Pentecost Sunday is approaching. Create a worksheet with the following Scripture passages. Pass out one worksheet and one Bible to each student. For each passage, have them write a sentence telling what it says about the Holy Spirit. When completed, discuss and check their answers.
Passages
Genesis 1:1—2
Genesis 2:7
Exodus 19:16-19
Exodus 37:1-14
Luke 1:26-35
John 14:14-17
John 20:21-23
Answers
Genesis 1:1–2: The Hebrew word for “wind” is ruah. From the time of creation, the Spirit’s creative powers were active and present in the world.
Genesis 2:7: The Spirit also gives life to humans.
Exodus 19:16–19: The Spirit—and God’s power—is revealed in thunder, lightning, and fire.
Ezekiel 37:1–14: In the well-known story of “dry bones,” it is the Spirit who brings life from death.
Luke 1:26–35: Jesus’ conception is brought about by the Holy Spirit who overshadows his mother, Mary.
John 14:16–17: At the Last Supper, Jesus tells his Apostles not to be afraid for he is sending them the Holy Spirit.
John 20:21–23: Just as the Spirit brought life to the first humans in Genesis, Jesus brings new spiritual life on the Apostles by breathing on them.
Here is a short exercise on how to forgive oneself. Use the following information to make a handout. Distribute to the students and have them work individually to complete the items. Tell them you will check to see that they did the work, but that you will not read the note they write to themselves. You may wish to do a general follow-up classroom discussion on the topic. Ask:
What do you find difficult about forgiving yourself?
Why is it important to forgive yourself?
How does forgiving yourself coincide with forgiving others?
Handout Items
Place a check by any area where you have been negative or critical of yourself:
Relationships with friends ____
Relationships with family____
Academics____
Athletics____
Physical appearance____
Something I did____
Something I did not do____
Focus on one of the areas you checked. Write the first five words or phrases that come to mind in relation to that area.
Place a plus (+) sign by any of the words or phrases that are positive memories. Place a minus sign (-) by any of the words of phrases that are negative memories.
Choose any one of the negative memories. Write a note forgiving yourself for this memory. (If you don’t have a negative memory to be forgiven of, write a prayer of thankfulness in this space expressing your appreciation for your positive outlook.)
Will you offer yourselves to God, and bear all the sufferings He sends you? In atonement for all the sins that offend Him? And for the conversion of sinners?
"Oh, we will, we will!"
Then you will have a great deal to suffer, but the grace of God will be with you and will strengthen you.
Lucia relates that as the Lady pronounced these words, she opened her hands, and
we were bathed in a heavenly light that appeared to come directly from her hands. The light's reality cut into our hearts and our souls, and we knew somehow that this light was God, and we could see ourselves embraced in it. By an interior impulse of grace we fell to our knees, repeating in our hearts: "Oh, Holy Trinity, we adore You. My God, my God, I love You in the Blessed Sacrament."
The children remained kneeling in the flood of this wondrous light, until the Lady spoke again, mentioning the war in Europe, of which they had little or no knowledge.
Say the Rosary every day, to bring peace to the world and an end to the war.
After that she began to rise slowly in the direction of the east, until she disappeared in the immense distance. The light that encircles Her seemed to make a way amidst the stars, and that is why we sometimes said we had seen the heavens open.
This conversation between the Blessed Virgin Mary and three children--Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco--took place one hundred years ago, May 13, 1917. This Saturday's anniversary of the first of Mary's six apparitions to the children on the thirteenth of each month from May until October 13 are worthy of study and prayer. Pope Francis will make a pilgrimage to the Fatima site this weekend and will canonize sister and brother, Jacinta and Francisco, who were ages seven and nine at the time of the apparitions.
Take some time to explore with your students the remarkable history and message of Our Lady of Fatima that is offered in great detail at a website prepared by EWTN.
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.
You may have seen the video of a teenage brother and sister protesting against abortion on the sidewalk near a Philadelphia area public high school.They were confronted verbally by the school's assistant principal. The incident brings up several questions that can serve as an important classroom discussion.
The full video (18 minutes) includes one scene of inappropriate language. An edited version is shorter (4:56) and the language has been edited out. You might also want to note an online petition being circulated to save the school official's job, as he was suspended after the incident.
If you show the video to your students, here are some questions that may spark a discussion.
Discussion Questions
What is a lesson of Christian witness in this video?
What is a lesson of free speech in this video?
What is your feeling about the student protestors and their actions?
What is your feeling about the assistant principal and his actions?
The students described a “holocaust” taking place in the United States today? What did they mean?
How might students at your school react if greeted by this scene on leaving campus?
How might students at a neighboring public school react if greeted by this scene on leaving campus?
What discipline should the school official face for his role in this incident?
