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Chapter 17

Introduction to the Sacraments

Core activity

rituals, Symbols, and Signs

1.Solicitdefinitionsofthewordsritual,symbol,andsign fromthestudentsandwritetheirthoughtsontheboard,onnewsprint,oronanoverhead.Sum-marizethethoughtsthestudentshaveoffered,andthendefinethethreewordsusinginformationfrompages183–184ofThe Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth, Third Edition (CFH).Beforecontinuing,besurethestudentsunderstandthemean-ingsofthosethreeterms.

2.Listthefollowingritualsontheboard:• gettingone’sfirstdriver’slicense• theprom• theinaugurationofthepresidentoftheUnitedStates Firstaskthestudentstonameactionsthatarepartofthoserituals.Forex-ample,enjoyinganelegantdinnerisanactioninthepromritual,andtakingthedrivingtestispartofgettingone’sdriver’slicense. Secondaskthestudentstoidentifysignsthatarepartofthoserituals.Inthedriver’slicenseritual,thelicenseitselfisasign;itsaysthatthedrivercanlegallyoperateavehicle.Intheinauguraladdressritual,thepresidentialsealindicatesthatthepresidentisspeaking. Thirdaskthestudentstoidentifythesymbolsthatarepartofthoserituals.Aboutonniereoracorsageisasymboloftheaffectiononefeelsforone’sdatetotheprom.Thekeystoacarareasymbolofnewfoundfreedomforonewhohasjustgottenadriver’slicense.

3.OfferapresentationontheSacraments,usingtheprecedingreflectiononsecularritualstoillumineritualaction,sign,andsymbolinthissacredcontextandusinginformationfromchapter17oftheCFH.

4.ConductabrainstormingsessiontoidentifyChristiansymbolsthestu-dentsmightrecognize:forexample,water,oil,fire,bread,wine,light,andacross.Listtheminaprominentplace.

5.Invitethestudentstochooseoneofthesymbolsandidentifytimesorwaysinwhichthesymbolhasbeenmeaningful.

6.Continueyourconversationwiththestudents,andusepointsfrompages185–186oftheCFHtohelpthemrecognizethattheSacramentsaremorethanjustsymbols.

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7.AskthestudentstonametheSevenSacramentsoftheCatholicChurch,andgivethemintroductoryinformationabouttheSacramentsfrompages187–189oftheCFH.

(ThisactivityisadaptedfromtheTC: Liturgy and the Sacramentsmanual.)

Core activity extension

Symbols of Life

Askthestudentstowriteareflectiononasecularritualtheyhaveexperiencedandareflectiononasacredritualtheyhaveexperienced.Forasecularritual,theycouldwriteaboutanythingfromaconcerttoaFourthofJulycelebration.Forthesacredritual,theycouldwriteabouttheSundayEucharist,aConfirmationtheyhaveexperienced,oraMatrimonyceremonytheyhavewitnessed. Intheirreflection,theyshouldidentifythefollowingelements:• thekeyactions• thesigns• thesymbolsAfteridentifyingsuch,theyaretoaddressthefollowingquestions:

• Whatmadethekeyactionsritualistic?• Whatdidthesignssignify?• Whatdidthesymbolssymbolize?

(ThisactivityisadaptedfromtheTC: Liturgy and the Sacramentsmanual.)

additional activities

ritual Gestures and actions

1.Letthestudentsknowthatyouwillbedoingaprayerserviceduringclass.Instructthemtocleartheirdeskswiththeexceptionofastripofpaperandapenorpencil.SelectareaderandprovideaBibleforthatperson.

2.InvitethestudentstostandandbegintheprayerwiththeSignoftheCross.ThenaskthereadertoreadHebrews4:14–16.Afterallowingamomentofsilence,askthestudentstobeseated.ThepassagefromScripturespeaksofapproachingJesustoreceivehelp.InstructthestudentseachtowriteaprayerforGod’shelp.As-surethemthattheirprayerswillnotbereadbyanyone.

3.Afterthestudentshavewrittentheirprayers,directthemtofoldupthepapersandtoplacethemonthemiddleoftheirdesks.Thenaskthestudentstoplacetheirhandsontheirpapersandtoleavethemtherewhileyouprayforalltheintentionswrittenonthepapers.

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4.Callthestudentstoprocess—arowatatime—tothefrontoftheclass,bringingtheirprayerswiththem.Haveabaskettocollecttheprayersatthefrontoftheclass,andinstructthemtoplacetheirprayersinthebasket.Invitethemtoreturntotheirseatsandremainsilentwhiletheclasscontinuestoprocess.

5.Aftertheprocessiontellthestudentstokneelnexttotheirdesks.Astheykneel,askthestudentstopraytheLord’sPrayerwithyou.

6.InvitethestudentstostandwiththeirhandsraisedinprayerandprayaclosingprayerofthanksgivingthatincludesjoyfulgratitudeforGod’sfaithfulnessinhearingtheirpetitions.

7.Oncetheprayerservicehasconcluded,askthestudentstoidentifytheritualmovementsandgesturesexperiencedduringtheservice,whicharelistedhereforyourreference.Theyshouldalsonamewhatthemovementsandgesturessignifyoridentify.• standing• makingtheSignoftheCross• readingtheWord• expressingpetitions

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• layingonofhands• processing• kneeling• raisinghands

8.Concludebyconductingaclassdiscussionusingquestionssuchastheonesthatfollow:

• Howdideachofthegesturesorposturesmakeyoufeel?• Whichoneswereeasyandcomfortable?Whichoneswerehardandun-

comfortable?• Why,doyouthink,dogroupsofpeoplerepeatthesegesturesandactions?• Whatdothesegesturesandactionssayaboutapersonoragroupofpeo-

ple?

(ThisactivityisadaptedfromtheTC: Liturgy and the Sacramentsmanual.)

Kinds of Grace

ReviewtheDidYouKnow?article“KindsofGrace,”onpage183oftheCFH,withthestudents.Askthemtonoticeandreflectonthedifferentkindsofgracetheyexperienceinthecomingweek.(ThisactivityisadaptedfromtheTC: Liturgy and the Sacramentsmanual.)

Symbols in the Media

Recordallthecommercialsduringanhourofprime-timetelevision.Showthere-cordingtoyourclassandhavethemidentifythesymbolsusedintheadvertising.Thenaskthemtonamewhatisbeingsymbolized.ComparethoseitemstotheGospels’virtues.(ThisactivityisadaptedfromtheTC: Liturgy and the Sacramentsmanual.)

(ThemateriallabeledTC: Liturgy and the SacramentsisadaptedfromTotal Cat-echesis: Catechetical Sessions on Liturgy and the Sacraments,byThereseBrown,LaurieDelgatto,MaryShrader,andChristineSchmertzNavarro,intheTotalCat-echesisseries[Winona,MN:SaintMary’sPress,2004].Copyright©2004bySaintMary’sPress.Allrightsreserved.)