Blest Are We 3rd Grade Our Heritage in Prayer Prayer is an important part of or Catholic heritage. Traditional prayers are integrated into the Church s liturgical and devotional life. They have been prayed for centuries and passed down from generation to generation. Children should be introduced to these prayers at an early age so that they will be able to participate in the communal prayer of their church community. o The Sign of the Cross o The Lord s Prayer o Glory Be to the Father o The Hail Mary o Prayer to the Holy Spirit o The Apostle s Creed o The Nicene Creed o Morning Prayer o Evening Prayer o Grace Before Meals o Grace After Meals o Act of Contrition o My Prayer to Jesus in the Eucharist o Vocation Prayer The Bible as Story As Catholics, we believe that the Bible is the Word of God. We believe that the Holy Spirit guided the people who wrote the Bible. God is the true author of the Bible. Sometimes the Bible is called Scripture. There are two parts to the Bible, the Old Testament, and the New Testament. Bible stories tell of God s great love for us. The stories in the Old Testament tell about God s people before Jesus life on earth. We read about God giving the Ten Commandments to Moses. In the Book of Psalms there are many beautiful psalms. Old Testament stories help us learn about our Jewish History. We read the New Testament to learn about the life and teachings of Jesus. There are four books called the Gospels. They were written in the names of the disciples, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The Acts of the Apostles and many letters tell about the lives of early Christians. Sacred Scripture is a source of nourishment and strength for the Church. The Church has accepted throughout history that the books of the Bible were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. The Church has recognized the importance of Bible scholarship for understanding the Scriptures. We are encouraged to study the Bible more deeply appreciate the Word of God.
What Catholics Believe About the Bible We believe that the Bible is the Word of God. The Holy Spirit guided certain people to write the Bible. What Catholics Believe About the Trinity We believe there is one God in three Persons. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit make up the Holy Trinity. o God Our Father God the Father is our Creator who made everything with love. We are created in God s likeness. We are always in the Father s care. He always listens to our prayers. o Jesus Christ God the Father sent his only Son, Jesus to be with us. Jesus suffered and died on a cross. He was raised from the dead to free us from sin. Jesus is our Savior. After Jesus ascended to his Father in heaven, his followers became the Church. o The Holy Spirit God the Holy Spirit came to unite, guide, and help our Church to grow. The Holy Spirit comes to us in Baptism and remains with us. He gives us special gifts to help us be true followers of Jesus. The Church has come to an understanding of the Trinity derived from reflection on the action of God in our lives. What Catholics Believe about The Catholic Church We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. We believe that the Catholic Church is one. It is one because we all believe in Jesus Christ. The Catholic Church is holy. Jesus Christ, with the Father and the Holy Spirit make the Church holy. It is holy because God s loving grace is present in the Church. The Church is catholic. It is catholic because we welcome all people as Jesus Christ does. The Church is apostolic. It is apostolic because it is faithful to the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Apostles. We profess that the Church is one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. These marks are essential features of the Church and its mission. What Catholics Believe about Mary and the Saints Mary, the mother of Jesus, is our greatest saint. She was filled with grace from the first moment of her life. Mary, who loved and cared for Jesus, loves and cares for us.
Mary is a sign of God s special love for us. Mary s willingness to be God s servant was the beginning of our salvation in Jesus Christ. What Catholics Believe about Life Everlasting We believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Jesus Christ promises us that, if we are faithful to his teachings, we will have life everlasting. This means that we will live forever with God in heaven. Eternal life is unending happiness with Jesus Christ in God s kingdom. We believe that at the Second Coming of Christ all people will be gathered in Christ s presence, and that the truth of each individual s relationship with God will be revealed. What Catholics Believe about The Sacraments Catholics gather to worship when we celebrate the seven sacraments. Christ becomes present to us in them. The Sacraments of Initiation o Baptism welcomes us into the Church. We receive the Holy Spirit. The priest or deacon says, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Rite of Baptism) He pours water over the head of the person being baptized. Baptism is the basis for the whole of Christian life. Through Baptism we are freed and reborn as children of God. o Confirmation strengthens us in our faith. The bishop or priest says, Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Rite of Confirmation) He lays his hands on the head of the person being confirmed and anoints the forehead with oil. Confirmation strengthens our bond with the Church and her mission to bear witness to the Christian faith. o Eucharist When we worship together at Mass we receive the Eucharist. Jesus Christ gives himself to us in a special way. The priest takes the bread and says, Take this, all of you, and eat it; this is my body. He takes the wine and says, Take this, all of you, and drink from it; this is the cup of my blood. In the Eucharist, through his sacrifice, Christ pours out the graces of salvation on his Body, which is the Church. This sacrament strengthens our union with the Lord. The Sacraments of Healing o Reconciliation is the sacrament that celebrates the gift of God s forgiveness. It also celebrates gift of God s love for us. We say we are sorry for our sins. We promise to turn away from sin. God shows mercy and forgives us. Reconciliation provides an opportunity to ask God s forgiveness.
o Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing. It is the sacrament of Christ s peace and forgiveness. People who are sick, elderly, or dying receive this sacrament. Anointing of the Sick gives strength and consolation to those who are ill. The Sacraments at the Service of Communion o The sacraments of Matrimony and Holy Orders celebrate the call to family life and to ordained ministry. o Holy Orders celebrate the ordination of baptized men to serve the Church. Bishops and priests celebrate the sacraments and teach God s word. Deacons work among those in need. The bishop prays asking for God s special help. The bishop lays his hands on the head of the person being ordained. o Matrimony celebrates the commitment between a man and a woman. The man says to the woman, I take you to be my wife. The woman replies, I take you to be my husband. The couple makes these promises in the presence of a priest or deacon and the Christian community. What Catholics Believe about Reconciliation In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we celebrate God s forgiveness. We ask the Holy Spirit to help us to live in better ways as Jesus teaches us. Rite of Reconciliation of Individuals o Preparation I examine my conscience by thinking of the sinful things I might have done or said on purpose. o Priest s Welcome The priest welcomes me in the name of Jesus and the Church community. o Reading from Scripture The priest may read a part of the Bible or may tell me a story from the Gospels. o Confession I tell the priest my sins. The priest asks me to do a kind act or say a prayer to show that I am sorry. o Prayer of Sorrow I pray aloud an act of contrition. o Absolution Acting in the name of the Church, the priest extends his hands over me and asks God to forgive me. The priest gives me absolution in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. o Prayer of Praise and Dismissal With the priest, I pray a prayer of praise. Then the priest tells me to go in peace. I answer, Amen. The grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, or Penance, gives us the courage to admit our failures and wrong doing, to ask forgiveness, and to renew our dedication to the Christian life. The experience of celebrating this sacrament in community can give us an appreciation of the social consequences of sin and the need for reconciliation as a whole people.
What Catholics Believe about The Mass Our celebration of the Mass is the primary source of renewal of our life in Christ. In the Mass we are once again welcomed into the community of the faithful, called to communion with others and service to others, and nourished by the Bread of Life. We are sent forth to exemplify the Good News of the Gospel in our everyday lives.
Scope & Sequence Catechism Curriculum Community Unit 1 The Church is One Our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ brings us together. As Catholics, we are also brought together by the sacraments, which make our faith strong. Chapter 1 The Holy Spirit Guides Us to Become Church o The Holy Spirit helps us live our Christian faith and to work toward unity and peace with others. o Realize that a world community of Jesus followers makes up the Catholic Church. o Understand that we are called to help show that the Catholic Church is one body. o Learn that we are all baptized into one faith. Chapter 2 We Receive the Sacraments of Initiation o The Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation welcome people into the Christian life. o Identify Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as the Sacraments of Initiation. o Understand that the Church supports us and helps our faith to grow. o Understand and value their membership in the Catholic Church. Chapter 3 We Show Our Love for One Another o We show love for God by loving others t home, at school, at church, and in our neighborhood. o Know and give examples of what it means to care. o Understand that God calls us to love everyone because we are created in God s image. o Recognize the Christian family as the domestic church. Chapter 4 Jesus teaches Us How to Pray o Jesus taught people to pray to God as a loving Father. All Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ. o Realize that Jesus teaches us how to pray. o Understand that we pray for help, to give thanks, to praise, and to ask forgiveness. o Learn about the Kingdom of God. Unit 2 The Church is Holy We meet the Lord Jesus Christ in his work that we read about in the Gospels. We learn to be the likeness of God our Father. We do this through the love we receive from his divine Son. Chapter 5 Jesus Shows Us How to Forgive and Heal o As Christians we are called to act with compassion and mercy toward others. We are to forgive those who hurt us. o Understand that God sent Jesus to heal and forgive us because we were born with original sin, which is forgiven in Baptism.
o Realize that God wants us to act with compassion and mercy. o Learn that the Holy Spirit is with us and helps us do God s will. Chapter 6 We Celebrate Reconciliation and Healing o God offers us spiritual healing through the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick. o Understand that Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are Sacraments of Healing. o Realize that Jesus heals and forgives through the Sacraments of Healing. o Learn about the meaning of venial and mortal sins. Chapter 7 Jesus Teaches Us How to Love and Care o Jesus teaches us how to love and care by giving us the Great Commandment. o Understand that the Great Commandment tells us to love God above all things. o Realize that loving one s neighbor means respecting and caring for all people. o Recognize that if we follow the Great Commandment we will make good choices. Chapter 8 We Pray to the Holy Spirit o God does not promise us a perfect life, but he does promise to love us and be with us always. o Understand that we should ask God the Father for what we need. o Learn that the Holy Trinity is one God in three persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. o Learn to be open to and accept guidance from the Holy Spirit. Unit 3 The Church is Catholic Jesus taught us that God is the Father of all. Our Church welcomes all God s children. Chapter 9 Catholics are Open to All o The Church is catholic; Jesus sent his Apostles t proclaim the Good News of God s love to the entire world. o Understand that Jesus life, death, and Resurrection are for everyone. o Realize that God s gift to everyone was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. o Learn that the Catholic Church is catholic because it is open to everyone in the world. Chapter 10 We Gather for Mass o God calls us together to celebrate the gift of his Son. At Mass we give thanks and praise to God. o Appreciate that Sunday, the Lord s Day, is a day to rest from work and spend with our Church family and our family at home. o Understand that at Mass we celebrate the Risen Lord in the liturgy of the Eucharist. o Realize that the liturgy is a common experience to Catholics around the world.
Chapter 11 We Serve Others o The Church is apostolic. All Church members are called to share the Good News of Jesus with others. o Recognize our call to be missionaries and to share the Good News with others. o Understand that God s grace helps us act with faith, hope, and charity. o Learn that grace is the gift of God s presence in our lives. Chapter 12 We Pray for All People o Mary is our model of faith and charity. In prayer, we ask her to intercede for us and for all people. o Learn that we should be open and accept the guidance of the Holy Spirit. o Understand the Church s devotion to Mary, the Mother of God. o Understand the purpose and content of the Hail Mary and the Rosary. Unit 4 The Church is Apostolic For the past two thousand years, the Church has spread throughout the world. It is faithful to the teachings of the Apostles who were taught by Jesus. Chapter 13 The Church Continues the Mission of the Apostles o God calls Church members to continue the mission of the Apostles by sharing their faith in Jesus Christ with others. o Understand that we are all called to be Christ s disciples and share his teaching with others. o Understand that the Church is apostolic because it carries on the faith of Jesus and the Apostles. o Identify the marks of the Church as one, holy, catholic, and apostolic. Chapter 14 We Are Committed Through the Sacraments o Matrimony and Holy Orders are sacraments, which celebrate people s commitment to serve God. o Understand the meaning of a vocation. o Identify Matrimony and Holy Orders as Sacraments at the Service of Communion. o Understand that god wants us to use our talents to serve others. Chapter 15 We Are Faithful to Our Commitments o We are called to use our individual talents to help others and proclaim the Kingdom of God. o Understand that every Christian has a vocation. o Understand the work of the Church leaders and servers. o Realize that individual talents can be used to serve God and others. Chapter 16 We Pray for Faith o We pray the Apostles Creed to remember our beliefs as Christians and to grow in faith. o Understand that the Apostles Creed is a statement of faith of the Apostles. o Recognize that the Apostles Creed tells about the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
o Realize that as we pray, the Holy Spirit helps us be faithful to the Apostles Creed. Unit 5 The Church Has a Mission to the World The Catholic Church community is a sign of the justice and peace of God s kingdom in this world and in the world to come. Chapter 17 The Church Is a Sign of the Kingdom of God o God calls us and all of Creation into a relationship of love with him. He wants us to be signs of his kingdom. o Understand that as followers of Jesus, we are called to be signs of God s kingdom in the world. o Believe that Jesus is always guiding us toward God s kingdom. o Learn that the kingdom will come to perfection at the end of time. Chapter 18 We Are Called to Serve o Prayers of blessing are signs that we believe God is always with us, sharing his grace and love. o Learn that blessings can be used often in everyday life to spread the Good News, to give thanks and praise to God, to ask for God s help, and to show our faith in God. o Understand that any lay person, including a child, can give blessings. o Learn that sacramentals remind us that life is holy and help us receive God s grace. Chapter 19 The Church Is a Witness for Justice and Peace o Today s Church continues Jesus ministry to poor and suffering people by working for peace and justice. o Recognize that the Church continues Jesus ministry of service to the poor and suffering. o Understand that we continue Jesus ministry of service when we work for peace and justice. o Learn that Catholics are called to act with compassion toward all people. Chapter 20 The Church Prays for World Peace o Jesus calls all Church members to be peacemakers, to be fair, and to respect the rights of others. o Understand that Jesus calls us to work for peace and justice. o Understand what it means to be a peacemaker. o Understand the importance of prayer in seeking peace, and uniting all members of the Church.