thÁnh kinh thiẾu cấp 3 - tntt victoria · what are the disadvantages of premarital sex?...

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THÁNH KINH

THIẾU Cấp 3

TÊN ĐỘI: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

TÊN HỌ: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chương Trình Thăng Tiến

Phong Trao TNTT

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1 Chúa Giêsu Bị Cám Dỗ - The temptation of Jesus

Scripture Reading

Mt 4: 1 – 11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to

him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."

Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every

word that comes from the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest

point of the temple. "If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself

down. For it is written:

" 'He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in

their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their

splendor. "All this I will give you," he said, "if you will bow down and worship me."

Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

Then the devil left him, and angels came and attended him.

Faith / Fact Finding

• Temptation is here taken to be an incitement to sin whether by persuasion or by the offer of some good

or pleasure. (www.newadvent.org)

• The word "wilderness" refers to deserted areas in the unpopulated wilds of Palestine. It is often

translated as "desert." Mark indicates Jesus was "with the wild beasts," presumably isolated from the

distractions of humanity

• Jesus "ate nothing" for 40 days prior to the temptation (Luke 4:2). Moses and Elijah endured similar

fasts before receiving divine revelations from God (Exodus 34:28, 1st Kings 19:8)

• Jesus refuses to use his power for his own benefit and accepts whatever God wills

• The devil supports his proposal by an appeal to the scriptures

Case Study / Life Application

The Test

Your friend and you were so into the game last night, so you two did not study for the history test. Just as

Mrs. Smith hands out the test, you see your friend pull out a small piece of paper with a lot of little scribbling

on it. Your friend tucks the note into his/her closed fist but soon takes it out again. While your friend is taking

the test, you see him/her looking back and forth between the teacher and the paper. He/She catches your eyes

and knows that you need the “help” also. Your friend drops the paper at your feet where you could safely pick

it up and use it. You really, really want to pass the test... this looks like a great opportunity for you to do just

that, or is it…what’s the big deal, you’re not hurting anyone, right?

http://www.newadvent.org/

http://www.newadvent.org/

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Where Do You Stand?

What is the temptation in the story? What would I do in this situation? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . How does the devil tempt me in my daily life? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . At what point does temptation become sin? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Some of my friends are tempting me to do things I really don’t want to do, how do I handle such temptations? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Summary

Quickly write down what you have learned today. How can you apply what you have learned?

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* In any difficult situation, remember to ask yourself “What Would Jesus Do?”

Prayer

Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể, xin ban cho con trí thông minh và nghị lực để con biết tránh xa những cám

dỗ của ma quỷ. Xin Chúa ban cho con sức mạnh để vượt thắng những cám dỗ và xin Chúa đồng hành với con

trong cuộc sống hàng ngày.

Jesus in the Eucharist, please give us the wisdom and strength to overcome temptations of the devil.

Lord, please come and stay with me during my daily life.

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Homework Before you go to sleep each day this week, review your day and write down any temptations that you

encountered during the day and what happened.

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2 The Wedding in Cana

Scripture Reading – Jn 2: 1-12

Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples

had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine had given out, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They are out of wine.”

“You must not tell me what to do,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”

Jesus’ mother then told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

The Jews have rules about ritual washing, and for this purpose six stone water jars were there, each one large enough to

hold between twenty and thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, “Fill these jars with water.” They filled them to the

brim, and then he told them, “Now draw some water out and take it to the man in charge of the feast.” They took him the

water, which now had turned into wine, and he tasted it. He did not know where this wine had come from (but, of course,

the servants who had drawn out the water knew); so he called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone else serves the

best wine first, and after the guests have drunk a lot, he serves the ordinary wine. But you have kept the best wine until

now!”

Jesus performed this first miracle in Cana in Galilee; there he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in Him.

After this, Jesus and his mother, brothers, and disciples went to Capernaum and stayed there a few days.


1. The wedding:

- The wedding signifies human’s redemption.

- The wine ran out represented human’s sins similar to how we’re always thirst for more things in our lives and

there’s always the need for that Greater Being to come save us from that thirst. Consequently, this was when Jesus came

in to save the wedding or one could see it as the human souls.

- John created the image of the servants to signify them as human beings on earth and we should all obey orders to

follow what God commands us to do.

Jesus patiently performed His miracle by not replacing the water with wine but he turned the water into wine. This

replacement of the new wine symbolized the new covenant of the Church and it is our duty as a Catholic to live our lives

daily based on the teaching of the Church to help maintain this new covenant of God.

2. The typical Jewish wedding in Jesus’ day:

- The bridegroom and his family came over to the bride’s house and brought the bride home along with her

parents. While at the bridegroom’s house, they both crowned king and queen for several days.

- During this festival time, both the bridegroom and the bride must obey the Lord by not engaging in any sexual

relations until the day of their wedding.

- The feast took as long as 7 days with dancing, praying, singing, skipping and making speeches.

- On the day of the marriage, the bride’s parents escorted her to the bridegroom where this couple joined together as

one. After that they gave the blood stained cloth to the parents and the parents had to show this cloth to all the guests in

the wedding to prove that the bride was a virgin.

3. The Legal Contract: required the bride to be a virgin along with all the details that happened and provided at the

wedding. For this reason, Mary was concerned when the wine ran out.

4. The Miracle

- This is the first time Mary appeared with Jesus in the gospel of John and there’s no signs before that showed she

knew He would be able to perform any miracles but based her faith on Him and the Lord that her son was chosen to be a

Savior and that He can do anything to save His people on earth.

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- When Jesus and His disciples got there, Mary was already there. Mary could be related to the bride’s family and her

tasks there was to make sure everything is in order. For this reason, when she ordered the servants to listen and do what

Jesus said, they were all listened.

- As John indicated, this is Jesus’ “first miracle” (Jn 2: 11), which enables us to prepare for many more miracles to

come. This is also the first sign Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah to the Israelites.

- His expression of “my time” indicated the love, the care, the thoughtfulness and the patient he had offered every

time he performed a miracle. Moreover, this expression was used several times in the gospel of John; John 7:30; 8:20,

12:23, 12: 27; 13:1; 17:1.

- This event is about the present and the future coming together and each time Jesus performed a miracle, He knew

He brought Himself closer to His death on the cross but because of His love for the humankinds, He was willing to risk it

all and follow what His Father in Heaven wanted Him to do on earth.


- To be part of the wedding feast, one must be invited. It is God who does the choosing. Christ does not give the

invitation so to speak. God draws the person, and gives them to Christ (Jn. 6:39). It’s a previlege to be children of God,

so we have to be proud and thankful.

- The accepting of the invitation requires something on our part. Abraham took up his invitation to enter into a

covenant with God, by adhering to all of God’s commandments, statutes and laws. He considered God’s laws as a

treasure to be desired. We must also do likewise, if we are to accept the invitation. We are to continue to obey God’s

word and commandments, if we are to retain His Holy Spirit, and enter the wedding feast. The parable of the five wise

and the five foolish virgins shows that those who still had oil in their lamps burning, were able to enter into the wedding

feast. Outwardly, they all looked the same. But it was those who treasured the word of God and had the Holy Spirit, who

were able to enter when the bridegroom returned.

Where Do You Stand?

1. How is performing miracle harm Jesus?

2. Why is it important for the bride to be virgin before marriage?

3. What are the disadvantages of premarital sex?

Summary

The wedding at Cana is the first time Jesus revealed Himself as the Messiah. With the need to perform miracle to

serve His people at the wedding, Jesus risked His life to change water into wine. Each miracle He performed led Him

closer to His death on the cross but it was His task to sacrifice Himself to save the humankinds. One should learn how to

take time to do everything just how Jesus took time to plan His miracle. Even though Mary was rushing Him to do it, He

was patiently and successfully done it in the end.

Prayer

My Almighty God, through the death of your only Son, Jesus Christ, please guide me through every path of life and

help me live my days according to what Jesus had taught on earth. Also, help me take the way St. Joan of Arc and St.

Francis of Assisi lived as my role models to always have you in my heart and my mind. Please assist me in recognizing

all the things you have given me and help me cherish every bit of it. Amen.

Homework

1. How is the Jewish wedding different from the American wedding today?

2. What are the advantages of having the festival before the wedding during Jesus’ time?

3. What is the value of the marriage contract?

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3 Bread of Life: I am the bread of life

Lời Chúa (Words of God)

“47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth hath eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers

ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which cometh down out of heaven, that a

man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down out of heaven: if any man eat of

this bread, he shall live for ever: yea and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world. 52 The

Jews therefore strove one with another, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53 Jesus therefore

said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood; ye

have not life in yourselves. 54 He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life: and I will raise

him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He that eateth my flesh

and drinketh my blood abideth in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the

Father; so he that eateth me, he also shall live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down out of

heaven: not as the fathers ate, and died; he that eateth this bread shall live for ever. ” (John 6:47-58)

47 Thật, tôi bảo thật các ông, ai tin thì được sự sống đời đời.48 Tôi là bánh trường sinh.49 Tổ tiên các ông đã ăn

man-na trong sa mạc, nhưng đã chết.50 Còn bánh này là bánh từ trời xuống, để ai ăn thì khỏi phải chết.51 Tôi là

bánh hằng sống từ trời xuống. Ai ăn bánh này, sẽ được sống muôn đời. Và bánh tôi sẽ ban tặng, chính là that tôi

đây, để cho thế gian được sống." 52 Người Do-thái liền tranh luận sôi nổi với nhau. Họ nói: "Làm sao ông này

có thể cho chúng ta ăn thịt ông ta được?” 53 Đức Giê-su nói với họ: "Thật, tôi bảo thật các ông: nếu các ông

không ăn thịt và uống máu Con Người, các ông không có sự sống nơi mình.54 Ai ăn thịt và uống máu tôi, thì

được sống muôn đời, và tôi sẽ cho người ấy sống lại vào ngày sau hết,55 vì thịt tôi thật là của ăn, và máu tôi thật

là của uống. 56 Ai ăn thịt và uống máu tôi, thì ở lại trong tôi, và tôi ở lại trong người ấy.57 Như Chúa Cha là

Đấng hằng sống đã sai tôi, và tôi sống nhờ Chúa Cha thế nào, thì kẻ ăn tôi, cũng sẽ nhờ tôi mà được sống như

vậy.58 Đây là bánh từ trời xuống, không phải như bánh tổ tiên các ông đã ăn, và họ đã chết. Ai ăn bánh này, sẽ

được sống muôn đời." (Gn 6:47-58)

Kiến Thức Liên Quan (Faith / Fact Finding)

I’ve seen them every day as I drive to and from work. Homeless people in destroyed clothing, torn from their

experiences on the streets, they loiter busy intersections, holding signs: “WILL WORK FOR FOOD.” We’ve

all witnessed it. What are the immediate thoughts racing through your mind? For me, holding a bias view, I

wonder, “Are they just being lazy and do not want to work for a living?” or, “If I gave them that money, would

they feed their hunger or would they feed their vices?”

If Jesus witnessed the same situation, what would he think? What would be his actions? Knowing Jesus and

how he believed that everyone deserved to be viewed fairly, He would most likely visit Burger King and

indulge them in a hearty meal. Jesus was always concerned for the needs of people, albeit physical or spiritual.

Therefore he spent so much of his time healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and feeding the hungry.

Would he not want us, made in His image, to do the same?

However, more than anything, Jesus wasn’t concerned about the empty stomachs; He feared for the empty

hearts. “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died...I am the living bread which came down

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out of heaven: if any man eats of this bread, he shall live for ever.” Jesus was telling them that he came to give

his life, so that we could have everlasting life, through belief and trust within him. Jesus wants us not only to

nourish our physical health, but he also worries about the emptiness many of us carry, whether in our hearts our

in our spirits; that which holds us. Remember, what is a house without a sturdy foundation? It will be able to

stand, but never will it be able to fair the weather.

Dẫn Chứng Cụ Thể (Case Study)

1. Evan parents divorced when he was only ten years old. Without the anchor of the family, Evan began smoking

pot at the age of thirteen, suffered bad grades and depression. Got into fight at school, and being suspended even

being released from the school. Everyone look at Evan differently and doesn’t give him a chance. What can we

do to change that? And change Evan life style.

Áp Dụng Trong Cuộc Sống (Life Application)

When was the last time that you realized the daily bread of life present in your daily environment?

In today’s culture, it’s so difficult to find people that realize that with the presence of the blessed Holy Spirit

within them, they possess the bread of life. So often we assume that this bread is found only within receiving

the holy Eucharist, and after receiving this, we go on with our daily lives, never again thinking of how we can

further propagate this profound feeling.

1. You need to know how to give as you know how to receive from others. Materials are only secondary in our life,

but the Bread of Life is always there for you and never end. God foods are endless to human being.

Ôn Lại Bài (Summary) The “Bread of Life” teaches us not to focus or put too much time into selfish achievements and goals, rather, it hopes we

take from it important lessons about respect, understanding, love and selfless compassion.

Lời Nguyện (Prayer)

"Make us worthy, Lord, to serve those people throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger.

Give them, through our hands, this day, their daily bread, and by our everlasting love, give them peace and joy."

Bài Làm (Homework)

Questions to Review:

1. What have the reading teaches us?

2. What does Jesus mean when he said “I am the bread of life?”

3. Refresh your daily event to see what you see through others?

Prayer of the week:

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4 Passover – The Preparation

Objective

To focus on the significance of Passover as applied to Jesus Christ and the importance of Preparation.

Scripture Reading

1. Preparation of the Passover Lk 22:7-12

Lk 22:7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and

John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

Lk 22:9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

Lk 22:10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he

enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover

with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”


1. Preparation

There was always much preparation before Passover began. The house was to be totally cleaned to be sure that no leaven

or yeast, not even one bread crumb, was left in any corner of the house or cupboards. Leaven also symbolized sin, if

allowed to go unchecked within the body of believers, can take hold and spread rapidly.

Jesus prepared for the Passover meal with His beloved disciples. Jesus knew this was to be His last meal with them, so it

was very significant. In the Gospel of John chapter 13:1, we read: "Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus

knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the

world, He loved them to the end." Jesus spent His last few hours before His arrest with those closest to Him. He had

made organized plans to spend this important time with them and He gave them quality time to teach them further and to

explain everything that was going to happen to Him.

Jesus had prophetic knowledge about where they would observe the Passover together. They were staying in Bethany,

but because of the rituals involved, it was important for them to be within the city of Jerusalem for the Passover meal.

When His disciples asked Him, "Where do You want us to prepare?" Jesus answered with specific details, much like He

did when He instructed the disciples as to where they would find the donkey He rode upon for His Triumphant Entry into

Jerusalem.

Jesus told John and Peter that when they went into the city, they would meet a man carrying a jar of water. This was an

unusual sign since in that culture it was the women’s job to fetch water. They were to follow the man and enter the

house. The master of the house would then show them the prepared room. The room would have been previously

cleansed of all leaven and ready for the Passover Meal. When the disciples entered the city, the event happened just as

Jesus said it would. They did the further preparations for the meal, such as buying the necessary symbolic items needed

for the meal.

2. Significance

According to Jewish tradition, some of the important items required for the Passover Feast were:

The Passover Lamb – was slaughtered on the Feast of Unleavened Bread to commemorate the Hebrews salvation from

death by the pure lamb’s sacrificial blood smeared on their doorposts. The lamb was also the last meal they ate before

leaving Egypt.

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Matzah – is another name for the unleavened bread that was a symbol of the affliction suffered by the children of Israel

in Egypt. They had to depart from Egypt so quickly that there was no time to wait for their bread to rise (Exodus 12:33-

34).

Grape juice – was the symbol for the sacrificial blood of the Passover lamb which was offered for our sins.

Parsley sprigs – was added to illustrate the hyssop that the Hebrews used to put the blood of the lamb on the doorposts

and lintels of their homes during the plague of the slaying of the firstborn (Exodus 11:4-7, 12:21-24, 12:29-30).

Salt water – was used as dipping for the parsley sprigs to remind them of the many tears shed during the years of slavery

in Egypt and also to symbolize the Red Sea which their ancestors miraculously crossed over.

Horseradish – was eaten with the matzah as a symbol of the bitterness of slavery.

Charoseth – was a tasty mixture of ground apples, nuts and raisins that is also eaten with matzah. It represents the mortar

the children of Israel used to make the bricks when they toiled as Pharaoh’s builders.

Four cups of wine – during the course of the meal reminded them of the four promises of God’s deliverance in Exodus

6:6,7.

At the Passover, Jesus shed a new light on the significance of the Feast. He rejoiced with His disciples in the deliverance

and the salvation of man through his sacrifice. They praised God and sang songs together such as the songs recorded in

the book of Psalms chapters 113 to 118. They enjoyed one another’s company. John, the beloved disciple, sat at the

right hand of Jesus and leaned upon Him. They dipped the unleavened bread into common bowls.

At this meal, Jesus clearly portrayed with the bread and the wine, the coming of the New Covenant in Himself. The

unleavened bread, represented His sinless body which would be broken. The wine represented His blood which would

be spilled for the remission of sins. Jesus was the sinless sacrificial Lamb of God. Even at the beginning of Jesus’

ministry, John the Baptist had declared Him to be so, saying, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the

world!" (John 1:29).

Jesus asked that believers in Him continue to practice this ritual of remembrance, which we now call Holy Communion

or The Lord’s Supper. It is a blessed sacrament that Catholics are urged to prepare for through the freeing of sins.


Our preparation and observance of Holy Communion is a time of reflection; a time to look within. We are to examine,

test, judge and prepare our own hearts and see that we are in the right place with the Lord before we partake of the

sacraments, so that we do not partake unworthily. It is a call to holiness and righteousness. "Do you not know that a

little leaven leavens the whole lump? Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly

are unleavened. For indeed, Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us. Therefore keep the feast, not with old leaven,

nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (1 Corinthians 5:6 -

8)

Think of a time in which you felt unworthy to partake in the blessed sacrament of Holy Communion.

❑ Describe why you feel this way and

❑ What are some of the things you could have done to prevent it?

Where Do You Stand?

1. How do you prepare yourself for mass and the sacrament of Holy Communion?

2. When was the last time you made promises to rid yourselves of sins and was not able to keep that promise?

3. What preparations do you feel are most needed for yourself at this moment?

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Summary

❑ Jesus was the eternal and perfect unblemished sacrifice sent into the world by God to save us. Jesus, our Passover,

ushered in through the shedding of His precious blood, a new, better and everlasting covenant.

Prayer

We praise you O Lord our God, Ruler of Heaven and Earth, and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We thank you, O God,

for giving to us your only Son, who suffered and died and rose again, that we might be reconciled to you. How great a

love you have bestowed upon us! May you forgive us of any sin that we secretly harbor in our hearts, may you give us the

freedom that comes as you transform us into the image of your Son, and may you fill us with your presence through the

Holy Spirit that we may truly become your people.

Homework

1. What are the symbols of the traditional Jewish Passover Feast?

2. How did Jesus apply the Passover to himself?

4. What are they key differences between Jewish Passover and Holy Communion?

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5 Jesus washed the disciples’ feet

Scripture Reading

Jesus washes his disciples’ feet. (John 13:3-8)

“Jesus-fully aware that he had come from God and was going to God, the Father who had handed

everything over to him-rose from the meal and took off his cloak. He picked up a towel and tied it around

himself. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet and dry them with the

towel he had around him. Thus he came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my

feet?” Jesus answered, “You may not realize now what I am doing, but later you shall understand.” Peter

replied, “You shall never wash my feet!” “If I do not wash you,” Jesus answered, “you will have no share

in my heritage.”

“Đức Giê-su-biết rằng : Chúa Cha đã giao phó mọi sự trong tay người, Người bởi Thiên Chúa mà đến, và

sắp trở về cùng Thiên Chúa, nên trong một bữa ăn, Người đứng dậy, rời bàn ăn, cởi áo ngoài ra, và lấy

khăn mà thắt lưng. Rồi Đức Giê-su đổ nước vào chậu, bắt đầu rửa chân cho các môn đệ và lấy khăn thắt

lưng mà lau. Vậy, Người đến chỗ ông Simon Phêrô, ông liền thưa với Người : “Thưa Thầy! Thầy mà lại

rửa chân cho con sao? Đức Giê-su trả lời: “Việc Thầy làm, bây giờ anh chưa hiểu, nhưng say này anh sẽ

hiểu. Ông Phêrô lại thưa: “ Thầy mà rửa chân cho con, không đời nào con chịu đâu!” Đức Giê-su đáp :

“Nếu Thầy không rửa cho anh, anh sẽ chẳng được chung phần với Thầy.”

Faith / Fact Finding Washing of the feet

The act of washing one’s feet is an act for a servant in Jesus’ time and in Jewish traditions. Upon entering a

feast, the servant of the house hold would wash his master guests’ feet. This act was meant to purify the

guests before they enter a feast.

Humility lesson for the Disciples

Jesus knew His time was about to end and he wanted to send to his disciples one last message, the message

of Love and Humility. He showed His disciples that if He is Lord and God, yet He was humble enough to

wash their feet then they are obligated to do the same to one another. He showed no ranking among His

disciple. Jesus showed the true meaning of “Love thy neighbor as thyself” when he washes the disciples’

feet. He wants His disciples to love one another so once He is gone; the disciples will truly carry out the

“Love” message that Jesus wants them to bring to the world through their actions.

Humility lesson for Leaders

Jesus sent a great message to all those in leadership positions. As great as He is, He humbly served his

disciples. He wanted us to do the same regardless of our positions. Jesus wanted to serve and not be served and

through that, He set a great example for us to follow.

Case Study / Life Application Jonathan was a đội trưởng in his group. He was always on time to Thiếu Nhi , he always willing to help

his teammates. He always brings his teammates waters, snacks. During camp, Jonathan volunteers to pick

up trashes, clean the tents and other jobs that no one wants to do.

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1. What is unique about Jonathan through his actions?

2. How Jonathan’s actions define Humble?

Where Do You Stand? What can we do to prepare to serve others?

What talents, resources, and service can we provide to other as a member of Thiếu Nhi Thánh Thể?

Summary

• Jesus showed humility by washing the disciples’ feet.

• Jesus showed no ranking upon the disciples.

• Jesus wanted the disciples to serve one another.

Reflection

“If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging

cymbal

If I have the gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great

enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned but have not love, I gain

nothing.”(1Cor. 13: 1-3)

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6 The Last Supper

I. Lời Chúa (Words of God) – Lk 22: 19, 20

14 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve

apostles with Him. 15 Then He said to them, “With fervent

desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I

suffer; 16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is

fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

17 Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take

this and divide it among yourselves; 18 for I say to you, I will

not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God

comes.”

19 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it

to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

20 Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is

shed for you. 21 But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. 22 And truly the Son of Man goes

as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!”

23 Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing.

II. Kiến Thức Liên Quan (Faith / Fact Finding)

• Jesus obeyed the Jewish law and took the Passover feast

• Jesus and the Disciples had no home, but even when every devout Jew in the world was crowded into

Jerusalem, a place for them to take the Passover was provided for them

• Jesus provided his own memorial from the elements of the Passover feast - a feast that commemorated

an event which was designed to foreshadow Christ's own death.

Tenth Plague Christ's Sacrifice

* Firstborn of all men and animals killed 0 Firstborn of God killed

* Only the blood of the lamb saved Israelites 0 Only the blood of Christ saves us

* This plague freed the Israelites from slavery to Egypt 0 This sacrifice frees us from sin

* Commemorated by all Israelites in a feast 0 Commemorated by Christians in Lord's Supper

III. Dẫn Chứng Cụ Thể (Case Study)

A LOVING mum was killed by a hit-and-run driver as she selflessly shielded her daughter and a young pal.

Paula Stead, 32, is believed to have pushed aside Bridie, 11, and the youngster’s ten-year-old cousin Danica

Green as an out-of-control Jeep mounted the pavement.

The driver - who had been chased by cops on the lawless estate Paula longed to escape - fled the battered

vehicle leaving the mum dead and the two little girls hysterical.

The impact was so severe that Paula’s clothes were ripped from her body. Danica suffered fractures to both feet

and Bridie had leg and arm injuries.

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The N-reg Cherokee had earlier been chased by a marked police car after being spotted driving erratically. But

cops lost the vehicle in the network of side streets.

One witness said: “There was a scene of total carnage. There were parts of the vehicle strewn all over the road

and I could see a body in the road.

“One of the little girls, Danica, was pinned up against a fence on the curb and a paramedic was with her. The

other little girl, Bridie, was sitting on the steps to a house crying her eyes out.

“She was screaming, ‘Mam, mam’ over and over.”

Incredibly, newly-wed Paula, 32, had learned that morning her dream of getting away from Ford Estate,

Sunderland, had become reality — she and her family were to be rehoused.

Paula’s best friend, Donna Smith, 31, said: “All Paula wanted was to get out of this damned place. She was sick

of the crime, the drugs, the fear.

“She wanted to take Bridie away. Then she found out she was getting a new home. I had never seen her so

happy.”

Paula wed landscape gardener John, 37, in August last year after the couple had been together nine years. Bridie

was a bridesmaid.

Donna added: “When they catch this person he’ll serve a few years and then get on with his life. Bridie won’t.

She will have to live with this forever.”

Mum died saving her daughter - By CLODAGH HARTLEY September 23, 2006

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006440292,00.html

IV. Áp Dụng Trong Cuộc Sống (Life Application)

• After the Last Supper, Jesus Christ willfully and obediently allowed himself to be brutally sacrificed on a

wooden cross. He did this to reconcile each of us to God by paying the debt of our sins, which we could

never do on our own power. In return, Jesus makes a simple request, remember this act of love. He

performed on our behalf. Jesus Christ did not have to die for us. He did, however, because He values every

life on earth and wants to see each of us sitting at His dining table someday in heaven.

• Throughout the Bible, and throughout history, the truth of Christ's message has been established - that we

can join Jesus in heaven by acknowledging His sacrifice and accepting Him into our life. In addition, we can

apply the lessons Jesus taught at the Last Supper to live a faithful life while here on earth by serving others

in love.

• The bread is a symbol of the body of Jesus, never to be forgotten as it was given to us. The cup represents

the blood of Jesus, never to be forgotten as he poured out His life for us. Jesus Christ has offered everybody

the gift of His life, death and resurrection. The Last Supper reminds us of Christ's sacrifice, and that by faith

in Him, we can dine with Christ for all eternity.

V. Ôn Lại Bai (Summary)

Prepare a snack of unleavened bread and grape juice. Spread a blanket on the floor and invite the children to

recline around the blanket and join you in remembering what Jesus did for us.

Memory Verse: “ “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

VI. Lời Nguyện (Prayer)

Lord Jesus Christ,

Please help us not only to remember your ultimate sacrifice but also to serve others with your act of love as

guidance. Amen

VII. Bài Làm (Homework)

Worksheet

1. Jesus died for you and me because He loves us…what can we do to show Him that we love Him?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2. In what ways do people betray Jesus today? How can we avoid such evil deed?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3. Write down something that YOU ARE WILLING to do this week to show Jesus that you love Him.

Then silently ask Him to enter your heart: “I love you Jesus! Please enter my heart and remain with me

always.”

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http://www.ebibleteacher.com/children/lessons/lastsupper.htm

http://www.evotional.com/uploaded_images/lastsupper-700583.jpg

http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/the-last-supper.htm










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1 The Crucifixion of Jesus

Mục Đích (Purpose) To help learners that “God so loved the world that He gave whoever believes in him may not be lost, but

may have eternal life” (John 3,16).

To help students know how to respond to God’s love “our love should not be just words and talk; it must be

true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)

Lời Chúa (Words of God) So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in

Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription

written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” (Jn 19: 16-19)

Kiến Thức Liên Quan (Faith / Fact Finding) It may be difficult for some of us to be with Jesus in his dying. This can make it more difficult for us to

imagine ourselves looking up at Jesus hanging cold and lifeless on the cross. It’s not easy to allow death to

affect us or to receive the power of its meaning.

We are reminded that death will come to all of us, to this world we know and love, to all the beauty and

even the violence, to everyone we love and hold dear, finally, to our own bodies. All that we know will one

day die.

It’s so hard for us to see this person we’ve come to love so much in such excruciating pain, lifting his body

by his nailed wrists just to be able to take a few gasps of air into his lungs. It’s almost too much to watch. If

there was only something we could do, but there isn’t. We find ourselves praying that God will end it all so

that his pain will be over.

In all this, Jesus teaches us how to die. He shows us that, even in moments of great personal suffering, love

has the power to reach beyond the pain to offer comfort, healing, forgiveness, and hope to others. Love is

the only way to embrace death. Even in the awful loneliness, the feelings of shame and devastating failure,

Jesus doesn’t respond with cynicism of resentment. As always, he responds with love. He embraces the

suffering in his body as part of the human journey, our journey, my journey. He unites himself to all of us

who will suffer and die. He wants to be one with us even in death. This is how much our God loves us.

The crucifixion of Jesus is God’s unconditional love for us and on the happiness God wants for us. Christ

has broken the power of death through his resurrection. At the last judgment our bodies will be reunited

with our souls through the power of Jesus’ resurrection.

Christ died fơr sins once and for all. (1Peter 3:18)

If you endure suffering even whe you have done right, God will bless you for it. It was to this that God

called you, for Christ himself suffered for you and left you an example so that you would follow in his steps.

(1Peter 2:20-21)

Dẫn Chứng Cụ Thể (Case Study) A story of Father Kolbe, a Saint of Auschwetz.

“Christ gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for others... our love should not be just

words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:16 & 18)

Jesus is the center of our lives and of God’s plan for our salvation. Our Christian vocation is to encounter

and follow Jesus to serve our brothers and sisters in action.

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Lắng nghe Lời Chúa va Thực Hanh (Listen to God’s Words and practice) Gospel: (John 19:16-19)

So they took Jesus, and carrying the cross himself he went out to what is called the Place of the Skull, in

Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with Jesus in the middle. Pilate also had an inscription

written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews.” (Jn 19: 16-19). Practice: Let students write down 1 or 2 good actions that they can do to show their love for parents, friends, or

others, then ask them to practice this week.

“Our love should not be just words and talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.” (1 John 3:18)

Ôn Lại Bai (Summary) God so loved the world that He gave whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life

Jesus embraces the suffering in his body as part of the human journey, our journey, my journey. He

unites himself to all of us who will suffer and die. He wants to be one with us even in death. This is how

much our God loves us.

Jesus unites himself to all of us who will suffer and die. He wants to be one with us even in death. This

is how much our God loves us.

The crucifixion of Jesus is God’s unconditional love for us and on the happiness God wants for us.

Lời Nguyện (Prayer) Dear Jesus, my Lord and friend, as we reflected on your suffering and death, we felt the deepest sorrow. In

your passion and death, you showed your love for us. We have known Saint Maximilian Kolbe who died for

his faithful witness to Christ. Give us strength to follow Jesus’ example by remaining loyal and faithful to

you to the end. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Activity

God’s Plan to Save Man God so loved the world that He gave whoever believes in him may not be lost, but may have eternal life” (Jn

3,16.)

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1” Nhận Thức Ơn Gọi – The Acknowledge of Discipleship

Mục Đích (Purpose)

• Through the childhood of Jesus, we teach the children to be good children to their parents.


Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover,

and when he was twelve years old, they went up according to festival custom.

After they had completed its days, as they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind in

Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.

Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed for a day and looked for him among their

relatives and acquaintances,

but not finding him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him.

After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to

them and asking them questions,

and all who heard him were astounded at his understanding and his answers.

When his parents saw him, they were astonished, and his mother said to him, "Son, why have

you done this to us? Your father and I have been looking for you with great anxiety."

And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my

Father's house?"

But they did not understand what he said to them. (Lk 2:41 – 50)


When Jesus was twelve years old, Mary and Joseph took him with them to Jerusalem for the Feast of the

Passover. On the way home there was such a crowd, they did not know Jesus wasn't with them. When they went

back they found him in the Temple talking to the teachers and the doctors of the law. He told them, "Did you

not know that I must be about my Father's business?" He went back to Nazareth and was obedient to them.

Jesus grew in wisdom, stature, and in favor with God and men.

When Jesus was a child he honored Mary and Joseph and respected the authority they had over him. Think

about it. The Son of God, Creator of the universe showing children how they should behave!

How can you honor your parents? you can obey them, co-operate with them, and always be truthful. By doing

these things you earn their trust, and the family enjoys peace and harmony.

This is the call to be good children to your parents. As Vietnamese traditions as well as tradition of many

cultures, children should honor their parents. That is one of the major duty that you must practice to live since

youth.

Why do we honor and obey our parents?

As God loves human kind, our parents love us since they give birth to us. As children, we are called to respond

to that love by our good behaviors toward them, one of which is obeying them. By doing whatever pleasing our

parents we honor our parents.

Trình Bày và Sinh Hoạt (Presentation and Activities) Your parents do many things for you out of love, just like Jesus obeying their parents out of his respect to them.

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Make a plan to show your parents that you love them. Here is how to make a plan into a specific exercise.

1. Use a piece of paper. At the top of the paper, write “I honor my parents by …”

2. Then list one thing you will do each day for a week for your parents. For example,

Monday: I listen to mother telling me to make my own bed.

Tuesday: I obey my father telling me to stop watching TV after 9:00 p.m..

Pitfalls and FAQs

The Acknowledge of Discipleship

T E M P L E T E A C H E R S J

B T X H T U S I F T B A J X U

E Z C N S O U T J R N X M F L

N K H Z A X E M H H X O G O X

Q X W I T S C K J E Q I V A C

B T H N E A N V R Q Y L M M C

O Q X T W E L A I L S B N C E

M A Q V X B A K K J K W N F H

G P T U R N L L I M A M A D D

C P T F T V X H V N G Z E H U

V N S H B Q Q F Z V G B I C F

W G P B E P N O V O T H T C G

Y Y L R G P G U L M W D K R G

Z F P N G K D N U I G O R P S

Q F W Q C P S D C H T H U S M

FOUND

HIM

TALKING

THE

THEY

__ __ __ __ __ __ , __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Ôn Lại Bài (Summary)

1. When Jesus was __________________ years old, Mary and Joseph took him

with them to Jerusalem for the Feast of the __________________________.

When they left the feast to go home, Jesus stayed behind.

2. They found him in the _________________________ talking to the _______________________.

3. He went back to Nazareth and was obedient to them. Jesus grew in ________________ and in

_____________________, and in favor with God and ____________________.

4. As good children, we have to ________________ our parents.

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5. When we ___________ our parents, we _______ them.

twelve son teachers temple Passover

honor stature wisdom men obey


Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể, xin cho chúng con biết sống xứng đáng là những người con ngoan của Chúa qua việc vâng

lời và tôn trọng cha mẹ chúng con.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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2 Sự Chuẩn Bị để Lam Tông Ðồ - The Preprations of Discipleship Mục Đích (Purpose)

• Teaches them to be Christ to others.


The word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.

He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,

as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the way

of the Lord, make straight his paths.

Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight,

and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'" (Lk 3:3 – 6)


Mary, the mother of Jesus was a relative of Elizabeth, the mother of John. After the angel appeared to Mary telling her of

the coming of Jesus, she went to see Elizabeth and learned that she, too, was expecting a child.

Now Elizabeth and her husband Zechariah were advanced in years and their child was a very special child. He had been

chosen by God for a special mission. That mission was to prepare the hearts of the people for the coming Messiah.

The prophet Isaiah spoke of John as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness" telling the people to get ready for the

coming of Jesus. John told them that Jesus would be greater and mightier than he, and that he was not worthy to loosen

the straps or even carry the sandals of the Lord.

He was dressed in clothes made of camel's hair and had a leather belt around his waist. He lived in the desert and ate

locusts and wild honey.

He went through all the country around the Jordan preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Crowds

of people came confessing their sins and he baptized them in the Jordan River.

He told them that they must live right. They asked him what they should do. He said that if they had two coats, they

should share with a person who did not have a coat, and if they had food, they should share with those who did not.

The tax collectors asked what they should do, and he told them to be honest in their collection of taxes and to not collect

more than they were required to.

The soldiers asked what they should do, and he told them to not take money from people illegally, to always tell the truth

and not falsely accuse people. They were to be content with their pay and not grumble about it.

John always spoke the truth, even when people didn't want to hear it. He fearlessly confronted King Herod with the evil

things he had done. Eventually, this stand for the truth cost John his life.

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What does this story mean to me?

John's purpose was to prepare the people to accept Jesus. Could you help someone to accept Jesus when they see

His love living in You?

John told the people to be generous with the things they owned. Do you have something you could share? Do you

have clothes that you could give to a child who needs clothes? Maybe you and your family could even buy new

clothes for those who need them.

Does your church or school sometimes ask you to bring canned food for the poor? Go with your parents to the

store to buy food for them. You will be blessed if you do, and it will give you great happiness.

Trình Bày và Sinh Hoạt (Presentation and Activities)

John the Baptist Luke chapter 3

1. The _______________________ of John was to prepare the hearts of the people

for the Messiah.

2. John told the people that Jesus would be _____________________________ than

John himself.

3. The prophet _____________________________ called John "the voice of one crying

in the wilderness".

4. John lived in the _________________________ and dressed in clothing made of

___________________'s ________________ and ______________________.

5. He ate __________________________ and wild _________________________.

6. John baptized people in the _____________________ ________________________.

7. John told the _________________ ___________________________________

they should not collect more than they were required to.

8. He told the ___________________________ to be content with their wages.

9. John told King ___________________________ that he was sinning.

(Use these words to help you spell the answers. There are extra words that you will not use.)

honey leather Jordan River camel

Isaiah mission tax collectors Jeremiah

desert Herod greater Amazon River

hair less locusts soldiers

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Pitfalls and FAQs

I can be a friend to someone who is sad.

From Thru-the-Bible Coloring Pages for Ages 4-8. © 1986,1988 Standard Publishing. Used by permission. Reproducible Coloring Books may be purchased from

Standard Publishing, www.standardpub.com, 1-800-543-1301.


1. Who was the mother of John? ____________

2. What was the mission of John? ____________

3. Which prophet described John as "the voice of one crying in the

wilderness"? _________

4. What did John eat? ____________

5. Where did John live? ____________

6. Where were people baptized when they came to him? ____________

7. Which groups of people asked him questions? ____________

8. Which king became angry when John told him the truth? ____________


Lord God, hear the prayers of your people. Accept our work and our words as a sign of our great love for you. Forgive

us for the time we falter and give us strength in return. Be with us always as you were with John the Baptist so that all

we do may be a powerful witness to all the world. We pray this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and

reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen

http://www.standardpub.com/

http://www.standardpub.com/

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2” The Preparations of Discipleship

Scripture Reading

1. Prepare the way of the Lord – Luke 3: 3-6

He went throughout (the) whole region of the Jordan, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of

sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one crying out in the desert: 'Prepare the

way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The

winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.'"

2. The Conditions of Discipleship – Luke 9: 23-27

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow

me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is

there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself? Whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of

Man will be ashamed of when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. Truly I say to

you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.

Faith / Fact Finding Background

1. Prepare the way of the Lord – Luke 3:3-6

In Advent season, we will listen to this reading and it reminds us of two things:

• First, the Advent season is the time when we await with great expectation the coming of the Lord.

• Second, it is the time when we prepare ourselves and our society to receive the Lord when he comes.

We need to prepare a way for the Lord and make his path straight so that there will not be any obstacles in his way.

2. The Conditions of Discipleship – Luke 9:23-27)

Then he said to all, "If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow

me.” He calls us to do the same thing. This means that we must learn to deny our selfish desires by doing little acts of

penance. Some examples of penance are:

• Not eating between meals

• Volunteering to do the dishes after dinner

By doing little things that are not appealing to us, for the love of God, we strengthen our wills. Then, when

temptations to sin come along, we will be better prepared to say “no” to them.


If you are having lunch with your friends at school in cafeteria and one of your friends ask you: “Why do Catholic

people have to talk to the priest all of their wrong doing?”

❑ What will be your answer?

❑ What if they continue saying: “Jesus’ disciple must be a sinless person and everyone has sin so there is no more

Jesus’ disciple in this world”, what will be your response?

Where Do You Stand?

1.Why do we have to have confession? What is sin?

2.What steps should we do to have a good confession? How often do you have a confession?

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3.Why in order to be a disciple of God we have to confess our sin?

Summary

❑ We are called to be disciples of God.

❑ Sin broke the friendship between us with God and prevent us to be His followers.

❑ We need to confess our sin to a priest to restore the intimate friendship with God which will help us to draw closer to

God and be better and better followers of His.

Prayer

Jesus brings true joy to His friends. To have His joy for myself, I will examine my conscience every night and go to

confession often. Amen.

Homework Answers

1. Name the twelve apostles of Jesus?

2. True or False: We broke our friendship with God by sinning seriously and Jesus will restores it only if we confess our

sins to a priest.

3. What are the steps to make a good confession?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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3 Temptation of Discipleship

Scripture Reading

1. Satan tempts Jesus – Matthew 4:1-11

“Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted

forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are

the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds

from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You

are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘ He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and,

‘ In their hands they shall bear you up,

Lest you dash your foot against a stone.”

Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”

Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world

and their glory. And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and

Him only you shall serve.” Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him”

Faith / Fact Finding Background

1. Preparation for the journey – Matthew 3:13-17

Every journey requires preparations, either materially, emotionally, or spiritually. In today’s journey into the desert,

Jesus has done more than just preparation. He accepted the task given to him in the mission of saving human kind. Jesus

did not wait for His preparation packages to be delivered; instead, he took the initiative and made the first move to begin

his preparation, as we can see from the following passage:

“Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.”

The second item Jesus prepare for His journey was the humility to be baptized and be filled with the Holy Spirit:

“But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"

Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness."

The last item Jesus has in His gear was the love and the blessing of His Father.

“At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.

And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Through the love and blessing of His Father, Jesus was miraculously promoted to a prophet who will speak His Father’s

will among the people.

2. The significance of the number 40

The first and foremost fact about this passage is that at the very beginning of his salvation, Jesus has just been received

baptism by John the Baptist and was introduced to the world by His own Father as the “beloved son”.

The Holy Spirit that was with Him at his baptism took him into the desert to be tempted, as the same Holy Spirit that took

the Israelites into the desert for 40 years. Jesus is the new Israelite that has come to save the Israelites. And as Moses

who stayed on Mount Sinai for 40 days before coming back with the commandments, Jesus also stayed in the desert for

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40 days before he come back and introduce a new law of heaven to the people. These forty days also reminded us of the

image of Elya who went on the journey to meet God for forty days and was exhausted.

3. The temptations

There are three temptations that we can see from today’s reading. This series of temptations did not just happened

randomly on a nice day when Jesus was in good physical condition, but Satan approached Jesus with the temptations

when Jesus was nearest to His human nature starting with fatigue and hunger. Satan wanted to strip away Jesus’ God-

being nature by seducing Jesus with human needs for food. Jesus response to Satan reconfirmed His mission as a will of

The Father, which is also His source of energy, the reason of His existence, as He is one of the Trinity. The response

were taken from Deuteronomy (8,2-5) reminded the suffer that the Israelites experienced in the desert (Exodus 16) and

they were fallen. Jesus meant to say the new Israelite (Himself) shall not be defeated as mentioned in the book of

Exodus.

The second temptation had to do with power and pride. Satan setup a trap for Jesus to step in when it asked Jesus to

throw Himself down from the high wall. From the first glance, people might not see this trap for Jesus to abuse his

power and be arrogant of His nature. In a time that many prophets foretold that there would be many people who

claimed themselves as the savior, Satan wanted Jesus to misuse His power and to become as many other fake saviors.

But Jesus told him not to tempt the Lord, a line taking from Deuteronomy (6,16). This law from the second book of law

also reminded us the story about the book of Exodus (17) when the people tested to see if God was still with them. Jesus

did not want to prove himself because He is the true God, whom God The Father has introduced to the people at the

Jordan river, and whom will victoriously prove himself through his resurrection later on.

The third temptation of Satan to Jesus reminded us of how Moses was taken to Mount Sinai and was promised a land

flow of milk and honey. Satan wanted Jesus to bow to him before he would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus. In the Old Testament, God told the people through Moses that they shall worship The Lord, the one and only God.

Jesus command to Satan the same law as in the book of Deuteronomy (16,16) that Satan shall worship and serve the Lord

his God. Again, Jesus has repeated the same command that Moses gave to his people in the Old Testament.


Obvious enough, let’s take the case about the attitude of many people who do not proclaim their faith through the sign of

the cross before having their meal simply because of embarrassment, fear of retaliation, shame. Are they not thanking

the Lord for what they have to eat? Are you too, one of them?

Where Do You Stand?

1. What do you think about the temptation of working to make extra money (overtime) on Sunday and skip Sunday

mass?

2. Many people are tempted to have their meal right before stepping into mass, knowing that they should fast thirty

minutes to an hour before receiving the Eucharist. In which case do you think this is acceptable?

Homework

1. In the catechism of the Catholic Church (which can also be found the Internet website

http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm#III), number 2136 stated “the duty to offer Godauthentic

worship concerns man both as an_____ and as a ____ being. Please complete the 2 left out words.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm#III

http://www.vatican.va/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm#III

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3” Sự Ngăn Trở trong Ơn Gọi - Temptation of Dicipleship

Mục Đích (Purpose) • Teaches the children to be aware of temptations in their daily life.


Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.

He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

The tempter approached and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become

loaves of bread."

He said in reply, "It is written: 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from

the mouth of God.'"

Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him,

"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: 'He will command his angels concerning

you and 'with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.'"

Jesus answered him, "Again it is written, 'You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.'"

Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their

magnificence, and he said to him, "All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship

me."

At this, Jesus said to him, "Get away, Satan! It is written: 'The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him

alone shall you serve.'"

Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him. (Mt 4:1 – 11)


After Jesus was baptized, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness and for forty days he was tempted by

the devil. Jesus fasted during those forty days. That means he didn't eat anything during that time, and of

course, at the end of the time he was very hungry.

Satan saw this as an opportunity to tempt him again. He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, command

that these stones become bread." Jesus answered, quoting from the book of Deuteronomy; "It is written, '

Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'".

You will remember that when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they became hungry and

God fed them with manna from heaven. He showed them that they were dependent upon him for all

their needs.

Next the devil took Jesus up on a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in just a

moment. Then he told him that he had been given the authority to give those kingdoms to anyone he

wished. Had he really been given that authority?

Remember, the devil is a liar. God rules in the kingdoms of men and it is He who gives power to the

people He wants to have that power. Satan told Jesus that if he would worship him, he would give

him all those kingdoms.

Jesus replied, "Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only

you shall serve.'" Again Jesus is quoting from the writings of Moses in Deuteronomy.

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Satan tries a third time. He brought Jesus to Jerusalem and took him up to the

highest part of the temple and told him to jump off. He said that angels would come

and lift him up so that he wouldn't be hurt.

The devil even starts quoting scripture now. He quoted from Psalm 11,

"For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.

In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone."

(Satan left out the part about 'to keep you in all your ways'.)

Jesus answered him, "It has been said, 'You shall not tempt the Lord your

God'."

Satan gave up and left him, but he would return later when he thought he had

an opportunity to get Jesus to sin. Of course, we know that he never succeeded.

After Satan left, angels came and helped Jesus. There were also other times in his life

that angels came to help him. Once when Jesus was talking about who was greatest

in the kingdom of heaven, he called a little child to him and told the people that they

must become as little children. He said, "I say to you that in heaven their angels always

see the face of My Father who is in heaven."

We are told by the writer of the book of Hebrews

that there are 'ministering angels' who are sent to help those who are saved.

What a comforting thought!


What are our daily temptations? Can you list some them?

How do you do deal with your temptation?

How do you stay away from temptation?

"Lord, help me control my tongue.

Help me to be careful what I say."

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Pitfalls and FAQs

Memory Verse

It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that

proceeds from the mouth of God."

Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)

Temptation

P G D G O D S E M A N W O R D

H R O R T C V Z X E N O L A A

C T O D O E N N O M B M E D M

H D Q C R W G L G T Q O T Z T

D A O Y E G G N B Y G R Y H Y

Z H Y A S E M O R F C F H N E

E X Q D J O D T E R P L B D O

E T N X W I A S A V D U D G Z

D H M G A G T X D S H S A Q Y

H A R T D V B S Z E K M K X L

A T J S K M C L V L T B I B Q

J V U E V I L U H G U B B H B

O W E O Q J G Y U Q O B O I O

U H M E M B P J J I M B Q T R

J L L A H S K S I W S O B U T

__ __ __ ' __ __ __ __ __

Ôn Lại Bài (Summary) 1. How long did Jesus fast in the wilderness? ____________

2.What did the devil want Jesus to use to make food ? ____________

3. How had God fed the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness? ____________

4. What did the devil say he would give Jesus if he would worship him? ____________

5. Who really rules in the kingdoms of men? ____________

6. How did Jesus answer Satan each time? ____________

7. What did Satan say would happen if Jesus jumped off the top of the temple? ____________

8. Who came to comfort Jesus when Satan left him? ____________

You can read about the temptation of Jesus in the Bible in Luke 4:1-13

ALONE

BREAD

BUT

EVERY

FROM

GOD

LIVE

MAN

MOUTH

NOT

PROCEEDS

SHALL

THAT

THE

WORD

http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Luke+4:1-13

http://www.biblegateway.com/cgi-bin/bible?passage=Luke+4:1-13

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Lord, you are indeed a God who saves us. You have placed your law within us and written it upon our hearts. We reach out to you that we may be strong in the midst of temptation and always faithful to your ways. We pray this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

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4

The Calling

Scripture Reading

1. The Call of the First Disciples – Matthew 4: 18-20

As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and his brother Andrew,

casing a net into the sea; they were fishermen. He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

2.The Call of Simon the Fisherman – Luke 5: 10-11

Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” When they brought their boats to

the shore, they left everything and followed him.


The Calling

Jesus chooses two brothers who were fishermen to be his first disciples. They did not see themselves as

special by any means but Jesus chose them and called them to do his works. He would turn them into “fishers

of men.” Jesus can make anyone special as long as they believe in him.

The Answer

The miracle that they saw in the sea was the proof that Simon need to see how powerful Jesus was. If Jesus

could do that then he could make Disciples out of whoever he chooses. Will you be listening when God calls

you? Your eyes must be open and you must be accepting of everything in order to answer the call of God.

The Sacrifice To truly become a Disciple of Christ you must be willing to sacrifice everything you have for him. Jesus will be your

ultimate provider and everything you do will be for him. The sacrifice of your family is nothing compared to the ultimate

sacrifice that Jesus will do for us by giving his life for us for our salvations.


There are many different types of calling that people are a part of. Some people are called to be priest, others are

called to be married, others to server in the military and others are called to do help others through charitable works.

What would you do if you knew exactly what you were meant to do in your life? If you had a calling would you be

willing to give up everything to follow the calling? What would be some of the things that you would be willing to do to

live your calling? Are you willing to die to follow your calling?

Where Do You Stand?

If God was calling you to become a priest or nun would you have to courage to follow him and do his works?

Would you be willing to do something that required you to give up your family and friends as well as all of your

worldly possessions?

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Summary

We are all called to do different things in our lives. Some are called to be priest and nuns, others can have

the simple calling of being a Huynh Truong. Everyone has a calling but do you have the strength to answer the

calling and you will have to be able to make sacrifices to follow the calling. All of these are part of an

individuals calling.

Prayer

Lord, you have given all of us a precious gift of free will. Let us be willing to give up a small part of ourselves to do

the your works. Through Baptism you have welcomed us into your family. Let your guidance and love for us be the

source of energy that we need follow our own calling. Everyone has been called to become a new Disciple of Christ.

Homework

1. How can you catch men with your words and work?

2. Go and interview someone who has been called to do something. Find out how they realized they were called to do

what they do.

3. Write out what you think your calling can be in the world today? Will it be something significant and how?

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4” Lời Mời Gọi của Chúa - The Call of the First Disciples

Mục Đích (Purpose) • Teaches them to be servants to others.


As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and

his brother Andrew, casting a net into the sea; they were fishermen.

He said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

At once they left their nets and followed him. (Mt 4:18 – 20)


The Apostles John 1:35-49 and Acts 1:12-26

Jesus needed some special disciples to help him. They were called apostles.

The first called were Simon Peter and Andrew his brother, who were fishermen. He also

called two more brothers who were fishermen. They were James and John, the sons of

a man named Zebedee.

Later he called others to follow him; Philip, Bartholomew (Nathanael), and Matthew (Levi),

who was a tax collector. There were also five more chosen.

We learn a song to the tune of "Jesus Loves Me" to help us remember them.

Jesus called them one by one,

Peter, Andrew, James and John,

Next came Philip, Thomas, too,

Matthew and Bartholomew.

James, the one they call the Less,

Simon, also Thaddaeus,

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The last apostle Judas made.

Jesus was by him betrayed.

After Jesus died, rose again, and went back to the Father, Matthias was chosen to

replace Judas Iscariot, who had betrayed Jesus.

Later Paul was chosen to be an apostle. He wrote most of the letters in the New Testament.

Mary, Martha and Lazarus Luke 10:38-42

Jesus had some very close friends; two sisters and their brother. Once when he was in

their home, Mary sat at Jesus' feet listening to his teachings. Martha, her sister, was busy

getting the meal ready, and she became upset because she was having to do all the work

by herself. She wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus said, "Martha, Martha, you

are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has

chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."


1. Write the names of the twelve apostles.

1. 2.

3. 4.

5. 6.

7. 8.

9. 10.

11. 12.

2. After the death of one of the apostles, who took his place? _________________________

3. In later years another apostle was chosen and his name was ________________________.

4. When Jesus went to visit Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, __________________________

sat at his feet listening while _______________________ was busy cooking.

5. Jesus told Martha that ______________________ from him was better than getting

the _______________________ done.

Bartholomew Thomas Thaddaeus learning John

work Peter James the Less Mary Paul

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Matthias Dorcas Andrew Mark Philip

Judas Luke Matthew

James Martha Barnabas Simon

Pitfalls and FAQs

Friends of Jesus

S H L H R W Q T J W I B

E E O F E E H M D E P A

M C L R Y O T I R H P R

A Y D T M S S E B T H T

J N S A S C I A P T I H

A O S U I O J S X A L O

K T F P B Q P O T M I L

D E L L A C J A H E P O

S E W C S S E L M N R M

S X S U E A D D A H T E

J U D A S T N J R Q H W

Y M A R T H A H Y T J K

ANDREW APOSTLES BARTHOLOMEW

BUSY CALLED DISCIPLES

JAMES JOHN JUDAS

LESS MARTHA MARY

MATTHEW PETER PHILIP

SISTER THADDAEUS THOMAS



Lord, you are a generous God. Gift us with wisdom and understanding so that our ministries may accomplish the work of Jesus Christ. Let your spirit fill our lives; let your love make us compassionate servants. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who taught us to be servants of all.

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5 The Conditions of Discipleship

Scripture Reading

1. Hatred of all others but Christ – Luke 14: 26

“If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea,

and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”

2. Willingness to bear a cross – Luke 14: 27

“And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.”

Faith / Fact Finding 1. Hatred of all others but Christ

The passage teaches that we must hate all others in the same sense that we must hate our own lives. We must hate

our natural tendency to disregard and disobey the will of God. Just as we must hate this tendency in ourselves, we must

also hate it in others.

A proper hatred for the sinner has two good results:

1. Proper love – that is, hate God deplorable inborn self-destructiveness which will not do much to help him. We will

more readily give him the gospel he sorely needs if we see his peril.

2. Faith love – that is, pressure to give up or compromise Christian testimony. We will recognize that their way of life

has nothing to offer.

2. Willingness to bear a cross

The passage has been interpreted in various ways;

1. A cross of suffering. Scripture calls us to “the fellowship of Jesus’ sufferings” (Phil. 3:10), and His sufferings were

most acute when he hung upon the cross. So, it is argued, the injunction to take up a cross and follow Jesus means

that we should be willing to suffer as He did. Many Christians think of any affliction or hardship as a cross to be

borne. Some Bible teachers disagree, noting that while many kinds of suffering are the lot even of the unregenerate,

cross-bearing is the special lot of Christians. Therefore, they say, a Christian fulfills the terms of discipleship only

when he suffers specifically for the cause of Christ.

2. A cross of persecution. It was persecution that sent Jesus to the cross, and Jesus promises that we too must endure

persecution. Therefore, persecution may be a cross we are required to bear. But the cross laid upon every disciple

has an even larger significance.

3. A cross of obedience. The cross is an emblem of our Lord’s willingness to do His Father’s will, however agonizing

or terrible the consequences might be. And the same willingness is required of us if we wish to be considered our

Lord’s disciples. We must unconditionally accept God’s will for our lives. His will may be that we endure

persecution. Or perhaps He will ordain some other affliction or hardship. If we accept our lot graciously, with a

surrendered spirit, we are truly taking up our corss and following Jesus, for, like Jesus, we are living in obedience to

the Father. Our obedience is no less precious and Christlike because the same kind of suffering has also overtaken

the unregenerate.


Mother Teresa came across a half-dead woman lying in front of a Calcutta hospital one day. She stayed with the

woman until she died. From that point on, Mother Teresa dedicated majority of her life to helping the poorest of the

poor. Mother Teresa would see Jesus in everyone that she met. It didn’t matter whether they were dying of AIDS or

Leprosy. She wanted them to be able to die in peace and with dignity. For over 50 years, she worked selflessly helping

the poor. That devotion towards the poor won her respect throughout the world.

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Lilian has a job now, and a bright future awaits her. There is Sister Debra who knows Lilian and feels that Lilian can

become a nun someday. Sister Debra talks to Lilian, arranges many times for Lilian to come and see the life in covenant.

Lilian has a great job, a good family, and she can go to a high level of her career. She is not sure if she is ready to

give up everything and go to become a nun. Since Sister Debra keeps bothering her, Lilian decides to give it a try. Lilian

goes to come and see retreat week, and she doesn’t like the life in there. Then she goes another one, and it doesn’t work

either. Lilian decides to tell Sister Debra that becoming a nun is not on her path of life. Sister Debra is not giving up on

Lilian. Sister Debra tries very hard to push Lilian to give God a chance. One day, Lilian realizes that she is ready to give

up everything and gives God a chance. Lilian begins to put everything behind and goes to Chicago to study and become

a nun.

Where Do You Stand?

1. In Luke 14: 26-27, Jesus says that unless a man gives up everything for Christ, “He cannot be my disciple.” What

would you do if one day God calls you to become a priest or a nun?

2. What would you do if someone comes up to you and tells you that you are not qualify to be God’s disciple?

3. Some people believe that if a man can’t give up everything for God, he can’t be God’s disciple. Do you agree of

what other believes?

Summary We must hate our natural tendency to disregard and disobey the will of God. Just as we must hate this tendency

in ourselves, we must also hate it in others.

Disciple is simple someone who has accepted Christ. Someone who would carry the cross of suffering, the cross

of persecution and the cross of obedience. Take the cross and follow me. In other words, Jesus asks His disciples to not

worry, put everything behind and follow him. He will take care of everything.

Prayer Dear Lord, make me stronger to accept your call, make me willing to bear cross and follow you. Please help me to

have strength to carry the cross with you.

Jesus, help me to open my heart and give me a chance to become your disciples. Amen.

Homework 4. What are the two conditions to become God’s disciple?

5. What are the proper hatred for the sinner?

6. The cross has been interpreted in many ways. Please name the three ways.

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6 The gifts of discipleship

Scripture Reading

1. The Gifts of discipleship - Mt 10:1

Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure

every disease and every illness.

Rồi Ðức Giêsu gọi mười hai môn đệ lại, ban cho các ông được quyền trên các thần ô uế, để các ông trừ

chúng và chữa hết các bệnh hoạn tật nguyền.


1. The chosen disciples

“The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, the

son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James,

the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddeus; Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot who betrayed him”

Jesus chose his twelve disciples out of inordinary common people. They never expected to be chosen, yet

they have done God’s wills with all the heart. Perhaps the most widely used definition for who is a disciple is

Jesus' self-referential example from the Gospel of John 13:34-35: "I give you a new commandment, that you

love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that

you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

2. The assignment

“Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without

cost you are to give”.

The disciples are chosen for a reason, to fulfill the need of the world. Christ empowered the disciples to cast

out demons in His name while He Himself was still on earth (Matthew 10:1,Matthew 10:8; Mark 6:7; Luke

9:110:17), and to believers generally He promised the same power (Mark 16:17). Jesus endorsed the use of

medicine, he used miraculous healings as a sign of his coming. He cleansed lepers, returned sight to the blind, returned

hearing to the deaf, and restored strength and mobility to the lame and paralyzed. Jesus endorsed the use of medical

assistance (medicines of oil and wine along with common curative knowledge) when he praised the fictitious

Good Samaritan for acting as a physician; telling his disciples to go and do the same thing that the Samaritan

did in the story.

3. His comforting Words

“Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you

are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”

They must be terifying and worrying about how they are able to do what Jesus wanted them to do. Then Jesus came to

them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of

all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to

obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gospel_of_John


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disciple_%28Christianity%29


http://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20Matthew&verse=10:1&src=!




http://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20Mark&verse=6:7&src=!


http://php.ug.cs.usyd.edu.au/~jnot4610/bibref.php?book=%20Luke&verse=9:1&src=!








http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Jesus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ministry_of_Jesus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eschatology

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”You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved” Throughout the

journey, they have encountered difficulties, but Jesus always assure them that the reward will be much better

than all the endurances that they are going through.


Imagine yourself being asked to help someone and you know that you have the full capability to help them out.

❑ Describe what would happen. Would you help them willingly?

❑ Are you aware of the presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit even if it’s just an easy task?

Where Do You Stand?

1. Do you think that you have been called to help others at least once in your life?

2. How do you decscribe a “Disciple of Christ”?

3. Have you ever wondered what you can give to Jesus instead of what Jesus can give you?

Summary

❑ The most widely used definition for who is a disciple is Jesus' self-referential example from the Gospel of John

13:34-35

❑ Christ empowered the disciples to cast out demons in His name while He Himself was still on earth and to believers

generally He promised the same power.

❑ They must be terifying and worrying about how they are able to do what Jesus wanted them to do.

❑ Throughout the journey, they have encountered difficulties, but Jesus always assure them that the reward will be

much better than all the endurances that they are going through.

Prayer

Our Father, you called us and saved us in order to make us like your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Change us, day by day, by the work of your Holy Spirit so that we may grow more like him in all that we

think and say and do, to his glory. Amen.

(Soren Kirkegaard)

Homework Answers

1. Where can you find the most widely used definition for who is a disciple?

2. Where can you find Christ empowered the disciples the ultimate gifts besides Mathew 10:1?

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7 The Mission of Discipleship

Scripture Reading: Mt 28: 16 - 20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw

him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on

earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the

Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And

surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."


• First, it's the last recorded personal instruction given by Jesus to His disciples. Second, it's a special calling

from Jesus Christ to all His followers to take specific action while on this earth.

• This command from Jesus is significant because it's a personal instruction for Christians to have a profound faith in

Jesus Christ as indicated in verse 18. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." This is an

incredibly powerful statement which demands faith in Jesus Christ, validating His power in the lives of Christians

and their commitment to Him. This verse acts as a clear claim to Christ's omnipotence, and therefore His deity. If

Christians do not believe this statement, complete faith does not exist. Jesus is very clear about His authority in the

world -- it is complete and total from the beginning of time itself (John 1:1-3).

• In verse 19, Jesus gives His believers specific directions to follow after they have affirmed their faith. "Go therefore

and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."

Jesus calls all His followers to act and share the Good News of salvation throughout the world. People hear this

calling and travel each year on missionary trips throughout the earth, spreading the word of Jesus Christ. Many

Christians have made incredible sacrifices, traveling to remote regions of the world beyond the civilized cities into

jungles and deserts. Mission fields can also be very close to home. It could be a neighbor who has not heard the

Good News, or a poverty stricken area just down the road where people can't afford Bibles. In the 21st century, the

Internet has become a mission field where people can reach out and share Christ's love. The places and people who

need to hear the Gospel are everywhere!

• Another important aspect of verse 19 is that Christ is specifically teaching the doctrine of the Trinity to His

followers. The three Persons of the Godhead are each equally and fully God and here presented in the

logical order of Father, Son and Holy Spirit - yet only One God from the beginning (see Romans 1:20).

• Finally, in verse 20, Jesus provides specific direction with affirmation to His followers, "teaching them to

observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Christians are instructed to teach others about Jesus Christ and the entirety of His truth. We can't profess

Christ as Savior and Lord, while rejecting certain of His teachings. As we teach Christ's truths, verse 20

declares that we can be confident, in faith, that Jesus Christ will support us. This fact has proven trustworthy

throughout the centuries as millions of believers have heard, accepted and shared the Good News of Jesus

Christ. Yes, Christ has ascended back to heaven, but He is present by the power of the Holy Spirit in every

believer!


Jesus calls every Christian to step out in faith and spread the Good News. This is faith in action! People who

obey this command change their spiritual lives forever! It could be spreading the Good News to a neighbor or

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moving to another country to reach the people there. It could be sharing with less fortunate kids down the street

or spreading the Word in a town two hours away. Wherever we go, every faithful Christian is compelled

through obedience to share the Gospel.

• If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, where has He called you to go?

• Who has God put on your heart to share the gift of salvation?

• What small or large steps can you take, with the knowledge that Christ will be by your side, "to make

disciples of all the nations"?

Homework Answers

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Bài 1:

Sự Quan Trọng và Cần Thiết của Mười Điều Răn đối với Luân Lý Ngày Nay

Lesson 1:

The Importance and Necessity of the Ten Commandments vs. Contemporary Morality

Opening Activity:

Listen to the story told by your teacher/huynh truong, then answer the following questions:

1. Describe the difference in the way Diego, Frank and Tâm approach the issue of underage drinking and

smoking.

2. Share with your class if you have gone through a similar situation.

3. What makes the decision process so difficult for Tâm?

Introduction to the Scriptures:

Each person goes through life adopting a set of moral values to live by. Some would consider nothing is

wrong until one gets caught by the authority. Some would go with the flow: I’d do whatever the majority of the

people are doing. But there are also others who determine to live by a set of moral guidelines no matter the

consequences would be. Do we as Christians have any set of moral guidelines that make us different from the

rest:

Scriptures:

Daniel 3: 13-18

At that, the king flew into a range and ordered the three men to be brought before him. He said to them,

“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, is it true that you refuse to worship my god and to bow down to the gold

statue I have set up? Now then, as soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, oboes, lyres, zithers, harps, and

all the other instruments, bow down and worship the statue. If you do not, you will immediately be thrown into

to blazing furnace. Do you think there is any god who can save you?” Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

answered: “Your Majesty, we will not try to defend ourselves. If the God whom we serve is able to save us

from the blazing furnace and from your power, then he will. But even if he doesn’t, Your Majesty may be sure

that we will not worship your god, and we will not bow down to the gold statue that you have set up.”

Reflections:

Imagine yourself being Frank at the party. What would be your moral values? Frank would do whatever he

feels happy, and does not really care whether or not it can create bad consequences such as bad health, lost of

trust in parents, dangerous situations, ... He probably won’t stop until he gets in trouble with the laws or with

his parents if they find out. His moral values are not that unusual in today’s world. You will see many people

who have the same approach to different choices they have to make in life.

Diego has a set of values to live by, it is the trust that his parents have in him and he determine to maintain

that trust. His value could also be related to a healthy lifestyle that he wants to adopt. Whatever it is, he has a

set of moral values. Christians are also given a set of values as guidelines to live in order to maintain wholeness

and happiness. Ten Commandments were given to humans by God in order to help us maintain the right

relationship with Him, with one another and with oneself. As long as we live within those guidelines, we know that we are following the directions that God wants us to follow to ensure happiness. In reality, it is not that easy to be faithful to a moral life. Many of us will easily relate to Tâm in this story. We kind of know what is right or wrong, but the pressure from friends or other people around us are just to great for us to resist. Being a teen today, the need to fit in, to be like the majority, and to be considered “cool” or “fun” are just too great for us to think straight what we need to do and what

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we should not do. That is why it is important to constantly learn from the moral authority (church, teachers, parents, ...), rely on God’s strength through prayer and receiving Sacraments, and be connected to groups of good friends or good organizations in order to live a good and healthy life.

Homework / Additional Activity

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Bài 2:

Kinh Thánh và Luân Lý ngày nay

Lesson 2:

Scriptures and Contemporary Morality

Opening Activity:

- Forms group of 3-4 people. - Work together the come up with a list of 10 values that are considered important in today’s life

for a student, or for a person in general (intelligence, wealth, beauty, strength, moral characters ...)

- Come up in your group the 5 most important values. Present the list to class with the explanations why your group selects those values.

Discussion - Of the five most important values that each group, how many values are in the same line with the gospel values? How many are not? How? Why?

Introduction to the Scriptures: Watching TV commercials, listening to radio talks, discussing with friends everyday, we will find that there are values that people today cherish such as wealth, education, strength, etc. The Bible also teaches a set of values to Christians. Sometimes these values are consistent with the world’s values, but sometimes they are not. What are the values that are taught in the Bible?

Scriptures: Mark 12: 29-31 When Jesus was asked by a Pharisee one day to tell him which commandment of the Jesus Las was the greatest, Jesus answered: “The first is this: ... ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Reflections:

Jesus came from devoutly Jewish roots. The great commandment of love was not something that he dreamed up on his own; this teaching was at the heart of the Jewish tradition that had nurtured Jesus from his childhood (the values from the Old Testament). Jesus preached the authentic message of Judaism, which later also became the authentic message of Christianity (values form the New Testament): love is the highest law, love directed to God, to neighbor, and to self. The Old Testament teaches people about God’s love for human beings and the response of love required by us. Jesus in the New Testament went beyond preaching love to actually embody God’s love in his own humanity, to show us in human form what it means to reflect God’s love in this world. And that one message has always been love: love God, love others and love oneself. If any message from this world that teaches otherwise, we as Christians have to reject them. The world may encourage us to work our way to be successful; that is a great value according to the Bible teaching. But if working our way to be successful involves hurting other people around us, it is then against the teaching of God’s love in the Bible. We will then have the obligation to reject that value. Every time to do a good deeds to others, our society norms is for you to expect some

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favors back. Jesus in the Bible, however, teaches us to love unconditionally. That is the moral values that are taught to the followers of Jesus.

Homework / Additional Activity Choose any of the following suggestions and exercise it:

1. You may not have been aware of the attentive concerns from someone in your life: you parents, teachers, brothers, sisters, friends ... Write a prayer of thanks to God for persons who are concerned about you without your being aware of their concern.

2. Do you know of a community of people that is a sign of hope to others? If so, write about how this group inspires hope in others.

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8 Roots of Moral Decision Making

Scripture Reading

Roots of Moral Decision Making - John 15:17

"This I command you, that you love one another.”


1. John 15:12-17 “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay

down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves,

because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you

everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go

and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command

you: love one another.”

He who loves, changes the world. “This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.” That’s the point!

Charity, love, service; liberty, equality, fraternity; forgiveness, peace, self-giving: all of those are [Catholic’s] values

that penetrated our society and culture in the deepest way through the testimony of so many [Catholics], of so many

saints. But then, with the secularization of society, those values, those [Catholic] virtues, were also secularized. Now,

that’s more and more the duty of the State and less and less the duty of [the Catholic] communities. But Jesus tells

us: “as I love you.” Like Him, our love and charity has to be personal, from the heart, demanding and sometimes

heroic.

(us.catholic.net)

2. God the Father love us to send us his only Son.

3. God the Son (Jesus), love us to give up his life for our salvation.

Case Study / Life Application Imagine you were at your high school, and you saw a freshmen getting picked on by the football team. Keep in mind

of peer pressure and the high school life as you know.

1. Describe what would happen.

2. What will you do? Do nothing or help?

3. If you decide to help, how would you do so?

Where Do You Stand?

1. 1. Do you believe in “an eye for an eye”?

2. Do you believe in forgive and forget?

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3. Can you treat others the way you want to be treated? By others, I mean anyone who crosses your path.

4. Do you agree that Love’s is the roots of our moral decisions?

Summary

One of God’s commandments is to “love one another as I love you”. God’s the Father loves us that he sends his only

Son to us. Jesus loves us that he gave his life for us. God is Love. So, love is the causes and the roots of our moral

decision making.

Prayer

Most Precious Lord Jesus…

Gentle And Wonderful God…

Truly Awesome And Ever-present Holy Spirit…

Let my love for others not hold anything against them.

Let my love for others not hold their faults and mistakes against them.

Let me be wise in dealing with others and helping them.

Let my love never be a hindrance to others.

Let my love be a matter of sacrifice and giving.

Let my love see the reality of what others need both in the short term and in the long term.

Let my love help me make hard choices and hard decisions.

Let my love be a forgiving love.

Let my love erase all the wrongs, hurts, sins, and transgressions of others.

Let my love see the heart of others.

Let my love see the hurt others carry.

Let my love see the burdens others carry.

All these things we humbly pray in the name of our most Blessed Lord Jesus Christ, our Mighty God, and our Ever-

present Holy Spirit upon whom we can rely.

Amen

(Shepherd's Care Ministries)

Homework

1. 1. Find a current event that is related to our topic today, which is “loves one another”.

2. Summarize and give your view on the issue. Minimum ½ pages.

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Bài 3:

Căn Tính của Sự Lựa Chọn và Quyết Định thuộc về Luân Lý

Lesson 3:

What is the Root of Moral Decision Making?

Opening Activity: In your group, read the following scenario:

There are two kids growing up from two different backgrounds: Kid #1: Parents divorced, raised by single mom and step-dad who does not like him very much. He

has no brother or sister, but a step-sister; the two do not get along at all. Even though the family is well-to-do, but there is almost no love. The mother is too busy for her children; the father doesn’t get along with his step-son. The children are in their own worlds, and they only source of support is from friends.

Kid #2: Coming from a poor family with both parents working. She has 3 brothers and sisters. Despite some childish conflicts that usually happen among kids, the four get along relatively well. Even though the parents work with low-pay jobs and very busy, they take time to take care of the children, and divide the chores equally among the children. There is a warm and loving atmosphere in the family.

Task: In your imagination, describe the two kids twenty years later: personalities, families, careers, success in life, friends, religious belief, etc. Explain your descriptions of each.

Scriptures: Matthew 18: 22-35. The Unforgiving Servant Jesus told the disciple the following parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who decided to check on his servants’ accounts. He had just begun to do so when one of them was brought in who owed him millions of dollars. The servant did not have enough to pay his debt, so the king ordered him to be sold as a slave, with his wife and his children and all that he had, in order to pay the debt. The servant fell on his knees before the king. “Be patient with me,’ he begged, ‘and I will pay you everything!’ The king felt sorry for him, so he forgave him the debt and let him go. Then the man went out and met one of his fellow servants who owed him a few dollars. He grabbed him and started choking him. ‘Pay back what you owe me!’ he said. His fellow servant fell down and begged him, ‘be patient with me, and I will pay you back!’ But he refused; instead, he had him thrown into jail until he should pay the debt. When the other servants saw what had happened, they were very upset and went to the king and told him everything. So he called the servant in. ‘You worthless slave!’ he said. ‘I forgave you the whole amount you owed me, just because you asked me to. You should have had mercy on your fellow servant, just as I had mercy on you.’ The king was very angry, and he sent the servant to jail to be punished until he should pay back the whole amount.’ And Jesus concluded, “That is how my Father in heaven will treat everyone of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”

Reflections: The root of all morality is love and fairness to all human persons as they deserve. Everyone is created by God and loved unconditionally by God. Just by the fact that they are created by God, as you are created by God, they have the same value and dignity in front of God, and deserve the fair and loving treatment from you. You have been loved by God unconditionally, whether you are strong and good-looking or not, whether your are smart and successful or not ... it is now your turn to love others regardless of who and how they are. And the one best way for you to live out this love is to treat everyone with respect, love and dignity; in other words, you have to lead a moral life.

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The love for others as God has loved you, therefore, is the root of morality in the Christian tradition.


Think of a person who has done wrong to you in the past. Write a letter to that person saying that you are willing to forgive him/her, and ask that person to join you to say a prayer for each other. If you can’t send the letter to him/her, you can offer that letter to God and spend some time to pray for that person.

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Bài 4:

Tìm Thánh Ý Chúa và Xin Ngài Trợ Giúp

Lesson 4:

Searching for God’s Wills and Asking for His Support

Reflection: It is never easy to make moral judgment all the times in this world where there are so many different influences and pressures. We have to accept the fact that human beings, though having good intention to live moral lives, are weak in nature, and without the Divine assistance in our daily lives, we just can’t make it. Whether people would like to accept their need for God’s guidance and strength or not, it is still the reality that without God we can’t live according to His will – a moral and happy life. The good news is that God is more than willing to give us that assistance even before we ask for it. All He asks from us is to let Him be in our lives and continue living in His presence. Just like in the story of the little boy and the great pianist: God is like the master who is capable of making our lives wonderful and happy, and He is ready to work with us in all of our little efforts, small and insignificant though they are, to make our lives become the best they could be. As long as the boy is still playing and letting the great pianist accompany him, the two can create a wonderful masterpiece. It is important that the pianist keeps encouraging the boy to continue and not to quit. So it is important for us to keep trying and not quitting in our lives, and keep letting God work in our lives. God is always there ready to help us. It is our job to pray, not really to ask Him to help us, but for ourselves to realize that we need God’s help. In praying with God, we come to be more in tune with God’s will and God’s way of life, which can guarantee true and lasting happiness for everyone.

Scriptures: John 15: 4-7

“Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you.”

Reflections: This Scripture passage says it very clearly – God is like the vine and we are the branches. The branches can not live independent from the vine whether the branches like it or not, whether the branches are aware of it or not. When we have to face difficulties in our lives, when we can’t think and decide clearly what to do in order to make things right, it is important that we come back to our “Vine” and take the strength and source of life from Him. When we pray, we present to God our difficulties and present to Him our need of Him in our lives. God may not immediately grant us the wisdom and the strength to solve all problems in our lives. But the union between ourselves and God will eventually, but surely, lead us to a life that is of true happiness and fulfillment.


- Everyone has tough decisions to make. Think about a tough decision you’re facing right now or you may have to face in the future. Write it on your paper and keep it to yourself.

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- Place the sheets of paper together with your friends’. Each person in class then pull out one sheet from the stack. Make sure the sheet you’re taking is not yours.

- Make a commitment to pray for the person with that decision this week.

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9 What Is Right For Me?

Scripture Reading

1. Examine Yourselves – 2 Cor.13:5-6

“Examine yourselves: are you acting according to faith? Test yourselves. Can you assert that Christ Jesus is in

you? If not, you have failed the test. I hope you recognize that we ourselves have not failed it.”

2. Feeings/Faith – 2 Cor. 5:7

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

3. Scrutinize and retain what is good. 1 Thes.5:30

“Put everything to the test and hold fast to what is good.”

Faith / Fact Finding Yahweh said, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways.” Ever since the fall of Adam and

Eve, we human beings have had evil tendencies that weaken our ability to sometimes make the right decisions in life.

Therefore, we must rely on God and the Catholic Church to show us what is right and true. God tells us to trust in Him

with all our hearts, and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our

paths. God’s ultimate wish is that we listen and live His commandments because His commandments are good and right,

even when we don’t feel like it. The result of listening and obeying God’s law is that we will find peace, joy, and true

happiness.

If you truly love God, you must examine yourself before you make any important decision. Generally, there are three

kinds of moral decisions:

1. Clear-cut decision: A decision that you know for certain pleases God and brings good to you and others. For

example, you don’t want to go to Sunday Mass because you feel lazy, but you know that by going to church you build up

your relationship with God and your community. Moreover, you know it’s a mortal sin not to go to Sunday Mass, so it’s

clear what you must do: Go to Church!

-Can you give an example of a clear-cut decision?

2. Clouded decision: This is right decision that is not clear to all people and/or it is a decision in which you are

unclear what to do. For example, your Christian friend told you that Catholics have violated the 1st commandment by

worshiping Mary, because every Vietnamese Catholic has a big statue of her. You realize that not only Vietnamese

Catholics have statues of Mary, but most Catholics as well do. Instead of feeling disappointed with the Church, you

decide to do some research. You ask your friends, who go to church whenever they feel like it, and they say that they do

worship Mary. However, when you attend TNTT, the Huynh Truong explain to you that we don’t worship Mary. Instead,

we honor our Mother Mary dearly, because she is the mother of Jesus. Mary prays for us constantly so that we can be

closer to Jesus. Therefore, we honor her with all our hearts. At this point, you have two different views, so you decide to

consult your parish priest. He confirms to you that Huynh Truong’s explanation is correct. Also, you open the book of

the Catholicism of the Catholic Church, and it agrees in what the Huynh Truong have told you. Now, your clouded

decision has become a clear-cut decision. When you are faced with a dilemma of a clouded decision, follow the

following procedures:

a. Ponder The Church’s teaching

b. Pursue competent advice

c. Pray for guidance

d. Make a decision

- Why do you think your Catholic friends who rarely go to Church say that we worship Mary?

-Do you think the Huynh Truong’s explanation is correct? Why?

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3. Contrary decision: This is a decision that involves acting contrary (against) to traditional authority (Authority of

the Catholic Church). The Catholic Church was founded by Jesus Christ. He assured us that the Church will be guided

by the Holy Spirit in matters of faith and morals. So, when the Church declares something with full certitude, we

must believe because it’s the absolute truth, even when we disagree. With that said, however, there are people who still

choose to act contrary to the Church doctrines. For example, the Church forbids its members to receive the Eucharist

when they have mortal sins, yet some people rationalize that God is all-loving. Therefore, they resolve that it’s okay to

receive the Eucharist without confession.

Remember that contrary decisions involve acting in opposition to the teaching of our beloved Jesus, who is full

of love and righteous. When we decide to make contrary decision with full knowledge and full consent, we commit

mortal sin. Mortal sin will make us slave in this world and send us directly to hell in the next life. If you encounter a

contrary decision, apply the procedure from aclouded decision.

“The Church’s teaching is a ‘light for our path,’ given to us by Jesus himself. Therefore, we should strive by faith,

study, and prayer to make it a part of our every moral decision. CCC 1802.” (Mark Link, S.J).

-Can you give an example of a contrary decision?

-Do you believe contrary decision is a grave sin?

Case Study / Life Application Jesus established the Catholic Church while He was on earth. In Mathew 16:18-19, Jesus said, “You are Peter; and

upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it... I will give you the keys of the

Kingdom of heaven, and what you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.” It is clear that Jesus appointed Peter to

be the first pope of the Catholic Church. He also sent the Holy Spirit to guide and protect the Church from error in

matter of faith and morals. Unfortunately after Jesus went back to heaven, many people broke away from the Catholic

Church because they felt different. Some felt the Catholic Church made too many rules, while others felt it was better to

establish churches that fit people’s wishes. As a result, there are over 1,500 Christian denominations in Northern

America alone in our time.

-What caused or causing people to break away from the true Church that Christ established?

- What would you do if you disagree with the teaching of the Church?

Acknowledgement of the Truth 1. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born by the Virgin Mary, died on the Cross, Rose on the third

day?

2. Do you acknowledge that sin causes a separation between you and God?

3. Do you believe that the Catholic Church is the true Church founded by Jesus Christ?

4. Do you believe in a mysterious way, Jesus is the Head of the church and you are the body of the church?

Examine yourself 1. Do you act mostly on your feelings?

2. When you encounter a dilemma, what do you do?

3. Feelings come and feelings go… remember a time when you were sad… Did it go away? In the same way, be

patient, rely on God when you are feeling down, and don’t act if that feelings oppose the Teaching of the Church.

4. Who would you trust in making a decision?

a. You b. God C. Your Pet

Summary “What is right for me?” is not merely what I want to be right or wish were right, but what I honestly think is right

after I have carefully weighed and considered the matter, including the objective truth I just discover – no matter how I

feel or what I wish were so. We must examine our feelings, and if our feelings coincide with the Catholic Church’s

teachings, then we can be certain that our feelings are correct. If our feelings and wishes contradict the teachings of the

Catholic Church, then we should refrain from making those decisions. We believe the Catholic Church is guided by the

Holy Spirit. Therefore, the church is free of error (inerrancy) when She teaches matters on faith and morals.

We make decisions daily. Some decisions are clear-cut, some are clouded, and others are contrary. We can follow

this procedure: A. Ponder the Church’s teaching; B. Pursue competent advice; C. Pray for guidance; D. Make a decision

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Prayer O God, grant me the serenity to accept what cannot be changed, the courage to change what cannot be changed, and the

wisdom to know the difference.

Reinhold Niebuhr (adopted for AA use)

Homework

1. Memorize this quote: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your

ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

2. God-Centered or Self-Centered

a. Pray daily a. don’t pray

b. Rely on God b. rely on self

c. help parents/others c. Complain

d. Not make fun of others d. Hurt others

2. Are you more of God-centered or self-centered?

3. Pray daily that you may be more God-centered.

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Bài 5:

Điều Gì Đúng Cho Em?

Lesson 5:

What Is Right for Me?

Opening Activity:

- Your allowance for a week is $25.00; draw up a plan of what you would like to do with that money.

- Compare the US currency with other countries’ currencies: Vietnam, Mexico, Cambodia,

Bangladesh...

- With the help of your Huynh truong/teacher, make up a plan what you can do with $25.00 in those

countries.

Discussion

Sometimes it is hard for a kid growing up in the US to imagine what it is like to live in poverty, and what it

is like to lack some basic rights that every human being has. Going to school is mandatory for every child in the

US, but there are million of children in the world can’t go to school because their families can’t afford their

education; if you can’t finish a McDonald meal, you can throw the left over away, while there are million of

children die of hunger; there are children as young as 12 who are force to bear arm and join the army, ...

It is obviously that there is “unfairness” in the world. The Catholic Church teaches that every human person

has basic rights. The fact that a person is a child of God earns them basic rights that everyone has to respect.

Rights are those things that we must have if we are to actually be what God created us to be. Rights are what is

needed for basic well-being. Thus, justice is a matter of fulfilling the rights of human creation.

Every human person has survival rights and rights to thrive for betterment. Some examples are:

- Survival rights: right to live, to have basic needs such as food, water, shelter, a means of livelihood,

nurturing of the young, physical safety and health care.

- Rights to thrive for betterment: right to grow, to develop, be educated, entertainment, respect,

privacy, freedom of speech, religious liberty, ...

Scriptures:

(Luke 10: 20-35)

Jesus told the following parable to his disciples, "A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from

Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be

going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the

place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him

was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and

bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day

he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, 'Take care of him. If you spend

more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.'

Reflection:

Just persons strive to promote the conditions that enable others and themselves to have a basic level of well-

being. Obviously, the injured man in the parable was in danger of death and deserved to be helped. Justice

prompted the Samaritan to respond, to at least get the man out of the road and to a safe place where he could be

cared for. Beyond that, the Samaritan, out of compassion, took care of the injured man himself and left money

for his continued care with the innkeeper. By his actions, the Samaritan also enhanced his own just and

compassionate character. In this Bible passage, Jesus also wants to teach us that every human person,

regardless of where they are from, have to obligation to care for the basic well-being of their fellow human

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beings, even though they are not from the same race or the same country, or they are not the people that we

know.

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Tùy Em Quyết Định

Lesson 6:

It’s Up to You

(Adapted from Growing in Christian Morality)

Discussion Looking back on life, we can sometimes identify a significant turning point that set us in a new direction, for example, deciding to hang around with a different group of friends, joining a club or sports team, or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend. Years later, we recognize just how important that decision was in shaping the kind of person we have become. The story we just read is an example. The decision for Katie to leave Phil and go out with Josh makes her the way she is now: happy, wholesome, even though she at times misses being friend with a powerful and influential boyfriend. If she had decided to keep going out with Phil, she might have gained some benefits such as having money, her own house, etc., but she would have been less happy and wholesome. The point here is that it was and it is still up to her to make the decision to become how she is in her life. It is the same in choosing to become what kind of person you are. Every single moral decision that you make every day affects you, and effects who you become. It is really up to you to become who you are based on your moral decisions. If you want to become a good person, you have to make the decision to be good in your every day life; because if you’re not deciding the right and good things in your daily life, you will not become a good a righteous person in the future. Sometimes, we have to be careful of our assumptions. Here are some false assumptions about what is good

• Good is getting other people to like me or admire me

• Good is moving up financially

• Good is making my pain or discomfort go away

• Good is getting rid of my problems as fast as I can

• Good is feeling good

• Good is having more control

• Good is not getting the blame for something I did

• Good is making people do what I want them to do These false assumptions will lead you to false decisions which can mislead you and make you

become the person that you do not want to become.

Scriptures: (Micah 6: 8) “The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with him.”

Homework / Additional Activity Select one of the following activities:

- Write a short essay answering this question as best you can: what kind of person am I becoming, and what kind of person do I want to become?

- What do you understand about this saying:

Plant an act; reap a habit Plant a habit; reap a virtue or a vice Plant a virtue or a vice; reap a character Plant a character; reap a destiny.

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- Read a biography of someone who fascinates you, and write about the acts in that person’s

life that turned into the habits (virtues or vices) that shaped her or his character and destiny. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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Bài 7:

Lời Khuyên cho những Quyết Định thuộc về Luân Lý

Lesson 7:

Good Advice Regarding to the Task of Moral Decision Making in All Situations

Introduction to the Scriptures:

Life would be much easier if everything were clearly right or wrong, good or bad, and people had a clear

understanding of the decisions that they are making. However, it is not so in reality. It takes a lot of training

and learning to reach the level where you are comfortable with making a decision and know that it is a wise

decision. Luckily, we have Jesus who can give us the example of how to make a good moral decision.

Scriptures:

But early in the morning [Jesus] arrived again in the temple area, and all the people started coming to

him, and he sat down and taught them. Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been

caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. They said to him, “Teacher, this woman was caught in

the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do

you say?” They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent

down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened

up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he

bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.

So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straighten up and said to her, “Woman, where are

they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.

Go, [and] from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8: 2-11)

Reflections:

This Gospel passage shows the three characteristics of Jesus’ wise judgment: (1) Seeing reality clearly; (2)

Figuring out the good-what is most needed in the situation-and the best way to achieve it; (3) Knowing his own

feelings and motives.

(1) Seeing reality clearly: Jesus sees the reality of the situation – a woman is about to be stoned to death

for adultery; this law is unjust because the man who committed the same sin with her can walk away

unharmed; the Pharisees are trying to trap him to say something contrary to the Law of Moses; the

punishment is too severe for the woman. Here we see that Jesus has his eyes wide open, and essential

feature of wise judgment.

(2) Figuring out the good – what is most needed in the situation – and best way to achieve it. After

seeing the reality of the situation that he is in, Jesus probably took a few moments to figure out the

response so to save the woman from the harsh and unjust punishment and at the same time confront the

Pharisees and scribes with their own hypocrisy. After reflecting, he responds, “Let the one among you

who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” It was the right answer in every way – the most

appropriate, best means available to achieve the good.

`

(3) Knowing his own feelings and motives. We can assume that Jesus does not want to get himself into

troubles by conflicting with the influential Pharisees and scribes. That is a natural feeling, but Jesus was

able to go beyond that so that he can stay truthful to the message of love and forgiveness of the kingdom

of God that He has been preaching. He may have been trying to ensure that his own fears – and maybe

even a desire to get the best of the scribes and the Pharisees – did not hinder him from responding in a

loving, truthful and effective way.

It takes anyone of us a good and wholesome formation and careful training in order to act like Jesus did in

this story. That is why it is important for us to learn about our faith, about the teaching of God through His

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Church, and practice virtues so that when we have to deal with difficult situations, we can approach them with a

wise judgment that is in tune with the way Jesus wants us to follow.


- List alternative response to the one Jesus chose in this story. In writing, evaluate the wisdom or lack of

wisdom in each response.

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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10

God advice regarding moral decision

Scripture Reading

(1 tx 5:14-24)

14We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

15See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all

people. 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing; 18in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ

Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit; 20do not despise prophetic utterances. 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast

to that which is good; 22abstain from every form of evil. 23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and

may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus

Christ. 24Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.


1. Love your enemies

(Lc 6, 27-28)

27"But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray

for those who mistreat you.”

2. No one repays another with evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all peoples.

Let take Mother Teresa as an example. In 1948, she came across a half-dead woman lying in front of a Calcutta

Hospital. She Stay with the woman until she died. She then help the poorest of the poor in India, she dedicated to

serving the poor. It didn’t matter whether they were dying of AIDS or Leprosy. All she wants is for them to be able to

die in peace and with dignity.

3. Pope John Paul II

In 1981 The Pope has been shot four times as he blessed the crowds in St Peter Square in Rome. A Turkish man

name Mehmet Ali Hagca. Later Mehmet was arrested and sentence to life in prison. The Pope later publicly forgave

Mehmet Agca and even visited him in prison. In June 2000, with the agreement of the Pope himself, Agca was pardoned

by the Italian president after serving 19 years.


Imagine you are in a class room; someone had cheated on the exam. The teacher found out someone cheated on

the exam, but he doesn’t know who it is. Therefore he is rewarding the whole entire class with 10 extra points to the

whole entire class and 50 additional points to the person who tells the one that cheated. Also the one person that cheated

is your only best friend. On the other hand your grades are in need of improvement?

❑ Describe what will happen to your friendship if you go and tell your teacher?

❑ What are you going to do with your friend?

❑ Are you going to confront your best friend? And don’t worry about the grade?

Where Do You Stand?

1. What will you do?

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2. Are you going to confront your best friend? And don’t worry about the grade?

Summary

❑ Not an eye for an eye but repay with goodness and kindness of the heart.

❑ Give thanks to God for your daily life.

❑ Use moral to decide what is right and wrong in certain situations

Prayer

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

...where there is injury, pardon;

...where there is doubt, faith;

...where there is despair, hope;

...where there is darkness, light;

...where there is sadness, joy;

Grant that I may not so much seek

...to be consoled as to console;

...to be understood as to understand;

...to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

...it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

...and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life St. Francis of Asissi

Homework

1. What is the reason behind God advice for morality decision?

2. What if someone hurt you? What will you do? Are you going to hurt them back? Is that what Jesus want us to do?

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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THÁNH THỂ

67

THÁNH LỄ LÀ GÌ WHAT IS THE MASS

Reading the Bibl

Mathew 4:4

But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed out of the

mouth of God..

Observing

Studying our Faith

The Central Act of Worship in the Catholic Church:

Catholics worship God in a variety of ways, but the chief act of corporate or communal worship is the Liturgy of the

Eucharist. In the Eastern churches, Catholic and Orthodox, this is known as the Divine Liturgy; in the West, it is known

as the Mass, an English word derived from the Latin text of the priest's dismissal of the congregation at the end of the

liturgy ("Ite, missa est.").

Throughout the centuries, the liturgy of the Church has taken a variety of regional and historical forms, but one thing has

remained constant: The Mass has always been the central form of Catholic worship.

An Ancient Practice:

As far back as the Acts of the Apostles and Saint Paul's epistles, we find descriptions of the Christian community

gathering to celebrate the Lord's Supper, the Eucharist. In the catacombs in Rome, the tombs of martyrs were used as

altars for the celebration of the earliest forms of the Mass, making the tie between the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross, its

re-presentation in the Mass, and the strengthening of the faith of Christians explicit.

An "Unbloody Sacrifice":

Very early on, the Church saw the Mass as a mystical reality in which the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is renewed.

Responding to Protestant sects who denied that the Eucharist is anything more than a memorial, the Council of Trent

(1545-63) declared that "The same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross, is

present and offered in an unbloody manner" in the Mass.”

This does not mean, as some critics of Catholicism claim, that the Church teaches that, in the Mass, we sacrifice Christ

again. Rather, the original sacrifice of Christ on the Cross is presented to us once more.

A Re-presentation of the Crucifixion:

This re-presentation, as Fr. John Hardon notes in his Pocket Catholic Dictionary, "means that because Christ is really

present in his humanity, in heaven and on the altar, he is capable now as he was on Good Friday of freely offering

himself to the Father." This understanding of the Mass hinges on the Catholic doctrine of the Real Presence of Christ in

the Eucharist. When the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Christ is truly present on the altar.

If the bread and wine remained merely symbols, the Mass could still be a memorial of the Last Supper, but not a re-

presentation of the Crucifixion.

A Memorial and a Sacred Banquet:

While the Mass is more than a memorial, it is still a memorial as well as a sacrifice. The Mass is the Church's way of

fulfilling Christ's command, at the Last Supper, to "Do this in remembrance of Me." As a memorial of the Last Supper,

1

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the Mass is also a sacred banquet, in which the faithful participate both through their presence and their role in the liturgy

and through the reception of Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ.

While it is not necessary to receive Communion in order to fulfill our Sunday obligation, the Church recommends

frequent reception (along with sacramental Confession).

An Application of the Merits of Christ:

"Christ," Father Hardon writes, "won for the world all the graces it needs for salvation and sanctification." In other

words, in His Sacrifice on the Cross, Christ reversed Adam's sin. In order for us to see the effects of that reversal,

however, we must accept Christ's offer of salvation and grow in sanctification. Our participation in the Mass, and our

frequent reception of Holy Communion, brings us the grace that Christ merited for the world through His unselfish

Sacrifice on the Cross.

1. The Mass is the birth of Jesus Christ. He is really born on the Altar each time that the Mass is said, as He was born

in Bethlehem.

In the Mass the Son of God becomes man again, so that in every Mass the stupendous Mystery of the Incarnation,

with all its infinite merits, is repeated as truly as when the Son of God first took flesh in the womb of the Virgin

Mary.

2. The Mass is the same as the Sacrifice of Calvary. In it God dies as He died on the first Good Friday. It has the same

infinite value of Calvary, and brings down on men the same priceless graces.

The Mass is not an imitation, or a memory of Calvary, it is identically the same sacrifice and differs only from the

Calvary in appearance.

In every Mass the Blood of Jesus is shed for us again.

3. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for us than a

single Mass.

By the Mass we offer to God the greatest praise, the greatest glory He could possibly desire. We give Him most

perfect thanks for all the benefits He has bestowed on us. We make more reparation for our faults than by the

severest penances.

We can do nothing better for the conversion of sinners than offer for them the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. If mothers

would only hear and get Masses said for their erring children, and wives for their husbands, how happy their

families would be!

No prayers, no suffrages, no matter how fervent, can help the Holy Souls as the Mass. Oh, let us think of the Souls in

Purgatory! Among them may be our dear father and mother and friends. We can help them most easily, we can

relieve their awful pains most efficaciously by hearing Mass for them.

4. The Host is nothing else then the great Eternal, Omnipotent God who fills Heaven with His Majesty. Why do we not

realize it?

5. There is nothing that appeases the anger of God so much, nothing that obtains for us so many blessings as the Mass.

6. The Mass obtains for us the very greatest graces, blessings and favors, spiritual and temporal - graces that we could

not possibly receive in any other way.

7. It saves us from countless dangers and delivers us from the evils that threaten us.

Summary

http://catholicism.about.com/od/worship/f/Sunday_Duty.htm

http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/Why_Confession.htm

http://catholicism.about.com/od/beliefsteachings/p/Why_Confession.htm

69

The chief act of corporate or communal worship is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The Mass has always been the central

form of Catholic worship.

The tombs of martyrs were used as altars for the celebration of the earliest forms of the Mass.

The same Christ who offered himself once in a bloody manner on the altar of the cross, is present and offered in an

unbloody manner" in the Mass. When the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Christ is truly

present on the altar.

While the Mass is more than a memorial, it is still a memorial as well as a sacrifice. As a memorial of the Last Supper,

the Mass is also a sacred banquet, in which the faithful participate both through their presence and their role in the liturgy

and through the reception of Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ.

Our participation in the Mass, and our frequent reception of Holy Communion, brings us the grace that Christ merited for

the world through His unselfish Sacrifice on the Cross.

1. The Mass is the birth of Jesus Christ. He is really born on the Altar each time that the Mass is said, as He was born

in Bethlehem.

2. The Mass has the same infinite value of Calvary, and brings down on men the same priceless graces.

3. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for us than a

single Mass.

4. The Host is nothing else then the great Eternal, Omnipotent God who fills Heaven with His Majesty.

5. There is nothing that appeases the anger of God so much, nothing that obtains for us so many blessings as the Mass.

6. The Mass obtains for us the very greatest graces, blessings and favors, spiritual and temporal - graces that we could

not possibly receive in any other way.


Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before you in thanksgiving for the gift of your Son, and particularly for his

sacrifice which won the victory over sin and merited us for eternal salvation. Open our minds and

hearts, Lord, so that we may learn the treasures of the Mass, in order to live each day as a preparation

for our next Mass, as a thanksgiving for our last, and longing to serve You in others until we

encounter You definitively and join the Liturgy of Heaven. Amen.

Living our Faith

HOW A POOR BOY BECAME A BISHOP, A CARDINAL AND A SAINT

Peter Damian lost both father and mother shortly after his birth. One of his brothers adopted him, but treated him with

unnatural harshness, forcing him to work hard and giving him poor food and scanty clothing.)

One day, Peter found a silver piece which represented to him a small fortune. A friend told him that he could

conscientiously use it for himself, as the owner could not be found.

The only difficulty Peter had was to choose what it was he most needed, for he was in sore need of many things.

While turning the matter over in his young mind, it struck him that he could do a still better thing, viz., have a Mass said

for the Holy Souls in Purgatory, especially for the souls of his dear parents. At the cost of a great sacrifice, he put his

thought into effect and had the Mass offered.

A complete change at once became noticeable in his fortunes.

His eldest brother called at the house where he lived and, horrified at the brutal hardships the little fellow was subjected

to, arranged that he be handed over to his own care. He clad him and fed him as his own child, educated and cared for

70

him most affectionately. Blessing followed on blessing. Peter's wonderful talents became known, and he was rapidly

promoted to the priesthood; some time after, he was raised to the episcopacy and finally created a Cardinal. Miracles

attested his great sanctity so that after death he was canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church. These wonderful

graces flowed, as from a fount, from that one Mass.

Practicing our Faith

The Catholic Mass is the most sacred act of worship a person can participate in upon earth. At the Last Supper,

Jesus Christ, sat down with his chosen Apostles for what He knew would be their last meal together. At that

supper, Jesus does something new, something never done before; and yet something which continues until the

end of time.

Knowing more about the Mass, we can be closer to Christ and to the miracle He left us on that Holy Thursday

night.

Preparation for Mass – Is this something you think about? Do you look forward to going? Do we enter Mass

thinking of being in communion with one another?

Prepare the prayer for preparation for Mass. Upon entering church today, take a moment and pray to God.

Faith alive at home

Discussion

True or False

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Words Search

______________________________ __________________

Parent’s Signature Date

72

CHÚA HIỆN DIỆN TRONG THÁNH LỄ THE PRESENCE OF JESUS THE MASS

Reading the Bible

Observing

Studying our Faith

FOUR THEOLOGICAL PREMISES

▪ The Celebration of the Eucharist is First of all Christo-centric;

▪ The Eucharist is the Source and Summit Christian Life

▪ Every Celebration of the Eucharist Requires a Bishop or his Priest;

▪ Participation of the Faithful is the Goal to be Considered Before all Others, and,

At Mass or the Lord's Supper, the people of God are called together into unity, with a priest presiding

and acting in the person of Christ, to celebrate the memorial of the Lord or Eucharistic sacrifice. For

this reason Christ's promise applies supremely to such a local gathering together of the Church: “Where

two or three come together in my name, there am I in their midst” (Matthew 18:20).

At the celebration of Mass, which perpetuates the sacrifice of the cross, Christ is really present in the

assembly gathered in his name; he is present in the person of the minister, in his own word, and indeed

substantially and permanently under the Eucharistic elements. (http://www.usccb.org/)

8. The Mass is the birth of Jesus Christ. He is really born on the Altar each time that the Mass is said, as

He was born in Bethlehem.

In the Mass the Son of God becomes man again, so that in every Mass the stupendous Mystery of

the Incarnation, with all its infinite merits, is repeated as truly as when the Son of God first took

flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.

9. The Mass is the same as the Sacrifice of Calvary. In it God dies as He died on the first Good Friday. It

has the same infinite value of Calvary, and brings down on men the same priceless graces.

The Mass is not an imitation, or a memory of Calvary, it is identically the same sacrifice and differs

only from the Calvary in appearance.

In every Mass the Blood of Jesus is shed for us again.

10. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for

us than a single Mass.

2

http://www.usccb.org/

http://www.usccb.org/

73

By the Mass we offer to God the greatest praise, the greatest glory He could possibly desire. We give

Him most perfect thanks for all the benefits He has bestowed on us. We make more reparation for our

faults than by the severest penances.

We can do nothing better for the conversion of sinners than offer for them the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass. If mothers would only hear and get Masses said for their erring children, and wives for their

husbands, how happy their families would be!

No prayers, no suffrages, no matter how fervent, can help the Holy Souls as the Mass. Oh, let us think of

the Souls in Purgatory! Among them may be our dear father and mother and friends. We can help them

most easily, we can relieve their awful pains most efficaciously by hearing Mass for them.


Why do we not realize it?

12. There is nothing that appeases the anger of God so much, nothing that obtains for us so many blessings

as the Mass.

13. The Mass obtains for us the very greatest graces, blessings and favors, spiritual and temporal - graces

that we could not possibly receive in any other way.


Summary

THE PRESENCE OF GOD IN THE MASS

In the mass, we can see the living presence of God amid His people through the following principles

• Christ is really present in the assembly gathered in his name;

• He is present in the person of the minister

• He is present in his own word,

• He is present substantially and permanently under the Eucharistic elements.

8. The Mass is the birth of Jesus Christ. He is really born on the Altar each time that the Mass is said, as

He was born in Bethlehem.

9. The Mass has the same infinite value of Calvary, and brings down on men the same priceless graces.

10. Nothing on this Earth, nothing in Heaven itself, gives more glory to God and obtains more benefits for

us than a single Mass.


12. There is nothing that appeases the anger of God so much, nothing that obtains for us so many blessings

as the Mass.

13. The Mass obtains for us the very greatest graces, blessings and favors, spiritual and temporal - graces

that we could not possibly receive in any other way.


Prayer

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Living our Faith

Read the song about the “Mass rock” below. Share with your parents what sacrifices you are willing to

make to be at a Mass?

"Were you at the Rock?"

This song comes from a time when the Mass was prohibited in Ireland, under pain of death. Worshippers

would meet at a "Mass rock" often a boulder in a clearing, and hear a clandestine priest. The remote

location was often chosen so that, in case of a raid, the people could dart into the forest and escape. The

songs' haunting beauty shows the strength of the Faithful in times of trouble, and the Mass as a source of

strength. In also shows how the people were conscious of Our Lady's presence among them at Mass

Did you go then to the grey rocks,

And behind an wind-swept crevice there,

Did you find our Mary gently waiting,

Our lady, sweet and fair?

Did the sun shine gently round her,

making solid darts through her hai?

Anh will you stay silent as the day

When the wind has left the air?

Oh, my Mary, long we wait here

While the hunger combs the mountains high,

And the soft wind whispers "Guard her,"

Though as hunted we must die

Oh, the dawn is longtime to coming

And the long night clings with care

But they shall not find with their chains to bind

My Mary, pure and fair


Faith alive at home

Discussion

True or False

Words Search

______________________________ __________________


75

MỤC ĐÍCH CỦA THÁNH LỄ THE PURPOSE OF THE MASS

Reading the Bible

Acts 2:46-47

They went to the temple area together every day, while in their homes they broke bread. With

exultant and sincere hearts they took their meals in common, praising God and winning the approval of

all the people. Day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Observing

Liturgy

Studying our Faith

Thánh lễ không còn được nhìn một cách thụ động như chúng ta vẫn thường nói là đi xem lễ mà thôi,

nhưng thánh lễ ngày nay đã được coi như một cử hành tập thể mà trong đó mọi thành phần tham dự một

cách tích cực, hiệp nhất với linh mục chủ sự.

Thánh lễ khởi đầu không phải chỉ từ lúc linh mục tiến lên bàn thờ nhưng là từ lòng nhiệt tâm háo hức của

giáo dân biết sửa soạn tâm hồn để đến giáo đường tìm gặp Chúa. Thánh lễ được kể như là sự thờ phượng

cao cả và tốt đẹp nhất mà ta có thể dâng lên cùng Thiên Chúa.

GOALS OF THE MASS

The Mass has 3 principal goals:

• To remember the death and rise of the Son of God

• To meet God through His Word

• To receive Christ through the communion.

The Mass makes Christ's work of salvation come alive, from the Last Supper to His death and rise.

The Mass is the utmost important because only Christ and through Him that all of our prayers and

offerings would be pleasing to God the Father.

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REASON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MASS

• Give supreme honor and glory to God.

• Thank god for all His benefits.

• Satisfy God for our sins and obtain grace of repentance.

• Obtain other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ.

Summary

GOALS OF THE MASS

The Mass has 3 principal goals:

• To remember the death and rise of the Son of God

• To meet God through His Word

• To receive Christ through the communion.

REASON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE MASS

• Give supreme honor and glory to God.

• Thank god for all His benefits.

• Satisfy God for our sins and obtain grace of repentance.

• Obtain other graces and blessings through Jesus Christ.

Prayer

Lạy Chúa Giêsu Thánh Thể trong cuộc sống hằng ngày, dù có bận bịu tới đâu. Xin

Chúa ban cho chúng con lòng ao ước được đến với Chúa trong thánh lể mổi ngày

hoặc

mỗi tuần.

Living our Faith

THE ANGEL AND THE ROSES

A poor farmer was wont to attend daily Mass for many years of his life. He was crossing the snow-

covered fields one cold morning on his way to church. He thought that he heard footsteps behind him,

and turning, he saw his Angel Guardian bearing a basket full of beautiful roses, which exhaled a

delicious perfume.

“See,” said the Angel, “these roses represent each step you have taken on the way to Mass, and each

rose represents, too, a glorious reward which awaits you in Heaven. But far, far greater are the merits

you have gotten from the Mass itself.”

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Faith alive at home

Discussion Based on the story Great favor from Mass (Hồng Ân từ Thánh Lễ), what kind of reward(s) do you get for attending daily Mass? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

True or False

T or F The Mass is not that important for Catholics.

T or F At Mass when we receive the Eucharist, Jesus’ body and blood under the appearance of bread and wine, just like at the Last Supper.

T or F The whole purpose of Mass is to Worship God.

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Words Search

The Purpose of Mass

B Z Q K I S E E L I J N S R F Q L Q T V H J M Z F T C B G A J G Z G Q

V N W G Y S H K H G C B N L E Z I J Z I M N A Y U J L C G E N U O K S

M X P U S Z Y B K X Q Z V F E C T I N D Y Z D U O Q B O F E E Q D O L

P G N B Q R D W K C V C G L O B U E K Q C G Q S S D Z W X Y L Y E T H

L I M Q X R N W N G V C Q M O V R S R C F D Y C Y O R C I I H W Q U Z

U X Z S E J W M Q W E I A E Y D G M M Q N B L E C M F V T F H I K Y V

W W V P H N N E E M Y C Y O P O Y N L E Y F E X E M U U Q Q H I Y R O

S F R G C D W F S X Y S G Z Z J O X A N J T T O N C R L Y V N D A R Q

Z O V Y C T B E V E B O Y O L B F R S V D N I I A G V T K G B G D R S

D H Q V A W K F D D D N X A S E T N P P B E N N Y W C E D S C L E O N

A R A Z J N X H R J R N S E M P H R I Y Z M I O U M P O D Z J C S X O

E Y K S A Y H T X H G A R S A L E E H Y Q A F I H T M R X O O M X B U

T H V A K N G J U M A V G I H S E L S S L T N T H O R C G N S Q F Z S

F Y L J I P U W T V E U H M P N U A R T H S I A F S M O F S L O M H R

C K A D Y H P I B R C S P O Q N C T O E D E S G F G A I P N X T G B X

B H O M P U W M S B F R N R B R H I W L A T O E B H R Z L P Q V C Q U

G P A I Z T T M H M U S Z P I G A O J X T D I R L M C S R Y O F P V V

P C M O Q O S H K U E W O F L B R N V J H L I G I D C N L X V R C U A

X C X S Y W F B C Z I L I B X D I S H U E O Z N V S N A Q Y K D A X R

D Z N L G M R J T P O C B Q F E S H Z B R S G O G Y E E X A S L Y T X

Q D A B O S R O T C E L E B R A T I O N I W N C O K L I W W I J X L W

B X K E U Y U X C V O A S Q U L N P R O W V O U O X F V X T E P Q N D

C M J T Z W H D U X F V K Z O T A P L S E U B J A F G R K F X A V S J

X K Q W R O A O Q B W F E E C A P W B L X S W B H H F A R P D C I G V

I R A Y T H X T L K B Q T N Q R I J G V Z W G K U Y U W Q E B I N X E

K H U D U K T I I Y C W H P A W C Q W H O H Z Y Y O G E F V H U M A E

B F P H K I Y H M G Z H I Y F N I W Q T B E H D B F G G A P M Q T A R

Y P L U Q L I I A T F I E I C P T C H Q B W T B L W S W N M J M X X V

E X V N V B M K Y Q W R Y J M I R U O C G G T W C M Z U T L M G X Q H

B Y M G V V N C M N P T F J D D A L Y Z X D A L S N W H M T S G E C Q

W O G J I M W T R C K F G R F N P K I X R O I W J G I A K P D E L E N

B C T J Z D Q D S Y B K Q M X T W A S C Z Z U X P L M X S W V C P B X

E V R V O L P V I X Z Q E U H B O F P R J C K D P Z L H K W V X K R M

K C I P Z R T V X D S E F I B O I S B G H Z H Z A A L Z A J P I A O P

Q E Z X A I X K C Q R M K B K H C P D H T Z F T N O Z Z L A E A Q V T

ALTAR LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST RESPONSE

BELIEFS LITURGY OF THE WORD SACRIFICE

CELEBRATION OBSERVERS WORSHIP

CONGREGATION OLD TESTAMENT COVENANT

OPPORTUNITY ENDLESSLY PARTICIPANTS

GOSPEL READING PRAYER HOMILY

PROMISE INFINITELY PSALM

KINGDOM OF GOD RECONFIRMING LECTORS

RELATIONSHIP

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SỰ KY DIỆU CỦA THÁNH LỄ THE WONDERS OF HOLY MASS

Reading the Bible

Observing

Liturgy

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Studying our Faith

The Saints never speak so eloquently as when they speak of the Mass. They can never say enough on this sublime

subject, for St. Bonaventure says that the wonders of the Mass are as many as there are stars in the heavens and grains of

sand on the seashores of the world.

• The graces, blessings and favors granted to those who assist at this Divine Sacrifice are beyond all comprehension.

The Tremendous Blessings and Benefits of the Mass as Told by Popes and Saints

Pope Paul VI "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"

Pope Benedict XV "The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."

St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church

"The celebration of Holy Mass is as valuable as the death of Jesus on the cross."

St. Gregory, Doctor of the Church

"The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass."

"It is most true that he who attends holy Mass shall be freed from many

evils and from many dangers, both seen and unseen."

St. Augustine, Doctor of the Church

"The angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass."

"He who devoutly hears holy Mass will receive a great vigor to enable

him to resist mortal sin, and there shall be pardoned to him all venial sins

which he may have committed up to that hour."

"He [who attends Mass with all possible devotion] shall be freed from sudden death, which is the most terrible stroke launched by the Divine Justice against sinners. Behold a wonderful preservative against sudden death."

St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church

"Without doubt, the Lord grants all favors which are asked of Him in Mass, provided they be fitting for us; and, which is a matter of great wonder, ofttimes He also grants that also which is not demanded of Him, if we, on our part, put no obstacle in the way."

St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church

"When Mass is being celebrated, the sanctuary is filled with countless angels who adore the divine victim immolated on the altar."

St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church

"A single Mass offered for oneself during life may be worth more than a thousand celebrated for the same intention after death."

St. Teresa, Doctor of the Church

Once, St. Teresa was overwhelmed with God's Goodness and asked Our Lord "How can I thank you?" Our Lord replied, "ATTEND ONE MASS."

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

"The principal excellence of the most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass consists in being essentially, and in the very highest degree, identical with that which was offered on the Cross of Calvary: with this sole difference that the sacrifice on the Cross was bloody, and made once for all, and did on that one occasion satisfy fully for all the sins of the world; while the sacrifice of the altar is an unbloody sacrifice, which can be repeated an infinite number of times, and was instituted in order to apply in detail that universal ransom which Jesus paid for us on Calvary."

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"I believe that were it not for the Holy Mass, as this moment the world

would be in the abyss, unable to bear up under the mighty load of its

iniquities Mass is the potent prop that hold the world on its base."

"Be now confounded for very wonder, reflecting that the proposition just

laid down is indeed most true; a soul assisting with adequate devotion at

holy Mass renders more honor to God than that which all the Angels and

all the Saints put together render with all their adorations."

"And, yet, with the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, viewed according to its

intrinsic preciousness and value, satisfaction may be made completely for

committed sin ... Not that the Sacrifice of the Mass by any means cancels

our sins immediately, and of itself, as does the Sacrament of Penance: but

it cancels them mediately, calling down various aids of interior impulse, of

holy aspiration, and of actual grace, all tending toward a worthy

repentance of our sins, either at the time of the Mass itself or at some

other fitting time."

"O blessed Mass, by which we come to have the Son of God placed not

within our arms but within our hearts, Nor is there a doubt but that with

Him, and Him alone, we shall be able to satisfy the debt of gratitude which

we have contracted with God."

"It is in our power by means of it to pay the fourth debt due to God,

which is to supplicate Him, and to entreat new graces of Him. ... Yes, yes:

in holy Mass our dear beloved Jesus, as the chief and supreme Priest,

recommends our case to the Father, prays for us and makes Himself our

advocate. ... How can you doubt but that He wishes to give you all the

virtues and all the perfections which are required to make you a saint, and

a great saint, in Heaven?"

"What graces, gifts and virtues the Holy Mass calls down ... repentance

for sin ... victory over temptation ... holy inspirations which dispositions to

shake off tepidity ... the grace of final perseverance, upon which depends

our salvation ... temporal blessings, such as peace, abundance and health

..."

In having Masses said for the suffering souls in Purgatory: "the holy

Mass not only shortens their pains but also extends great immediate relief

to those poor souls ... the charity you exercise toward poor souls under

purification will all redound to your own good."

In having Masses said for your own soul: "... get celebrated all the

Masses possible in your circumstances not only for the souls departed but

for your own. Do this for two motives: first to obtain a good and holy

death - it being the invariable opinion of theologians that there is no more

efficacious means for attaining so holy a purpose. Another motive is that

St. Teresa, Doctor of the Church

St. Leonard of

Port Maurice

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/faith/12fruits.htm

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/faith/12fruits.htm

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/faith/virtue.htm

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/faith/virtue.htm

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you may yourself issue quickly from Purgatory and fly away into eternal

glory, there being no means more adapted for obtaining from God a grace

so precious as that of going direct to Heaven, or at least a short detention

on the way, than Indulgences duly gained, and the holy Sacrifice."

St. John Vianney

Patron Saint of

Parish Priests

"When we receive Holy Communion, we experience something extraordinary - a joy, a fragrance, a well being that thrills the whole body and causes it to exalt."

"If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy."

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more

precious, He would have given it to us."

"When we have been to Holy Communion, the balm of love envelops the

soul as the flower envelops the bee."

Blessed Padre Pio, stigmatic priest

"It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do without Holy Mass."

Revelation of Christ to St. Gertrude the Great

For each Mass we hear with devotion, Our Lord sends a saint to comfort us at death.

Revelation of Christ to St. Mechtilde

He who is in the habit of devoutly hearing holy Mass shall in death be consoled by the presence of the angels and saints, his advocates, who shall bravely defend him from all the snares of infernal spirits.

The Mass is the greatest wonder in the world. There is nothing on Earth equal to it, and there is nothing in Heaven

greater than it.

The next greatest wonder is the indifference and ignorance of Catholics regarding Holy Mass. How is it that so many

Catholics do not go to Mass?

• The Great Sacrifice of Calvary is offered near their homes, almost at their very doors, and they are too slothful to

assist at it.

• The Sacrifice of Calvary? Yes, for the Mass is really and truly the very same as the Death of Jesus on the Cross.

• Why do not mothers, why do not catechists, why do not teachers instill into the minds and hearts of those in their

charge the wonders of the Mass? Priests are bound by the Council of Trent to do so.

• Protestants may well ask those Catholics who neglect hearing daily Mass if they do really believe that God is born on

the altar and that God dies on the altar as He did on Calvary? If they do believe, why do they not assist at Mass?

• St. Augustine tells us that pagans and Gentiles of his time asked tepid and indifferent Christians with bitter irony if

they sincerely believed that the God of all mercy and goodness descended on their altars! You Christians, they

continued, accuse us of adoring false gods, but at least we believe they are gods and we honor them; whereas, you

despise Him whom you call the True God!

No intelligent, no enlightened Christian would fail to hear Mass if he only knew what it was.

Summary

The Mass really is the very same Holy Sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross made present to us today in time.

Absolutely nothing on earth could posssibly be even remotely more important. How can many Catholic saying

the mass is boring or skipping the mass?

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/index.html

http://www.ourladyswarriors.org/indulge/index.html

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Prayer

Låy Chúa, xin giúp chúng con, m‡i lÀn chúng con Ç‰n thæm d¿ thánh lÍ, ÇÜ®c cäm nghiŒm sâu xa hÖn vŠ s¿ kÿ diŒu cûa thánh lÍ mà chúng con ÇÜ®c h†c trong ngày hôm nay.

Living our Faith

HOW TO MAKE ONE'S BUSINESS PROSPER

Two businessmen resided in the same French town. Both were engaged in the same line of commerce, but while one was

prosperous, the other found it very hard to gain a sufficiency, notwithstanding that he worked harder and rose earlier than

his friend.

Reduced to extremities, he resolved to seek advice from his prosperous colleague, hoping to learn the secret of his

success.

“My good friend,” replied the wealthy merchant, “I have no secrets, I work just as you work. If there is any

difference in our methods, it is this: I go to Mass daily. You do not. Follow my sincere advice, hear Mass every

morning, and I feel sure that God will bless your work.”

The poorer man did as he was advised, and soon, in some unaccountable way, his difficulties ceased and his business

prospered beyond all his expectations.


Attend at least one mass during this week. Pay attention to the progress of the mass and write down any

question or concern that you have. For example, “why does the priest kiss the gospel after his reading? Why do

we have to say “I confessed” right in the beginning of mass?”

Faith alive at home

Discussion Chose the statement below and write a short paragraph to reflect on your chosen statement

1. The Mass is really and truly the very same as the Death of Jesus on the Cross.

2. The heavens open and multitudes of angels come to assist in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.

3. The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer 4. The mass is the perfect way to give thanks to God

True or False

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LỢI ÍCH CỦA THÁNH LỄ THE BENEFITS OF THE MASS

Reading the Bible

John 6: 48-51 48I am the bread of life. 49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. 50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."

Observing

Liturgy

Studying our Faith

St. Thomas, the Prince of Theologians, writes wonderfully of the Mass,)

• “The Mass,” he says, “obtains for sinners in mortal sin the grace of repentance. For the just, it obtains the remission

of venial sins and the pardon of the pain due to sin. It obtains an increase of habitual [Sanctifying] grace, as well as

all the graces necessary for their special needs.”

Our Lord said to St. Mechtilde: “In Mass I come with such humility that there is no sinner, no matter how depraved he

be, that I am not ready to receive, if only he desires it. I come with such sweetness and mercy that I will pardon my

greatest enemies, if they ask for pardon. I come with such generosity that there is no one so poor that I will not fill him

with the riches of my love. I come with such heavenly food as will strengthen the weakest with such a plenitude of graces

as will remove all miseries, overcome all obstinacy and dissipate all fears.”

• What words of divine comfort - words of God Himself! If we heard nothing else about the Holy Sacrifice of the

Mass, are not these words alone sufficient to fill us with faith and confidence in the Divine Mysteries.

How often do we not see in Christian homes the parents, the brothers, or the sister ill unto death. Eminent physicians are

summoned, costly remedies are purchased, no pains are spared to save the dear ones from death and hasten their

recovery. All that is as it should be, but why forget, why neglect the most potent of all remedies, the Holy Mass?

THE MASS OBTAINS FOR US A HAPPY DEATH

The crowning grace of our life is a holy and happy death. What avails is to have had a long and happy life, to have

enjoyed all the comforts which riches can give, all the honors the World can bestow, if in the end we die a bad death?

• An unhappy death means a never-ending eternity of misery and woe.

• We can only die once, and if we die badly, there is no possibility of remedying the mistake. A bad death plunges a

man into the fires of Hell forever and forever.

• It is consequently of the utmost importance that we do all in our power, that we use every means possible to secure a

happy death.

• Holy writers recommend various excellent methods whereby we may make our salvation certain, and all these we

should use to the best of our ability. All agree, however, that the best and easiest of these means is the frequent

assistance at Holy Mass.

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• Our Blessed Lord assured St. Mechtilde that He would comfort and console all those who were assiduous in hearing

Mass and that He would send as many of His great saints to assist them when dying as they had heard Masses in their

lifetime.

Penellas relates that a devout man had such confidence in the efficacy of the Mass that he did his utmost to be

present at the Holy Sacrifice as often as he possibly could. He fell gravely ill and died with great peace and joy.

His parish priest grieved much at the loss of this exemplary member of his flock and offered for his soul many

suffrages.Great was the surprise of the good priest when the dead man appeared to him radiant with joy and

thanked him for his charity, adding at the same time that he was in no need of prayers, as owing to his frequent

assistance at Mass, he was received immediately into Heaven.

Mgr. Nautier, Bishop of Breslau, not withstanding his onerous labors and grave responsibilities, sought to be

present at as many Masses as he could which were celebrated in his Cathedral. At the moment of his death, his

soul was seen mounting up to Heaven accompanied by many glorious Angels who sang sweet canticles of joy

and praise.

All good Christians would do well to follow these holy examples and ask God every time they hear Mass to grant them

the grace of a holy death and freedom from the fires of Purgatory.

Summary

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please help us be a better listener so that we may hear your words of wisdom that will

bring us closer to you and to learn more about you and to love you more and more.

Living our Faith

St. Gregory of Nazianzen

St. Gregory of Nazianzen. In the life of this great Saint we read that his father fell dangerously ill and was dying. The

sick man had fallen into a state of such extreme weakness that he could scarcely make the slightest movement. His pulse

was extremely weak, and he was not able to take any nourishment. At last he completely lost consciousness.

His family, despairing of all human means, placed their faith in God. They adjourned to the church, where Mass was said

for the recovery of the sick man.

On their return, all danger had passed, and the patient was soon perfectly restored to health.

The Holy Cure of Ars

The Holy Cure of Ars fell grievously ill and, notwithstanding the constant help of doctors, grew rapidly worse, so that no

hope was entertained of his life.

He asked that a Mass be said on the Altar of St. Philomena. At the conclusion of the Mass, he was completely cured.

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Faith alive at home

Discussion What is the benefits of the Mass?

True or False

words search ______________________________ __________________


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NIỀM VUI CỦA CÁC THÁNH TRONG THÁNH LỄ THE JOY OF THE SAINTS AT MASS

Reading the Bible

Psalm 149

1. Praise the LORD.

Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the saints.

2. Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;

let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

3. Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

4. For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

5. Let the saints rejoice in this honor

and sing for joy on their beds.

6. May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands,

7. to inflict vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples,

8. to bind their kings with fetters,

their nobles with shackles of iron,

9. to carry out the sentence written against them.

This is the glory of all his saints.

Praise the LORD.

Observing

Liturgy

The church chooses saints though a process called canonization.

For hundreds of years starting in the 10th century, saints were

chosen by the people. But over time, many stories about the

saints became folklore and legendary (some saints didn't even

exist). Because of this, the Pope and the Vatican took it upon the

church to approve saints. The Vatican requires several things in

order to canonize an individual for sainthood. After the death of

an honorable Catholic, bishops in the Vatican begin to research

the life and work of the individual. After a group called the

Congregation for the Cause of Saints agrees, the individual is

deemed “venerable” by the Pope and canonization begins.

Remember that canonization does not “make” saints, it simply

recognizes what God has already done. The title of “saint” tells

us the individual has lived a holy life, is in heaven, and is recognized worldwide by the Church.

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Studying our Faith

• St. Dominic was accustomed to pass the night in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. In the morning he celebrated

Mass with the fervor of a seraph, and he was sometimes so filled with love and delight that his body was raised in the

air and his face shone with a supernatural light.

• St. John of the Cross said Mass with extraordinary love and devotion. Once, having pronounced the words of

Consecration, his face shone with such a brilliant light that many of those in the church gathered around the altar to

gaze at the wonderful brightness. After Mass, the superior begged him to say what had happened, and he replied:

“At the Consecration, God revealed Himself to me in such majesty and glory that I feared that I could not continue

the Mass.”

• Blessed John of Alverne said Mass with a like devotion. On the feast of the Assumption his soul was so filled with

holy fear and emotion that he tried in vain to pronounce the words of Consecration. He began and paused; he began

again and paused again. His Superior, remarking his trouble, helped him to say the whole form. Scarcely had Blessed

John finished the words than he saw the Sacred Host take the form of the Divine child, and he was so overcome that

only with the help of two priests was he able to conclude the Holy Sacrifice. He then fainted away in an ecstasy of

love.

• Thomas of Cantimbre, the celebrated Domonican Bishop, who was famed for his profound learning and deep piety,

describes a miracle which he himself witnessed in company with many others.

Having heard that Our Blessed Lord had appeared visibly in a Consecrated Host in the Church of St. Amand, in

Douay, he hastened thither and begged the priest to open the tabernacle and expose the sacred particle. Many persons

had flocked to the church on learning of the Bishop's arrival and were privileged to see once more Our Divine Lord.

The Bishop tells us what he himself saw: “I saw my Lord face to face. His eyes were clear and had an expression of

wondrous love. His hair was abundant and floated on His shoulders. His beard was long, His forehead broad and

high, His cheeks were pale and His head slightly inclined. At the sight of my loving Lord, my heart well nigh burst

with joy and love. After a little time Our Lord's face assumed an expression of profound sadness, such as it must

have worn in the Passion. He was crowned with thorns, and His face bathed in blood. On looking at the countenance

of my Sweet Savior thus changed, my heart was pierced with bitter grief, tears flowed from my eyes, and I seemed to

feel the points of the thorns enter my head.”

• St. John of the Augustinian Order was consumed with such a love for the Mass that he was accustomed to rise early

in the morning in order to satisfy his eager desire to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice as soon as possible. His devotion

was, indeed, admirable and his soul was filled with rapture, especially at the moment of Consecration.

Those who served his Mass, however, complained to the Superior that the good Father wearied them by the

extraordinary length of time he took to say his Mass, which prevented them from fulfilling their other duties. The

Superior charged him to finish his Mass more speedily, like the other members of the community. The good priest

obeyed these instructions, but at the end of some days, he threw himself at the feet of the prior and implored him to

be allowed to devote more time to the celebration of Holy Mass.

Urged by the Superior to state his reasons for this unusual devotion, Father John revealed to him the divine favors he

received, and how he visibly saw Jesus Christ on the altar, adding details that filled the prior with such great fear and

emotions as almost made him faint. The narration of these facts gave the Superior a new and ardent fervor at Holy

Mass during the remainder of his life.

• St. Raymond of Penafort, Superior General of the Dominican Order, said Mass with angelic fervor. On one occasion,

a globe of fire covered his head and shoulders, like a glorious aureola, from the Consecration to the Communion of

the Mass.

• Blessed Francis of Possadas of the same Order was no less favored. His face shone with an extraordinary splendor

and become beautiful in the extreme, as if he received a new life. One day a flame of brilliant light issued from his

mouth and lit up the Missal when he was reading the Gospel. On two occasions during the Feast of Pentecost, a

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similar splendor emanated from his whole body and illuminate the altar. When he was pronouncing the words of

Consecration, Our Lord said to him with infinite love: “My son, I am who am.” After consuming the Host, Blessed

Francis was raised up and remained suspended in the air.

• St. Ignatius was wont to say Mass with rapt devotion. One day the assistant saw a bright flame circle around his head

and hastened to extinguish it, when lo, he discovered that it was a supernatural radiance that enveloped the head of

the Saint!

• Blessed Francis of the Order of Minors suffered for many years from grievous pains in the legs so that any movement

caused him intense suffering. But his devotion to the Mass was so great that during all these years, full of faith, he

arose from his couch in the morning and celebrated the Divine Mysteries without the slightest inconvenience.

• Blessed John, a Dominican of Ravenna, was frequently seen enveloped in a heavenly splendor during Mass.

The lives of the Saints are full of similar marvels. What we must bear in mind, however, is that in every Mass we hear,

no matter how humble the priest may be, the Mysteries are the same, infinite in number, as St. Bonaventure says. It is the

same Infinite, Omnipotent, Eternal God who is born on the altar and who offers Himself as truly as He did on Calvary,

for those who assist at Mass.

Summary

- The joy of Saints at Mass is to fully participate at Mass, and join themselves with the Eucharistic.

Prayer

Dear God, we thank you for a wonderful class that you have blessed us. Please help us to be like

Saints by fully participate in Mass. Lord Hear Our Prayer.

Living our Faith


_ Fully participate in Mass by join the Choir in singing and praising God.

Faith alive at home

Discussion

1. Look in a Catholic Liturgical Calendar and find out which day your patron saint is honored.

2. Write a short prayer to pray with the saints. Use this prayer when you feel an extra boost from

them.

True or False

______________________________ __________________


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LINH MỤC NGƯỜI HẠNH PHÚC NHẤT

PRIESTS, THE HAPPIEST OF MEN

Reading the Bible

Observing

Liturgy

Studying our Faith

Not only the Saints but all devout priests experience the most profound satisfaction and joy when celebrating Mass. It is

enough for them to know:

- That they are in immediate, intimate, personal communication with God Himself

- That they are holding Him in their hands, looking at Him, conversing with Him and that He is looking into their very

hearts with ineffable love.

- That they are giving Him the greatest possible joy and glory that even He could desire, greater glory than all the

Angels and Saints give Him in Heaven.

- That they are calling down on themselves, o the World, on their native land countless of blessings.

- That they are surrounded by throngs of Holy Angels who are watching their every movement.

- Finally, that they are helping, consoling, rejoicing the Holy Souls in Purgatory.

How is it possible for a devout and intelligent priest to know and feel all this and not be filled with joy?

Summary

Prayer

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Living our Faith

A PROTESTANT CONVERTED BY THE MASS

A group of English tourists, Protestant, assisted at the Holy Sacrifice in the Cathedral Church of Florence. The celebrant

said the Mass with deep devotion, quite unaware that he was being closely watched by this group of strangers. Some of

the group, when their curiosity had been satisfied, left their places near the altar and proceeded to examine the beauties

of the sacred edifice. One, however, remained behind and continued to watch every movement of the priest until the

conclusion of the Holy Sacrifice. He was evidently profoundly moved and was especially struck by the look of faith and

joy visible on the Priest's face as he came from the altar and proceeded to the sacristy. On his return to England, this

gentlemen begged for instruction and become a fervent Catholic.

We do not hesitate to say that, when Protestants or unbelievers assist at a Mass said devoutly, they are frequently so

deeply impressed that many of them, like the Englishman whom we have just mentioned, enter the Church.

HASTY AND IRREVERENT MASSES

Far different, says St. Alphonsus, are the sad results caused to those who assist at a Mass hastily and irreverently

celebrated.

FATHER MATEO CRAWLEY

Father Mateo Crawley was, without doubt, one of the greatest missionaries in the world. Yet there was no one more kind,

more modest, more winning. Even when speaking of the greatest sinners whom it had been his lot to encounter, he

referred to them with kindness and pity. Yet one fact he recounts with great sadness. We heard the story from his own

lips.

My father was a Protestant, a good-living, honest, straightforward man. My mother was a Catholic and reared her

children in the Catholic Faith. Her most ardent desire was to see my father converted. She acted with great tact and

prudence. She placed her hope rather in prayer and example than in persuasion, though she found means, too, of

making known to my father, without annoying him, the truths of the Catholic Church.

At last her hopes were on the verge of being fulfilled, so much so, that my father promised to come with us to Mass.

He did so, but unfortunately the priest celebrated the Mass with so much haste and irreverence that my father

returned home disappointed and declared that never, never more, would he think of becoming a Catholic. We, too,

were profoundly disappointed, all the more as my father refused to listen to any further reference to the Catholic

Faith. Years passed and we continued to pray.

One evening a missionary priest of the Passionist Order called on us, and my father in his usual hospitable manner

invited him to remain. By a strange providence the conversation of this missionary produced a striking effect on my

father! Once more he consented to hear Mass, to be celebrated by the missionary. The Passionist Father celebrated

Mass very simply but very piously, and thanks to Almighty God, my good father shortly after began a course of

instruction and entered the Church.


Faith alive at home

______________________________ __________________


92

LINH MỤC, THIÊN THẦN HẠ GIỚI PRIESTS, ANGELS ON EARTH

Reading the Bible

Jn 20: 19-23

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples

were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." And

when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side The disciples then rejoiced when they saw

the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you." And

when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins

of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”

Observing

***Trong Thánh Lễ, hãy quan sát các linh mục khi cử hành Thánh Lễ. Chính các Ngài đại diện chúng ta để dâng

những hiến tế lên Thiên Chúa và cũng chính Ngài đại diện cho Thiên Chúa cho chúng ta của ăn thiêng liêng qua Lời

Chúa và Thánh Thề/ When you attend the Holy Mass, observe carefully at the priest. He represents on our behalf to offer

our sacrifice to God and God use him as an instrument to feed our soul through the Word and the Holy Eucharist.

8

Linh mục của Thiên Chúa được nâng

cao trên hết mọi quyền thế trần gian

va vượt trên mọi đỉnh cao thiên quốc,

chỉ dưới Thiên Chúa mà thôi.

(Cassian says that the priest of God is

exalted above all earthly sovereignties

an above all celestial heights. He is

inferior to God alone.)

Nếu tôi thấy một thiên thần va một linh mục,

tôi sẽ bái gối vị linh mục trước hết, rồi sau đó

đến thiên thần. (St. Francis of Assisi used to say:

If I saw an angel and a priest, I would bend my

knee first to the priest and then to the angel.)

The Holy Mass

Sacrament of Reconciliation

93

Studying our Faith

PRIESTS - ANGELS ON EARTH

If we understand the divine dignity of the priesthood, we shall comprehend more fully the infinite greatness of the Mass.

• St. Ignatius Martyr says that the priesthood is the most sublime of all created dignities.

• St. Ephrem calls it an infinite dignity.

• Cassian says that the priest of God is exalted above all earthly sovereignties an above all celestial heights. He is

inferior to God alone.

• Pope Innocent III says that the priest is placed between God and man; inferior to God, but superior to man.

• St. Denis calls the priest a divine man and the priesthood a divine dignity.

• St. Ephrem says that the gift of the sacerdotal dignity surpasses all understanding.

• Hence, St. John Chrysostom says that he who honors a priest honors Christ, and he who insults a priest, insults

Christ.

• St. Ambrose has called the priestly office a divine profession.

• St. Francis de Sales, after having given orders to a holy ecclesiastic, perceived that in going out he stopped at the

door as if to give precedence to another. Being asked by the Saint why he stopped, he replied that God favored him

with the visible presence of his angel guardian, who before he had received the priesthood always remained on his

right and preceded him, but now since the moment of ordination walked on his left and refused to go before him. It

was in a holy contest with the Angel that he stopped at the door.

• According to St. Thomas, the dignity of the priesthood surpasses even that of the angels.

• St. Gregory Nazianzen has said that the angels themselves venerate the priesthood.

All the Angels in Heaven cannot absolve from a single sin. The Angel Guardians procure for the souls committed to

their care grace to have recourse to a priest, that he may absolve them.

• St. Francis of Assisi used to say: If I saw an angel and a priest, I would bend my knee first to the priest and then to

the angel.

• St. Augustine says that to pardon a sinner is a greater work than to create Heaven and Earth.

To pardon a single sin requires all the omnipotence of God. See the power of the priest.

• St. Alphonsus: The entire Church cannot give God as much honor, or obtain so many graces as a single priest by

celebrating a single Mass. Thus, by the celebration of a single Mass, in which he offers Jesus Christ in sacrifice, a

priest gives greater honor to the Lord than if all men, by dying for God, offered Him the sacrifice of their lives.

• St. Ignatius Martyr: Priests are the glory and the pillars of the Church, the doors and doorkeepers of Heaven.

• St. Alphonsus: Were the Redeemer to descend into a Church and sit in a confessional, and a priest to sit in another

confessional, Jesus would say over each penitent: “Ego te absolvo.” The priest would likewise say over each of his

penitents: “Ego te obsolvo,” and the penitents of each would be equally absolved. Thus, the sacerdotal dignity is the

most noble of all the dignities in this world.

• St. Ambrose says that it transcends al the dignities of kings, of emperors, and of angels. The dignity of the priest as

far exceeds that of kings as the value of gold surpasses that of lead.

• St. Cyprian said that all who had the true spirit of God were, when compelled to take the Order of priesthood, seized

with fear and trembling.

• St. Epiphanius writes that he found no one willing to be ordained a priest, so fearful were they of so divine a dignity.

• St. Gregory Nazianzen says, in his life of St. Cyprian, that when the Saint heard that his bishop intended to ordain

him a priest, he, through humility, concealed himself. It is related in the life of St. Fulgentius that he too fled away

and hid himself.

• St. Ambrose, as he himself attests, resisted for a long time before he consented to be ordained.

• St. Francis of Assisi never consented to be ordained.

Summary

94

Prayer

Lạy Chúa Giêsu là vị linh mục tối cao, xin ban xuống ơn lành cho tất cà các linh mục của

Chúa, đặc biệt là Cha Tuyên Úy của chúng con. Xin Chúa cũng ban thêm ơn gọi làm linh

mục trong đoàn của chúng con để có nhiểu thợ gặt trong công trình cuứ độ của Chuá.

Living our Faith

A WORD TO FATHERS AND MOTHERS

Reading these wonderful words of the Saints and Doctors of the Church, how is it possible that any Christian

father or mother does not ardently desire to see at least one of their sons a priest.

• Parents earnestly seek the welfare of their children; they strive to procure for them every happiness,

every benefit, every honor.

• How lamentable, then, is it that they so rarely seek for them the greatest of all honors, viz., the

priesthood.

• It is true we have heard of some families which count as many as three, four, six sons as priests, but alas,

these are very few!


1. When you encounter the priests on casual occasions, we have to greet them respectfully.

2. In Mass, when the priest is doing the homily,

not only we shouldn’t talk to our neighbor, but also we have to listen carefully to what he’s trying to tell us the

message from God.

3. Make a simple card and send it to your pastor to express your appreciation and gratitude toward his

unconditional service to the parish.

4. Pray the Our Father every morning to pray for all the priests in the world to have peace in their soul throughout

their day of service.

Faith alive at home

Discussion 1. Imagine if there’ll be no priest in our parish, what will happen to us?

2. God give the priest the power to absolve sin. So can they absolve their own sins?

3. The priest a divine man and the priesthood a divine dignity. So are all the priests saints and will they definitely

go to heaven after death?

Điền vào chỗ trống/ Fill in the blank

1. Priests are ______________ on earth.

2. Priest is the ______________ man.

3. Priests are the _________________in heaven.

4. Priests are the ______________ and the _____________.

of the Church.

5. The priest is placed between ______________

and ______________.

_________________________ __________________


Word Box

God angels divine glory man doorkeepers pillars

95

TÂM TÌNH VÀ NHIỆM VỤ GIÁO DÂN

Reading the Bible

Deuteronomy 31:12 Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the aliens living in your towns—so they can listen and learn to fear the LORD your God and follow carefully all the words of this law.

Observing

Liturgy

Studying our Faith

TÂM TÌNH VÀ NHIỆM VỤ GIÁO DÂN

Tâm Tình & Nhiệm vụ giáo dân

• Mỗi người nên có tâm tình yêu mến, tạ ơn và ao ước đối với Thánh lễ và Thánh Thể và coi việc quan trọng

nhất trong cuộc sống.

• Để hiểu biết mầu nhiệm cùa Thánh lễ, Giáo hội kêu gọi “Các tín hữu phải hết sức tỏ long tôn kính Bí tích

Thánh Thể, tham dự tích cực vào việc cử hành Hy lễ cực trọng này, lại hết long thờ phượng kính bái Thánh

Thể” (GL 898a).

• Người giáo phải có ý thức này khi tham dự Thánh lễ: Phải có mặt từ đầu lễ tới cuối lễ, dự lễ với lỏng tôn

kính, sung mộ, tự ý bỏ bài giảng sẽ bị trách tội.

Summary

9

96

Prayer

“Lậy Chúa Giêsu, vì yêu thương chúng con, Ngài đã ban cho chúng con bí tích cao cả vá mầu

nhiệm nhất là Bí Tích Thánh Thể và Hy Lễ tạ ơn. Xin cho chúng con một tâm tình yêu mến và

một lòng tôn sùng khi tham dự Thánh lễ và đóng nhận Thánh Thể.”

Living our Faith

SIMON DE MONTFORT

The famous general and hero, Simon de Montfort, with only 800 horse soldiers and very few foot soldiers, was

unexpectedly trapped in the town of Muret by an army of 40,000 men led by the King of Aragon and Raymond the Count

of Toulouse, who espoused the cause of the Albigensian heretics. He was hearing Mass when his officers came to

announce that the besieging army was marching to attack the town.

“Let me first finish Mass,” he replied, “and then I will be with you.”

He then hastened to where his forces were already gathered together, bade them trust in God, and ordering the gates to be

flung open, he charges right at the heart of the approaching army, threw it into utter disorder, struck down the King of

Aragon himself and won a glorious victory.


Faith alive at home

Discussion

True or False

Words Search All the words listed below are in the puzzle - left, right, up, down or diagonally. Find each word and click its first letter then its last letter to highlight it. After you have found all the words, click the leftover letters in the correct order to form the mystery answer. To work the puzzle on paper instead: Print this page and circle each letter of the words you find. List of words: Ask, Character, Complete, Doer, Endurance, Faith, Give, Growing, Heart, Heir, Humility, James, Joy, Kindness, Knowledge, Love, Maturity, Meekness, Mercy, Obedience, Partiality, Patience, Perseverance, Read the word, Seek, Share the word, Slow to anger, Slow to speak, Suffering, Temptation, Thankfulness, Tongue, Trials, Warnings

97

______________________________ __________________


98

THAM DỰ THÁNH LỄ CÁCH HIÊU QUẢ HOW TO HEAR MASS WITH PROFIT

Reading the Bible

Studying our Faith

HOW TO HEAR MASS WITIỆUH PROFIT

1. The first condition for hearing Mass well is to understand thoroughly the infinite sanctity of the Holy Sacrifice and

the graces it obtains.

• The Mass as we have seen, is a stupendous mystery. Our minds on the other hand are weak and slow to

understand. Therefore, we must read frequently and ponder seriously on the wonders of the Mass.

• One Mass heard with understanding and devotion obtains for us more graces than a hundred, than a thousand

Masses heard carelessly and in ignorance of what the Mass is.

2. We should make it an inviolable rule to arrive at church some minutes before Mass commences,

• firstly, in order to be prepared and recollected when the priest comes on the altar,

• and secondly, to avoid causing distraction to others.

3. We should not only hear Mass, but we should offer it with the priest.

4. Moreover, we should have the intention of hearing and offering all the Masses being said at the same time all over

the World. In this way we receive a share in these innumerable Masses!

THE CROSS

We at once notice that the Crucifix is on every altar, that the priest's vestments are all marked with the Sign of the Cross,

that the priest commences the Mass with the Sign of the Cross, that he makes this holy Sign very many times during the

Mass. Why?

• To make clear to us that the Mass is really and truly the Sacrifice of the Cross, that in the Mass Christ is

crucified, sheds His Precious Blood and dies for us. We must have no doubt that we are really assisting at the

Sacrifice of the Cross.

PRAYERS AT MASS

1. We may use any prayers that we wish and that help us most, but it is generally admitted that it is best to use a prayer

book and follow, as closely as we can, the Mass with the priest.

• The Confiteor. When the priest bends down at the beginning of the Mass and says the Confiteor, we, too, should

unite ourselves with Jesus in His Agony, should humbly confess our faults and ask pardon for them through the

merits of Christ's agony.

• We then follow the various prayers with the celebrant.

• At the Sanctus we should remember that the Angels come down to assist at Mass in multitudes and that we are in

the midst of them, and we should join our voices with theirs in adoring and praising God. They present our

prayers to God.

• At the Consecration we should be filled with the deepest reverence and love, for Jesus is really born in the hands

of the priest, as He was born in Bethlehem.

- When the priest lifts up the Sacred Host, we should look on our God in an ecstasy of joy, as the Angels look

on Him in Heaven, and say, “My Lord and my God.”

• At the Consecration of the Precious Blood we must remember that all the Precious Blood that Jesus shed on

Calvary is in the chalice, and we should offer it to God with the priest for God's glory and for our own intentions.

10

99

- It is well to place ourselves, our sins, all our intentions, our dear ones, the souls in Purgatory in all the

chalices being at this moment offered to God in every part of the World.

• We must be full of holy awe and love from the Consecration to the Communion. We are in the midst of countless

adoring Angels.

• It is indeed a sign of woeful ignorance to manifest irreverence, to look around or speak during this most sacred

time. It is much worse to leave the church, to abandon God dying on the altar for us. Nothing but the gravest

necessity should induce one to go away until, at least, the Communion of the Priest.

• Remember, Dear Reader, that the day you hear Mass is worth a thousand days to you, that all the labors and

works of a day, or a week, or a whole year are nothing in comparison with the value of one Mass.

Summary

• To understand thoroughly the infinite sanctity of the Holy Sacrifice and the graces it obtains.

• We should make it an inviolable rule to arrive at church some minutes before Mass commences.

• Not only hear Mass, but we should offer it with the priest.

• Have the intention of hearing and offering all the Masses being said at the same time all over the World.

• Follow, as closely as we can, the Mass with the priest.

Prayer

Lord, Please help us to be ready every time we come to Mass. May that we, through the celebration of the Paschal mystery of your Son, Jesus Christ, live from it and bear witness to it in the world. Amen.

Living our Faith

Keep our soul clean for Jesus to enter during the Communion and go to confession as often as possible.


Practice a good habit when you go to Mass => NO TALKING WITH FRIENDS DURING MASS!

100

Faith alive at home

Discussion

Words Search Complete this Bible word search “What is Worship?”. All the words listed below are in the puzzle - left, right,

up, down or diagonally.

Word Bank: Adore Bible Bow Bread Cup Prayer Preacher Sermon Singing Spirit Supper Thank Truth

____________________________ __________________


R E H C A E R P

E S S P I R I T

P I R E T A R P

P N B P R U A U

U G R I T M D C

S I E H B B O W

K N A H T L R N

R G D A I S E E

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