Pornography—the written or visual depiction of sexual acts or nudity with the purpose of stimulating and gratifying lustful desires—is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States. It is a serious problem among teenagers.
Two videos—one from the perspective of teenage males and the other from the perspective of teenage females—have recently teen produced by the Catholic film company Outside da Box. Check them out and share them with your students. Remind your students of how pornography hurts all those who are involved with it.
The textbook Foundations of Catholic Social Teaching: Living as a Disciple of Christ summarizes pornography’s negative effects:
It harms the viewer by training the person to use others for selfish gratification. Consequently, it can cause great division and hurt in marriages and even future marriages.
It hurts the persons being portrayed—even if willingly—in that they renounce their true personhood to be treated as objects.
Pornography “does grave injury to the dignity of its participants (actors, vendors, the public) since each one becomes an object of base pleasure and illicit profit for others. It immerses all who are involved in the illusion of a fantasy world” (CCC, 2354).
As your students ponder vocation choices, this lesson helps them realize that work is part of any life vocation.
Objectives
In this lesson the students will:
understand that work is part of any life vocation;
all work comes from God and can give praise to God;
know that work is not only a right but also an obligation.
Process
Pray the words from Sirach 51:30: “Work at your tasks in due season, and in in his own time God will give you your reward.”
Make this point: “Work comes from God. The greatest work—the work of Redemption—is done by Jesus. All work, when done in connection with the work of the Lord, can give praise to God.
Write the following passages on the board. Have the students write a brief summary of each passage in a journal, telling what each has to do with work.
Psalm 127 (God needs to be a partner in the work we do.)
Matthew 4:18-22 (Jesus calls co-workers.)
Matthew 4:23-24 (Jesus works at teaching, preaching, and healing.)
John 21:1-14 (The Risen Jesus prepares breakfast.)
Acts 18: 1-11 (St. Paul works as a tentmaker to support his ministry.)
Write three jobs on the board (e.g., road construction worker, insurance salesperson, doctor). Call on students to explain how each is valuable in relation to the work of Redemption. Repeat with three other jobs.
Point out the duty of work, especially related to the results of Original Sin. Refer the students to Genesis 3:17-18 for reference.
Share the following quotation from the USCCB document, Economic Justice for All:
All work has a threefold moral significance. First, it is a principle way that people exercise the distinctive human capacity for self-expression and self-realization. Second, it is the ordinary way for human beings to fulfill their material needs. Finally, work enables people to contribute to the well-being of the larger community. Work is not only for one’s self. It is for one’s family, for the nation, and indeed for the benefit of the entire human family [52].
Conclusion
Ask the students to write their responses to each of the following questions: 1) What do you count as the blessing of work? 2) How would you defend the statement: “no work is better than any other”? 3) What are three steps you are taking now in your life to prepare for a lifetime of work?
There are numerous resources available online, primarily from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and writings of recent popes to help you not only facilitate your classroom discussion regarding the complementary nature of the sacraments, but also to contribute to your own knowledge about the sacramental life. Whether or not you teach a particular course on the Seven Sacraments, these readings can contribute to a foundational source essential for a curriculum with a Christological focus.
These following referenced sources can also be assigned to your students, either in their entirety, or in a validly excerpted fashion, depending on the scope of your course. At least one resource is listed for each sacrament. You are encouraged to seek more worthwhile resources that similarly portray the Seven Sacraments accurately and objectively.
The Sacraments in General
“The Seven Sacraments of the Church” from the CCC (Make sure to use the arrows at the bottom of the webpage to navigate within this section of the CCC in order to discover the coverage of each of the seven sacraments.)
“Sacraments and Sacramentals” by the USCCB
“Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples” by the USCCB
“The Seven Sacraments” by Loyola Press
The Sacrament of Baptism
“Baptism: Incorporated into Christ's Body, Sent on Christ's Mission” by the USCCB
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“Confirmation: Strengthened by the Spirit, Called to Action” by the USCCB
The Mass and the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist
“Order of Mass” by the USCCB
“Parts of the Mass” by the USCCB
“The Eucharistic Liturgy: Formed, Transformed, and Sent” by the USCCB
“Mass and Liturgy” by Loyola Press
“Eucharist and Social Mission: Body of Christ, Broken for the World” by the USCCB
Saint Pope John Paul II's Encyclical Letter Ecclesia Eucharistia: On the Eucharist and Its Relationship to the Church (2003)
Blessed Pope Paul VI's Encyclical Letter Mysterium Fidei: On the Holy Eucharist (1965)
The Sacrament of Penance / Reconciliation
“Penance and Reconciliation: Reconciled to Right Relationship, Called to Heal and Restore” by the USCCB
Saint Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation Reconciliatio et Paenitentia (1984)
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
“Anointing of the Sick: Joined to Christ, Witnesses of Hope and Healing” by the USCCB
The Sacrament of Holy Matrimony
“Marriage: United in Love, Strengthened for Service” by the USCCB
Pastoral Letter “Marriage: Love and Life in the Divine Plan” by the USCCB
The Sacrament of Holy Orders
“Holy Orders: Ordained to Serve, Gather, Transform, and Send” by the USCCB
Saint Pope John Paul II's Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis: On the Formation of Priests in the Circumstances of the Present Day (1992)
