Big Ideas for Catechism: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:56, 27 October 2024

Big Ideas for Catechism / Catechesis

In preparation for catechesis, or the learning of the Catholic faith and preparation for life in Christ, students (catechumens) may prepare for deeper understanding of the faith and its lessons by developing first a set for fundamental, or foundational ideas.

Note: these are not from the Catholic Church, but developed by a Catechist

The "Big Ideas" represent necessary concepts for students to know in order to access higher order concepts for their catechism.

none of these ideas are sufficient alone to understand the Catholic Faith and develop Life in Christ
but all of these ideas are necessary for that understanding

BIG IDEAS: Ten Fundamental Concepts

For understanding and practicing the Christian Faith, Catechumens (students of the Catechism) can use these fundamental, or underlying, ideas to apply to their general learning about the Catholic Faith and Life in Christ.

Overview list

for detailed view of each BIG IDEA to go Big Ideas for Catechism/Detailed list of the BIg Ideas for Catechism

1. Jesus Christ

Jesus = "God saves"
Christ = "Messiah" = "the Anointed One" = "mission"
Jesus is fully God and fully man ("the God-man" = "the hypostatic union")

2. The Trinity

one God, three persons
- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
one God, three natures:
- the Creator, the Savior and the Sanctifier

3. Sin

sin =
- an offence against God (CCC 1850)
- disobedience to God (CCC 1871)
- separation from God
  - hell = eternal separation from God
"concupiscence" = our tendency towards sin
the “three-fold sins” lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, pride of life
mortal v. venial sin
Jesus on how to avoid sin

4. Thoughtful worship

"Four Senses of Scripture": Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Anagogical
seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of Faith and Reason
prayer and praying thoughtfully, purposefully and actively; humility in prayer
lectio divina: meditation on Scripture

5. Life in Christ

Catechism of the Catholic Church
Four Pillars of Catholic faith: Creed, Sacraments, Commandments, Prayer
Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
"Repent, and believe"
·Justification and the state of Grace

6. Christ as fulfillment of the Old Testament

Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Covenant" (or "Testament")
History of Salvation
Typology: The New is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed by the New

7. The Mysteries

works of the Holy Spirit: "the seen and the unseen"
with a mystery, it is not so much what it is, but that it is
using our "Wings of Faith" and recognizing the limits of Reason
Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

8. Sacraments

an "outward sign" instituted by Christ to give Grace
the seen and unseen: "the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation" (CCC 774)
- we see the Sacramental Act, but our faith reveals the workings of the Holy Spirit
types and purposes of the Seven Sacraments

9. The Catholic Mass

"Real presence of Christ"
knowing the Mass & thoughtful worship
the "Five Precepts of the Church": attendance, confession, Holy Communion, Holy days of obligation, days of fasting and abstinence
weekly attendance at Mass
proper attire for Mass

10. The Bible

reading the Word of God (the Bible) is prayer
familiarity with the Bible, its parts and organization
applying Biblical knowledge to the "Liturgy of the Word" at Mass

The Catechism of the Catholic Church

Student familiarity and comfort with the Catechism
- purpose
- structure
- format
- abbreviations
vocabulary

Next Priorities for Catechesis

in alphabetical order, not order of importance

Church as Bride of Christ

Fear of Gog

Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

History of the Church

Magisterium of the Church

The Rosary

The Saints

Key practices for Catechumens

Attending Mass

Going to Confession

Learning prayers

Seeking mentoring

@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 For understanding and practicing the Christian Faith, Catechumens (students of the Catechism) can use these fundamental, or underlying, ideas to apply to their general learning about the Catholic Faith and Life in Christ.
+'''Overview list'''
+* for detailed view of each BIG IDEA to go [[Big Ideas for Catechism/Detailed list of the Big Ideas for Catechism|Big Ideas for Catechism/Detailed list of the BIg Ideas for Catechism]]
+<div style="display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap;"><div style="flex: 1; min-width: 20em; padding: 1em; margin: 15px; max-width:50%;">
 === 1. Jesus Christ ===
 * Jesus = "God saves"
-* Christ = "Messiah" = "Mission"
+* Christ = "Messiah" = "the Anointed One" = "mission"
-** the "Mission" of "Christ" is to save us from sin
+* Jesus is fully God and fully man ("the God-man" = "the hypostatic union")
-* the God-man, mystical union, person of Christ
-** = Hypostatic Union
-** [https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Cur_Deus_Homo/Book_Second/Chapter_7 St. Anselm's formulation] of salvation:
-*** "For God will not do it, because he has no debt to pay; and man will not do it, because he cannot."
 === 2. The Trinity ===
 * one God, three persons
-** "person" = perspective
+** the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
-** God in the "persons" of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
+* one God, three natures:
-* one God, three natures
+** the ''Creator'', the ''Savior'' and the ''Sanctifier''
-** nature" = form of
-* God in the "natures" of the Creator, the Savior, and the Sanctifier
-* The Word per Genesis and [https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1:1 John 1:1]
-* God's existence outside of time and creation
 === 3. Sin ===
-* separation from God
+* sin =
-** the word "devil" comes from Greek ''diaballein'', for "throw across, separate
+** an offence against God ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/456/ CCC 1850])
-*** thus Satin wants to separate us from God
+** disobedience to God ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/460/ CCC 1871])
-*** Hell is eternal separation from God
+** separation from God
-** the Fall of Adam and Eve and its implications
+*** hell = eternal separation from God
-* Israel breaking God's commands
+* "concupiscence" = our tendency towards sin
+* the “three-fold sins” ''lust of the flesh'', ''lust of the eyes'', ''pride of life''
-* God's "Plan of Redemption"
+* mortal v. venial sin
-* "Dying to sin, living in Christ"
+* Jesus on how to avoid sin
-** State of Grace
-* Sacrament of Reconciliation
 === 4. Thoughtful worship ===
-* understanding Scripture through the "'''Four Senses of Scripture'''"
+* "'''Four Senses of Scripture'''": ''Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Anagogical''
-** esp. for recognizing implications in Biblical passages beyond the literal word
+* seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of Faith and Reason
-*** ex. Fourth Commandment to "Honor your father and your mother"
+* prayer and praying thoughtfully, purposefully and actively; humility in prayer
-**** extension = obey all legitimate authority
+* ''lectio divina'': meditation on Scripture
-** applying Jesus' clarifications
-*** ex. “''You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.''” ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/22?34 Mt 22:37])
-**** what implication comes from loving God with "all" your heart, soul, mind?
-* seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of the Gifts of Faith and Reason
-* praying thoughtfully and purposefully
-** Sign of the Cross: what do you think about when making the Sign of the Cross?
-** Lord's Prayer: the Seven Petitions
-** The Liturgy: knowing the Mass
-=== 5. Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes ===
+=== 5. Life in Christ ===
-* Life in Christ
+* Catechism of the Catholic Church
-* Christ's New Commandments
+* Four Pillars of Catholic faith: '''''Creed, Sacraments, Commandments, Prayer'''''
-* Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications of Mosaic Law
+* Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
-** ex. murder and adultery start in the heart
+* Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
+* "Repent, and believe"
+* ·Justification and the state of Grace
+</div>
+<div style="flex: 1; min-width: 20em; margin: 15px; padding: 1em;">
 === 6. Christ as fulfillment of the Old Testament ===
-* "testament" means "covenant"
+* Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Covenant" (or "Testament")
-** Covenant = God's loving design and gift to mankind
+* History of Salvation
-*** The History of Salvation
+* Typology: ''The New is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed by the New''
-** God's promises are expressed in the "Covenants"
-* Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Testament"
-* Introduction to Typology
 === 7. The Mysteries ===
-* understanding the seen and unseen
+* works of the Holy Spirit: "the seen and the unseen"
-* identifying what is mysterious
+* with a mystery, it is not so much ''what it is'', but ''that it is''
-* using the Wing of Faith
+* using our "Wings of Faith" and recognizing the limits of Reason
-** recognizing the limits of Reason
+* Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
-** limits of reason, senses, and subject to concupiscence
 === 8. Sacraments ===
-* the seen and unseen
+* an "outward sign" instituted by Christ to give Grace
-* the Holy Spirit
+* the seen and unseen: "the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation" ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/206/ CCC 774])
-* types and purposes
+** we see the Sacramental Act, but our faith reveals the workings of the Holy Spirit
+* types and purposes of the Seven Sacraments
-=== 9. Lord's Prayer ===
-* taught by Christ
-* Seven petitions
-* role and purpose of prayer in general
-=== 10. The Mass ===
-* Real presence of Christ
+=== 9. The Catholic Mass ===
-* role of the Priest
-* Parts of the Mass and their purpose and implications on worship
-* The Eucharist and Holy Communion
-** Transubstantiation
-* attendance at Mass
-== The Bible ==
+* "Real presence of Christ"
+* knowing the Mass & thoughtful worship
+* the "Five Precepts of the Church": ''attendance, confession, Holy Communion, Holy days of obligation, days of fasting and abstinence''
+* weekly attendance at Mass
+* proper attire for Mass
-* Student familiarity with the Bible
+=== 10. The Bible ===
-** its parts and organization
+* reading the Word of God (the Bible) is prayer
-** actually using the Bible
+* familiarity with the Bible, its parts and organization
-*** finding passages
+* applying Biblical knowledge to the "Liturgy of the Word" at Mass
-*** flipping through pages
+</div></div>
-*** using Biblical references
-* applying Biblical knowledge to Liturgy of the Word
 == The Catechism of the Catholic Church ==
@@ Line 134: / Line 109: @@
 === Church as Bride of Christ ===
-=== Creed ===
+=== Fear of Gog ===
 === Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit ===
+=== History of the Church ===
 === Magisterium of the Church ===
-=== Rosary ===
+=== The Rosary ===
-=== Saints ===
+=== The Saints ===
-=== Typology ===
+== Key practices for Catechumens ==
-== Key practices for Catechumens ==
+=== Attending Mass ===
+=== Going to Confession ===
 === Learning prayers ===
-=== Attending Mass ===
 === Seeking mentoring ===
 [[Category:Catechism of the Catholic Church]]
 [[Category:Religious Education]]