Big Ideas for Catechism: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 12:16, 24 December 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" (to save us)
Jesus is fully God and fully man ("the God-man" = "the hypostatic union")
Christ is "the Word" and the "Living Word of God"
- “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1)
- "And the Word became flesh" (Jn 1:14)

2. The Trinity

one God, three persons:
- the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
- also: the Creator, the Savior and the Sanctifier
the “Godhead” =one being, one nature, one eternal existence
Creation & God’s love

3. Sin

an offence against God (CCC 1850)
disobedience to God (CCC 1871)
separation from God
- hell = eternal separation from God
origin of sin in "free will"
- robots can't sin because they have no free will
- free will requires choice & God gave us reason to exercise it
- God wants us to choose him over sin
"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 & prayer

"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
Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
"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
the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration
weekly attendance at Mass
proper attire for Mass

10. The Bible

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

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 1: / Line 1: @@
-Big Ideas for Catechism / Catechesis
+'''Big Ideas for Catechism / Catechesis'''
 see [[Catechism definition]]
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 * but all of these ideas are <u>necessary</u> for that understanding
-== The BIG IDEAS: Ten Fundamental Concepts ==
+== 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|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" (to save us)
-** the "Mission" of "Christ" is to save us
+* Jesus is fully God and fully man ("the God-man" = "the hypostatic union")
+* Christ is "the Word" and the "Living Word of God"
+** ''“In the beginning was the Word”'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?11 Jn 1:1])
+** ''"And the Word became flesh"'' ([https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/1?14 Jn 1:14])
 === 2. The Trinity ===
-* one God, three persons
+* one God, three persons:
-* God exists outside of time and creation
+** the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit
-* role of the Holy Spirit , the Sanctifier
+** also: the ''Creator'', the ''Savior'' and the ''Sanctifier''
+* the “Godhead” =one being, one nature, one eternal existence
+* Creation & God’s love
-=== 3. Thoughtful worship ===
+=== 3. Sin ===
-* understanding the Word of God through the "Four Senses of Scripture"
+* an offence against God ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/456/ CCC 1850])
-* seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of the Gifts of Faith and Reason
+* disobedience to God ([https://www.usccb.org/sites/default/files/flipbooks/catechism/460/ CCC 1871])
-* praying thoughtfully and purposefully
+* separation from God
-** Sign of the Cross: what do you think about when making the Sign of the Cross?
+** hell = eternal separation from God
-** Lord's Prayer: the Seven Petitions
+* origin of sin in "free will"
-** The Liturgy: knowing the Mass
+** robots can't sin because they have no free will
+** free will requires choice & God gave us reason to exercise it
+** God wants us to choose him over sin
+* "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. Understand Sin ===
+=== 4. Thoughtful worship & prayer ===
-* as separation from God
+* "'''Four Senses of Scripture'''": ''Literal, Allegorical, Moral, Anagogical''
-* The Fall and implications
+* seeking God and truth through the "Two Wings" of Faith and Reason
-* God's "Plan of Redemption"
+* prayer and praying thoughtfully, purposefully and actively; humility in prayer
-* the word "devil" comes from Greek ''diaballein'', for "throw across, separate
+* ''lectio divina'': meditation on Scripture
-** thus Satin wants to separate us from God
-* "Dying to sin, living in Christ"
-* Sacrament of Reconciliation
-=== 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
+* Ten Commandments & Christ's clarifications & New Commandments
-** murder and adultery start in the heart
+* Sermon on the Mount and The Beatitudes
+* "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 = promise, agreement, contract
+* History of Salvation
-** God's promises to man are expressed in the "covenants"
+* Typology: ''The New is hidden in the Old, and the Old is revealed by the New''
-* Jesus fulfills the "Old Covenant" and gives us the "New Testament"
-=== 7. The Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit ===
+=== 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 ===
-=== 9. Lord's Prayer ===
+* an "outward sign" instituted by Christ to give Grace
+* 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])
+* 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''
+* the Eucharist and Eucharistic Adoration
+* weekly attendance at Mass
+* proper attire for Mass
+=== 10. The Bible ===
+* reading the the Bible is prayer (Word of God)
+* familiarity with the Bible, its parts and organization
+* applying Biblical knowledge to the "Liturgy of the Word" at Mass
+* using the Bible in daily life
+</div></div>
+== 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 ===
-=== 10. The Mass ===
+=== History of the Church ===
+=== Magisterium of the Church ===
+=== The Rosary ===
+=== The Saints ===
 == Key practices for Catechumens ==
+=== Attending Mass ===
+=== Going to Confession ===
 === Learning prayers ===
-=== Attending Mass ===
 === Seeking mentoring ===
+[[Category:Catechism of the Catholic Church]]
+[[Category:Religious Education]]