Assign each of the following activities:
Read the parable of the weeds (Mt 13:24–30, 36–43) and the parable of the net (Mt 13:47–50). Write your own interpretation of these parables based on what they are saying about God’s judgment.
C. S. Lewis contrasted Heaven and hell using images like the one’s below. Create at least four more images of your own to contrast Heaven and hell.
Hell is . . . Heaven is . . .
an unending Church service without God God without a Church service
grey and so are its inhabitants full of colors and all colors of people
full of clocks and telephones full of only those possessions you gave
away on earth
sex without pleasure pleasure without sex.
Lewis also wrote, “The safest road to hell is the gradual one—the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” What does Lewis mean? Is he correct? Offer evidence one way or the other.
No matter what subject or level of theology course you are teaching, it’s wise to continue to teach students new vocabulary terms and assess their comprehension of these terms.
You can do this in several ways, including having the students study and memorize the correct spelling and definitions of terms, and then repeat them back to you o a written text.
You might also make a vocabulary assessment as part of regular opening or closing period of a class session. Here is one idea for assessment to use without having to have the students write responses.
First, prepare a list of ten vocabulary terms and definitions and give them to the students. Or assign, particular terms and definitions from the glossary of their textbook. For example:
Annulment— An official church declaration that what appeared to be a Christian marriage never existed in the first place.
Beatific Vision—Seeing God “face-to-face” in heaven, the source of our eternal happiness; final union with the Triune God for all eternity.
Catechesis—Process of systematic education in the faith for young people and adults with the view of making them disciples of Jesus Christ.
Concupiscence—An inclination to commit sin that can be found in human desires and appetites as a result of original sin.
Dogma—A central truth of revelation that Catholics are obliged to believe.
Encyclical—A letter on some important topic written by the pope and sent to the whole Church or to the whole world. An encyclical contains the ordinary teaching of the Magisterium.
Magisterium—The official teaching authority of the Church. The Lord bestowed the right and power to teach in his name on Peter and the apostles and their successors, that is, the bishops and the pope as their leader.
Sanctifying grace—The grace, or gift of God’s friendship, that heals our fallen human nature and gives us a share in the divine life of the Blessed Trinity. A habitual, supernatural gift, it makes us perfect, holy, and Christ-like (CCC, 1999).
Subsidiarity—A principle of Catholic social justice that holds that a community of a higher order should not interfere in the internal life of a community of a lower order, depriving it of its functions. For the sake of the common good, higher order societies should support and help lower order societies as needed.
Transubstantiation—The term used to describe that at the consecration of the bread and wine at Mass their entire substance is turned into the entire substance of the Body and Blood of Christ, even though the appearances of bread and wine remain.
Next, come up with two lists of sentences — one with correct usage of vocabulary words and one with incorrect usage. Write both lists and keep them with you.
Read each sentence aloud, pausing between each one so that students can identify the vocabulary word and determine if the word is used correctly or not.
If you have digital options for students to respond “correct” or “incorrect” you will be able to gain an accurate understanding of the class’s comprehension of the terms. If not, simply use hand signals to respond correct (e.g., thumbs up) or incorrect (e.g., thumbs down).
Here's a Catholic quiz courtesy of the National Catholic Register. With 32 total questions, you might wish to divide the questions into groups of four or eight and use them to as seat work, extra credit, or as a class icebreaker. The answers to the questions and the complete quiz and credit can be found at this link.
What Pope declared himself a prisoner of the Vatican?
What two symbolic pieces of heraldic regalia are found in all basilicas?
Who was the first non-martyr to be named a saint (pace Mary, St. John the Evangelist and of course, St. Joseph)?
In Italy, which saint is so famous she is simply known as “THE Saint”?
What were (are) the four “minor orders”?
What was the name of the cave David took shelter in?
During the singing of the Exultet at the Easter Vigil, what insect is extolled?
During his papal installation, Pope Benedict wore what garment in an Eastern Catholic tradition?
What two 20th-century British authors, both of whom were converts to Catholicism, soured on the liturgical changes of the Second Vatican Council?
A crosier with two horizontal bars on it is called what kind of cross?
Leon Bloy wrote a famous work on which Marian apparition?
What cardinal died suddenly and immediately before the conclave of 1958?
An atheist does not believe in God. An agnostic is unsure. But what is the technical term for someone who actively hates God?
Which 20th-century saint wrote an autobiography entitled Journal of a Soul?
What Doctor of the Church is literally named “Golden-Word”?
What Renaissance artist practiced the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola?
What epic English poet not only served in World War I, but went on to decorate many churches with his engravings and paintings?
In a church what are bobaches used for?
Who is the patron saint of editors?
In the West, what are the tradition names given to the Magi (the “three kings”)?
A priest with “O.A.R.” for a suffix belongs to which religious order?
The “Miraculous Medal” was manifested to which saint?
During the Sacrament of Baptism, the priest asks the godparent or the catechumen “What do you ask of The Church of God?” What is the answer?
Who is “The Second Apostle to Germany” (the first being St. Boniface)?
There are two arch-abbeys in the United States: what are their names and where are they located?
Although he is always depicted in art as being shot through with many arrows, St. Sebastian did not die from arrow wounds: how was he finally martyred?
What famous Lebanese-American actor had a public and strong devotion to St. Jude?
Most tourists think that the Cathedral of Venice has always been the famed St. Mark’s Basilica—but from 1450 to 1805 the Cathedral of Venice was which other church?
What are four different names for the Sunday following Easter?
What Catholic writer and painter also invented—according to his own history—color and underwater photography (though he died broken and penniless in Venice)?
What famous philosopher wrote books taking titles from the New Testament such as The Sickness Unto Death and Fear and Trembling?
On the Feast of Saint Agnes, lambs are blest then shorn to fashion what ecclesiastical garment?
The end of the school year is time for review.
While the following “50 Questions” are part of the Send Out Your Spirit high-school Confirmation program, they serve well as a general review for students enrolled in just about any Catholic high school theology course. You may wish to assign some or all of these questions as part of a graded final, extra credit, or as part of a number of quiz games you might wish to play with your students in these last days and weeks of school.
50 Questions
1. Define “catechumenate.”
2. What are some differences between the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) and the Rite of Baptism of Children (RBC)?
3. Name the elements of the basic Rite of Baptism.
4. How many adults were baptized at your parish at the last Easter vigil?
5. How many children were baptized in the last calendar year at your parish?
6. What are the central beliefs about God espoused in our Catholic creeds?
7. Name at least four attributes of God.
8. Name and explain three dogmas about the Holy Trinity.
9. Where is the tabernacle placed in your parish? Why is it placed where it is?
10. When is the Feast of the Holy Trinity?
11. How did the early Church answer Arius’s claim that Jesus only took the “appearance” of a man?
12. Define “Incarnation.”
13. What did Jesus tell his disciples would happen to him in Jerusalem?
14. How can you come to know Jesus?
15. How do you think you would respond if someone held a gun to your head and asked, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?”
16. Name and explain three kinds of writing in the Bible.
17. What are the three stages of the composition of the Gospel?
18. How did the Second Vatican Council encourage a renewed interest in the Scriptures for Catholics?
19. What is meant by the term “Septuagint”? “Vulgate”?
20. Which of the following translations of the Bible are accepted by Catholics? Protestants? Both?
King James New Jerusalem Revised Standard
New American The Way Good News
21. What were the causes of the schism between the churches of East and West and of the Protestant Reformation?
22. How does the Church answer the criticism that “Catholics pray to saints”?
23. Define “infallibility” related to Church teaching.
24. Who is the bishop of your diocese? What do you know about him?
25. Define and tell the function of each of these Church structures:
archdiocese college of cardinals parish
diocese deanery parish council
26. How does the morality of human acts depend on the object chosen, the intention, and the circumstances of the action?
27. Write the Beatitudes.
28. Write the Ten Commandments.
29. Write the precepts of the Church.
30. How can the Sacrament of Penance help you to live a moral life?
31. How is the Paschal Mystery like other historical events? How is it different from other historical events?
32. Define “transubstantiation.”
33. According to the Council of Florence, what three things are necessary for a sacrament to be valid?
34. Name the two main parts of the Mass. What takes place in each part?
35. Put these parts of the Mass in sequential order:
Penitential Rite Gospel Consecration
First Reading Our Father Communion
Homily Sign of Peace Holy, Holy, Holy
Eucharistic Prayer Offertory Concluding Rite
36. Name and explain three basic human rights.
37. What is meant by the phrase “preferential option for the poor”?
38. List the corporal works of mercy.
39. List the spiritual works of mercy.
40. Outline the Church’s basic positions on the justice issues of consumerism, the environment, and war and violence.
41. Write at least four ways Catholics are able to know the Holy Spirit.
42. What is the essential rite of Confirmation?
43. Name four effects of the Sacrament of Confirmation.
44. List the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit.
45. How many candidates will be confirmed at the next Confirmation at your parish?
46. How is self-concept related to self-esteem?
47. Who administers the Sacrament of Matrimony?
48. What does the Church teach about sex outside of marriage?
49. What is meant by the term “consecrated life”?
50. How is the ministerial priesthood different from the common priesthood?
If you are interested in an answer sheet for these questions, leave your name and email address in the comment section below this post and we will send them to you.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clearly outlines how the Holy Spirit is represented in names, titles, and symbols:
The proper name of the Holy Spirit
"Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and Son. (691)
Titles of the Holy Spirit
Paragraphs 692-693 highlight many of the titles of the Holy Spirit including "Paraclete," the one used by Jesus.
Symbols of the Holy Spirit
Paragraphs 694-701 highlight the following symbols of the Holy Spirit: water, anointing, fire, cloud and light, the seal, the hand, the finger, and the dove.
Memory Game
Have the students work in pairs to study and remember some of the names, titles, and symbols of the Holy Spirit from these Catechism references. Have them create memory cards to help them remember the definitions. For each term/name, have them create two cards: one with the term, name, or symbol and the other with the definition. When they have finished making the cards, allow them to play a memory game with all the cards faced down on the desk. Students may turn over two cards per turn to match the term with its definition. If they make a match, they may keep the cards. The player with the most cards wins.
Earlier this year we had the honor of publishing an excellent introduction to the Bible by Franciscan University professor John Bergsma called Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture of Salvation History. Dr. Bergsma, who is a colleague of Dr. Scott Hahn, is known for his fun and creative drawings that illustrate the deep meaning behind the Old Testament biblical texts. He has a unique approach to teaching the Old Testament that all religion teachers can learn from and teens will surely enjoy.
What is really remarkable about this book is the memorable drawings of challenging texts. In a world with so much technology, students learn more visually today than ever before. Dr. Bergsma's drawings act as excellent teaching tools for the modern learner.
Earlier this year, Dr. Bergsma gave a webinar titled, "How to Get Through the Bible in an Hour," in which he shared brief samples of his creative illustrations. Here is the recording of that webinar:
Watch his presentation on YouTube or Vimeo.
Dr. Bergsma works really fast in this presentation, so you may want to watch and rewatch the way he teaches certain stories in the Bible: Creation, Abraham, Moses, David, the Prophets, and the Eucharist. You may even want to pick out clips from the presentation to show to your students. Dr. Bergsma's book, Bible Basics for Catholics, gives a step-by-step explanation and discussion that dig deep into the key Old Testament stories that illustrate God's covenants throughout salvation history.
Teaching Bible Basics to Teens
Whether you teach a course on Sacred Scripture or occasionally include a lesson or two on the Bible, reflect on the following questions:
How can I use images to teach about the meaning of the Old Testament and the New Testament?
What connections can I show between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
How can I help students see God's "covenant" in the texts we will study?
How can I use humor to spike my students' interest in the Bible?
Bible Basics for Catholics is also available as an eBook on the Kindle and Nook or on the iPad using the Kindle or Nook apps.
One of the main goals of the Catholic Year of Faith is to promote awareness and study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church on its twentieth anniversary of publication. Reading and using the Catechism can be a challenge even for adults. Use this Catechism scavenger hunt as a class activity to help familiarize your high school students with the layout and format of the text.
Students can work on this activity alone or in groups. This activity works best if students have catechisms of their own or if you can acquire a class set for the day. Otherwise, have students share the catechisms with their groups to find the answers.
The following ten questions can be used as a part of this Catechism of the Catholic Church scavenger hunt. There is nearly a limitless number of additional questions and clues that you could add to this list so please feel free to download the Word Document version of the questions. The PDF of both the questions and the answer key are available below.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church Scavenger Hunt
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is divided into four parts. List them below:
Which Scripture passage is quoted in the first sentence of the Prologue of the Catechism?
Find the five saints who are quoted in the Catechism whose first or last name begins with the letter A.
What paragraph number list the fruits of the Holy Spirit?
Which two people are listed as models of faith in the Catechism?
What page contains the texts for the Apostles’ Creed and Nicene Creed?
On what page can we find the Ten Commandments?
List five councils quoted in the footnotes of the Catechism:
List all the women you can find who are quoted in the Catechism.
What are the three expressions of prayer and in what paragraphs can they be found in the Catechism?
You can download and print these questions for your students here:
Catechism of the Catholic Church Scavenger Hunt (PDF / Word)
Catechism of the Catholic Church Scavenger Hung (Answer Key)
Catechism Activity Variations for Students with iPads or Laptops
If you have laptops and iPads in class then introduce students to the digital version of the Catechism freely available online and adapt the scavenger hunt questions for these online versions with great Catechism search engines:
The USCCB Online Version of the onCatechism
St. Charles Borromeo Church Catechism of the Catholic Church
Your students likely know that May is the month of Mary.
Do they also know that Mary also has her own day dedicated to her in each and every week throughout the year? The tradition of honoring Mary on Saturdays goes back to the very first Holy Saturday, the day that Jesus lay in the tomb. It was Mary who waited anxiously but faithfully on that day in anticipation of the Resurrection.
At the Council of Trent in the sixteenth century, the practice of offering a special votive Mass to Mary on Saturdays was included in the Roman Missal. The Second Vatican Council also supported this tradition.
Catholics are called to do something special to honor Mary on Saturdays, especially during the Saturdays during May. This may include attending a Saturday morning Mass, doing a special work of charity, or praying the Rosary.
Also, it is more than fitting that May, Mary's month, is also a time for the celebration of Mother's Day on the second Sunday of the month. Remind your students that just as they are called to honor their earthly mothers for life, nurture, and the love they have provided, so too they are to honor their heavenly Mother, Mary.
Enrichment The Feast of the Visitation is celebrated on May 31. Have the students write a personal reflection of Mary's visit to Elizabeth as if they were present. Or, have them write a prayerful response to the Memorare from Luke 1:39-56.
