Grade 7 Lesson 14: Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, Paschal Mystery (Ch. 9)

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1 Grade 7 Lesson 14: Holy Week, Easter, Ascension, Paschal Mystery (Ch. 9) Key Points The Triduum Easter The Ascension The Paschal Mystery: Jesus Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Materials Bringing New Life (activity master 38B) Eastergram pictures YouTube. Wi-Fi Password: AllisHoly Catechist Prayer before the lesson: I adore you O Christ, and I bless you, because by your Holy Cross you have redeemed the world. Thank you for your love and sacrifice. [5 min] Invite Triduum (p. 38) Pray the Memorare for souls in Purgatory. Recite the prayer and Scripture passage on page 38. Discuss the Have you ever thought questions. [10 min] Jesus Suffers for Us (p. 39) Holy Week starts on Palm Sunday (March 25 th ), which is the week before Easter Sunday. The three days before Easter are called the Triduum. o On Holy Thursday, we remember Jesus Last Supper when he washed his apostles feet and gave them the Eucharist for the first time. o On Good Friday we remember Jesus Crucifixion and death. o On Holy Saturday, we look forward to Jesus rising from the dead. The priest lights the Easter candle and blesses holy water. New members of the Church are baptized on this day. Why did Jesus die? Jesus chose to give up his life to save us from sin and to open the gates of Heaven to us. Read pg. 40. Emphasize that Charity is the unselfish love we retrun to God and share with others. Why are we forever in Jesus debt? Jesus gave up his life to redeem us. Hand out Bringing New life. Allow time to complete and discuss. [10 min] The Center of Our Beliefs (p ) Which feast day is more important in the Church calendar: Christmas or Easter? o Easter, because we praise God for giving us salvation through the Resurrection of Jesus. Read and discuss Easter on pages

2 In what ways do you experience joy during the Easter season? [10 min] Changes for Us All (p ) The Ascension is 40 days after Easter. This year it is celebrated on Sunday, May 13 th. t s a Holy Day of Obligation (but it also falls on a Sunday!) Read the Scripture passage on p. 46. Read about the Ascension on pages How does the Ascension challenge us to be faithful? (see the 3 rd paragraph p. 47) [10 min] Eastergram Divide the class into small groups and hand out the Eastergram pictures. (See attached pictures below.) Give each group a few minutes to discuss what part of the Easter story their Eastergram is telling. Let each group explain their picture to the class. [10 min] Discover Original Holiness (p. 158) Original Holiness is the state of goodness that humanity enjoyed before Adam and Eve sinned against God. Everything in nature was perfect, and there was no suffering or death. Original Sin is the sin of our first parents that wounded human nature and introduced sin, suffering, and death into the world. All humans are born with Original Sin and struggle with concupiscence, which is the desire for earthly goods instead of spiritual goods and a disproportionate desire to please our senses. Personal sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission that violates the law of God. If a sin is a serious matter, and a person knows it is wrong but freely chooses to do it anyway, it is a mortal sin, and can only be forgiven in the sacrament of confession. Read or summarize the text on pages and discuss. o What are some examples of original sin that you hear about in the news or in movies and TV? o How would the world be different is those stories were replaced with examples of care, honesty, generosity, and humility? [10 min] Discover God So Loved the World (p ) Salvation is the loving action of God s forgiveness of sins and the restoration of friendship with the Father brought by Jesus Christ. After the Fall of Adam and Eve, the gates of Heaven were closed to humans. By disobeying God and cooperating with Satan, Adam handed over his role as steward over creation to the devil, who then became the Prince of this world. Jesus came to save us from the consequences of humanity s sin (death and hell), and in order to do so, he took on human flesh because it was human choice that brought about the Fall, and only a (Divine) human could undo that choice. Jesus sacrificed himself to take on the debt of all the sins of humanity, and by doing so he overthrew Satan s power over us, and the gates of Heaven were opened to all souls who follow Christ. Read and discuss the text about salvation. 2

3 [10 min] Jesus Brings New Life- p Read pgs Emphasize that although Jesus was Divine, he was also human and he truly suffered, died, and was buried. [10 min] Salvation History- this is optional if you have time. Watch: The Word of the Cross by Full of Eyes. Why do you think the people in the video had holes in their heart? o Note: St. Augustine said Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in Thee. What do you think the words mean: Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread and your labor for that which does not satisfy? (Isaiah 55:2) [5 min] Sending- Prayer of Praise Select readers and conclude class with the Prayer of Praise on p

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