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.
There are many teen-focused magazines that talk about looks, broken relationships, dieting, “in styles” along with a certain amount of gossip. I often see my students with them as they walk around school and come into the classroom.One day I borrowed one of their magazines to show the class, trying to teach them to look at it with a critical eye. I explained to them how difficult it is to find articles and stories about building self- esteem, dressing modestly, working to have healthy relationships and real friendships. We discussed the media’s goal to sell a product that is attractive to many teens. Most of my students agreed. So I went on to say “how great it would be to have a magazine that is attractive to teens, but yet speaks of positive values, Christian values, of good habits.” Even if a teen didn’t feel close to God in that moment of their life, they could still see the positive in the magazine.I then offered them a project assignment: Create a magazine that contains aspects of a Christian lifestyle (positive values, Christian values, of good habits) but which is appealing to people their age. Some other details of the assignment:
Total length must be 20 pages
must have a title and cover page with details (like on a real magazine)
must contain at least three of each of the following: ads, stories, letters (asking for advice), tips (make-up, etc..), pictures and articles
The results were great! The photo shows the cover of one of the magazines.Feel free to adapt it to your class.And if you can, share the covers with us on the blog.
According to the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus appeared to his disciples during the forty days after Easter: On the fortieth day, "he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight" (Acts 1:9). The story of Jesus' Ascension serves as a bridge between the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, which were both written by the same author.
At certain churches and in other times, the Ascension Thursday liturgy includes a procession outside of the church to a nearby hill to remind everyone that Jesus was lifted up to the sky. Also, later, the Easter candle was extinguished on Ascension Thursday to mark the end of the East season and the beginning of the nine-day wait until Pentecost.
This coming Thursday marks the day the Church remembers Jesus' Ascension, though the coming Sunday liturgy will also recall the event. Christians live in Jesus' promise that he will come again like a "thief in the night" when we least expect it. Ascenion Thursday is alo a preview of our own destiny in which we will someday be taken up to heaven to meet God face to face.
Activities
With your class, release helium-filled balloons out of doors. Arrange for each student to tie a samped postcard to the balloon with a Scripture passage that speaks of Jesus' Ascension. The postcard should be addressed for return mail. Have a contest to see which student's balloon travels the farthest based on the postmark on the postcard.
Process to the highest point on the school grounds or neighborhood (the top floor or the building or a neigbhoring bluff or hill). When you arrive, read or have the students enact the Ascension story. Offer spontaneous prayers for personal and communal readiness for the Second Coming.
Lesson
Compare the versions of the Ascensnion from Acts 1:9-11 and Luke 24:50-53, and Mark 16:19. Also note the similar prologues of Acts and Luke, including the literary device of addressing the writing to a named person (Theophilus).
Ask: "If Jesus were to return to earth within one hour, what would you do to prepare for his arrival?"
Pope Benedict XVI addressed Catholic educators on Thursday, April 17, at Catholic University in Washington D.C. Some of the main points gleaned from his presentation:The primary mission of Catholic education is evangelizationTeachers should be immersed in Jesus Christ and CatholicismCatholic education should be open to allAn educator is called to facilitate the discovery for truth and to lead their students to an awakening for the "fullness and unity of truth."The entire text of his address is linked here.What is your reflection on the Pope's words and how it connects to your day to day ministry?
Pope Benedict XVI, on his way to the United States, for his a historic visit spoke of the "shame" of the sexual abuse scandal among priests both in the United States and abroad. "We will absolutely exclude pedophiles from the sacred ministry," he told reporters on his flight to Washington.Most dioceses have mandated courses on sexual abuse prevention. There are good reasons for teaching adolescents about sexual abuse. Some of these reasons and answers to other important questions on this topic are included in Learning about LIFE Love Infatuation, Friendship, Exploitation: A Family-Based Program on Relationships and Abuse Prevention. They include the following, some or all of which can be shared with your students at yours and your school's discretion:
1. Why should we teach adolescents about sexual abuse?• So that they will know how to avoid being abused sexually by anyone.• So that they will know what to do if they have been or are being sexually abused. • So that they will know how to help a friend who has been or is being sexually abused. • So that they will never be people who abuse others sexually.• So that they will never falsely accuse someone of sexual abuse. 2. What is pedophilia?Pedophilia is a serious psychological problem that causes an adult to be sexually attracted to children and to look for opportunities to do sexual things with them. Adults who abuse children sexually are called pedophiles. Some pedophiles are attracted to boys, some to girls, and some to both. Some have the problem all the time, some only when they are drunk or high or when they are under very great stress. 3. Who might be a sexual abuser? Children are taught at a young age to be aware of strangers who might do bad things to them. But a sexual abuser is more often not a stranger but someone a child or teen knows and trusts. A sexual abuser might be a:• family member: mother, father, older brother, or sister• relative: aunt, uncle, grandparent, cousin• adult leader: teacher, coach, scout leader, priest, nun• friend: teenager, neighbor, friend of parents, another child• stranger: Internet user, neighbor, truck driver 4. How does a pedophile operate? How do young people get pulled into his or her web?A pedophile is usually a very slick operator. A pedophile is always on the lookout for young people who are vulnerable and who can be used by the pedophile for sexual pleasure. These are some of the things sexual abusers might do to a child or young teenager:• Try to get the child/teen alone• Give the child/teen alcohol or other drugs• Promise to give them presents or privileges• Build their trust, also their parents’ trust• Play on their natural curiosity about sex• Show them sexual pictures, movies, videos• Take naked or sexual pictures of them• Touch the child/teen in a sexual way• Ask the child/teen to touch them in a sexual way• Force the child/teen to do sexual things (oral sex, intercourse)• Swear the child/teen to secrecy• Threaten to hurt the child/teen or someone else if he/she tells• Tell the child/teen that the sexual abuse is really his/her fault 5. How would a person feel who had been sexually abused?The response of children or adolescents to sexual abuse is often confusion. They have many negative feelings like shame, embarrassment, guilt, hurt, and betrayal. But they might also have some good feelings. Sexual touch is supposed to be a pleasant experience. The abuser may be gentle and seem to be loving. The victim might believe what the abuser has said to them, and feel special and loved. Sometimes the victim doesn’t realize until much later that they have been lied to and used. 6. Are young teens ever guilty of sexual abuse?Sometimes young people your age or older do sexual things out of curiosity, in response to peer pressure, to act grown up, to feel powerful, or just for the excitement. I am going to read a list of activities that some teens your age do, things that could be considered sexual exploitation, abuse, or harassment. Raise your hand if you know about kids who have done the thing. Raise your hand high if you know it happens lots, low if you just heard about it once or twice.• making fun of the sexual areas of someone’s body• touching, grabbing, or groping the sexual areas • bullying someone in a sexual way• pressuring someone into doing sexual things (Saying: “You would if you loved me.”)• playing sex games at parties• watching X-rated movies or videos• gossiping about someone’s sexual activity• bragging about their own sexual activity with someone• making fun of someone’s sexual experience or lack of it• leading a person along just to see how far they will go• open-mouthed kissing• having sex (both oral sex and intercourse) 7. What does a person who has been (or is being) sexually abused need to know?Sexual abuse can cause serious traumatic problems in the life of a person who has been abused. Anyone who has been—or is being—abused, needs to remember these things:• God loves you very much, and wants you to be healed of the bad effects of this traumatic experience in your life. • You are a good and lovable person. The person who abused you did a bad thing to you, but that did not make you a bad person.• It is important that you talk to an adult whom you trust about the abuse. Those who love you can’t help you unless they know what happened. If you tell someone and that person doesn’t believe you, keep telling until you find someone who will listen. • The sexual abuse is not your fault. An abuser will try to blame you for what happened, but the abuse is the adult’s fault, not yours.• Sexual abuse is like a serious wound that needs to be healed. The healing might take a long time and much counseling and guidance. Those who love you can help you to get better, but you must let them help. • If a friend tells you that they are being abused, you must find an adult who can help the friend. This is a problem that is much too big for an adolescent to try to solve.ConclusionSay to the students:As an adolescent, you need to make some serious personal decisions about your own growing sexuality. God and your parents want you to become strong, independent young men and women who can give and receive love honestly and truly. They want you to choose to avoid any activity that is exploitative, or that shows disrespect for yourself or someone else. Your parents can teach you and protect you only so far, then it is up to you. Pray every day— for yourself and for your friends—that you will always respect the beautiful gift of sex and use it only according to God’s plan.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains that the morality of human acts depends on—the object chosen;—the end in view or the intention;—the circumstances of the action.Explore these factors in more detail with your students.The moral object can be determmined by asking, "What action is involved?"The intentions ofthe person are uncovered with the questions, "Why am I doing this?" A bad intention makes evil and act that might have been good. A good intention does not make a bad act good.The circumstances involve questions beginning with who, where, when, and how. The circumstances of an action can contribute to the increasing or decreasing moral goodness or evil of an act, but they cannont change to good an act that is morally evil.ActivityHave the students work on their own or in small groups to develop moral dilemmas. Then have them exchange papers and work toward identifying the moral object, intention, and circumstances in each. For example:Lori is an accomplished pianist and she credits her mom for her success. Lori's mom has worked an extra job since Lori was young in order to provide for musical training for Lori. Now, as a senior, Lori has a good chance of winning a full musical scholarship to college. The one question remains her government class. A "C" in the course will not look good on Lori's transcripts. During a key test, Lori realizes she has studied the wrong material. Lori has never cheated before, but she can't blow that scholarship now. Besides, she reasons, she will never take another government class again. She nudges the foot of her boyfriend sitting in the row across from her. He moves his arm so that Lori can see his paper. Quickly she copies the answers to the first ten problems of the fifty-question test. Moral ObjectTo cheat or not to cheat. Intention"I am doing this to pass the test."CircumstancesI am copying from my boyfriend.
Pope Benedict XVI will celebrate his 81st birthday next week, on April 16, when he visits the United States. In his honor, Catholic school students are pledging hundreds of thousands of hours of service. You can read about the NCEA initiative and sign up at a link within the article. Note also the amount of hours already pledged by your diocese.
The Pope will also mark his third anniversary as pontiff on April 19 while in the United States. His full schedulewill be highlighted by a Mass at the national mall in Washington, D.C. and at Yankee Stadium.
History Lesson
*Have the students research the 1965 visit of Pope Paul VI to the United States, the first time the Pope had visited America. Ask the students to read and report on Pope Paul's address to the United Nations.
