In his address Ut Unum Sint (That They May be One) Pope John Paul II continued the Church's promotion of ecumenism. The encyclical explains how individual and communal reformation, love, prayer, and dialogue should undergrid ecumenical efforts. It also reviews ecumenical efforts after the Decree on Ecumenism from the Second Vatican Council. Review the importance of ecumenical efforts with your students. You may wish to use this brief activity (taken from This Is Our Church):
Ecumenism
Ecumenism is the spirit of love and understanding that seeks to achieve unity among Christians and the unity of all people everywhere. Each of us has our own part to play. Here are some actions that you can do to help foster Christian unity. Evaluate how well you are doing them:
1 — Very Good 2 — Okay 3 — Needs Improvement
_ I study my faith so I can explain it to others.
_ I pray for people of other denominations and other faiths.
_ I don’t negatively judge or look down on people of other faiths.
_ I get involved in service projects with people of other religions.
_ I share my beliefs with others when the opportunity presents itself.
_ I live my faith as a true witness to what I believe.
_ I study the Bible with people of other faiths.
_ I share prayer with people of other religions or faiths.
_ I refuse to make or listen to derogatory jokes about other religions or people of other faiths.
_ I welcome the opportunity to dialog with people of different faiths.
List some other ways you can work toward Christian unity.
Since the Second Vatican Council, the Catholic church has promoted dialogue with Muslims as logical and desirable. Catholicism and Islam are both monotheistic religions. Catholics and Muslims also each see the Old Testament as sacred texts. Clearly, however, there is an essential difference in the way Catholicism and Islam view Jesus. Muslims see Jesus as a prophet, second only to Muhammad. They do not acknowledge the divinity of Jesus, and therefore, do not see the New Testament as a sacred text. In today's world there are many ways that Muslims and Catholics can fruitfully dialogue and collaborate to address mutual concerns about the world. Topics such as global poverty, systemetic prejudice, materialism, and care of the envioornment are topics that these two world religious should address in the light of faith.
As a point of interest, share the following story with your students about a football player who attended both a Catholic high school and Catholic university while practicing Islam:
Faith and Football at Notre Dame
Certainly the heading of this feature has been dissected before. Faith and football at Notre Dame have gone hand in hand since the famous Fighting Irish started playing college football in 1887.
As part of its Catholic tradition, Notre Dame players go to Mass before games. Just prior to processing from the chapel to the stadium, the players are given a religious medal, usually of a saint. Theology courses are also part of any student’s curriculum, including the curriculum of football players.
But during the 2002–2006 seasons, the faith and football connection took a new text. Ryan Harris, a 6’ 3pound offensive tackle from St. Paul, Minnesota, was not only an All-American player, but he was also a practicing Muslim. His parents, who had explored a few different religions themselves, allowed Ryan to make his own decision about which religion he would practice.
It was in an eighth grade social science course that Ryan’s interest in exploring Islam more closely was sparked. “At the time, I was searching for my beliefs and what I believe about God. I looked into it and decided that I believe in God, Jesus, Moses, and Abraham. And I believe that Muhammad brought the last message,” Harris said.
While at Notre Dame, Ryan took several classes in Arabic. “I speak Arabic just a little bit. I know the alphabet and I can give you some words I know from the mosque, but I could not carry on a conversation.”
Ryan was also very involved with his teammates in the local community, including volunteering to teach and coach football at a local Catholic parish and at the Boys and Girls club. Along with his teammates, he kept the Notre Dame tradition of attending Mass before games and receiving a religious medal.
“I go to Mass with the team. I feel very fortunate to be able to spend time with my teammates, especially time to relax and place God in my thoughts before a game. It makes me feel thankful for all the blessings I have received,” he says.
Ryan said that later in his life, he would like to make a hajj to the holy sites of Islam.
Extending the Lesson
Query the students about their friendships with those of other faiths. Is it indimidating or uncomfortable to be involved with people who think and pray differently? How so?
Read statements made by Pope John Paul II about Muslims and Catholicism.
The preceding material is taken from the high school textbook Exploring the Religions of Our World by Nancy Clemmons, SNJM.
I had the good fortune of meeting this week with several teachers from high schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles at the beautiful Immaculate Heart Retreat House with Griffith Park on one side and the downtown landscape on the other. Among the discussion points were two questions that centered on the use of textbooks in high school theology courses. Here is a summary of the teacher's answers to one of the questions that was shared that day:
How are textbooks utilized as part of a high school theology course?
As a major element of teaching.
For reading information, review questions, and course outline.
To help with timeline and pacing of the course.
Background help for the educator.
Best used as a guide for navigating thorough the scope of a given course. They provide both the framework and the content of each course.
They are especially helpful for teachers not versed in theology. They keep me honest. They are helpful for students who miss class due to absence or student activities.
Reflection Questions
How do you utilize textbooks with your teaching?
If you could design the perfect high school theology textbook, what elements would it include?
We'd be interested in your responses as we both continue to plan for coming semesters!
May 13 is the eighty-ninth anniversary of the Blessed Mother's first of seven appearances to the three children of Fatima, Portugal: Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. On that day in 1917 the Lady told the children she wanted them to return to a grazing field near their family home—called the Cova da Iria—on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months. At that time, she promised, she would tell them who she was and what she wanted.
During the next six months the Blessed Mother gave the following messages:
The faithful were to offer the Rosary daily. She referred to herself as "Our Lady of the Rosary."
After giving the children a vision of hell, she explained that many souls could be saved by http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07168a.htm">devotion to her Immaculate Heart and by reparation.
She said that if offenses against God did not cease, another more terrible war would begin during the reign of Pope Pius XI. (World War I was taking place at the time of her appearances; World War II would indeed follow.)
She asked for the consecration of Russia to her Immaculate Heart and the communion of reparation on the first Saturdays of the month: "In the end my Immaculate Heart will triumph. The Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, and it will be converted and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world."
She asked that a chapel be built at Cova da Iria in her honor, and again identified herself as the Lady of the Rosary.
Have your students research more about Our Lady of Fatma at the Fatima Network.
Pray this prayer:
Prayer to Our Lady of Fatima
O Most holy Virgin Mary,
Queen of the most holy Rosary,
you were pleased to appear to the children of Fatima
and reveal a glorious message.
We implore you,
inspire in our hearts a fervent love
for the recitation of the Rosary.
By meditating on the mysteries of the redemption
that are recalled therein
may we obtain the graces and virtues that we ask,
through the merits of Jesus Christ,
our Lord and Redeemer.
Amen.
Sunday, May 11, is the a feast of utmost importance in the Church. If fact, if your students ranked feast days in order, Easter would have the most importance. Easter is the day that gives meaning to our faith and distinguishes it from all others. The great joy of Jesus' Resurrection translates to the possibility that we, too, will have eternal life. As St. Paul writes, "If Christ has not been raised, then empty is our preaching; empty, too, your faith (1 Cor 15:14). In other words, our faith is worthless unless we believe that Jesus is Risen!Again ranking, Pentecost would be the second most important Church feast day. St. John Chrysostom said in the fifth century about Pentecost: "Today we have arrived at the peak of all blessings, we have reached the capital of feasts, we have obtained the very fruit of the Lord's promise."It was on Pentecost that the Holy Spirit, promised by Jesus, first came to the disciples. It is the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, that helped early Christians to fearlessly preach the Good News. When the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples in the form of wind and fire as they hid in the Upper Room, they were changed into courageous souls who preached the Gospel strongly, and eventually were put to death just as Jesus was.Pentecost is a Greek word that means "fiftieth day." It is celebrated fifty days after Easter. Students can relate the root word, "pent," to other words that have to with fifty or five, for example "pentagon." The Jews also marked the fiftieth day after Passover with a feast called "Feast of First Fruits" or the "Feast of Weeks." It was for this reason that Jews from all over the Roman Empire had gathered in Jerusalem, eventually to hear Peter's bold testimony about Jesus. The Acts of the Apostles (2:41) reports that about three thousand persons were baptized on that day.Pentecost is often known as the "birthday of the Church" because it was on this day that God's final covenant with humankind was complete. Through the coming of the Holy Spirit, the first Christians could look back on the events in the life of Jesus was new insight and see how they fit in with all that had been foretold by the prophets of the Old Testament. Stamped with the Spirit's approval, so to speak, they could preach confidently that "Jesus is Lord!" and that Jesus was equal with the Father, true God from true God.Discussion Questions1. What are your three favorite days of the year? How has that list changed for you in the past five years?2. When was a time you were afraid? Who or what helped you to be more courageous?3. What is your favorite image of the Holy Spirit?Lesson IdeasRead and discuss the Pentecost narrative from Acts 2:1–41.Discuss what Jesus means when he calls the Holy Spirit the "Paraclete." The Paraclete is literally the Advocate or Consoler who stands by the side of Jesus' disciples. Jesus was the first Paraclete; the Holy Spirit is the second. Review many symbols associated with the Holy Spirit. A list of various symbols with explanations can be found in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (694-701). Have the students work individually or in small groups to do a word search through the Gospel of Luke to find all the places where the Spirit is present in Jesus' life and ministry.Classroom ActivityConduct this activity in a safe place after you have received permission! Stretch a plastic strip from a six-pack of soft drinks into one long piece. Tie one end to the middle of a wire coat hanger. Suspend the coat hanger from the ceiling. Place a LARGE bucket of water below the plastic strip. Dim the lights. With a match, light the bottom of the plastic. "Balls of fire" simulating "tongues of fire" will drop into the water. Read the Pentecost narrative or sing the mantra Veni Sante Spiritus ("Come Holy Spirit") while the plastic burns.
