SPIRIT of TRUTH Grade 6 Sample Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2 Included here are two sample lessons from the 6th grade Spirit of Truth teacher s guide, followed by the corresponding pages from the 6th grade student workbook. Order the full Grade 6 books at SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org/SpiritofTruth
UNIT 1 What Is Sacred Scripture? Lessons in This Unit Lesson 1: Exploring Sacred Scripture with Sacred Art Lesson 2: Sacred Scripture: The Written Revelation of God Lesson 3: The Purposes of Scripture Lesson 4: The Use of Scripture at Holy Mass Lesson 5: Praying with Scripture: Lectio Divina Lesson 6: How to Use the Bible Scripture Studied in This Unit Psalm 33:4 Psalm 46:11 Psalm 119:105 Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:16-21 Luke 1:26-38 Luke 11:28 John 1:1 John 1:14 John 21:25 Hebrews 4:12 2 Timothy 2:15 2 Timothy 3:14-17 Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 1 81, 101, 104, 461, 469 Lesson 2 51, 65, 77-78, 80-82, 85, 88-90, 101-104 Lesson 3 131-133 Lesson 4 131-133, 1154, 1349, 2589 Lesson 5 1177, 2708, 2716-2717 Lesson 6 110, 2653 Unit 1 Overview 1
Introduction God reveals Himself to us in His Word, which we encounter in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition. The Magisterium of the Church authentically teaches and interprets the Word of God so that the faithful might be saved. We are called to encounter the Word of God in Scripture through prayer in our daily lives. Sacred Scripture Sacred Scripture, the Bible, is the written record of God s revelation of Himself. God has chosen to make Himself known to us, His precious creation. From the very beginning He revealed Himself and His loving plan for us in words and deeds. He continued this self-revelation throughout salvation history, culminating in the Incarnation, when God became man in the Person of Jesus Christ. John the Evangelist tells us in the opening words of His Gospel, In the Beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God and the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth (John 1:1, 14). In other words, the Divine Son, the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word of God, was present with God in the beginning and is God Himself. The Word became flesh, and entered into human history to reveal fully the glory of God, who is truth itself. In Jesus Christ, God has said all that needs to be said. He has spoken His one, perfect, unsurpassable Word and completely revealed Himself. Divine Revelation and the Magisterium Divine revelation has reached us today, whole and intact, through the Sacred Tradition of the Church. That is, the central content of the Christian faith handed on by Jesus to the Apostles and their successors, the bishops. The Magisterium, or the teaching authority of the Church and those who wield that authority, guard and protect this sacred Deposit of Faith to ensure that we the faithful have access to all that we need to know for the sake of our salvation. The Magisterium, which comprises the pope and all the world s bishops in union with the pope, has been given the authority to teach and interpret the sacred truths of our faith by Jesus Himself. Thus, the Church venerates the Word of God as she venerates the Body of Christ. In both, which we receive from the same altar, we receive God Himself. In the Sacred Scriptures we encounter not dead words on a page, but the living Word of God, Jesus Christ. St. Jerome famously said, Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. Therefore, the Church has always implored the faithful to know the Scriptures in order to know Christ. The Power of the Word of God Scripture possesses great power in our lives. Not only do we meet our Lord through it, but, as St. Paul reminds us, it is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16) 2 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Just as we spend time with loved ones in order to know them and be in relationship with them, so too must we spend time with the Lord and hear His voice in the Word. St. Jerome Writing, by Caravaggio and is capable of cutting directly to our deepest selves, discerning the reflections and thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). In the Scriptures we find our guidebook for living the Christian life, for teaching others about the faith, and for defending the faith. Scripture also speaks directly to our souls and is capable of revealing our truest self. In order to achieve all of this, we must first read Scripture and know how to read it properly. We must incorporate Scripture into our daily lives. The Church asks us at least to read in advance each Sunday s Gospel, to reflect on their meaning, and to bring those reflections to God in prayer. Just as we spend time with loved ones in order to know them and be in relationship with them, so too must we spend time with the Lord and hear His voice in the Word. Unit 1 Overview 3
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Exploring Sacred Scripture with Sacred Art UNIT 1, LESSON 1 Learning Goals God communicates with us in human words, the way we normally communicate. In both Scripture and in Jesus Christ, the Word of God is present fully in a fully human way: in human language and as a man like us in all things but sin. Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 81 CCC 101 CCC 104 CCC 461 CCC 469 Vocabulary Duality Sacred Scripture BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. JOHN 1:1 And the angel said to her in reply, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. LUKE 1:35 5
Lesson Plan Materials The Annunciation DAY ONE The Annunciation BY LUIS JUAREZ (C. 1610) Warm-Up A. Project the image on The Annunciation (page 7). Give students several minutes to quietly view the art before you say or ask anything. Allow them to come up and stand closer to the image to examine details. B. Once several minutes have passed, ask students: What do you first notice about this work of art? What do you like about this work of art? How does this painting make you feel? National Museum of Art, Mexico City, Mexico. 7 ӹ ӹ Who are the figures in this painting? From top left to bottom right: God the Father, God the Holy Spirit (the dove), the angel Gabriel, and the Virgin Mary. ӹ ӹ What is happening in this picture? This painting depicts the Annunciation. The Annunciation The Annunciation, by Luis Juarez (c. 1610) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Identify the figures in the painting and describe what they are doing. 2. Artists use placement and light to draw our eye to important things. When you look at this painting, where did your eye naturally go? What or whom do you look at first? Next? What or whom are you drawn to focus on the longest? Why do you think the artist might have been drawing your attention in this way? 3. Why do you think the angel is holding a white lily? What might that represent? Activity Put students in small groups and ask them to turn to The Annunciation (page 8). Have them discuss the conversation questions with each other. During this time, focus on keeping students intent on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in unexpected ways. 4. Read Luke 1:26-38. How does this painting illustrate this Gospel story? Which specific moment from the story is depicted in the painting? What makes you think so? 5. What is on the desk in front of Mary? Why do you think the artist included that in this painting? 6. Read John 1:1 and John 1:14. How does this painting illustrate this passage from John s Gospel? 7. Which story from the Gospels you just read does this painting best illustrate? Why do you think so? Formative Assessment A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussions, keeping them on task, and offering insights or clarification where needed. 8 B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the artist about his painting and turn it in. 6 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN DAY TWO Warm-Up Project once again an image of The Annunciation, and read aloud a few of the most interesting questions offered by the student groups the previous day. Allow students to share their reactions and other personal responses to the art. Activity A. Give students copies of the art, and have them skim over the questions they discussed the previous day. Then call on groups in turn to share their answers to each of the questions. Conclude the discussion with the question of how the artist probably wanted the people who viewed his painting to feel. B. Project on the board Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 101, and have a student stand and read it aloud: In order to reveal Himself to men, in the condescension of His goodness God speaks to them in human words: Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when He took on Himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men (Dei Verbum quoted in CCC 101). C. Ask your students the following questions: How does God reveal Himself to us out of His goodness? In human words, the way we normally communicate. What are the words of God like when expressed in the words of men? Like human language in every way. Recall John 1:1 and John 1:14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. How does this quote from the Catechism connect the presence of God s Word in Scripture to God s becoming man in Jesus Christ? In both Scripture and Jesus, the Word of God is present fully in a fully human way: in human language and in the flesh, as a man like us in all things but sin. D. Explain to your students that we are surrounded with dualities in life. A duality is when one thing has two (sometimes more, which would be called a plurality) natures. For example, a person could be both a daughter and a sister at the same time. She has both roles in her life, and neither cancels the other out. She does not stop being a sister when she is a daughter, nor does she stop being a daughter when she is a sister. Similarly, Scripture is both the Word of God and the words of humans, and Jesus Christ is both fully God and fully man. E. With a partner, have students create a list of three to five different dualities or pluralities in life. In other words, what are some things that have two or more natures at the same time? Accept reasoned answers. Some examples may include money (worthless paper but also a cash value), an actor who plays a role in a film or in a play, or emotions (what is seen on the outside in our bodies Unit 1, lesson 1 7
LESSON PLAN and what is felt on the inside), and so forth. You may need to help your students individually think of different answers. Formative Assessment When students have completed their lists of dualities, ask them to share and explain. In discussion, help students come to recognize that it is part of human experience for things to have multiple natures at the same time. This helps us better understand how God in His Word can be present in His Scriptures. DAY THREE Warm-Up A. Project on the board Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 81, and have your students write it down as a definition of Sacred Scripture in a notebook or on their own paper. Then have a student stand and read it aloud: Sacred Scripture is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. B. Project on the board the image of The Annunciation by Luis Juarez again or ask students to turn to The Annunciation again. Have them write on their own paper a three- to five-sentence response to the following question: How does the painting of The Annunciation by Luis Juarez illustrate the Catechism definition of Sacred Scripture? Be specific and use examples from the painting. Activity and Assessment Using the Unit 1 Copywork section in the student workbooks, have students write out and commit to memory the following Bible verses, which complement all the lessons in this unit. Give students a few minutes each day to study them and practice recitation and writing. Before completing this unit, select one or two of these verses to have students write out from memory as a quiz at the end of the unit. Students should also be able to recite all the memorized Scripture and identify the work of art in this lesson. You may wish to give extra points to students who can identify not only the title of the work but also the artist, time period, and location of the work.. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. JOHN 1:1 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. JOHN 1:14 8 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. 2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 He replied, Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. LUKE 11:28 ӹ ӹ Be still and know that I am God! PSALM 46:11 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. HEBREWS 4:12 Unit 1, lesson 1 9
The Annunciation BY LUIS JUAREZ (C. 1610) National Museum of Art, Mexico City, Mexico. 7 10 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 1. God the Father is at the top left corner, sending The Annunciation the Holy Spirit (the dove) down upon The Annunciation, by Luis Juarez (c. 1610) Mary. Mary is in prayer, perhaps Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss having just read them with your classmates. from Scripture. The angel Gabriel Conversation Questions is greeting Mary 1. Identify the figures in the painting and describe what they are doing. and announcing 2. Artists use placement and light to draw our eye to important things. When you look at this her pregnancy by painting, where did your eye naturally go? What or whom do you look at first? Next? What or whom are you drawn to focus on the longest? Why do you think the artist might have the power of the Holy Spirit. 2. Answers will vary. Most will likely been drawing your attention in this way? 3. Why do you think the angel is holding a white lily? What might that represent? 4. Read Luke 1:26-38. How does this painting illustrate this Gospel story? Which specific moment from the story is depicted in the painting? What makes you think so? 5. What is on the desk in front of Mary? Why do you think the artist included that in this suggest their painting? attention is drawn 6. Read John 1:1 and John 1:14. How does this painting illustrate this passage from John s to the dove/ Holy Spirit in the center because it Gospel? 7. Which story from the Gospels you just read does this painting best illustrate? Why do you think so? is radiating light. The artist may have been trying to show the power of the Holy Spirit in action. 8 3. Lilies can represent peace and God s grace. The angel Gabriel came in peace and greeted Mary with the words Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you, or more famously in other translations, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. 4. It depicts the moment of Jesus conception by the power of the Holy Spirit. 5. The Scriptures (the Word of God) are on the desk in front of Mary. 6. God s only Son, Jesus Christ, is the Word of God and is God Himself. The Word became flesh in the Incarnation, which occurred at the moment of Jesus conception at the Annunciation. The artist may have wished to communicate that Mary read the Scriptures. He may also have had a deeper meaning in mind. The Scriptures present in front of Mary are a symbol of the Word becoming flesh. 7. Accept reasoned answers. Unit 1, lesson 1 11
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Sacred Scripture: The Written Revelation of God UNIT 1, LESSON 2 Learning Goals God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Scripture (the Bible) and Sacred Tradition. Jesus is the Word of God, and we encounter Him in Scripture. Sacred Scripture is the written record of God s revelation of Himself. Sacred Tradition is the central content of the Christian faith handed on by Jesus to the Apostles and their successors, the bishops. The Magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church. The Church venerates the Word of God as she venerates the Body of Christ. Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 51 CCC 65 CCC 77-78 CCC 80-82 Vocabulary Revelation CCC 85 CCC 88-90 CCC 101-104 Sacred Scripture/The Bible Sacred Tradition Magisterium Deposit of Faith Word of God BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; He has sent me to bring good news to the afflicted, to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, release to the prisoners, To announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. JOHN 1:14 ISAIAH 61:1-2 13
Lesson Plan Materials God Reveals Himself in His Word Scripture and the Body of Christ Divine Revelation Note-Taking ӹ ӹ Divine Revelation Powerpoint Template Note cards The Body of Christ DAY ONE Warm-Up A. Before class, write on each of several note cards the name of a celebrity, a famous athlete, a cartoon character, or a character from a TV show or a movie (for example, Tom Cruise, Bugs Bunny, Iron Man, Taylor Swift, a Minion, and so forth). Distribute a note card to each student, and warn students not to let anyone else see their note cards. The name on the card will be each student s identity for this game. B. Give students a few minutes to write on the back of their note cards five important clues or characteristics about the person or character on their card. C. Have students stand and find a partner. Without revealing any clues, have students guess who their partner is. Then have them take turns revealing their list of clues one at a time. After each clue is revealed, the student s partner should guess who he or she is. If a guess is incorrect, the next clue should be revealed. If, after all five clues have been revealed and the identity has not been guessed, students may reveal who they are to their partners. D. After the activity, have students return to their desks and then ask the following questions: Did anyone guess who their partner was without any clues? What was it like trying to figure out who your partner was based on the clues? What was it like to give the clues but not have your identity guessed correctly? Why were some clues better than others? What ultimately gave away the identity of your partner? Do you think it was necessary to give clues to the identities? Why? How do you think this activity might relate to how we know God? Activity A. Explain to your students that there are different ways in which we can come to know that God exists, such as through nature or through the use of human reason. But in order to know certain things about God, such as who He is, that He loves us, and that has a plan for our lives, God has to reveal them to us. We cannot come to know such things on our own by thinking about them or by using science and technology. Similarly, the only way students could know 14 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN who their partners were in the game they just played was for their partners to reveal themselves. Blindly guessing would get them only so far. Thankfully, God does reveal Himself to us. One of the primary ways God does this is through Scripture, the Bible. B. Have students turn to God Reveals Himself in His Word (page 15) in their workbooks. Have students work individually to complete the activity on the handout. Formative Assessment A. Review and discuss the answers to God Reveals Himself in His Word. B. Ask your students to write on their own paper two things that God reveals about Himself to us. Collect their answers at the end of class. God Reveals Himself in His Word Directions: Read the Scripture passages below and answer the focus questions. Then 4. What respond did Jesus in writing read from to the in given the synagogue? prompt. John 1:1-5, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning 5. What with did God. the All Scripture things came that to Jesus be through read from him, claim and the without Spirit him of the nothing Lord sent came Him to to do? be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. 6. What did Jesus claim after reading the Scripture? 1. Who was in the beginning with God and is God Himself? 2. What came to be through this person? Reflection Question In a well-written five- to seven-sentence paragraph, support the following statement using both of the above Scripture passages: 3. What did the Word become, and what did the Word reveal when He became that? God reveals Himself in His Word. Luke 4:16-21 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. 15 16 DAY TWO Warm-Up A. Project on the board Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 51, which quotes Dei Verbum 2, and have a student stand and read it aloud: It pleased God, in his goodness and wisdom, to reveal himself and to make known the mystery of his will. His will was that men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature. B. Ask your students the following questions: Why did God reveal Himself? It pleases Him to do so. What did God make known? The mystery of His will. What was the will of God that He made known? Men should have access to the Father, through Christ, the Word made flesh, in the Holy Spirit, and thus become sharers in the divine nature. C. Explain that when we say the mystery of God s will, we do not mean an unsolvable puzzle, but rather something that goes beyond our ability to understand on our own. In order for us to know or understand it, it must be shown or revealed to us. Therefore, God s will for humanity was not a puzzle to solve or something unknowable entirely. Rather, God, the all-powerful Creator of the universe, revealed it to us because it is His will. Unit 1, lesson 2 15
LESSON PLAN Activity 18 Divine Revelation Note-Taking Template 10. S a c r e dt r a d i t Directions: i o nc a m eb e f o Read r e the selection and then fill in the blanks. as you listen to your teacher. 11. T h e r e f e r st ot h ea u t h o r i t yo ft h ec h u r c ht ot e a c hi n In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she Jesus name. welcomes It also refers it not to those as a human who possess word, but that as authority, what really the is, the word of God. In the sacred a books, the Father who is in l o heaven n e,a n da comes l lo ft h lovingly ew o r l d to s meet his children, and talks with them. (CCC 104) t o g e t h e ri nu n i o nw i t ht h ep o p e. 12. Sacred Scripture 1. G and o dc Sacred h o s et or Tradition e v e a lh i together m s e l fa n dm form a k one ek n o Sacred w n. 2. Am y s t e r yi sat r u t ht,o h a rt tc h a ew n n h o tb o l ec ed o i n s c t e o n v to e r e ft db h ec y h r i s t i a nf a i t h.. 3. G o dr e v e a l e dh i m s e l ft oi n v i t eu si n t o w i t hh i m. These descriptions are not complete, but they help you see how God reveals Himself to us 4. T h e e n s u r e st h a tg o d sr e v e l a t i o no fh i m s e l fw i l l through Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. We will spend a lot more time studying the written record of God s r e m revelation, a i n a the Bible, this year. n d f o ra l l time. 5. T h et r i p o do ft r u t hi sm a d eo f, Reflection Questions,a n dt h e. 1. Have you ever read a story from the Bible? Which one? What was it like? 6. T h ec o r ec o n t e n to ft h ec h r i s t i a nf a i t hi sf o u n di n,,a n d.to g e t h e r, t h e s ea r ec a l l e d. 2. How do you think we encounter the Word of God directly in the Bible? 7. T r a d i t i o nm e a n st o. 8. Jesus told His Apostles to preach to all the, which they 3. Which book of the Bible or biblical character or story are you most interested to and their successors, the, have faithfully done for over learn more about this year? Why? 2, 0 0 0y e a r s,u n d e rt h eg u i d a n c eo ft h e. 9. The written record of God s revelation is called. It consists o ft h e a n dt h e t h a tm a k e up the Bible. 17 A. Write Scripture on the board. Ask your students what other word we call the Scriptures? The Bible. B. Explain that the Catechism says that in order to reveal Himself to men God speaks to them in human words (CCC 101). Scripture is the written record of God s revelation of Himself to humanity. God has made His will known to us through His Word, which we find written in the Bible. C. Download the Divine Revelation PowerPoint presentation from SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org. Have your students turn to Divine Revelation Note- Taking Template (page 17). D. Use the PowerPoint to conduct a brief lecture with your students on the sources of divine revelation: Scripture, Tradition, and the Magisterium. Teacher notes are included on the bottom of each slide. Have students complete the note taking template during the lecture. Formative Assessment With partners, have students take turns asking each other questions using the note-taking template from Divine Revelation Note-Taking Template. Circulate around the room and check on conversations as they occur. DAY THREE Warm-Up A. Project on the board Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1382, and have a student stand and read it aloud: To receive communion is to receive Christ Himself who has offered Himself for us. 16 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN B. Have students turn to The Body of Christ (page 19). Ask them to take a few minutes to look at the images: Last Supper by Andrey Mironov and Mond Crucifixion by Raphael. C. In pairs or trios, have students respond to the conversation questions on the page that follows. D. When students have had time to discuss the questions, review and discuss as a class. The Body of Christ THE LAST SUPPER, BY ANDREY MIRONOv (C. 2009) MOND CRUCIFIXION, BY RAPHAEL (C. 1502-1503) The Body of Christ Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. What do you first notice about each painting? 2. What is happening in each painting? 3. Who are the figures in each painting? 4. In the Last Supper painting, where is the source of light in the painting? What does that tell us about Jesus? 5. In the Mond Crucifixion painting, what are the angels doing? Why? 6. How do the two paintings together deepen our understanding of the Eucharist? What do they show us about whom we receive in the Bread of Life? Activity and Assessment A. Project on the board Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 103, and have a student stand and read it aloud: The Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God s Word and Christ s Body. B. Ask your students the following questions: What table do you think this Catechsim quote is referring to? The altar at Mass. What do we receive from the altar? The Bread of Life, Jesus Himself, in the form of God s Word and Christ s Body. What is God s Word? What is Christ s Body? Scripture and the Eucharist. We encounter and receive Christ present in both, although in different ways. C. Have your students turn to Scripture and the Body of Christ (page 21) and work on the activities individually. They will complete a Venn diagram comparing Scripture and the Eucharist and then create symbols of each that shows how we encounter Jesus through each. Scripture and the Body of Christ Part I Part II Directions: Directions: In the left In part the of boxes the Venn on the diagram, next page, list draw at least a symbol three unique for Scripture characteristics and one for the of Scripture. Eucharist In the to right show part, how list we at encounter least three Jesus unique through characteristics each. of the Eucharist. Then, in the center portion of the diagram, list at least three ways Scripture and the Eucharist are similar. D. When students have completed their work, review and discuss their responses to the Venn diagram. Draw or project your own blank diagram on the board, fill it in with student answers, and discuss them. Ask for a few volunteers to share and explain the symbols they created. 20 22 Scripture Scripture Eucharist The Eucharist 19 21 Unit 1, lesson 2 17
Answer Key 1. The Word 2. All things came to be through Him, specifically life. 3. The glory of God God Reveals Himself in His Word Directions: Read the Scripture passages below and answer the focus questions. Then respond in writing to the given prompt. John 1:1-5, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. 1. Who was in the beginning with God and is God Himself? 2. What came to be through this person? 3. What did the Word become, and what did the Word reveal when He became that? Luke 4:16-21 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. 15 18 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 4. A scroll from the book of Isaiah. 5. The Spirit anointed Him to bring glad tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. 6. That the Scripture is fulfilled in the people s hearing of it. Reflection Question: God reveals Himself in His word. Jesus Christ is God s one perfect, unsurpassable Word. Jesus, the Word of 16 God, is God and therefore, in Word, God Himself has come to us to reveal His glory. God s promise of salvation, prophesied throughout the Old Testament, is fulfilled in Jesus, the Word of God. 4. What did Jesus read from in the synagogue? 5. What did the Scripture that Jesus read from claim the Spirit of the Lord sent Him to do? 6. What did Jesus claim after reading the Scripture? Reflection Question In a well-written five- to seven-sentence paragraph, support the following statement using both of the above Scripture passages: God reveals Himself in His Word. Unit 1, lesson 2 19
Answer Key 1. The mystery of His will 2. Man alone Divine Revelation Note-Taking Template 3. Friendship Directions: Read the selection and then fill in the blanks as you listen to your teacher. 4. The Tripod of Truth/whole/ complete 5. Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium 6. Sacred Scripture, dogmas, and doctrines/sacred Tradition 7. Hand on 8. Gospel message/ bishops/ Holy Spirit 9. cripture/old Testament/New Testament In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, but as what it really is, the word of God. In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. (CCC 104) 1. G o dc h o s et or e v e a lh i m s e l fa n dm a k ek n o w n. 2. Am y s t e r yi sat r u t ht h a tc a n n o tb ed i s c o v e r e db y. 3. G o dr e v e a l e dh i m s e l ft oi n v i t eu si n t o w i t hh i m. 4. T h e e n s u r e st h a tg o d sr e v e l a t i o no fh i m s e l fw i l l r e m a i n a n d f o ra l l time. 5. T h et r i p o do ft r u t hi sm a d eo f,,a n dt h e. 6. T h ec o r ec o n t e n to ft h ec h r i s t i a nf a i t hi sf o u n di n,,a n d.to g e t h e r, t h e s ea r ec a l l e d. 7. T r a d i t i o nm e a n st o. 8. Jesus told His Apostles to preach to all the, which they and their successors, the, have faithfully done for over 2, 0 0 0y e a r s,u n d e rt h eg u i d a n c eo ft h e. 9. The written record of God s revelation is called. It consists o ft h e a n dt h e t h a tm a k e up the Bible. 17 20 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 10. Sacred Scripture 11. Magisterium/ pope/bishops 12. Deposit of Faith 10. S a c r e dt r a d i t i o nc a m eb e f o r e. 11. T h e r e f e r st ot h ea u t h o r i t yo ft h ec h u r c ht ot e a c hi n Jesus name. It also refers to those who possess that authority, the a l o n e,a n da l lo ft h ew o r l d s t o g e t h e ri nu n i o nw i t ht h ep o p e. Reflection Questions: Accept reasoned answers. 12. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form one Sacred,o rt h ew h o l ec o n t e n to ft h ec h r i s t i a nf a i t h. These descriptions are not complete, but they help you see how God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. We will spend a lot more time studying the written record of God s revelation, the Bible, this year. Reflection Questions 1. Have you ever read a story from the Bible? Which one? What was it like? 2. How do you think we encounter the Word of God directly in the Bible? 3. Which book of the Bible or biblical character or story are you most interested to learn more about this year? Why? 18 Unit 1, lesson 2 21
The Body of Christ THE LAST SUPPER, BY ANDREY MIRONOv (C. 2009) MOND CRUCIFIXION, BY RAPHAEL (C. 1502-1503) 19 22 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 1. Answers will vary. 2. The Last Supper painting depicts the Last Supper, specifically the moment where Jesus is teaching His Apostles that the chalice is the cup of His Blood which will be shed for them and for all as the New Covenant. The other painting depicts the Crucifixion of Jesus. The Body of Christ Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. What do you first notice about each painting? 2. What is happening in each painting? 3. Who are the figures in each painting? 4. In the Last Supper painting, where is the source of light in the painting? What does that tell us about Jesus? 5. In the Mond Crucifixion painting, what are the angels doing? Why? 6. How do the two paintings together deepen our understanding of the Eucharist? What do they show us about whom we receive in the Bread of Life? 3. Jesus and the Apostles are in the Last Supper painting. In the Mond Crucifixion, to Jesus left are Mary Magdalene and John the Evangelist, and 20 to Jesus right are Jesus Mother and St. Jerome (who was not present at the Crucifixion, but to whom this painting was dedicated) along with some angels. 4. It appears in the Last Supper that the only source of light in the painting is Jesus Himself. He is almost glowing. This seems to highlight Jesus divinity, and, at the moment of the Institution of the Eucharist, Jesus is giving Himself to His disciples, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. 5. The angels are collecting the Precious Blood of Jesus as it pours from His wounds on the Cross. 6. Both paintings depict Jesus giving to us His Precious Blood. In both paintings we see not only Jesus humanity, but His divinity revealed and given to us fully in the Bread of Life, the Eucharist. Unit 1, lesson 2 23
Answer Key Scripture Possible answers include: Written words, authored by human beings, God speaks to us through it, read, tells stories, can be read/received anywhere at any time The Eucharist Possible answers include: Appears as bread and wine, is the actual Body and Blood of Jesus, transubstantiated by the Holy Spirit through a priest, eaten and drunk, is received at Mass Scripture and the Eucharist Possible answers include: Both are received at Mass from the one table, we encounter Jesus in both, both are venerated by Christians, God is revealed in both, both lead us to salvation. Scripture and the Body of Christ Part I Directions: In the left part of the Venn diagram, list at least three unique characteristics of Scripture. In the right part, list at least three unique characteristics of the Eucharist. Then, in the center portion of the diagram, list at least three ways Scripture and the Eucharist are similar. Scripture Eucharist 21 24 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Part II Directions: In the boxes on the next page, draw a symbol for Scripture and one for the Eucharist to show how we encounter Jesus through each. Scripture The Eucharist 22 Accept reasoned answers Unit 1, lesson 2 25
Notes 26 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Grade 6 Student Workbook Sample Pages Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2 plus Scripture Copywork
UNIT 1 What is Sacred Scripture? God reveals Himself to us in His Word. We encounter His Word in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition as taught to us by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church who guards and protects the truths of our faith. Sacred Scripture is the written record of God s revelation of Himself throughout Salvation History. From the very beginning, God chose to make Himself known to us through words and deeds, gradually and in stages. This revelation culminated in the Incarnation, when God became man in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Word of God. In Him, God has fully revealed Himself and has said all that needs to be said. He has spoken His one, perfect, unsurpassable Word. In Scripture, we meet our Lord Jesus Christ. St. Jerome famously said, Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ. Therefore, the Church has always asked the faithful to know the Scripture in order to know Christ. Scripture is very powerful in our lives. As St. Paul wrote, it is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16) and it is able to speak to the deepest reflections and thoughts of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The Scriptures are our guidebook for living the Christian life, for teaching others about the faith, and for defending the faith. It speaks directly to our souls and reveals to us our truest self. In order to achieve all of this, we must read Scripture frequently and reflect on its meaning for our lives. Just as we spend time with friends in order to know them better, we must spend time with the Lord in order to hear His voice in His Word. Unit 1 Overview 1
In this unit, you will learn about The written record of God s revelation of Himself The purposes of Scripture How Scripture is used at Holy Mass How to pray with Scripture using Lectio Divina How to use the Bible Are there any questions you still have about the topics you learned last month? What steps can you take to find out the answers? Write them on the lines below. What questions do you have right now about the topics you will be learning about in this unit? Write them on the lines below. 2 Unit 1 Overview
Unit 1 Vocabulary Alleluia: Praise the Lord! A song or acclamation of praise before the Gospels are read at Mass. Biblia: Latin for a collection of books. The word Bible is derived from this word and refers to the fact that Scripture is not a single book to be read from cover to cover, but rather is a library of books and other writings. Deposit of Faith: The whole content of the Christian faith formed by Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together. The deposit of faith was revealed by God through Jesus Christ and has been faithfully guarded and interpreted by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church. Duality: When one thing has two or more natures. Scripture is both the Word of God the written words of humans. Homily: A teaching drawn from the day s readings given by a priest (or deacon) at Mass. Lectio Divina: Latin for divine reading. It is an ancient form of praying with Scripture that is a slow and thoughtful encounter with the Word of God. Liturgy of the Eucharist: The second part of the Mass in which we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. In this part of the Mass, the priest prays the words of consecration and changes the bread and wine in the Body and Blood of Christ. We also come to the altar of the Lord and receive Holy Communion. Liturgy of the Word: The first part of the Mass in which we receive the written Word of God. In this part of the Mass, the Scriptures are proclaimed and the priest teaches us in his homily. We also join together in prayer for others and profess our faith. Magisterium: The teaching authority of the Church and those who exercise that authority, the pope and all of the world s bishops in union with the pope. The Magisterium of the Church authentically teaches and interprets the Word of God so that the faithful might be saved. Profession of Faith: A public statement of belief made by the faithful during Sunday Masses and Holy Days of Obligation. It can either be the Nicene Creed, the Apostles Creed, or a renewal of baptismal promises. Revelation: An act of making known divine truth. From the beginning, God made Himself and His plan for us known gradually and in stages and in words and deeds. Sacred Scripture/The Bible: The written record of God s revelation of Himself. It is the speech of God put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit. The Word of God. Sacred Tradition: The central content of the Christian faith handed on by Jesus to the Apostles, and their successors, the bishops. Unit 1 Overview 3
Salvation: Being freed from the power and effects of sin. From the beginning, God promised us freedom from sin. He revealed His plan to save us from sin throughout Salvation History and Jesus Christ completed the plan of salvation by His sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection from the dead. Sacred Scripture is our primary source for the truth we need to know for the sake of our salvation. Theology: The study of God and the things of God. The study of God is different than the study of other things. Rather than learning a list of facts about God, theology is about learning to know, trust, and love God in order to grow in relationship with Him. Universal Prayer or Prayer of the Faithful: The prayer of the assembly during every Mass that concludes the Liturgy of the Word. The faithful entrust the needs of the Church, the needs of the world, and their own needs to God. Word of God: A title for Jesus Christ and a title for Sacred Scripture. Jesus is the Word of God become flesh in the Incarnation. In Him, God has revealed all that is necessary for the sake of our salvation. We meet Jesus in Sacred Scripture, the Word of God written down to preserve and communicate the Good News of salvation. 4 Unit 1 Overview
The Annunciation BY LUIS JUAREZ (C. 1610) National Museum of Art, Mexico City, Mexico. Unit 1, Lesson 1 7
The Annunciation The Annunciation, by Luis Juarez (c. 1610) Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. Conversation Questions 1. Identify the figures in the painting and describe what they are doing. 2. Artists use placement and light to draw our eye to important things. When you look at this painting, where did your eye naturally go? What or whom do you look at first? Next? What or whom are you drawn to focus on the longest? Why do you think the artist might have been drawing your attention in this way? 3. Why do you think the angel is holding a white lily? What might that represent? 4. Read Luke 1:26-38. How does this painting illustrate this Gospel story? Which specific moment from the story is depicted in the painting? What makes you think so? 5. What is on the desk in front of Mary? Why do you think the artist included that in this painting? 6. Read John 1:1 and John 1:14. How does this painting illustrate this passage from John s Gospel? 7. Which story from the Gospels you just read does this painting best illustrate? Why do you think so? 8 Unit 1, Lesson 1
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Unit 1 Copywork 9
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. 10 Unit 1 Copywork
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work. Unit 1 Copywork 11
Luke 11:28 He replied, Rather, blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it. 12 Unit 1 Copywork
Psalm 46:11 Be still and know that I am God! Unit 1 Copywork 13
Hebrews 4:12 Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart. 14 Unit 1 Copywork
God Reveals Himself in His Word Directions: Read the Scripture passages below and answer the focus questions. Then respond in writing to the given prompt. John 1:1-5, 14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father s only Son, full of grace and truth. 1. Who was in the beginning with God and is God Himself? 2. What came to be through this person? 3. What did the Word become, and what did the Word reveal when He became that? Luke 4:16-21 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord. Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing. Unit 1, Lesson 2 15
4. What did Jesus read from in the synagogue? 5. What did the Scripture that Jesus read from claim the Spirit of the Lord sent Him to do? 6. What did Jesus claim after reading the Scripture? Reflection Question In a well-written five- to seven-sentence paragraph, support the following statement using both of the above Scripture passages: God reveals Himself in His Word. 16 Unit 1, Lesson 2
Divine Revelation Note-Taking Template Directions: Read the selection and then fill in the blanks as you listen to your teacher. In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, but as what it really is, the word of God. In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. (CCC 104) 1. G o dc h o s et or e v e a lh i m s e l fa n dm a k ek n o w n. 2. Am y s t e r yi sat r u t ht h a tc a n n o tb ed i s c o v e r e db y. 3. G o dr e v e a l e dh i m s e l ft oi n v i t eu si n t o w i t hh i m. 4. T h e e n s u r e st h a tg o d sr e v e l a t i o no fh i m s e l fw i l l r e m a i n a n d f o ra l l time. 5. T h et r i p o do ft r u t hi sm a d eo f,,a n dt h e. 6. T h ec o r ec o n t e n to ft h ec h r i s t i a nf a i t hi sf o u n di n,,a n d.to g e t h e r, t h e s ea r ec a l l e d. 7. T r a d i t i o nm e a n st o. 8. Jesus told His Apostles to preach to all the, which they and their successors, the, have faithfully done for over 2, 0 0 0y e a r s,u n d e rt h eg u i d a n c eo ft h e. 9. The written record of God s revelation is called. It consists o ft h e a n dt h e t h a tm a k e up the Bible. Unit 1, Lesson 2 17
10. S a c r e dt r a d i t i o nc a m eb e f o r e. 11. T h e r e f e r st ot h ea u t h o r i t yo ft h ec h u r c ht ot e a c hi n Jesus name. It also refers to those who possess that authority, the a l o n e,a n da l lo ft h ew o r l d s t o g e t h e ri nu n i o nw i t ht h ep o p e. 12. Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition together form one Sacred,o rt h ew h o l ec o n t e n to ft h ec h r i s t i a nf a i t h. These descriptions are not complete, but they help you see how God reveals Himself to us through Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture. We will spend a lot more time studying the written record of God s revelation, the Bible, this year. Reflection Questions 1. Have you ever read a story from the Bible? Which one? What was it like? 2. How do you think we encounter the Word of God directly in the Bible? 3. Which book of the Bible or biblical character or story are you most interested to learn more about this year? Why? 18 Unit 1, Lesson 2
The Body of Christ THE LAST SUPPER, BY ANDREY MIRONOV (C. 2009) MOND CRUCIFIXION, BY RAPHAEL (C. 1502-1503) Unit 1, Lesson 2 19