Come Follow Me 8 PDF

The Catholic Education Office
of Western Australia gratefully Nihil Obstat Dr Michael Jackson

acknowledges Bishop Gerard B.A. B.D. Dip.App.Psych. STL, D.D., D.Psych
Archdiocesan censor
Holohan for the original concept
and content of this resource. Imprimatur Most Reverend Barry James Hickey
DD OAM STL BA MSocWk
Archbishop of Perth
The invaluable advice and
editorial support of the
Date 6th January 2007
Archbishop’s Secondary Religious
Education Units Committee is The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official
also acknowledged. declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of
doctrinal or moral error.
Come Follow Me – Year 8 Student Resource

© Copyright 2007
All rights reserved. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced
by any process, or any other exclusive right exercised without the permission of the Catholic Education
Office of Western Australia.
ISBN 1 921072 11 3
First published in Australia 2007

Reprinted in Australia, November 2008
By the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia
50 Ruislip St, Leederville, Western Australia 6007
Cover and text designed by TaylorSparks

Printed by Worldwide Online Printing
Scripture quotations are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1985 by
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Quotations from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for Australia 1994
copyright St Pauls, Strathfield, Australia/Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used by permission.
Psalms used by permission of The Grail (England).
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Not for NEALS

Foreword
Come Follow Me
The challenge to follow Jesus is as relevant today as it was when Jesus explained to the
rich man in the Gospel what was required.
Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you
own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then
come, follow me.” Mark 10:21
The purpose of this Religious Education Resource is to help students understand what
Catholics know and do as they follow Jesus in their daily lives.
This resource is structured in such a way that students can develop an understanding of
how Jesus through his Church teaches all that is needed for people to live as God wants.
As Archbishop of Perth I am pleased to welcome this publication.
It is the guide schools will use in order to fulfil their Religious Education role of promoting
knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, and of how those who follow Christ are called
to live the Gospel in the world of today.
Religious Education in Catholic schools needs to draw students into a systematic study of the
Christian message as it is presented, explained and justified through the Catholic Church.
These materials will be an important means by which Catholic schools assist the Church in
fulfilling its mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They hold a special place in
helping to form young people by enabling them to engage with the deepest questions of life
and find reasons for the hope that is within them.
In mandating these materials I would like to stress the importance of teachers of Religious
Education. Theirs is a difficult and challenging task, I appreciate the work and generosity
with which they fulfill their vocation and express my encouragement to them.
Wishing God’s blessing on all those involved in the task of Religious Education in
Catholic schools.
Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ,
Most Rev. B.J. Hickey

Archbishop of Perth
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Contents
1
Belonging and Acceptance in Catholic Communities
1. Acceptance and belonging 5
2. Parish and Catholic school are Church communities 15
3. Jesus came to call people into communion with God 23
4. The saving power of God 27
5. The human and divine natures of Jesus 31
6. Jesus formed God’s special family as a community 41
7. How do people come to know God? 51
8. Lent – a special time of personal growth in following Jesus 57
2
The Universal Need for God
1. The search for true happiness 67
2. Recognising God’s presence 69
3. Religions help people to learn about God 73
4. God’s Chosen People of Israel 79
5. The characteristics of the religion of Israel 91
6. The New Covenant of Jesus 99
7. The Church founded by Jesus 105
8. Jesus taught his followers about prayer 119
3
Creation God’s Original Plan
1. The purpose of creation 143
2. Creation – a sign of God’s love 151
3. God creates original harmony 155
4. God’s original harmony damaged 165
5. Jesus the Redeemer 177
6. Signs of the power of Jesus 185
7. The end of the universe as people know it 199
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 1

4
Growing in the image of God
1. The teenage body 207
2. Jesus taught about the human body 215
3. Baptism – the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit 229
4. The Sacrament of Confirmation 241
5. The Eucharist 249
6. The Mass – origins and structure 257
7. Advent – a time of special prayer 267
Appendices
Our Prayers 273
Important information for Catholics 280
Sources of images/illustrations 285
Index 287
2 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
1 Acceptance and belonging
This chapter presents the following key learning points:

The human person yearns for acceptance and belonging
The human person needs to live in community
There are three characteristics of community: it gathers, has
leaders and has rules
The family demonstrates the three characteristics of
community: it gathers, has leaders and has rules
The family is the foundation of society
Other communities reflect the characteristics of community.
The human person yearns for acceptance and belonging
Everyone wants to belong and to be accepted for who they are. All long to feel accepted
by their parents, other family members and friends.
People become very aware of their yearnings for acceptance and belonging when their
life situations change. Young people often feel this when they begin at a new school,
meet new students and teachers, or when new subjects or school timetables place them
in new classes. Just as students feel the need to belong at school, people of all ages
experience similar needs to belong.
Everyone wants to belong and to be accepted for who they are.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
1. ACCEPTANCE AND BELONGING
ar y school
My first day of second but I
on da ry sch ool . I fel t ex cit ed for I was in the big league now d
sec ha
I’ll never forget my first day of I didn’t know what to expect. Sure, at Orientation Day I d
fus ed for ru les an
also felt anxious and con cif ic sub jec ts, roo m ch an ges , using lockers and specific
heard all about timetabling , spe t this was the real thing .
bu
consequences of bad behav iour,
fam ili ar fac es an d th e wa ys I used to do things when I
behind th e start
This was the day I was to leave a new world as a teenager. A world where I would have to ngs.
thi
was in primary school and enterends, meet new teachers, and understand new ways of doing t on
all over ag ain … Mak e ne w fri I felt a large we igh
pro ve my sel f all ove r ag ain for nobody knew me . Suddenly,
I would have to .
ulders and it wa s at tha t poi nt that I felt anxious and alone
my sho
th e sch ool ga te obs erv ing th e unfamiliar faces that seemed
r ag ainst rms
I remember standing in a cor ne eryone seemed so much taller and broader than me . Unifo
Ev
to rush into the school grounds. ht places whils t mine seemed enormous and was totally
rig
seemed to fit others in all the
uncomfor table. to
d rel ax ed . I rem em ber wa nti ng so much to look like them…
an
Kids seemed to be so confident . I wanted so much to be part of a group of friends.
lik e th em
act like them…to feel
uc ed him sel f to me an d ca refully placed his bag next to
ael introd
It was at that point that Mich
mine .
to meet
fer en t lig ht . I kn ew I wa s goi ng to like it and I felt prepared
Suddenly, I saw school in a dif
its many challenges.
Joshua (Year Nine)
1. Would you describe Joshua’s first day of secondary

school as a positive or negative experience? Explain.
2. What do you think is the message in Joshua’s story?
3. Think of the day you first started secondary school
and write about your personal experience.
6 Return to Return to COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8

CONTENTS CHAPTER
‘Communities help all who belong to them
to develop their human potential.’
The human person needs to live in community

The need to belong never goes away. It remains with people for as long they live.
Our longing to belong, to feel accepted, means that human beings need reliable, ongoing
relationships and groupings. Communities tend to be more permanent because they
remain, even if individual members come and go.
Communities help all who belong to them to develop their human potential.
To mature as a whole person, people need to develop fully in the following ways:
• emotionally, to express how they feel
• physically, to develop as healthy people
• intellectually, to grow in knowledge and understanding
• morally, to do good and avoid evil
• religiously, to relate closely with God
• spiritually, to rise up against difficulties and to make difficult choices
• socially, to relate with others.
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 7

CONTENTS CHAPTER
There are three characteristics of community:

it gathers, has leaders and has rules
If a community is to fulfil its purpose it is necessary that it has three basic

characteristics.
1. A community gathers
A community needs to gather together. The more frequently its members meet,
the closer they become as a community.
2. A community has leaders

To achieve its purpose, every community needs leadership otherwise the community
will lack organisation and its members will not function effectively together.
3. A community has rules

To be successful, every community needs rules if the community is going to
achieve its purposes and to function in harmony.
Acceptance of
responsibilities leads
to greater acceptance
As teenagers mature, they
need to contribute more to
the communities in which
they belong and be seen as
responsible members. Others
come to rely upon young
people in their communities
and teenagers then feel a
greater sense of belonging
and acceptance.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The family is a community

The family is a community of
persons founded on love.
Families show their love by

providing for the physical,
emotional, moral and spiritual
needs of their members.
In Class Work
Families also
How does a family provide for show their love
the needs of: by providing for
• a newborn baby other special needs
• a toddler of their members,
• an adolescent for example in
• an elderly member? times of illness,
stress, disability
and death.
In Class Work
Construct a mobile of your ‘family tree’, including grandparents, parents,

children and other family members your know about. Choose two members of
your family and explain how your family provides for their physical, emotional,
moral and spiritual needs.
Paternal side Maternal side
Grandparents
Parents
Father Mother
Children

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The family demonstrates the three characteristics

of community
Family members gather
for meals and for other
special occasions such
as birthdays, weddings,
baptisms and funerals.
Parents are the family

leaders. They ensure
order and ensure family
members play their
part in contributing to
the good running of
the family. Parents try
to ensure that other
family members have
what they need.
Families have rules.

These may be about
bedtime, homework,
how long teenagers
can stay out and
whose permission is
needed to do what.
Jesus belonged to
a family.
The Holy Family with St. Elizabeth and St. John the Baptist,
c.1645–50 (oil on copper) by Albani, Francesco (1578–1660)
He went down with them then and came to Nazareth and lived under their
authority. His mother stored up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased
in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with people. (Luke 2:51–52)
In Class Work
The text from Luke’s Gospel describes how Jesus grew in his family.
How do teenagers today grow in their families?

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The family is the foundation of society
The family is the most basic of all human communities. It is the one that has the most to
offer for the development of a person’s human potential. It is the family that provides
best for the human needs of its members.
Sometimes, however, a family is unable to provide for the special needs of individual
members. For example, a family member may require special care because they are sick
or frail, or have a serious disability. Families can face special challenges due to
relationship, financial, employment or other difficulties.
Learning to relate
The family can be described as
‘the first school of relationships’.
It is within the family that we
first learn to relate.
Babies first become aware of

others even before they are born.
They can hear voices while still
in their mothers’ wombs. This is
the beginning of their social
development. Through their
families children come into
contact with other people such
as family friends and neighbours.
This helps them develop
understanding of the
meaning of community.
It is within the family that

children first learn they are
special by having their personal
needs met and being treated as
individuals. For example, it is
from their parents that they
receive their name.
The family can be described

as ‘the first school of
relationships’. It is within
the family that we first
learn to relate.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Research the meaning of the

name you were given at birth
by your parents and why your
parents chose it. Why is it so
special?
Create a name plaque for

yourself clearly highlighting
your name and what it means.
Decorate your name plaque in
a way that symbolises your
uniqueness.
Family love gives a person a sense of security.
Family love provides the stability that members

need to mature. The family is where they can
learn to walk, to talk and to take care of themselves.
It provides a safe environment to learn the difference
between acceptable and unacceptable social behaviours.
In a family children learn to trust and to be trusted,
to forgive and to be sensitive towards others.
It is within families that children can hopefully

be ‘themselves’ in ways not possible with other
people, even friends. They do not have to ‘put on
an act’, for family members know them too well
for this to work.
In the family, people learn to love, to show respect

and to respond to the needs of others. In the family,
children learn gradually to speak politely, give honest ‘Jane’s first ti
me learning
opinions in sensitive ways, and to accept the honest to ride a bike.
’
opinions of others.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Other communities
There are many other human communities to which people belong. All contribute in
different ways to meeting the needs of those who belong to them.
Clubs and Associations

People join voluntary organisations that are also communities. These include:
• service organisations, such as the St Vincent de Paul Society, Apex and Rotary
• sporting clubs, such as local teams that train and play regularly
• groups, such as the Young Vinnies and Amnesty International
• music and drama societies.
Other communities reflect

community characteristics
How often clubs and other groups meet varies according
to what is needed to achieve their purposes.
They also have leaders and rules. These vary according to

the type of group.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
2 Parish and Catholic school
are Church communities
The parish is a Church community
The parish reflects community characteristics
The Catholic school is a Church community
The Catholic school reflects community characteristics
Saints are part of Catholic communities
No one community can meet all the needs of its members
Communities cannot satisfy fully the desire to belong and be
accepted.
The parish is a Church community
A parish is a local community of the

Christian faithful under the care of a
parish priest. It is part of the Church
set up by Jesus Christ.
A principal purpose of a parish

community is to help its members
draw closer to God. The most
important way it does so is through
Sunday worship.
Parishes help members draw closer

to God in other ways as well.
They provide many different
opportunities to learn about God,
to pray, to gather socially and to
reach out to those in need.
A principal purpose of a
parish community is to
help its members draw
closer to God.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
2. PARISH AND CATHOLIC SCHOOL ARE CHURCH COMMUNITIES
The parish reflects community characteristics:

it gathers, has leaders and has rules
Parish communities gather at least weekly, often daily, to praise God through worship.
They gather also for special celebrations, such as Christmas and Easter and other holy
days. They gather for special events, such as baptisms, weddings, funerals, First Holy
Communions and Confirmations.
The leader in the parish is the parish priest. He leads the community in the celebration
of the Eucharistic liturgy and the sacraments. He is responsible for the smooth running
of the parish and for providing parish members with opportunities to draw closer to
God by helping those in special need through parish organisations. Other people may be
called to support the priest in parish leadership.
The parish, as part of the Church, follows Church rules. These rules help parishioners
live as Jesus taught, and guide the parish community to live in harmony.
The Catholic
school is a
Church
community
The purpose of a
Catholic school is to
assist parents with the
formation of their
children to be
Christian men and
women. Like all
schools, Catholic
schools help each
child to develop their
understanding by
teaching knowledge and
skills. Catholic schools have another dimension in that they are founded on the Gospel
of Jesus Christ and they encourage young people to contribute to the development of
the kind of world envisaged by Christ.
The foundation of Catholic schools is the belief in the need to respect the dignity and
rights of every human person as created in the image and likeness of God. Catholic
schools help students to develop their capacities to learn about God through each of the
nine Learning Areas. The whole school community works together to relate with God,
through prayer and liturgies. Every student is given the opportunity to develop their
potential for goodness, by learning about right and wrong through all areas of school
life. Students are called to act in a spirit of solidarity and service to others.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Catholic school reflects community

characteristics: it gathers, has leaders and rules.
School communities gather in different ways such as assemblies and classroom
activities. The Catholic school gathers particularly for prayer and worship,
especially the Eucharist. It also gathers for special events such as founder’s day
and feast days for patron saints.
The leader of the Catholic school is the principal who is assisted in leadership by
individuals from all sections of the school community: teachers, students and
parents
The Catholic school has rules to ensure good order and to support the values of
the school.
To belong is important because belonging means people are linked to others. For
a group of people there are often words, actions, signs or symbols that form part
of the group’s identity. Words, symbols and actions help individuals to identify
particular groups of people.
In the same way, knowing the school’s name, emblem and motto helps the school
community to understand what their school stands for and represents. People
know what they are part of, what their group believes in and why people do the
things they do.
Saints are part of Catholic communities
From earliest times, baptised people

have been called saints or holy people For your information…
because God lives in them. All who
Purgator y is from the Latin purgare
share the gifts that God gives through meaning
‘cleanse.’ It is the name given to the
Baptism, are said to constitute the state of final
purification people need after death
communion of saints. The communion in order to
achieve the holiness necessar y to ente
of the saints, therefore, is the Church r into the
joy of heaven.
in the broadest sense including those
on earth, those in purgatory and those
in heaven.
Some baptised people, such as St Peter and St Clare, are called saints in a special sense
because they lived such holy lives and so are presented as models for Christians to
imitate. Their prayers for others are particularly powerful.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In present Catholic practice, the

term ‘saint’ is applied to someone
who has been canonised, that is,
added to the official list of saints.
The Church takes time before
recognising that a person is a saint
because all steps leading to
canonisation involve thorough
investigation of the person’s life.
The first step involves recognising

the person as a ‘Servant of God.’
In the second step the person is
described as ‘Venerable,’ which
means worthy of deep respect.
St. Peter, from the Crypt of St. Peter, c. 700AD (mosaic)
The step before canonisation is called by Byzantine School, (8th century)
‘beatification.’ The person recognised is
given the title ‘Blessed.’
Canonisation is the final step in the Catholic Church recognising a person as being
exceptionally close to God and they are then given the title ‘Saint’.
Why Catholics call on the saints in prayer
Catholics pray to saints and honour

them in the Catholic Tradition
because of their closeness to God.
In any prayer to a saint, Catholics
ask the saint to ‘pray for us’ to
God. For example, in the Hail
Mary, Catholics pray to the Mother
of Jesus, asking her to ‘pray for us
now and at the hour of our
death’. In this way, saints
‘intercede with God’ for those
who pray to them. When prayers
are ‘answered’, it is always
God who responds,
not the saint.
Prayers to saints are often completed with the words, ‘We ask this through Christ, our
Lord’. This is because all Christian prayer is offered ‘through Jesus’ to God.
Each year, on 1 November, the Catholic Church remembers and gives thanks for all the
saints in the Feast of All Saints.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Many Catholic communities such as

parishes and schools are named after
saints. In the Catholic tradition, various
saints have been nominated for special
occasions and needs. For example,
Australians pray to Melbourne
born Blessed Mary MacKillop
who co-founded the Sisters of
Mary MacKillop (1882),
St Joseph of the Sacred Heart. Used with permission of the
Trustees of the Sisters of
St Joseph
In small groups research the following characteristics of your own school.

Explain how each of these helps you to understand what your school stands
for and represents and how each forms part of your group’s identity:
• founder(s)
• name
• patron saint (especially why they were chosen as patron)
• motto
• emblem (symbols/colours)
• leaders
• traditions (e.g. special prayers, school song, celebrations, names of sporting
teams/house groups etc)
• rules
• uniform
• flag
• statues in school grounds
• religious symbols in Chapel, classrooms
• honour boards.
Who are the members of your school community?
Present your findings in any creative form (e.g. Powerpoint, written/

oral report, promotional poster, brochure, library display etc).

CONTENTS CHAPTER
No one community can meet all the needs of its members
As part of a community there will

always be times when people feel In Class Work
isolated. The reason may be that no
one else can fully understand how List some of the reasons why no
they feel or fulfil all of their needs. single community functions
perfectly. Think of ways people
No human community is perfect. treat each other.
To function perfectly, a community
would have to accept each member
completely, regardless of their ideas,
habits or failings. It would have to
make each member feel completely
welcome, no matter what their race,
personal appearance or athletic ability.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Write one or two sentences explaining each of the six reasons given for people
failing to accept community responsibility:
• immaturity
• self-centeredness
• constantly challenging authority
• unjust attitudes
• lack of self-appreciation
• alienation.
What reason/s do you think apply mostly to young people your age? Explain.
Working in small groups, select one of the above mentioned reasons and
present a role-play depicting evidence of this operating in society.
1. Name one community you belong to.

2. Write about a time when you felt accepted in this
community.
3. Are there any areas which you could improve upon to
help you become a more responsible member of your
community?
Communities cannot fully satisfy the desire to

belong and be accepted
People who feel that they do not belong or are not accepted in a community may ask
themselves the following serious questions:
• ‘Is there anyone I can turn to when I feel lonely?’
• ‘Is there anyone who can always understand my feelings, even those I cannot
understand myself?’
• ‘Is there anyone who will always want
me, even if I do terrible things?’
• ‘Is there anyone who will always accept Try to
me, even if everyone else rejects me?’ answer these
• ‘Is there anyone who will respect me, questions as
even if everyone else ridicules or laughs thoroughly
at me?’ as possible.
• ‘Is there anyone to whom I can
confide secrets?’

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Everyone has the need to feel accepted and to

belong. God has created this need in the
heart of each person. This need for loving
acceptance can only be fully satisfied by God.
St Augustine expressed it this way, “You have
created us for yourself and our hearts find no
peace until they rest in you.” (Confessions,
Book 1.1)
This leads to the question: ‘How can I find

God, if only God can satisfy my needs for
belonging and acceptance?’ God answered
this question by sending Jesus Christ, the Son
of God. Jesus wanted everyone to know and
experience God more closely. People came to
realise that they could know and experience
God in a deeper way in their lives through
Jesus and his teachings.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
3 Jesus came to call people
into communion with God
The Holy Spirit inspired the four Gospels
The Gospels tell about Jesus and his teaching
The four Gospels agree on the basic elements
of Jesus’ public life
Each Gospel contains some distinctive material.
The Holy Spirit inspired the four Gospels
People can be introduced to Jesus and know about him through the Gospels. The four
Gospels proclaim the good news that God wants communion with everyone.
After Jesus’ resurrection from the dead

many people told others about Jesus’
actions and repeated his teachings.
Members of the early Church
cherished the stories of the life of
Jesus, his sayings and his teachings.
These early Christians also repeated
and explained what the Apostles taught
about Jesus.
Gradually, many of the stories, sayings

and teachings of Jesus were gathered
and presented in special books, called
‘gospels’, a word meaning ‘good news.’
The first four books of the New
Testament are the Gospels of Matthew,
Mark, Luke and John. These Gospels
give much insight into early Christian
teachings.
Those in the early Church who wrote

about the life of Jesus were called
‘evangelists’ from the Greek word for The Gospels, Moscow c.1780, silver, coloured
glass, paper, leather, enamel, gilding and niello
‘good news.’ The evangelists were
recognised as having a special gift of
the Holy Spirit to record the good news.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
3. JESUS CAME TO CALL PEOPLE INTO COMMUNION WITH GOD
The Gospels tell about Jesus and his teaching
The purpose of the Gospels is to enable the community to know about Jesus and to
establish a relationship with him. Each Gospel sets out to do this in different ways.
The Gospels were written for different communities of Christians. Each had the needs of
these different communities in mind. This is why the four Gospels in the Bible approach
original events and teachings of Jesus differently.
The Gospels should not be seen as

simply biographies of Jesus, rather In Class Work
they tell about Jesus and his teaching
by selecting and organising events of Read from the Gospel of Luke
Jesus’ life in ways that respond to the (6:20–22) and then from the Gospel of
needs of the different communities. Matthew (5:3–13) and discuss how
the sermon of Jesus to the crowd is
Each of the four Gospels was based presented by the two different
upon the teaching of a particular authors.
Apostle. A main evangelist composed
each gospel and others refined his
work. In this way, the Holy Spirit
ensured that anything God intended
to be in the Gospel was included.
At first, the Gospels had no names. The communities that had them simply read them as
the Word of God. However, as the four Gospels were shared between communities, it
became necessary to distinguish between them. During the second century AD, they
were given the names we have today.
Everything that the four Gospels teach about Jesus is true because each is inspired
by the Holy Spirit. Each was developed in three stages:
1. the life and teaching of Jesus
2. the oral tradition, teaching by ‘word of mouth’
3. the period of writing.
The Gospels were written for different

communities of Christians.
CONTENTS CHAPTER
The four Gospels agree on the basic elements of Jesus'

public life
Despite slight differences in structure, the Gospels agree in outlining basic

elements of the public life of Jesus:
• his baptism by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Mark 1:9–11)
• the calling of twelve special men to serve as leaders of his followers, called the
‘Twelve’ or the ‘Apostles’ (Mark 3:13–19)
• his teachings and miracles (Mark 4:1–9; 6:30–44)
• his last days in Jerusalem
– his entry into the city (Mark 11:1–11)
– the institution of the special meal now called the Eucharist (Mark 14:12–25)
• his sufferings and death (Mark 15:1–39)
• the discovery by his followers that his tomb was empty, and that he had risen
again from the dead (Mark 16:1–8)
• stories of appearances by Jesus after he had risen from the dead (Mark 16:9–20).
Each Gospel contains some distinctive material
The Gospel of Mark

Mark wishes to proclaim a crucified Christ
who is truly the Son of God. Mark’s Gospel
was completed probably before 65AD for a
group of persecuted Christians suffering in
Rome under the Emperor Nero (54–68AD).
Many were Gentile (Non-Jewish) Christians.
The Gospel of Matthew

Matthew portrays Jesus as the Teacher. His
Gospel collects the sayings of Jesus into five lessons:
1. The Sermon on the Mount
2. The Mission of the Twelve
3. The Parables
4. The Church Leadership
5. The End of the World.
Matthew’s Gospel was probably completed around 80AD. Originally written in Aramaic,
the language spoken by Jesus, it is much longer than Mark’s Gospel. It was written for
Christians of Jewish background and draws much upon the Jewish Scriptures, that is the
Old Testament of the Bible. Matthew’s Gospel presents Jesus as the promised Messiah
meaning the chosen one of God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Gospel of Luke

Luke’s Gospel portrays a very compassionate,
tender and all-forgiving Jesus.
This Gospel was completed probably around

80AD. Its community was more Gentile
(non-Jewish) than that for which Matthew
wrote, so it is different in structure from that
of Matthew. It was originally written in Greek.
It leaves out stories and sayings of Jesus found
in Mark and Matthew, but includes others.
Luke was a physician with a doctor’s interest
in healing. Mary plays a more significant part
in this Gospel.
The Gospel of John

The Gospel of John was completed probably
around 100AD. It was written for Christians
of Jewish background who were being persecuted
by Jews who opposed Christianity. It is different
from the other Gospels, for it is made up of fewer
stories and much longer teachings.
In Class Work
1. Name the four Gospel writers whose writings

were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
2. Why were the Gospels given the names we
have today?
3. For whom was each of the Gospels written?
4. What was each Gospel based on?
5. Why do Christians believe the Gospels
to be true?
6. Which Gospel would probably have been
written first and for whom was it written?
7. Which Gospel is the shortest?
8. Which Gospel portrays a compassionate,
all-forgiving and tender, loving Jesus?
Ms 1 fol.18v St. Matthew,
9. Out of the four Gospels, which Gospel is commissioned by Ebbo, Archbishop of
presented quite differently? Explain how. Reims (vellum) by French School,
(9th century)
10. Think of as many reasons as possible why
the Gospels were written.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
4 The saving power of God

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God
The saving power of God is a power of love and goodness
The saving power of God can change the lives of people
The Christian Promise can become a reality if people draw
on the saving power of God.
Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God
The Kingdom of God is brought about by God and is God’s gift. It is at the heart and
centre of Jesus’ life. His main mission was to promote and make present the Kingdom of
God to all people. The Kingdom of God exists wherever God’s will is at work. And
God’s will is at work wherever people are faithful to the command to love one another.
The Kingdom of God began with Christ’s death and Resurrection and is continued by
Christians until it has been brought into perfection by Christ at the end of time.
Whenever people follow Jesus’ example and love one another, forgive one another, bear
one another’s burdens, work to build up a just and peaceful community—wherever
people are of humble heart, open to their Creator and serving their neighbor—God’s
saving and liberating presence is being demonstrated. God’s Kingdom and loving rule is
in operation there.
The Kingdom of God began with Christ’s death and Resurrection and must be furthered
by Christians until it has been brought into perfection by Jesus at the end of time. In
Jesus’ words, in his works, and in his presence the Kingdom of God is revealed. The
Kingdom is clearly visible in the very person of Christ.
Jesus’ first recorded words in the Gospel of Mark are:

‘The kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and
believe the Gospel.’ (Mark 1:15)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
4. THE SAVING POWER OF GOD
To ‘repent’ means to regret doing wrong and to resolve to do right. This means:
• trying to become more loving and good each day of one’s life, just as God is
loving and good
• making a decision to stop being selfish and to resist the temptations to choose
to do wrong.
To ‘believe’ means to have faith. This means to accept:

• a personal relationship with Jesus
• what Jesus teaches us, even teachings that seem difficult to understand.
The saving power of God is a power of love and goodness
During his life Jesus

showed the saving power
of God to be a power for
love and goodness. It is a
power that destroys all evil
that threatens it, especially
Satan. The Gospels make
this clear by presenting
Jesus conquering Satan
(also called the ‘devil’).
Jesus showed that

everyone who accepts the
power of God in their life
can also resist evil. God’s
power is greater than
Satan’s. People never need
to be afraid of evil if they
relate closely to God.
Jesus showed the power

of God by driving out
demons and defeating
illness and death which
Jesus Healing the Crippled and the Blind
people at that time (mosaic) by Byzantine School, (12th century)
understood to be signs of
evil. He also forgave sins.
For your information…

Satan was created an angel by God. However, Satan was proud and refused to relate
closely with God and this damaged his relationship with God. Satan tempts human
beings to sin by disobeying God and doing wrong. Demons are angels who turned away
from God, following the lead of Satan.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. In Jesus’ day people thought illness and death were signs of control by
evil powers. For each of the gospel references describe what happens and
who is involved.
Luke 11:14–22
Mark 1:23–28
Mark 1:29–34
Mark 5:1–20
Mark 9:14–29
Mark 5:21–24, 35–43; Luke 7:11–17; John 11:1–8 and 11–44
Mark 8:22–26 and 10:46–52
Luke 13:10–17 and John 5:1–9
2. How did Jesus demonstrate the power of God to conquer evil, illness and
death? Use some of the references as examples in your response.
3. Jesus showed that even those others considered to be very evil can
develop close relationships with God if they repent and believe. Read
Luke 7:36–50 and 23:39–43. Who does Jesus forgive? How was this person
viewed by others in their community?
4. God’s power is greater than Satan’s. Find other examples in the Gospels of
Jesus forgiving sin. What do these examples reveal about Jesus and the
Kingdom of God?
The saving power of God can change the lives of people
God’s saving power is a power for love and goodness that is greater than human
selfishness and tendencies to do wrong. It can change people and change their lives.
The power of God helps people to overcome all forms of selfishness and temptations to
do wrong. Bad habits, such as lying and bullying, powerful emotions such as jealousy
and anger, resentment and illicit sexual desires can be overcome by accepting the power
or grace of God.
The assistance of God’s grace helps people to develop a closer relationship with God
and so be more loving, selfless and tolerant.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Christian Promise can become a reality if people

draw on the saving power of God
Jesus announced the coming of the Kingdom with the promise of Christian salvation,
available for all. Through the Christian Promise to share in the life of God, human
weakness is healed and humanity freed from sin and evil. This healing is called salvation
from the Latin word salvare meaning to heal.
The Christian Promise can become a reality in people’s lives through their acceptance of
God’s power of love – a power for love and goodness. Through this acceptance, people
come to share in the very life of God.
God wishes every school community

to be accepting of everyone. God
helps each person to feel that they
belong. If every member of our
school was perfectly loving and
good there would be no
selfishness or wrongdoing.
In Class Work
Identify examples of ways your school community would improve if

every member was to draw on the power of God to overcome
selfishness and temptations to do wrong.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
5 The human and divine
natures of Jesus
Jesus calls the Apostles
Jesus calls people to follow him in his Church
Jesus is both fully human and fully divine
The stories in the Gospels tell about Jesus and his teaching
Jesus came to know things no other human could know
Jesus understands what it feels like to be rejected.
Jesus calls the Apostles
According to modern calendars, Jesus Christ was born in Israel around 6 to 4BC.
He was part of a Jewish village community and took part in its religious life.
In the last three years of his life, Jesus left his village and became a wandering preacher.
He called people to follow him and they became known as ‘disciples’ meaning
‘followers’. They came to understand Jesus by observing his actions and by listening to
his words. They realised that, through Jesus, they could know God in a deeper way and
have their needs for acceptance and belonging fully satisfied.
Jesus selected twelve of his disciples to be his

companions. These men would be sent out For your information…
to proclaim his message and were later called
‘Apostles’ was the name given to the Twelve by the
‘Apostles’ meaning ‘sent forth’.
four Evangelists, the writers of the Gospels.
These are the names of the twelve apostles:
first, Simon who is known as Peter, and his

brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee,
and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew;
Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector;
James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus;
Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot,
who was also his betrayer. These twelve
Jesus sent out… (Matthew 10:2–5)
Christ with the
Twelve Apostles (ivory)
Judas was replaced by Matthias (Acts 1:15–26). by Byzantine School,
(6th century)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
5. THE HUMAN AND DIVINE NATURES OF JESUS
Jesus calls people to follow him in his Church
Jesus wanted his twelve Apostles to go everywhere with

him so that they would come to know him very well.
They began to learn the answer to his question:
‘…who do you say I am?’ (Mark 8:29)
Jesus formed his followers into a special community.

This community has come to be known by a special
name – the Church.
Jesus wanted everyone to know God – not just know about God. There is a big
difference between knowing about another person and actually knowing them. Through
Jesus’ Church, Christians are enabled to experience God and can come to know God
and to find their needs for acceptance and belonging satisfied.
As the first leaders of the Church, the Apostles told others about their experiences of
Jesus, what they saw and what they heard him say. Others learned about Jesus and how
to relate to God personally through the stories of the Apostles.
Jesus is both fully human and fully divine
Those who knew Jesus knew that he was

human. His Resurrection told them that he is For your information…
also ‘divine’ meaning he is God. Jesus,
‘Incarnation’ comes from
therefore, is both fully human and fully divine.
the Latin words for ‘in fle
The Son of God assumed a human nature. This sh’.
is called the ‘Incarnation’.
Jesus explained to his followers that there is only one God, but that, in this one God,
there are three Persons – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – known as the Holy
Trinity. During his time on earth, Jesus revealed himself to be the Son of God.
All the Gospels teach the divine nature of Jesus as the Son of God. They do this, for
example, through stories about:
• his conception and birth
• God identifying Jesus as His own Son
• the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
SONOF
GOD
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Stories in the Gospels tell people about

Jesus and his teaching
The conception and birth of Jesus
The birth of Jesus is celebrated each year at
Christmas. During this feast, Christians An angel is a spirit created
celebrate God coming into the world in the by God to serve as a
person of Jesus. messenger of God.

Christmas Day, December 25th, is one
in
of the two Holy Days of Obligation
Australia and Catholics are bound to
attend Mass as they are on a Sunday.
the
The other Holy Day of Obligation is
Assumption of the Virgin Mar y
celebrated on August 15th.
Jesus was conceived in the womb of a

young woman whose name was Mary –
not by a human father, but by the Holy Spirit. The Annunciation, c.1438–45 (fresco) by Angelico,
Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.1387–1455)
An angel was sent by God the Father to Mary.
The angel told her:
‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will
cover you with its shadow.’ (Luke 1:35)
This event is For your information…

known as the ‘Lord’ is a Hebrew title in the Bible for
‘Annunciation’ God (and for a king). Early Christians
and is celebrated
proclaimed ‘Jesus is Lord.’ This show
ed
that they believed in his divinity.
by the Church When people today call Jesus ‘Lord’

they proclaim belief in his divinity.
each year on
March 25th.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Mary visited Elizabeth, her pregnant cousin, and Elizabeth’s unborn child (John the
Baptist) recognised Jesus. The unborn child led his mother, Elizabeth, to realise who
Mary’s child was. Elizabeth said:
‘Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?

Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb
leapt for joy.’ (Luke 1:43–44)
This occasion is known as the ‘Visitation’ and is, celebrated by the Church each year on
May 31st.
A holy man named Joseph was betrothed to Mary, that is he had formally promised to
marry her. God called Joseph to marry Mary and to care for Jesus as though he was his
own son:
‘Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because
she has conceived what is in her by the Holy Spirit.’ (Matthew 1:20)
Stories identifying Jesus as the Son of God
The Gospels also tell of occasions when God the Father identified Jesus as
His Son. When Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, a voice from heaven
said:
‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’ (Mark 1:11)
In another story, the appearance of Jesus was changed in front of three of

his Apostles: Peter, James and John. His body and his clothes became
bright as he appeared between two holy men, Moses and Elijah, who had
died centuries before. Again, the voice from heaven said:
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ (Mark 9:7)
This event is called the ‘Transfiguration’ and is celebrated by the Church

each year on August 6th.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Stories of Jesus’
Resurrection from
the dead
Jesus’ preaching and teaching about
God upset the Jewish authorities.
They persuaded the Romans to have
him crucified on false charges.
Three days after his death, Jesus

rose again to life. This is called his
‘Resurrection’. This power over
death demonstrated Jesus’
divinity to all his followers.
There are many New Testament

stories of Jesus appearing to his
followers after his Resurrection. He
appeared in the midst of his Apostles
and ate with them (Luke 24:36–42)
and allowed them to touch him
(John 20:24–30). Jesus appeared
to women who had been his
followers (Matthew 28:1–10) and
also to 500 people at once
(1 Corinthians 15:6).
In Class Work
Very few people were able to read and write before the beginning of the
Twentieth Century, so art was used to portray scenes from the Old and the
New Testaments.
Famous artists such as Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Andrea Del

Verrocchio, Donatello and Giotto created images of Jesus as the Son of God.
1. Use the internet to search the art galleries around the world for famous
artwork that tells stories of Jesus.
2. Select one of the Gospel stories mentioned in the Student Resource and
create your own artistic image of Jesus as the Son of God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Stories about the humanity of Jesus
Jesus’ followers realised that Jesus was not God disguised as a human but that he
was both fully human and fully divine. They realised this when they recalled
stories from his life. These stories showed that Jesus:
• questioned like anyone (Luke 8:45)
• felt hungry (Matthew 4:1–2)
• experienced thirst (John 4:1–7; 19:28–30)
• felt tired, and required sleep (Matthew 8:23–27)
• cried from grief (Luke 19:41–42; John 11:33–36)
• felt frustrated when his followers did not understand him (John 14:9)
• experienced great fear and worry (Luke 22:39–45)
• suffered terrible physical pain (Mark 15:15–20).
The greatest sign that Jesus was fully human was his death (Luke 23:44–46).
How could Jesus be fully human while also being fully divine?
His followers realised that during his time on earth, Jesus was fully human in the way he
spoke, thought, felt and acted. St Paul, in his Letter to the Philippians, expressed it like
this:
Who being in the form of God,

[Jesus] did not count equality with God
something to be grasped.
But he emptied himself…

becoming as human beings are;
and being in every way like a human being,
he was humbler yet,
even to accepting death, death on a cross.
(Philippians 2:6–8)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
How do we know that Jesus had human understanding?
God knows all: the past, present and future. Jesus, in his humanity however, had to
learn to question and to work things out as a human being. As a child, for example,
he was found in the Temple:
… sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them

questions; and all those who heard him were astounded at his intelligence
and his replies… (Luke 2:46–47)
Jesus had to grow in understanding. Over the years, he learned from others as well as
from his own experience. He:
... increased in wisdom, in stature and in favour with God and with people.
(Luke 2:52)
Jesus in his humanity was no longer conscious of all he would have known as the Son of
God. When speaking about the end of the world, for example, he said:
‘But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels of heaven,
nor the Son, no one but the Father alone.’ (Matthew 24:36)
Twelve-year old Jesus in the Temple, 1851 (pastel and gouache on paper)
by Menzel, Adolph Freidrich Erdmann von (1815–1905)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus came to know things no other human could know
Jesus knew he could call God ‘Abba’
‘Abba’ is an Aramaic word for ‘father’. It is a word of personal affection and closeness.
Jesus used this word when speaking of God his Father:
“Abba, Father!” he said, “For you everything is possible...” (Mark 14:36)
He taught his followers to do the same. He taught them a special prayer to God the
Father now called the ‘Our Father’ and ‘The Lord’s Prayer’.
The Our Father
Our Father, who art in heaven,

hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
hough fully human, Jesus came to know things no

her human could know. He was aware that he could d
pecial things and that he could call people to change
heir lives. Jesus knew what he was sent to reveal abou
God and his love for humankind.
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus knew he could do supernatural things
Jesus knew he could do other things as well. For example, that he could work miracles,
forgive sins and command nature to obey him.
In Class Work
1. Read the following Scripture passages and identify each of the miracles
performed by Jesus.
Matthew 8:1–17, 8:23–27, 9:18–34, 12:9–14
Mark 1:40–45, 2:1–12, 3:1–6, 4:35–41, 6:45–46
Luke 4:31–41, 5:12–26, 6:6–11, 8:26–38, 8:40–56
2. Group together references from different Gospels that deal with

the same miracle.
3. Why do you think there are stories in common?
Jesus knew he could call people to renew their

spiritual lives to come closer to God
Jesus knew that people had to live good lives if they were to come closer to God. He
also knew that he had the authority to call them to do so. He called people to love God
with their whole hearts, souls, minds and strength and to love their neighbours as
themselves.
Jesus knew what he was to teach

people about God. Jesus revealed In Class Work
that God the Father wants everyone
to share in the same ‘Abba’ family Read the following scripture references.
relationship that he himself
possessed with the Father Luke 10:27; Luke 9:23; Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 10:21–27;
(Matthew 6:8). He taught the John 13:12–15; Matthew 22:39; Matthew 5:17–19
One God is a Trinity of ‘the
Father, the Son and the Holy For each, explain what Jesus calls people to do so that they
do
Spirit’ (Matthew 28:19), though can renew their spiritual lives and become closer to God.
it would take the Church some
considerable time to understand
ut
what this means.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus knew that he was sent to institute special celebrations called sacraments. He gave
his Apostles the power to celebrate the Eucharist. At the Last Supper he commanded
them: ‘Do this in remembrance of me’ (Luke 22:19–20). After his Resurrection he gave
his Apostles the power to forgive sins (John 20:21–23).
Jesus understands what it feels like to be rejected
Jesus, being human as well as divine, understands what it is like not to be accepted or to belong.
‘Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of
calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward
will be great in heaven…’ (Matthew 5:11)
Some people laughed at him (Mark 5:40; Matthew 27:29), others wanted to kill him
(Luke 4:28–30 and the crowd called for him to be crucified (Luke 23:20–23).
Today, people of all ages can feel rejected by others. They feel lonely because their need
for belonging and acceptance is not satisfied.
God still wants all people to draw closer to Him while they live in this world. To make
this possible, Jesus began his special family of God, the Church. Through the Church,
people can draw closer to God, satisfy their desires to belong and feel accepted.
Christians know that they can always accept Jesus’ special invitation. He always accepts
them as they are but calls them to change. God’s love is unconditional. The human
yearning for acceptance and belonging can be fully satisfied only by God.
In Class Work
1. Approximately how old was Jesus in the year 20AD?

a) 14 or 16 b) 24 or 26 c) 30 or 33
2. What name was given to the twelve followers of Jesus who were sent out
to proclaim his message?
3. Name the three persons of the Holy Trinity.
4. Explain what is meant by the following statement: ‘Jesus is fully human
and fully divine.’
5. What is expected of Catholics on Holy Days of Obligation?
6. Name one of the Holy Days of Obligation celebrated by Australian
Catholics.
7. What happened at Jesus’ Resurrection? Why is this so important to
Christians?
8. Write two or three sentences explaining your understanding of
what ‘the Church’ means.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
6 Jesus formed God’s special
family as a community
The Church today continues the work of Jesus
Special community celebrations called sacraments
The leadership of the Church developed and progressed from
Jesus and the early Church to the Catholic Church of today
The special laws of the Catholic Church are founded on the
laws of God.
The Church today continues the work of Jesus
People become members of

God’s family, through Baptism.
Like all families, God’s family
shares a common life – the life
of God. God’s family gathers,
has leaders and rules, and
shares stories.
Jesus, as its founder, is Head

of God’s family, the Church.
God wishes all people to relate closely to God. Jesus taught his followers that they must
do all they can to invite others to join his Church, the special family of God.
‘Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them … and teach them to
observe all the commands I gave you. And look, I am with you always; yes, to the
end of time.’ (Matthew 28:19)
‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.’ (Mark 16:15)
‘… you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and
then you will be my witnesses… to the earth’s remotest end.’ (Acts 1:8)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
6. JESUS FORMED GOD’S SPECIAL FAMILY AS A COMMUNITY
God’s family is for all people

In his compassion, Jesus went out of his way to teach that God’s family is for all
people. To show this, he reached out especially to the stranger, the weak, the
rejected and the young.
Jesus reached out to people from different races

Like Australian society today, ancient Palestine was made up of people from many
nationalities and ethnic groups. Jesus reached out to such people, including the
Romans (Luke 7:1–10), Samaritans, a group unwelcome in Jewish society
(John 4:1–42) and other foreign people (John 12: 20–22).
Jesus reached out to people who were thought to be weak

God wants to include in God’s community the
people society thinks are weak, disabled and
helpless. The closer to God people become, the
more God can help, support and comfort them.
Jesus showed this when he gave hope to the poor

(Matthew 5:3), healed those who were sick
(Mark 1:21–31), gave sight to those who were
blind (Mark 8:22–26), gave hearing to those who
were deaf (Mark 7:31–37) and cured those who
were crippled so that they could walk
(Mark 2:1–12).
Like Jesus, the Apostles were empowered to cure people with diseases and disabilities.
In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that Peter cured the lame (Acts 3:1–10; 9:32–36),
the sick sought him out to be cured (Acts 5:14–16) and he raised a dead woman to life
(Acts 9:36–43). We also read that Paul healed a cripple (Acts 14:8–10) and raised to life
a young man who had died (Acts 20:7–12).
God wants to include in God’s community the

people society thinks are weak, disabled and helpless.
The closer to God people become, the more God can
help, support and comfort them.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Who do you think are the disadvantaged people in Australian society? In

what ways are they disadvantaged?
In small groups examine and record how Jesus reached out to different
groups of people in society.
Using the internet and other available resources, research how the Catholic
Church today strives to follow Jesus’ teachings by reaching out to:
1. people from different racial and cultural backgrounds
2. people thought to be weak or sick
3. those rejected by society
4. young people.
Using all the material you have collected, present your findings in a format
like a poster, brochure or any other style suggested by your teacher.
Jesus reached out

to the rejected For your information…
Jesus intends his Church to
To ‘repent’ means to regret doing wro
reach out to and forgive those ng and to
resolve to do right; to turn back to God
people society looks down . By
repenting a person chooses to turn
upon because they have done away from
sin and resolves to obey God’s law. This
wrong. Jesus showed this when involves
a change of mind and a change in
he forgave the dying thief the way the
person acts. Such changes result in
(Luke 23:39–43), forgave ‘conversion’
or the “turning about of a person’s life.”
Peter for denying knowing
Baptism, confession of sins and livin
him (John 21:15–17), g a good
life are the signs of repentance in the
rejected the views of those Church
today.
who criticised him for eating
with well-known sinners
(Matthew 9:10–11) and
befriended corrupt officials
(Luke 19:1–10).

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
1. Has there ever been a time in your life when you have
not forgiven someone for a mistake they have made?
2. How did you act towards this person and how do you
think this person felt as a result of your actions?
3. What difference would be made if this person ‘repents’

and tries to make amends for the wrong done?
In Class Work
Working in small groups, role-play a situation where saying sorry

is a very big challenge.
Jesus reached out to young people

Jesus wants all young people to join the family of God and to draw closer to God
through his Church, to feel accepted by God or enjoy a sense of belonging. Children and
teenagers with questions about God were of special concern to Jesus (Mark 10:13–22).
In Class Work
1. How do the followers of Jesus encourage young people to join in the life
of God’s family? Discuss as a class.
2. What is your experience of the Church? At home? In the parish?

At school?
3. In a few lines, explain what belonging to a Church means to the daily

lives of its members.
4. Why do you think that some young people today choose not to belong
to the Church?
esus wants all young people to join the family of

God and to draw closer to God through his Church, tto
el accepted by God or enjoy a sense of belonging.
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Characteristics of the Church community

The new family of God that Jesus started has the following characteristics of
community:
• it gathers for special community celebrations
• has leaders
• has rules.
Special community celebrations called sacraments
Jesus promised that he would be

present with his followers wherever For your information…
they gather in his name (Matthew
A sacrament is a visible and effective
18:20). He gave them special
sign of God’s grace. The seven
community celebrations called
sacraments of the Church are Baptism
‘sacraments’. The sacraments are ,
Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance,
Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist,
Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and
Penance, Anointing of the Sick,
Marriage. They are signs of God’s
Holy Orders and Marriage. Jesus
presence and celebrate in a special
acts through each sacrament and way
the new life that Jesus brings people
is present in each sacrament. as
members of his family.
seven sacraments
Each sacrament offers particular gifts that
draw members of God’s family closer to
Marriag
e God. Each of these gifts is one aspect of
the transforming power of God.
Holy Orders
Baptism is the first sacrament to be
Anointin
g of the S received. Only a baptised person can
ick
receive the other sacraments.
Penance
Eucharist
Confirmation
Baptism

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The most important of the sacraments is the Eucharist, ‘the source and summit of the
Christian life.’ (CCC 1324) The Eucharist nourishes the spiritual gifts received through
the other six sacraments. Spiritual life as a Christian cannot be lived fully without the
nourishment of the Eucharist.
‘In all truth I tell you,

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man
and drink his blood,
you have no life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life …
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me
and I live in that person’
(John 6:53–56)
That is why one of the rules of the

Catholic Church is that members
participate in the Eucharist each Sunday.
Another rule requires members to receive
Holy Communion at least once a year
during the Easter season.

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The leadership of the Church developed and progressed

from Jesus and the early Church to the Catholic Church
of today
Jesus is the Head of his Church. Jesus called twelve of

his earliest followers to share in his leadership of his
Church. The twelve Apostles were given the spiritual
gifts needed to serve as leaders of God’s family.
The spiritual gifts Jesus gave the Apostles included those needed to change bread and
wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20) and forgive sins
in the Sacrament of Penance (John 20:22–23). They were given the power to hand on
the strength of the Holy Spirit in Confirmation (Acts 8:17) and commanded to ensure
that the teachings of Jesus are taught correctly to others in the Church (Luke 10:16).
They were given authority to anoint the sick (Mark 6:13).
Jesus gave his authority to the Apostles

Jesus gave authority to the Apostles and made Peter their leader. He said:
‘…You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community… I will give you the keys
of the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven;
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven…’ (Matthew 16:18–19)
In Jesus’ time, the servant who had the authority to manage a home or a business
received the keys from the owner.
Jesus gave Peter the authority to

lead the Church by giving him the
‘keys of the kingdom’.

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The Pope, bishops, priests and deacons

The Apostles handed their spiritual gifts and authority to ‘bind’ and to ‘loose’ on to
others, as Jesus intended. One reason for this was that God’s family, the Church, started
to grow in numbers and more leaders were needed.
The spiritual gifts and authority Jesus

first gave to the Apostles have been For your information…
handed on from leader to leader over the
A rite is a repetitive ceremonial acti
past two thousand years by the rite of vity
with fixed rules such as the rite of
ordination, that is, the laying on (or
ordination. Each sacrament has its
“imposition”) of hands and prayer of
own rite.
consecration. Today, these leaders are
called bishops. Every bishop can trace
the spiritual gifts and authority he has
received from earlier bishops back to the
first Apostles chosen by Jesus. The successor to St Peter
Priests and deacons are ordained by today, as leader of the bishops,
bishops. They receive the spiritual gifts is called the Pope. The line
necessary for their particular ministry
when the bishop lays hands on them and of Popes goes back to St Peter.
says a prayer of consecration. Priests assist
Bishops with their leadership role in the
Church. They share some of the spiritual
gifts received by the Bishops. Deacons also have a ministry of service in the Church.
Their role is to help bishops and priests in their service of God’s people.
Non-ordained members of the Church may also be assigned a leadership role whether
as an extraordinary minister or as someone in charge of a Church organisation.
In Class Work
1. Who is the current Pope of

the Catholic Church?
2. In what country does he live?
3. What is his nationality?
4. What are some of the things

that identify the Pope as the
leader of the Catholic
Church?

CONTENTS CHAPTER
View of St Peter’s piazza, 1656–67 (photo) by Bernini, Giovanni Lorenzo (1598–1680)
The special laws of the Catholic Church are founded

on the laws of God
Every community needs special laws or rules to ensure members contribute to its
purpose. Jesus taught his followers to obey two special commandments or laws, first
given by God to the people of the Old Testament:
‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your strength and with all your mind.’ (Luke 10:27 from Deuteronomy 6:5)
‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39 from Leviticus 19:18)
The rules or laws of the Church are founded on the laws of God. These laws are found
in the Bible and in Tradition. Tradition is the teaching of God that is not recorded in the
Bible but is entrusted to the Apostles and their successors under the guidance of the
Holy Spirit. The Pope and Bishops help people to keep the commandments and laws of
God by providing guidance and direction.

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In Class Work
1. What is a sacrament?
2. List the seven sacraments.
3. What sacrament do people need to receive first before they can receive
other sacraments?
4. Which sacrament nourishes the gifts received through other sacraments?
5. Name some of the spirituals gifts that Jesus gave his Apostles.
6. Name the leader of the Apostles. Who is his successor and leader of the
Church today?
7. What is the name given to the successors of the Apostles who lead the
Church today?
8. Who ordains priests and deacons?
9. Explain how priests and deacons serve the Church.
10. At the ordinations of bishops, priests and deacons, what is handed on

to them during the ‘laying on of hands’?

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7 How do people come
to know God?
Christians can relate closely with God
The human mind is not capable of fully understanding
the mystery of God
Knowing about the Trinity enables people to relate closely
with God
The Apostles’ Creed summarises all that Jesus taught
about God.
Christians can relate closely with God
People actually need to know God if they are to satisfy

their need for acceptance and belonging. Knowing about
God is not sufficient. This is the reason why Jesus Christ,
came to reveal God to us in his own person. Jesus taught
his followers how to relate fully with God. God had to
relate with people personally for people to know God.
As people relate with Him in the ways that Jesus did and
taught, Christians can come to know God as fully as the
current human condition allows.
Jesus revealed that God is a Trinity
Some ancient religions, such as those of Egypt, Greece

and Rome, thought that there were many gods. Others,
such as the Jewish religion, taught that there was only
one God. Jesus confirmed this to be true. He then
revealed that this one God is a Trinity, that is, in the
One God, there are Three Persons – the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit.
Icon of the Holy Trinity by Cretan, (17th century)

Doctrine (Latin ‘doctrina’ – teaching) An individual teaching or collection of teachings
based on the person and work of Jesus that comes to people through the Church.

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7. HOW DO PEOPLE COME TO KNOW GOD?
The human mind is not capable of fully understanding

the mystery of God
When speaking of God, the word
‘Person’ is used in a special sense and
does not mean individual or separate
god. The three Persons, while distinct
from each as Father, Son and
Holy Spirit, are one God.
Jesus made it clear that the three

Persons are not three gods – but one
God. How this can be is beyond
human understanding.
Just as a person cannot see the colours

that make up white light without a
crystal, so they cannot believe many
truths about God without faith. While
a person will come to know more in
heaven about God, complete
understanding will remain beyond the
human mind. God is the all holy
Ms Lat. Q.v.I.126 f.88v Baptism of Christ, from the
mystery that will always be greater than 'Book of Hours of Louis d'Orleans', 1469 (vellum)
the human mind can grasp. by Colombe, Jean (c.1430–c.93)
God the Father
Jesus revealed God the Father, and himself as God the Son and he taught that:
‘The Father and I are one
... I said “I am Son of God”.

If I am not doing my Father‘s work,
there is no need to believe me …
the Father is in me and I am in the Father.
Anyone who loves me will keep my word,

and my Father will love him,
and we shall come to him
and make a home in him.’
(John 10:30, 36–39; 14:23)

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The Holy Spirit
Jesus revealed God the Holy Spirit and he taught that:
‘I shall ask the Father,

and he will give you …
the Spirit …
… you know him,
because he is with you, he is in you.’
‘I have said these things to you

while still with you;
but … the Holy Spirit,
whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you everything
and remind you of all I have said to you.’
(John 14:16–17, 25–26)
‘… do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, (when others
persecute you), because … the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.’
(Luke 12:11–12)
Jesus revealed that God wants

people to allow God to live within
them, so as to relate as closely as
possible with them. For this reason,
God wants people to be baptised or
to accept Baptism. People must be
baptised in the name of the Trinity
to enter fully into the life of God.
‘Go, therefore, make

disciples of all nations;
baptise them in the
name of the Father and
of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit.’
(Matthew 28:19)

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In Class Work
One of the first prayers Catholics are taught as children is the Sign of the Cross.
Slowly and reverently pray the Sign of the Cross. Think carefully about each
word you say.
1. Can you remember who taught you how to make the Sign of the Cross?
2. What are some occasions when you make the Sign of the Cross?
3. The Sign of the Cross is called upon in everyday living. Some senior
sporting players at the highest level have been seen to openly make the
Sign of the Cross in the media before, during or after an important event.
Can you give other examples of where the Sign of the Cross has been
called upon in other facets of life?
4. Would you ever feel strange about making the Sign of the Cross in
public? Why or why not?
5. What does it mean to start and end a prayer by making the

Sign of the Cross?
6. What do you think it means to say we are doing something

in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit?
Knowing about the Trinity enables people to

relate closely with God
Jesus revealed what people need to know to relate with God and to feel that they belong
and are accepted by God. Jesus revealed that there are three Persons in One God, the
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
The Persons are equal in every way to each other. Jesus is equal to the Father and the
Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and Jesus; the Father is equal to Jesus and the Holy
Spirit. Each of the three Persons is distinct from the other two.
The names of the Persons reveal how they relate to each other and to the human race.
The name ‘Father’ reveals, for example, that people should turn to God the Father as
children would turn to a loving parent. The ‘Son’ reveals that Christians should relate
with Jesus as a loving ‘brother’ (Matthew 28:10; Hebrews 2:17). They do not mean that
God the Father existed before God the Son, and so is superior to the Son. The persons
share the one divine nature.

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Christians experience the persons of the Trinity simultaneously
Jesus revealed that God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, work together to reveal
God’s love for us. They do nothing separately. Every time Christians receive a blessing,
they are experiencing simultaneously:
• God the Father giving the blessing
• Jesus, God the Son, asking God the Father to give the blessing, and the Father giving
the blessing through him
• God the Holy Spirit giving the Christian the experience of the blessing.
How can human beings relate with God?
The aim of Jesus was to explain as much as his followers could understand in order to
relate with God in this life. Jesus taught his followers to turn to God the Father as they
would to a human parent who loves them completely, who wants to give them everything
that they need, and who wants always to forgive every wrong they might have done.
Jesus also taught them to turn to himself, the Son of God, like a loving ‘brother’
(Hebrews 2:17). He prayed to God the Father, on behalf of all who follow him. This is
why Christian prayers to God the Father end with the words ‘through Christ our Lord’.
Jesus taught them to ask the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen them in their lives, so
that they could love as he loves, and do good – especially when it is hard to do so. The
Holy Spirit guides and strengthens from within by stirring their thoughts and feelings.
Before Jesus came, people did not know about the Trinity. They were not aware of how
they could know or relate with the Son or the Holy Spirit.

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The Apostles’ Creed summarises all that Jesus

taught about God
Jesus taught many things about God. Christians celebrate all of these teachings. They
understand that the more they learn and know about God, the better they will be able to
relate personally with God. Their yearning for acceptance and belonging will be satisfied
more fully.
Jesus’ Church summarised all that He

taught about God, and how people For your information…
can experience the Trinity, in a formal
The Apostles’ Creed was not written
statement of beliefs called a creed, by
the Apostles but was a presentation
from the Latin term credo meaning of
their teaching. It dates from the earl
“I believe”. One of the earliest creeds y
years of the Church.
is called ‘the Apostles’ Creed.

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8 Lent – a special time of personal
growth in following Jesus

The season of Lent enables Catholics to draw upon
the power of God
The events and ceremonies of Holy Week.
The season of Lent enables Catholics to draw upon the

forgiving and transforming power of God
The season of Lent is the time when Catholics recall
what Christ has done for them in a special way.
They renew their efforts to repent and believe so
40
that they draw upon God’s power in their daily lives.
DAYS
Each year, at Easter, Christians celebrate the
Resurrection of Jesus from the dead and recall that OF LENT
Jesus is alive and still with them in his Church. They
also remember that the power of God’s Kingdom is
even greater than death. Easter is the most important Christians practise
feast of the Church’s year. disciplines that help them
grow and deepen their
To prepare for Easter, Christians celebrate Lent. relationship with God.
Lent is a season of renewed spiritual life. During the
forty days of Lent Christians practise disciplines that
help them grow and deepen their relationship with
God. These disciplines are:
Where does the word ‘Lent’
• increased prayer
come from?
• self-denial
• almsgiving. Lent comes from the old Anglo-
Saxon word lencten meaning
‘spring time.’ Spring is a season
for new life. Lent generally falls
in Spring in the Northern
Hemisphere but in Australia
Lent generally falls in Autumn.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
8. LENT – A SPECIAL TIME OF PERSONAL GROWTH FOLLOWING JESUS
In Class Work
1. Explain why the season of Lent lasts for forty days.
2. Why are Sundays not included in the forty days of Lent?
In your own words describe what the season of Lent means

to you.
People often look at Lent as a time of ‘giving something up’.

If Lent is to be a time of personal growth in following Jesus,
it means that people not only should go without, but
should also make an effort to ‘take up’ and ‘take on’.
This could be as simple as making an extra effort to help

out at home with household chores or taking an active part
in various types of community service work both at school
and in the wider community. Making the extra effort to pray
to God during this special time is very important.
What do you plan on ‘giving up’, ‘taking up’ and ‘taking on’
during the Lenten period?
Ash Wednesday
‘…the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the gospel.’ (Mark 1:15)
Ash Wednesday signifies the start of Lent for

Christians. On Ash Wednesday, followers of Jesus For your information…
who want to repent and believe in the Gospel are
Traditionally, the ashes for
marked with ashes on the forehead. The person
Ash Wednesday are made by
marking them repeats the call of Jesus to accept
burning the branches of palms
the power of God into their lives by saying:
used on Palm Sunday the
previous year.
Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel
or Turn away from sin and believe the good news.
The focus in Lent is upon improving a Christian’s relationship with God. A Christian
can draw on the power of God’s saving love to change their behaviour so that they
become more loving and good – and so draw closer to God.

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Jesus taught that the Kingdom of God

will triumph
Lent reminds people that God in Christ will conquer
all evil and that his power will help them overcome
everything in their lives that does not reflect
the love and goodness of God.

wed by Catholics are:
The traditional Lenten practices follo
tion in the Eucharist, family

Prayer, such as increased participa
rosary
prayer, visiting a church, praying the
Prayer
from meat or sweets, fasting,
Self-denial, for example, abstaining
d more time with the family,
giving up some entertainment to spen
to the poor
limiting food and drink so as to give
Almsgiving, which might consist of

giving special attention to
someone who is needy (eg. poor, lone
ly, sick) or donating some
Self-denial
Almsgiving
tion.
pocket money to a charitable organisa
The events and ceremonies of Holy Week
Jesus’ mission was to proclaim the Kingdom of God throughout all of Israel, including
the capital, Jerusalem. As Jesus continued teaching about the Kingdom of God and
showing its power, many influential Jewish religious leaders became his enemies. They
began to plot his death in order to silence him (John 11:45–54).
Jesus knew of the plot of the Jewish leaders. His choice, therefore, was either to go to
Jerusalem and continue his mission that would lead to his death – or to stay away from
Jerusalem and be unfaithful to his mission.
Jesus chose to be faithful to his mission. He started the journey to Jerusalem, warning
his followers that:
‘… the Son of man was destined to suffer grievously and to be rejected by the
elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after
three days to rise again …’ (Mark 8:31)

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The triumph of Jesus in Holy Week

The week before Easter is called ‘Holy Week’. The events of Holy Week lead to Easter
Sunday which celebrates Jesus’ Resurrection from the dead. This was the moment of his
greatest triumph – the ultimate proof of his power over Satan and evil.
Each of the days in Holy Week has a special focus.
Palm Sunday – The entrance into Jerusalem

Christians celebrate the entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem each year on Palm Sunday
(Mark 11:1–11). They recall especially the words of the people:
Hosanna! Blessed is he who is coming in the name of the Lord!

... Hosanna in the highest heavens! (Mark 11:9)
Jesus entered Jerusalem

riding a colt because,
traditionally, Jewish kings
rode colts to their
coronation. Also, a
prophet, Zechariah, had
prophesised more than six
hundred years earlier that
a Messiah (or anointed
one of God) would enter
Jerusalem on a colt.
Rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion!

Shout for joy, daughter of Jerusalem!
Look your King is approaching…
riding on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
(Zechariah 9:9)
The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, from the Altarpiece of

St. Stephen, c.1470 (oil on panel) by Pacher, Michael (1435–98)
The people of Jerusalem had heard about Jesus. They also recognised the symbolism
of his entrance into Jerusalem on a colt. The cry ‘hosanna’ was the Hebrew word
for ‘God, save’. The Gospel of John identified the branches they used as palm branches.
… They took branches of palm and went out to receive him… (John 12:13)

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Spy Wednesday
The following Wednesday, called Spy Wednesday,
recalls that Jesus was betrayed to the Jewish
Judas Iscariot promised to help
leaders by one of the Apostles. His name was
Judas Iscariot (Matthew 26:14–16). the Jewish leaders arrest Jesus in
return for a bribe of thirty shekels
Judas promised to help the Jewish leaders arrest or ‘pieces of silver’.
Jesus in return for a bribe of thirty shekels or
‘pieces of silver’, the price the Jewish law fixed
for the life of a slave (Exodus 21:32).
Holy Thursday
The Jewish feast of Passover recalls
how, in around 1250BC, God freed the For your information…
Jewish people from slavery in Egypt
Did you know that the English nam
and made them God’s own people. A e for Holy Thursday is
Maundy Thursday? ‘Maundy’ is from
special religious meal is the central part the Latin word
‘mandatum,’ which means ‘comman
of Passover. Jesus knew he was going to dment’. It was on this
night that Jesus, after breaking the
die and especially wanted to celebrate bread and blessing the
wine, gave his Apostles a two-fold com
Passover with his disciples. They mandment:
shared the Passover meal on the night
‘…do this in remembrance of me.’ (Luk
before his death and this meal is e 22: 19) and
‘…love one another just as I have love
referred to as the Last Supper. During d you.’ (John 13:34)
the meal he instituted the Eucharist.

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The arrest
During the Last Supper, Judas left to tell the Jewish authorities where to arrest Jesus.
He promised:
‘The one I kiss, he is the man. Arrest him,

and see he is well guarded when you lead him away.’ (Mark 11:9)
When the Jewish authorities arrested Jesus, the other Apostles ran away in fear. (Mark
14:43–52). Jesus was then put on trial by the Jewish authorities (Mark 14:53–65).
Peter went to where the trial was being held, but was so afraid that he denied even
knowing Jesus (Mark 14:66–72).
Good Friday
Good Friday commemorates and solemnly celebrates the crucifixion of Jesus.
The Jewish leaders had no authority to execute Jesus. Execution could only be
authorised by the Roman Governor of Judaea, Pontius Pilate.
Pilate tried to release Jesus, but the Jewish leaders agitated
the crowd to insist on his death and Pilate gave in.
After being scourged (whipped), Jesus was
crucified (Mark 15:1–47).

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Why do you think the English name ‘Good Friday’ is thought to

have originally been ‘God’s Day’?
The Resurrection
After his death, Jesus rose from the dead. He then appeared over the following days to
more than five hundred of his followers (1 Corinthians 15:1–8). The Gospels record
some of these appearances, primarily those to the women and the Apostles who were the
closest followers of Jesus during his life (Mark 16:1–8 and 9-20; Matthew 28:11–20;
Luke 24:9–53; John 20 and 21).
In Class Work
Look up the following Scripture references in the Gospel of Luke and make notes
about each of the significant events in Holy Week:
Palm (Passion) Sunday Luke 19:28–40

Monday Luke 19:45–46
Tuesday Luke 21:1–4
Wednesday Luke 22:1–6
Holy Thursday Luke 22:7–23, Luke 22:39–53
Good Friday Luke 23:1–56
Holy Saturday Luke 22:56
Easter Sunday Luke 24:1–12.
Easter is the most

important feast of the
Church s’ year.
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1 The search for true happiness

The search for happiness can be completely satisfied
only by God
The desire for happiness can tempt people to try
escaping unhappiness
The search for happiness can be satisfied completely
only by God.
The desire for happiness is one of the

most important reasons why people
behave as they do
People desire happiness in their lives. This leads them to
try to create situations they hope will give them lasting
happiness. Some try to make a lot of money or acquire
material possessions. Some also try to become famous,
gain power over events and people or behave in ways to
impress peers.
People who look for happiness in these ways are never

fully satisfied. They always want more because what they
have is never enough.
In Class Work Some try to make a lot of money

or acquire material possessions
Explain why wealth, fame, power and to give them lasting happiness.
approval of peers do not bring
lasting happiness.
The desire for happiness can tempt people to try to

escape unhappiness
In their desire to be happy, people can sometimes try to escape from unhappiness by
being pressured by peer groups, taking drugs, bullying others, getting drunk or shutting
themselves off from others.

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1. THE SEARCH FOR TRUE HAPPINESS
1. Write about a time when you have been truly happy

and explain why.
2. Where do you think true happiness can be found?
3. Can people be happy forever? Explain.
The desire for true and lasting happiness is very deep.

It comes from the heart or ‘core’ of the person.
This leads people to ask: Which Way

• What is true happiness? ?
• Can I ever find it?
• Where can it be found?
• How can I be happy forever?
The search for happiness can be completely

satisfied only by God
When people find that their desire for true happiness cannot be satisfied fully by anyone
or anything in this world, they begin to wonder where it can be found. This can lead
many to look beyond this world to its Creator.
God created the desire for true happiness deep within the human heart in order to
encourage each individual to seek God.
The desire for true happiness, therefore, is really a desire for God. St Augustine, a great
writer of the Church wrote more than fifteen hundred years ago:
‘You are great, O Lord … for you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are
restless until they rest in you.’ (Confessions 1.1, 1)
Think of a time when you tried to escape unhappiness.

Record the situation that made you feel unhappy and write
about what you did in order to seek happiness.
How did you feel after this experience?

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2 Recognising God’s presence

Experiences of creation cause people to stop and wonder
There are many clues to help people discover their Creator
Reasons why people fail to recognise God’s presence in
creation and the world
The Creator wants to relate personally with all people.
Experiences of creation cause people to stop and wonder
Without God, the human desire for true and lasting happiness can never be fully
satisfied.
People have the gifts to discover their Creator. Two of these gifts are:
• intuition, which allows people to sense the presence of the Creator
• reason, which allows people to think about the presence of the Creator.
Sensing God’s presence

Creation contains many clues to its Creator. They range from small things, such as
insects or micro-organisms, to the vastness of the universe and its galaxies.
People can sense the presence of God when experiences of creation cause them to simply
stop and wonder at its beauty or power. People can then begin to think about deep
mysteries of creation and life. At such times, God’s presence becomes very real and
immediate to them.
Sometimes an experience of God in creation

can be quite overwhelming. Many people
find words inadequate to describe what
they experience. Others express their
sense of God’s presence in a great variety
of ways, such as through dance, prayer,
artistic expression, dreaming, singing
praise and writing poetry. Some are
happy just to sit in the silence of
God’s awesome presence.

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2. RECOGNISING GOD’S PRESENCE
Find a spot on your own and remain in complete silence

for 5 minutes.
1. Be still and listen. What do you hear? (1 minute)

2. Be still and smell. What do you smell? (1 minute)
3. Be still and look. What do you see? (1 minute)
Move your hands gently and touch different objects.

Name what you touch and record what it feels like
(2 minutes).
What do you experience during this time of silence?

Do you think it is important to take time out of your busy
life schedule for times of quiet? Explain.
Give examples in creation which move you deeply and fill

you with a deep sense of life’s mystery (e.g. walking along
a beach, taking in the warmth of the sun, observing a
sunset).
There are many clues to help people

discover their Creator
From ancient times, people have found their imaginations
stirred to ask questions about creation. They have found
that the only answer to each question is ‘God’.
Many modern scientists would also draw similar

conclusions using modern scientific knowledge.
What is the Creator like?

People who realise that there is a greater Presence or
Creator tend to wonder:
• What is the Creator of the universe like?
• What does our Creator expect of us?
• Will our Creator treat us differently if we fail to
meet these expectations?
• How can we communicate with our Creator?
• What pleases our Creator?

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Reasons why people fail to

recognise God’s presence
in creation and the world
In order to have experiences of God, people
first need to recognise God’s presence in
creation. They need to begin responding to
God; however, people find this difficult for
a range of reasons.
Failure to think about creation

Some people are blind to the beauty of creation
and they fail to think about questions such as:
‘How did this come to be?’ As a result, they do
not recognise God the Creator.
Ignoring dependence on God

Many believe God exists but ignore that they depend upon God for their continuing
existence. One result of this is that people are faced with living life without asking for
God’s help. This may lead many people to suffer, which is not what God wants.
Living as though there is no God

Atheism means living as though there is no God. It does not just mean thinking that God
does not exist. People can say that they believe in God but in practice never relate with,
or even acknowledge, God.
Living as though there is no God means never:

• praying
• following God’s teachings
• trying to live God’s laws
• acknowledging God’s existence through public worship.
Feelings of unhealed guilt

Some people are afraid to think about God because they feel guilty about past actions
or, perhaps, they are doing wrong things now, that they feel they cannot change. For
Catholics, such guilt can be healed by facing up to what they feel guilty about and
seeking God’s forgiveness, especially in the Sacrament of Penance.
Anger against God

People can feel angry at God, especially in times of personal tragedy, when things go
wrong or because prayers seem unanswered. Such feelings are natural. Christians know
that God understands their feelings and wants them to express these feelings in prayer.
Ignoring responsibilities towards God

Some people refuse to acknowledge that they have responsibilities towards God. They
do not want to know about religious laws or codes of behaviour. In rejecting their
responsibilities towards God, people reject many rich and deep experiences of God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Religious confusion
People can be confused about who God For your information…
is and what God is like. One source of
A religion is a particular
confusion is the fact that there are many system of
beliefs, values, rituals an
different religions in the world. People d worship
shared by a number of pe
observe different religious practices and ople. Every
religion centres its ideas
codes of morality. Some religions see and activities
on the ‘Other’ – a supern
God as close and loving, others as atural being,
power or force and requir
remote and fearsome. Some religions es believers to
give their loyalty to God
believe that there is one God. Others or a number of
divine beings.
believe that there are several gods.
Excessive material concerns

Many people live lives that do not allow time for God, thinking about God or religious
involvement. Desires for wealth, material possessions, comfort, power and social status
often drive people to lead excessively busy lives.
Negative attitudes towards religion

Negative attitudes to religion make it hard to develop the religious understanding
needed for experiences of God. There can be many reasons why people have these
attitudes, such as rejecting parental beliefs and authority, lack of understanding of beliefs
and worship or negative experiences of people who fail to practise what they preach.
Mistaken religious expectations

Some people have different religious expectations. They misunderstand experiences of
God and think that these should be always exciting and emotionally satisfying. They
think that, unless they are emotionally moved, they have not experienced God.
The Creator wants to relate personally with all people
Genuine experiences of God are found deep within a person. As these experiences are
recognised and appreciated, people find themselves drawn closer to God and begin to
change. People may grow more loving and less selfish. They find it easier to do what is
good and are able to resist temptations to do what is not good.
Religions help people build upon and

strengthen relationships with God.
The beliefs and practices of their
religion promote this. God as
Creator wants to relate personally
with all people.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
3 Religions help people to
learn about God
This chapter presents the following key learning point:

Major religions tend to have the same basic characteristics.
Major religions tend to have the same basic characteristics
There are as many different experiences of God as there are

people. Religious beliefs have developed as a result of For your information…
common experiences of God that have been discovered by
groups of religious people. Religions differ in many ways; Sacred means holy or de
dicated for
however, they still tend to share and express the experience religious purposes. In mo
st religions, a
of God in some basic ways. They all have sacred places, sacred place or thing is
believed to be
ver y acceptable to gods
sacred signs and symbols, rituals, sacred objects, religious or God. Such a
place or thing has great
writings, religious laws and religious leaders. religious
significance.
Sacred places
Most religions have special and sacred places in which to
communicate with God. Examples include sacred sites, temples or churches.
These places are usually marked with reminders of God’s presence, for example, special
symbols and statues. By having a special place, and perhaps a special time, people may
feel more inclined to take part in communal worship.
For Catholics, a church is a sacred place. It is where Catholics gather to participate in

the Eucharist and other special religious celebrations.

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3. RELIGIONS HELP PEOPLE TO LEARN ABOUT GOD
In Class Work
Can you think of any specific sacred places in your society, suburb, school or
home (temples, chapels or other sacred sites) where people are able to go to
communicate with God?
Sacred symbols
To help people think about God, religions
have developed signs and symbols. These
may be totems, statues, markings or
furnishings.
For Catholics and other Christians, the

crucifix is a very important religious
symbol. It reminds them of the love of
Jesus who died to save all people.
Other representations of Jesus, Mary or a

saint can lead people to experiences of God.
Statues of Mary for example remind

Christ’s followers that God helped Mary For Catholics and other Christians, the
live perfectly as Jesus taught. Therefore crucifix is a very important religious
statues of Mary remind Christ’s followers symbol. It reminds them of the love of
that, like Mary, God will help people to live Jesus who died to save all people.
like Jesus and overcome temptations to sin.
These images encourage people to live like Jesus in

the same way as Mary did. Statues of Mary also For your information…
remind Catholics that they can pray to her as their
spiritual mother and ask Mary to pray to her Son Catholics never worship
religious
for their needs. As the spiritual mother of the symbols. They only use the
m to help
Church, Mary cares for its members as she cared them to pray and to wo
rship God.
for Jesus.
In Class Work
1. Research the difference between a ‘cross’ and a ‘crucifix’.

2. Name three places where a cross or crucifix is located in your school.
3. Do you have any religious symbols in your home that are particularly
important to you? If so, explain why.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Religious rituals
Religious rituals tend to celebrate the most For your information…
important experiences and beliefs of a religion. A ‘ritual’ is an established set of actions
and procedures used in a ceremony. A
Religious rituals help people to respond to common ritual is the singing of ‘Happy
God and what God does for them. Rituals Birthday’ while blowing out the candles
include prayers, silences, listening to stories or on the birthday cake.
teachings about God, songs and movements of
different kinds.
For Catholics, the most important religious

ritual is the Eucharist. This sacred celebration
reminds all of how deeply God wants to relate
with them.
Another important religious ritual for

Catholics is the Sacrament of Penance,
celebrated in the Rite of Reconciliation.
Reconciliation is a reminder that Jesus
restores close friendship with God to
those who are sorry for their sins.

Worship is an act of reverence and
respect paid to God and only to God.
Liturgy is the official public worship of
the Church during which people gather
to remember and celebrate all that
God has done for them.
For Catholics, the most important religious

ritual is the Eucharist. This sacred
celebration reminds all of how deeply God
wants to relate with them.
In Class Work
Identify in your school calendar when you will be celebrating the Eucharist
this year. Identify how many times you will have an opportunity to celebrate
the Sacrament of Penance.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Sacred objects
In Class Work
In all religions, objects used in
rituals and acts of communication
Research the altar vessels: the paten, the
with God are regarded as ‘sacred’.
chalice and the ciborium, how are they
Such objects should be treated with
used during the Eucharist.
special respect. Sacred objects
include holy books used in rituals.
Why are they regarded as
sacred objects?
For Catholics, examples of ‘sacred
objects’ are those used during
celebrations of the Eucharist. These
include the Lectionary, which is a
collection of Bible readings used during Mass, and the altar vessels.
Religious writings
Religions have various kinds of writing. These include stories, poems, hymns, wise
sayings and many more. Religious writings are related to significant teachings of a
religion.
For Catholics, the religious writings are found in the Bible which includes the forty-six
books of the Old Testament and the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. These
sacred scriptures reveal God’s teaching and are welcomed as ‘The Word of God’.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Religious laws
All religions have religious laws or codes of behaviour. The purpose of these is to help
people avoid doing anything that will damage their relationship with God.
Christians have religious laws. Those in the Catholic tradition follow the laws of the
Catholic Church which are based on the laws of God and relate to the two great
commandments of Jesus:
‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one, only Lord, and you
must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour
as yourself.’ (Mark12:29–31)
Religious leaders
In every religion, there are particular people who are expected
to play special roles to help the general community to relate
with God.
It is the role of these special people to teach others different

ways of communicating with God and preserve the stories,
ceremonies and other experiences of God handed on from
previous generations. They are expected to teach others
different ways of communicating with God.
Catholics look to priests and religious brothers and sisters

to fulfil these tasks.
In Class Work
Research the roles of priests and religious

brothers and sisters and record the special
roles they are each expected to play to
help the general community to relate
with God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
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CONTENTS CHAPTER
4 God’s Chosen People of Israel

God established the people of Israel through Abraham
God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and formed
them to be the Chosen People
God entered into a ‘covenant relationship’ with the
people of Israel.
God established the people of

Israel through Abraham
Around four thousand years ago, God began to
communicate directly with Abram who at that
time lived in Haran in Mesopotamia.
God said to Abram:

‘… Leave your country, your
kindred and your father’s house
for a country which I shall show
you; and I shall make you a great
nation, I shall bless you and
make your name famous; you
are to be a blessing!’
God the Father with Abraham (stained glass)
(Genesis 12:1–2) by English School, (15th century)

e of
In ancient times a chang
name meant a change of Abram did as God asked, taking his wife
rai’s
destiny. Abram’s and Sa Sarai, later renamed ‘Sarah’, his nephew
names were changed to Lot and all his livestock and possessions
Abraham and Sarah. with him.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
4. GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE OF ISRAEL
Figure 1: Abram’s journey to the Promised Land around 1850BC
The covenant with Abraham

When Abram was an old man and his wife, Sarai, was too old to bear children. God
spoke to him again and made a covenant with him:
‘… this is my covenant with you: you will become the father of many nations.
And you are no longer to be called Abram; your name is to be Abraham, for I am
making you father of many nations … and to your descendants after you, I shall
give the country where you are now immigrants … to own in perpetuity. And I
will be their God.
… You for your part must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you,
generation after generation … every one of your males will be circumcised … and
that will be the sign of the covenant between myself and you.
… your wife Sarai, you must not call her Sarai, but Sarah. I shall bless her and
moreover give you a son by her. I shall bless her and she will become nations:
kings of peoples will issue from her.’ (Genesis 17:4–8, 9, 11, 15–16)

CONTENTS CHAPTER

What is the meaning of the word ‘covenant’?
A ‘covenant’ is a binding agreement between two people or groups.
Covenants involve a pledging of the parties’ whole selves to each other, for example, a
marriage covenant. Covenants are meant to be permanent, that is, until death.
Covenants in ancient times were generally not made in writing, but when people gave
their word, it was serious and binding. Covenants were sealed in blood, for instance, the
covenant between God and Abram was sealed in an ancient ritual which involved the
sacrifice of certain animals and birds (Genesis 15:1–21).
God told Abraham that male children were to be circumcised when they were eight days
old. This would serve as a reminder that the child was a member of God’s covenant
people:
‘As soon as he is eight days old, every one of your males, generation after
generation, must be circumcised ….’ (Genesis 17:12)
Just as God promised, Sarah bore a child Isaac, although she was elderly and thought to
be sterile.
God repeated the covenant promise to Abraham’s descendants, to his son Isaac
(Genesis 26:4–6), and to his grandson Jacob (Genesis 28:13–15).
The twelve patriarchs of Israel

Jacob’s name was also changed by God (Genesis 35:10). Jacob became Israel and
each of his twelve sons became the ‘patriarch’ or founding father of one of the
twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes take their names from the patriarchs: Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Napthtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph,
Benjamin. (Genesis 29:31–30:24)
Today, all Jewish people claim descent from one of these patriarchs.

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The Jewish people go to Egypt

Joseph, one of the most famous of the twelve patriarchs, was sold into slavery by his
brothers because they were jealous of their father’s love for him. Joseph was appointed
governor of Egypt by the Pharaoh (king) (Genesis 41:37–49). When his brothers came
to Egypt seeking food during a famine, Joseph was reunited with them and forgave
them. Around 1700 BC, Israel and all his children and grandchildren moved to Egypt.
Family Tree of Noah to the Patriarchs
Noah
Shem Ham Japheth
Terah
(Abram – Sarai) Haran

Abraham – Sarah
Lot
Isaac
(Jacob)
Israel
Reuben
Simeon
Issachar
Levi
Judah
Dan
Gad
Asher
Zebulun
Napthtali
Joseph
Benjamin
The Exodus from Egypt

As God had promised Abraham, the children of Israel increased greatly. Like others of
their time, they still thought that there were many gods. They saw God as one of many
in the world, a kind of ‘clan God’ – the God of their family. They called God ‘the God
of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Finding of Moses (oil on canvas) by Poussin, Nicolas (1594–1665)
God saved the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and

formed them to be the Chosen People
Around 1280BC, just over four hundred years after they moved to Egypt, the
descendants of Israel (the Israelites) had grown so numerous that the Egyptian Pharaoh,
Ramses II, became fearful that they might help his enemies. He put them into forced
labour or slavery:
‘Look’, he said… ‘We must take precautions to stop them from increasing any
further,…They might take arms against us and then escape from the country.’
Accordingly they put taskmasters over the Israelites to wear them down …
(Exodus 1:9–11)
Pharaoh’s efforts failed to wear down the Israelites so he ordered the deaths of all male
babies.
The mother of one Israelite baby boy sought to save her son. She placed him in a basket
and floated the basket near where Pharaoh’s daughter bathed. Pharaoh’s daughter found
the child and brought him up as her own. She called him Moses.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Moses learns the name of God

After he reached manhood, Moses had to flee from
Egypt because he killed an Egyptian who had For your information…
attacked an Israelite. He became a shepherd in the
Moses was an ancient Eg
land of Midian, east of the Red Sea. yptian
word, meaning ‘to draw
out’.
(Exodus 2:10)
One day, God appeared to Moses in a flame
blazing from the middle of a bush, ‘...but the bush
was not being burnt up.’(Exodus 3:2-3) God
called him to become the leader of the Israelites. When Moses came near, God said:
‘I am the God of your ancestors, ... the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the
God of Jacob ...
… I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying
for help on account of their taskmasters …
… the Israelites’ cry for help has reached me … So now I am sending you to
Pharaoh, for you to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.’ (Exodus 3:6–10)
Moses asked what name to call God and received the reply:
‘You are to tell the Israelites, “Yahweh, the God of your ancestors … has sent me
to you.”’ (Exodus 3:15)
By revealing to Moses
the name ‘Yahweh’, For your information…
God revealed that: God’s mysterious name
is written in Hebrew as the
• God has always existed Tetragrammaton YHWH
, the four consonants of
• God will always exist ancient Hebrew name for the
God. It means either, ‘I am
• God will always be he who is’, ‘I am who am
’ or ‘I am who I am’ or sim
present to those I AM (Catechism 206, 20 ply,
7).
who seek him.
The word “Yahweh”, “Jahw
eh” or “Yehovah” is not to
spoken out loud in prayer be
or liturgical celebration
instead it is to be substit s,
uted by other names suc
Lord or God. It was part h as
of the Church’s tradition
the beginning that when from
reading the sacred script
the Tetragrammaton wa ures
s held to be unpronoun
as it is an expression of cea ble
the infinite greatness an
majesty of God. d

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Passover
God told Moses to go to Pharaoh, demanding in God’s name:
‘Yahweh says this: “Let my people go ...”’ (Exodus 7:27)
Pharaoh refused God’s demand. Through Moses, God sent plagues on Egypt.
In Class Work
Read Exodus, Chapters 7-12, and list the ten plagues of Egypt.
After nine plagues Pharaoh still

refused to let the Israelites go. This
led to the tenth plague when every
firstborn, be they human or
livestock, died. Even the eldest son
of Pharaoh died.
God commanded that the Israelites

kill a lamb or baby goat for each
family. Its blood was to be smeared
on the door-posts of their houses
(Exodus 12:7, 22). They were to
stay inside their houses and eat the
meat. Their houses would be passed
over and their children would be
safe. Facsimile copy of Exodus 3 1–22 The Burning Bush, and Exodus 4 1–4 God
arms Moses with the miraculous rod (printed book) by German School,
(15th century) (after)
God’s action of saving his people
was celebrated from then on as the
feast of the Passover.
The tenth plague caused Pharaoh Its blood was to be smeared

and the Egyptians to expel the
Israelites from Egypt. This on the door-posts of their
happened around 1250BC.
houses (Exodus 12:7, 22)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The crossing of the Sea of Reeds

The biblical texts speak of the Sea of Reeds, not the Red Sea (Exodus 13:18). The Sea of
Reeds is a marsh (swamp) area while the Red Sea, further to the south, is a much wider,
deeper body of water. The biblical account suggests the Sea of Reeds is where: He [God] so
clogged their chariot wheels that they drove on only with difficulty … (Exodus 14:25)
The Egyptians regretted the loss of

their slaves. Pharaoh and his army
followed the Israelites, trapping them
at the shore of the Sea of Reeds. Then
God told Moses to hold his staff over
the water (Exodus 14:16–31).
The sea parted, so that the Israelites

could escape from the Egyptians
across the seabed. The Egyptian army
followed but the waters resumed their
normal flow once the Israelites had
passed. Many Egyptians were drowned.
Why is the story of the Israelites’ rescue from slavery in

Egypt so important?
The Israelites’ exodus from Egypt made them more aware than ever of God’s saving
power. As the descendants of those saved reflected on this great event, they saw that
God had been involved in every step of their history.
Seen in the light of the Exodus, everything made sense to the Israelites. From the very
start God had been leading, protecting and forming them as God’s people. Their rescue
from slavery in Egypt was understood as the greatest moment – the climax – of all God’s
saving activity. It unified the different tribes into one nation and opened the way to a
covenant relationship based on God’s love and goodness and the Israelites’ faithfulness
to God.
Every year at the Passover meal, Jewish families everywhere remember and re-live the
great Exodus event. It is not just an historical memory; it is a saving act that is repeated
each time a Jewish family celebrates the Passover ritual.
For Christians, the story of God saving the Israelites from Egypt is like the climax of the
first act in a two-act drama. The climax of the second act occurs when God demonstrates
his love and saving power in the death and Resurrection of Jesus when he passes over
into the hands of his Father. Exodus saw a people freed from human slavery but Jesus
freed people once and for all from the power of sin and death.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire

God personally led the people from Egypt. God appeared as a pillar of cloud in the day
and a pillar of fire at night.
The pillar of cloud never left its place ahead of the people during the day, nor the
pillar of fire during the night. (Exodus 13:22)
God continued to lead the people under these forms until they reached the Promised
Land forty years later.
God fed the people in the desert

God led the people from the Sea of Reeds through the Sinai Desert. To feed them God
provided food such as manna, which they made into bread.

Manna is probably a secretion of insects living in the Sinai. This substance is still harvested
in the middle of the year and can be bought at stalls in Egyptian street markets.
When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the desert was something fine
and granular … ‘That,’ Moses told them, ‘is the food which Yahweh has given you
to eat.’ (Exodus 16:14–15)
In Class Work
1. Why did the Israelites complain in the ‘Wilderness of Sin’? (Exodus 16:1–3)
2. How did God respond to the complaint of the Israelites? (Exodus 16:12–17)
3. Why did the Israelites complain to Moses at Rephidim? (Exodus 17:1–3)
4. How did God respond to the people’s complaint? (Exodus 17:5–7)
5. What other problem did the Israelites encounter at Rephidim? (Exodus 17:8)
6. How did God respond to this problem? (Exodus 17:8–13)
7. Why do you think God tested the Israelites in this way? (Exodus 19:1–8)
8. What two qualities do you think God was looking for in the Chosen People?
9. In what ways do people today behave like the Israelites? How does God
provide for them?

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
God entered into a ‘covenant relationship’ with the

people of Israel
God led the people across the Sinai Peninsula to a mountain called Sinai or Horeb.
There God appeared to them and made a new covenant with them and their children,
called the Sinai Covenant:
‘So now, if you are really prepared to obey me and keep my covenant, you, out of
all peoples, shall be my personal possession, for the whole world is mine. For me,
you shall be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.’ (Exodus 19:5)
The Sinai Covenant was a covenant relationship. It could only be two-way. For their
part, therefore, the people had to agree to live holy lives, for sinful or ungodly people
are unable to relate with God. In return, God told them:
‘Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.’ (Leviticus 19:2)

Each of the Ten Commandments is a reminder of laws given by God to help people become
holy. They are also called the ‘Decalogue’ meaning ‘Ten Words’.
God identified actions that made people ‘unholy’ or ‘ungodly’ in a series of laws. These
laws are summed up in Ten Commandments (Exodus 34:28). For as long as the Israelites
kept these laws, God would remain faithful to his words:
‘You will be my people and I shall be your God.’ (Ezekiel 36:28)

The people of Israel were called God’s Chosen People. They were chosen by God for a
unique purpose: to love, worship and serve God in a covenant relationship.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The people of Israel agreed to keep the covenant that God made with them:
‘All the words Yahweh has spoken we will carry out!’ (Exodus 24:3)
Sacrifices were then offered to God and the leaders of the people went up the
mountain into God’s presence and shared a common meal at which they ate and
drank (Exodus 24:5–11).
The covenant God made with the people of Israel meant that they became God’s Chosen
People. Scripture presents this teaching and explains God’s purpose:
For you are a people consecrated to Yahweh your God; of all the peoples on earth,
you have been chosen by Yahweh your God to be his own people ... Yahweh set his
heart on you… because he loved you and meant to keep the oath he swore to your
ancestors… (Deuteronomy 7:6–8)
With the Sinai Covenant, God formed the religion of the Israelites and gave this religion
its characteristics. Many centuries later, this religion would become known as Judaism
and those who belonged to this faith as Jews.

The people God chose to be the Chosen People have a long history stretching back at least
3500 years to the time of Abraham, the first of the Patriarchs. For much of this time, they
were called either the ‘people of Israel’, ‘the Israelites’ or ‘the Hebrews’. In about 535BC, the
descendants of the Israelites – those who returned to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon –
came to be known as ‘Jews’. This is the name by which today’s descendants of Abraham are
known.
God leads the Israelites to the Promised Land

God then led the Israelites away from Sinai to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob. The Promised Land would be an abundant land which God described to Moses as
flowing with ‘milk and honey’ (Exodus 3:8).
Most Israelites became afraid when they discovered that people already lived in the
Promised Land and that they would need to fight them in order to possess the land.
They forgot God’s power and refused to take possession of the land (cf. Numbers 14).
Consequently they were forbidden from entering the Promised Land and were left to
wander around the Sinai Desert for forty years.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
When all those who had refused to enter the Promised Land died, God allowed their
children to enter the Promised Land. This was around 1210BC.
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to answer the following questions:

1. Who is known as the father of the Chosen People, the people of Israel?
2. Who was Isaac? Why was his birth so special?
3. What is a ‘covenant’? How was a covenant sealed?
4. What is a ‘patriarch’?
5. Name some of the patriarchs. Why are they so important to the Jewish
people of today?
6. Explain why the Jewish people went to Egypt.
7. What was the ‘Exodus’?
8. Explain the meaning of ‘Passover’.
9. What is the ‘Decalogue’?
10. Name the person God chose to help lead the people of
Israel out of Egypt towards the Promised Land.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
5 The characteristics of the
religion of Israel

The new religion that God commanded Moses to institute
had the basic characteristics of all religions
Through the Prophets, God promised a New Covenant
and a Messiah.
The new religion that God commanded Moses to institute

had the basic characteristics of all religions
In the journey of God’s

Chosen People through
Sinai, God gave
instructions to Moses
about the establishment
of a new religion. God
gave the Jewish religion
all the characteristics of a
major religion.
The origins of the Jewish

religion begin with God
calling Abraham. Its most
basic experiences of God
were those received
through Abraham, the
twelve Patriarchs, Moses,
the Passover and the Sinai
Covenant.
The Jews received further

experiences of God over
the next twelve hundred Moses and the Tablets of the Law by La Hire or La Hyre,
Laurent de (1606–56)
years and the Jewish faith
developed from these
experiences. The origins of the Jewish religion
begin with God calling Abraham.

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5. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE RELIGION OF ISRAEL
The new religion had the basic characteristics

of all religions
Sacred symbols and sacred objects

God commanded the people of Israel to construct special symbols
for the Jewish faith, namely the:
• Ark of the Covenant and mercy-seat (Exodus 25:10–22 and
37:1–9)
• The Dwelling (Tent of Meeting) (Exodus 26 and 36:8–38)
• Surrounding court (Exodus 27:9–19 and 38:9–20).
The Ark of the Covenant and mercy-seat

The Ark was a box with a volume of approximately 1 cubic metre,
made of wood and covered with gold. It housed the stones on which
the ‘Ten Words’ or Decalogue was written. (Exodus 24:3 and 31:18).
On top of the Ark was the ‘mercy seat’. From the mercy seat God
would speak to Moses. This seat also served to remind people of
God’s mercy towards them.
The Tent of Meeting

In the ‘Tent of Meeting’ or ‘Dwelling’, Moses would meet with God.
This portable temple was divided into two parts, the ‘Holy of
Holies’ which housed the Ark of the Covenant and the ‘Holy Place’
(or sanctuary) which contained the altar of offering and other sacred
objects.
The surrounding ‘Court’ of the Israelites

God commanded the construction of a court to surround the Tent of
Meeting. This was where the people gathered to pray.

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Sacred objects
God commanded the construction of a number of
sacred objects to be placed in the court. These
included a wooden altar with bronze covered horns at
each corner. It was placed at the entrance to the
Dwelling and used for burnt sacrificial offerings
(Exodus 27:1–8 and 38:1–7). There was a bronze
basin of water placed between the altar and the
entrance to the court for those entering to purify
themselves (Exodus 30:17–21 and 38:8). Various other
vessels and implements were used in Jewish ritual.
A cloud, which was the sign of God’s presence, filled

the Dwelling. At night, the fire of God’s presence was
within the cloud (Exodus 40:34–38). Until they
reached the Promised Land, the cloud moved from the
Dwelling to the direction in which the people were to
follow. The Israelites did not travel on days when the
cloud remained in the Dwelling.
Sacred places
God appeared to the people of Israel at many places.
These were regarded as sacred, holy places or
sanctuaries. Sanctuaries were constructed at the places
where God first spoke to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
King Solomon holding the temple, 1890 (stained glass)
by Burne-Jones, Sir Edward (1833–98)
Around 965BC, God commanded that a Temple
should be built in Jerusalem, the capital of the
Promised Land. By this stage, the Israelites were led by
a king whose name was Solomon, the son of King
David.
Sacred objects were placed in the Temple on its

completion and the Temple became the most sacred of
all sacred places of the Israelites. The innermost room
of the Temple housed the Ark, the sign of God’s
presence among the Chosen People of God.
In Class Work
Research the sacred places of Shechem, Bethel and Penuel to discover why
they were important to the Chosen People.

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Religious rituals
God expects those who wish to draw closer to him to participate in religious rituals and
feasts. These were part of the agreements required of the people of Israel if they were to
enter into the relationship of the Sinai Covenant.
Worship is a ritual way of acknowledging and responding to God. For the Israelites
worship was their way of showing acceptance of their relationship with God.
In Class Work
Research each of the following Jewish feasts:

• Sabbath, the seventh day of every week, which was to be dedicated to
God and free of unnecessary work (Exodus 31:12–17)
• Feast of the Passover (Exodus 12:14, 21–28)
• Holy Years of Jubilee (Leviticus 25:8–36)
• Feast of Booths or Tabernacles
• Feast of Pentecost
• Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement).
For each feast explain the meaning or purpose, some of its history, rituals
associated with it and the day of the week or time of the year when it is
celebrated.
Religious writings
Like many ancient tribes, oral tradition was very strong among the Israelites. In their
rituals the stories of creation, the Exodus and the Covenant were celebrated. Eventually
these stories were written and became the Jewish scriptures. The first five books of the
Bible were particularly significant because they were accepted as God’s word by the
Israelites. These books were referred to as the Torah, meaning The Law.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Religious laws
God gave laws to the people of Israel to
enable them to establish a loving relationship
with God. The people of Israel agreed to TH E TE N CO M MAN DM
obey the laws of God as part of the Sinai
ENTS
Covenant. In order to help people remember 1. I am the Lord your Go
d: you shall
not have strange Gods
the laws, they were summarised in the Ten before me.
Commandments (or Decalogue). In Hebrew 2. You shall not take the
name of the
Lord your God in vain.
texts the Decalogue is written rhythmically.
3. Remember to keep ho
ly the
Religious leaders Lord’s Day.
God instituted different kinds of religious 4. Honour your father an
d your
leaders over the history of Israel. The mother.
most important and permanent religious 5. You shall not kill.
leadership was held by the priesthood 6. You shall not commit
adultery.
instituted as part of the Sinai Covenant. 7. You shall not steal.
God called Aaron, the brother of Moses,
8. You shall not bear fal
to serve as High Priest and his sons to se witness
against your neighbour.
serve as priests (Exodus 29:1–30).
9. You shall not covet yo
ur
neighbour ’s wife.
The patriarch of the tribe of Moses and
10. You shall not co
Aaron was Levi (Exodus 2:1). After the vet your
neighbour ’s goods.
deaths of two of Aaron’s sons, God
commanded that the whole tribe of
Levi be consecrated for priestly service
(Numbers 3:5–10).
The oil used to consecrate Aaron and his sons

was a mixture of olive oil and perfume. God
God gave laws to the people
commanded the oil to be made and to be
consecrated as holy to God (Exodus 30:22–25).
of Israel to enable them
Everyone and everything anointed with this oil to establish a loving
was to be treated as sacred to God. This oil
was used to consecrate the Ark of the Covenant relationship with God.
and all the other sacred symbols and objects
(Exodus 30:30–33).
God specified that the priests were to be dressed in ceremonial clothing. The High Priest
was clothed in purple robes. All priests wore a gold symbol on which was engraved the
words ‘Consecrated to Yahweh’ (Exodus 28:1–37 and 39:30).
God commanded that the tribe of Levi (the Levites) would not own land in the Promised
Land. Instead, they would move around among the other tribes, ministering to God on
their behalf. In return the tribes would provide them with their food and other needs
(Deuteronomy 18:1–8).

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The people of Israel struggled to keep the Sinai Covenant

The Sinai Covenant relationship between God and the people of Israel depended
upon the people keeping the Covenant. God said:
‘… if you are really prepared to obey me and keep my covenant, you, out of all
peoples, shall be my personal possession...’ (Exodus 19:5)
For most of the next five hundred years they behaved in the ‘unholy’ or ‘ungodly’
ways that God had forbidden. As a result, they damaged their special relationship
with God and their ability to draw upon God’s guidance and power.
They made many grave mistakes that led to sufferings God never intended.
Several times, they were conquered by other nations.
Through the Prophets, God promised

a New Covenant and a Messiah
Other religious leaders of the Jewish people were the
prophets. The word ‘prophet’ is derived from a Greek
word which means one who speaks before and on
behalf of others. The biblical Prophets spoke on behalf
of God before others, particularly kings and religious
leaders.
A number of prophets of particular importance to the

Jewish people had their deeds and words recorded in
books of the Old Testament. Prominent among them
were Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah.
Nevertheless the Jewish people struggled to keep the

Sinai Covenant and God’s plan for his people was
never fully realised. The prophets reminded the people
of God’s laws and warned them of impending doom if
they did not change their ways. About 587BC,
Jerusalem was overrun and the temple destroyed by
the army of the Babylonian king, Nebuchednezzar.
The leaders of the people and their families were taken
Aaron with the Scroll of the Law,
into exile in Babylon. Fifty years later the Persian king, 1875 (oil on canvas) by Solomon,
Cyrus, captured Babylon and allowed the Jewish Simeon (1840–1905)
people to return to their homeland and rebuild their

city.
The return to Jerusalem represented a new beginning for the Jewish people and in
their relationship with God. Through the prophets God promised to institute a
New Covenant with them.

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The Prophets
Isaiah
Through Isaiah, God revealed that the New Covenant would not be limited to the
people of Israel but be open to the whole human race. All who accepted this covenant
would experience peace, which would spread across the earth. Through the poetry of
Isaiah, God revealed:
It will happen in the final days

that the mountain of Yahweh’s house
will rise higher than the mountains
and tower above the heights.
Then all the nations shall stream to it,
many peoples will come to it and say,
‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,
to the house of the ...
God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways
so that we may walk in his paths.’
They will hammer their swords into ploughshares

and their spears into sickles.
Nation will not lift sword against nation,
no longer will they learn how to make war.
(Isaiah 2:2–3, 4b–c)
God foretold that the New Covenant would be brought about by a new servant of God.
He would be filled with the Spirit of God and called the Messiah (or in English, ‘the
Christ’). Isaiah prophesied as though this servant were the coming Messiah.
The spirit of Lord Yahweh is on me

for Yahweh has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the news to the afflicted,
to soothe the broken-hearted,
to proclaim liberty to captives,
release to those in prison,
to proclaim a year of favour from Yahweh
…to comfort all who mourn
…to give them for ashes a garland…
(Isaiah 61:1–2)

‘Messiah’ – Hebrew word meaning ‘anointed one’. ‘Christos’ – Greek word
meaning ‘anointed one’.

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Jeremiah
Around 600BC, Jeremiah prophesied a New Covenant that God would help people
keep. The people of Israel had shown that human beings left on their own could never
be faithful to God:
‘Look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall make a new covenant
with the House of Israel… but not like the covenant I made with their ancestors
… which they broke, even though I was their Master ... Within them I shall plant
my Law, writing it on their hearts. Then I shall be their God and they will be my
people.’ (Jeremiah 31:31–33)
Ezekiel
The laws of a covenant with God were always concerned with people behaving in ways
that strengthened their relationship with God.
Through the prophet Ezekiel, who lived around 593 to 571BC, God promised that
under the New Covenant God would empower people to live its laws. Then they could
be close to God. He promised:
‘I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed… of all your filth and
of all your foul idols. I shall give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you …
and make you keep my laws, and respect and practise my judgments … You will
be my people and I shall be your God.’ (Ezekiel 36:25–29)
The Prophets Job, Isaiah, Jeremiah,

Solomon, Moses, Ezekiel, David, and
Enoch from La Salle de la Grande Audience
(The Audience Chamber) c.1353 (fresco) by
Giovanetti, Matteo (fl.1343–66)

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6 The New Covenant of Jesus

Jesus initiated a New Covenant at the Last Supper
Jesus founded the Christian religion
The Christian Promise can become a reality if people draw on
the power of God’s saving love.
Jesus initiated a New Covenant at the Last Supper
The promises of God in the Old Testament about a

New Covenant and a Messiah were fulfilled with the
coming of Jesus Christ. The prophecies of Jeremiah,
Ezekial and Isaiah were fulfilled by God with the
coming of Jesus Christ.
Jesus entered into a New Covenant relationship

with his people. He founded the Church to be the
new People of God. He did this during the Last
Supper, when he said over the cup of wine:
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood

poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:20)
‘Do this in
memory of me.’ The Last Supper, 12th century (painted glass)
by Romanian School, (12th century)
This is recalled in every Eucharist at the
Consecration when the priest says:
‘Take this, all of you and drink from it: this is the cup of my blood, the blood of
the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for you and for all so that sins
may be forgiven. Do this in memory of me.’ (Roman Missal)
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke present the Last Supper as a Jewish Passover
meal celebrated by Jesus and his Apostles. To understand the full meaning of what Jesus
intended at the Last Supper, people need to recall the Sinai Covenant.

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6. THE NEW COVENANT OF JESUS
New Covenant sacrifice

The Sinai Covenant required ‘Jesus gave members
Israelites to perform the many
of his community the
rituals set forth in the Law.
For example, there are rituals
Eucharist to nourish
about purification, making them spiritually so
sacrifices, anointing sacred they can grow in love
objects and consecration of and goodness and
priests.
draw closer to God.’
At Mount Sinai, God instituted a covenant relationship with the
Israelites. The ritual involved the following (Exodus 24:1-11):
• the sacrifice of bulls to God
• part of their blood being poured over the altar.
• the altar representing God and constructed on twelve stones
representing the twelve tribes of Israel
• the rest of the blood sprinkled over the people to signify their
relationship with God
• God giving the people the Law of the Covenant summarised in the
Ten Commandments
• representatives of the people going up the mountain to eat a
common meal in God’s presence, to symbolise the new
‘communion’ between God and the people.
During the Last Supper Jesus changed the structure of the Passover by:
• replacing the sacrificial lamb of the Passover with the sacrifice
of himself
• changing the Passover bread into his Body. He told the Apostles
to ‘take and eat’ in his new ‘communion meal’
• changing the wine into his Blood. Unlike Sinai, where blood was
sprinkled over the people, the Apostles were to ‘take and drink’
his Blood
• giving his followers the commandment of the New Covenant:
‘This is my commandment:
love one another,
as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12)
Jesus gave members of his community the Eucharist to nourish them

spiritually so they can grow in love and goodness and draw closer to
God. This is one of the most important reasons why Church law
requires Catholics to go to Mass each Sunday as a minimum
requirement, unless some serious reason makes this impossible.

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Jesus founded the Christian religion

When God enters into a covenant relationship with a people, like the one that exists with
the Jewish people, they are said to become a ‘covenant people’.
The Church grew from this New Covenant

community. It reflected the characteristics
needed to hand on the new experience of
God offered by Jesus. As with the people
of Israel, the new community founded by
Jesus was to become God’s covenant
people.
The Jewish people in the time of Jesus

believed, as Jews today believe, that God is
the Author of all creation.
Jews continue to believe that Moses was

the greatest of the Prophets and that the
laws Moses received at Mount Sinai are the
basis of their covenant relationship with
God.
Jews of Jesus’ time awaited, as Jews today

still await, the coming of the Messiah
prophesied by the Prophets. In this ‘central mystery of the faith’,
In Jesus’ time, Jews were divided on the Jesus is revered by Christians as
question of whether or not the dead would the second Person of the Trinity, the
be resurrected by God. Some believed in
resurrection, others did not. Today, almost Son of God and the Messiah.
all Jews believe that the dead will eventually
be resurrected.
Christians share with Jews the belief that God is One and Creator of all.
Christians differ from Jews in believing that there is one God in three persons – Father,
Son and Holy Spirit. In this ‘central mystery of the faith’, Jesus is revered by Christians
as the second Person of the Trinity, the Son of God and the Messiah.

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The New Covenant is based on Jesus Christ himself, who came to fulfil the Law and the
Prophets (Matthew 5:17).
A core Christian belief is that Jesus revealed the Kingdom of God and that the Church
he founded exists to serve him by building God’s kingdom.
Belief in God has led Jews throughout history to value their relationship with God
above all else and to observe faithfully the laws received by Moses.
Respect for God’s creation moves them to value life, to see all people as equal before
God and to work for social justice. Jews have always valued the family as the foundation
and centre of society.
Belonging to the Judaeo-Christian tradition, Christians share a common heritage with

the Jewish people.
Jesus’ teachings were based on Jewish beliefs and laws. He emphasised the two great
commandments of love of God and love of neighbour (Matthew 22:37–39). In
continuing Jesus’ mission, the Church puts great energy into and resources towards,
defending human life, supporting family life and serving the neediest people in society.
As reflected in Catholic teaching, the advancement of peace and justice in the world and
respect for the integrity of creation are core values contributing to the realisation of the
Kingdom of God.
In Class Work
Use the information from this chapter to answer the following questions:
1. What is meant by the ‘New Covenant’?
2. Which sacrament of the Church recalls the New Covenant?
3. Describe what happened at the Last Supper.
4. In what ways is the Last Supper:
a) similar to the Passover?
b) different from the Passover?
5. Why does Church law require Catholics to go to Mass each Sunday
unless some serious reason makes this impossible?

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The Christian Promise can become a reality if people

draw on the power of God’s saving love
Jesus came to invite all to draw on the power of God’s love. As people do so they
receive God’s guidance and help in their lives. The power of God that Jesus proclaimed
helps people to overcome any difficulty in living as God wants. The power of God’s
saving love also helps people grow closer to God and so to help realise God’s Kingdom.
Through the Church, people can draw on this power to help them live as God wants
them to live.
Imagine what life would be like if

the Christian Promise became a
reality with everyone:
- taking time to pray and worship
- wanting a rich, personal
relationship with God
- growing more loving and less
selfish
- turning to God for help and
guidance.
In Class Work
Year Eight students need God’s guidance and help in many areas of
their lives.
Working with a partner, list aspects of life where Year Eight students may
need God’s help and guidance. Think of some of the questions or problems
that students face.
As a class, brainstorm examples of ways people pray to God for help and
guidance.

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7 The Church founded by Jesus

The religion founded by Jesus is known as Christianity
The sacraments are religious rituals that impart God’s grace
The religious writings of the Old and New Testaments relate
the revelations of God
Christians are empowered by the Spirit to live the New Law
Jesus gave his Apostles and their successors special spiritual
powers to lead the Church.
The religion founded by Jesus is known as Christianity
The religion founded by Jesus is known as

Christianity and it has important aspects
that distinguish it from other religions.
Within the Christian religion, Catholicism
has an unbroken connection that can be
traced back to the Apostles. There are
characteristics of the Catholic Church
that are presently not shared by other
Christian denominations.
Jesus can be approached

anywhere in the world
Under the Sinai Covenant people could
approach the special presence of God by
going to the Temple. The Ark of the
Covenant was in the ‘Holy of Holies’.
Only the High priest could actually
enter the ‘Dwelling’ or sanctuary
where the Ark was placed.
Under the New Covenant of

Jesus, all who believe can
approach his special presence
by celebrating the Eucharist.

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7. THE CHURCH FOUNDED BY JESUS
Sacred places
Under the New Covenant, sacred sites are everywhere. There is
no limit to where the Eucharist can be celebrated. These sites
are usually churches and chapels such as the local parish church
or the school chapel. It is the gathering together of followers of
Jesus to celebrate the Eucharist which makes a site sacred.

The word ‘nave’ comes from the Latin word navis for ‘ship’ since church seating is often
arranged like rowing benches on ancient sailing vessels.
The word ‘sanctuary’ comes from the Latin word sanctum for ‘holy place’.
Like the ‘Dwelling’ God commanded at Sinai, churches are divided into two parts:
• the ‘sanctuary’ where on the altar Christ becomes present in a special way during Mass
• the rest of the church where the congregation gathers is called the ‘nave’.
Three basic differences between the Dwelling and churches today are that:
• entrance is not restricted to the High Priest but is open to all who believe
• the altar is not hidden from general view behind a screen
• the altar is in the sanctuary where Jesus becomes present during the Consecration in
each Mass.

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The tabernacle
Christ, being risen and alive, is present in For your information…
each form of the Eucharist. He is present The word ‘host’ originated from the Latin
body and blood under the appearances of word hostia, a victim used in sacrifice.
bread and wine. This is why a person can ‘Tabernacle’ is derived from the Latin
receive the Body of Christ alone, for they word, tabernaculum, meaning ‘tent’.
still receive the Body and Blood of the
Risen Lord.
Each bread for the Eucharist is called a ‘host’. Consecrated hosts left over from previous
Masses are kept in a special place called a ‘tabernacle’.
Every Catholic church and chapel gives its tabernacle a place of honour and it must be
kept safe and secure. The tabernacle is often in the sanctuary or in a nearby place of
reservation.
The ‘Blessed Sacrament’

The ‘Blessed Sacrament’ is reserved in the For your information…
tabernacle of every church or chapel to
‘Blessed Sacrament’ is a name Catholics
enable people to pray to Jesus and adore
use to express their belief that when
him privately. The tradition of reserving
consecrated hosts are reserved in the
the Eucharist originally grew out of the
tabernacle Jesus is present in the
need to bring Holy Communion to those
church or chapel. In this way Jesus is as
who could not attend Mass such as the
present outside Mass as he is within it.
sick and dying. Reservation of the
This belief stems from the
Eucharist continues to serve this vital need
understanding that the Blessed
today.
Sacrament is the Risen Jesus, Son of God.
To remind Catholics that Jesus is present

in the Blessed Sacrament and that they can
adore Jesus and pray to him, a red lamp is
kept alight as long as there are
consecrated hosts in the tabernacle.
The meaning of ‘reverence’

Churches and chapels are sacred sites For your information…
of ‘reverence’. Catholics show their
Reverence is an attitude of deep respect
reverence by ‘genuflecting’ (kneeling on
and honour.
their right knee) when passing the
tabernacle as a sign of worship to Jesus.
They also show respect for the fact that
this is a place of prayer and worship by
being quiet and respectful.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Research the design of church buildings from the past and the present. Some
examples are Gothic, Baroque and Romanesque styles. Draw diagrams of the
churches and label the main features.
Sacred symbols
The most sacred symbol of God’s
presence among the people of Israel was
Many chapels
the Ark of the Covenant.
contain a statue
of Mary that
By instituting his New Covenant, Jesus
reminds Catholics
changed the focus of God’s presence from
that they can pray
a material object to himself. He did this
to Mary as their
by instituting the Eucharist. Jesus can be
spiritual mother
experienced in the Eucharist in any
Catholic church in the world.
Religious symbols used in churches,

chapels and schools include crucifixes and statues. Many chapels contain a statue of
Mary that reminds Catholics that they can pray to Mary as their spiritual mother. Mary
cares for them as she cared for Jesus. People ask Mary to pray to her Son for their
needs.
Religious objects
Religious objects used in Catholic ritual include the altar and sacred vessels such as the
ciborium which holds the hosts during Mass or for storage afterwards in the tabernacle.
Religious rituals
The Sinai Covenant required the people of Israel to perform the many rituals set
forth in the Law.
The early Christian Church adapted a number of Jewish ritual practices, both from those
found in the Law and some that developed in later tradition, such as baptism.
In Jesus, through Jesus and with Jesus, Catholics see all Christian rituals as the:
• human point of entry into communion with God
• means through which God’s saving power comes to believers.
< Pictured: Interior view of the church

(photo) by Italian School, Church of San Marco, Florence, Italy

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The purpose of religious rituals or celebrations is to help people deepen their

experiences of God. Jesus gave his followers seven sacraments or signs, celebrated in
rituals which impart grace. Through each, Jesus:
• offers specific experiences of the power of the Kingdom of God
• strengthens his followers to live the Christian life.

‘Communion’ comes from a Latin word meaning ‘a sharing’. Communion means sharing in
the life of Jesus both on an individual basis and in community. The most important
experience of communion with Jesus is to receive him in the Eucharist, also called
‘Holy Communion’.

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The sacraments are religious rituals

that impart God’s grace
Jesus gave his followers seven rituals known as

sacraments. Each sacrament has outward or For your information…
visible signs consisting of ritual actions and
Grace is a spiritual gift given by
words. Through each sacrament Jesus offers
God to people to make them
specific experiences of God’s saving power, also
holy. The word ‘grace’ has its
called graces, which strengthen his followers to
origins in the Latin gratia,
live the Christian life. The following chart
meaning ‘gift’.
outlines the signs and graces of the sacraments.
Sacrament Outward sign Grace

Baptism Pouring or immersion Spiritual rebirth as God’s child
into water: ‘I baptise Forgiveness of original sin and all sin
you…’ Membership in the Church
Confirmation Anointing with chrism Spiritual strengthening in faith

Laying-on of hands: Renewal of the gifts of the Spirit
‘Be sealed…’ Sharing in the mission of the Church
Eucharist Bread and wine: ‘This is Spiritual nourishment

my Body… This is the cup Union with Jesus in his self-offering
of my Blood…’ to the Father
Penance Contrition for sin: Forgiveness of sins

‘I absolve you…’ Strength to avoid sin in the future
Anointing of Anointing with oil: Spiritual healing and consolation

the Sick ‘Through this holy Forgiveness of sins
anointing…’ Bodily comfort and strength:
‘anointing for future glory’
Holy Orders Anointing with chrism Spiritual authority to lead and serve
Laying-on of hands Power to bless, consecrate and
Prayer of ordination absolve
Marriage Consent of spouses Union in faithful love

Cooperating with God to
form a family
Initiation into the people of Israel was only for males (cf. Numbers 1:18). In the New
Covenant initiation into the Church is for all, female and male. Initiation occurs through
the three Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist.

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The religious writings

of the Old and New
Testaments relate the The word ‘Bible’ comes from the Greek word
revelations of God biblia, meaning library or collection of books.
‘Testament’ means covenant.

The principal religious writings of
the Church instituted by Jesus are
the books of the Bible.
The Old Testament

The Old Testament consists of forty-six books (forty-five if Jeremiah and Lamentations
are counted as one book). These books relate the revelations of God to the people of
Israel before the coming of Jesus. The Old Testament is divided into four groups: the
Law (the first five books), Historical Books, Wisdom Books (which include the Psalms)
and the Prophets (which include the books of Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Isaiah).
The New Testament

The New Testament consists of twenty-seven books. These books relate the revelations
of God to the new People of God through the life of Jesus and the experience of the
Apostles. The New Testament is divided into the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke
and John), Acts of the Apostles, Letters or Epistles and the Book of Revelation.
The Gospels have a special place among the books of the Bible because in different ways
they answer the question ‘Who is Jesus?’
OLD
TESTAMENT
NEW
TESTAMENT
46 27
CONSISTING OF: CONSISTING OF:
– LAW – GOSPELS
– HISTORY – ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
– WISDOM – LETTERS OR EPISTLES
BOOKS – PROPHETS BOOKS – BOOK OF REVEALATION

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Religious laws
As the Prophets foretold, God sent Jesus to replace the Sinai Covenant with the New
Law, a Law that people would be empowered to live (Ezekiel 36:26–27).
The New Law

Jesus explained that he had not come to do away with the Old Law but to fulfil it. He
reminded his followers of the two great commandments which summarised the Old Law.
‘This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one, only Lord, and you
must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your
mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour
as yourself.’ (Mark 12:29–31)
During his Last Supper with the Apostles, Jesus gave them a new commandment.
He said:
‘I give you a new commandment:

love one another; ...
just as I have loved you.’ (John 13:34)
Christians are empowered by the Spirit to live the New Law
Jesus also promised the Holy Spirit who would help them to keep these commandments.
He said:
‘I shall ask the Father and he will give you ... the Spirit...’ (John 14:16–17)
Members of Jesus’ Church can fulfil the commandments of Jesus when they draw upon
the power of the Holy Spirit available through the seven sacraments.
< Pictured: Collection of 15th century books (photo)

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Blessed are the gent le, Blessed are those who mourn, Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
prightness, Blessed are the merciful, Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the peacemakers,
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hose who mourn, Blessed 114
are those who hunger
Return to and Return
thirstto for uprightness, Blessed are the mercifu
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8
Blessed are the pure in heart, Blessed are the peacemakers, Blessed are those who are persecuted in
CONTENTS CHAPTER
,
e you
re
r the Blessed are the peacemakers
lessed
l
ho
h are Blessed are those who persecuted in the cause of uprightness
ndd
are Blessed are the poor in spirit
ul,
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n the
ds
d of Religious leaders
n,
n The religious leaders of Israel – the kings, priests and prophets – frequently failed in
e their responsibilities. They often lived in ways that broke the Decalogue. This is one
reason why the people took the Decalogue less seriously and struggled to fulfil the
umny
u conditions of the Sinai Covenant.
are
art,
at God knew that people could never be adequate leaders for the New Covenant by
essed
e themselves. For this reason, Jesus is the Head of his Church. His leadership is one of
sely
s service.
er
e
e The Twelve Apostles
n
en The people of Israel comprised twelve tribes descended from the twelve Patriarchs, the
sons of Jacob. To make it clear that his Church would fulfil the religion of the Old
hirst
h Testament, Jesus founded his Church on twelve Apostles. These Apostles would be the
kers,
k ‘spiritual patriarchs’ of the new People of God. All church members would be the
e you spiritual descendants of the Apostles.
re
r the
lessed
l Jesus gave his Apostles and their successors special
ho
h are spiritual powers to lead the Church
ndd
are Jesus did not give up his leadership but shared with his Apostles the special spiritual
ul,
u powers needed to lead his Church.
n the
ds
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n,
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‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ (John 20:21)
e
umny
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are
He gave them special powers:
art,
• to change bread and wine into his Body and Blood when he commanded:
at
essed
‘Do this in memory of me.’ (Roman Missal)
e
sely
• to forgive sins when he promised: ‘If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven…’
s
er
(John 20:22).
e
e
n
Jesus also gave the Apostles the powers needed, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
en to preach and remain faithful to his teachings and the authority to make laws for his
hirst
Church, that would help his followers to live as he taught:
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kers,
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re
r the you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.’ (Matthew 18:18)
lessed
l
ho
h are
ndd
are
ul,
u COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8
Return to Return to
115
n the CONTENTS CHAPTER

In those days to ‘bind’ meant to make laws which people were ‘bound’ to obey and to
‘loose’ meant to change or abolish laws. Jesus did not give his Apostles any authority to
change laws made by himself or God the Father. Instead, he commanded them:
‘... teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.’ (Matthew 28:20)
When the Apostles acted in these ways using the spiritual powers Jesus gave them, he
acted through them. When they taught in his name, he taught through them. When they
made laws, Jesus obliged all his followers to obey them.
‘Anyone who listens to you listens to me…’ (Luke 10:16)
Inheritance of the Apostles’ powers

Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Holy
Orders to hand on spiritual leadership
within the Church. Through this
sacrament the spiritual powers first given
by Jesus to the Apostles are handed on to
other leaders.
Jesus made Peter head of his Church:
‘So I now say to you: You are

Peter and on this rock I will
build my community.’
(Matthew 16:18)
The spiritual powers

first given by Jesus to
the Apostles are handed St. Peter (tempera on panel)
by Nicolo di Maestro Antonio d'Ancona
on to other leaders (fl.1450–1500)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The successor to Peter is called

the Pope. He has the spiritual
Modern Day Successors
gifts and authority over the
Church that Jesus first gave to
Peter. The word ‘Pope’ is derived
from the Greek word pappas
meaning ‘father’.
Today, the successors of the

Apostles are called ‘bishops’.
They have the spiritual powers
to celebrate all the sacraments
and to teach the teachings of
Pope Benedict 16, May 2006
Jesus accurately. Bishops also
identify what is false teaching
and exercise the Apostles’
authority to ‘bind’ and to ‘loose’. Pope
A bishop serves the people who (successor to Peter)
make up a special community
called a ‘diocese’. The Pope has the spiritual gifts and authority
over the church that Jesus gave to Peter.
Priests assist bishops in the
leadership of their dioceses.
Through Holy Orders priests Bishops
receive some but not all of the (successors to the Apostles)
spiritual powers Jesus gave the
Apostles. They have the power to A Bishop has the spiritual powers to
preach the Gospel of Jesus, as celebrate all the sacraments and to teach
handed on by the Pope and the teachings of Jesus accurately.
bishops. Priests celebrate all of
the sacraments, with the
exception of Marriage (which Priests
they witness on behalf of the
community), and Holy Orders. Through Holy Orders priests receive some
but not all of the spiritual powers Jesus
Permanent deacons are ordained gave the Apostles.
to a ministry of service very
similar to, but not identical with
the ministry of priests. They Deacons
receive many but not all of the
spiritual powers received by
priests. Deacons celebrate the Deacons receive many but not all of the
same sacraments that priests spiritual powers received by priests.
celebrate, with the exceptions of
Eucharist and Penance. Deacons
also take on special roles within
a diocese as the bishop requires.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information from this chapter to answer the following questions:
1. Explain what is meant by the ‘Blessed Sacrament’.
2. List the sacraments of initiation. For each one describe in your own
words how the grace of these sacraments helps people to deepen their
experiences of God.
3. What is a ‘tabernacle’? Why is it kept safe and in a place of honour in a

church or chapel?
4. The Bible is divided into two main sections – the Old Testament and the
New Testament. For each of the following books of the Bible, identify
whether it is from the Old Testament (OT) or the New Testament (NT):
• Genesis
• Gospel of Mark
• Psalms
• Isaiah
• Acts of the Apostles
• Exodus
• Book of Revelation
• Epistles of St Paul
• Jeremiah
• Gospel of John
5. What are the ‘Beatitudes’ and why did Jesus teach them?
6. List some of the roles of a bishop

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
8 Jesus taught his followers
about prayer

God guides Christians in their daily lives through prayer
Jesus taught his followers how to pray
Jesus taught several forms of prayer
Jesus taught ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ to his followers
Catholics pray to Mary and celebrate feasts in her honour
Christians need to develop a balanced prayer life.
God guides Christians in their daily

lives through prayer
Members of his Church
The Christian religion was founded by Jesus Christ the divine
find the deepest desires in
Son of God. Those who relate with God in the ways Jesus
showed and taught find a new kind of happiness developing their hearts satisfied
gradually in their hearts.
when they pray, worship
Members of his Church find the deepest desires in their hearts
satisfied when they pray, worship and live as Jesus taught.
and live as Jesus taught.
Each religion has ideas about how to pray. Jesus taught many
lessons about how his followers should pray.
God communicates to people by stirring their thoughts and

feelings. Through prayer God guides Christians in their daily
lives, helping them to recognise and understand the ‘stirrings
within’ and how best to respond.
During times of focused prayer people’s thoughts and feelings

are stirred from within. As a result Christians are able to
discover answers to personal questions and make good
decisions. Prayer helps them to better understand themselves,
others, the teachings of Jesus and how they should act.
Christians communicate with God by praying in many ways.

They pray alone or with others. They use prayers they have
learned or prayers they create themselves.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
8. JESUS TAUGHT HIS FOLLOWERS ABOUT PRAYER
In what ways has In Class Work

God helped you
in your daily life Brainstorm specific ways
through prayer? by which Christians are
able to communicate
In what ways can
with God.
God continue to
help you in
this way?
Christians need to pray to ‘quench their thirst for God’

The experience of thirst is one way the writers of the psalms use to
describe a person’s desire to relate with God.
‘I thirst for God, the living God.’ (Psalm 42:2)
Anyone who has experienced thirst would understand how powerful this
desire can be. Until a thirsty person has a drink, their thirst grows.
Gradually they lose interest in everything else. Thirst takes over their
thoughts and feelings and all they can think about is getting a drink.
Christians who understand God’s love for them know that God is always
eagerly waiting for people to pray. For this reason Jesus revealed, by his
actions and words, how people can have their thirst for God quenched
through prayer.
Jesus also used the image of thirst when he met the woman at the well
(John 4:1–42). He says to the woman:
‘Give me something to drink’ (John 4:7)

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus then went on to promise the woman that he could offer her spiritual water. Jesus
said:
‘Whoever drinks this water

will be thirsty again;
but no one who drinks the water that I shall give him
will ever be thirsty again:
the water that I shall give him
will become in him a spring of water, welling up for eternal life.’ (John 4:13–14)
The Woman of Samaria at the Well, Scenes from the Life of Christ (mosaic)
by Byzantine School, (6th century)
In Class Work
What does Jesus mean by spiritual water?

How does it differ from the water in the well?
For believers, prayer is not so much an obligation but a responsibility that comes from a
relationship with God. No relationship can survive without communication.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus taught his followers how to pray
Jesus taught his followers many important lessons about prayer. He did so to help them
pray as effectively as possible.
Jesus Taught People How to Pray
Jesus Taught Gospel Stories

To pray to God the Father Jesus showed this by example when he prayed:
• ‘Father, I thank you for hearing my prayer.’
(John 11:41)
• ‘I bless you Father...’ when something good
happened (Luke 10:21)
• ‘Father, forgive them...’ for those who crucified him
(Luke 23:34)
Jesus told his followers to pray ‘Our Father…’

(Matthew 6:9–13)
To pray to God the Father in Jesus taught: ‘…anything you ask from the Father he
Jesus’ name will grant in my name…’ (John 16:23)
To pray to Jesus Jesus taught: ‘Whatever you ask for in my name I will
do ... If you ask me for anything in my name, I will
do it.’ (John 14:13–14)
Jesus answered the prayers of those who believed in

him: a leper, Jairus’ daughter, the daughter of the
Syro-Phoenician woman, the thief (Mark 1:40–47;
5:36–43; 7: 24–30; Luke 23:39–43)
To pray to the Holy Spirit Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit would be within his
followers:
• to guide them as the Spirit who ‘…will lead you to
the complete truth…’ (John 16:13)
• to strengthen them as ‘…the power from on high.’
(Luke 24:49)
To pray with others for the Jesus said: ‘… if two of you on earth agree to ask
same intention is more anything at all, it will be granted to you by my
powerful
Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 18:19)
To pray to Jesus when Jesus taught: ‘Come to me, all you who labour and
life is difficult are overburdened, and I will give you rest.’
(Matthew 11:28).
To pray persistently Jesus told a parable about the need to pray

continually and never to lose heart (Luke 18:1–8).

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus Taught People How to Pray
Jesus Taught Gospel Stories

To pray in community Jesus showed this by praying with others in
synagogues (Luke 4:16) and in the Temple.
Jesus told his followers to pray together, for

whenever they did so, he would be present with
them (Matthew 18:20).
To pray from the heart Jesus warned: ‘In your prayers do not babble as the
and not simply with an gentiles do, for they think that by using many words
abundance of words
they will make themselves heard. Do not be like
them...’ (Matthew 6:7)
Jesus told the parable of the Pharisee and the tax

collector (Luke 18:9–14).
To pray alone Jesus prayed alone:

• in the morning (Mark 1:35)
• in the night (Matthew 14:24–25)
Jesus prayed alone at significant events in his life:

• after his baptism (Luke 3:21)
• before choosing his Apostles (Luke 6:12)
• during his Transfiguration before Peter, James and
John (Luke 9:28–36)
• before teaching his followers how to pray (Luke 11:1).
Jesus told his followers to pray alone (Matthew 6:6).
To pray at mealtimes Jesus showed his followers that they should pray at
mealtimes, blessing and thanking God. He prayed:
• before giving food to the thousands of hungry
people (Matthew 14:19)
• after the Last Supper (Mark 14:26).

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Holy Spirit helps people when prayer is difficult

Prayer is not always easy, it takes time and effort. There can be times when people do
not even feel like praying.
When praying is difficult the Holy Spirit, living in people, knows that they want to pray:
… the Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness, for, when we do not know how to
pray properly, then the Spirit personally makes our petitions for us ... (Romans 8:26)
Jesus taught his followers that their prayers will always be answered. This is true as long
as God knows that what they are praying for will be for their good:
‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door
will be opened to you.’ (Matthew 7:7)
In Class Work
Working with a partner, brainstorm the reasons why prayer may seem
to be a difficult task.
What do you think can be done to try and make prayer a natural
and meaningful experience?
Why do some prayers seem unanswered?

Jesus taught that his Father answers all prayers. God knows what is best for people or
for those for whom they pray. Although God’s response may not always make sense to
people at that point, over time they usually come to know the wisdom and love of God.
When those for whom people pray die

It is important to remember that God’s plan for people is that
they should live with God forever in heaven. There they will
find eternal happiness and peace.
When people pray earnestly for those

who are seriously ill or even dying, they
entrust them to God’s wisdom and love.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus taught several forms of prayer
For a healthy relationship with God, people need a balanced prayer life.
To be balanced, Christian prayer needs to reflect the following basic prayer

intentions:
• blessing and adoration
• petition
• intercession
• thanksgiving
• praise.
Blessing and Adoration

Blessing prayers are used to ask God’s blessing on people, events or places. When people
themselves bless God – as in ‘Bless the Lord, my soul’ (cf. Psalm 103:1) – they express
their adoration of the Creator who gives so many gifts and blessings.
When people turn their minds to God, they begin to express their adoration. Prayer calls
for a humble attitude on the part of the person who prays. He or she acknowledges that
their life is a gift from God, the Creator, and that they depend completely on God’s love
and goodness.
In Class Work
Identify some of the ‘blessings’ you have received from God. Using
Psalm 103 as a model, write a prayer of blessing or adoration to God.
Petition
Prayers of petition are those which ask God for something, such as forgiveness, help,
protection, direction or to meet other needs. Especially pleasing to God are prayers for
help to do what is right, to become increasingly good as God is good or to resist
temptations.
In Class Work
Identify something you would like to ask God for and write a prayer of
petition. You may wish to use Psalm 28 as a model for your prayer.

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Intercession
Intercession is a prayer of petition that leads people to pray to God on behalf of
another. Intercession prayers look to the interests of others first, even to the point of
praying for one’s enemies. Jesus modeled this by asking the Father to forgive the sins of
those who put him to death:
‘Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.’ (Luke 23:34)
In Class Work
Think of important needs others have, perhaps within your family. Write an
intercession prayer asking God to provide something another person needs.
You might even write an intercession prayer for someone who behaves as
your ‘enemy’, praying that God will bring friendship.
Thanksgiving
Prayers of thanksgiving express thanks
to God for all that God has done. They
may involve thanking God for listening
to prayers and providing for needs. By
his own example, Jesus taught that
Christians need to thank God for
specific blessings they have received or
for helping them. Jesus frequently
thanked God, his Father (e.g.
Matthew 15:36; 26:27; John 6:11;
and 11:41).
Apart from using their own words, people give thanks through prayers such as ‘Grace
Before and After Meals’.
In saying grace people thank God for the gifts they share at the table: e.g. food, drink
and the good company of others. Such a prayer might also ask God’s blessings for the
day ahead or thank God for blessings that have been received that day.
In Class Work
Write a ‘Grace Before Meals’ suitable for use by your class.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Praise
Prayers of praise declare God’s greatness and goodness. When Jesus prayed, he gave
praise to God the Father:
‘… I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth ...’ (Luke 10:21)
‘Father, may your name be held holy ...’ (Luke 11:2)
Jesus was teaching his followers that Christians need to praise God as a sign of
appreciation for all that God does for them. They may praise God for the beauty of
creation, friends and family. People also declare the greatness of God for the guidance
God gives about what is right and what is wrong.
Christians can use their own words or use memorised prayers of praise.
In Class Work
Identify something you wish to praise God for and write a

prayer of praise.
In Class Work
Select one of the prayers you have written in this chapter and present it as a
poster. Present your prayer decorated accordingly to help reinforce the
prayer intention.
praise God for the beauty of creation, friends and family praise Go
the beauty of creation, friends and family praise God for the beauty
creation, friends and family praise God for the beauty of creation,
friends and family praise God for the beauty of creation, friends an
family praise God for the beauty of creation, friends and family p
God for the beauty of creation, friends and family praise God for t
beauty of creation, friends and family praise God for the beauty of
creation, friends and family praise God for the beauty of
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
127
creation,
Jesus taught that, Where did Jesus teach this? Possible questions people should
for effective ask themselves:
prayer, people
must ...
have faith that ‘And if you have faith, • Do I believe that God will
God grants everything you ask for in always answer prayers in ways
everything good, prayer, you will receive.’ that will be for the best?
even if not in the (Matthew 21:22) • Do I pray, trusting in God?
way asked for.
Try to live as ‘If you remain in me and • Am I living each day as Jesus
Jesus taught. my words remain in you, taught?
you may ask for whatever • Am I disobeying any of God’s
you please and you will laws?
get it.’ (John 15:7)
forgive others. ‘And when you stand in • Is there anyone I have not
prayer, forgive whatever forgiven?
you have against • Is there anyone against whom
anybody...’ (Mark 11:25) I am holding a grudge or a
resentment?
apologise for ‘So then, if you are • Have I hurt or offended anyone
offences. bringing your offering to and not apologised?
the altar and there
remember that your
brother has something
against you, leave your
offering there before the
altar, go and be reconciled
with your brother first
and then come back and
present your offering.’
(Matthew 5:23)
pray persistently. In the parable of the • Do I keep on praying or give up

persistent friend, in which too easily?
Jesus teaches to never give
up praying. (Luke 11:5–8)
ask others to pray ‘... if two of you on earth • Who else have I asked to pray
also for our agree to ask anything at for my intention?
intention or need. all, it will be granted to
you by my Father in
heaven.’ (Matthew 18:19).

Return to Return to
CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus taught ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ to his followers
One prayer Jesus taught his followers is called ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ and begins with the
words ‘Our Father’. Each of its phrases has special meaning.
Sometimes, when a prayer becomes well known, people can recite it without thinking or
even without knowing what specific words mean. It is important to learn and to reflect
on the words of this traditional prayer.
Our Father Jesus is the Son of God. All become members of God’s
family. Jesus invites his followers to call his Father their
own.
who art in heaven, Jesus reminds people that the Father to whom they pray is
truly God. The expression ‘in heaven’ substitutes for God’s
name. It was Jewish convention in Jesus’ day to avoid direct
use of the holy name. Jesus’ first disciples were all Jews, as
Jesus himself was, so he follows the convention.
hallowed be thy name; ‘Hallowed’ means ‘recognised as holy’. Believers begin their
prayer by acknowledging God’s holiness and giving God
their love and respect.
thy kingdom come; Baptised people are awaiting the full realisation of God’s
reign in the world.
thy will be done on God’s reign will be complete when all people on earth live
earth as it is in heaven. as God wants. Jesus teaches by word and example that the
full realisation of God’s Kingdom in this world requires
obedience to his Father’s will.
Give us this day our Food is humanity’s most basic need. But Jesus, the Bread of
daily bread; Life, wants people to pray for all that they need each day
for their physical and spiritual nourishment.
and forgive us our Trespasses are any words, actions or attitudes that are
trespasses deliberately opposed to God’s law. Believers ask the Father’s
forgiveness for these offences.
as we forgive those who Just as God forgives them, so must his children forgive
trespass against us; those who offend them.
and lead us not into People ask to be protected from things that test their values,
temptation, and trials of their spirit that might be too great for them.
but deliver us from evil. The greatest evil for believers is to sin against God and
reject God’s love. They ask to be guided away from Satan’s
influence, saved by God’s grace.
Amen. This Hebrew word is a solemn form of agreement to all that

the believer has said.

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In Class Work
As a class, brainstorm all the things you consider to be ‘evil’ in

today’s world
In your journal, write about a time when you were tempted

to do something wrong and you were unable to resist the
temptation. How did you feel afterwards?
Communal prayer
Jesus taught his followers that prayer for the same intention by more than one person is
very powerful.
For this reason, Jesus’ followers also ask

others, especially family members and For your information…
friends, to pray for their needs. They pray
When the saints plead with God to
for one another in communal prayers, such
help people on earth, they are offering
as the Prayers of the Faithful during Mass
prayers of intercession.
(1 Timothy 2:1). Catholics ask priests to
pray for their intentions, particularly when
they are celebrating Mass.
When someone prays for another person’s intentions, this is an act of selfless love
helping make their prayer more powerful.
Catholics believe that those in heaven can pray on behalf of others. Jesus, who always
lives, is most powerful in interceding for people (Hebrews 7:25). The prayers of Mary
the Mother of Jesus and all other saints are also effective though they are not as
powerful as those of Jesus.
When someone prays for another

person’s intentions, this is an act
of selfless love helping make their
prayer more powerful.

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Catholics pray to Mary and celebrate feasts in her honour
Mary, the mother of Jesus, has a special relationship with God. Jesus taught his
followers to ask Mary to pray for their intentions.
The early Christians knew that Jesus was the Messiah and that Mary was the mother of
the Messiah. On two occasions Jesus called Mary ‘woman’ – a title meaning the mother
of all people. One occasion he did so was when Mary asked him to help the couple at
the wedding feast at Cana:
… and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’… Jesus said to the
servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’… the president [of the feast] tasted the water,
and it had turned into wine. (John 2:3–9)
The other occasion was when he gave John and Mary into each other’s care when Jesus
was dying on the cross:
Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said,
‘This is your mother.’ (John 19:27)

In earlier times, the mothers of Jewish kings had special rights of access to their sons.
Ordinary people would approach the mother of a king asking her to make requests of her
son on their behalf. She was called the ‘queen mother’ and addressed as ‘Great Lady’ (1
Kings 15:13).
Jesus spoke of himself as a special kind of king (John 18:36–37). The significance of the two
events in John’s Gospel (John 2:3–9 and 19:27) is that his followers could approach his
mother to make requests of her son on their behalf. People address Mary as ‘Our Lady’.
Mary is very important to Catholics who regard her as the Mother of God and the
Mother of the Church. She is both a model of how people are called to be faithful to
God and someone whose intercession we can trust. Catholics pray the Hail Mary, which
recalls the most important moments around her agreement to become the mother of
Jesus (Luke 1:28, 42). They pray also for her motherly help. The Angelus prayer also
celebrates Mary’s role in the Incarnation of Jesus (Luke 1:28, 35, 38). The Rosary, a
series of reflections on the major moments in the lives of Jesus and Mary, is another
important form of prayer to Mary (Marian prayer).

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Marian prayers
The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death.
Amen.
The Angelus
The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary,
R: and she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
Hail Mary…
Behold the handmaid of the Lord:

R: Be it done unto me according to your word.
Hail Mary…
And the Word was made flesh,

R: and dwelt amongst us.
Hail Mary…
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R: That we may be made worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray:
Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord,
your grace into our hearts, that we,
to whom the incarnation of Christ your Son
was made known by the message of an Angel,
may, by his passion and Cross,
be brought to the glory of his Resurrection
through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Mysteries of the Rosary
The Five Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation of the Lord Luke 1:26–38

2. The Visit of the Virgin Mary to Elizabeth Luke 1:39–45
3. The Birth of the Lord Luke 2:1–20
4. The Presentation of the Lord Luke 2:22–38
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple Luke 2:41–52
The Mysteries of Light
1. Jesus is baptised in the Jordan Matthew 3:13–17

2. Jesus’ self-revelation at the wedding at Cana John 2:1–11
3. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God Mark 1:14–15
4. The Transfiguration Luke 9:28–35
5. Jesus institutes the Eucharist Matthew 26:17–28
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane Mark 14:32–42

2. Jesus is scourged Mark15: 15
3. Jesus is crowned with Thorns Mark 15:16–20
4. Jesus carries his Cross Mark 15:21
5. Jesus dies on the Cross Mark 15:33–39
The Five Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection of the Lord Mark 16:1–20

2. The Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:6–11
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit Acts 2:1–13
4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary into Heaven Revelation 12
5. The Queenship of the Virgin Mary Revelation 12:1–2,5
The Rosary is a very old prayer to Mary. It consists of:

• meditating upon one group of five of twenty mysteries in the lives of
Jesus and Mary
• praying one Our Father, the Hail Mary ten times and one Glory Be to the
Father for each group of five events.

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Praying the Rosary

It is customary to commence the Rosary by making The Sign of the Cross, then saying
The Apostles’ Creed:
The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

He was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the Virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and life everlasting. Amen.
Pray the Hail Mary three times:
The Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace,
the Lord is with you;
blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

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Pray ‘The Glory be to the Father’:
The Glory be to the Father (Gloria Patri)

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now and ever shall be
world without end. Amen.
Each of the decades consists of The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father):
The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)

hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
but deliver us from evil. Amen.
This is followed by the Hail Mary being prayed ten times then one Glory be
to the Father:
Some traditions finish each decade with the prayer O My Jesus:
O My Jesus
O my Jesus, forgive us our sins
save us from the fires of hell,
and bring all souls to heaven,
especially those who most need your mercy.

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The Hail Holy Queen is usually prayed at the end of the five decades:
The Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina)

Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy;
hail, our life, our sweetness and our hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us,
and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
The major liturgical feasts

Catholics celebrate feasts in honour of
Mary each year. These feasts celebrate her
life and what makes Mary important for
Catholics.
These feasts are:

• Mary, the Mother of God (1 January)
• Mary Help of Christians (24 May) is the
national patron of the Catholic Church
in Australia
• Mary’s Assumption or being taken body
and soul into heaven by God when her
life was finished (15 August)
• Mary’s Immaculate Conception, or
Mary being conceived without original
sin due to God preparing her to become
the Mother of Jesus (8 December).

What is the meaning of ‘apparition’?
An apparition is a vision or unusual mystical appearance of some person or thing, usually
to give a message.
What is a ‘miracle’?
An event for which there is no human explanation but which points to the action of God.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Marian apparitions
The Church officially recognises that Mary has appeared at different times in history
and in different places since she was assumed body and soul into heaven. Catholics give
special honour to these places. Famous apparitions occurred around the world and
apparition sites have become places of pilgrimage. People go to these places to pray for
others as well as for their own special needs.
The Church does not officially recognise places of apparition as genuine until it is
convinced through appropriate investigation of the claims. Usually those that are
officially recognised have been confirmed by miracles. Although many appearances by
Mary have been reported, few are recognised officially by the Church.
Today it is claimed that Mary appears at Medjugore in Bosnia-Herzegovina. This claim

has not been officially recognised by the Church. This does not mean that Church
recognition may not be given in the future.
In Class Work
The Church officially recognises several places around the world where Mary
has appeared. Research one or more of these accounts of the apparitions of
Mary.
• Lourdes in France
• Chapel of the Daughters of Charity Convent, Rue de Bac, Paris, France
• Fatima in Portugal
• Guadalupe in Mexico
• Knock in Ireland.
Why Catholics pray to saints

Saints are also close to God in heaven. The Church takes time before recognising that a
person is a saint. There must be an investigation of the person’s life and any writing he
or she left. Testimony is taken from eye-witnesses. If warranted, a decree of the person’s
heroic virtue is proclaimed to acknowledge their goodness.
In order to be recognised as a saint, Church officials must be convinced that miracles

have occurred as a result of the intercession of this person. Miracles are seen as God’s
sign that a saint’s prayers are powerful and that Catholics should ask the saint to pray
for them.
In Class Work
Many people show devotion to a particular saint. Make a list of saints

associated with your school, parish or family. Why are the lives of these saints
significant?

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Christians need to develop a balanced prayer life
In order to develop a balanced prayer life, many find a schedule such as the
following, practical. It involves praying, as Jesus did, each morning and night,
as well as at meals.
Prayer across a day might include:
Morning
• The Sign of the Cross
• memorised morning prayer
• The Lord’s Prayer
• The Hail Mary
• The Glory be to the Father
• asking God, in one’s own words, for help with any particular needs
for oneself or others, especially in the coming day
Meals
• Grace before meals
• Grace after meals
During the day

• thanking God as good things occur
• asking God for help when difficulties arise
• spending a few minutes with Jesus in the church or chapel where the
Blessed Sacrament is present
• participating actively when opportunities for prayer present themselves,
eg. in classes
Night
• The Sign of the Cross
• thinking of at least two good experiences during the day and, in one’s own
words, thanking, praising or blessing God for them
• recalling any good thoughts, words or actions (including being cooperative)
during the day and thanking God for these in one’s own words
• The Act of Contrition for any wrongs one may have deliberately thought, said
or done (‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a
sinner.’)
• praying spontaneously for personal needs and those of others
• The Sign of the Cross.
This is certainly a good start for developing balanced prayer. It can be changed
to fit into each person’s own experience and needs.

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In Class Work
Devise a prayer schedule for the next week. Try to include prayers that you
will need to memorise. Include prayers for the people and events that you
will encounter.

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1 The purpose of creation

Creation affects people and provides for human needs
People respect the forces of creation
People realise they are unique within creation
Stewardship of God’s creation is an important
Christian responsibility.
Creation affects people and provides

for human needs
Every person experiences creation. This includes the earth and everything
in it – the plants, animals and people, the sun, stars and other planets.
As people grow to appreciate and understand creation they realise that

they are part of it. Creation affects them and they affect creation.
This leads people to question: ‘What is the basic purpose of creation?’
Creation affects people in many ways. From an early age people are aware of the
world in which they live. People of all ages are struck by spectacular scenes in nature.
People express their appreciation for creation in many ways. Some paint, others take
photographs. Some compose poems, songs or symphonies. Others simply enjoy their
surroundings.
People who appreciate creation often find themselves stirred to ask questions, such as:
• How can there be so much beauty in the world?
• How can there be so much detail?
• What is the purpose of it all?
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to Return to Return to 143

CONTENTSCONTENTS CHAPTER CHAPTER
1. THE PURPOSE OF CREATION
In Class Work
Take an aspect of nature that inspires you and attempt to depict it in any
artistic form. You may even choose to write a short ‘shape’ poem. Display
your work in class.
Have you ever been moved

by something you experienced
in nature?
Describe what happened.
In Class Work
Using magazine images, photographs or your own drawings, create a montage

of your favourite parts of the natural environment such as the beach or the
bush. Under each image, explain why this aspect of creation is so important
to you. Display these around the class for further class reflection.
s.
Nature’s colours
. Stunning sunset
Fresh natura l w
ater. Vibra nt and col
ou rful.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Creation provides for human needs

People rely upon creation for the basic necessities of life – heat, light, food, water,
clothing and shelter.
This reliance on creation leads many people to ask:

• How could we live without the earth’s resources?
• Will they run out?
• Does everyone have a fair share?
• How can we make sure that there are sufficient resources for future generations?
In Class Work
Working with the person next to you, try to answer the questions people ask
about creation.
Do you have any other questions about creation?
People respect the forces of creation
One of the most important forces in creation is life. It is

shared by all living organisms. There are many other
forces in creation. These include gravity, storms,
earthquakes, ocean currents, winds, the movement of
stars and planets.
People have learned from creation that laws and

balances exist in creation. As they come to understand
and respect these, they learn new ways to enjoy and benefit
from creation.
People have also discovered that to ignore or abuse nature’s laws and balances leads to
harmful consequences.
In Class Work
List examples of how abuse of laws of nature leads to harmful

consequences.
As people learn to respect the forces within creation they ask questions such as:
• How do we need to treat creation to preserve its beauty?
• How can we avoid being harmed by creation?

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People recognise they are unique within creation
As people appreciate and understand creation they

realise that they are a unique part of it. They share
basic resources needed for life with the many other
living creatures on earth; including the air they
breathe, water, light and the heat of the sun.
Like the galaxies, people are formed from natural

elements that came into existence billions of years
ago. At the same time, human beings are different
from all other creatures.
Human beings can keep growing in their All people share the basic
understanding of creation and learn more by resources needed for life
studying what they do not understand. They can including the air they
appreciate its beauty and find joy and laughter in breathe, water, light and
different aspects of it. the heat of the sun.
People can demonstrate good

qualities such as fairness,
honesty, loyalty and courage. In your journal, write
They admire these qualities in about what makes
others, and as they learn to you a special and
recognise and accept these unique part of
qualities they discover creation.
goodness within themselves.
People are capable of loving

and enjoying different
life-long relationships. Their love for others can be so strong at times that it can move
them to make sacrifices, even to the point of being willing to die for others.
In Class Work
Who are the people you find inspiring? List all the qualities that you think are
admirable in the people you have chosen. How have these people influenced
your life?
People can demonstrate good

qualities such as fairness,
honesty, loyalty and courage.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
People are capable of making choices rather

than being compelled to follow instincts.
They are capable of working out right from
RIGHT
wrong.
As people realise that they are unique

they ask themselves these questions:
WRONG
• Why are humans different from the
rest of creation?
• How am I different from others?
• How should I treat others and how
should I expect others to treat me?
As they realise they are unique, people

recognise the need to respect life in
different ways. This has led them to make
laws forbidding murder, to punish those
who kill others through carelessness, expect governments to legislate in ways that will
protect their environment as well as to provide for human needs such as hospitals,
schools, police, and other services. It can also motivate individuals to risk personal
health and safety to rescue others in serious situations.
Stewardship of God’s
creation is an important
Christian responsibility
Reasons why people neglect
and harm creation
People have the potential to live in
harmony with creation. Unfortunately,
neglecting and harming the natural
environment has become a way of
life for many people.
There are various reasons why people Unfortunately, neglecting

contribute to environmental destruction, and harming the natural
why they fail to wonder at and admire environment has become
creation and why they adopt exploitative a way of life for
standards of living. many people.
In Class Work
List reasons why people neglect and harm creation.

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The tendency to take

creation for granted
People often take creation for granted
and ignore its beauty and variety. Often I’m too busy to
this is because they are too busy to stop stop and smell
and appreciate creation. The less society
the roses!
cares about creation, the more likely it
is to cause environmental damage and to
deprive future generations of its beauty.
In Class Work
List some reasons why people do not allow time to appreciate creation.
List ways in which the natural environment has been damaged.
Discuss in small groups the consequences of these actions.
The unfair use of resources

Many people think of the resources
of the earth solely in terms of
making money. The result is that
these resources are often exploited.
There are problems also caused by
countries that misuse and abuse the
earth’s resources or take more than
their fair share.
Money, money, money ....
In Class Work
Research some of the consequences of unfair use of the earth’s resources.

Find newspaper examples of the ways in which the resource use of wealthy
countries, groups or individuals has had a negative impact.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Developing a sense of stewardship

for God’s creation For your information…
People can learn the purposes of various A steward is a person en
aspects of creation in order to better care trusted with
the management of anoth
for and protect creation. They can er’s property,
such as a house or estate
restore natural resources and use the . They are
expected to act as the ow
world’s resources in ways that are good ner would
act. ‘Stewardship’ mean
for the whole of humanity. s taking proper
care of a resource and ne
ver treating it
only as personal property
Today many people in the world as .
well as many Catholics and other
Christians believe that the earth belongs
to the whole human family, including future
generations. They should therefore relate
responsibly to creation as its stewards.
In Class Work
In small groups list the various ways people show respect for the natural
environment:
• at home
• at school
• in the wider community.
Share your findings with the class.
As a steward for creation, what do you think can be done to care for
the natural environment?
Stewardship played an essential role in the lives of the original inhabitants and
custodians of Australia. So important was creation for the Australian Aboriginal people
that they came to believe that they were part of the land, not just people who inhabited
the land.
This belief connected the Aboriginal people to their ancestors, to the animals and plants,
to each other and essentially to the land itself. This connection is called the ‘Dreaming’.
The stories that Aboriginal people tell about the Dreaming have been passed down
orally for thousands of generations. Many stories have also been preserved in paintings,
writings and through dance. To the Aboriginal people these stories about creation are
sacred. The characters of the Dreaming are real people and human beings, who still
influence Aboriginal Australia. These stories preserve the teaching that the landscape is
the result of actions by spirits. These stories help to explain to Aboriginal Australia what
life is all about.

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Aboriginal people’s sense of oneness with creation has fostered a strong spirit of
stewardship. It determines their laws about what they can eat, where they can live,
whom they can marry, what they should teach their children and how to deal with
problems they encounter. This connection with the land helps to explain why people
feel so strongly about the destruction of sacred sites.
In Class Work
Discuss places that hold significance to both Aboriginal and

non-Aboriginal people. Suggest a place from your own experience
of the natural environment that you consider to be sacred.

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2 Creation – a sign of God’s love

The basic purpose of creation is to reveal God’s love
Creation reveals God the sustainer, all knowing and beautiful.
There is a basic purpose to creation
‘What is the purpose of creation?’ is a question that

God created in the human heart so that people
would look to God, the Creator, for an answer.
As people seek an answer to this question, they
discover God, God’s plan for creation and how
to grow into a closer relationship with their God.
Created out of love for people and

for the glory of God
God revealed that the earth and everything in it was
created to serve as a sign of God’s love for all people.
The universe is the first sign of God’s love.
From what has been discovered already, scientists realise that the
earth is a tiny speck in the vastness of the universe. The sheer size
and wondrous scale of creation is an expression of God’s
boundless love for all people.
The universe exists to reveal the glory of God

God wants a personal relationship with every one. God not only
loves every single person in the world but wants everyone to
return that love.
To love a person is to treat them as ‘special’ and to form a

relationship with that person. God wants to be recognised by
all people as ‘special’ and for them to acknowledge that without
God they would cease to exist.
As people recognise that God is special they show their love for
God and enter into a personal relationship with God and give
God glory or special honour.

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2. CREATION – A SIGN OF GOD’S LOVE
In Class Work
How do you treat the people you love who are ‘special’ to you?
List the ways you express your love for them.
All people can discover the Creator who shows love for them through creation.
… ever since the creation of the world, the invisible existence of God and his
everlasting power have been clearly seen by the mind’s understanding of created
things. (Romans 1:20)
People who realise that the universe was created by God often begin to ask themselves:
‘What must God be like?’
Creation reveals God the

sustainer, all knowing
and beautiful
God sustains creation
Everything that exists does so
because it was created by God.
Nothing exists that God did not
create. God created all from
nothing including all the forces
that renew the earth.
Creation exists because of God’s

love and power. God’s act of
creation has not stopped. God
continues and sustains the existence of
the universe. If God did not do so,
everything would vanish in an instant.
In the Bible, words of praise to the Creator

are expressed in the Book of Wisdom:
… you love everything that exists,

and nothing that you have made disgusts you,
since, if you had hated something, you would not have made it.
And how could a thing subsist, had you not willed it?
…Lord, lover of life!
(Wisdom 11:24–26)

CONTENTS CHAPTER
God knows all things

Over the centuries, scientists have learned much about the universe. As people have
discovered laws of the universe, many things have been discovered and invented that are
now taken for granted.
People continue to study the universe to unlock many more of its secrets. The more
people learn, the more they realise that everything they have discovered is an expression
of God’s wisdom. They realise that God is all-knowing.
In Class Work
Consider some of the laws of nature and explain how people have used
them to discover and invent many things that benefit human beings.
God is beautiful
Everyone who studies creation discovers its beauty. Different aspects of the beauty of
creation appeal to different people. People have concluded that to be able to create all
the beauty to be found in creation, God must be beautiful. As the author of the Book of
Wisdom was moved by God to write:
If, charmed by their beauty, …

let them know how much the Master of these excels them,
since it was the very source of beauty that created them.
And if they have been impressed by their power and energy,
let them deduce from these how much mightier
is he that has formed them,
since through the grandeur and beauty of the creatures
we may, by analogy, contemplate their Author (Wisdom 13:3–5)
Copy St Francis of Assissi’s prayer, ‘Canticle of the Sun’

into your journal. Reflect on its meaning and illustrate it.
Write a poem or song that captures the beauty of God

in creation.

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What is God like?

Though billions of people have
realised that there is a Creator of
the universe, they have been
confused about what God is like.
In your journal
Some have incorrectly thought
respond to the
that there are many gods. Some
question, ‘What
people think God is to be feared,
is God like?’
God is unjust or weak because of
the presence of evil in the world.
People remain confused about these

and other ideas because they do not understand basic truths about creation. To help
them, God revealed many truths about the creation of the universe and people. These
are found today in the Bible, starting with the creation stories in the three opening
chapters of the Book of Genesis.

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3 God creates original harmony

God inspired the stories of the Bible
What God teaches in each of the creation stories
God’s state of original justice consisted of four
harmonious relationships.
God inspired the stories of the Bible
Some of the lessons that God revealed about creation and human nature can be
found in the Bible.
God inspired the writing of religious stories in three steps:

1. God revealed the lessons God wants everyone to learn
2. God inspired one or more writers to ask: What is the best way to
help people learn and remember God’s lessons?
3. God inspired writers of religious stories to craft story details to
preserve the lessons God wants everyone to learn.
These stories were part of people’s lives and were easy to remember. People also
remembered the lessons the story contains. Each story reveals truths about God.
The teachings of God they contain are true though the details within the
particular literary form may or may not be true.

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3. GOD CREATES ORIGINAL HARMONY
In Class Work
Recall an event/incident which has occurred at school this year.

• one group is to recall the event in writing
• one group, through the use of mime
• one group, through oral story-telling
• one group, through illustration.
Representatives from each group are to share their versions of the story with
the class.
Discuss differences that exist amongst the versions of the story.

What ‘truths’ were common to all versions?
The first book in the Bible is called the Book of Genesis. Genesis means ‘beginning’.
This book opens with six religious stories about creation. These are the stories of:
• the creation of the universe in seven days
• the creation of the first parents of the human race in the Garden of Eden
• the Fall of the first parents of the human race
• the two brothers, Cain and Abel
• the Flood, Noah and his Ark
• the Tower of Babel.
What God teaches in each of the creation stories
God inspired the first two of these stories to be written so that people could learn God’s
lessons about the origin and purpose of God’s creation.
The earliest Biblical creation story to be completed is placed second in the Bible. This
order better fits the flow of the six stories of creation. People do not know the name of
the author God inspired to write this story although it is believed that he lived around
1000BC. He is called ‘the Yahwist’ because he uses ‘Yahweh’ – the name of God which
was first revealed to Moses (Exodus 3:13–15).

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The Yahwist Creation Story – the second creation account in

the Bible (Genesis 2:4b–25)
The following table summarises the Yahwist Creation Story and its key teaching points.
The story What does the story teach?

God shaped human beings from God created human beings and loves each one
the soil and breathed in them personally. The breathing in of God’s breath is the
the breath of life (v 7) giving of life to humans.
God created a garden in God created the human environment in which people
Eden (v 8) would be happy in themselves. God called human
beings to cultivate and care for the earth.
God forbade the fruit of the God alone can decide what is good and what is evil.
tree of knowledge (vv 8–9, People owe obedience to their Creator who knows
16–17) what is best for them.
God created animals and birds God created all other living things. God is the author
from the soil (v 19) of all life.
God brought each for the The human was superior to the rest of creation, for
human to name (vv 19–20) he named the rest (naming being the task of someone
of superior rank in those days). The human was
created to work with God in bringing creation
to its completion (God bringing the creatures
to the man to complete their creation by
naming them).
God created the woman as The woman shares the same nature as the
companion – not from the soil man. In some ancient languages of the
(vv 21–23) Near East ‘rib’ is the same as
‘life’. God created women equal
in dignity to men.
…they become one flesh…both People need to see themselves and
of them were naked…but they each other as God does to relate
felt no shame… (vv 24–25) properly with each other. The human
body is the means of expressing what
is within a person. Men and women
achieve wholeness in
relationship with each
other. Marriage was created
by God.

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The Yahwist Creation Story
2:4b At the time when Yahweh God made earth and heaven 5 there was as yet no wild
bush on the earth nor had any wild plant yet sprung up, for Yahweh God had not sent
rain on the earth, nor was there any man to till the soil. 6 Instead, water flowed out of
the ground and watered all the surface of the soil. 7 Yahweh God shaped man from the
soil of the ground and blew the breath of life into his nostrils, and man became a living
being.
8 Yahweh God planted a garden in Eden, which is in the east, and there he put the man
he had fashioned. 9 From the soil, Yahweh God caused to grow every kind of tree,
enticing to look at and good to eat, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden, and
the tree of knowledge of good and evil.
10 A river flowed from Eden to water the garden, and from there it divided to make four
streams. 11 The first is named the Pishon, and this winds all through the land of Havilah
where there is gold. 12 The gold of this country is pure; bdellium and cornelian stone are
found there. 13 The second river is named the Gihon, and this winds all through the land
of Cush. 14 The third river is named the Tigris, and this flows to the east of Ashur. The
fourth river is the Euphrates.
15 Yahweh took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden to cultivate and take care
of it. 16 Then Yahweh God gave the man this command, ‘You are free to eat of all the
trees in the garden. 17 But of the tree of knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat;
for, the day you eat of that, you are doomed to die.’
18 Yahweh God said, ‘It is not right that the man should be alone. I shall make him a
helper. 19 So from the soil Yahweh God fashioned all the wild animals and all the birds
of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to
bear the name the man would give it. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, all the
birds of heaven and all the wild animals. But no helper suitable for the man was found
for him. 21 Then, Yahweh God made the man fall into a deep sleep. And, while he was
asleep, he took one of his ribs and closed the flesh up again forthwith. 22 Yahweh God
fashioned the rib he had taken from the man into a woman, and brought her to the man.
23 And the man said:
‘This one at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh!

She is to be called Woman, because she was taken from Man.’
24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife,
and they become one flesh.
25 Now, both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame
before each other.
(Genesis 2:4b–25)

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God teaches that human beings come

from the earth. They are not created and For your information…
then placed upon the earth. Nor do they
The ‘forbidden fruit,’ wa
come from somewhere else as the human s not an apple.
The Bible simply calls it
body is made up of elements of the the fruit of the
tree of life. Over the yea
earth. rs people have
come to represent this wit
h an apple.
Nowhere in the Bible does God teach
precisely how or when human beings
were created from the earth.
The Priestly Creation Story – the first creation account in

the Bible (Genesis 1:1–2:4a)
The first creation story found in the Bible is called the Priestly account. Its authors were
priests from the newly restored Temple in Jerusalem around 500BC.
Why the priestly account was written

The Priestly creation story was written so that God could reveal answers to the
questions of those who remained faithful to God.
Just over four centuries after the Yahwist author lived, the Jewish nation was conquered
by the army of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 587BC. To destroy their identity as
a nation, much of the population of Israel was driven into exile. They were scattered
across the Babylonian empire. The city of Babylon is located in what is now called
Iraq.
This exposed the Jews to pagan religions which had ideas about God, people and the
rest of creation that conflicted with what God had previously taught. Most Jews gave
up their faith in God and began to follow other religions. A small number of Jews,
the remnant, remained faithful to their covenant with God. (cf. Isaiah 10:20; 28:5;
Jeremiah 31:7; Micah 5:6)
The exile lasted fifty years. Then in 539BC the Babylonian empire was conquered by
the army of Cyrus of Persia. Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. The
faithful group did this in 537BC. As a result of their exposure to pagan religions, they
now had new questions about God and creation.
God revealed answers to these questions and inspired the writing of another creation
story to help people remember these answers. The questions can be reconstructed from
the answers God revealed:
• How powerful is God in comparison to the gods of other religions?
• The religions of all the lands surrounding the Jews, such as Egypt and Babylon,
treated women as inferior to men. Was this God’s original intention?
• Many of these religions had gods in the forms of animals and birds. What
relationship did God originally intend between human beings and the rest of
creation?
• Many of these religions also thought their gods competed with negative supernatural
forces. Where did God fit into this idea?

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The Priestly Creation Story

The following table summarises the Priestly Creation Story and its key teaching points.

In the beginning God created God created everything that exists. God existed
heaven and earth (v 1) before creation and brings order and purpose to all
creation.
Let there be (v 3) God creates by a simple command.
God created light, water, God created light, water, plants and every living
plants, creatures and birds in thing. God controls darkness and is more powerful
the first five days (vv 3–25) than any natural force. God is the sole creator of
everything even those things, such as the sun, that
other ancient religions mistakenly thought of as gods.
God created man and woman God created male and female equal and they equally
in God’s own image and have a special relationship with God. God created
likeness (vv 26–31) each to reflect God in a special but different way.
Male and female are the closest of all living things in
creation to God and were created in harmony with
God.
Be fruitful and multiply God created human beings capable of having
…be masters (vv 22, 28) children. God gave people the responsibility of
developing creation in ways that reflect God’s
‘mastery’ God in creating the universe, lovingly
cares for it. People are also called to be stewards of
creation.
God saw all he had made and The author is preserving God’s teaching that God’s
indeed it was very good (v 31) goodness can be discovered in everything, even if
people cannot see this. He also corrects the mistaken
ideas of ancient religions that evil forces existed equal
to the forces of good. God is greater and more
powerful than all other forces.
So ended the sixth day God had completed heaven and earth with all their
(vv 31, 2:1) finery.
God rested on the seventh day God blessed the seventh day and made it holy,
(v 2:4a) because on that day he had rested after all his work
of creation. Rest – recreation – is an important part
of God’s action. In the ancient world, the number
seven symbolised perfection and completeness.
God created everything that exists. God existed

before creation and brings order and
purpose to all creation.

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The Priestly Creation Story
1:1 In the beginning God created heaven and earth. 2 Now the earth was a formless void,
there was darkness over the deep, with a divine wind sweeping over the waters.
3 God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. 4 God saw that light was good, and
God divided light from darkness. 5 God called light ‘day,’ and darkness he called ‘night,’
Evening came and morning came: the first day.
6 God said, ‘Let there be a vault through the middle of the waters to divide the waters in
two.’ And so it was. 7 God made the vault, and it divided the waters under the vault
from the waters above the vault. 8 God called the vault ‘heaven’. Evening came and
morning came: the second day.
9 God said, ‘Let the waters under heaven come together into a single mass, and let dry
land appear.’ And so it was. 10 God called the dry land ‘earth’ and the mass of waters
‘seas’, and God saw that it was good.
11 God said, ‘Let the earth produce vegetation; seed-bearing plants, and fruit trees on
earth, bearing fruit with their seed inside, each corresponding to its own species. And so it
was. 12 The earth produced vegetation: the various kinds of seed-bearing plants and the
fruit trees with seed inside, each corresponding to its own species. God saw that it was
good. 13 Evening came and morning came: the third day.
14 God said, ‘Let there be lights in the vault of heaven to divide day from night, and let
them indicate festivals, days and years. 15 Let them be lights in the vault of heaven to
shine on the earth.” And so it was. 16 God made two great lights: the greater light to
govern the day, the smaller light to govern the night, and the stars. 17 God set them in
the vault of heaven to shine on the earth 18 to govern the day and the night and to
divide the light from darkness. God saw that it was good. 19 Evening came and morning
came: the fourth day.
20 God said, ‘Let the waters be alive with a swarm of living creatures, and let birds wing
their way above the earth across the vault of heaven.’ And so it was. 21 God created
great sea-monsters and all the creatures that glide and teem in the waters in their own
species, and winged birds in their own species. God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed
them, saying, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the waters of the seas; and let the birds
multiply on land’. 23 Evening came and morning came: the fifth day.
24 God said, ‘Let the earth produce every kind of living creature in its own species:
cattle, creeping things and wild animals of all kinds.’ And so it was. 25 God made wild
animals in their own species, and cattle in theirs, and every creature that crawls along the
earth in its own species. God saw that it was good.
26 God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let
them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild animals
and all the creatures that creep along the ground,’

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27 God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male
and female he created them.
28 God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.
Be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven and all the living creatures that
move on earth.’ 29 God also said, ‘Look, to you I give all the seedbearing plants
everywhere on the surface of the earth, and all the trees with seedbearing fruit; this will
be your food. 30 And to all the wild animals, all the birds of heaven and all the living
creatures that creep along the ground, I give all the foliage of the plants as their food.’
And so it was. 31 God saw all that he made, and indeed it was very good. Evening came
and morning came: the sixth day.
2:1 Thus heaven and earth were completed with all their array. 2 On the seventh day
God had completed the work he had been doing. He rested on the seventh day after all
the work he had been doing. 3 God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on
that day he rested after all his work of creating.
4a Such was the story of heaven and earth as they were created.
(Genesis1: 1–2:2:4a)
God’s command that living things ‘be fruitful, multiply’ teaches also that God completed
only the start of creation. Creation is not complete. God’s plan is for human beings to
join God in the ongoing work of creation.
God’s ‘state of original justice’ consisted of

four harmonious relationships
The two creation stories preserve in different ways the same four basic lessons revealed
by God. God created human beings to be:
• in harmony with God
• in harmony within themselves
• in harmony with each other
• in harmony with the rest of creation.
This harmonious state of relationships is called ‘God’s state

of original justice’. If people live in ways that reflect this
‘original justice’ they will find true happiness, otherwise
they will be unhappy and unfulfilled.

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God originally created people in harmony with God

God teaches that:
• God knows and loves each human person
• God understands every human person completely
• no one can hide anything from God, the Creator
• people owe obedience to their Creator, on whom their lives depend
• people need to recognise God, their Creator, as more powerful than any power or
force in the earth or the universe.
God originally intended everyone to be close to God. The creation stories teach,
for example, that:
• God personally creates the soul of every human individual
• each individual’s life is a personal gift from God
• God loves each person in a special way
• God creates each individual’s soul to live forever with God
• everyone depends upon God for every breath and movement
• all people are created to work with God in the development of creation including
– the development of a relationship with God
– their own personal development (as they are part of creation)
– the development of others
– the development of the earth’s environment and resources.
Each person will grow in happiness if they love God in return. They do this by
worshipping God, by praying and by behaving in ways that are in accordance with God’s
will for them.
Alternatively, no one can be completely happy for very long unless they relate personally
with God. Nor can they be truly happy if they disobey God.
God originally created people in harmony within themselves

God understands every person completely. No one will ever be able to understand
themselves as completely as does God.
All who relate closely with God grow in self-understanding. They realise that they:
• are sacred
• are unique in being created in God’s image and likeness
• have within them the power to love, to do good, to forgive and to behave like God
in many other ways
• can reflect God in different ways as men and women
• are loved completely by God, irrespective of any external characteristic, including
height, size, rate of growth or disability
• need to exercise self-mastery
• have sexual gifts given by God.
People grow in happiness as they behave in ways that show they appreciate these things
about themselves. Alternatively, if they do not appreciate these things, people will not
love and appreciate themselves as they should.

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God originally created people in harmony with each other

God originally created people for close friendship. This was founded upon their
recognition that:
• each human being has been created by God
• people are sacred to God
• all people should recognise the sacredness of others
• women and men are equal in dignity
• human beings should see each other as persons, and never make judgements about
others because of their physical appearance
• marriage was created by God
• God made men and women capable of sexual intercourse for the purposes of
– expressing married love to each other
– conceiving children.
When people relate with others in ways that reflect these understandings, true friendship
and peace grow in families, societies and between nations. These lead everyone to
happiness. Alternatively, if they treat others in ways that fail to respect God’s original
creation, there will be tensions, violence and even wars – and much unhappiness.
God originally created people in harmony with creation

People affect and are affected by the rest of creation. God originally intended
each to be good for the other. For this reason, God created people as being:
• capable of enjoying creation
• capable of using vegetation and the earth’s resources to provide for their needs
• able to care for the earth
• able to develop the goodness in creation
• able to work with God towards the further development of creation
• capable of understanding the good in every aspect of the universe.
When people treat creation with the proper respect intended by God, they
contribute to the happiness of present and future generations. Alternatively, if
they treat creation without respect, they harm human relationships with:
• God
• self
• others
• creation.
God’s purpose for creation is to call people to love their Creator, who loves them
first. In each of the creation stories, God wanted people to:
• relate with God
• experience the inner peace and happiness that a personal relationship
developed with God and behaving like God, brings
• experience the love and goodness people give and receive from each other
• understand and enjoy everything that is good in creation.

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4 God’s original harmony damaged

God’s plan for creation has not been fully realised
With God’s original harmony damaged, people could no longer
see creation as God intended
Original sin affects all humanity.
God’s plan for creation has

not been fully realised
Throughout recorded history people have
observed that the world is not perfect. Despite
continual advances in human knowledge, there
are still many imperfections obvious to those
living today. People question why God’s plan
for creation has not been fully realised.
Many people today do not relate with

God in the way God intended
People can see great contrast between creation
today and what God revealed in the creation
stories in the Bible. Instead of loving God who
loves them, many ignore God and what God
teaches instead they live as though God does not
exist. They do not think about God, pray or go to church.
Many people experience unhappiness and a lack of harmony

The inner peace and happiness God intended for people was damaged and instead of
being happy and at peace within themselves many people experience stress and
confusion. They also experience guilt and regret and have difficulty in seeing themselves
in positive ways. They also know the reality of sin in their lives.
Many people relate in a negative manner with each other

The happy relationship God intended people to have with each other was also damaged.
People sometimes treat others badly and fail to respect the dignity and rights of others.
They put each other down and see only some aspects of others rather than the whole person.

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4. GOD’S ORIGINAL HARMONY DAMAGED
Instead of respecting and treating creation as God intends,

it can be abused
The relationship with creation was also damaged and instead of respecting and treating
the rest of creation as God intends there are many examples of people exploiting and
destroying creation.
What caused creation to be not as God planned.

Why is creation not as God planned? People can find the answer to this question in the
four stories of the Bible that follow the creation stories:
• The Fall or first human sin
• Cain and Abel
• The Flood, Noah and the Ark
• The Tower of Babel.
With God’s original harmony damaged, people could

no longer see creation as God intended
The Story of the Fall is a continuation of the Yahwist story of creation. The Yahwist
recorded God’s teachings on how breakdown of God’s original harmony resulted in
people experiencing sufferings. These sufferings were not part of God’s original plan in
the creation of people but the result of disobedience and the loss of harmony with God,
others and creation. The story begins with a spiritual creature hostile to God and God’s
plan for creation. This creature is represented as a snake.
Later in the Bible this spiritual

creature is identified as real,
not fictional. The name
given to this spiritual
creature hostile to God is
the devil or Satan
(Wisdom 2:24; Job 1:6).
Many today are aware of evil powers

that can harm people. Many religions
give names to these powers and many
novels, plays and other forms of
entertainment include these
evil powers in their stories.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Story of the Fall

The following table summarises the Story of the Fall (Genesis 3) and its key teaching points.

The snake was the most The first parents of the human race were tempted to
subtle of all the wild animals disobey God by a spiritual creature opposed to God
(vv 1–15) and the goodness created by God. This creature
caused evil to come into God’s creation.
The snake tempted the woman Satan tempts people to sin by deceiving them and
(vv 1–5) leads them to ignore or to disobey God because they
think it will lead to true happiness.
Humans have a tendency to want to be like God and
decide for themselves what is good and what is evil.
The most basic aim of Satan is to exploit human
weakness and destroy people’s relationship with God.
God forbade the first parents of the human race from
eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and
evil. The snake deceived the woman into believing that
by eating the fruit, she and her husband could become
‘gods’. He made her envious of God. She wanted to
become equal to God, instead of obeying God.
The woman took some of the God did not create people to experience evil. The
fruit (v 6) first parents of the human race damaged their
relationship with God through an act of
disobedience. They were no longer in harmony with
God, creation, themselves or with others. The inner
happiness and peace of the first couple was damaged
from the moment they discovered evil.
The eyes of both of them were The first parents of the human race came to see the
opened: they sewed loincloths world and each other differently as a result of their
(v 7) sin. They experienced evil for the first time and failed
to see each other as a whole person. Without God,
they were left to their purely human understanding.
They would suffer in ways God never intended and
would be subject to moral temptations by the devil
and capable of sin. Now they saw their differences as
something to be hidden.
They hid from Yahweh The couple’s guilt after their sin caused them to feel
God (v 8) distant from God. Sin is a major cause of people not
relating with God by prayer or worship. Conflicts
within people are the result of original sin. Sin causes
guilt in people.
The man said ‘… she gave me Original sin led to tensions between the first parents
some of the fruit from the tree, of the human race and this is the basic cause of
and I ate it.’ (v 12) tensions between people and nations. By eating from
the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil,
the couple became confused. From then on they
would be confused about good and evil.
‘… you will give birth to your God foretold to the woman she would experience
children in pain … your suffering in childbirth. She would also experience
husband … will dominate you.’ loss of equality in her husband’s eyes but not in
(v 16) God’s plan.

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‘Painfully will you get your God foretold the man’s suffering because he could no
food … as long as you live … longer understand or relate with the rest of creation
By the sweat of your face as God originally planned.
will you earn your food.’
(vv 17, 19)
‘I shall put enmity between Christians understand these words of the Yahwist to
you and the woman, between be the first clue to God’s plan to renew the human
your offspring and hers…’ race. They understand that ‘the woman’ refers to
(vv 14–15) Mary, the Mother of Jesus and her ‘offspring’ refers
to Jesus.
‘…to dust you shall return.’ Human death came into creation. This teaching is
(v 19) repeated in other places in the Bible.
The Story of the Fall
3:1 Now the snake was the most subtle of all the wild animals that Yahweh God
had made. It asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you were not to eat from any
of the trees in the garden?’ 2 The woman answered the snake, ‘We may eat the
fruit of the trees in the garden. 3 But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the
garden God said, “You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death.”’ 4 Then
the snake said to the woman, ‘No! You will not die! 5 God knows in fact that the
day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good
from evil.’ 6 The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye,
and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its
fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate
it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they realised that they were
naked. So they sewed fig-leaves together to make themselves loin-cloths.
8 The man and his wife heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in
the cool of the day, and they hid from Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.
9 But Yahweh God called to the man. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. 10 ‘I heard the
sound of you in the garden,’ he replied, ‘I was afraid because I was naked so I hid.’
11 ‘Who told you that you were naked?’ he asked. ‘Have you been eating from the
tree I forbade you to eat?’
12 The man replied, ‘It was the woman you put with me; she gave me some fruit
from the tree, and I ate it.’ 13 Then Yahweh God said to the woman, ‘Why did you
do that?’ The woman replied, ‘The snake tempted me and I ate.’
14 Then Yahweh God said to the snake, ‘Because you have done this,
Accursed be you
of all animals wild and tame!
On your belly you will go
and on dust you will feed
as long as you live,

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15 I shall put enmity

between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
it will bruise your head
and you will strike its heel.’
16 To the woman he said:

I shall give you intense pain in childbearing,
you will give birth to your children in pain.
Your yearning will be for your husband,
and he will dominate you.
17 To the man he said, ‘Because you listened to the voice of your wife and ate
from the tree of which I had forbidden you to eat,
Accursed be the soil because of you!
Painfully will you get your food from it
as long as you live.
18 It will yield you brambles and thistles,

as you eat the produce of the land.
19 By the sweat of your face

will you earn your food,
until you return to the ground,
as you were taken from it.
For dust you are
and to dust you shall return.’
20 The man named his wife ‘Eve’ because she was the mother of all those who
live. 21 Yahweh God made tunics of skins for the man and his wife and clothed
them. 22 Then Yahweh God said, ‘Now that the man has become like one of us in
knowing good from evil, he must not be allowed to reach out his hand and pick
from the tree of life too, and eat and live for ever! 23 So Yahweh God expelled him
from the garden of Eden, to till the soil from which he had been taken. 24 He
banished the man, and in front of the garden of Eden he posted the great winged
creatures and the fiery flashing sword, to guard the way to the tree of life.
(Genesis 3:1–24)

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Satan and devils

From the Bible we learn that God created spiritual creatures that people cannot see but
can experience. They are called ‘angels’ from the Greek word angelos, meaning
‘messenger’.
Satan is an angel created by God, but who

rejected a close relationship with God. The For your information…
word ‘Satan’ is from Hebrew meaning the
The Yahwist’s creation sto
‘accuser’ or the ‘adversary’. Satan wanted to ry describes the
Garden of Eden as includ
replace God as the Supreme Being, ing two trees
‘the tree of the knowled
disobeyed God and sinned by refusing to ge of good and
evil’ which gave people
serve God. the capacity to
decide for themselves go
od and evil and
‘the tree of life’, which pro
As a ‘fallen angel’, Satan has great spiritual mised
immortality, that is to live
power. It is greater than that of human forever.’
(Genesis 2:9).
beings. Other angels followed Satan in his
disobedience to God. These are called
‘demons’ or ‘devils’. Satan and demons
remain creatures of God. This means that their power is insignificant in comparison
with that of God.
In Class Work
Create your own symbolic tree of knowledge. Your artistic representation

should reflect examples of good and evil in today’s world.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Original sin affects all humanity
In the story of the Fall the man and the woman

disobeyed their Creator. They damaged their
relationship with God. Their action is called
‘original sin’.
God created the couple in harmony with creation.

When their original harmony with God was broken,
the couple’s harmony with themselves, each other
and creation was also broken. This has affected all
humanity and describes the situation now shared by
all people. To some extent everyone experiences the
weaknesses caused by original sin.
For baptised people the ultimate power of original sin is broken. The power of God who
has ‘made a home within them’ is greater than the power of original sin. It is this power
that people can draw upon to help them overcome temptations that arise.
Even though original sin was removed at Baptism, temptations still arise because
baptised people continue to have a tendency toward sin. This explains why even the
most holy of people are capable of some sin in this life.
In Class Work
After their sin the first parents of the human race felt the need to
distance themselves from God. Suggest human behaviours today
that leave people feeling distant from God.
Spiritual and physical death

God warned in the earliest creation story that to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge
of good and evil would lead to the death of the couple. ‘Death’ here meant distance
from God, the source of life (Genesis 2:17). The first couple could never again be as
close to God because they had chosen to do wrong. After the act of original sin God
told the man that he would die physically. His soul (the breath of God within him)
would separate for a time from his body. He had to be raised to life again, body and
soul, without any trace of sin in order to be in heaven with God who is pure love and
goodness.
No person who has expressed selfishness or done wrong can be close to God as
originally intended without the promised help of Jesus. Jesus revealed later that God
will glorify people’s bodies at the resurrection of the dead at the end of the world.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Assumption of Mary

The only human person who never
sinned was Mary, the Mother of Jesus.
For this reason, her soul and her body
were not separated at death.
God glorified her body when her

life in this world ended and, took
her body and soul into heaven.
Other than Jesus, Mary is the only
human being living body and soul in
heaven.
The Assumption of the Virgin,

c.1656 (oil on canvas) by Champaigne,
Philippe de (1602–74)

Catholics celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on
15 August each year. It is a holy day of obligation.
In Class Work
Read Wisdom 3:1-7: What is it teaching about death?
Mary’s entrance, body and soul, into heaven is celebrated by Catholics at the Feast of
the Assumption of Mary into heaven. Original sin changed the parents of the human
race in four basic ways. They were no longer in complete harmony:
• with God
• within themselves
• between themselves and others
• with the rest of creation.
In Class Work
Give examples from the media that show the effects of original
sin in human experience today.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Loss of harmony with God

The human relationship with God was damaged. Many would find it harder to relate
with God. Examples of this can be seen in those who:
• rarely worship or pray
• never worry about breaking God’s laws
• think God is irrelevant
• are more concerned with making money and having a good time
than they are with God
• ignore the Church instituted by Jesus to bring people closer to God.
Loss of harmony within people

The damaged human relationship with God meant that the peace and happiness God
originally created within people was also damaged. This is why many today experience
unhappiness and a lack of inner peace. They:
• lack self-understanding, and experience confusion about themselves
• lack the inner spiritual power closeness with God brings, so that emotions lead them
to behave in ways that conflict with goodness
• find their consciences confused about right and wrong
• suffer less freedom of will, so they find they fail to keep resolutions
• seek relief from personal stresses and tensions by taking drugs and getting drunk.
If people do not understand themselves, they will have problems relating with others
and the rest of creation.
Loss of harmony between people

The closeness and peace God originally created between people was damaged
as a result of the broken human relationship with God. Ever since, there have been:
• tensions and fights between married couples, within families and among friends
• people who hurt others deliberately, both emotionally and physically
• wars
• growing divisions between rich and poor
• racial and ethnic conflicts
• people who bully because they are blind to their own
dignity and the dignity of others
• people who fail to see others as ‘whole people’ and
treat them like ‘objects’.

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Loss of harmony between people and creation

People can no longer see creation’s goodness as God originally
intended. As a result, there is:
• pollution
• environmental damage
• environmental destruction to satisfy the greed of some
• overuse of the world’s resources
• hunger and misery because the earth’s resources are not shared
sufficiently among nations, groups and individuals.
People no longer understand creation as God planned.

As a result, they:
• cannot see the good in many creatures
• damage creation.
Yearnings of the human heart

People today have many experiences that reflect human nature as created originally by
God. They have other experiences that reflect the reality of original sin.
Despite the loss of harmony with God, within people, between people, between people
and creation and the loss of original holiness; people still experience the desire for the
happiness God originally intended. As a result, people yearn:
• for greater personal happiness and self-understanding
• for stronger relationships and friendships and to avoid loneliness
• for greater human respect for creation as well as an understanding for its creatures,
powers and forces
• to draw close to God
• to be forgiven their sins.
In Class Work
In a small group consider one of the harmonies and develop a role play or
artistic representation such as a poster to present one way in which this
harmony is damaged today.
In response to other presentations, reflect in your journal on ways in which

each harmony could be restored.
Choose one idea you have examined and write a prayer asking for
God’s help for humanity to restore harmony and satisfy the yearnings
of the human heart.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Using the information in Chapters 3 and 4, choose the correct answer for each
of the following questions.
1. In the Yahwist story of the Fall, the tempter in the Garden is represented by:
(a) an apple (b) the snake
(c) the woman (d) the man
2. The lingering effect of original sin after Baptism results in:

(a) yielding to temptation (b) a tendency to sin
(c) lack of harmony (d) all of these
3. In the Yahwist story, the first two children born to human parents were:
(a) Adam and Eve (b) Cain and Abel
(c) Noah and Abraham (d) names unknown
4. The Priestly account of creation in seven days was written:

(a) as the events described in the story were happening
(b) at the time the Yahwist creation story was written
(c) when Moses recorded the law
(d) after the Babylonian exile
5. ‘Original Harmony’ refers to the relationships God intended for

humans with:
(a) Satan and his demons
(b) others building the tower of Babel
(c) God, themselves, others and creation
(d) the planets and stars in the universe
6. Sin damaged original harmony. This resulted in:

(a) hardship (b) immortality
(c) happiness (d) dignity
7. Both stories of creation teach that women are equal in dignity with:
(a) men (b) God
(c) creatures other than man (d) a man’s rib
8. In the Yahwist story God commanded living things: ‘Be fruitful and multiply.’
This means:
(a) creation is complete and perfect
(b) any changes will damage creation
(c) humans are to join in the ongoing creation process
(d) humans should overtake all other creatures

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
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CONTENTS CHAPTER
5 Jesus the Redeemer

Jesus the Redeemer restores the human relationship with God
Jesus restores harmony within and between people
Jesus the Saviour shares his power to overcome Satan and sin
The Christian Promise can become a reality in people’s lives if
they draw on the power of salvation Jesus offers everyone
through his Church.
Jesus the Redeemer restores the

human relationship with God
By giving into temptation, Adam and Eve placed
their lives under the power of sin. Their sin
fractured their relationship with God. To enjoy
harmony within themselves, with others, and with
the rest of creation, people need their relationship
with God to be healed and restored. Jesus Christ
came to restore the human relationship with God.
He did this by ‘redeeming’ people from the power
of sin.

Poor people often became slaves in earlier times
because they could not pay back their loans on
time.
Someone in slavery because of debt could be

‘redeemed’ or freed from the power of the
person to whom they were in debt. This could
Fall and Redemption, 1540 (oil on panel)
happen if a family member or close friend paid by Timmermann, Franz (fl.1538–43)
the debt.
The person who paid the debt was called a

By giving into temptation,
‘redeemer’. The money paid by the redeemer was
called a ‘ransom’. Adam and Eve placed
their lives under the
power of sin.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
5. JESUS THE REDEEMER
Jesus – ‘the Redeemer’

In order to free people from slavery to sin, Jesus had to conquer sin’s power over
human nature.
‘When we were still helpless, at the appointed time, Christ died for the godless…’
(Romans 5:6)
In Class Work
Explain in your own words the meaning of ‘redeemer’. How was Jesus able to
save the human race from the power of evil?
Jesus did this by always obeying God the Father. This was the opposite of Adam’s
disobedience. Jesus said:
‘... I have come from heaven,

not to do my own will,
but to do the will of him who sent me.’ (John 6:38)
Jesus refused to give in to temptations from the devil. When tempted in the desert,
Jesus said:
‘Away with you, Satan! For scripture says: “The Lord your God is the one to
whom you must do homage, him alone you must serve.”’ (Matthew 4:10)
During the Last Supper the devil led Judas to betray Jesus to the Jewish religious
authorities.
At that instant, after Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered him. (John 13:27)
‘... I have come from heaven, not to do my own will,

but to do the will of him who sent me.’

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Judas led the soldiers to Jesus who was praying in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Jesus knew that he was going to be killed. He told his Apostles that:
‘... the Son of man was destined to suffer greviously and to be rejected by the
elders and the chief priest and the scribes and to be put to death.’ (Mark 8:31)
Jesus wants all people to share in his redemption of the human race. Jesus taught
that the way to do this is by:
• believing in him
• living as he taught
• joining the community of his Church through Baptism, the sacrament he
instituted so that all can enter this community.
As people share in Jesus’ redemption, their relationship with God is renewed and restored.
Reflect on the steps to sharing in the redemption Jesus

offers. In your journal describe how these affect your life at
this stage. Create a vision of how you hope to draw closer
to God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus restores harmony within and between people
God created people in God’s

own image and likeness.
They were meant to behave
like God by doing only what
is loving and good. By doing
so, they would enjoy peace
and happiness within
themselves.
Original sin damaged the

harmony Adam and Eve felt
within themselves. Instead of
inner peace and happiness,
they felt such shame that
they tried to hide from God
(Genesis 3:8).
People today still have these experiences of inner conflict for example, when:
• they damage love through temptations to be selfish
• they find it too hard to forgive because of hurt and resentment
• they waver in their loyalty to certain friends out of fear of being rejected by others
• temptations to lie and steal weaken their resolve to be honest.
The more people are under the power of sin, the more their efforts to love and to do
good are weakened. The Apostle Paul described this experience:
I do not understand my own behaviour; I do not act as I mean to, but I do the
things that I hate ... for though the will to do what is good is in me, the power to
do it is not: the good thing I want to do, I never do; the evil thing which I do not
want – that is what I do. (Romans 7:15–19)
Copy out the quote from St Paul’s Letter to the Romans.

Journal about experiences of your own when your
actions have been in conflict with your desire to do what
is right.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus the Saviour shares his power to

overcome Satan and sin
Jesus always had the power to do good. He
never gave into temptations nor sinned For your information…
(Hebrews 4:15). Jesus showed his power to
The name Jesus (in Hebrew, Yeshua
be greater than evil when he conquered
or Joshua) means ‘God saves’.
death and rose to new life.
Jesus shares his power with all who accept his offer of redemption. He frees them to
grow again in love and goodness and other qualities that reflect God. Christians call
Jesus their ‘Saviour’ because he ‘saves’ them from the power of Satan and sin.
After describing his experience of being under the power of sin, Paul wrote:
So I am brought to be a prisoner of that law of sin which lives inside my body.
What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body doomed to death?
God – thanks be to him – through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:23–24)
The sacraments seven sacraments

Jesus gave his followers
seven ways of drawing on
his power to overcome
Marriag
slavery to sin – the seven e
sacraments.
Holy Orders
Christians draw on this Anointin
g of the S
power in different ways ick
through each sacrament. As
they do so, they find they
Penance
are more loving, forgiving,
honest and loyal. Gradually Eucharist
as they behave more like
God, they find peace and
Confirmation
happiness growing within
them.
Baptism

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Working in small groups, create a list of situations where teenagers are able to
show the following qualities in the way that Jesus did:
• love
• forgiveness
• behaving honestly
• loyalty.
Jesus came to restore peace and harmony within and between people. At his birth the
angels proclaimed:
Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace for those he favours.
(Luke 2:14)
Everyone is invited to accept redemption and

salvation from Jesus and they will enjoy
God’s favour if they do so.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Christian Promise can become a reality in people’s

lives if they draw on the power of salvation Jesus offers
through his Church
Jesus’ grace is offered to all people without reservation. People who belong to his
Church, have opportunities to become people of great love, goodness and peace.
Christians are called to share in the mission of Jesus and of the Church. By her mission:
“… the Church … travels the same journey as all humanity and shares the same
earthly lot with the world: she is to be a leaven and, as it were, the soul of human
society in its renewal by Christ and transformation into the family of God.” –
Catechism 854
Christians look towards the completion of this transformation when Christ comes at the
end of time.
Imagine how the world would change if everyone

drew on the power of salvation Jesus offers all
through his Church. One place where this would
become obvious would be in media reports.
Imagine what the world would be like if everyone

was committed to bringing God’s Kingdom to
fulfilment.
Imagine if everyone took the time to pray, worship

and live as Jesus taught.
Imagine a world where:

• everyone is equal and respected regardless
of race or gender
• everything is shared
• human life is treated as sacred
• the environment and all of its resources are
cherished
• differences between people or nations are
resolved peacefully
• people love God, love their neighbour and
love themselves.
Imagine a world where there is no poverty,

war, famine, disease or crime.
Imagine for a moment what kind of world

it would be!

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
If you lived in a world where everyone drew on the power of salvation Jesus
offers what reports would no longer appear in:
• newspapers
• TV news reports
• Magazines
• Radio and other media?
What alternative news events would there be for the media to report?
Think of some headlines that would appear on page one.
Write an article about a positive event in a world where everyone

was committed to bringing God’s Kingdom to fulfilment.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
6 Signs of the power of Jesus

Jesus continues to offer redemption and salvation
through every activity of his Church
Catholics celebrate seven special liturgies or
sacraments as a community
Jesus’ Church continues to use human gestures
and elements of creation in liturgy.
Jesus continues to offer redemption and salvation

through every activity of his Church
Today, Jesus continues his work through
his Church. When the Church
– reminds people of Jesus and his
promise of personal redemption and
salvation
– continues to teach people about Jesus
– provides the opportunities to draw on
Christ’s power of salvation, particularly
through the seven sacraments.
‘Jesus remains present

as the Head of
the Church.’ Vatican, St Peter’s Square
Jesus works through every activity of his Church. He remains present as the
Head of the Church. As he told his followers:
‘My Father still goes on working, and I am at work, too.’ (John 5:17)
All gifts and blessings of God (graces) come from God the Father. This is the work of
the Father. Through the giving of these gifts and blessings, the Father restores the
harmony within and between people.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
6. SIGNS OF THE POWER OF JESUS
Part of the work of

Jesus was to pray to the
Father for special graces
for the community of his
followers h‘ is Church ’
Christ Going Out Alone into a Mountain to Pray, illustration for

‘The Life of Christ’, c.1886–94 (w/c & gouache on paperboard)
by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (1836–1902)
The work of Jesus today: to pray to the Father for his followers
Part of the work of Jesus was to pray to the Father for special graces for the community
of his followers ‘his Church’. Jesus prayed to God the Father before his arrest. He also
prayed for the future needs of his Church and for those who crucified him.
In Class Work
Look up these references and identify in each case why Jesus prayed
to the Father: Luke 22:39–46, Luke 23:34, John 17:9, 20–21.
Jesus continues his work of praying for all his followers today.
… his [Jesus’] power to save those who come to God through him is absolute,
since he lives for ever to intercede for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
After the sin of the first parents, people could no longer see signs of God’s blessings in
all aspects of the earth and nature. For them creation no longer signalled an invitation
to relationship with God.
Jesus taught people to use creation to remember and celebrate God’s blessings. Jesus
used aspects of creation as signs of his power and God’s blessings. The Church continues
this today through the sacraments Jesus gave his Church including its special liturgical
clothing and colours.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Catholics celebrate seven special liturgies

or sacraments as a community
Jesus taught his followers that they must join him in his work of praying in order to
receive the blessings of the gifts of God the Father. The official, public prayers of the
Church are called ‘liturgies’. The word liturgy comes from a Greek word for ‘public
seven sacraments
work’.
There are seven special liturgies or

sacraments that Jesus left his
followers to celebrate in community.
They are:
– Baptism
– Confirmation Marriag
– Penance
e
– Eucharist
– Anointing of the Sick Holy Orders
– Holy Orders
– Marriage. Anointin
g of the S
ick
Penance
Eucharist
Confirmation
Baptism
When followers of Jesus join in sacramental celebrations, each person of the Trinity
relates with them in different ways:
– Jesus the Son is praying on their behalf
– the Spirit is uniting them with Jesus and each other
– the Father is granting the prayer of the Son.
Each of the seven sacraments is the prayer of Jesus prayed by the Church, it is more
powerful than the prayers of any individual person.
Sacred Scripture is extremely important in liturgy because Christ is present through the
proclamation of God’s Word. The Liturgy of the Word is an integral part of all liturgical
celebrations.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus’ Church continues to use human gestures

and elements of creation in liturgy
Elements of creation and human
gestures used in liturgies
become signs of God’s loving
presence and blessings.
Jesus adapted gestures and

elements of creation that had
special meaning in the
Old Testament. Bread, for
example, became a sign of
God nourishing people. Wine
was used especially at feasts,
reminding Jews of the joy the
prophets promised with the
coming of God’s Kingdom.
Since then, the followers of Jesus have used human gestures and elements from the earth
as signs and symbols in the celebration of the sacraments. They also use them in other
religious ceremonies and in places associated with prayer and the worship of God.
Jesus uses creation as signs of God’s blessings

Jesus often used signs to help those watching to understand what he was doing, when
using his power to perform miracles. For example, he touched some of those he healed
and laid his hands on people’s heads or shoulders to bless them.
Jesus also told his disciples to use elements from creation to work miracles on his behalf
such as oil to heal the sick, and bread and wine for the mystery of the Eucharist. He also
told his disciples to continue the practice of using water for Baptism. These elements are
still used as signs in the sacraments, however they are not merely signs of grace. In fact,
they produce the spiritual effects of what they signify.
In Class Work
Read the references Matthew 26:26–29, Mark 1:41, Mark 6:13, Mark 8:23,
Mark 10:16, Luke 8:54, John 9:7, John 20:22. Construct a three-column table
and place the following information in successive columns:
• Scripture references
• the matching sign or element of creation used by Jesus
• its effect or the reason for using the sign.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The signs used in celebrating the sacraments or liturgies

The following chart identifies some of the graces received through each sacrament and
shows the links between signs and elements of creation and the graces received.
Sacrament Sign Commonly Grace received

associated
meaning
Baptism Water Life God lives or ‘makes a home’ in

the person, sharing God’s divine
life with them.
Washing Cleansed of original sin.
Gathering Made a member of the special

community instituted by Jesus,
his Church.
Confirmation Oil Massage, Special strength of the Holy
Anointing, Spirit.
Eucharist Bread and Nourishing Nourishment of all spiritual gifts

wine received through the other
sacraments. Nourishment of
personal gifts needed to reflect
God (love, forgiveness etc).
Unity and Greater unity with other members

community of the Church.
Eating and Communion with God.

drinking
Penance Sign of the The love Jesus Restores relationship with God
Cross showed by his damaged by sin.
death
Words of Reconciling Forgiveness of sins.

absolution
Anointing of Oil Healing God’s blessings on the sick
the Sick (comforting, healing and
forgiveness of sins).
Holy Orders Laying on of Movement The spiritual power and gifts from
hands and laying on God needed to lead the Church as
of hands a bishop, priest or deacon.
express the
action of
giving
strength or
power
Marriage Exchange Promising and Life-long strengthening of married

vows binding love by God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Individually or as a small group, select one of the sacraments and present the
information from the table in an attractive and artistic form. Clearly show the
link between the sign, its meaning and the graces received. Explain your art
work to the class.
Symbols used in the celebration of the Sacraments
Sacred vessels
The chalice, ciborium and paten are
sacred vessels used on the altar during
Mass. The chalice is the cup that holds
the wine that becomes the blood of
Christ. The ciborium and the paten
hold the altar breads that become the
body of Christ in the celebration of the
Eucharist.
The sanctuary lamp

From earliest biblical times, lamps have been used
as a symbol of honour to God. God told Moses to
have a lamp stand constructed and placed outside
the Holy of Holies (Exodus 25:31–40; 26:35).
Likewise, there is a lamp in every church and chapel

near the tabernacle when Jesus is present in the
Blessed Sacrament.
Candles
Candles are a development of lamps. They are used
in liturgies to honour the presence and prayer of
Jesus.
Candles are always placed on or around the altar.

They may also be carried in the entrance procession
on either side of the processional cross and held on
either side of the lectern when the Gospel is being
read.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Paschal candle

The Paschal candle is a special candle with
markings that recall the sufferings, death
and Resurrection of Jesus. It is blessed
during the celebration of his Resurrection
at Easter. It symbolises Jesus Risen.

The Paschal (Easter) candle is lit:
• for every liturgy during the Easter
season
• for every funeral Mass to remind
people of Christ’s undying presence
among them and of his victory over
sin and death (Order of Christian
Funerals 35)
• for celebrations of the sacrament of
Baptism to symbolise the light of
Christ that enlightens the newly
baptised.
Special clothing used in Sacramental liturgies

When making the Covenant with the People of Israel
at Mount Sinai, God established a priesthood and
commanded Moses to provide special clothing for the
priests.
God appointed Aaron, the brother of Moses, as High

Priest, and Aaron’s sons as priests and they were to wear
this clothing when undertaking their priestly roles
(Exodus 28). They were to put this clothing on before
going into the sanctuary and remove it after they left.
The vestments of the High Priest included an

undergarment, a belt and an outer garment the
‘ephod’, covered in symbols that represented the
High Priest’s role.

The ephod was a breast plate with twelve precious stones that represented the
twelve tribes of Israel.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The vestments priests wear in liturgies

Priests today still wear special clothing when celebrating a liturgy. These clothes, called
vestments, serve as signs of Christ as he prays on behalf of the gathered community.
Vestments are meant to help the priest and all present to remember that they are joining
in the prayer of Jesus and help people focus on what Jesus is doing during the liturgy.
The design of vestments worn by priests today relates to the clothing of the priests of
the Old Testament. They vary in appearance in different cultures.
The alb
A full length undergarment was part of the special clothing worn by the Jewish High
Priest. An alb is the full-length undergarment worn by priests on liturgical occasions.
The word ‘alb’ comes from the Latin word for ‘white’. It is also worn by acolytes and
servers to symbolise the purity of new life given at Baptism.
The stole
Officials in the Roman Empire wore special scarves to show their office. At every
celebration of a liturgy, priests also wear a special long, scarf-like garment called a stole.
It symbolises that, through Holy Orders, priests have received the spiritual gifts that
Jesus first gave the Apostles.

Bishops and priests wear the stole around their necks, with the ends hanging in front,
while deacons wear the stole over their left side with the ends hanging on the right side.
The chasuble
When a priest is celebrating the Eucharist, he usually wears an outer garment called a
chasuble. In early times, people wore large outer-garments to cover them, referring to
the garments as ‘little houses’, casula in Latin. Eventually, only priests wore these during
Mass. Often religious symbols are on the chasuble, just as the outer-garment of the
Jewish High Priest had symbols. Commonly used symbols are a cross, grapes, wheat and a fish.
In Class Work
Have you seen this symbol as a car sticker? The symbol

was devised as a secret sign by the first Christians.
Research its origins and the meaning of the Greek
acrostic that often accompanies it. Research the
meanings of other symbols commonly used on
chasubles.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Liturgical colours
Liturgical vestments are in different colours drawn from creation to remind those
participating in a liturgy of the different blessings of God.
Violet
In Old Testament times, violet was a colour of dignity. The High Priest wore vestments
woven from red-purple, violet-purple and crimson which were embroidered with gold.
He wore these for all official ceremonies including the one day each year when he
went into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies in the Temple in Jerusalem to make
atonement for the sins of the people.
Violet vestments are worn by priests today in liturgies of repentance – the Sacrament
of Penance and the seasons of Advent and Lent.
In Class Work
Purple or violet dye was very expensive. An early Christian, Lydia from Thyatira,
made her living from the purple dye trade and was able to support St Paul in
his missionary work (Acts 16: 14–15). Research how the people of Biblical times
made violet dye. Hint: it is connected with the sea.
White
In the world of the Bible, white was the colour symbolising the dazzling light of the
sun. It symbolised joy and triumph.
White vestments are worn on feasts of special joy, such as the feast and season of
Christmas. White is also worn at seasons of triumph, such as the feast and season
of Easter. At funeral Masses white is usually worn to remind people that Christ
triumphed over death at his Resurrection.
White is worn at liturgies celebrating Mary, and saints who are not ‘martyrs’.

‘Martyr’ comes from the Greek word martureo: I bear witness. Martyrs are people who
give witness to their faith by suffering death rather than giving up their religious
beliefs.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Red
Red represents fire and blood.
The Holy Spirit appeared over the Apostles at Pentecost like tongues of fire.
Red vestments are worn at Eucharistic celebrations of the Holy Spirit.
Red also represents blood so red vestments are worn at the liturgy celebrated on
Good Friday. They are also worn at Eucharistic celebrations honouring martyrs.
Green
In nature, green is a sign of life. Green is the colour worn most often during liturgies
in Ordinary Time. It symbolises the graces that draw people into the life of God.
Rose
Rose is sometimes used on the Third Sunday of Advent and the Fourth Sunday of Lent
to symbolise our joy at the approach of Christmas and Easter.
The liturgical year

The seasons of the year
each play a part in the
yearly cycle of the
renewal of creation.
Creation also includes
cycles of the sun and the
moon. Over thousands of
years people have
measured these cycles and
developed calendars.
The seasons and cycles

are also blessings of God.
In biblical times, God
commanded that these blessings
be celebrated with feasts throughout The seasons of the year
the year. Thus, the Jews developed
a liturgical calendar.
each play a part in
the yearly cycle of the
Followers of Christ have observed
the practice of special seasons and renewal of creation.
feasts to celebrate God’s blessings
each year.

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Advent
The season of Advent begins the liturgical year. It is a time of preparation for Christmas
and a period of repentance and religious renewal. Advent lasts four weeks, beginning on
the Sunday closest to 30 November. It is called ‘Advent’ from the Latin word for
‘coming’.
Christmas
Christmas is the second most
important feast in the For your information…
Christian year. It celebrates
The feast of Epiphany celebrates the visit of the wise
the birth of Jesus and is
men from the east to the infant Jesus. Epiphany
observed on 25 December.
means manifestation or making clear and the visit of
The Christmas season
the wise men was the first revelation of Jesus to the
includes the feasts of the
wider world.
Holy Family, Mary, Mother of
God, Epiphany and ends with
the feast of the Baptism of the
Lord.
Lent
Lent is the season of
preparation for Easter and For your information…
like Advent is a period of
The word ‘Lent’ comes from an old English word
repentance and religious
lengten for ‘spring’. Lent is celebrated in spring in the
renewal. Lent begins on Ash
northern hemisphere and autumn in the southern
Wednesday when Catholics
hemisphere.
are marked with ashes on
their foreheads as a sign that
they will take part in this time
of repentance. During Lent, Catholics are encouraged to pray more, to give alms or
money to those in need and to fast or give up something they like.
Lent lasts for forty days (not counting Sundays) to reflect the forty days Jesus spent in
the wilderness in preparation for his ministry and the forty years the Chosen People
spent in the desert. This season also celebrates the power Jesus offers his followers.
Easter
Easter is the most important feast of the Christian liturgical calendar. This celebrates the
triumph of Jesus over death. It also celebrates the power of Jesus as revealed by his
Resurrection, a power he offers today to all who turn to him for help.
Easter for Latin Rite (Roman) Catholics always falls on the first Sunday following the
first full moon after the equinox of March 21. The equinox is the time when days and
nights are of equal length.
Easter is celebrated for a period of fifty days. It concludes with the feast of Pentecost
which celebrates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the first members of the Church.

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In the early years of the Church there was confusion about the proper date for the feast of
Easter.
Pope St Victor I in 190 AD decreed that Easter was to be celebrated on Sunday, since Jesus
rose from the dead on a Sunday.
At the Council of Nicea in 325 AD a declaration was made that Easter must be held each
year on the first Sunday after the first full moon of the northern spring.
Still, not all Christians celebrate Easter on the same date. This is because some Churches,
such as the Greek and Russian Orthodox, calculate the date of Easter using the older
Julian calendar while others follow the more common Gregorian calendar.
Ordinary time
Ordinary time lasts for the rest of the year. It does not celebrate a specific event in the
life of Christ, but focuses on the ongoing effects of the teaching and ministry of Christ
and the different blessings of God for the Christian life.
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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Lord’s Day or the Sabbath

In the Old Testament, God commanded the Jewish
people to dedicate the seventh (Sabbath) or last day of
the week (Saturday) to God. The purpose of the Sabbath
was to focus the hearts and minds of the people of Israel
on their God for an entire day each week, especially
through prayer and worship. It was also meant to enable
people to rest and renew themselves, both in mind and
body.
The early Christian leaders changed the Sabbath

requirements from Saturday to Sunday because Jesus
rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Mark
16:1–7). As a result Sunday became known as ‘the Catholics today are required by Church law
Lord’s Day’. The wording of the third of God’s Ten to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday.
Commandments was changed from ‘Keep holy the
Sabbath Day’ to ‘Keep holy the Lord’s Day’.
The Lord’s Day was to be the weekly celebration of the Resurrection and the power of
salvation Jesus offers Christians for their lives. Christians believe Jesus replaced Jewish
Sabbath worship with the Eucharist. Just as the Sabbath did for the Jewish people, the
Lord’s Day also provided an opportunity for rest and ‘re-creation’.
Catholics today are required by Church law to celebrate the Eucharist every Sunday. In
this way, the Church also encourages people to rest from their daily work and to spend
time in ways that help to renew their lives, especially in nurturing relationships with
God and with others.
In Class Work
1. What is a liturgy?
2. Name two sacraments and explain the graces received through them.
3. Name the three sacred vessels used on the altar during Mass and explain
what each vessel does.
4. a) Describe the uses and symbolism of the Paschal candle
b) What do its markings represent?
5. Name the vestments worn by a priest during a liturgy.
6. What is different about the way bishops, priests and deacons
wear the stole?
7. a) How many liturgical seasons are there?
b) Which season begins the Church year?
8. What is the most important feast in the Church year? Why?
9. How do Roman Catholics determine when Easter is to be
celebrated each year?
10. a) What was (and is) the purpose of the Jewish Sabbath?
b) What do Catholics do today to honour the Sabbath?

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7 The end of the universe as
people know it

The sin of the parents of the human race damaged people’s
ability to see the universe as God intended
Only God knows how the universe will end
Jesus taught what will happen at the end of time.
The sin of the parents of the human race damaged

people’s ability to see the universe as God intended
The universe and the earth are
changing because neither is
complete nor perfect. God
created everything with its
good purpose but not as God
finally intends it to be.
People need to understand

and see the universe as God
sees it in order to see the
good created in everything.
At first, the parents of the
human race were able to do
this. When they harmed their
original relationship with God
through sin, they damaged
this ability.
Jesus revealed that the universe as people know it will come to an end and be renewed,
complete and perfect as God intended it to be.
In Class Work
Give examples of the natural changes that are constantly taking

place in the universe and the earth.

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7. THE END OF THE UNIVERSE AS PEOPLE KNOW IT
Only God knows how the universe will end
Scientists know that the universe, including the sun, the earth and the planets, will
eventually end. How the universe, as people know it, will end is known only to God.
Jesus taught that he will return at the end of time. Then:
‘... the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the stars will come
falling out of the sky and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they
will see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. And then
he will send the angels to gather his elect from the four winds ...’ (Mark 13:24–27)
Jesus was not describing what will actually happen. He was using ideas of the time to
teach that he will return at the end of time.
Jesus did not explain when this will happen. Initially, his followers thought that it would
happen in their lifetime. Later, they realised that they were mistaken about this.
Jesus taught what will happen at the end of time
The resurrection of the dead

Jesus taught that when he returns he will raise all who have died to life again:
‘… the hour is coming

when the dead will leave their graves
at the sound of his voice:
those who did good
will come forth to life;
and those who did evil will come forth to judgement.
… It is my Father’s will
that whoever sees the Son and believes in him
should have eternal life,
and that I should raise that person up on the last day.’ (John 5:28–29; 6:40)
The bodies of the risen will be different

The bodies of those who have died will be different from their bodies in this life. Like
the risen body of Jesus, who could appear within a locked room, they will be free of the
physical limitations people experience now:
... the doors were closed in the room where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews.
Jesus came and stood among them. He said to them, ‘Peace be with you…’
(John 20:19–20)

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The body of Jesus cannot be seen today. After his death, Jesus appeared to hundreds of
his followers to prove he had risen. He stopped doing so after his Ascension into
heaven:
... he appeared to Cephas (Peter); and later to the Twelve; and next he appeared to
more than five hundred ... at the same time, most of whom are still with us… and
then to all the apostles. Last of all he appeared to me too ... (1 Corinthians 15:5–8)
The risen human body, freed of physical limitations, will be able to see God. People will
know God in a new way. Their joy will increase forever as they become more like God.
As the First Letter of John explained:
My dear friends, we are already God’s children,

but what we shall be in the future has not yet been revealed.
We are well aware that when he appears we shall be like him,
because we shall see him as he really is.
(1 John 3:2)
Those still living

The early Christians wondered what would happen to those who had not died. St Paul
explained that their bodies would also be changed, losing their earthly limitations:
We can tell you this from the Lord’s own teaching ... the Lord himself will come
down from heaven; those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise, and only
after that shall we who remain alive be taken up ... to meet the Lord in the air.
(1 Thessalonians 4:15–17)
After his Resurrection, Jesus appeared to two of his followers as they were walking to a
town outside Jerusalem called Emmaus, however, they did not recognise him. After
talking to them on their journey, they invited him to join them at their meal.
Now while he was with them at table, he took the bread and said the blessing;
then he broke it and handed it to them. And their eyes were opened and they
recognised him; but he had vanished from their sight. (Luke 24:30–32)

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The Supper at Emmaus, c.1535 (oil on canvas) by Titian (Tiziano Vecellio) (c.1488–1576)
Those who are alive when Jesus returns will also have their bodies changed. Like the
dead who have been raised, their bodies will have no physical limitations. There will be
no pain, illness, disability or death.
In Class Work
Read the Emmaus story (Luke 24: 13–35). Imagine that you are as one of the
two disciples who encountered Jesus on the road. Write a letter or epistle to a
friend describing the incident and your feelings and reactions. At some
point in your letter explain how you realised who it was you had met
on the road.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Last Judgement

Jesus taught that there will be the Last
Judgement. After death God will judge
the lives of every person and they will
learn how their lives have contributed
to or harmed the establishment of
God’s Kingdom of love and goodness
(Matthew 25:31–46).
Those people who die friends of God

will enter into heaven. Those who do
not die friends of God face the
possibility of remaining separate from
God forever, an experience the Gospels
call ‘hell’.
Those people who die

friends of God will
enter into heaven. The Last Judgement, central panel from a Triptych (tempera
on panel) by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.1387–1455)
The new heaven and the new earth

St Paul likened the continuous change of the universe to the pain of giving birth.
The universe is awaiting the new creation:
We are well aware that the whole creation, ... has been groaning in labour pains.
And not only that: ... even we are groaning inside ourselves, waiting with eagerness
for our bodies to be set free. (Romans 8:22–24)
Jesus taught that at the end of time the universe will be freed of its physical limitations.
His teaching is summarised in the New Testament:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had
disappeared ... He (God) will wipe away all tears ... there will be no more death,
and no more mourning or sadness or pain. The world of the past has gone.
(Revelation 21:1, 4)

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1 The teenage body

The human body changes significantly from childhood
to adulthood
People express themselves through the body
God planned every human person as a unity of body and soul
People experience concerns about physical appearance
Social pressures can make it hard for teenagers to avoid
comparing themselves to others
Some people fail to respect others because of physical
appearance.
The human body changes significantly from

childhood to adulthood
From an early age, people are aware of their bodies. They begin to use their faces, hands
or voices to communicate how they are feeling. As people develop, they use words to
express their ideas, thoughts, attitudes and values to show others that there is more to
them than others can see.
For teenagers, one of the most important experiences in their lives is the further
development of their bodies. They see themselves, as well as others, changing in a
number of ways. The time between childhood and adulthood is called ‘adolescence’.
Physical changes, like all changes in human life, take time, and each person develops at
their own pace. This is because, from the moment of conception, each person is a
unique individual.

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
The physical changes that take place during adolescence are different from those of
childhood. Children are aware of the physical growth and development of their
coordination and muscles. However, adolescents realise that their bodies are much more
than this. They are the means through which they express and communicate themselves
to others.
Physical growth
Teenage bodies can vary greatly during these years of growth. Some grow taller more
rapidly than others. Not all physical growth occurs at the same rate. Hands, feet, noses
and ears, for example, can grow before the rest of the body
Sexuality
Young people begin to mature in their sexuality in the teenage years – that is, they begin
to think, feel and relate more like adult men and women.
The brain starts these changes by telling glands in the body to release hormones.
Males and females become more concerned about how to relate with each other.
Hormones affect emotional development as well. As they develop, some teenagers
experience emotional highs and lows.
Sexual development
The hormones that trigger the development of boys and girls into mature men and
women also stir physical sexual changes. Their bodies develop so that they become
physically capable of expressing married love through sexual intercourse. Over the
coming years, they will develop in other ways that are also necessary for expressing
married love.
Sexual changes also leave teenagers physically capable of conceiving children; however,
they will need to mature in other ways before being ready to become parents.
Common questions that cause

teenagers to wonder
Physical changes lead many teenagers
to wonder about what they are
experiencing. They think about
questions such as:
• Will other people find me attractive?
• Will I have a good body?
• Will I be as tall or as developed
as others in my class?

CONTENTS CHAPTER
1. THE TEENAGE BODY
People express themselves through the body
All people know that there is much more to them than others can see. People feel
offended when others make judgements about them that are based solely upon their
physical appearance. Noble qualities, hopes, experiences of hurts and disappointments,
ideas and secrets are to be found within every human being. These qualities and
experiences make an individual unique.
Human beings need bodies to communicate
Body language
Even when people say nothing, what they think or feel can be apparent from their facial
expression or the ways their bodies move. This is called ‘body language’. Often, words
are not needed to learn whether someone is happy or sad, enthusiastic or reluctant,
pleased or disappointed.
In Class Work
Choose a partner and sit or stand facing each other. Take it in turns to choose
an attitude or an emotion and communicate this to your partner in actions,
gestures or facial expressions. After each one discuss how the emotion or
attitude was conveyed and how it was interpreted.
Deliberate actions
People reveal their thoughts and good qualities also by deliberate actions. Teenagers
reveal their inner thoughts, qualities and attributes when they talk with a student others
reject or when they refuse to do what peers want or when they behave in friendly ways
with someone who earlier hurt or offended them.
In Class Work
List other ways teenagers are able to reveal their inner thoughts
and goodness to others.
People want to control what their bodies reveal about them

At times people find that their bodies communicate what they would prefer to remain
secret. Their bodies can react spontaneously, revealing their innermost thoughts and
feelings. They may have cried, when they did not really want others to know that they
were upset or they may have gone red in the face with embarrassment, when they
wanted others to think that everything was fine. People know, deep down, that
everything in them should be working in harmony.

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
Has there ever been a time when your body has

communicated what you would have preferred to
remain secret? Write about this occasion and record
how you felt at the time.
God planned every human person as a unity
God originally created human beings in harmony with themselves. Divisions in people,
such as when their bodies reveal thoughts and feelings they would prefer to remain
secret, can at times, be in conflict with that harmony. They are a part of the division
people experience as the result of original sin.
Growth towards maturity

As teenagers move from childhood to adulthood, they need to change in more than
physical ways to become responsible adult men and women.
During this period, their minds mature so that they can understand and learn in more
adult ways. They need to learn to manage their emotions so that they do not take over
and control their behaviour.
Other important changes are needed as well. The will needs to grow stronger. Only then
can promises be kept and commitments honoured.
People change spiritually and this deepens the qualities that mark a person as maturing,
such as goodness, kindness, fairness, truthfulness, and self-discipline. A most important
sign of spiritual maturity is the inner spiritual strength needed to face problems and
overcome challenges.

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
“Turning into an adult is like running a race –

everyone develops at different starting points”
Different starting points

Some people may begin to develop adult understanding or
emotional maturity first and mature physically later. Others For your information…
may begin to mature spiritually before they mature
Will is the ability given to each individual
emotionally. Many begin to mature physically first and in
to make choices based on factors like
other ways later. Teenagers who do not realise this can
knowledge, experience, personal
spend much time worrying unnecessarily about how their
character and exercise of conscience.
bodies compare to those of others.
The will, along with body, soul, mind and

Those who judge others by their physical appearance often
conscience, is a gift from God and these
find it hard to relate to people who are different. They
are all meant to function together within
have not learned that there is much more to every human
the whole person.
being than their physical appearance.
Teenage questions
When teenagers realise that there is much more to them than their bodies, and that their
bodies were created to express the person within, they often raise such questions as:
• Why is physical appearance so important for some people?
• Why do I worry so much about how others see me?
• Why are some people unable to see me for who I am?
All truly human gifts develop over the rest of our lives, not just when we are young.
Physical development is only one such gift. Whatever their physical condition, people
need to keep trying to use their bodies to express their inner goodness.
In Class Work
Divide a page horizontally into five sections: physical, intellectual,

social, spiritual and emotional and in each section record how you
have changed since Year Seven.

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
Coming to an acceptance and appreciation of one’s body

People who do not realise that the body is like a language and that its purpose is to
express what is within them, will become confused about their bodies.
People experience concerns about physical appearance
Some teenagers spend too much time worrying about how their bodies appear to others.
This can distract them from giving sufficient thought to their studies or the development
of their understanding, emotions and spiritual qualities.
Teenagers overly concerned about their bodies may compare their physical appearance
to that of others. They will feel happy about those aspects of their bodies that seem
attractive and unhappy or even embarrassed about aspects of their bodies that do not
seem attractive. How much they value other people will also tend to depend upon such
external characteristics as looks, physique and athletic ability.
In Class Work
Collect advertisements from a magazine that you think influences the way
young people see themselves.
Discuss as a class
• how people are presented in the advertisements
• how the perception of their own bodies can be influenced by
advertisements.
Outline in writing your responses to these points.
People who worry too much I think you

about their physical appearance look great!
may not recognise all of the
gifts that God has given them.
They need to make use of
opportunities to realise their
potential as a whole person and
develop qualities that are highly
valued by all, such as kindness,
helpfulness, fairness and
friendliness.
Do you like my
new outfit?

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
Social pressures can make it hard

for teenagers to avoid comparing
themselves to others
In order to communicate well, people need to see
others as people. This can be very difficult in
today’s society as advertising and the media seem
to emphasise physical appearance to the point that
deeper aspects of people are ignored. Teenagers
who compare their physical appearances to those
of movie, sporting and modeling celebrities may
find it hard to discover and develop more
important aspects of themselves as human beings.
In Class Work
Working in small groups, dramatise various situations that illustrate

the effect body image can have in each of these areas:
• school
• peers
• healthy self esteem.
If you had the choice to be anyone you wanted for

one day, who would you choose to be and why?
Write about a time when you compared yourself with

someone else and wished you were that person. What
were your reasons for doing this?
Have you ever tried to give someone the wrong

impression about who you are or what you are really like?
If so, write about a specific situation. Include your reasons
for acting in this manner and how you felt.
If you had a friend who was YOU, would you want them
to be your friend? Why or why not?

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1. THE TEENAGE BODY
Some people fail to respect others because of their

physical appearance
The tendency to judge others based solely on physical appearance can lead to
disrespectful attitudes and behaviour. People may not respect others because of their
racial characteristics. They can treat people whose bodies are weaker, such as the elderly,
as though they have less value and see those who are sexually attractive as ‘sex objects’.
No one likes to be accepted or rejected solely on the basis of their physical appearance.
Normally people want to be respected as human beings, as people with hopes and
dreams, fears and sensitivities, talents and ideas. Making friends with or judging others
solely on the basis of their physical appearance shows a lack of understanding of God’s
purpose in the creation of the human body.
Everyone has good points. What are yours?
List or draw symbols to represent those positive things

about you that you have recognised or that others have
said of you.
Write a prayer of thanks for all the things people take for
granted in everyday living, for example, sight, touch, smell,
speech, taste, hearing, as well as the gifts of reasoning,
friendship, love and feelings.

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2 Jesus taught about
the human body

Jesus taught the purpose of the human body
Jesus taught the importance of God’s laws
Jesus offers the saving power of God through his Church
Jesus shares his power through the sacraments of the Church.
Jesus taught the purpose of the human body
Jesus taught how people should use their bodies. He also reminded his listeners of what
God’s laws taught about the body in the Old Testament, that God created people to be
whole – not divided, so that the ‘inner’ and ‘outer’ person would function as one. Jesus
came to help everyone to achieve this harmony between their body and their inmost self
or ‘soul’. Jesus offered people God’s saving power to help them use their bodies as God
intended.
In its expression, the human body is like a language to every human person. People use
their bodies to communicate to others. Every word, expression and gesture is part of its
‘vocabulary’. In the Gospels, we find that, like all of us, Jesus had a body. It developed
from his conception, through adolescence, to adulthood. He had physical gifts which he
used whenever he:
• studied people:
Jesus looked steadily at him and he was filled with love for him and he said, ‘You
need to do one thing more. Go and sell what you own and give the money to the
poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ (Mark 10:21)
• read:
He stood up to read, and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written… (Luke 4:17)

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2. JESUS TAUGHT ABOUT THE HUMAN BODY
• sang:
After the psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives… (Mark 14:26)
• walked:
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem; Jesus was walking on ahead of them;
they were in a daze, and those who followed were apprehensive. Once more, taking
the Twelve aside, he began to tell them what was going to happen to him…
(Mark 10:32)
• used a carpenter’s skills:
This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary… (Mark 6:3)
In many of the ways that Jesus used his physical gifts, he showed that the human body
reveals the person within. Jesus expressed what was within through words and actions:
• as in the miracles:
Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said to him,
‘I am willing. Be cleansed.’ And at once the skin-disease left him and he was
cleansed. (Mark 1:41)
And taking the child by the hand he said to her, ‘Talitha kum!’ which means,
‘Little girl, I tell you to get up.’ (Mark 5:41)
He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then, putting
spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked. ‘Can you see anything?’
(Mark 8:23)
• as well as through:
– sighs:
At the sight of her tears, and those of the Jews who had come with her, Jesus was
greatly distressed, and with a profound sigh he said… (John 11:33)

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– tears:
As he drew near and came in sight of the city, he shed tears over it… (Luke 19:41)
Jesus also saw beyond people’s appearance, to who they really were. He helped them, be
they:
• young:
…but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little
children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the
Kingdom of God belongs…’ (Mark 10:14)
• crippled:
… he said to the paralytic – ‘I order you; get up, pick up your stretcher, and
go off home.’ (Mark 2:11)
• sexually attractive:
The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman along who had been caught
committing adultery … Jesus said (to her), ‘Go away, and from this moment,
sin no more.’ (John 8:3, 11)
• or disfigured:
When he saw them [the lepers] he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’
Now as they were going away they were cleansed. (Luke 17:14)

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People learn from Jesus that they reflect God whenever

they use their bodies to express their inner likeness to God.
Through words, other bodily expressions and actions. Jesus showed himself to have been
sent by God, whom he called ‘Father’. Through all of these, he showed himself to be
someone of love, mercy and many other qualities. In doing so, he revealed to people
that God, too, is all of these things.
Finally, when his followers saw that he had risen from the dead, they recognised in his
glorified body that he is the Son of God.
People learn from Jesus that they reflect God whenever they use their bodies to express
their inner likeness to God. Christians do so as they try to live as Jesus showed and
taught. They truly reveal the goodness that is within them.
Jesus taught the importance of God’s laws
Jesus stressed the importance of God’s laws to his followers. He said:
‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law ... I tell you, till heaven and
earth disappear, not one dot, not one little stroke, is to disappear from the Law ...
Therefore, anyone who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and
teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of
Heaven; but the person who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great
in the kingdom of Heaven.’ (Matthew 5:17–19)

To the Jewish people, the ‘Law’ or Torah in Hebrew, meant the first five books of the Bible.
This section of the Bible is also known as the ‘Pentateuch’ based on the Greek words
penta meaning five and teukhos meaning container (as for a scroll).

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Torah or Law of Israel
The book of ... Recalls how ...

Genesis God created the people of Israel
Exodus God formed the tribes of Israel into a nation
Leviticus The people of Israel needed to live in holiness in

order to honour their Covenant with God
Numbers God strengthened the social organisation of the

people of Israel
Deuteronomy The people of Israel needed a spirit of love and

obedience to God to develop as a nation.
The first two books of the Torah in particular preserve teachings of God that are
important for understanding the human body.
The Book of Genesis
The Book of Genesis is about the origins (or genesis) of the Jewish nation as the people
of God. It teaches that human beings were created to reflect God to each other. Each
person has the gifts to behave like God. It also reveals that the human person is sacred.
God said, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves ...’ God
created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and
female he created them ... God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good.
(Genesis 1:26, 27, 31)
The Hebrew word for ‘breath of life’ is ruah. God’s breath communicates life to the
living person.
Yahweh God shaped man from the soil of the ground and blew the breath of life
into his nostrils, and man became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)
In Class Work
From one of the quotations above choose a key word that emphasises God
teaching about the human body. Use the word as the basis of an acrostic
poem that summarises these teachings.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Book of Exodus: not just the ‘what’ of the Law but also the ‘why’
The Book of Exodus records

how God gave the people of For your information…
Israel laws to teach them how to
The word ‘holy’ comes fro
‘be holy’ and to relate closely m an ancient Germanic
word
meaning ‘whole’. To ‘be ho
with God. Most of the laws ly’ can be understood as
‘becoming whole’, as Go
presented in the Book of d wants people to becom
e.
A holy person is ‘wholly’
Exodus are repeated and for God, especially in
relationships with other
‘spelled out’ in more detail in people and the rest of Go
d’s
creation. One contempo
other books of the Torah, rar y example is Mother Ter
esa.
especially in Leviticus and
Deuteronomy. These three
books consist of much more than lists of hundreds of laws. God’s purpose in
giving these laws – the ‘why’ – is at least as important as God’s ‘what’ and ‘how’.
This is revealed in the following Scriptural passages:
Yahweh spoke to Moses and said: ‘Speak to the whole community of Israelites
and say: “Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy”.’ (Leviticus 19:1–2)
‘Listen to these ordinances [laws], be true to them and observe them, and in return
… [God] will love you and bless you …. You will be the most blessed of all
peoples.’ (Deuteronomy 7:12–14)

CONTENTS CHAPTER
God wants the people of Israel to be as God is – holy; and God wants to love and bless
them through the holiness they share. This, then, is the ‘why’ of God’s laws.
There is an almost infinite range

of behaviours that can be For your information…
considered holy. There are
In the Catholic understanding of holiness, God’s
heroic acts of selflessness where
grace enables every person who is open to the
people sacrifice their own lives
activity of the Holy Spirit in their lives to become
to save the lives of others and
more wholly oriented to God – in body and soul,
countless small and simple acts
mind and heart, will and conscience.
of faith and goodness people do
for God and each other every
day. Holy behaviours promote
more wholeness – they are life-giving, just as God is life-giving.
Unholy behaviours damage the lives of self or others and show a lack of respect for God
and God’s laws. Such behaviours can lessen the ‘wholeness’ (holiness) of a person.
Think about someone you know who behaves in holy ways.

Write about the wisdom you have learned from observing
this person and how they have lived their life.
To make it easier for them to recall these laws, God gave what are called the
‘Ten Words’
(Moses said) ‘Yahweh…revealed his covenant and commanded you observe it, the
Ten Words which he inscribed on two tablets of stone.’ (Deuteronomy 4:13)
Each of the Words was a saying that was easy to recall. Each referred to an essential way
for people to behave, or not to behave, if they were to have a close relationship with
God. The Ten Words were inscribed on stone and, like stone, they were meant to be
permanent.
Over time, these Words came to be called the Ten Commandments. Jesus explained the
full meaning of each Commandment. Followers of Christ remember their purpose and
that each Commandment embodied many laws of God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
The Ten Commandments
First I am the Lord your God; you shall not have strange gods before me.
Second You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Third Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Fourth Honour your father and mother.
Fifth You shall not kill.
Sixth You shall not commit adultery.
Seventh You shall not steal.
Eighth You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
Ninth You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
Tenth You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.
How to behave in holy ways
The laws of God teach people how to use their bodies in holy ways. They forbid unholy
or ‘ungodly’ behaviour that distances a person from God.
The following chart gives important examples of these different types of behaviours
Commandment Holy Behaviour Unholy Behaviour
First Doing what God asks of us Holding people or things as

Honour God’s lordship over and acknowledging God in more important than God
human beings in every every aspect of one’s life
aspect of human life Worshipping anything
other than God
Second Speaking of God, the name Using words such as, ‘God’,
Show respect towards God of Jesus and the names of ‘Jesus’, ‘Christ’ or ‘Mary’
to reflect God who, though holy people only with to swear or in other
Creator, respects every respect disrespectful ways
human person
Third Worshipping God at Choosing not to attend
Draw closer to God to Sunday Mass Sunday Mass
reflect God who wants a
deeper personal relationship Resting and relaxing on Doing unnecessary work on
with every human being Sundays Sunday
Expressing love for God

by prayer

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Commandment Holy Behaviour Unholy Behaviour
Fourth Showing respect to parents Speaking rudely to parents

Love parents and family
members to reflect God Obeying parents and those Acts of deliberate
who loves each of these in whose care they have disobedience
people placed us
Cooperating within the Refusing to do chores

family
Caring for family members Refusing to help family

who have special needs, members in need
especially those who are
young, old or sick or who
have disabilities
Fifth Taking care of personal Taking unnecessary risks

Care for human life to health that could lead to death
reflect God who gives and
cares for human life Defending someone under Bullying
attack by an aggressor Fighting
Killing another person
deliberately (murder,
abortion, euthanasia)
Sixth Using sexual gifts in Having sex outside
Respect the special marriage as God intends marriage (adultery and
relationship between fornication)
married people to reflect
God who created married
love
Seventh Respecting what belongs Stealing
Be just to reflect God who to others
is always just
Returning lost or borrowed Cheating people of what
property they own
Eighth Telling the truth Telling deliberate lies
Be truthful to reflect God
who always reveals what is Keeping other’s secrets, Making up untrue stories
true except when they plan to about others
harm others
Respecting the right of Gossip

others to a good reputation
Ninth Respecting other’s sexuality Trying to look at others for
Respect the sexuality of sexual pleasure
others to reflect God who
gives dignity to human
beings
Tenth Trust God to provide Behaving in greedy ways
Reflect God who is everything that is truly
generous necessary Thinking about how to
steal what belongs to
someone else.

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Adultery occurs when a married person has sexual relations with someone who is not
their spouse (ie. wife or husband).
Fornication occurs when unmarried people have sexual relations. The sixth
commandment expresses God’s intention that sexual union take place only in the context
of married love.
To ‘covet’ is to eagerly desire possession of something (or someone) that rightfully belongs
to another person.
Examine how you live your life according to each of God’s

laws. Reflect on the week that has just passed and record
your holy behaviours and times when you have failed to
follow God’s Ten Commandments.
Evaluate what you have recorded. Is there a need for

improvement in your life? Create a list of things you may
need to do in order to draw closer to God.
Jesus offers the saving power of God through his Church
Jesus began his work in Israel by offering people the saving power of God. God hopes
that people will draw on this power to help them behave in holy ways and draw into a
closer relationship with Him. God said:
‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent and
believe the gospel.’ (Mark 1:15)
People saw that the saving power of God was in Jesus. Some touched him to draw upon this power.
In Class Work
Working in small groups, attempt to dramatise as effectively as you can the

stories which contain the following Scripture passages from Mark’s Gospel. The
power of Jesus touch needs to be emphasised and portrayed in each story.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus Cures the Woman who Bleeds, Scenes from the Life of Christ (mosaic)
Byzantine School, (6th century)
Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him ...
And at once the skin-disease left him and he was cleansed. (Mark 1:41)
For he had cured so many that all who were afflicted in any way were crowding
forward to touch him. (Mark 3:10)
Now there was a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years ...
She had heard about Jesus, and she came up through the crowd and touched his
cloak from behind, thinking, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I shall be saved’.
And at once ... she felt in herself that she was cured of her complaint. ...’
(Mark 5:25–34)
And wherever he went ... they laid down the sick in the open spaces, begging him
to let them touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all those who touched him were
saved. (Mark 6:56)
They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought to him a blind man whom they
begged him to touch ... Then he laid his hands on the blind man’s eyes again and
he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything ... (Mark 8:22–25)

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Jesus wanted every human being in every country in the world to experience this power.
For this reason, he founded his Church, the body of people in whom God dwells. Jesus
promised:
‘…I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ (Matthew 28:20)
It is the saving power of Jesus that joins together all who belong to his Church.
‘I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever remains in me, with me in him,
bears fruit in plenty;
for cut off from me you can do nothing.’ (John 15:5)
I am the vine,
you are the branches.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Jesus shares his power through the sacraments

of the Church
The members of his Church can draw on the power of Jesus today through the seven
sacraments and by living a life of prayer and goodness.
The graces of the sacraments

What is the meaning of grace?
A grace is the special help that God gives freely to those who seek God’s power.
Group Sacraments Graces
Sacraments of Initiation Baptism All that is needed to live

Confirmation the Christian life within
Eucharist Jesus’ Church
Sacraments of Healing Reconciliation Inner peace and healing

Anointing from sin and spiritual
weaknesses
Sacraments of Service Holy Orders All that is needed to live

Marriage lives of Christ-like love
and self-giving to others.
The Christian Promise can become a

reality if people behave in holy ways
Jesus helps people use their bodies in holy
ways when they draw on the saving power
of God through the Church. Jesus also
helps them to overcome the temptation to
speak and express themselves in unholy
ways. When people use their bodies in holy
ways they draw closer to God.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Imagine you were greeted by Jesus at lunchtime today.
What behaviours do you think Jesus would see as holy

in your school?
What behaviours would Jesus view as unholy in your

school?
What improvements in behaviour do you think Jesus

would like to see in the school community before he
returns?
What would your school be like if everyone in your

school really believed that God is with them?
What would your school be like if everyone made a

concerted effort to draw on the saving power that
Jesus offers everyone through the seven sacraments?
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to answer or complete the following:

1. Jesus was sent by God, whom he called ____________.
2. _________ is the name given by the Jewish people to the first five books of
the Bible, known also as the ‘Law’. The first two of these books are:
_________________ and _______________________. In particular, they
preserve God’s teaching on
understanding___________________________.
3. In Hebrew ruah means ____________________________________ .
4. Explain the Catholic understanding of ‘holiness’.
5. Next to each of the points listed below, indicate which of the Ten
Commandments a person would be obeying by acting in this way
• Attending Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of Obligation ____
• Respecting the sexuality of others ____
• Returning property found in the classroom ____
• Treating parents and teachers with courtesy and respect ____
• Taking responsibility for and owning up to mistakes or things
that one has done _____ .
6. Name the two sacraments of healing.
7. What is the meaning of ‘grace’?
8. What graces do people receive when they receive the sacraments of
initiation?

CONTENTS CHAPTER
3 Baptism — the body as a
temple of the Holy Spirit

Baptism has its origins in Jewish and early Christian traditions
The body of a baptised person becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit
The rite of Baptism brings many graces
The graces of Baptism empower people to change.
Baptism has its origins in Jewish

and early Christian traditions
In Jesus’ time, Jewish people sought baptism because they
wanted to purify their lives of sin and wrongdoing. They did
this through a religious ritual of immersion in water. John
the cousin of Jesus, baptised people in the River Jordan and
for this reason was known as John the Baptist.
Before Jesus even began his mission, the prophet John the Baptist had prophesied:
‘I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me,
... he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit...’ (Luke 3:16)
Jesus, together with his Apostles, baptised people (John 3:22–27). Gradually, however,
Jesus led his followers to understand that he would institute a new baptism through
which he and God the Father would share the Holy Spirit with them. This new baptism
is now a sacrament.
The Holy Spirit would empower all who received Christian Baptism to change their lives
and grow in love and goodness. Their thoughts, words and actions would become like
those of Jesus. A newly baptised person would then enter the Kingdom of God, the
realm of God’s power:

no one can enter the kingdom of God
without being born through water and the Spirit…’ (John 3:5–6)

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3. BAPTISM – THE BODY AS A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles after the Resurrection of Jesus, as
he had promised. After that time, the Apostles baptised all who wanted to become
members of Jesus’ Church. Before leaving them, Jesus told his Apostles:
‘Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ (Matthew 28:19–20)

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke record that Jesus was baptised in the River
Jordan by John the Baptist (Matthew 3:13–17), (Mark 1: 9–11) and (Luke 3: 3, 21).
These Gospels do not mention Jesus baptising people but the Gospel of John states:
‘After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the Judaean countryside and stayed with
them there and baptised.’ (John 3:22–23)
In the early Church, the rite of Baptism usually included the rite of Confirmation. Later
in history these two sacraments were celebrated separately.
Baptism: The body becomes a temple of the Holy Spirit
In ancient times ‘temples’ were built to house the gods and these places were deemed to
be special by the people. God told the Jewish people to build a temple in Jerusalem
where God would be present among them
When Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would come into all who received Baptism, he
was teaching that God would be present in them this would make every individual
Christian a temple of the Holy Spirit.
The People of Israel knew from the Yahwist creation account that the human body was
sacred because human life was sacred. Christians now realised that, as a temple of the
Holy Spirit, the body of a baptised person was more sacred than ever. St Paul, for example,
asked:
Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you
and whom you received from God? ... So use your body for the glory of God.
(1 Corinthians 6:19–20)
In the Christian view, the human body is worthy of deep respect as God’s dwelling. Among
the various ways Christians show respect for the human body, two are of special importance,
respect for human sexuality and respect for the bodies of the dead.

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Respect for sexuality

God made human beings male and female. Their sexual gifts are
part of their bodies. This means that, since their bodies are
sacred, so are their sexual gifts. God wants the sacredness of
these gifts to be respected always.
God created the sexual gifts of males and females so that they
could enter into the sacred relationship of marriage:
This is why a man leaves his father and mother

and becomes attached to his wife, and they
become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
Sexual gifts are part of the expressiveness of the human body.

They are meant to express the special love of marriage, a love
that is sacred because it is created by God. It is a life-long love
and can only be shared by a woman and a man united through
marriage.
God revealed that people who behave in ways that disobey the sixth commandment
desecrate the holiness of their bodies:
... the body is not for sexual immorality; it is for the Lord ... Keep away from
sexual immorality. All other sins that someone may commit are done outside the
body; but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.
(1 Corinthians 6:14, 18)
Respect for the bodies of the dead

Christians treat the bodies of those who have died with great respect. At
funerals, the bodies are placed in a church before the sanctuary for the
funeral Mass. An Easter Candle is placed near the coffin to remind
everyone that, like the body of Jesus, the body of the dead person will be
raised to life again at the Last Day. The funeral Mass concludes with all
present farewelling the body of the dead person, in whom the Holy Spirit
once dwelled. The celebrant sprinkles the coffin with Holy Water to
remind all that the dead person’s body became a temple of the Holy Spirit
through their Baptism.

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The Rite of Baptism brings many graces
Baptism is the rite whereby the person is either immersed in water or has water poured
over them, while the celebrant pronounces the words of Jesus:
‘I baptise you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’
(based on Matthew 28:19)
With the ‘new life’ that comes with Baptism, God gives the baptised person three special
gifts – faith, hope and charity.
Faith is a special gift which enables people to

believe in God and all that Jesus has revealed.
Without faith, it is not possible to relate closely
with God and draw on the saving power of God
in the ways Jesus taught.
FAITH
Hope is a special gift to trust that God will fulfil
the promises of Jesus. Without hope it is difficult
for people to relate closely with God. They can
be discouraged too easily in their efforts to
overcome selfishness and other human
HOPE weaknesses.
Charity is a special gift which enables people to

keep deepening in love for God, and for other
people. Without charity, a person does not have
the kind of love needed to relate closely with God.
CHARITY Charity makes it possible for baptised Christians

to love others, particularly family members,
friends and even those they dislike or who offend
them.
Without charity, it would not be possible for

anyone to love others as Jesus did.

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Water is a symbol of the graces of Baptism

Jesus chose water for Christian Baptism because all the things that people associate
with water help them to appreciate the graces of this sacrament.
Water sustains life: Baptism brings new life

Water is essential for life. Without water, human beings and other creatures and
forms of vegetation would die.
Also, water brings new life to deserts and dry soil after rains and flash floods. Some
of Australia’s most beautiful wild flowers come to life and entire deserts are
transformed by floodwaters into places that teem with life.
The life-giving quality of water reminds all that, through Baptism, the Holy Spirit
comes to live in followers of Jesus. Early Christians spoke of a ‘new creature’,
someone totally new because, within them is the power of God to help them love.
Water cleanses: Baptism cleanses original sin

Human beings associate water with cleansing. Water used in Baptism reminds all
that, through this sacrament, God cleanses a person of original sin, the source of
human selfishness and weakness in the face of temptations to sin.
While original sin remains, none can relate closely with God. When God cleanses a
person of original sin through Baptism, they can relate closely to God. They can
know God’s goodness and love in ways not previously possible.
Water is a symbol of freedom: Baptism frees from sin

To the early Christians, water was also a symbol of freedom from slavery. They
remembered the story of the people of Israel being freed from slavery in Egypt. This
was finally achieved when they escaped from the Egyptians through the Sea of
Reeds, and then its waters rejoined to destroy the Egyptian army. The water used in
Baptism reminds Christians that Baptism frees human beings from slavery to original
sin. They can find freedom from, for example:
• selfishness, that limits love
• hurts, that limit forgiveness
• bad habits, that limit the development of goodness.
Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit comes to live in the baptised person to help them
overcome the human weaknesses caused by original sin. The more that baptised people
try to overcome human weaknesses, the more they behave in ‘holy’ ways. They grow
closer to God who is ‘holy’.
Water draws creatures together: Baptism draws people together

into the Church
Maps show that people tend to live near water. It is their need for water that draws
them together. Rivers, billabongs, creeks and pools also attract living things.
Different forms of vegetation grow near water, and creatures gather around sources
of water to drink.

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The gathering character of water reminds followers of Jesus that the Holy Spirit,
received through Baptism, draws followers of Jesus together into the community of
Jesus or his Church.
One reason God planned the Church was to draw together people of every race and
culture. God wanted to increase world peace and justice. God also wanted to restore
harmony in societies as this community spread. It would be bound together by the
teachings of Jesus and the power of the Kingdom, both of which are stronger than
what divides people.
Water a symbol of God’s faithfulness: Baptism graces will never be

withdrawn
Water also had another meaning for the Jews. It reminded them that:
• God promised Abraham a land for his descendants
• God promised to free the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and lead them to this
Promised Land
• the Israelites crossed the water of the Jordan River and entered the land
promised them by God.
Water, therefore, came to symbolise God’s faithfulness to promises. For Christians,

the water of Baptism reminds them that none of the graces of Baptism will ever be
withdrawn by God.
In Class Work
People associate many things with water. Jesus chose it as a symbol for
Christian Baptism to help people to appreciate the graces of this sacrament.
Look at these aspects of the use of water and the symbolism associated with
Baptism:
• Water sustains life: the Holy Spirit brings new life
• Water cleanses: Baptism cleanses of Original Sin
• Water is a reminder of freedom from slavery: Baptism frees from sin
• Water draws creatures together: the Holy Spirit draws baptised people
together.
Create a poster on one of these elements. Using symbols, illustrate this aspect
of water and its connection with Baptism.
If possible, recall any instances from the Bible that are associated with this use
of water. A concordance or the index at the back of the Bible could be useful
here. Add a suitable Bible quotation to your poster.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Other aspects of the rite of Baptism
Though the actual Baptism is the most

important moment in the rite of Baptism,
there are other aspects of the rite which
help to focus attention on its meaning.
While normally included as part of the rite,
they may be omitted in emergency
situations such as when an unbaptised
infant is dying, when only the words and
action of Baptism are used.
The ritual actions of Baptism and graces symbolised

Action Grace symbolised
Forehead marked with a cross before The person is going to belong to Christ
entering the Church
Word of God proclaimed The gift of faith needed to hear what God
teaches through the Word of God as Jesus
taught, will be received
One or more exorcisms pronounced over The person is to be liberated from the
the candidate power of sin
Anointed with the oil of catechumens Freedom from original sin is going to be
(people preparing for Baptism) received
Blessing of the water The ways God has already blessed the
human race and the graces received are
recalled
Essential rite: Pouring or immersion in All the graces of Baptism are received:
water while words of Baptism are • freedom from original sin
proclaimed • the new life of the Holy Spirit received
• drawn into membership of the Church
• drawn into spiritual unity with other
baptised people, living and dead
Anointing with consecrated oil The newly baptised person has been
called ‘chrism’ consecrated by God and now is able to
worship as Jesus taught, drawing on the
saving power of God for their lives
Given a white garment The baptised person belongs to Christ

and, as an adopted child of God, shares
the close relationship of Jesus with God
the Father
Given a lighted candle The baptised person can live the

Christian life as a light to others
The ‘Our Father’ is prayed The baptised person is now a member of

the Church as God’s special family, and
can join this family in praying to God as
‘Father’.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. Have you ever been present at a Baptism? Was it the Baptism of a

baby or adult?
2. Write what you can remember about the ceremony.
3. If you were baptised as a baby, find out the date and place of your Baptism.
Who were your godparents and why were they chosen?
4. Create a cartoon strip that illustrates the steps in the Baptismal rite.
In each panel place a caption to demonstrate the grace symbolised.
The communion of saints

The permanence of the graces of Baptism What is the meaning of Purgatory?
means that a person does not lose them, (Latin ‘purgare,’ cleanse)
even after death. They are shared by all
baptised people – living and dead. The final purification people need in
From earliest times, baptised people have order to achieve the holiness necessary
been called ‘saints’ or holy people to enter into the joy of heaven.
because God lives in them. Some are
called ‘saints’ in a special sense. This is
because they lived such holy lives that they are presented as models for Christians to
imitate. Their prayers for others are particularly powerful.
All who share the gifts that God gives through Baptism are said to constitute ‘the
communion of saints’. It includes Mary, the mother of Jesus, who received all the
graces of Baptism at her conception. It also includes those in Purgatory.
The graces of Baptism empower people to change
The graces of Baptism do not end with the rite

of Baptism. God intends that people will draw
upon the gifts of Baptism throughout their
lives. They can do this by praying each day,
receiving Jesus in Holy Communion, trying to
understand better the teachings of Jesus and
trying to live each day as Jesus taught,
particularly by keeping the commandments.
Many baptised Christians fail to develop the graces of Baptism in their lives. As a result,
they remain under the control of selfishness, tendencies to do wrong, and other
weaknesses caused by original sin.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Effects of the graces of Baptism in daily life

Grace Promised help If developed, these graces
gradually empower people
to:
Freedom from Empowered to overcome overcome selfishness, habits

original sin selfishness and temptations of doing wrong and unjust
to do wrong and other negative attitudes
Participation in The power to behave think, speak and behave

the life of God more like Jesus more in ways that reflect
God’s:
• love
• goodness
• truthfulness
• justice
• forgiveness
• mercy
The gift of faith overcome lack of belief

about Jesus and the
teachings of Jesus, so as to
draw on God’s love and
power to live more like
Jesus
The gift of hope trust that God will always

be there to help, and
overcome human
weaknesses
The gift of charity keep loving God more

deeply for God’s own sake,
and to draw on God’s
power for daily life
draw on God’s power to

love other people, even
those it is difficult to like
Drawn into the The power to share in the teach others about Jesus by
Church of Jesus work of Jesus by drawing word (speaking or teaching
others to God as Jesus would in the same
situation) and by example
(treating others as Jesus
would in the same
situation)
The power to receive the draw closer to God by

graces of the Eucharist and receiving Jesus in Holy
the other sacraments Communion and the graces
of the other sacraments
United by the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit drawing make good friendships with
with other baptised baptised Christians closer other Christians
believers together

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
In Class Work
Working in small groups, consider how the graces of Baptism empower people
your age for daily life.
1. Draw up a two-column table, listing in the first column each of the

graces of Baptism:
– Freedom from original sin
– Participation in the life of God (including the gifts of Faith,
Hope and Charity)
– Initiation into the Church of Jesus
– United by the Holy Spirit with other believers.
2. In the second column give some practical suggestions for how these
graces empower people your age to live the Christian life. For instance,
Freedom from Original Sin enables people to overcome selfishness to
share with others by donating to charity
A spiritual seal
The presence of God

within a person after For your information…
Baptism is permanent
What is the meaning of ‘seal’ in the phrase
and irremovable. The
‘the seal of Baptism’?
seal of Baptism means
that the promises
When something is ‘sealed’, it is made completely secure. The
God has made to the
seal of Baptism is a symbol of the fact that a baptised person
baptised person are
belongs to God.
indelible and will
never be erased,
broken or taken
away. Being marked with the seal of Baptism, the baptised can never be unbaptised (or
‘unsealed’). Baptism can never be repeated. A Catholic will always remain a Catholic.
The seal of Baptism continues throughout a Catholic’s life and into eternity. For
Christians, this is a promise and guarantee of God’s help, so long as the baptised
person relates with God as Jesus taught.
“…you have been stamped with the seal of the Holy Spirit of the Promise,
who is the pledge of our inheritance,
for the freedom of the people whom God has taken for his own,
for the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:14)
Everyone in whom God has ‘made a home’ is capable of Christian worship. They can
pray with Jesus as he prays to God the Father in liturgy.

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Can unbaptised people go to heaven?
People sometimes ask: ‘Can unbaptised people go to heaven?’ Catholic Tradition

teaches that there are different answers to this question for different people:
• unbaptised people who are killed because they believe in Jesus receive
Baptism of blood
• those who planned to be baptised, but died before this could happen, receive
Baptism of desire
• those who are ignorant of Jesus Christ (that is, do not know and understand that he
is the Son of the living God) but who try to live good lives as best they can or as
their non-Christian religion teaches them, can enter heaven, even though they have
not received Baptism
• Catholics believe that babies who die without being baptised, being innocent, also
enter heaven. God’s wish is that all people enter heaven even though Jesus did not
reveal how God’s wish is achieved (cf. 1 Timothy 2:4).
In Class Work
1. Explain the difference between Baptism of water, Baptism of desire and

Baptism of blood.
2. Can people who have not received Baptism go to heaven?
The need for more than Baptism
God gives many graces through Baptism. However, more are needed to live a Christian
life. For this reason, Jesus gave another six sacraments especially the Eucharist to
nourish people and to help people live fully as followers of God.
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to answer the following questions:

1. Jesus’ cousin ___________________ prophesied that Jesus would
come to save people.
2. Jesus was baptised in the River ________________.
3. Explain what happened at Pentecost.
4. The following jumbled words are the names of things associated with the
rite of Baptism. Unjumble each word and explain how each is used in
Baptism: (a) ratew (b) micrhs (c) lacdne (d) srocs (e) heiwt mtregan
(2 words).
5. List four ways that baptised Christians can develop the graces of
Baptism in their lives.

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4 The Sacrament of Confirmation

Baptised people continue to face obstacles to living a
Christian life of love and goodness
The graces of Baptism need strengthening if people are to
observe the teachings of the Gospel
Jesus promises the special strength of the Holy Spirit
The rite of Confirmation brings special graces and gifts
of the Holy Spirit
The fruits of the Spirit are nourished and grow in those who
develop the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Baptised people continue to face obstacles to living a

Christian life of love and goodness
As the graces of Baptism grow within Christians, the love and goodness God gives also
grows in them. However, baptised people continue to face obstacles to living a full
Christian life, as Jesus taught. They may experience strong temptations to do wrong or
they may face persecution because they try to live as Jesus taught.
In Class Work
As a class, brainstorm the pressures Year Eight students may face when
choosing to live as Jesus taught. Then, working in small groups, rank the
pressures from those hardest to resist to those easiest to resist. Each
group shares its rankings, giving reasons for the choices.

CONTENTS CONTENTS CHAPTER CHAPTER
4. THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
The graces of Baptism need strengthening if people are

to observe the teachings of the Gospel
The graces of Baptism need strengthening if people are to overcome such pressures.
Jesus offers this strengthening through another sacrament – the Sacrament of
Confirmation. This is the second Sacrament of Initiation.
Jesus warned that there would be pressures against observing the teachings of his
Gospel.
He knew that he and his followers would face suffering and persecution.
However, Jesus promised that he would strengthen them in the face of such persecutions
by sharing with them the power of the Holy Spirit:
‘... do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say, because when the
time comes, the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.’ (Luke 12:12)
Throughout history,
many Christians have
suffered for their faith at
the hands of peers,
family members and
others they knew. The
most extreme suffering
was death or martyrdom.
The Colosseum and the
Catacombs in Rome are
two famous reminders of
the sufferings Christians
have experienced across
the world.

In the regions around Australia, two of the most famous martyrs are:
• St Peter Chanel (Futuna Island in the Pacific Ocean)
• Blessed Peter To Rot (Papua New Guinea).

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Jesus promised the special strength of the Holy Spirit
Jesus knew that his followers would need special inner strength to face the challenges
before them. He promised to send them the Holy Spirit, whom he referred to as ‘the
power from on high’. He told his Apostles to stay together until they received this
special power or inner strengthening by the Holy Spirit:
‘And now I am sending upon you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city,
then, until you are clothed with power from on high.’ (Luke 24:49)
The promise of Jesus was fulfilled at Pentecost. While the Apostles were gathered
together, the first fruit of the mission of Jesus was given to them – the special strength
of the Holy Spirit:
When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there
came from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in
which they were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire; these
separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. (Acts 2:1–3)
For your
information…
Pentecost was a Jewish
feast, held fifty days after
Passover, to give thanks to
God for the first fruits of the
harvest (Leviticus
23:16–20). Pentecost
means ‘fifitieth day.’
The change in the Apostles

was immediate. They were no
longer fearful, but taught
openly about Jesus. As a result,
many people were converted to
Christ.
Ms Gen 288 f.23v Pentecost,

c.1460 (vellum), French School, (15th century)

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The special strength of the Holy Spirit through

Confirmation
Jesus instituted a special sacrament so that all his followers could receive the special
strength of the Holy Spirit. This is the Sacrament of Confirmation. His followers knew
that it was different from Baptism. In the New Testament we read, for example:
When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there and prayed for them
to receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they
had only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Acts 8:14–16)
Because most early Christian converts were adults, Confirmation was celebrated in the
same ceremony as Baptism. The ceremony was understood as a celebration of ‘a double
sacrament’ (cf. Catechism 1290). Confirmation was referred to as the ‘laying on of
hands’:
When they heard this, they were baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus, and the
moment Paul had laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them…
(Acts 19:5–6)
Because most early

Christian converts were
adults, Confirmation
was celebrated in the
same ceremony as
Baptism.
The Baptism, relief tile from the Campanile (marble and ceramic),
Maso di Banco (fl.1336–46)

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The seal of Confirmation

Like Baptism, God never withdraws the graces of Confirmation. The relationship they
establish with God is permanent. The Holy Spirit marks the soul of the confirmed
person with another seal. Like Baptism, Confirmation is never celebrated again.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit in daily life

The many gifts (or graces) Jesus gives through the sacraments need to be developed.
Jesus taught his followers how to develop these gifts. They need to:
• nourish them by regularly receiving Jesus in Holy Communion
• draw on them by praying each day
• use them to try and live as Jesus taught.
The following chart lists and explains the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Effects of the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit in daily life
The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit Explanations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Spirit of Able to see the good in everything God does, just as
Wisdom Jesus did
The Spirit of Able to understand, like Jesus, the meaning of

Understanding God’s actions
The Spirit of Able to judge the true value of everything,

Right Judgement as Jesus did
The Spirit of Able to rise above personal challenges and fears, even
Courage in the face of death, as Jesus did
The Spirit of Able to come to know God better and to learn new
Knowledge lessons from experiences of God
The Spirit of Able to keep growing in respect for God and the
Reverence things of God and others
The Spirit of Wonder and Able to keep returning love to God for all
awe in God’s presence God’s gifts
In Class Work
On a large sheet of paper draw seven gift boxes and label each one with the
name of one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. In each box write about or draw
symbols showing how this gift can help Year 8 students in their daily living.

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The fruits of the Holy Spirit in daily life

Confirmed people benefit as they respond to the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As they are
strengthened by the Holy Spirit, they find themselves changing and they develop
attitudes and qualities that are called ‘fruits of the Holy Spirit’. These affect how people
feel about themselves, their relationships and their ability to fulfil their responsibilities.
If confirmed people fail to relate with the Holy Spirit, they find human weaknesses
affecting them in many different ways. For example, they suffer:
…antagonisms and rivalry, jealousy, bad temper and quarrels, disagreements,

factions and malice, … and all such things. (Galatians 5:20–21)
The fruits of the Holy Spirit that help Christians in their daily living are love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23).
People who enjoy fruits of the Spirit such as love, peace and joy do not need to seek to
escape from personal tensions and problems through such means as drugs and immoral
sexual behaviour.
The rite of Confirmation brings special graces and

gifts of the Holy Spirit
The Apostles received the special strength and the gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost
(Acts 2:1–3). The change in them was immediate and instead of being fearful they openly
taught about Jesus. His followers can have the same experience through Confirmation.
Confirmation is today celebrated in a way that helps those present to appreciate all that
God offers through this sacrament. They join with Jesus as he prays that they receive the
graces of this sacrament from God the Father.
The ritual actions of Confirmation and graces symbolised
ACTION GRACE SYMBOLISED
Renewal of baptismal promises The graces of Baptism are strengthened
The profession of faith (or the basic Special strength of the Holy Spirit needed
Christian beliefs as spelt out in the to believe and live the teachings of Jesus
Apostles’ Creed)
The laying on of hands (as the seven gifts The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
of the Holy Spirit are prayed for)
The anointing with chrism The confirmed person strengthened

spiritually by the Holy Spirit through the
seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
The sign of peace The spiritual bonds to the rest of the

Christian community are strengthened.

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The Anointing with Chrism:

the essential rite
In emergency situations, such as when
an unconfirmed person is dying, only
the anointing with chrism is conferred.
This is the essential requirement for
Confirmation.
The essential rite of Confirmation

(the rite of anointing) comprises three
simultaneous actions. The celebrant:
• lays his hand on the head of the
candidate
• anoints the candidate’s forehead by
marking a cross with the sacred oil
called ‘chrism’
• proclaims the words: ‘Be sealed
with the gift of the Holy
Spirit’. For your information…
The oil of Chrism is made of
Each of these actions has special
olive oil and the perfume,
meaning. The celebrant:
balsam, recalling the
• lays his hand on the
instructions God gave first to
candidate’s head to continue
Moses about how consecration
the practice of the Apostles
oil must be mixed (Exodus
(eg. Acts 8:15–17; 19:5–6;
30:22–25).
Hebrews 6:2)
• anoints with the oil of chrism
Oil of Chrism is consecrated by
because the candidate is being
the bishop each year during
‘anointed’ or ‘filled’ with the
Holy Week for use in all
Holy Spirit, as were the
parishes of the diocese.
Apostles at Pentecost
• uses chrism, because it is the
sacred oil of consecration to
God, consecrated by the bishop each year during Holy Week
• marks the sign of the cross
– because a confirmed person belongs to Christ himself
– because the confirmed person receives the spiritual seal of Christ.
In Class Work
Read Exodus 30:22–25, and write a recipe on how to make the sacred oil
God instructed Moses to mix. If possible, follow the instructions God
gave first to Moses.

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The fruits of the Spirit are nourished and grow in those

who develop the gifts of the Holy Spirit
Confirmed people need to develop the gifts of the Spirit if they are to enjoy what these
gifts offer. They do so especially by:
• praying about the joys, sorrows, challenges and problems of their daily lives
• nourishing the gifts through the Eucharist
• turning back to God through the Sacrament of Penance after they sin.
A well nourished plant bears much fruit. Reflect on the

three points above and journal about how you can nourish
your spiritual life so as to bear the fruits of love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and
self-control.
In Class Work
Use the information in the chapter to answer or complete the following:
1. Jesus instituted a special sacrament called ____________ so that his

followers could receive the strength of the Holy Spirit. This promise was
fulfilled at ____________. The Apostles gathered together, they heard
a________________ and __________________________came to rest on
the head of each of them.
2. In the early church, the sacraments of Confirmation and Baptism were

celebrated together (True or False?)
3. In the space next to each of the following statements, identify which of

the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit it is describing:
• The ability to rise above fears and personal challenges __________
• The ability to see good in everything as God does ______________
• The ability to come to know God _________________
• The ability to love and thank God for creation ____________
• The ability to understand the meaning of God’s actions __________
• The ability to respect God and others _____________
• The ability to judge the true value of everything ____________.
4. Why do candidates for Confirmation renew their Baptismal promises

during the Confirmation ceremony?
5. Explain what happens during the rite of anointing in Confirmation.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
5 The Eucharist

The Eucharist, the centre of Christian life, gives spiritual
nourishment
There are five spiritual gifts (or graces) received and
nourished through the Eucharist
The Eucharist is the most powerful of all prayers.
The Eucharist, the centre of Christian life,

gives spiritual nourishment
The Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” (Catechism1324). It
nourishes the graces received through the other sacraments so they can have their full effect.
The night before he was crucified, Jesus took bread and wine, and said to his Apostles:
‘Take this all of you and eat … this is my body…

‘Take this all of you and drink … ‘this is the cup of my blood ...
Do this in memory of me.’ (Roman Missal, Eucharistic Prayers)
The Apostles in their ministry carried out this command of Jesus.

They knew that each time they repeated the action and words of
Jesus at the Last Supper, Jesus through the power of the Holy
Spirit would change the bread and wine into his Body and Blood.
The followers of Jesus have continued to carry out this command
in the same way throughout time by celebrating the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is the sacrament of sacrifice and salvation for the
whole human race which was achieved by Jesus through his life,
death and resurrection.
For the people of Israel every time they celebrate the Passover
the events of the Exodus and their liberation is made present
so that they can remember to live according to God’s teaching.
The Eucharist is the memorial of the Passover of Jesus from the
slavery of sin to new life in God. For those who celebrate the
Eucharist, Christ’s Passover is made present. The sacrifice of the
cross which Jesus offered once for all remains present until the
end of the world giving people the strength to overcome sin and
live according to God’s teaching.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
Jesus wants people to know how much he loves them and that he loves them to the end.
Before he died he wanted to give people a pledge of his love, that would keep them
connected to him, sharing in his Passover.
At first, the Eucharist was called ‘the Breaking of Bread’ (Acts 2:42, 46). It was also called
‘the Lord’s Supper’ (1 Corinthians 11:20). Today it is often referred to as ‘the Mass’.

The name, Mass, comes from the Latin phrase which was formerly used for the dismissal
at the end of the liturgy, Ite, missa est, meaning ‘you are sent’ on mission to the world.
The requirement of faith – the beliefs that bind the Catholic

community together
Those who receive Jesus in Holy Communion need faith to experience his power
in the Eucharist. This means:
• actually wanting the graces Jesus offers through the Eucharist
• believing in all the beliefs that bind together the Catholic community
• believing that Jesus has changed bread and wine into his Body and Blood
• having the sincere commitment to stop committing sins.
Jesus told his followers that it is most important that they receive him in the Eucharist:

if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man
and drink his blood,
you have no life in you ...
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me
and I live in that person ...
so whoever eats me will also draw life from me.’ (John 6:53–57)
Receiving Holy Communion provides spiritual

nourishment and strengthens the graces received in
the other sacraments and helps people to live the
Christian life and to give witness to their faith.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
There are five spiritual gifts (or ‘graces’) of the Eucharist
Jesus offers his followers five spiritual gifts or graces through the Eucharist. These are:
• growing in personal closeness to Jesus
• forgiveness of venial sins and strengthening against the temptation to commit
mortal sins
• being drawn into greater unity with others in Jesus’ body, the Church
• growing in a desire to help the poor
• growing in a desire for Christian unity.
The Eucharist gradually nourishes spiritual gifts

Physical nourishment is necessary for physical growth and development. Spiritual
nourishment is necessary for the development of spiritual gifts. Baptised and confirmed
believers receive Jesus in faith in Holy Communion and although they may not feel
different immediately afterwards, they grow spiritually stronger over time.
Sometimes believers do not understand how the Eucharist affects them. Those who say,
‘I don’t get anything out of Mass,’ do not appreciate how deeply the Eucharist nourishes
them. The effects are so gradual that the fruits of the Eucharist may seem to be absent
or non-existent for a long time.
Christian faith involves trusting God’s promises and patiently giving the graces of the
Eucharist time to develop to maturity. As in other areas of life, the graces of the
Eucharist develop more quickly in some people than in others.
Just as a person needs to actively care for their body or mind, so a Christian needs to
cooperate with God in caring for ‘the spirit within’. This means making the effort to
receive Jesus in Holy Communion even when it seems a struggle. At such times
Christians need to pray for the grace to persevere in faith and to maintain an attitude of
hope and trust in God that – with God’s help – ‘all will be well in the end’.
Growing in personal closeness to Jesus

Eating together is a common human activity to satisfy hunger or to be nourished. But
there is more to a meal than simply eating food. To share food with another is a sign of
love, friendship, acceptance and much more. In most families and cultures, significant
events, such as birthdays, engagements and weddings are celebrated with a meal.
The Gospels tell many stories of Jesus sharing food with others. Jesus told his followers
to ‘eat’ and ‘drink’ with him to teach them how close he wants to be to them.
The closer believers relate with Jesus, the more they experience his love and power.
Christians who do not receive Jesus in Holy Communion, or who do not have the
opportunity to do so, may feel close to Jesus in other ways, such as through prayer. It is
in the Eucharist that Jesus and the believer are united more intimately than is possible in
any other way in this life.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
Eucharist forgives venial sin

A venial sin weakens a person’s relationship with God.
‘If anyone sees his brother commit a sin

that is not a deadly sin,
he has only to pray, and God will give life to his brother
– provided that it is not a deadly sin.’ (1 John 5:16)
Holy Communion forgives all venial sins. It also restores spiritual strength, just as
nourishing food restores bodily strength.

Catholics are encouraged to go to the Sacrament of Penance on a regular basis. This will
help to form their conscience and strengthen them to resist what is wrong.
Mortal sin: Penance

Mortal sins destroy a person’s relationship with God, but not God’s relationship with
them. People commit mortal sin by deliberately disobeying a grave law of God. The
‘death’ suggested by the word ‘mortal’ is not physical death but spiritual death.
People in mortal sin cannot receive Holy Communion. Mortal sins must be forgiven in
the Sacrament of Reconciliation before Jesus can again be received in Holy Communion.
Drawing closer to others – the Church

Love for Jesus grows in those who receive him in Holy Communion, as this happens, so
does the desire and spiritual gifts needed to avoid mortal sin.
By strengthening these gifts, those who receive Holy Communion find it easier to avoid
or overcome temptations to commit mortal sin.
The Apostles became closer to each other as they drew closer to Jesus. They came to
share in his love for each other. They also grew in their commitment and loyalty to each
other, as well as to the teachings, values and attitudes of Jesus.
Jesus has a special love for all who belong to his Church. Like the Apostles, they
gradually come to see and understand each other as Jesus does. They share something of
Jesus’ love for each other. Jesus draws them closer together.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
Jesus has a special love for all who belong to his Church. Like the Apostles, they are
drawn together, gradually coming to see and understand each other as Jesus does. They
share their beliefs, values and attitudes that are founded upon the teachings of Jesus and
his Church and something of Jesus’ love for each other.
The Eucharist gradually unites members of families who have received him in faith in
Holy Communion. Their love, understanding and sense of belonging to each other
grows.
Growing love for those with special needs and the poor
Jesus had a strong love and concern for anyone with special needs and for those who
were poor. Jesus told his followers that the ways they treat the poor and needy reflect
how they treat him. He said:
“In truth, I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers
of mine, you did it to me.”… “In truth, I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do
this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.”
(Matthew 25:40, 45)
Jesus helps those who receive the Eucharist in faith to see him in the poor and needy.
He deepens their sensitivity and compassion for all those in need.
Jesus also softens the hearts of the faithful to treat criminals and those who do wrong
with understanding and fairness. He draws them closer to himself as they help these
people.
Growing desire for Christian unity

The desire of Jesus that Christians be united is very great. During the Last Supper, Jesus
made a special prayer to God the Father that his followers would always be united:
‘May they all be one,

just as, Father, you are in me and I am in you,
so that they also may be in us,
so that the world may believe it was you who sent me…
With me in them and you in me,
may they be so perfected in unity
that the world will recognise that it was you who sent me …’ (John 17:21, 23)
The unity Jesus wants is unity of belief and closeness to him. He wants peace between
his followers. As they spread across the world, he wants them also to spread world
peace. Yet many people who have identified themselves as ‘Christians’ over the centuries
have not drawn on his power. Consequently there are different Christian denominations
and, even within a denomination, there are groups that disagree with each other.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
Jesus does not want division but wants all people who follow him to be united through
Holy Communion.
The Following chart gives examples of how, through the Eucharist, Jesus hopes to
nourish the spiritual graces (gifts) of baptised and confirmed believers.
Effects of the graces of the Eucharist in daily life

Grace Experiences offered Saves from
Greater union with Jesus reflecting a growing only knowing about Jesus
relationship with God but not having any real
relationship
growing personal closeness disinterest in developing a

to Jesus relationship with God
growing of sacramental weaknesses left by original

gifts nourished by the sin – selfishness and desires
Eucharist to do wrong
Separates from sin forgiveness of venial sins: venial sins that weaken the
resolving to behave in gifts of the other
loving and good ways sacraments
increase in good behaviour the influence of selfishness

as strength against and temptations to break
temptations to sin grows God’s laws
Draws into greater unity feeling of belonging, based isolation and lack of
with others in the Church upon shared beliefs and interest in other Church
values grows members
Growing desire to help the growing desire to help the lack of interest in helping
poor poor and needy those in need
growing awareness that lack of awareness that to

respect and care for those show indifference to those
in need is respect and care who are poor and in need
for Jesus is to show indifference to
Jesus
Growing desire for disappointment at the a lack of interest in unity
Christian unity divisions that exist between among Christians
Christians today
promoting peace where an indifference to divisions

Christians are fighting among Christians.

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5. THE EUCHARIST
The Eucharist is the most powerful of all prayers
In the Eucharist, his followers join Jesus as he

prays to God the Father. There is no prayer For your information…
more powerful than the Mass because it is
‘Eucharist ’ is a Greek wo
Jesus’ own prayer of praise, thanks and self- rd
which means thanksgivin
giving to the Father and the prayer of Jesus is g.
always granted.
The two reasons Catholics celebrate the Eucharist are to give thanks and praise to God
and for their own or someone else’s spiritual need.
Essential conditions for

receiving Holy Communion
There are essential conditions for
receiving Holy Communion during a
celebration of the Eucharist.
These are that the recipient:

1. believes in all the beliefs that bind
the Catholic community together,
including the real presence of Jesus
in the Eucharist
2. is not in mortal sin
3. abstains from all food and drink
(except water) for one hour before
Holy Communion (unless sick or
elderly)
4. receives Holy Communion at least
once a year (if possible, during the
Easter season, between Easter Sunday
and Trinity Sunday).
In Class Work
Working with a partner, design and create an educational poster which

promotes the importance of celebrating the Eucharist and the essential
conditions for receiving Holy Communion.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
5. THE EUCHARIST
Daily prayer deepens a

Christian’s faith.
The need for daily prayer

The Eucharist is the most powerful of all Christian prayers, however, Jesus also told his
followers to pray in other ways as well. Daily prayer deepens a Christian’s faith. The
graces of the Eucharist and the other sacraments develop more strongly as their faith
deepens.
In Class Work
Use the information from the chapter to answer or complete the following:
1. Explain why Catholics regard the Eucharist as ‘the centre of the Christian
life’.
2. What effect does receiving Holy Communion have on the graces received
in the other sacraments?
3. At the Last Supper, Jesus changed ___________ and _________ into his
_____________ and ___________. Today his followers celebrate this in the
_______________.
4. List the four essential conditions for receiving Holy Communion.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
6 The Mass – origins and structure

The two parts of the Mass relate to the Passover meal
celebrated at the Last Supper
Jesus is present in several important ways in the Eucharist –
in the assembly, priest, Word of God, and especially in Jesus’
Body and Blood
There are two key reasons for Catholics joining in the Church’s
community celebration of the Eucharist every Sunday.
The two parts of the Mass relate

to the Passover meal celebrated
at the Last Supper
Jesus instituted the Eucharist during his Last
Supper with his followers. He chose to do so
during a Passover meal to help them understand
its meaning.
A Passover meal
In Jesus’ time, the feast of Passover brought
faithful Jews together in Jerusalem for the purpose
of sacrificing and eating the Passover lamb. This
recalled the Exodus which freed the Hebrews from
Egyptian slavery.
The Last Supper

Jesus and the Apostles would have sacrificed their
lamb in the Temple, roasted it and brought it to the
upper room of the house in which they were celebrating the Passover. As God
commanded their ancestors, they would have marked the doorways into the house with
its blood. The supper room would have been decorated with special carpets for the
occasion.

Jesus and the Apostles celebrated the Passover because, as faithful Jews, they observed
the traditions of their religion.

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6. THE MASS – ORIGINS AND STRUCTURE
The eight steps Jesus and his Apostles followed to celebrate the Last Supper
The following steps have been inferred from what is known of Jewish traditions in Jesus’
time.
Step One Jesus said prayers of blessing over a cup of wine. Jesus and the Apostles
then drank a cup of wine together. This was an act that recalled the
Passover as a celebration sacred to God.
Step Two Jesus and the Apostles would have passed around a basin of water, each
washing his hands to purify himself before eating the holy meal.
Probably this was when Jesus washed the Apostles’ feet. This was
normally a slave’s task. Jesus performed this act to teach the Apostles
that Christian love is shown by service to others (John 13:1, 3–5,
12–15).
Step Three Another cup of wine was then passed around as a sign of celebration,
while the story of the Passover was recalled. John, youngest of the
Apostles, would have asked the ritual questions and Jesus would have
replied the ritual answers (Exodus 12:26–28 and Deuteronomy
6:20–25).
Step Four All sang the first two of five Psalms about God’s love, mercy and power
(Psalms 113–118). These were called the Hallel.

‘Hallel’ is the Hebrew word for praise, thus ‘hallel-uyah’ (praise God) – source of
the word ‘Alleluia’
Step Five Jesus then took loaves of unleavened bread, broke them and gave pieces
to the Apostles. Unleavened bread (ie. bread without leaven) is used to
remind the Jews of two things:
1. that the Jews had to leave Egypt in a hurry once Pharaoh had freed
them
2. that God fed the Jews with manna when they journeyed through the
desert.
Unleavened bread, therefore, symbolised freedom, and the journey to

the destination given by God.

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This is when Jesus said to his Apostles:
‘Take this all of you and eat it: this is my Body which will be given up for you.
Do this in memory of me.’ (Eucharistic Prayers)

‘Leaven’ is a substance, such as yeast, which is mixed with dough to cause fermentation.
This produces ‘bubbles’ in the dough making it rise (or ‘prove’). Bread baked from
leavened dough is lighter and ‘fluffier’ than unleavened bread which is always flat.
Step Six The roasted lamb was eaten. While doing so, Jesus and the Apostles also
ate bitter herbs to remind them of the bitter tears and suffering the Jews
experienced in Egypt. They also ate pieces of unleavened bread dipped
in haroset, a mixture of figs and raisins cooked in wine to remember the
bricks the Jews had made while slaves in Egypt.
Any meat from the lamb that was not eaten was burnt later.
Step Seven Another blessed cup of wine was passed around and consumed by all
present. Then the rest of the Hallel would have been sung, followed by
a final cup of wine.
However, at the Last Supper, this was probably when Jesus took the cup
of wine and, after blessing it, said:
‘Take this, all of you, and drink it: this is the cup of my blood,
the blood of the new and everlasting covenant. It will be shed for
you and for all so that sins may be forgiven. Do this in memory
of me.’ (Eucharistic Prayers)
The Apostles knew that, in saying ‘Do this in memory of me’ after each
action, Jesus was telling them to repeat his action and words – not the
rest of the Passover meal. Every time they did so, Jesus would again
change bread and wine into his Body and Blood. Jesus was making them
the first priests of his new Church.
Step Eight After the last psalms of the Hallel had been sung, Jesus and the Apostles
left the house to go to the Mount of Olives, where Jesus went through
his Agony in the Garden before his arrest (Luke 22:39–53).
The normal practice was for all celebrating the Passover meal to remain
inside the house until sunrise the next day.

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In Class Work
A Year Four teacher is preparing her class for the Sacrament of the Eucharist
and she is in desperate need of resources. Her students are finding it difficult to
understand the meaning of the Last Supper and how Jesus celebrated this
meal with his Apostles.
Working in a group of three, create a simple, educational poster which

outlines the eight steps in which Jesus and his Apostles celebrated this
sacred meal together.
The Eucharist today

While keeping strictly to the words and actions Jesus commanded them to repeat, the
early Christians changed the Passover meal structure into a celebration of the Eucharist.
How the Mass is celebrated today is shown in the following chart along with the
purpose of each step.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
The following chart shows the two parts of the Mass as well as highlighting the basic
purpose of each step in bold italics, relating it to the Last Supper.
THE INTRODUCTORY RITE

The faithful gather and prepare themselves to listen properly and celebrate worthily
Purpose Gestures/Responses
Focussing on God
• Greeting by the priest Response: And also with you
‘The grace of etc ...’
‘The Lord be with you ...’
Purification to celebrate the Eucharist

• Penitential Rite Response: Lord have mercy
Sign of celebration
• Prayer: Glory to God in the Highest All join in and recite or sing this prayer
• Opening Prayer of the Mass Response: Amen
PART ONE: LITURGY OF THE WORD

God’s deeds in Old and New Testament of the Bible are recalled
Readings from Scripture (from the Old Responses: Thanks be to God

Testament and/or Acts of the Apostles
and/or Letters). Either one or two readings
are used from these sources, depending on
the occasion of the Mass, eg. Sunday Mass
always has two readings prior to the
gospel.
Responsorial Psalm almost always taken Response: Repeated verse
from the Book of Psalms
Gospel acclamation: to welcome the Response: Alleluia, Alleluia

Gospel. It is often called the Alleluia verse
(though, in the season of Lent, the word
‘alleluia’ is not used)
Gospel reading: recalls words and deeds Response: Praise be to you, Lord Jesus
of Jesus as they are reported in the Christ
Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke or John
Homily: calls people to accept all that

God teaches and to live the teachings of
Jesus
Creed: recalls the community’s belief in All join in the Creed

the ‘great deeds’ God has done for God’s
people
Prayer of the Faithful asks God’s deeds to Response: Lord, hear our prayer.
continue today in special ways.

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PART TWO: LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST
Preparation of the gifts Response: Blest be God forever

• Priest says prayers praising God for
creation and dedicating the bread and
wine to God
• Collection for the needs of the Church
• Preface thanks God for God’s blessings Responses: And also with you We lift them
up to the Lord It is right to give God
thanks and praise
• Eucharistic Prayer praises God and
moves to the consecration (When the
priest repeats the action and words of
Jesus over the bread)
The consecration continues as the Responses: Christ has died; Christ has
priest repeats the action and words of risen; Christ will come again, or Dying
Jesus over the wine your destroyed our death; rising you
restored our life. Lord Jesus, come again in
glory
The Eucharistic Prayer continues, uniting

special community prayers with the prayer
of Jesus for:
• the whole Church
• those who have died
• those present at the Mass Response: Amen
Communion Rite
• Lord’s Prayer, joining with Jesus in All join in the Lord’s Prayer
praying to God the Father
• Sign of Peace Response: And also with you
• Jesus received in Holy Communion Response: Amen
• Prayer after Communion Response: Amen
Conclusion Responses: Thanks be to God and Amen.
Final blessing.

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Jesus is present in several important ways in the Eucharist
The Eucharist today is also structured to keep reminding all who are present that Jesus
is present with them.
Each aspect of the ritual is meant to help the gathered community remember the
presence of Jesus and what Jesus is doing during the different stages of the celebration.
The ritual actions of the Eucharist and the presence of Jesus

Celebration Presence of Jesus recalled Community experiences
Introductory Rite The presence of Jesus with

all who are present is
recalled from the very
beginning
• All gather Jesus is present in the Being drawn to the presence

community of Jesus who is praying for all
• Standing for the Jesus is present in the priest Remembering that Jesus
entrance of the priest as leader of the celebration will work through the
spiritual gifts of the priest
Standing as a gesture of its

own unity to begin the
celebration, recognising
Christ in the assembly and
the priest
• Greeting and Remember that Jesus wants

penitential rite to forgive sins of all who
are present
• Opening Prayer The community joins its Awareness that all are
prayer to that of Jesus joining in the prayer of
Jesus to God the Father:
that God the Father hears
the prayers of all who join
in the prayer of Jesus
PART ONE: LITURGY Jesus is present as the Word Recalling that Jesus teaches
OF THE WORD is proclaimed to help all: today through thoughts
• to understand his stirred in those who are
teachings present by teachings in the
• to learn how these Scriptures and the homily
teachings relate to their
daily lives
• Scripture readings Hearing about God’s

blessings in the past and
the teachings of Jesus
• Homily Learning more about the

meaning of the teachings
of Jesus

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• Creed Recalling the wonderful

things God has done for
God’s people in the past
and is doing for them today
• Prayers of the Faithful Remembering that they can

join in the prayer of Jesus
by praying for their own
and others’ needs: also
pray privately for their
personal needs
PART TWO: LITURGY Jesus is praying that all

OF THE EUCHARIST receive graces of the
Eucharist
• Presentation of the Praying with the priest who

offerings presents the bread and
wine to God
• Eucharistic Prayer Recalling examples of

– Preface God’s special blessings
– Institution narrative Jesus changes bread and Awareness that Jesus is now
wine into his Body and present under the symbols
Blood as the priest repeats of bread and wine as our
his actions and words at food and nourishment
the Last Supper
– Prayers for all Jesus is praying for all who Praying with Jesus for the
members of the belong to his Church, living whole Church, both the
Church and dead living and dead
– Amen Saying ‘Amen’ to show that

they want to make the
prayers said their own.
COMMUNION RITE
• Lord’s Prayer Remembering the special
Christian relationship with
God by joining Jesus in his
prayer to God the Father
• Sign of Peace Remembering that Jesus

wants all to be united and
to love one another as he
loves each of them
• Breaking of the Bread Being reminded of Jesus’

(‘Lamb of God’) action at the Last Supper
and that he wants all who
believe and are free of
mortal sin to be united to
him in Holy Communion
Holy Communion Jesus deepens his presence Receiving Jesus in faith and
in those who receive him in receiving also the special
Holy Communion graces of the Eucharist

CONTENTS CHAPTER
Concluding Rite
Dismissal Jesus remains present with Remembering that the

(‘Go in peace to love and to those who receive him in spiritual gifts Jesus has
serve the Lord’) Holy Communion as their given are meant to be used
strength and food for the each day in living as Jesus
journey as he enables them taught.
to go out and be witnesses
of hope.
During the celebration of the Eucharist, Jesus is present in several important ways. He is
present in:
• the bread and wine after the consecration, which are now his Body and Blood. This
is the most important way Jesus is present during a Mass;
• the priest, through whom Jesus leads the celebration and changes the bread and wine
into his Body and Blood. The priest wears vestments to remind all to focus upon
Jesus present through him during the eucharistic celebration, and not on the priest
himself;
• the assembly, for Jesus promised that he would be present whenever two or three are
gathered in his name;
• in the Scriptures, as they are proclaimed and explained.
Sunday Mass obligation

The importance of the Eucharist cannot
be overemphasised for it is the very
foundation and vital support of all
Christian practice. It is a law of the
Catholic Church that Catholics join in
Church community celebrations of the
Eucharist every Sunday, unless they cannot
do so for a serious reason. This law is
based on two commands:
• the command of Jesus: ‘Do this in
(memory) of me’ (Luke 22: 19), which
he gave to his followers at the Last
Supper
• the third of the Ten Commandments:
‘Remember the Sabbath day and keep it
holy.’ (Exodus 20: 8), which is now
celebrated on a Sunday to remember
the Resurrection of Jesus on that day.

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In Class Work
Use the information from the chapter to answer or complete the following:
1. Explain how the Passover meal is related to the Mass.
2. The Parts of the Mass are the________________Rite, the Liturgy of the

Word, the Liturgy of _________________, and the ___________ Rite.
3. The parts of the Liturgy of the Word are listed below. Reorder them so that
they follow the sequence used in the Mass.
a. Gospel reading
b. Prayer of the Faithful
c. Readings from Scripture (from Old Testament and/or Acts of the
Apostles and /or Letters)
d. Creed
e. Gospel acclamation
f. Homily
g. Responsorial Psalm
4. Explain what happens at the consecration.
5. List four ways in which Jesus is present during Mass.
6. Explain why Catholics have an obligation to attend Sunday Mass.

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7 Advent – a time of special prayer

Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year
Advent: preparation, waiting and hope for the fulfillment
of God’s promise.
Advent marks the beginning of the liturgical year
Advent is a time of special prayer

when Christians prepare to celebrate For your information…
the feast of Christmas. They also
Advent means ‘coming.’ The season of Advent
remember the promise of Jesus that
is a special time of preparation for the
he will come again at the end of the
coming of Christ at Christmas.
world. Advent is a ‘waiting time’ and
people need to remember the real
spirit of this season is of expectancy
and preparation through penance.
Christmas is coming but it is not In Class Work
yet here.
Interview one of your parents or
The people of the Old Testament were grandparents and ask them what is the
told to prepare for the coming of a most important ‘waiting time’ they can
Messiah who would establish the remember.
Kingdom of God. They waited and
hoped and trusted in God.
Advent
a time of special prayer

7. ADVENT—A TIME OF SPECIAL PRAYER
Advent
preparing, waiting and hoping for Jesus
Jesus revealed that he was the promised Messiah. Through Jesus, God’s kingdom came
into human history. The prophet Isaiah wrote:
A voice cries, ‘Prepare in the desert

a way for Yahweh.
Make a straight highway for our God.’ (Is 40: 3)
Advent: preparation, waiting and hope for the

fulfillment of God’s promise
Although Jesus initiated the Kingdom of God, it will not be brought to fulfilment until
he comes again in glory. Christians need to remember that their lives are about waiting
and hoping and trusting in God. Only with Jesus can people achieve harmony and
develop as God wants them to.
During Advent, the Church reminds people to prepare for the kingdom to be fulfilled at
the end of the world. Catholics prepare, wait and hope for God’s promise to be fulfilled.
Each Advent, people are encouraged to invite Jesus to be more and more a part of their
lives. With Jesus and the power of God’s saving grace he offers, people can be helped to
behave in ways of holiness that draw them closer to the Father. The kingdom that all
Christians await is made present in people’s love for God and for one another.
In Class Work
Why do you think there is a period of preparation before Christmas?

How does your family prepare for Christmas?

CONTENTS CHAPTER
7. ADVENT—A TIME OF SPECIAL PRAYER
In Class Work
Looking back at the year that was.
Advent is the beginning of the new liturgical year, even though it is at the end
of the school year for all who live in Australia. With its themes of hope and
longing and its anticipation of Christmas, Advent is well timed to help students
end the school year on a positive note.
Soon it will be a time for goodbyes, end-of-year reports and holidays. As you
come to the end of the school year and looking forward to Christmas, take
some time to look back over the year that was. Examine how far you think you
have travelled in your own life and how far you have journeyed together this
year as a group of students.
Each person will need:

• a photo taken about twelve months ago
• four mementoes of this year which recall important happenings in your life.
Sit in small groups. It is important that each person has a chance to speak and
listen. Decide who will keep a record.
Discuss changes in:

1. the way you look
2. the things you enjoy doing
3. your attitudes to people at school and at home.
Keep a record of changes common to the group – eg. growing taller, likes and
dislikes in music, entertainment, etc.
Come together as a class to share and discuss the findings of each group.
Using the notes made, photographs and mementoes, make a class wall-
hanging which celebrates the year you have shared together as a class. This is
later to be used in the end of year Eucharistic celebration.
- You may like to present your class findings in the form of a path journey.
The highlights of the year can be symbolised by drawing peaks, whilst the
difficult or low times can be portrayed by drawing dips.
- Above the path, words, symbols, pictures etc. could represent the hopes and
fears when setting out on your journey this year.
- Below your path, words, symbols, pictures, mementoes etc. could be used to
describe the various experiences over the year.
- Inside your path, words, symbols, pictures etc. could be used to express how
you feel about the year and your hopes and dreams for next year.

CONTENTS CHAPTER
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CONTENTS CHAPTER
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APPENDICES
Our Prayers
1. Sign of the Cross 5. Grace Before Meals

In the name of the Father, and of the Bless (+) us, O Lord, and these your
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. gifts
which by your goodness we are about
to receive,
2. The Lord’s Prayer through Christ our Lord.
(Our Father)
R: Amen.
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
6. Grace After Meals
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven. We give you thanks for all your gifts,
Give us this day our daily bread; almighty God,
and forgive us our trespasses who lives and reigns now and forever.
as we forgive those who trespass
against us; R: Amen.
but deliver us from evil. Amen
7. Prayer of Sorrow
(Act of Contrition)
3. Hail Mary
O my God, I am very sorry
Hail Mary, full of grace, that I have sinned against you,
the Lord is with you; because you are so good,
blessed are you among women, and with the help of your grace,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb, I will not sin again.
Jesus.
Holy Mary, mother of God, 8. Act of Faith, Hope and Love

pray for us sinners
My God, I believe in you,
now and at the hour of our death.
I trust in you,
Amen
I love you above all things
with all my heart and mind and
strength. Amen
4. Glory Be to the Father
(Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be
world without end. Amen.

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APPENDICES
9. Prayer to the Guardian Angel 11. Morning Offering

Angel sent by God to guide me; Lord, I give you today my prayers,
be my light and walk beside me, thoughts, works and actions,
be my guardian and protect me; that they may be for your glory.
on the paths of life direct me. and for the good of the world.
OR
12. Come, Holy Spirit
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts
to whom God’s love commits me here,
of your faithful.
ever this day be at my side
R: And kindle in them the fire
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be
created.
10. Prayer for Meetings
R: And you will renew the face
We come before you, Holy Spirit, of the earth.
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we gather in your name. Let us pray.
Come to us, remain with us, Lord,
and enlighten our hearts. By the light of the Holy Spirit
Give us light and strength: you have taught the hearts of your
to know your will faithful.
to make it our own, In the same Spirit
and to live it in our lives. help us to be truly wise
Guide us by your wisdom, and always rejoice in your consolation.
support us by your power, We ask this through Christ our Lord.
for you are God, R: Amen.
sharing the glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all: 13. A Prayer for Christian Unity
enable us to uphold the rights of
Across all our barriers of language,
others;
race and nationality,
do not allow us to be misled by
R: Unite us, Jesus.
ignorance
Across all our mutual ignorance,
or corrupted by fear or favour.
prejudice and hostility,
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
R: Unite us, Jesus.
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
Across all our differences of thought,
As we gather in your name
outlook and religious allegiance,
may we temper justice with love,
R: Unite us, Jesus.
so that all our decisions
may be pleasing to you,
O God, for your greater glory,
and earn the reward
R: Gather together the separated
promised to good and faithful servants.
Christians.
Amen.
O God, for the triumph of goodness
and truth,

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APPENDICES
R: Gather together the separated 15. The Angelus

Christians.
O God, that there may be one flock The Angel of the Lord declared unto
and one Shepherd, Mary,
R: Gather together the separated R: And she conceived of the
Christians. Holy Spirit.
O God, to confound the pride of Satan Hail Mary …
and his assaults, Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R: Gather together the separated R: Be it done unto to me according to
Christians. your word.
O God, that peace may reign in the Hail Mary …
world at last, And the Word was made flesh,
R: Gather together the separated R: And dwelt amongst us.
Christians. Hail Mary …
O God, for the greater joy of the heart Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
of your Son, R: That we may be made worthy of
R: Gather together the separated the promises of Christ.
Christians.
Paul Couturier, Week of Prayer
Let us pray:
Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord,

14. Anima Christi your grace into our hearts, that we,
to whom the incarnation of
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Christ your Son,
Body of Christ, save me. was made known by the message
Blood of Christ, fill me. of an Angel,
Water from the side of Christ, may, by his passion and Cross,
wash me. be brought to the glory of his
passion of Christ, strengthen me. Resurrection,
Good Jesus, hear me. through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In your wounds, shelter me.
From turning away, keep me.
From the evil one, protect me. 16. Hail, Holy Queen
At the hour of my death, call me. (Salve Regina)
Into your presence, lead me
to praise you with all your saints Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy;
forever and ever. hail, our life, our sweetness and our
Amen. hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished
children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of
tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us,
and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin
Mary.

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APPENDICES
17. Memorare 19. Prayer of St Ignatius

Remember, most loving Virgin Mary, Take hold of me, Lord.
never was it heard Accept this offering of freedom, of
that anyone who turned to you for memory, of mind, of will,
help was left unaided. these things I cling to and count as
my own.
Inspired by this confidence, All are your gifts, Lord: now I return
though burdened by my sins, them,
I run to your protection They are yours: do as your will.
for you are my mother. Give me only your free gift of love: in
this you give all.
Mother of the Word of God,
do not despise my words of pleading
but be merciful and hear my prayer. 20. Prayer for Generosity
Amen.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous:
To serve you as you deserve to be served,
To give without counting the cost,
18. Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
To fight without heeding the wounds,
Lord, make me an instrument of your To work without seeking rest,
peace. To spend my life without expecting any
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; other return,
Where there is injury, pardon; Than the knowledge that I do your
Where there is doubt, faith; holy will.
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy. 21. Prayer for Serenity
O divine Master, grant that I may not
O God, give me the serenity,
so much seek,
To accept the things I cannot change,
To be consoled as to console,
The courage to change the things I can,
To be understood as to understand,
And the wisdom to know the
To be loved as to love,
difference.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are
pardoned,
22. Prayer for the Dead
It is in dying that we are born to
eternal life. Eternal rest grant them, (him/her),
O Lord.
R: And let perpetual light shine upon

them.
May they (he/she) rest in peace.
R: Amen.
May their (his/her) soul, and the souls

of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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APPENDICES
You have given joy to the world 24. Nicene Creed

by the resurrection of your Son our
Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in one God,
Through the prayers of his mother, the the Father, the Almighty,
Virgin Mary, maker of heaven and earth,
bring us to the happiness of eternal of all that is seen and unseen.
life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
R: Amen. the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
23. The Divine Praises true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
Blessed be God. of one in Being with the Father.
Blessed be his holy name. Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and he came down from heaven:
true man. by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Blessed be the name of Jesus. he became incarnate of the Virgin
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart. Mary, and was made man.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy For our sake he was crucified under
Sacrament of the altar. Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, death, and was buried.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the On the third day He rose again in
paraclete. accordance with the Scriptures:
he ascended into heaven
Blessed be the great mother of God, and is now seated at the right hand of
Mary most holy. the Father.
Blessed be her most holy and He will come again in glory to judge
Immaculate Conception. the living and the dead,
Blessed be her glorious Assumption. and his kingdom will have no end.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin
and mother. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most Lord, the giver of life,
chaste spouse. who proceeds from the Father and the
Son.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his With the Father and the Son, he is
saints. worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and
apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the
dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

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APPENDICES
25. Apostles’ Creed He has come to the aid of his servant

Israel,
I believe in God, the Father almighty, to remember the promise of mercy,
creator of heaven and earth. the promise made to our forebears
to Abraham and his children forever.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son,
our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit 27. The Song of Zechariah
and born of the Virgin Mary. (Benedictus)(Luke 1:68–79)
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
he descended into hell. Who has come to his people and set
On the third day he rose again. them free.
He ascended into heaven, The Lord has raised up for us a mighty
and is seated at the right hand of the Saviour,
Father. Born of the house of his servant David.
He will come again to judge the living through the holy prophets, God
and the dead. promised of old
To save us from our enemies,
I believe in the Holy Spirit, From the hands of all who hate us,
the holy catholic Church, To show mercy to our forebears,
the communion of saints, And to remember his holy covenant.
the forgiveness of sins, This is the oath God swore to our
the resurrection of the body, father Abraham.
and life everlasting. Amen. To set us free from the hands of our
enemies,
26. The Song of Mary Free to worship him without fear,
(Magnificat)( Luke 1:39–56) Holy and righteous before him,
All the days of our life.
My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord, 28. Stations of the Cross
my spirit rejoices in God my saviour,
who has looked with favour on his 1 The Last Supper
lowly servant. 2 The Garden of Gethsemane
From this day all generations will call 3 Jesus before the Sanhedrin
me blessed: 4 Jesus before Pilate
The Almighty has done great things for 5 Jesus is whipped and crowned with
me and holy is his Name. thorns
God has mercy on those who fear him, 6 Jesus carries his cross
from generation to generation. 7 Jesus is helped by the Cyrenean
The Lord has shown strength with his 8 Jesus speaks to the women of
arm Jerusalem
and scattered the proud in their 9 Jesus is stripped and nailed to the
conceit, cross
casting down the mighty from their 10 Jesus and the good thief
thrones 11 Jesus speaks to Mary and John
and lifting up the lowly. 12 Jesus dies on the cross
God has filled the hungry with good 13 Jesus is buried
things 14 Jesus is raised from the dead.
and sent the rich away empty.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
APPENDICES
OR The Five Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
1 Jesus is condemned to death (Mark 14:32–42)
2 Jesus takes up his cross 2. Jesus is Scourged (Mark15: 15)
3 Jesus falls the first time 3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
4 Jesus meets his mother (Mark 15:16–20)
5 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry 4. Jesus Carries his Cross
the cross (Mark 15:21)
6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
7 Jesus falls the second time (Mark 15:33–39)
8 The women of Jerusalem weep for
Jesus The Five Glorious Mysteries
9 Jesus falls the third time 1. The Resurrection of the Lord
10 Jesus is stripped of his garments (Mark 16:1–20)
11 Jesus is nailed to the cross 2. The Ascension of the Lord
12 Jesus dies on the cross (Acts 1:6–11)
13 Jesus is taken down from the cross 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
14 Jesus is laid in the tomb. (Acts 2:1–13)
4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
into Heaven (Revelation 12)
29. The Mysteries of the Rosary 5. The Queenship of the Virgin Mary
(Revelation 12:1–2,5)
The Five Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation of the Lord
(Luke 1:26–38)
2. The Visit of the Virgin Mary to
Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–45)
3. The Birth of the Lord
(Luke 2:1–20)
4. The Presentation of the Lord
(Luke 2:22–38)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
(Luke 2:41–52)
The Mysteries of Light

1. Jesus is baptised in the Jordan
Matthew (3:13–17)
2. Jesus’ self–revelation at the
wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11)
3. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of
God (Mark 1:14–15)
4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–35)
5. Jesus institutes the Eucharist
(Matthew 26:17–28)

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Important information
for Catholics
The Ten Commandments
A Traditional Formula
1. I am the LORD your God:
you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the
Lord’s Day.
4. Honour your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
9. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.
The Summary of the Law

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments
depend all the law of the prophets. [Matthew 22:37–39]
Christ’s New Law of Love

Love one another as I have loved you. [John 15:12]
The Beatitudes
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
APPENDICES
The Precepts of the Church

1. To worship at Mass on Sundays and to observe Sunday as a day of rest.
2. To confess one’s grave sins at least once a year in the Sacrament of Penance.
3. To receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter Season
(between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday).
4. To attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation. (Holy Days of Obligation in
Australia are Christmas Day and the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15)
5. To do penance by prayer, works of piety and charity, and fast and abstinence
on the days commanded. The days of penance are each Friday of the whole
year, and the season of Lent.
The days of fasting and abstinence from meat are Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday. The Church also requires all her members to contribute, as best they can,
to the support of their priests, parishes, schools and the Church’s works of
charity, and to observe the laws of the Church about the sacrament of Marriage.
The Seven Sacraments The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit

Baptism Wisdom
Confirmation Understanding
Eucharist Right Judgement
Penance Courage
Anointing of the Sick Knowledge
Marriage Reverence
Holy Orders Wonder and awe in God’s presence
The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Trustfulness
Gentleness
Self Control
The Seven Spiritual The Seven Corporal

Works of Mercy Works of Mercy
1. To convert the sinner 1. To feed the hungry
2. To instruct the ignorant 2. To give drink to the thirsty
3. To counsel the doubtful 3. To clothe the naked
4. To comfort the sorrowful 4. To give welcome to strangers
5. To bear wrongs patiently 5. To visit the sick
6. To forgive injuries 6. To visit the imprisoned
7. To pray for the living and the dead 7. To bury the dead

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
APPENDICES
The Virtues
Cardinal Virtues Theological Virtues
Prudence, justice, temperance Faith, hope and love (charity)
and fortitude
The Vices
Capital Sins
Pride, avarice (greed), envy, anger, lust, gluttony and sloth (laziness)
The Apostles
Name Feast Day
Peter February 22
June 29
Andrew November 30
James (“the Great”) July 25
John December 27
Philip May 3
Bartholomew August 24
Matthew September 21
Thomas July 3
James (son of Alphaeus) May 3
Simon (“the Zealot”) October 28
Jude (or Thaddeus) October 28
Matthias May 14
(chosen to take the place of Judas)
Paul January 25
June 29
The Four Evangelists Holy Days of Obligation in Australia

Matthew Christmas Day
Mark Assumption of our Lady 15th August
Luke
John

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
APPENDICES
The Seasons of the Liturgical Year

The liturgical year consists of two major seasons separated by "Ordinary Time".
Advent–Christmas runs from the first Sunday of Advent until the feast of the
Baptism of the Lord (the Sunday after Epiphany).
Lent–Easter runs from Ash Wednesday until Pentecost.
Ordinary Time includes a few weeks between the end of the Christmas season and
Ash Wednesday, and a much longer period from Pentecost to Advent.
r D ec e m
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APPENDICES
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APPENDICES
Index
Abba, 38–9 Deacons, 48, 117, 192
Aboriginal people, 149–150 Decalogue: see Commandments
Abraham (Abram), 79–82, 84, 89–91, 93, 175, Demons, 28
234, 278 Devils, 170
Advent (also see Liturgical Year), 267–8
Easter (also see Liturgical Year), 16, 46, 57,
All Saints Day, 283
60, 191, 193–6, 255, 283–4
Angels, 28, 37, 170, 182, 200, 277
Eucharist, (Sacrament of) (also known as the
Anointing of the Sick, (Sacrament of),
Breaking of the Bread, the Lord’s Supper,
45,111, 181, 187, 189, 283
Holy Communion, Mass), 48,100, 107,
Apostles, 23, 25, 31–2, 34–5, 40, 42, 47–50,
110, 236–7, 245, 250–62, 264–5, 281
62–3, 99, 105, 112, 115–17, 192, 194,
Eucharist, 17, 25, 40, 45–7, 59, 61, 73, 75–6,
229–30, 243–4, 246–7, 249, 252–3,
99, 100, 105–7, 109–11, 115, 117, 181,
257–61, 284.
187–90, 192, 197,227, 237, 239, 248–65
Apostles Creed, 51, 56, 134, 246, 278
Evangelists, 23, 31, 282
Annunciation, 33, 283
Exodus, 82–96, 100, 156, 190–1, 219–20,
Ascension, 201,283
247, 257–8, 265; Sea of Reeds, 86–7, 233;
Ash Wednesday (also see Lent and Liturgical
Promised Land, 80, 87, 90, 93, 95, 234
Year), 58, 195, 281, 284
Assumption, 33, 136, 172 Good Friday (also see Holy Week, Lent, and
Atheism, 71 Liturgical Year), 62, 63, 194, 281, 283
Gospels, 23–9, 31–4, 63, 99, 112, 203, 215,
Baptism, (Sacrament of), 17, 41, 45, 53, 109,
230, 251,259
111, 171, 179, 181, 187–9, 191–2, 227,
Grace (also see Prayers and Sacraments), 29,
229–39, 241–2, 244–6
45, 110–11, 126, 129, 183, 188–9, 221,
Beatitudes, 114, 280
227, 235, 237, 246, 251, 254, 268
Bible, 24–5, 33, 49, 76, 94, 112, 152, 154–7,
159, 165–6, 168, 173, 193, 218, 261 Heaven, 17, 52, 124, 129–30, 136–7,
Bishops, 48–9, 117, 192 171–2, 201, 203, 236, 239
Blessed Sacrament, 107, 138, 190 Hebrews: see People of Israel
Hell, 203
Chosen People: see People of Israel
Holy, 73, 88, 111, 129, 171, 186, 220–4,
Chrism, 111, 235, 246–7
227–8, 233, 265
Christ (see Jesus)
Holy Days of Obligation, 33, 121, 281–2
Christian Promise, 30, 103, 183, 227, 238,
Holy Orders, (Sacrament of), 45, 111,
243, 268
116–17, 181, 187, 189, 192, 227
Christmas (also see Liturgical Year), 16, 33,
Holy Spirit, 23–4, 26, 32–3, 37, 47, 49, 51–5,
193–6, 267–8, 281–4
101, 113, 115, 122, 124, 189, 194–5, 221,
Church, 15–18, 23, 25, 32, 34, 40–1, 43–9,
229–38, 242–48
51, 56–7, 73–5, 77, 99–103, 105–7, 109,
Holy Thursday (also see Lent and
111, 113, 115–17, 119, 131, 136–7, 179,
Liturgical Year), 61, 63, 283
183, 185–9, 197, 224, 226–7, 230, 233–7,
Holy Week (also see Lent and
252–4, 265, 281–2; Leadership, 115–17
Liturgical Year), 59, 60, 63, 247, 283
Commandments, 49, 197, 236;
Of Jesus, 77, 102, 113, 218, 280; Incarnation, 32, 131
Ten Commandments/Decalogue, 88, Isaiah, 97
94–5, 100, 115, 221–4, 265, 280 Israelites see People of Israel
Communion: see Eucharist
Jesus Christ, 10, 15–16,18,22–8, 30–63,
Communion of Saints, 17, 236
74–5, 77, 86, 97, 99–131, 171, 177–203,
Confirmation, (Sacrament of), 45, 47, 111,
215–18, 221–2, 224–39, 242–268; divinity
181, 187, 189, 227, 230, 242, 244–7
32–3, 35–40, 54, 72,119; humanity 32–3,
Consecration, 48, 99, 106, 262, 265
36–8, 40
Covenant, 80–1, 86, 88–9, 91–2, 94–102,
Jews, Chosen People, Israelites see
105–6, 109, 111, 113, 115, 159, 191, 219,
People of Israel
221, 259
John the Baptist, 25, 34, 229–30
Created 16, 22, 28, 68
Judaism: see People of Israel
Creation, 69–71, 94, 102, 143, 145–74, 177,
180, 186, 188–9, 193–4, 199, 203, 210–11, Kingdom of God, 27, 30, 57, 59, 102–3, 110,
214–15, 219, 230–1 129, 188, 203, 229, 234, 267–8

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APPENDICES
Last Judgement, End of time, 200, 203 Reconciliation, Sacrament of (see Penance)
Last Supper (also see Eucharist), 40, 61–2, 99, Redeemer, 177–83
100, 113, 123, 178, 249, 253, 257–9, 261, Religion, 72, 75–7, 89, 91–8, 101, 105, 115,
264–5 119, 239
Lent (also see Liturgical Year), 57–63, Repent, Repentance, 28, 43, 57–8, 193, 195
193–196, 261, 281, 283–4 Resurrection, 32, 35, 57, 63, 86, 101, 171,
Liturgical Colours, 193–4 191, 193, 195, 197, 200–1, 230, 265, 283
Liturgical Year,(also see Advent, Christmas, Ritual, 75, 94, 100, 109, 111, 229, 235, 246,
Easter, Holy Week, Lent) 194–5, 267, 269, 258, 263
283–4 Rosary (also see Marian Prayer), 132–136
Liturgy, 16, 75–6, 100–2, 106–7, 109, 130,
Sabbath (The Lord’s Day), 94, 197, 265
187–8, 190–4, 197, 222, 231, 238, 249–50,
Sacraments, 16, 40, 45–6, 110–11, 113, 117,
255, 257–66, 281, 283; of the Eucharist,
181, 185–90, 227, 230, 237, 239, 245, 249,
262, 264; of the Word, 261, 263
250, 254, 256, 281
Lord’s Prayer (see Our Father)
Sacred, 73–6, 92–3, 95, 100, 106–7, 109,
Marriage (Sacrament of), 45, 111, 117, 157, 149–50, 163–4, 183, 187, 190, 219, 230–1,
164, 181, 187, 189, 223, 225, 231, 281 247, 258
Marian Prayer (also see Rosary), 132–6, 273 Saints (also see Prayer), 17–18, 130, 137, 195,
Martyr, 193 236; All Saints Day, 283; Canonised, 18;
Mary (Mother of God, Blessed Virgin Mary) Prayer to, 18
18, 33–4, 74, 109, 130–1, 137–8, 168, 172, Salvation, 30, 182–3, 185, 197
193, 195, 222, 236, 283 Saviour (see Redeemer)
Mass (see Liturgy) Satan, 28, 60, 166–7, 170, 181
Messiah, 25, 60, 96–9, 101, 131, 267–8 Sea of Reeds (also see Exodus), 86–7, 233
Miracle(s), 136, 25, 39, 137, 188, 216 Sin (also see Original sin), 28, 30, 43, 58, 74,
86, 111, 129, 136, 165–7, 171, 177–8,
Ordinary Time (see Liturgical Year)
180–1, 186, 189, 191, 199, 227, 229, 233,
Original sin (the Fall), 111, 136, 156, 166–8,
235, 248, 254; Mortal, 252, 255, 264;
171–2, 174–5, 180, 189, 210, 233, 235–7,
Venial , 252
254
Stewardship, 143, 147, 149–50
Our Father, ( the Prayer of Jesus, the Lord’s
Sunday obligation to attend Mass (also see
Prayer, also see Prayer), 38, 122, 129, 138,
Liturgy), 100, 197, 265, 281
262, 264, 273
Ten Commandments, Decalogue (see
Palm Sunday (also see Holy Week and
Commandments)
Liturgical Year), 58, 60
Testament, 112; Old, 25, 49, 76, 96, 99, 112,
Passover (also see Exodus), 61, 85–6, 91, 94,
115, 188, 192–3, 197, 261; New, 23, 35,
99–100, 243, 257–60
76, 112, 203, 215, 244, 261, 267
Patriarchs of Israel, 81–2, 89, 91, 115
Torah (also see Pentateuch), 94, 218–20
Penance, Sacrament of (Reconciliation), 45,
Transfiguration, 34, 123
47, 71, 75, 111, 117, 181, 187, 189, 193,
Trinity, 32, 39, 51, 53–6, 101, 187, 255, 281
227, 248, 252, 267, 281
Pentateuch (also see Torah), 218 Vestments, 191–4, 265
Pentecost, 194–6, 230, 243, 246–7, 283–4
Worship, 15–17, 71–5, 88, 94, 103, 107, 119,
People of Israel (Israelites, Jews,) 79–98,
167, 173, 183, 188, 197, 235, 238, 281
100–2, 109, 111–2, 115, 129, 159, 191,
195, 197, 219–21, 230, 232–4, 257–9
Pope, 48–9, 117
Prayer (also see Apostles Creed, Lord’s Prayer,
Our Father, Marian Prayers, Saints), 18, 59,
71, 107, 119–24, 128–31, 137–9, 187, 197,
222, 227, 253, 255–6, 261–4, 267;
Catholic, 273–9; Communal, 130; of Jesus,
see Our Father; Marian, 132–6, 273; Not
always easy, 124
Priests, 48, 77, 95, 100, 115, 117, 130, 159,
191–3, 259, 281
Promised Land (also see Exodus), 80, 87, 90,
93, 95, 234
Prophet(s), 96–8, 101–2, 112–13, 115, 188,
229, 268, 280
Purgatory, 17, 236

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The Catholic Education Office

of Western Australia gratefully Nihil Obstat Dr Michael Jackson

Come Follow Me – Year 8 Student Resource

First published in Australia 2007

Cover and text designed by TaylorSparks

Psalms used by permission of The Grail (England).

Not for NEALS

As Archbishop of Perth I am pleased to welcome this publication.

Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ,

Most Rev. B.J. Hickey

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 1

2 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8

This chapter presents the following key learning points:

The human person yearns for acceptance and belonging

Everyone wants to belong and to be accepted for who they are.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 5

Joshua (Year Nine)

1. Would you describe Joshua’s first day of secondary

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The human person needs to live in community

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 7

There are three characteristics of community:

If a community is to fulfil its purpose it is necessary that it has three basic

2. A community has leaders

3. A community has rules

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The family is a community

Families show their love by

Construct a mobile of your ‘family tree’, including grandparents, parents,

Paternal side Maternal side

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 9

The family demonstrates the three characteristics

Parents are the family

Families have rules.

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The family is the foundation of society

Babies first become aware of

It is within the family that

The family can be described

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 11

Research the meaning of the

Create a name plaque for

Family love gives a person a sense of security.

Family love provides the stability that members

It is within families that children can hopefully

In the family, people learn to love, to show respect

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Clubs and Associations

Other communities reflect

They also have leaders and rules. These vary according to

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 13

The parish is a Church community

A parish is a local community of the

A principal purpose of a parish

Parishes help members draw closer

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 15

The parish reflects community characteristics:

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The Catholic school reflects community

Saints are part of Catholic communities

From earliest times, baptised people

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 8 Return to Return to 17