Venture - Pflaum Gospel Weeklies

efore they go to bed. They can ask themselves how
they have lived up to their call that day to be a child of
God, a brother or sister of Christ, and a temple of the
Holy Spirit.
5. What Happens at Confirmation? page 20
(1) Review with students the essential rite of the Sacrament
of Confirmation. (2) The bishop, or a priest he
has appointed, dips his thumb into the consecrated
oil called Sacred Chrism and anoints the forehead of
the candidate while saying, “N., be sealed with the Gift
of the Holy Spirit.” As the candidate says, “Amen,” the
bishop lays his hand on the candidate’s head. (3) Explain
why the words be sealed are used in the Confirmation
Rite. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “By
this anointing the confirmand receives the ‘mark,’ the
seal of the Holy Spirit. A seal is a symbol of a person, a
sign of personal authority, or ownership of an object.
Hence soldiers were marked with their leader’s seal and
slaves with their master’s. A seal authenticates...” (1295)
Thus, the seal authenticates the person’s Christian identity,
which was first received in Baptism. (5) Explain that
the laying on of hands is an ancient Christian symbol
of conferring (giving as a gift) strength upon another. In
Hebrews 6:1-2, we see that Paul associates the laying on
of hands with the spiritual growth.
6. What Happens at the Eucharist? page 21
Invite a priest to speak to the class about what being a
celebrant of the Eucharist means to him personally.
(1) Write at the top left-hand side of the chalkboard
or a sheet of newsprint the word Do’s and at the top
right-hand side, Don’ts. (2) Have students brainstorm a
list of do’s and don’ts for proper, respectful behavior at
Mass, and record their ideas on the board or newsprint.
(3) As students brainstorm, remind them of the two
main parts of the Mass, the Liturgy of the Word and the
Liturgy of the Eucharist. Some do’s and don’ts will be
specific to a particular part of the liturgy. For example,
looking a person in the eye when extending the Sign of
Peace is important to the overall meaning of the Liturgy
of the Eucharist. (4) Common courtesy enters into the
picture, too. Let students include in their list behaviors
that other Mass-goers would find irritating, such as seeing
or hearing someone chew gum during Mass.
7. What Are the Sacraments of Healing? page 23
As an introduction to the Sacraments of Healing, read
or have a student read the Gospel story in which Jesus
heals a paralyzed man. Ask students in what ways Jesus
healed the man.
Explain to students that in the Sacraments of Healing the
Church continues Jesus’ work of healing physical suffering
and of saving his followers from the effects of sin.
8. What Happens in the Sacrament of Penance and
Reconciliation? page 23
(1) Have students close their books. (2) Re-read aloud
the last paragraph of this section. However, omit the last
1-3 words of each sentence and see if the students can
supply what is missing.
(1) Write on the top left-hand side of the chalkboard or
on newsprint the words “Love God above all” and on
the top right-hand side, “Love neighbors as yourself.”
(2) Help students write questions for an examination
of conscience by thinking of ways a person their age
typically disobeys the Commandments. For example, a
question for the first part might be, “Did I miss Sunday
Mass?” and for the second, “Did I speak unkindly to
someone?” (3) When the list is complete, let each person
choose a different question to illustrate. (4) Distribute
crayons or markers and drawing paper to students,
and let them create pages for a handmade book to be
called, “A Young Person’s Examination of Conscience.”
(5) Arrange the completed artwork into pages of a book,
or use the artwork for a bulletin board display.
9. What Happens in the Anointing of the Sick?
page 24
(1) Read aloud James 5:14-15 to illustrate how and why
this sacrament was part of the life of the early Church.
(2) Then read aloud Matthew 9:1-8 to show Jesus healing
someone and forgiving his sins. (3) Point out that whenever
Jesus healed a person physically, it was a sign of his
desire and power to heal a person spiritually, too. Both
kinds of healing are part of the Anointing of the Sick.
Tell about a time you personally received this sacrament
or witnessed someone else receiving it. What difference
did the sacrament make? In what ways did it strengthen
you or the person you knew who received it?
10. What Are Sacraments at the Service of
Communion? page 24
Encourage students to give examples from their own
experience of ways in which their pastor and their parents
build up Church.
11. What Happens in the Sacrament of Holy Orders?
page 25
(1) Diagram at the chalkboard or on newsprint a kind of
“flow chart.” Write the name of the present pope and the
Diocese of Rome in a box at the top of the chart. Under
that box, write the name of your bishop and your diocese
or archdiocese in another box. Under that box, write all
the pastors and parishes in your city or county in boxes.
For this information, see the website of your diocese or
archdiocese. 2) Have students copy the diagram on drawing
paper and make it more interesting by including color,
shading, decorative borders and symbols, and so on.
10