FIFTH YEAR
Theme: Christ's presence and actions are perpetuated in the
Church and her sacraments. The sacraments are divine mysteries which draw
us to Christ and bind us together in him.
Doctrine.
- Recognize that the sacraments are Christ's saving actions through which
he transmits his Spirit to believers and sanctifies them.
- Arrive at a more in-depth appreciation of the particular purpose of
each sacrament in the Christian's progressive life journey:
- BAPTISM unites us in the death and resurrection of Jesus; we are incorporated
into his Church family, washed clean of original sin, and given a share
in divine life.
- CONFIRMATION literally completes our baptism, gives us a more full
share in the Holy Spirit, and summons us to a more responsible (mature)
Christian discipleship.
- EUCHARIST is Christ's preeminent sacramental presence and sacrifice
which strengthens and binds us as the People of God.
- PENANCE fortifies and restores our relationship with God and the Christian
community.
- ANOINTING OF THE SICK sacramentally manifests the healing ministry
of Jesus.
- HOLY ORDERS configures men to function in the person of Christ when
offering the Mass and other sacraments, serving God in his holy people.
- MATRIMONY is the covenant of love between a man and woman, making possible
a family and reflecting Christ's relationship to the Church.
- Distinguish Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist as the sacraments
through which we are initiated into the Christian community.
- Distinguish Penance and Anointing of the Sick as the sacraments of
Christ's healing in the Christian community.
- Distinguish Matrimony and Holy Orders as the sacraments of Christian
service.
Scripture.
Old Testament Water Stories:
- Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:4).
- The Flood (Genesis 6:5-9:29).
- Crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 14:1-31).
- Water from the Rock (Exodus 17:1-7).
- Crossing the Jordan (Joshua 3:14-17).
Water in the New Testament:
- Baptismal Mandate (Matthew 28:18-20).
- Philip and the Ethiopian (Acts 8:26-40).
- Nicodemus (John 3:1-21).
- Promise of Living Water (John 4:4-15).
Related to Confirmation:
- Holy Spirit Teaches (Luke 12:10-12).
- Diversity of Gifts and Maturity in the Spirit (Ephesians 4:7-16).
- Samaritans Receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-17).
Related to Eucharist:
- The Lord's Supper (1 Corinthians 11:17-34).
- The Last Supper (Luke 22:14-20); 1 Corinthians 10:16-17).
Related to Penance:
- Woman at the Well (John 4:4-41).
- The Paralytic (Luke 5:17-26).
- Do Penance (Matthew 4:17).
- Repent (Revelation 2:2-5).
Related to Anointing of the Sick:
- If Any Is Ill (James 5:14-15).
- Anointing with Oil (Mark 6:12-13).
- Peter's Mother-in-Law (Luke 4:38-39).
Related to Holy Orders:
- Call to the Apostles (Matthew 4:18-22).
- Mission (Matthew 28:19-20).
- Last Supper (Luke 22:19).
- Deacons (Acts 6:1-6).
Related to Matrimony:
- God Has Joined Together (Matthew 19:1-12).
- Love of Each Other (Ephesians 5:21-32).
- Marriage Bond (Luke 16:18).
- Cana (John 2:1-12).
Prayer.
- Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, Prayers Before
and After Meals, a Morning Offering, an Act of Contrition, the Apostles'
Creed, a Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, and the Angelus.
- Recite and/or sing selected communal prayers, including the Psalms.
- Be at ease with praying aloud together as a group or class.
- Express sorrow for his/her sins through prayer.
- Experience brief silent meditation.
- Experience such devotions as the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross,
prayer to his/her patron saint or important saints on their feast days.
- Experience spontaneous prayer, including prayer of petition in the
"prayer of the faithful" format.
Worship and Sacraments.
- Plan and execute class liturgies or paraliturgies.
- Participate with adults in the prayers and hymns of the Sunday Eucharist.
- Experience communal celebration of Penance with individual Confessions.
- Be familiar and comfortable with the procedure for the individual reception
of the sacrament of Reconciliation.
- Recognize and describe liturgical seasons and feasts of importance.
Moral Development.
- Realize that the Lord wants us to make the right choices and to act
responsibly.
- Show respect for life-- one's own life, that of others, and in the
natural order.
- Recognize the need for obedience to lawful authority and to evidence
this in behavior.
- Recognize the need to ask forgiveness and to give pardon because of
unloving and selfish behavior.
- Acknowledge personal failings in regard to Jesus' Law of Love, the
Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments.
- Exemplify an appreciation for honesty and an understanding of fairness.
Return to Table of Contents
Last Updated December 5, 1997 by Fr.
Joseph Jenkins