the sacraments - sophia institute press · 2020-04-09 · catholic church ӹ ccc 1210 vocabulary ӹ...

UNIT 6, LESSON 4

Connection to the Catechism of the Catholic Church

ӹ CCC 1210

Vocabulary ӹ Sacraments

Learning Goals ӹ Jesus gave us the Sacraments.

ӹ The Sacraments are special ways in which Jesus gives us grace.

ӹ There are seven Sacraments.

ӹ St. Dominic Savio had a special love for Jesus in the Eucharist.

ӹ St. Dominic Savio shows us how young people can lead holy lives.

The Sacraments

I am with you always, until the end of the age.

MATTHEW 28:20B

BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONE

477

Lesson Plan

Materials ӹ The Seven Sacraments

ӹ God Forgives Our Sins and Welcomes Us Home

ӹ Globe or map

ӹ The Life of St. Dominic Savio:

ӹ My Four Promises to God

ӹ Teacher Resource: Sacraments Tag Signs/Mobile Template

ӹ Tape, hole punch, yarn

DAY ONE Warm-UpA. Have the class stand and make the Sign of the Cross. Then say together the part of the Apostles’

Creed that you have been practicing, and add a phrase:

I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church.

B. Spend some time practicing this prayer.

C. Review with the children how Jesus made St. Peter the head of the Church. After Jesus ascended into Heaven, He wanted people to be able to receive His grace in special ways. He created seven of these special ways, which we call the Sacraments.

D. Tell the children that you have already learned about two of these: Baptism and the Eucharist.

ActivityA. With your students in a circle and using the class angel to moderate discussion, have each

student say one thing he or she remembers about Baptism or the Eucharist.

B. Once everyone has had a chance to share, explain that Jesus gave St. Peter and the other Apostles the power to act in His name, or to be Jesus in the world. For instance, when we receive the Sacrament of Baptism from a priest, it is really Jesus who is baptizing us. He is the one cleansing us of sin and making us a son or daughter of God.

© SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS478

LESSON PLAN

C. Have your students return to their seats and look at The Seven Sacraments (page 226). List the seven Sacraments, and then point to each corresponding symbol, offering a concise definition of the Sacrament. Suggestions are offered in the answer key.

Note: Do not feel that you must teach students the names of the Sacraments at this point. Rather, the point of this lesson is to teach students what Sacraments are and that there are seven.

D. If time permits, you may have your students color the pictures.

Formative AssessmentA. Explain to your students that they have also

learned about another Sacrament, even though they did not call it by its name. Ask if anyone can retell the Parable of the Lost Son.

B. Explain that God is just like the father in this parable, and when we sin, we are like the Lost Son. When we choose to sin, we choose to turn our backs on God, just as the son in the parable turned his back on his father. We leave our home, where we are safe and happy, thinking we know better, just as the son did. In the Sacrament of Confession, God is just the like the Father. He forgives our sins and welcomes us back into His home.

C. Have your students color the picture on God Forgives Our Sins and Welcomes Us Home (page 227).

D. Ask the class to explain in their own words what a Sacrament is, and/or to name a Sacrament.

The Seven Sacraments

Jesus gave us seven special ways to receive His grace. We call these the Sacraments.

Jesus is with us in the Sacraments.


(Matthew 28:20b)

226

God Forgives Our Sins and Welcomes Us Home

227

UNIT 6, LESSON 4 479

LESSON PLAN

DAY TWOWarm-UpA. Have the class stand and make the Sign of the Cross. Then say together the part of the Apostles’

Creed that you have been practicing, and the Our Father.

B. Gather your students around and let them know you will now tell them the story of another young saint in our family of God: St. Dominic Savio. Dominic was from Italy. Find Italy on a globe or a map, and ask if the class can remember any other saints they have learned about who were from Italy. St. Francis of Assisi and St. Maria Goretti.

C. Before you begin, ask your students to listen especially for how St. Dominic loved being with Jesus in the Sacraments.

Dominic Savio was born in a small village in northern Italy. At his Baptism, his parents, seeing their son was a gift from God, gave him the name Dominic, meaning “belonging to God.”

By the time Dominic was four years old, his parents would often find him praying alone in quiet places around the house. During the day he would help his mother with cleaning and housework. He went to church each morning to pray with his mother. They would often arrive at the church before it was unlocked for the day. Not wanting to waste the time he could be spending with the Lord, Dominic would kneel down outside the church, even in snow and mud, until they were able to enter. He went to Confession regularly.

Dominic was excited to become an altar server when he turned five. He dearly loved Jesus in the Eucharist, and because of his great devotion and reverence, he was given special permission to receive his First Communion early. He had learned his Faith well and read spiritual books to prepare himself for such a gift. He repeatedly said throughout his life that his First Communion was “the happiest and most wonderful day of my life.”

On his First Communion day Dominic made four special promises, which he wrote neatly in his little notebook. The four promises were:

1. I will go to confession often, and as frequently to Holy Communion as my confessor allows.

2. I wish to sanctify the Sundays and festivals in a special manner.

3. My friends shall be Jesus and Mary.

4. Death rather than sin.

Dominic went to elementary school in his village. When he was old enough, he attended the county school, which was three miles from his house. Since he was now ten, he was able to walk to and from school on his own.

Not long after Dominic began school, he learned that God wants every person to become a saint. Dominic decided to spend his life trying to become a saint. He never complained about food or the weather, and he took everything with great cheerfulness. He began a special prayer group at his school to spread devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary. When his classmates were experiencing difficulties, Dominic talked with them and encouraged them.


LESSON PLAN

Now, at this time Dominic was starting to get very sick, but he still always focused on helping others. His friends did not know how serious his sickness was, because he did not let much of his suffering show. Finally, his teacher (John Bosco, who also became a saint), convinced him that he should spend his last days with his family. Dominic bid his classmates good-bye and traveled back to his hometown.

Upon arriving home, Dominic got even sicker very quickly. Through it all he stayed calm and courageous. He received the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. His sins were forgiven in Confession, and a priest anointed him with oil in the Sacrament of the Sick. Dominic died peacefully at home with his family. He was 14 years old.

ActivityA. Talk with the children about how St. Dominic Savio shows us how young people can lead holy

lives.

B. Read the story a second time, and tell your students to raise their hands and say “Sacrament” every time they hear a Sacrament mentioned.

Invitation to Witness: Share a story about receiving a Sacrament and what it meant or means to you. You might also share the story of a young person in your life who received First Holy Communion and how happy it made you to see that person receive Jesus.

Formative AssessmentHave your students complete The Life of St. Dominic Savio (page 228) by drawing a picture of Dominic receiving a Sacrament. They should circle the symbol for the Sacrament they drew.

DAY THREENote: Before class, cut out the sacraments signs on Teacher Resource: Sacraments Tag Signs/Mobile Template (page 489 in this guide).

Warm-UpA. Have the class stand and make the Sign of

the Cross. Then say together the part of the Apostles’ Creed that you have been practicing, and the Our Father.

The Life of St. Dominic Savio

Listen as your teacher tells you about St. Dominic.

Draw a picture of St. Dominic receiving a Sacrament.

Circle the Sacrament your picture is about.

228


LESSON PLAN

B. Take the children outside and play a game of Sacraments Tag. To prepare, give each student one Sacrament from Teacher Resource: Sacraments Tag Signs/Mobile Template (page 489 in this guide). Distribute them as evenly as possible, and have your students attach them to their shirts with tape. Then play tag, with the object being to tag someone who has the same Sacrament sign.

C. Later, you can use the same Teacher Resource to have your students create a mobile of all the Sacraments. Each student will need a full set of the cutouts, a hole punch, and some yarn. (Students will need different levels of support with this activity.) They may color the pictures before assembling their mobiles. Practice counting to seven as you punch the holes.

Activity and AssessmentA. Ask your students to think about four promises

they would like to make to God, just as St. Dominic Savio did. Have them complete My Four Promises to God (page 229). They may dictate their answers as you write them down for them, or, if they can, they may write them independently. You may also wish to send students home with this activity to complete with their parents.

B. Close in prayer together, asking Jesus to help the children keep their promises. Then pray to St. Dominic Savio, asking him to intercede for the children, such as:

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Dear St. Dominic, you showed us how young people can lead holy lives. Please pray for us that we can love Jesus as you did and keep the promises we made today. We ask for your prayers to help us stay on the path to Heaven.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord Jesus, help me to keep these promises.

Your disciple, ______________________

231

Now write your own four promises to God.

230

My Four Promises to God

With your parent’s or teacher’s help, read about St. Dominic Savio’s promises to God.

St. Dominic Savio received his First Communion when he was about your age.

On that day, he made four special promises. The four promises were:





229


Answer KeySuggested concise definitions you can offer:

ӹ Baptism: Jesus cleanses us of sin and makes us His children.

ӹ Confirmation: Jesus gives us courage to tell others about Him.

ӹ Eucharist: Jesus gives us His Body and Blood.

ӹ Confession: Jesus forgives our sins when we are sorry.

ӹ Sacrament of the Sick: Jesus gives strength to people who are very sick.

ӹ Marriage: Jesus blesses a man and a woman who promise to love each other for the rest of their lives.

ӹ Holy Orders: Jesus calls certain men to be His priests.

The Seven Sacraments

Jesus gave us seven special ways to receive His grace. We call these the Sacraments.

Jesus is with us in the Sacraments.


(Matthew 28:20b)

226


God Forgives Our Sins and Welcomes Us Home

227


The Life of St. Dominic Savio

Listen as your teacher tells you about St. Dominic.

Draw a picture of St. Dominic receiving a Sacrament.

Circle the Sacrament your picture is about.

228


My Four Promises to God

With your parent’s or teacher’s help, read about St. Dominic Savio’s promises to God.

St. Dominic Savio received his First Communion when he was about your age.

On that day, he made four special promises. The four promises were:





229


Now write your own four promises to God.

230


Lord Jesus, help me to keep these promises.

Your disciple, ______________________

231


Sacraments Tag Signs/Mobile Template TEACHER RESOURCE

Baptism

Confirmatio

n Eucharist


Confession

Sacrament of th

e Si

ck

Marriage

Holy Orders


Symbols of the Holy Spirit

Dove

Find the Holy Spirit shown as a dove in this workbook.

Cloud

Find the Holy Spirit shown as a cloud in this workbook.

Fire

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit came as tongues of fire.

UniT 6, LeSSon 1 213

Pentecostésby Fray Juan Bautista Maíno

UniT 6, LeSSon 1UniT 6, LeSSon 1214214

Pentecostés Look and Learn

Jesus did not leave His disciples alone.

Jesus sent the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit gave the disciples the courage to tell people about Jesus.

Find three symbols of the Holy Spirit in this painting.


Pentecost And they were all filled with the holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4)

UniT 6, LeSSon 1216

Come, Holy Spirit Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

To kindle means to start a fire!

Ask the Holy Spirit to set your heart on fire for Him!

Draw a picture below of how you imagine this.


the sacraments - sophia institute press · 2020-04-09 · catholic church ӹ ccc 1210 vocabulary ӹ...

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