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Engaging Faith

Practical Lesson Ideas and Activities for Catholic Educators
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Divergent in the Classroom

Veronica Roth’s trilogy, beginning with the book and movie Divergent, has been a recent hit with teens. Sixteen-year-old Tris and eighteen-year-old “Four” live in the remnants of Chicago, an area ravaged by war, surrounded by a guarded fence. Their society is divided into five factions: Abnegation, Erudite, Amity, Candor, and Dauntless. At age sixteen, citizens are tested and decide whether or not they would like to stay in the faction of their family of origin or whether they would like to join a different faction. Some citizens are “homeless” or “factionless,” literally and figuratively if they have failed their faction’s initiation, if the faction expelled them, or if they left it voluntarily. The “divergent” are citizens whose minds are most flexible and could live in more than one faction. This last group is the target of Jeanine whose declared purpose is to create peace in the city. The divergent are more difficult to control and thus pose a challenge to her desire to be completely in charge. Tris and Four are divergent and fight against this woman’s attempt to wipe them out and their home faction of Abnegation.   Theology Connections/Assignments While this book and movie have many interesting angles, these are some more closely related to theology. 1. Each of the factions was created in order to combat a human characteristic that contributed to the war that almost completely destroyed Chicago. Abnegation or selflessness is a response to selfishness such as vanity, greed and envy. These people served others and led the city. Erudite or knowledgeable is a response to ignorance. People from this faction were teachers and scholars. Amity or peaceful is a response to violence and aggression. These people grew food for the city. Candor or truthfulness is a response to deceit. People from this faction served in the legal field. Dauntless or fearlessness is a response to cowardice. The Dauntless provide protection from the outside world and within the city Ask students, in small groups, to take the seven deadly or capital sins and create factions to combat them, defining the virtue that counteracts the vice and the role of each group in a small society. Christianity encourages growth in virtue. How does the approach from Divergent resemble and differ from the Christian approach? Ask small groups to take one of the capital sins and match it to a Divergent faction. If some do not fit, ask students to create additional factions to supplement the Divergent five.   2. While there is some mention of religion here and there in the book, it is not a major topic. Tris’s father explains that focusing on those who believe versus those who do not simply causes further division. Where in the book/movie do students see behavior that is typically religious? How might a shared faith have united the different factions?   3. Jeanine justifies killing some citizens in order to gain control over the majority of the people so that there will be peace. Do modern nations use this rationale in warfare? Can controlled people really have peace?   Summary You may have noticed that the heroine of the story is named Beatrice (Tris) and that the factions focus on a virtue that counteracts a vice is somewhat like Dante’s Purgatorio. Delving a bit into the way that Dante envisions Purgatory as a place that undoes vices through virtue might interest the students and provoke interesting conversation. If you worked on the seven deadly sins then this would be an interesting follow-up

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St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit

As part of the celebration of the canonizations of Pope John Paul II (and Pope John XXIII), Ave Maria Press is offering St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit, a supplementary resource designed to celebrate the life of Karol Wotyla, the beloved pope whose nearly twenty-seven year papacy that transitioned the world from the twentieth to twenty-first century. More information on ordering this timely resource can be found here. The mini-unit includes five 50-minute lesson plans. The lessons include suggestions for the viewing of short films, readings, and discussions around the life of St. John Paul II. The 5-Day Mini Unit is most appropriate as a series of ancillary lessons that are part of any theology course in a Catholic high school setting. St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit is also adaptable to parish youth ministry. The basic lesson plan for each of the five days is organized around: · An opening discussion · An opportunity for a teacher-led presentation and/or class reading on the main topic · Short video presentations that support the topic · A handout synopsis of the material St. John Paul II Mini Unit Overview The scope and sequence of the St. John Paul II: A Five-Day Mini Unit is as follows: Day 1: What Makes a Saint? This lesson provides an introduction to the mini-unit and a synopsis of the Church’s canonization process. It focuses on the canonization of St. John Paul II, including two miracles credited to his intercession. It addresses the virtue of Christian holiness. Note: Time is reserved in the Day 1 lesson for the students to choose or be assigned one of three assignments that will be due on Day 5. Day 2: The Early Life of St. John Paul II This lessons explores some key events in the life of Karol Wotyla and, in reflection, examines the signs of holiness that mark the early years of his saintly life. Day 3: The Papacy of St. John Paul II The papacy of St. John Paul II was known for miles traveled, examples of prayer and forgiveness, taking a pivotal role in the fall of communism, and special attention to the youth of the world. Several suggested videos help to support these main ideas. Day 4: The Teachings of St. John Paul II This lesson presents a sampling of some of the main teachings themes of St. John Paul II's papacy, including the centrality of Christ, the value and dignity of the human person, the Church as sacrament of salvation, and the universal call to holiness, the mark of sainthood. Students read and share samples of St. John Paul II’s writings as part of this lesson. Day 5: Topic Review, Assessment, and Application In the final lesson, there is opportunity for the students to share the results of their completed assignments, to review and recall information on the life, papacy, and teachings of St. John Paul II, and to name ways to apply the virtue of holiness to their own lives.

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Prayer Reflection: The Seven Last Words of Christ

Seven Gospel passages of Jesus' words on the Cross are known as the "seven last words of Christ." You may wish to use these passages for prayer and reflection during Holy Week. Have the students write both the passage and a response to the question that follows in their journals. 1. "Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing" (Lk 23:34). Who do I find it impossible to forgive? How can I overcome this feeling? 2. "In truth I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise" (Lk 23:43). Who is someone who is lonely and hurting that I can comfort this week? How can I do it? 3. "Woman, this is your son.... This is your mother" (Jn 19:26-27). What is something kind I can do for my mother this week? What are ways that I make my family members proud of me? 4. "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mt 27:46) What is the greatest obstacle to my faith? Write a prayer that asks God for help with this challenge. 5. "I am thirsty" (Jn 28). What is something right that I thirst for? How can I avoid thirsting for what is wrong? 6. "It is fulfilled" (Jn 19:30). What are major commitments I have made for my life? How can I better follow through on those commitments? 7. "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit" (Lk 23:46). What is the hardest thing in my life to let go of? What are other things that keep me from following the Lord?

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Recalling the Events of Jesus' Passion

Assign the students to small groups of three or four students each. Create a worksheet or display where all can see the Passion events listed below (including the Scripture references). Tell the students to go around the group and tell what they remember about each event. They should add any missing details to each person's story. A new person should begin sharing for each event. After about 15 or 20 minutes of discussion, tell the groups to choose one or two of the events for further study. Tell them to look up the Gospel passages listed for their event(s). Tell them to note any details that were missing from their remembrances. Passion Events Jesus eats the Last Supper with his friends. Mt 26:17-35 Mk 14:12-31 Lk 22:7-23 Jn 13:1-11 Jesus prays in the Garden of Gethsemane. Mt 26:36-46 Mk 14:43-52 Lk 22:39-46 Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested. Mt 26:47-56 Mk 14:53-65 Lk 22:63-71 Jn 18:19-24 Jesus is judged by the Jewish court, the Sanhedrin. Mt 26:57-68 Mk 14:53-65 Lk 22:63-71 Jn 18:19-24 Jesus is denied by Peter. Mt 26:69-75 Mk 14:66-72 Lk 22:54-62 Jn 18:15-16; 25-27 Jesus is judged by Pilate and condemned to die. Mt 27:11-31 Mk 15:1-20 Lk 23:26-43 Jn 19:16-30 Jesus dies and is buried. Mt 27:45-66 Mk 15:33-47 Lk 23:44-56 Jn 19:31-32 To conclude the activity, have the students work individually and select two of the scenes from Jesus' passion. Say: "Imagine you are there—it is happening now and you are one of the people in the scene. Write a paragraph or two telling what you would say to Jesus in that scene." This activity has been adapted from Time Out: Resources for Teen Retreats (Ave Maria Press, 1999) by Kieran Sawyer, SSND.*

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Why Do I Have to Confess My Sins to a Priest?

During Lent, you may have heard a variation of the question from teens on why they must confess their sins in the Sacrament of Penance. Author and teacher Michael Pennock fielded this question often from his own students at St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland, OH. His answer is contained in the book Questions from Seventh Period: Doc Pennock Answers Teen's Questions on Life, Love, and the Catholic Faith. Here is his answer: Have you ever wondered how a worm gets inside of an apple? From the outside? Not really. Botanists tell us that the worm comes from the inside. It does so when an insect lays its egg in the apple blossom. Weeks later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats its way out. Sin is like the worm. It begins in the heart and works its way out of a person’s thoughts, words, and actions. How do we Christians deal with sin that eats away at us, disfiguring the person Christ meant us to be? He’s given us a great way to undo the damage of sin in our lives—the sacrament of Reconciliation. When we go to confession we are saying to ourselves and to our fellow Christians: “I want to be good—right now! I want to be a good apple and bear good fruit for Christ. I want to get rid of sin that is disfiguring me.” The sacrament of Penance, also known as the sacrament of Reconciliation, is Jesus’ gift to his Church to assure us of his forgiveness of our sins and to lighten our hearts. Unless we confess our sins, they will continue to eat away at us. Sacramental confession is medicine to the soul. It attacks the evil in our hearts and allows the Divine Physician to heal our spiritual ills. How often should you go to confession? Church law (known as canon law) requires Catholics to confess once a year, if they are consciously aware of committing a mortal sin. TheCatechism of the Catholic Church states: Individual and integral confession of grave sins followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with God and with the Church (CCC, 1497). The Catechism also teaches that if we are conscious of mortal sin, we must receive the sacrament of Reconciliation before receiving Holy Communion (CCC, 1385). These teachings support the regulation that Catholics must receive the Eucharist at least once a year, during the Easter season. This is a bare minimum for being a practicing Catholic. To receive the Eucharist worthily, we should be in a friendship relationship with Jesus, free of mortal sin. Strictly speaking, if we have not committed mortal sin, we don't have to go to confession. But the Church recommends regular celebration of this sacrament—for example, during Advent and Lent, on a school retreat, during times of renewal, even every month or so. It is a great means to grow in holiness by practicing the virtue of humility, a first step to repentance and a way to fight pride, the root of all sin. Why go to confession? Here are some excellent reasons: To experience Christ's love firsthand. Jesus forgave sin. He continues to do so today through his Church and his representatives—bishops and priests—to whom he gave power to forgive in his name: “Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained” (Jn 20:23). It is very human to want some assurance of love and forgiveness when we have sinned, and yet repented. Jesus left us this great sign of love to lift our burdens and comfort us. To tell the truth about ourselves. We all sin. We carry guilt. The New Testament instructs: “If we say, ‘We are without sin,’ we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing” (1 Jn 1:8-9). When we confess our sins aloud to Christ's representative, the priest, we overcome self-deception. We’ve named our sins, a sure sign of contrition and true repentance. Modern psychology tells us that confession is “good for the soul.” It lifts burdens, relieves guilt, forgives sin, and starts you on a new path on the spiritual journey. The priest, who acts in the person of Christ, says “I absolve you.” We need to hear this to be assured of God’s forgiveness and love for us. Don’t be afraid to be honest in confession. Sure, you might be embarrassed at some of your sins. But father has heard them all. And he, too, is a sinner. If you are unduly anxious, find a sensitive priest and tell him you are nervous. Ask him to help you make a good confession. He'll take it from there. And he will rejoice that you came to him. Remember always that the sacrament of Reconciliation is a sacrament of love. To reconcile with others. Sin is never an isolated affair. It alienates a person from God, self, and others. We are a family. We are the body of Christ. When one members sins, other members of the body suffer. Confession acknowledges that we need to reconcile ourselves not only to God but to our Christian brothers and sisters as well, those we have harmed by being less than what we should be. The sacrament of Reconciliation heals my sinfulness, repairs my relationship with the Christian community, and challenges me to transform the sinful world in which I live. To grow in holiness. The sacrament of Reconciliation intensifies our love of Jesus. It gives us a more sensitive conscience, so we can look at reality with the eyes of Christ. Going to confession can counteract spiritual laziness and combat bad habits and attitudes. It can draw us closer to God and our brothers and sisters. It can teach us to detest venial sin, strengthen us to resist all mortal sin, and love virtue. If you have been away from confession for a while, check the times the sacrament is scheduled for your parish. You'll really be glad you did.

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Prayer Experience: Royal Treatment

The first reading of the Fourth Sunday of Lent shares the anointing of King David, Israel's greatest king, by the prophet Samuel see 1 Sm 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a. In that spirit, share the following prayer experience with your students to remind them of their own royal qualities. Preparations Secure a large plywood cross suitable for tacking. Place it in your prayer space. Place a candle near the cross. Prepare a recording of instrumental, reflective music. Print each student's name and your name too on a 3" x 5" card. On stick-on notes, write the name of one quality associated with royalty, for example: courageous, loyal, bold, friendly, honest, prayerful, wise, sincere, loving, reliable, intelligent, musical, poetic, strong, quiet, kind, trusting, sensitive, faithful, helpful, fearless, hopeful, thoughtful, shrewd, truthful, honorable, respectful, optimistic, joyful, forgiving. You can repeat some of the words on different stick-on notes. Make available more notes than there are students. Post the stick-on notes on the wall in or around the prayer space. Directions Assemble the class in the prayer space. Pass out the name cards randomly, making sure a person doesn't get his or her own name. Tell them to fold the card once and not to let anyone know what name they receive. Then, say: David must have found it nice to be a king. You have heard the phrase "royal treatment" before. To get royal treatment is a luxury. And yet, each of you possess many of the qualities of a truly special or royal person. Some of these qualities are posted around the room. In your hand, you have a card with a person's name on it. This person is your prayer partner for this experience. What I would like for you to do is to find a quality on a stick-on note that best describes your prayer partner. When you find a quality, take it, sit down, and stick it under the person's name on your card. Join in the exercise yourself. When everyone is seated, light the candle and continue. Say: I will begin by announcing my prayer partner's name and the quality I feel expresses something of who he (she) is. After I share, I will tack the person's name to the cross, a symbol of a Christian's royalty as won through the Blood of Jesus. Then someone else can share. Play some background music. Announce your prayer partner's name and quality using this format: My prayer partner is Mary Jo, whose royal attribute is patience. Tack the person's name to the plywood cross. After everyone has shared and tacked a name card to the cross, ask the students to extend their right hands to the cross. Conclude by offering this prayer from the Rite of Baptism: At Baptism, God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ freed us from sin, gave us new birth by water and the Holy Spirit, and welcomed us into the Christian family. With the chrism oil of Salvation, we were anointed priest, prophet, and king. May we continue to live always as a member of Christ's Body, sharing everlasting life. Amen.

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March Madness: Catholic Colleges in the 2014 NCAA Tournament

It's time to share in the excitement of college basketball by filling out brackets, watching marathon coverage of games, and rooting for your favorite teams. Enjoy the experience with your students and use the opportunity to promote Catholic identity and pride by rooting for the Catholic colleges participating in the madness of March, the core 64 team field leading to champions in men's and women's basketball in early April. Here are the rankings of Catholic colleges in this year's tournament based on their tournament seedings: Men's Tournament 1 Villanova 2 Creighton 3 Saint Louis 4 Gonzaga 5 Dayton/Providence 7 St. Joseph's 8 Gonzaga 9 Manhattan Women's Tournament 1 Notre Dame 2 Gonzaga/Dayton 4 DePaul 5 St. John's 6 St. Joseph's 7 Fordham 8 Marist Enjoy sharing some background information on one or more of these Catholic colleges as a way to encourage your students to consider these continuing their Catholic education by attending a Catholic college. Here are some links to information your students may enjoy: A Recent History of Catholic Colleges and NCAA Basketball Information on the "new" Big East, a conference with seven traditional Catholic college basketball powers A list of all NCAA Men's NCAA Basketball Champions Note: There have been 8 Catholic colleges that have won the NCAA Championship. Villanova (1985) is the last champion. A profile of the 1963 Loyola Chicago Ramblers, one of the first integrated NCAA champions A profile of Bill Russell and the University of San Francisco Dons, the only two-time Catholic NCAA champions Printable Men's Tournament Bracket Printable Women's Tournament Bracket

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Scripture Reading: Jesus Is Tempted

There were no eyewitness to Jesus' temptation in the desert. The Gospel of Mark simply records that Satan tempted Jesus. Luke and Matthew report on the nature of Jesus' three tests, though they disagree on the order. Jesus may have told his disciples of these temptations. Or, the Gospel authors may have summarized in this story the kinds of temptations Jesus experienced throughout his whole life. Read the account of Jesus' temptations from Luke 4:1—13 while noting the following information for each temptation. First Temptation: Turn stone to bread Jesus' Response: "One does not live by bread alone" (Lk 4:4). Meaning: Jesus refuses to work a miracle to satisfy his own human needs. He trusts that his Father will provide for him. Moreover, he does not envision his ministry as an economic Savor to a suffering people. His personal example would show that through suffering he would serve as Living Bread for the world. Second Temptation: Do homage to Satan Jesus' Response: "You shall worship the Lord, your God, and him alone shall you serve" (Lk 4:8) Meaning: Jesus refuses to seek worldly power, especially by sharing power with Satan. His exclusive commitment is to his heavenly Father. Throughout his ministry, Christ resists the repeated appeal of the crowds to be a military, political leader. IN contrast he choose to be a king for others, through suffering and humble service, not by mimicking the tyranny of worldly rulers. Third Temptation: Prove your are the Son of God Jesus' Response: "You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test" (Lk 4:12). Meaning: Jesus refuses to test God, the loving Father, whom he knows intimately. Jesus will not perform a sensational deed to get people to believe in him. Rather, he realizes God's will is the way of service and suffering and wants his followers to respond to him in true freedom and in faith. (Adapted from Encountering Jesus in the New Testament by Michael Pennock.)

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