Religious Education Curriculum Directory (3-19) - The Catholic ...

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Religious Education Curriculum DirectoryBthe successors of St. Peter and the Apostles,have carefully transmitted to the generationswhom they shepherd the truths revealed andtaught by Jesus Christ. (96, 171, 173, 815)c Jesus Christ promised his Apostles that hewould be with the Church until the end oftime. (Mt 28:20)Christ has also given the Church a share in hisown infallibility. (889-892)1.6.6. How do we as Catholics answer questionsabout the Blessed Virgin Mary and her role inthe life and prayer of the Church (148, 484-511,721-726, 773, 963-972, 829)?A Questions about why Catholics pray to Mary:a Catholics do not worship Mary; worship be-longs to God alone. They venerate Mary andthe saints.b Mary does not have the power to answerprayers on her own; God alone has that power.c Prayers to Mary are asking for her interces-sory help.i Since Mary is already in Heaven, she willknow better than we how to offer praise andprayer to God.ii When people pray to the Blessed Mother theyare asking her in turn to offer the sameprayer for them to God.iii When Mary and the saints were on earth,they cooperated with God to do good for others;so now from their place in Heaven theycontinue to cooperate with God by doinggood for others who are in need on earth andin Purgatory.B Questions about references in the Gospels to thebrothers and sisters of Jesus:a From the earliest days of the Church, Maryhas been revered as ever-virgin; she was a virginbefore Jesus’ birth and remained a virginafterward.b It is not clear who the ‘brothers and sisters’ ofJesus are. At the time Jesus lived, the designation‘brother and sister’ also referred tocousins, kin generally, and sometimes evenclose neighbours.1.6.7. Why would God the Father allow his Son,Jesus, to suffer and die the way he did (599-609)?AGod the Father allowed Jesus Christ, his Son, tosuffer and die the way he did because of his lovefor all human beings; in that love, he wants us tolive eternally with him in heaven. His Passion revealsthe depth of the Father’s love in helping allpeople to not be overcome by the magnitude ofevil, sin, and death.B Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, all human beingsare born with a wounded human nature due tothe absence of the life of Christ’s grace, and so wecould not live eternally with God unless we wereredeemed. (402-406)C God the Father allowed his Son, Jesus, to sufferand die because Jesus’ sacrifice destroyed thepower of sin and restored us to friendship withGod.D In part, the Father allowed Jesus to suffer and diethe way he did in order to show us the gravity andseriousness of sin.1.6.8. Why are followers of Jesus Christ sometimesso willing to make sacrifices and to acceptpain and suffering, especially in witness toChrist and their faith?A Christians are willing to make sacrifices and undergosuffering patiently for a number of reasons.a They are following the example of Jesus Christ,who through his suffering and Death gainedsalvation for us. (1505)b Jesus Christ also predicted that people wouldsuffer for their faith and promised that hewould be with them in their suffering. Knowingthis, believers try to accept suffering patiently,to trust in God, and to pray for hisgrace to sustain them. They rely on the HolySpirit’s gift of fortitude to grow in the virtue offortitude. (1808, 1831)c Followers of Jesus Christ know that suffering isnever in vain because it can help one move towardHeaven and eternal life. In our suffering,we can help make up to some degree for thehurt and harm we cause by our sin.d Finally, the suffering, Death, Resurrection, andAscension of Jesus teaches us to look beyondthe sufferings of this world to the promise ofeternal life with God in heaven. (1521)B Christ strengthens the person to undergo sufferingand thereby become more like Christ himself. Oursuffering, when united with his own, can becomea means of purification and of salvation for us andfor others. (618, 1505)22
Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales — Department of Catholic Education and Formation1.6.9. Isn’t making sacrifices and putting upwith suffering a sign of weakness (1808, 1831)?A No. Making sacrifices and putting up with sufferingrequires a great deal of courage and strength.Jesus teaches us, by example, about the value ofunselfish living and the courage and strength thatrequires. It takes grace and personal holiness tolive as Jesus Christ has taught us.B Jesus shows us through the whole Paschal Mystery(suffering, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension)that giving of ourselves is the path to eternal lifeand happiness. (571-655)C He gives us the example of accepting the Father’swill even when it involves suffering.D Jesus teaches us both in word and by example torefrain from revenge and to forgive those whohurt or sin against us. (2842-2845)E Suffering is necessary to develop our maturity inChrist and to love our neighbour as Christ loveshim. (Col 1:24; 1808, 1831)1.6.10. Is it true that Catholics do not use orread the Bible?A No. Catholics should use the Bible regularly. TheBible or Scripture is an integral part of Catholicprayer life, forming part of every Mass, everysacramental celebration, and the official dailyprayer of the Church — the Liturgy of the Hours.(141, 1190)B The Church urges Catholics to use the Bible in personalprayer. (2653-2654)C Scripture study and prayer groups using Scriptureare a common part of parish life.D In the fourth century, St. Jerome said that ‘ignoranceof the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ’.(133)1.6.11. Isn’t the Bible just another piece of literature?A No. While Scripture contains various types of literaryforms and genres, it is more than just literature.It is the inspired Word of God. (135)B Since it is not just another piece of literature,Scripture cannot be either read or understoodsimply in the same way as other literature. (108)C Scripture always needs to be read or interpretedin the light of the Holy Spirit and under the directionof the Church, whose book the Bible is. (100,111, 119, 137)1.6.12. Is the Bible literally true?A It depends on what one means by ‘literally.’ TheChurch does not propose a literalist or fundamentalistapproach to Scripture but rather a contextualapproach. The Church teaches that all ofScripture is true on matters pertaining to religiousand salvific teaching because it is inspired by Godfor that purpose. (107, 116)B The Bible has a definite historic basis for eventsrecounted in both the Old and the New Testaments;the Church particularly upholds the historicityof the Gospels (126). However, the Churchdoes not claim that the Bible’s primary purpose isto present scientific or historical facts. (107)C The Church gives guidelines for interpretation ofSacred Scripture (109-114, 137)1.6.13. Isn’t the Bible about the past? How doesit apply to people today?A While the Bible contains history, stories, andteaching about events in the past, Scripture is theliving Word of God. While the content is rooted inparticular moments in history, the message istimeless and universal.B God continues to speak to us through Scripture;this is why the liturgies of the Church always containScripture and why personal prayer focusedon Scripture is vital.1.6.14. Why do Catholics maintain beliefs andpractices that are not in the Bible?A The Bible is not the sole means that God chose tohand on the truths of Revelation. Scripture andTradition are the two complementary ways Revelationis passed down. (80, 97)B There are teachings that come through Traditionthat are not explicitly found in Scripture. However,nothing taught through Tradition ever contradictsScripture since both come from Christthrough the Apostles. (82)C Apostolic Tradition refers to those things thatJesus taught to the Apostles and early disciples,which were passed down to us at first by word ofmouth and were only written down later. We identifythese beliefs as coming from Tradition andunderstand that this Tradition is part of God’sRevelation to us. (83)23
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Page 5 and 6: AbbreviationsCCC Catholic Church, C
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