances, the bishop can release a Catholic from this requirement. Still, the priest or deacon is not the minister of the Sacrament. The bride and groom are ministers of the Sacrament

49 L E S S O N 2 0 : SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Have the students read and discuss The Sign of Matrimony section on p. 180 in the textbook, then have them complete the Review Questions on p The promises, or vows, spoken by the bride and groom express the lifelong covenant made between the couple before God. One set of vows states, I [name], take you, [name], to be my wife/husband. I promise to be true to you in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honor you all the days of my life. During the wedding ceremony, the priest blesses the couple with a nuptial (marriage) blessing. He says, Lord, grant that as they begin to live this Sacrament they may share with each other the gifts of your love and become one in heart and mind as witnesses to your presence in their marriage.... Father, grant that as they come together to your table on earth [at Mass], so they may one day have the joy of sharing your feast in Heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. In this blessing, the Church is asking God to help the couple to love God, themselves, and others. all of their lives. Finally, after trying to resolve these serious problems, they may decide it is better for when parents separate, the children think it is their fault, but they should not blame themselves. And, even though all the family members may not be living together, they will always be a family. Through their prayers, the family members should continue to ask for God s help and protection. They can be The Sign of Matrimony the Sacrament of Matrimony is the bride and groom and the Yes they say to the vows they make to each other. By means of this sign, the bride and groom make a lifelong commitment to each other. the grace to live their promises to one another. There are many items that may be used in a marriage ceremony to emphasize the importance of the Sacrament. The bride and groom clothes worn are symbols of the special nature of the celebration. The music, Scripture readings, and prayers express the dignity of the Sacrament. The Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony are celebrations of the Church. Even though not everyone who is present receives the Sacrament, everyone joins in the celebration. The whole Church rejoices, too, because the whole Church is enriched by the celebration of the Sacraments of Holy Orders and Matrimony. LESSON 20: SACRAMENTS AT THE SERVICE OF COMMUNION Review Questions 1. Does Matrimony require a commitment? Why? a commitment to love and serve God as a married couple. 2. How does the Sacrament affect the couple receiving it? 3. Who are the ministers of this Sacrament? The bride and groom are the ministers of the Sacrament. 4. Why do you think marriage is sometimes hard work? It is hard work because of sin and its effects. The husband and wife may have different ideas about money, for example, or about raising children. 5. What are some of the qualities of marriage according to 1 Corinthians 13:1 8? Patience, kindness, bearing all things, etc. 6. How can family and friends help a married couple? They help with prayer and support Note to the teacher: Divorce and family problems are very sensitive issues. Great care should be taken when discussing these issues. It is important to remember that, if one spouse dies, the other spouse may marry again. Also, if there is a divorce, the spouses may marry again if the Church has granted an annulment. 177