SIXTH YEAR

• Recognize that as the inspired Word of God, the bible was composed and assembled by human authors uniquely guided by the Holy Spirit so as to insure no error in salvation truth would be transmitted to his people.
• Recognize the Old Testament as those Scriptures which record God's preparation and formation of his people to receive Christ.
• Know the initial elements of salvation history as put forward in the Old Testament: Creation of our first parents and the primordial sin; the promise of redemption; the virtue of hope; and God's call of Abraham and his covenant; and the virtues of faith and obedience exemplified in Abraham.
• Familiarity with the Israelite bondage and the Passover as the feast commemorating the deliverance of God's people from slavery.
• Familiarity with the Exodus account: Moses as the leader appointed by God over his people; the plagues; the importance of Sinai; the significance of their many years in the desert; the Manna from heaven; and Joshua leading the people to the promised land.
• Appreciate the major Old Testament events, the persons/leaders, and their relation to the New Covenant/Testament.
• Familiarity with the various major and minor prophets in their role of speaking on God's behalf, revealing something of God's identity and exhorting the people to repentance.
• Recognize Mary as our wondrous exemplar of faith awaiting the Messiah with a pure heart and humble spirit.
• Understand the coming of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's promise to his people.
• Recognize the New Testament as that part of the Scriptures which focuses upon the life of Christ and the early Church. [This is not a major theme, just an introductory one which will be further explored in grades seven and eight.]

Scripture.

• Creation (Genesis 1:1-2:25).
• The Fall of Man and the Promise (3:1-24).
• The Life of Abraham: His Call (Genesis 12:1-9); The Covenant (Genesis 15:1-21); Birth of Isaac (Genesis 21:1-8); Testing of Abraham (Genesis 22:1-19).
• Birth of Esau and Jacob (Genesis 25:19-34); Choice of Jacob (Genesis 27:1-46).
• The Life of Joseph: Sold into Slavery (Genesis 37:1-36); In Egypt (Genesis 39:1-45:28).
• Egyptian Oppression (Exodus 1:1-22).
• Origin of Moses (Exodus 2:1-22).
• Passover Night (Exodus 12:1-36).
• Exodus Events: Quail and Manna (Exodus 16:1-36); Sinai Covenant (Exodus 19:1-20:26); Golden Calf (Exodus 32:1-35); Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 37:1-16).
• Forty Years in the Desert (Numbers 13:1-14:45).
• Death of Moses (Deuteronomy 34:1-8).
• Leadership of Joshua (Deuteronomy 34:9).
• Settlement in the Promised Land (Joshua 24:13).
• Name the major and minor prophets. Tell briefly the message of each of the major prophets.
• Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38).
• Nativity (Luke 2:1-20).

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, Acts of Faith, Hope and Love, the Angelus, the Memorare, and a Prayer for Vocations.
• Recite and/or sing selected communal prayers, including the Psalms.
• Be at ease with brief spontaneous 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.

Worship and Sacraments.

• Plan and execute class liturgies or paraliturgies.
• Intensify internal and external participation in the Mass, with the possibility of functioning as a lector.
• Discern the relationship of the Passover Meal with the Holy Thursday celebration.
• 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.

• Further realize that the Lord wants us to make the right choices and to act responsibly.
• Appreciate that the slavery of the Israelites and slavery in all its forms is a desecration of human life and personhood. The Gospel of Life compels us to demonstrate respect for all those created by God.
• Recognize the need for obedience to lawful authority and to evidence this in behavior.
• Intensify the reciprocal appreciation of daily receiving and granting forgiveness, particularly in connection to the appropriate supplication of the Lord's Prayer.
• Acknowledge personal failings in regard to Jesus' Law of Love, the Beatitudes, and the Ten Commandments.
• Identify something of one's own personal struggles in the difficulties of the Old Covenant people to be faithful.
• Exemplify an appreciation for honesty and an understanding of fairness.

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Last Updated December 25, 1997 by Fr. Joseph Jenkins