Big Ideas for Catechism: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:25, 9 May 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" = "Mission"
Jesus if fully God and fully man

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

an offence against God (CCC 1850)
sin = 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

4. Thoughtful worship

"Four Senses of Scripture": Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Anagogical
seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of Faith and Reason
praying thoughtfully, purposefully and actively

5. Life in Christ

Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
seeking a State of Grace
"Repent, and believe"

6. Christ as fulfillment of the Old Testament

Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Covenant" (or "Testement")
= History of Salvation
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"
using our "Wings of Faith" and recognizing the limits of Reason

8. Sacraments

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

9. The Catholic Mass

"Real presence of Christ"
weekly attendance at Mass
proper attire for Mass

10. The Bible

reading the Word of God (the Bible) is prayer
familiarity with the Biblem, 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

The Creed

Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Magisterium of the Church

Rosary

The Saints

Typology

Key practices for Catechumens

Learning prayers

Attending Mass

Seeking mentoring

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 == 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 ===
@@ Line 19: / Line 22: @@
 * Jesus = "God saves"
 * Christ = "Messiah" = "Mission"
-** the "Mission" of "Christ" is to save us from sin
+* Jesus if fully God and fully man
-* 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.'
-*"allelua"
 === 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 is "1 x 1 x 1 = 1" (and not "1 + 1 + 1 = 3")
-* 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]
-** ''“In the beginning was the Word”''
-* God's existence outside of time and creation
 === 3. Sin ===
-* separation from God
+* an offence against God (CCC 1850)
-** the word "devil" comes from Greek ''diaballein'', for "throw across, separate
+* sin = separation from God
-*** thus Satin wants to separate us from God
+* hell = eternal separation from God
-** Hell is eternal separation from God
+* concupiscence = our tendency towards sin
-** Jesus called Satan “the father of lies,” “a murderer from the beginning”
+* the “three-fold sins” ''lust of the flesh'', ''lust of the eyes'', ''pride of life''
-*** Jesus taught that murder starts in the heart (Mt 15:19)
-* origins of sin:
-** the Fall of Adam and Eve and its implications
-*** "original sin"
-** Israel breaking God's commands
-** “three-fold sin” (concupiscence):
-*** ''lust of the flesh''
-*** ''lust of the eyes''
-*** ''pride of life''
 * mortal v. venial sin
-* idolatry = putting something above God
-* Jesus taught how to avoid sin: pray and turn away from it
-** "''Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test''" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/mark/14 Mk 14:38])
-** "''if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away"'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/matthew/5:30 Mt 5:30])
-*avoiding the "occasion of sin"
-**temptation will happen: but "don't let that bird land" (advice from a priest)
 === 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"
+* praying thoughtfully, purposefully and actively
-**** extension = obey all legitimate authority
-** 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?
-** Our Father prayer & the Seven Petitions
-* The Liturgy: knowing the Mass
-* role and purpose of prayer in general
 === 5. Life in Christ ===
 * Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
-* Christ's New Commandments
+* Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
-* Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications of Mosaic Law
+* seeking a State of Grace
-** ex. murder and adultery start in the heart
+* "Repent, and believe"
-* God's "Plan of Redemption"
-** dying to sin, living in Christ:
-*** "''dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus''" ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/romans/6:11 Rom 6:11])
-** Sacrament of Reconciliation
-** State of Grace
 === 6. Christ as fulfillment of the Old Testament ===
-* Covenant = God's loving design and gift to mankind
+* Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Covenant" (or "Testement")
-** Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Testament"
+* = History of Salvation
-* The History of Salvation
+* ''The New is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed by the New''
-* God's promises expressed in the "Covenants"
-* Typology
 === 7. The Mysteries ===
-* understanding the seen and unseen
+* works of the Holy Spirit: "the seen and the unseen"
-* identifying what is mysterious
+* using our "Wings of Faith" and recognizing the limits of Reason
-* using the Wing of Faith
-** recognizing the limits of Reason
-** limits of our intelligence, senses, and concupiscence
 === 8. Sacraments ===
-* outward sign instituted by Christ to give grace
+* the seen and unseen: "the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation" (CCC 774)
-* the seen and unseen: "the visible sign of the hidden reality of salvation"
+* an "outward sign" instituted by Christ to give Grace
-* the Holy Spirit
+* we see the Sacramental Act, but our faith reveals the workings of the Holy Spirit
-* types and purposes of Sacraments
+* types and purposes of the Sacraments
-=== 9. The Mass ===
+=== 9. The Catholic Mass ===
-* Real presence of Christ
+* "Real presence of Christ"
-* role of the Priest
+* weekly attendance at Mass
-* Parts of the Mass and their purpose and implications on worship
-* The Eucharist and Holy Communion
-** Transubstantiation
-* attendance at Mass
 * proper attire for Mass
 === 10. The Bible ===
-* "testament" means "covenant"
+* reading the Word of God (the Bible) is prayer
-* Bible = divinely "inspired" but written by
+* familiarity with the Biblem, its parts and organization
-* Student familiarity with the Bible
+* applying Biblical knowledge to the "Liturgy of the Word" at Mass
-** its parts and organization
-** actually using the Bible
-*** finding passages
-*** flipping through pages
-*** using Biblical references
-* applying Biblical knowledge to Liturgy of the Word
 == The Catechism of the Catholic Church ==