SPIRIT of TRUTH Grade 8 Sample Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2 Included here are two sample lessons from the 8th grade Spirit of Truth teacher s guide, followed by the corresponding pages from the 8th grade student workbook. Order the full Grade 8 books at SophiaInstituteforTeachers.org/SpiritofTruth
UNIT 1 Personal Growth Lessons in This Unit Lesson 1: Exploring Personal Growth with Sacred Art Lesson 2: Image and Likeness Lesson 3: Vocation of Love Lesson 4: Society Lesson 5: Relationships Build the Kingdom Lesson 6: The Family in God s Plan Lesson 7: Friendships Lesson 8: Social Responsibility Lesson 9: God Loves Us and Calls Us to Be in Relationship with Him in the Church Scripture Studied in This Unit Genesis 1:27 Genesis 2:15, 18-24 Genesis 2:21-3:18 1 Kings 17:7-16 Proverbs 27:17 Sirach 7:27-28 Jeremiah 31:3 Jeremiah 31:20 Matthew 5:43-44 Matthew 6:9-13 Matthew 25:31-46 Matthew 28:19-20 Luke 3:11 Luke 7:12-15 John 13:34-35 John 14:15-18 Romans 5:8 Romans 12:10 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 1 Corinthians 15:1-26 Ephesians 5:33 1 Timothy 4:12 1 John 4:16 Unit 1 Overview 1
Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Lesson 1 1878-1879 Lesson 2 221, 355-358, 362-366, 369-372 Lesson 3 1822-1829, 2227-2228, 2331, 2337-2347, 2360 Lesson 4 1877-1888, 1936-1937, 1939-1942 Lesson 5 541-542, 767, 776, 1906-1910, 2045-2046, 2818 Lesson 6 2201-2233 Lesson 7 357, 374, 1939, 1972, 2346-2347 Lesson 8 1807, 1825, 1928-1938, 2302-2308, 2415-2418, 2447 Lesson 9 44-45, 168, 301, 356, 639, 643-646, 651, 655, 757, 781 2 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Introduction Human beings are made in God s image and likeness. This means that we are like God in that we possess an intellect, free will, and the capacity for love. God calls us to a vocation of love: love of God and love of neighbor. In this vocation of love, we build the Kingdom of God. We have a particular responsibility to create a just and peaceful world rooted in God s love. And it is in the Church that Christ established the we are nurtured and live in relationship with God and with the whole Body of Christ. In God s Image and Likeness God is a Trinity of Persons in an eternal exchange of love. The Father loves the Son, the Son receives and reciprocates that love, and the Holy Spirit is the love between the Father and the Son personified. Human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. This means that we unique in all of creation. No other creature possesses the gift of being made in God s image. Therefore, we have a unique dignity because we are made like God. This also means we are capable of certain things that God is capable of. Like God, we possess an intellect, free will, and the capacity for love. Ultimately, we are made for communion with God and each other. God created us male and female in His image. Being made male and female comes with a certain complementarity between us to be able to love one another and receive love from one another. This complementarity of the sexes is written in our very bodies. Being made in the image of God, or the imago Dei, means that we are literally made in the image of Love Himself. God is love, so we are made by love, in love, for love, and to love. We are given an invitation to enter into the community of the Trinity and the Love of God, and to form a loving communion with each other. A Vocation of Love It can be confusing in today s world to know the true meaning of love. The type of love that God demonstrates for us and gives to us is charity. Charity is the theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Simply put, charity inspires a life of self-giving. Ultimately, the best demonstration of love that we have is Christ on the Cross. In Romans 5:8, St. Paul explains, But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. This is the type of love that we are called to imitate. There are many ways that we use the term love in our society, although not all love is true charity. In every relationship with other people, whether it be friendship, family relationships, romantic relationships, or marriage, we are called to a vocation of loving as God loves self giving love, or charity. This means that we are called to build each other up, not just to be stronger or smarter, but to reach our ultimate vocation of Heaven. Friendships can help us become saints. We can have holy, uplifting conversations and pray with our friends. We can encourage one another and help each other when we are struggling with sin. Family can also be a huge factor in helping us draw closer to Christ. And although we don t necessarily choose our family, we can take every opportunity to grow in holiness through our families. Unit 1 Overview 3
Christ calls us to build peace in our society, which means much more than the absence of war. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity. The Works of Mercy, by David Teniers the Younger We are all called to practice the virtue of chastity in our relationships with others. Chastity is the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his body and spiritual being. In other words, chastity is what allows us to be authentic versions of ourselves, true to who we are called to be. Chastity also means treating others with respect, out of a desire to give to others and never acting out of a selfish desire to take. Love is not just an emotion, but an action. Love is willing the good of another. That is to say, we not only desire their good, but we also do what it takes to make it happen. Chastity can be seen in friendships, dating relationships, and marriages because everyone is called to this virtue. Social Responsibility We have a responsibility to create a just and peaceful society rooted in the love of Christ. Jesus taught that we should love our enemies. This may seem contrary to our usual way of thinking, but we shouldn t misunderstand Christ s meekness for weakness. Someone who is weak is afraid. Christ was not afraid. He was meek. This means that He returned gentleness for violence and hatred and refused to stoop to the level of those persecuting Him. He calls us to build peace in our society, which means much more than the absence of war. Peace is the work of justice and the effect of charity. Christ teaches us that the Father s love is greater than simply a law that measures out what is our due. Jesus taught that when we show mercy to the least in the Kingdom, we are doing so to Him. Jesus gave us the Corporal Works of Mercy to meet the physical needs of others. These are: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead. And He gave us the Spiritual Works of Mercy to meet the spiritual needs of others. These are: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, correct sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead. The Father s love is merciful, meaning that His love is a pure gift. He returns mercy for sin and love for hate. 4 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Relationship with God and His Church Ultimately, God loves us and has called us into relationship with Him. Sometimes it is difficult to see how God is loving us, but He is always there for us, always loving us. In fact, He sustains us in His love. If God stopped loving us for even a second, we would cease to exist. But instead, God has loved us into existence and sustains our life every second. God loved us so much that He sent His only Son into the world to make His love known to us. He sacrificed Himself on the Cross so that we might have life. And He established the Church (the Body of Christ) so that we may be saved as a people. He appointed leaders, gave them authority, and gave us the command to tell everyone of the Good News of salvation. In the Church, then, we come to worship the Lord and be in relationship with Him and with the rest of the Body of Christ. Unit 1 Overview 5
Notes 6 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Exploring Personal Growth with Sacred Art UNIT 1, LESSON 1 Learning Goals By his nature, man needs society. God created Eve because it was not good for Adam to be alone. We are all called to love God and to love others. Communities of people resemble the unity of the Trinity. Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1878-1879 Vocabulary Fraternity BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. GENESIS 2:18 As He drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, Do not weep. He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and he said, Young man, I tell you, arise! The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. LUKE 7:12-15 7
Lesson Plan Materials A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte Lectio Divina DAY ONE Warm-Up A. Project an image of the painting on A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (page 6) 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 the details. B. After several minutes, ask students: What do you first notice about this work of art? What do you like about it? How does this painting make you feel? ӹ ӹ What is happening in this picture? A crowd of people is gathered in a park enjoying a sunny afternoon. C. Explain to your students that this painting is by Georges Seurat and is called A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. La Grande Jatte is a real island in France, and this painting is of people in this park. In the distance, you can see Paris on the opposite bank of the river Seine. This painting is unique because it is made entirely out of little dots of paint. The people in this painting are all in various situations of recreation. The bright sunlight and colors are similar to the sunlight and colors in impressionist paintings. This painting is now in the Art Institute of Chicago. D. Ask your students why they think we might begin a unit of study focused on our relationship with God and others with this painting. Accept reasoned answers. 38 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN Activity Arrange students in small groups and ask students to turn to A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte (page 7) in their workbooks. Have them discuss the questions with each other. During this time, try to keep students focused on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in unexpected ways. Formative Assessment A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussion, keeping them on task, and offering insights or clarification where needed. B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the painter about his work and turn it in. DAY TWO Warm-Up Project an image of A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte 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. Have students to turn to the art in their workbooks, 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. Ask students to close their eyes and imagine they are looking back in time to Creation. Read aloud to your students Genesis 2:15, 18-23: The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. So the LORD God formed out of the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the air, and He brought them to the man to see what he would call them; whatever the man called each living creature was then its name. The man gave names to all the tame animals, all the birds of the air, and all the wild animals; but none proved to be a helper suited to the man. Unit 1, lesson 1 39
LESSON PLAN So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called woman, for out of man this one has been taken. C. Ask your students the following questions: How did you imagine the Garden of Eden to look as you listened to this passage? Accept reasoned answers. Why do you think it is not good for man to be alone? Being along can be sad; being alone too much can make you selfish and/or lonely; if you are alone, you have no one to love or be loved by. Why is it good for men and women to have a helpmate and companion for life? Friends give each other advice and support; they make each other laugh; they challenge and inspire each other to do good. What did Adam have to do before God created Eve? Name the animals. Why do you think God created Eve from Adam s rib? So Adam and Eve would feel as if they belonged together; to help them be united. It also signified their equality as human beings. What did Adam say when he saw Eve? This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called woman, for out of man this one has been taken. D. Explain to your students that God wants us to love other people and to be loved by other people. It is good for us to give and to receive love from each other. When we give and receive love, we are living in the image of God, because the Persons of the Trinity give and receive love among each other. God shares His own eternal love with us, and He calls us to share His love with other. That is why God gives our hearts the desire to love and be loved so we can be like Him! E. Ask your students to name some of the great joys in life that God gives us through other people. For example, friendship, good marriages, family, new children, brothers and sisters, laughter, comfort, and so forth. F. Lead your students in praying Lectio Divina, using the instructions from Teacher Resource: Lectio Divina (page 45 in this guide). Use the Raising of the Widow s Son (Luke 7:12-15) as the passage for reflection: As He drew near to the gate of the city, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, he was moved with pity for her and said to her, Do not weep. He stepped forward and touched the coffin; at this the bearers halted, and He said, Young man, I tell you, arise! The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. 40 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN Formative Assessment Lead students in a brief class discussion of Luke 7:12-15: Why do you think Jesus was moved with pity for the mother? Accept reasoned answers. Answers may include because He is God, He knew the full extent of her sorrow; He loved her, and because He didn t want her to be alone. What did Jesus say to the mother? Do not weep. When the young man sat up and spoke, what did Jesus do? He gave the man to his mother. DAY THREE Warm-Up A. Project Catechism of the Catholic Church no. 1878, and have a student stand and read it aloud: All men are called to the same end: God himself. There is a certain resemblance between the unity of the divine Persons and the fraternity that men are to establish among themselves in truth and love. Love of neighbor is inseparable from love for God. B. Ask your students the following questions: How would you put this passage into your own words? Accept reasoned answers. What does the word fraternity mean? Brotherhood, or close relationship or community. We are to establish fraternity in what two things? Truth and love. How can people living in fraternity resemble the unity of Divine Persons? Accept reasoned answers; answers may include by loving each other, by sharing and giving to each other, by speaking the truth to each other. C. Project again an image of s. Lead students in discussion: What does this painting show you about the goodness of loving other people? Accept reasoned answers. What does Jesus life show us about the goodness of loving other people? Accept reasoned answers. 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. Unit 1, lesson 1 41
LESSON PLAN 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. The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. GENESIS 2:18 God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:27 We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 1 JOHN 4:16 But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. ROMANS 5:8 ӹ ӹ Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise. LUKE 3:11 ӹ ӹ This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one. MATTHEW 6:9-13 Iron is sharpened by iron; one person sharpens another. PROVERBS 27:17 Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe, in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. 1 TIMOTHY 4:12 ӹ ӹ You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. MATTHEW 5:43-44 42 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Unit 1, lesson 1 43
Answer Key 1. Relaxed, peaceful, happy, cheerful, sunny. 2. Accept reasoned answers. 3. Up close, the dots each stand out individually. From farther away, the dots merge together to show the shapes of the people, trees, grass, and everything in the painting. 4. Brotherhood or close relationship/ community. When we love other people, we resemble God because the persons of the Trinity love each other. We live in His love. We are united in believing the truths Jesus taught us. 5. To be with God. To love Him and others. 6. Being with other people is how we grow and how we do God s will. We can t grow or do God s will without other people since the need to be with others is in our nature as human persons. God calls us to love others, so we must be with people so we can love them. 7. Accept reasoned answers. 8. Spending time with family and friends honors God since loving family and friends is what God wants us to do and calls us to do. 44 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
TEACHER RESOURCE Lectio Divina 1. Choose a passage to focus on. Aim for 5-10 verses. The Gospels are usually the best place to start when introducing someone to Lectio Divina, as they have the most vivid images of Christ. 2. Create a prayerful atmosphere in class or take students into a church or chapel. 3. Give students an opportunity to quiet down and focus themselves. Have them close their eyes and remove distractions from their mind as best they can. 4. Say a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to guide this time of prayer and meditation. For example: Come Holy Spirit, open our minds and our hearts to what you want to say to us today. Give us ears to listen and help us to be open to receiving whatever Christ has for us. Help us to remove any distractions and allow us to come to know Jesus more deeply during this time of prayer. 5. Prepare to read the passage aloud once slowly. Tell the students simply to listen to the words this first time through, and especially for any word or phrase that jumps out at them. Ask them to write down that word or phrase after you finish reading. Give them 2 or 3 minutes of silence after you have completed reading it. 6. Prepare to read the passage a second time. Before you begin reading, ask the students to imagine the scene as best they can. Tell them to engage all their senses. For example: What does it look like? What colors do they see? What are people wearing? What does the ground look and feel like? What do they smell? What sounds do they hear? What do the people and crowds look like? What does Jesus look like? How does His voice sound? What is the weather like? Sunny? Cloudy? Rainy? And so forth. When you are done reading, ask students to write down one sensory image that stood out to them. Give them 2 or 3 minutes of silence after you have completed reading it. Unit 1, lesson 1 45
7. Prepare to read the passage a third and final time. Before you begin, ask the students to imagine themselves as a particular person in the passage. Are they a member of the crowd? Are they one of the Apostles? Are they someone being healed? Ask them to listen for what Jesus is personally trying to tell them through this passage and write that down once you are finished reading. Give them a more extended period of silence after this third reading, perhaps 5 to 10 minutes. 8. Have students make a resolution to put into practice what they received in prayer. For example, will they: go home that night and do something extra for their parents? go to confession in the next week? commit to spend extra time in prayer this week? commit to doing some volunteer work? perform a particular work of mercy? pick a particular virtue to work on cultivating? work on your relationship with a friend or family member? Challenge them to pick something based on what they heard Christ say to them. 9. Close with a short prayer of thanksgiving. 46 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Image and Likeness UNIT 1, LESSON 2 Learning Goals God is a Trinity of Persons in an eternal exchange of love. The Father loves the Son, the Son reciprocates that love, and the Holy Spirit is the Love between the Father and the Son. We are made in the image of God, meaning that we are made for communion with God and each other. Being made in the image of God also means that we have unalienable dignity as persons that no other creature has. God created us male and female, with complementarity to be able to give and receive love to one another. Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 221 CCC 355-358 CCC 362-366 CCC 369-372 Vocabulary Trinity Imago Dei Human Dignity Soul Spousal Meaning of the Body Original Solitude BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. GENESIS 1:27 We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. 1 JOHN 4:16 47
Lesson LESSON PLAN Plan Materials Trinity and Love Like the Dawn Remember Who You Are Creation Newspaper Article Dignity of the Human Person DAY ONE 18 Trinity and Love 3. Define Love Directions: Define the two terms below, then draw a depiction of what each term means to you. 1. Define Trinity 4. Draw Love 2. Draw Trinity Warm-Up A. Have students turn to Trinity and Love (page 17) in their workbooks. First, have your students define the terms Trinity and Love in their own words. Then, have your students draw a depiction of their idea of Trinity and of Love. As students work, circulate the room to find the most promising definitions of the terms. Also notice their artwork so that you can choose a few students to share their drawings. (For Trinity, you might see drawings of a Triangle or God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. For Love, you might see drawings of a heart, two hearts, two people holding hands, wedding rings, a family, etc.) It s okay if the students definitions are not correct or are a bit ambiguous. We will later define the terms and explore images of these two terms. B. Call on a few students to read their definitions of the terms. Next, choose a few students to stand up and show their drawings of these terms and have the students share why they chose to depict the terms this way. Afterwards, ask the class if they noticed any similarities between the drawings. Then, ask why they think the drawings might be similar. Accept reasoned answers, but help your students come to understand that we ve been taught about the Trinity and know some basic things about God. For love, in particular, there is something that we inherently all recognize about it, a truth written on our hearts. C. Explain to your students the following in a mini-lecture: ӹ ӹ The Trinity is a community of divine love, a communion of Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Father is eternally giving Himself to the Son, the Son is eternally receiving the gift of the Father and returning the love back to the Father, and the Spirit is the bond of Love between the Father and the Son. In other words, the love between the Father and the Son is so strong that the Holy Spirit is eternally begotten. 17 48 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN What does it mean to be made in someone s likeness? Perhaps you have been told that you look like your mother or father, or maybe you ve been told that you re a spitting image of another relative. When someone is in someone else s likeness, it means that they have some of their characteristics. So when we say that humans are made in the image of God, we mean that we share some of His characteristics. Being made in the image of God, or the imago Dei, means that we are literally made in the image of Love Himself. God is love, so we are made by Love, in Love, for love, and made to love! We are given an invitation to enter into the community of the Trinity and enter into the Love of God. Similar to parents who adopt a son or daughter into their family, God adopts us into His family and calls us His son/daughter at our Baptism. When a son or daughter is adopted into a family, they start to take on characteristics of that family, while still retaining their own identity. Each day, they are loved by the family and taught how to love in return. Activity A. Ask students to turn to Remember Who You Are (page 19) and answer the questions below in two- to three-sentences each. Explain to your students that they will be watching a clip from the movie The Lion King. While they watch it, they should think about the reflection questions from Remember Who You Are. When the clip is over, they will have time to write their answers to the questions. B. Show the video clip The Lion King-Remember Who You Are Scene found at the following link: YouTube.com/watch?v=QhEU3EF4jvM. Then, Then, allow time for your students to answer the reflection questions on Remember Who You Are. Remember Who You Are Directions: Watch The Lion King scene, Remember Who You Are and answer the questions below in two- to three-sentences each. 1. What does Simba see in the reflection of the water and why is this upsetting to him? 2. If you were to ask to see God the Father, what would He show you? In other words, in what characteristics or moments in your life have you most reflected God s love? 3. Where have you most seen God s love in our world/community or even in your own family/ friends? 19 C. After everyone is finished, call on students to share some of their answers. This should create a beautiful tapestry of stories and characteristics demonstrating the unique ways that God has revealed His love to your students. Formative Assessment A. On their own paper, have your students respond to following prompts in complete sentences: What is the Trinity? The Dogma of our Christian faith that God is three Persons in one God. Unit 1, lesson 2 49
LESSON PLAN What is the relationship between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? The Father eternally loves the Son who eternally receives that love and returns it to the Father. The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from their love. What relationship on earth reflects the love of the Trinity? Family What does it mean to be made in the image of God, imago Dei? Use examples from your life and culture to explain. It means that we share certain characteristics with God, specifically love. B. Lead the class in the following prayer to wrap-up today s lesson. Feel free to bring in other events from culture or the classroom. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Dear Lord, we thank you so much for revealing Yourself as love. Thank you for showing us what it means to love by sending your Son Jesus to die for us. Help us to love one another in our every day life and recognize the dignity of each human person. Help us to always remember that we belong to you, as daughters and sons of the King. Amen DAY TWO Warm-Up A. Show the video GoPro: Fireman Saves Kitten found at YouTube.com/watch?v=CjB_oVeq8Lo. B. Ask your students the following questions. In this discussion help your students see that while animals have importance and we should respect them, human beings should be treated with even greater reverence and respect. What happened in the video? The fireman found a kitten suffering from smoke inhalation in a fire. Why did the fireman save the kitten? It appears the kitten s owner was standing by watching and perhaps had asked. Perhaps the fireman felt bad for the kitten and out of respect for the animal saved its life. Would you have risked your life (by going into a burning building that could collapse at any moment) to save a random kitten? What about your own pet? Your neighbor? Your younger sibling? A stranger? Accept reasoned answers. Why would we go out of our way to protect the life of a person? Accept reasoned answers. Help students see that all human life has value. Why do we have greater respect for human beings than we do for animals? Accept reasoned answers. What is unique about human persons? We are made in God s image and likeness. C. Explain to your students that everything created by God should be respected. This is why we take care of animals and our planet. But there is something unique about the human person that nothing else in the world has: human dignity. Our dignity comes from being made in God s image and likeness. We are the only creatures willed for our own sake. In other words, the 50 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN earth, the oceans, the plants, the animals were all given to us to care for and for our benefit. God created us for our own sake, not because He needed us, but because He loves us. A sunset over the ocean is awe-inspiring, but can it think? God s strongest and fastest animals are majestic, but can they love? Your dog might be the smartest dog on the planet, but can he reflect on his life? No. Humans are different from everything else because we have a soul created by God to know, love, and serve Him. There is something spiritual in man that we do not see anywhere else in nature. The human body shares in the dignity of being made in God s image because it is animated by a spiritual soul. The soul is that which can know and love God. Together, our body and soul make up who we are as a unique human person. There is a beautiful unity between body and soul, which cannot be separated until death itself. In fact, this soul, created by God at the moment of conception, is immortal. This means the soul does not die even when our earthly bodies do. Our souls will be reunited with the body at the final Resurrection. Activity A. Have students turn to Background on Human Dignity and the Purpose of Government (page 20). Working individually, have students answer the questions. Explain the directions beforehand, helping students make connections between our God-given dignity and our rights as Americans. When all of the students have completed the worksheet, ask for volunteers to share some of their answers and their own Declaration of Independence. You should get a variety of unique answers that demonstrate many different current issues. For example, you may hear stories about heroic acts of virtue, or someone risking his life to save a friend. You should also hear a variety of examples of how people/society disrespects human life. For instance, laws on immigration, abortion, slavery, sex trafficking, etc. Do not shy away from the big issues. Students can be very perceptive to injustices in society or even their own smaller communities. 20 Background on Human Dignity and the Purpose of Government 6. The Catechism defines common good as the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more Part I Human Dignity and the Purpose of Government easily. (1903). How would you put this definition in your own words? Directions: Read the selections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and answer the questions that 13. What follow. does the Declaration say happens when a government infringes on the rights of the people? Catechism of 7. the What Catholic do you think Church, the Catechism nos. 1934-1935 means here by fulfillment? Created in the image of the 14. one The God Declaration and equally 19. List of Independence endowed all the ways with Americans (1776) rational is not souls, can a legal promote all men document have the common and does good not EXCEPT have the voting: the same nature and the same force origin. of law Redeemed like the by Constitution the sacrifice does. of Christ, What can all are we called learn from to it? participate in the 8. same What divine happens beatitude: when all a government therefore enjoy enacts an unjust equal dignity laws, or (1934). forces citizens to act immorally? The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds Part III Participating in Promoting the Common Good of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with Part God s II design Directions: Foundations (1935). Read of the American information Government below, then answer the questions that follow. Directions: Now we turn to the United States, where the people have given certain authority 1. From where do all human beings to local, get state, their and dignity? national governments. Read the following selections from the As Catholics Declaration and as of Americans, Independence we have and answer a responsibility the questions to our that fellow follow. human beings to promote 2. Where do our rights come the common from? good. The Of all Catechism of these, helps which us has begin the to most understand impact? Number what that your can list mean. from the most impactful to the least impactful. 3. Why are all human Participation is the voluntary and generous engagement of a person in social interchange. We hold beings these equal truths in to rights be self-evident, and dignity? that all men are created equal, that they are endowed It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person (1913). pursuit of happiness. whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [purposes], Participation it is the is achieved Right Reflection of the first People of all Question by to taking alter or charge to abolish of the it, areas and to for institute which one new assumes Catechism of Government, the Catholic personal laying Church, responsibility: its foundation nos. by 1898, the care taken for the education of his family, by conscientious work, St. Teresa on such 1903 of Calcutta principles said, and Human organizing rights its are powers not a in privilege such form, conferred as by government. Every human community to them shall and needs so seem an forth, authority most man likely participates to in good of others and of society (1914). They to govern effect it. are every their The human Safety foundation and being s Happiness. of such authority lies entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its role is to ensure as far as possible As far as possible citizens does not should depend, take and active must part not be in public declared life. to The be contingent, manner of this on the pleasure of anyone the common good 9. of Who the society does the (1898). Declaration participation may vary else, say is from not the one even source country a parent of our or or rights? culture a sovereign to another. [king]. One must pay tribute to those Authority is exercised nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part in public 10. What legitimately does the only Declaration when it Why say seeks does is the the it purpose common matter that of good government? of the group our rights come concerned from God, and not from government? What and if it employs morally licit life in means a climate to attain of genuine it. If rulers freedom were (1915). to enact unjust laws or take would happen if rights were given to us by government? measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case, authority 15. breaks What down does completely participation and results mean in in this shameful selection abuse from (1903). the Catechism? 11. What is the connection, if any, between this purpose, and the purpose of promoting the common good? 4. What does every human community need, according to paragraph 1898? 16. Is participation in the common good a right, or a duty? 12. What 17. do What you think is the the first Declaration s way we participate authors meant in promoting by pursuit the common of happiness? good? How would 5. What is the role of that authority? you compare the right to pursue happiness with the freedom to reach one s fulfillment? 18. What is another way we participate in promoting the common good? 21 22 23 Unit 1, lesson 2 51
LESSON PLAN Formative Assessment A. On their own paper, have your students respond to following prompts in a well written, five- to seven-sentence paragraph: What is the relationship between the Trinity and human dignity? We have dignity because we are the only creatures God willed for own sake. We are made in His image and likeness and all of creation was given to us for own happiness and to have dominion over. How is human dignity respected and also disrespected in our American culture? Answers will vary. B. Lastly, lead the class in the following prayer to wrap-up today s lesson. Feel free to bring in events from culture or the classroom. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Father, thank you for creating us with human dignity and a soul that longs for You. Help us to see the dignity in all human persons, especially those whose lives are most fragile... the young, the old, the dying, the poor, the disabled, and the sick. Raise up leaders in our country to protect the rights of all human persons. Bless the pre-born children in the wombs of their mothers who are in danger every day because of our lack of respect for the human person. Jesus, thank you for showing us what it means to love our neighbors by laying down your life for us. Come Holy Spirit, fill us with zeal and strength to protect the lives and defend the rights of our brothers and sisters who are most in need. Amen. DAY THREE Warm-Up A. Project and have a student stand and read aloud Genesis 2:18, 21-24: The LORD God said: It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suited to him. So the LORD God cast a deep sleep on the man, and while he was asleep, he took out one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. The LORD God then built the rib that he had taken from the man into a woman. When he brought her to the man, the man said: This one, at last, is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; This one shall be called woman, for out of man this one has been taken. That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body. 52 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
LESSON PLAN B. Ask students to turn to Like the Dawn (page 24). Play the song Like the Dawn by the Oh Hello s found at YouTube.com/ watch?v=hd9vh89to4m. While listening to the song, students should answer the reflection questions on their handout. Lyrics to the song can be found at the following link: Azlyrics. com/lyrics/ohhellos/likethedawn.html. Consider projecting or printing out the lyrics for students to read. Give the students a few minutes after the song is over for them to finish their answers. C. Explain to your students that in one of the four most important documents from the Second Vatican Council, the Pastoral Constitution on the Church and the Modern World, Gaudium et Spes, the council fathers proclaim that (Man) cannot fully find himself, except through a sincere gift of himself. (GS 24) 24 Like the Dawn Directions: As you listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics, answer the following questions in complete sentences. Reflection Questions 1. What is your first reaction to this song? What do you like about it? Why? 2. What is happening in this scene? 3. Who is I, you, and He in the song? 4. How do you think the author of the song feels about what is happening? 5. What event do the last two lines refer to? We are created to give ourselves to another to give love and to receive love. Think of a time when you were truly giving of yourself, maybe during a mission trip, or taking care of a loved one. How did it feel? God has ordained that when we make a selfless gift (thinking of only how to help others), we feel more fully alive than ever before. Pope St. John Paul II called this the spousal meaning of the body. This is the capacity within man to give himself to another. Like the Father gives Himself to the Son, and the Son gives Himself to the Father, we have within ourselves this capacity to give ourselves to one another. When Adam was alone, in original solitude, he was not able to give of himself in this way. He looked for a suitable partner among the animals, but none were good enough. It wasn t until Eve was created out of Adam s rib, that he exclaimed, At last, bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh! This was the first love poem and one of the most romantic scenes in all of salvation history, so much better than the cheesy pick-up lines that we hear in movies. Those are all just shadows of the first love between man and woman. (We will explore the relationship of marriage further in a later class.) Unit 1, lesson 2 53
LESSON PLAN Activity Creation Newspaper Article The Daily Journal Have students turn to Creation Newspaper Article (page 25), then project these directions: ӹ ӹ Pretending that you are a news-reporter in the time of Adam and Eve s creation, write a news article about that day s events. ӹ ӹ Be sure to include a catchy headline, two to three paragraphs about today s happenings, and one to two quotes. Use Genesis 2:18, 21-24 as your inspiration. ӹ ӹ Be as creative as you d like. Example: Include interviews with God or animals relaying what the scene was like. Use the bold box to draw an image or a cartoon with text. 25 Assessment On their own paper, have students write a response to the following prompt: What does it mean to say that God is love? What is the relationship between the Trinity and man and woman? Like the Father gives Himself to the Son, and the Son gives Himself to the Father, we have within ourselves this capacity to give ourselves to one another as man and woman. 54 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Trinity and Love Directions: Define the two terms below, then draw a depiction of what each term means to you. 1. Define Trinity 2. Draw Trinity 17 Accept reasoned answers Unit 1, lesson 2 55
3. Define Love 4. Draw Love 18 Accept reasoned answers 56 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Remember Who You Are Directions: Watch The Lion King scene, Remember Who You Are and answer the questions below in two- to three-sentences each. 1. What does Simba see in the reflection of the water and why is this upsetting to him? 2. If you were to ask to see God the Father, what would He show you? In other words, in what characteristics or moments in your life have you most reflected God s love? 3. Where have you most seen God s love in our world/community or even in your own family/ friends? 19 Accept reasoned answers Unit 1, lesson 2 57
Answer Key 1. From God 2. Our dignity as persons created in the image of God 3. Because we are all created in His image. 4. An authority to govern it 5. To ensure as far as possible the common good of the society. Background on Human Dignity and the Purpose of Government Part I Human Dignity and the Purpose of Government Directions: Read the selections from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and answer the questions that follow. Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1934-1935 Created in the image of the one God and equally endowed with rational souls, all men have the same nature and the same origin. Redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ, all are called to participate in the same divine beatitude: all therefore enjoy an equal dignity (1934). The equality of men rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God s design (1935). 1. From where do all human beings get their dignity? 2. Where do our rights come from? 3. Why are all human beings equal in rights and dignity? Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1898, 1903 Every human community needs an authority to govern it. The foundation of such authority lies in human nature. It is necessary for the unity of the state. Its role is to ensure as far as possible the common good of the society (1898). Authority is exercised legitimately only when it seeks the common good of the group concerned and if it employs morally licit means to attain it. If rulers were to enact unjust laws or take measures contrary to the moral order, such arrangements would not be binding in conscience. In such a case, authority breaks down completely and results in shameful abuse (1903). 4. What does every human community need, according to paragraph 1898? 5. What is the role of that authority? 20 58 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 6. Answers should show an understanding that the common good reflects everything that goes into a society where people can be who they were meant to be. 7. Fulfillment means achieving your end or purpose being who you were meant to be. God created us all to be saints. Therefore fulfillment is not about personal gain or pleasure, but satisfaction in our desire to know God s love and be with Him in Heaven. 6. The Catechism defines common good as the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. (1903). How would you put this definition in your own words? 7. What do you think the Catechism means here by fulfillment? 8. What happens when a government enacts unjust laws, or forces citizens to act immorally? Part II Foundations of American Government Directions: Now we turn to the United States, where the people have given certain authority to local, state, and national governments. Read the following selections from the Declaration of Independence and answer the questions that follow. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends [purposes], it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. 9. Who does the Declaration say is the source of our rights? 10. What does the Declaration say is the purpose of government? 11. What is the connection, if any, between this purpose, and the purpose of promoting the common good? 12. What do you think the Declaration s authors meant by pursuit of happiness? How would you compare the right to pursue happiness with the freedom to reach one s fulfillment? 8. Its laws do not bind our consciences, and the government loses its authority. 21 9. Our Creator 10. To secure the inalienable rights our Creator created us with. 11. Protecting the God-given rights of each person frees them to participate in promoting the common good and reaching their fulfillment. 12. Accept reasoned answers. Unit 1, lesson 2 59
Answer Key 13. They have the right to change the government, or completely get rid of it and replace it with one they think would be better. 14. The Declaration tells us about why the British colonies in North America separated from England, and helps us learn about the philosophy the founding fathers had about human nature, individual rights, and the purpose of government. 13. What does the Declaration say happens when a government infringes on the rights of the people? 14. The Declaration of Independence (1776) is not a legal document and does not have the force of law like the Constitution does. What can we learn from it? Part III Participating in Promoting the Common Good Directions: Read the information below, then answer the questions that follow. As Catholics and as Americans, we have a responsibility to our fellow human beings to promote the common good. The Catechism helps us begin to understand what that can mean. Participation is the voluntary and generous engagement of a person in social interchange. It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. This obligation is inherent in the dignity of the human person (1913). Participation is achieved first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility: by the care taken for the education of his family, by conscientious work, and so forth, man participates in the good of others and of society (1914). As far as possible citizens should take an active part in public life. The manner of this participation may vary from one country or culture to another. One must pay tribute to those nations whose systems permit the largest possible number of the citizens to take part in public life in a climate of genuine freedom (1915). 15. What does participation mean in this selection from the Catechism? 16. Is participation in the common good a right, or a duty? 17. What is the first way we participate in promoting the common good? 18. What is another way we participate in promoting the common good? 15. Freely-chosen contributions to social exchanges 22 16. A duty 17. Personal responsibility 18. Participating in public life 60 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Answer Key 19. Taking care of family, doing honest work, educating children, obeying just laws, seeking to change unjust laws, caring for the poor, developing and sharing informed opinions, writing letters to lawmakers, writing letters to the editor on important issues, reporting crimes; accept additional reasoned answers. 19. List all the ways Americans can promote the common good EXCEPT voting: Of all of these, which has the most impact? Number your list from the most impactful to the least impactful. Reflection Question St. Teresa of Calcutta said, Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being s entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign [king]. Why does it matter that our rights come from God, and not from government? What would happen if rights were given to us by government? Reflection Question: It matters that our rights come from God, because it means they belong 23 to us by our nature. Therefore, every single human being is equal in rights and dignity. This is a basic restatement of the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Declaration of Independence. If rights were given to us by government, then some people could have more rights than others, and no one could say there was anything wrong with that. If rights were given to us by the government or by anyone else, it would also mean our rights could be taken away at any time; parents could kill their children (as St. Teresa alluded to her in her discussion of abortion.) It is only through a claim that our rights are God-given and fundamental to our nature that anyone can say human beings are equal and deserve to be treated with dignity. Unit 1, lesson 2 61
Answer Key 1. Accept reasoned answers. 2. Adam and Eve are in the Garden of Eden. Adam is describing to Eve how God made her and what it was like seeing her for the first time. He was entranced by her beauty and their similarities. 3. Adam is the first person, I. Adam is referring to Eve when he says you, and referring to God when he says He. 4. Adam is very pleased and taken aback by meeting Eve, yet there is a twist of darkness at the end when he speaks of death. 24 Like the Dawn Directions: As you listen to the song and follow along with the lyrics, answer the following questions in complete sentences. Reflection Questions 1. What is your first reaction to this song? What do you like about it? Why? 2. What is happening in this scene? 3. Who is I, you, and He in the song? 4. How do you think the author of the song feels about what is happening? 5. What event do the last two lines refer to? 5. Adam is possibly referring to their temptation and Fall in the Garden. 62 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Creation Newspaper Article The Daily Journal 25 Accept reasoned answers Unit 1, lesson 2 63
Notes 64 SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS
Grade 8 Student Workbook Sample Pages Unit 1, Lessons 1 and 2 plus Scripture Copywork
UNIT 1 Personal Growth Human beings are made in God s image and likeness. This means that we are like God in that we possess an intellect, free will, and the capacity for love. God calls each of us to a vocation of love: love of God and love of neighbor. He calls us to love as He loves, that is, to give of ourselves to one another. The greatest demonstration of God s love is Christ s free sacrifice on the Cross. Jesus taught us to imitate His example of love. In this vocation of love, we build the Kingdom of God. We have a particular responsibility to create a just and peaceful world rooted in God s love. In our family relationships and friendships, in dating relationships and marriages, we are called by God to not only want what is truly good for each other, but also do what it takes to make the good happen. This self-giving love is also required of us in society as we work for justice and peace and show Christ s mercy to the least of us. When we perform the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy for others, we do so for Christ Himself. Ultimately, God has called us to relationship with Him. In the Church that Christ established, we worship Him, we are nurtured, and we live in relationship with God and with the whole Body of Christ. Unit 1 Overview 1
In this unit, you will learn about Being made in God s image and likeness Man s vocation of love Building a just and peaceful society Building up the Kingdom of God in our relationships The family in God s plan Friendship Social responsibility Living in relationship with God and each other in the Church 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 Agape: Greek word for sacrificial love. Agape is the highest form of love. It is the love of God for human beings and the love human beings are called to for God and for one another. Charity: The Theological Virtue by which we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Chastity: A moral virtue that helps us manage or control our desires for bodily and spiritual pleasure in the way that God intended. Chastity specifically involves self-mastery of sexual feelings. It is also virtue that helps us choose what is best for others. Common good: The sum total of social conditions that allow the people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily. It concerns the life of all rather than only a few and requires respect for the person, the social well-being and development of the group itself, and peace. Corporal Works of Mercy: Jesus taught us that we must love our neighbor by performing Corporal (and Spiritual) Works of Mercy. Corporal means body. The corporal works of mercy help us meet a person s physical needs. They are: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, ransom the captive, and bury the dead. Divine Fatherhood: The Fatherhood of God, who is the Creator of all things. God s Fatherhood is the source of human fatherhood and the foundation of honor owed to parents. Prayer is primarily addressed to God the Father. Eros: Greek for passion or desire. It is often used to describe romantic love. Family: A man and woman united in marriage, together with their children. It is a communion of persons who are a sign and image of the Holy Trinity. It is the domestic church, a community of faith, hope, and charity wwhere children receive their first proclamation of the faith and learn how to pray. It is the original cell of social life, in which husband and wife are called to give themselves in love, in the gift of life, and an education in morality, honoring God, and the proper use of freedom for their children. Fraternity: Brotherhood, close relationship, or community. The humanity community is meant to resemble the relationship between the divine Persons of the Holy Trinity, who give and receive love to each other. Friendship: A relationship between two or more people brought together for a common reason or purpose. In friendships, we first learn to love and respect others and to receive love and respect from others. Human Dignity: The honor and respect due to all human beings, from unborn babies to the elderly, because they are children of God made in His image and likeness. Unit 1 Overview 3
Imago Dei: Latin for Image of God. Human beings as male and female are made in God s image, which means that we are persons and that we possess intellect, free will, and a capacity for love. Justice: A Cardinal Virtue that helps us give God and neighbor their due. Kingdom of God: God s reign or rule over all things. During His public ministry, Jesus proclaimed that the Kingdom of God was at hand. The Church is the seed, or beginning, of the Kingdom here on earth. The Kingdom will be fulfilled in Heaven. Original Justice: The original state of human beings before sin. In the beginning there was no suffering or death, man was at peace with himself, there was harmony between men and women, and there was peace between Adam and Eve and all of creation. Original Justice was lost due to the Original Sin. Peace: The stability and security of a just order. In the family, peace means parents who love and respect each other while loving God above all, and children who honor their parents. In society, peace requires social authorities to ensure by morally acceptable means the security of society and its members. It is for all of us the work of justice and the effect of charity. Resurrection of the Body: The Christian belief that at the end of time our souls will be reunited with our resurrected and glorified bodies. The everlasting life Jesus promised is a bodily life in which we will be with God for eternity in the New Heavens and the New Earth at the end of time. Society: A group of persons bound together by a principle of unity that goes beyond each one of them. Human beings are social beings and must live together in a society. It is a requirement of human nature. It is in society that human beings develop their fullest potential and respond to their vocation. Solidarity: A uniting principle in society by which people bear each other s sufferings together, make sure that material things such as food, clothing, and other resources are distributed justly, and most importantly, share spiritual goods such as prayer and penance. Solidarity is a direct demand of Christians brotherhood. Soul: The spiritual principle which animates or gives life to a body. In human beings, the soul is the innermost aspect of the person, that which is of greatest value in him, and by which he is most especially in God s image. It is created by God at the moment of conception and is immortal. God intended for the human and body and the human soul to be united in one human nature. Spiritual Works of Mercy: Jesus taught us that we must love our neighbor by performing Spiritual (and Corporal) Works of Mercy. The spiritual works of mercy help us meet a person s spiritual needs. They are: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted, and pray for the living and the dead. Trinity: The Christian belief revealed to us by God that He is three Persons in One God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. 4 Unit 1 Overview
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte BY GEORGES-PIERRE SEURAT (C. 1884 1886) The Art Institute of Chicago. 6 Unit 1, Lesson 1
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, by Georges-Pierre Seurat (c. 1884-1886) 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. How would you describe this scene? What is the overall atmosphere? 2. Have you ever been in a place like this? Where was it? What was it like? 3. Seurat painted this by making many little dots. Move the painting closer to and farther from your eyes. How do the little dots work together to show you this painting? 4. Read paragraph 1878 from the Catechism of the Catholic Church: All men are called to the same end: God himself. There is a certain resemblance between the unity of the divine Persons and the fraternity that men are to establish among themselves in truth and love. Love of neighbor is inseparable from love for God. What do you think the word fraternity means? How do we, in fraternity, work together to resemble the Trinity? 5. What is the vocation that every person has? 6. Read paragraph 1879 from the Catechism: The human person needs to live in society. Society is not for him an extraneous addition but a requirement of his nature. Through the exchange with others, mutual service and dialogue with his brethren, man develops his potential; he thus responds to his vocation. How does being with other people help us follow our vocation? 7. How does spending time with other people help you appreciate and love them more? 8. The painting s name tells us this scene is happening on a Sunday. How does spending time with family and friends honor God on His day? Unit 1, Lesson 1 7