Student Resource Religion

Second Edition, January 2014
The Catholic Education Office

of Western Australia gratefully
acknowledges Bishop Gerard
Holohan for the original concept
and content of this resource.
Nihil Obstat
Dr Michael Jackson
B.A. B.D. Dip.App.Psych. STL, D.D., D.Psych
Archdiocesan censor
Imprimatur
Most Reverend Barry James Hickey

DD OAM STL BA MSocWk
Archbishop of Perth
The invaluable advice and

editorial support of the
Archbishops Secondary Religious
Education Units Committee is
also acknowledged.
Date
6th January 2008
The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official

declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of
doctrinal or moral error.
Come Follow Me Year 9 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 12 1
First published in Australia 2008
Revision Date, January 2014
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
Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing
Group, Inc. Used by permission.
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).
Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal copyright 1973, International Committee
on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Every effort has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright. However, should any infringement
have occurred, the publishers tender their apologies and invite copyright owners to contact them.
Not for NEALS
This student resource book is produced on paper harvested from forests that
meet stringent environmental, social and economic standards.
Crystal Printing Solutions trading as Worldwide Online Printing Cannington

are holders of SCS Certificate Number: SCS-COC-001703
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
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 Gods 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 9
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Contents
1
2
3
The Human Search for Truth

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
The human need to question

Jesus came to fulfil Gods answers to questions of the human heart
The Spirit guides the Churchs Magisterium
The Spirit of Truth inspired the writing of the Bible
The Spirit of Truth inspired the New Testament
How to read the Bible
The Spirit revealed Jesus as the Messiah
5
13
21
31
61
79
99
People Grow Stronger Spiritually

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Young people discover new spiritual experiences

People can develop spiritual relationships
People find it hard to develop spiritually
God the Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit
Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit
Jesus revealed how to draw on the strength of the Holy Spirit
Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit
113
121
127
131
145
167
181
People Can Achieve Emotional Peace

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Emotions move people

The emotions function best when directed by the will
Jesus promises salvation
Jesus shares his power to love: sacraments and commandments
Sin and how God helps people to overcome it
Penance Sacrament of healing
Anointing A Sacrament of healing
191
197
201
205
219
231
247
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Christian Love and Sexuality

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Adolescence is a time of change, challenge and growth

The Gift of sexuality
Developing a Healthy Sexuality
The Challenge of Developing a Health Sexuality
Jesus promises the power of divine love
God empowers people to live chaste lives
God calls people to develop a healthy sexuality
Gods plan for married love
261
265
275
281
287
297
305
311
Appendices
Our Prayers
Important information for Catholics
Sources of images/illustrations
Index
321
328
333
335
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The human need to question

This chapter presents the following key learning points:
! People ask many human heart questions
! There are four basic questions of the human heart
! The search for truth leads to God
! People fail to recognise their human heart questions
for many reasons.
People ask many human heart questions

Asking questions is an important human need. Young children have a need to understand
the world around them. They often ask Why? about many things.
Peoples questions change and the more they understand, the more they seek to know
and question.
During the adolescent years teenagers become more aware of themselves as individuals.
They realise that they are capable of behaving more independently and want to do so.
This leads to new kinds of questions such as, Why cant I do what I want?
and How can I get my parents to see that I am no longer a child?
Many teenagers find that their questions lead to conflict, especially with authority
figures. They can become frustrated when they feel as though their questions and
concerns are not being listened to or given adequate attention.
Some questions teenagers ask show that they are growing into adults.
They ask questions such as:
How can I understand my feelings?
What should I do when I leave school?
How can I live a happy life?
How can I make good friends?
How can I be a better person?
The most important questions that teenagers begin to ask arise naturally
and continue throughout life. They are basic questions all people ask.
Since these questions stir within peoples hearts, they are
called questions of the human heart or human heart questions.
Return to
Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to
Return to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION
Human heart questions can be recognised because they tend to keep coming back. The
reason the questions keep returning is because situations in peoples lives change. For
example, the question: How can I live a happy life? is asked by:
young people, when they start working
adults, when they think about marrying
parents, when they have children
older people, when they retire from work.
There are four basic questions of the human heart

Attaining true happiness is more important to people than anything else. The questions
that revolve around happiness and the getting of happiness are more important to them
than other questions. These are the human heart questions that teenagers across the
world begin to ask.
Human heart questions can be grouped into basic categories. Though the words used
may vary from person to person and from culture to culture, the basic questions are the
same.
1. Personal questions
Understanding who we are is important. Personal questions of
the human heart are questions concerned with what people
need to understand about themselves in order to discover true
happiness. Common teenage question could be: Whats life all
about?, How can I become more independent?, Why do I
have so many feelings?.
Spend some quiet time identifying:

those things about yourself that you cannot
understand
those things you seem to be confused about
any personal questions you seem to be unable
to answer.
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
2. Relationship questions
Human relationships are important to everyone. Human heart
relationship questions are those concerned with how a person
can relate with others in ways that will lead to true happiness.
Common teenage examples include: Who will always love and
accept me, no matter what? and How can I make good friends?
List human heart

questions about
relationships which
concern you and
explain why this is so.
3. Questions about the future

Humans are different from all other living things in being able
to think about and plan for the future. Questions about the
future are concerned with what is best for oneself, for the
world and for creation if true happiness is to be found.
As people begin to think about the future, many find
themselves asking questions such as:
What is my future in a world that sometimes
seems really complicated and even threatening?
How can we create a more peaceful future
with less crime and fewer wars?
How can we improve the way people treat
the environment?
What can be done to make the earth a cleaner,
safer place for people and other living things?
Can we find a fairer way of sharing the worlds
resources to reduce poverty and hunger?
What difference can I make to the future
of the earth?
List questions about

the future that concern
you. Explain why you
are concerned.
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
4. Questions about God

Many human experiences lead people to wonder about God.
Many people sense the presence of God as they experience
creation. Examples of this might be:
sitting on a surfboard, watching the sun set
sitting on a beach watching the waves gently meet the shore
gazing at the night sky or watching a TV program about the
universe
studying a new-born baby
seeing someone performing an unusual act of goodness.
The more aware people become of God, the more they wonder at religious
questions such as:
Who is God?
What is God like?
What does God expect of me?
How can I live the way God wants?
What will happen after I die?
Why does God allow suffering?
Why should I concern myself with religion?
How do I know that what I have learned about God is true?
How can I really know if God exists?
Questions that seem to be negative can be signs of a desire to seek the truth about
God and all that God has taught.
As people become aware of the Creator who made all such life experiences
possible, they begin to understand that creation is not static it is constantly
changing and being renewed.
1. Do you have any religious questions of

your own that you could add to the list?
2. In your own words, explain why you think it is
important for some people to ask negative
questions about religion.
In Class Work
Share examples of how people experience God through creation.
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The search for truth leads to God

Human heart questions frequently recur in peoples search for truth and are not
satisfied with short term or simplistic answers.
People who are in touch with the questions of the human heart discover two things.
They discover that they will never find lasting happiness or find complete answers to
their basic questions on their own. They also realise that to find this happiness they
need to look beyond the created universe to the One who created it.
Those who remain open to asking and learning answers to the questions of the human
heart discover that the source of complete human happiness is found only in God.
Becoming open to Gods truth

Human heart questions recur in people in their search for truth. Simplistic answers are
not enough to satisfy people in the long term. Some answers may lead to harm. For example:
How can I make good friends? may lead to the mistake of choosing friends who are
fun in good times but who do not remain friends when things go wrong
How can I be a better person? can lead to doing things for the wrong reasons and
to feelings of guilt and regret
What should I do when I leave school? can lead to jobs and careers that do not
bring real happiness and fulfilment in life
How can I deal with my feelings? can lead to ignoring feelings or dealing with them
inappropriately.
Answers to questions of the human heart can be challenging. For example, the answers to:
How can I be a better person? can require changes in behaviour
How can I make friends? requires people to think of the needs of others as well as
their own needs or work on building their self-confidence
What does God expect of me? requires religious worship and keeping Gods
commandments.
Over thousands of years and in all human cultures, people have realised that by themselves
they cannot discover complete answers to the important questions of the human heart.
This has led people to discover that only God knows the correct answers. Each human
heart question is an invitation to enter into a loving relationship with God.
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
People fail to recognise their human heart

questions for many reasons
People desire true happiness but do not understand that to find it they need to focus on
their human heart questions. The pace of life today leaves little or no time for the quiet
time and reflection needed to become aware of the questions that stir within peoples
hearts. Healthy personal development requires a life-style that provides for every aspect
and need of a person, including the need for times of quiet and reflection.
Healthy personal development requires a life-style that provides for every aspect of a
person. It requires that time be made for:
exercise
sufficient rest
relationships
family
learning
work
recreation
time spent with God in personal prayer
time spent in community worship.
Many people spend too much time providing for some aspects of their lives and not
enough time for other aspects of their lives.
Sometimes people resist spending quiet time to find out what is going on within them
and questioning how they can find true happiness. Instead of trying to understand their
inner feelings and questions, they try to avoid them.
They often try to find happiness in other ways, through such things, for example, as
gaining greater wealth, success, social status and possessions. The human heart however
cannot be fully satisfied by wealth, status or possessions.
God created the human heart to stir the questions in people that lead to true
happiness. These questions, in their turn, lead to God.
The answers to questions of the human heart guide people towards true happiness.
To find these answers, people need to turn to God. As their Creator, God alone understands
them fully. Only God knows how to satisfy the human heart to bring true happiness.
10
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Draw up a plan of how you
spend your time in a typical
week. If possible, do this in a
spreadsheet and then present
this as a chart like the pie chart
shown for Kims Week. The
following areas are to be
included but these could also
be expanded further (for
example: family could include
socialising with grandparents,
parents, siblings and extended
family):
exercise
family
rest
school
work
recreation/leisure time
prayer
Kims Week
When you have finished reflect on your lifestyle.
Do you think you lead a balanced life? Explain.

How do some teenagers try to escape their inner feelings and questions?
In Class Work
Using suitable illustrations and captions, prepare a wall chart that highlights
the four basic questions of the human heart.
11
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus came to fulfil Gods answers

to questions of the human heart
! Jesus thought, questioned and understood like anyone else but
he was incapable of sin
! Jesus came to complete the teachings of the Father
! Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide his followers
! The Holy Spirit guides Jesus followers to answer the questions
in their hearts.
Jesus thought, questioned and understood like anyone

else but he was incapable of sin
God wants people to find answers to the
questions stirring within their hearts. To
provide them with these answers Jesus
Christ, the Son of God, was born a human
being. He grew up, lived and worked in the
town of Nazareth until he was about thirty
years old (Luke 3:23). Jesus then began
the public ministry that led to his death
and Resurrection.
Jesus was both fully human and fully
divine. Being fully human, Jesus thought,
questioned and understood like any other
human being but overcame all temptations.
The Youth of our Lord, 184756 (oil on canvas)
by Herbert, John Rogers (181090)
For your information

The belief that God became fully human is
called the Mystery of the Incarnation.
The Incarnation means that Jesus, the Son
of God, was born of human flesh and blood.
It is called a Mystery because the truth of
this event and what it means is beyond
complete human understanding.
Being fully divine, Jesus was incapable

of sin. This meant that his thoughts,
questions and understandings could
never lead him to do anything that
would damage his relationship with
the Father.
13
Return to Return to
Return to Return to
CONTENTSCONTENTS CHAPTER CHAPTER
2. JESUS CAME TO FULFIL GODS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF THE HUMAN HEART
The Gospels, which explain who Jesus is, tell stories that show how he thought like
other humans. For example, he:
questioned as a teenager:
It happened that, three days later, they found him in the Temple, sitting among
the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions (Luke 2:46)
learned carpentry skills:

This is the carpenter, surely, the son of Mary (Mark 6:3)
learned to read:
He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue
on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read (Luke 4:16)

Nazara is another name for Nazareth. It is a hill town about 25km west of Lake Galilee.
Like all people, Jesus was born with human knowledge which needed to be developed.
As a result:
his wisdom developed as he grew older:
And Jesus increased in wisdom, in stature, and in favour with God and with
people. (Luke 2:52)
he had to ask questions such as:

Jesus said[to his mother], Woman, what do you want from me? (John 2:4)
he could not answer all questions, such as When will the world end?:
But as for that day or hour, nobody knows it, neither the angels in heaven,
nor the Son; no one but the Father. (Mark 13:32)
14
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus came to complete the teachings of the Father

Jesus was the Son of God, yet in his humanity he had to grow in wisdom and knowledge
through learning, experience and the influence of other people in his life. As Jesus grew
in wisdom he developed a deeper understanding of the questions that are continually
being asked in the human heart and the answers God provides, and so he:
pleaded with people to repent and to believe in the good news he came to teach:
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent,
and believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
cried at the thought of those who would not accept the way to God:
As he drew near and came in sight of the city he shed tears over it and said,
If you too had only recognised on this day the way to peace! (Luke 19:4142)
God the Father responds fully to questions of the human heart in the person of his only
Son. The early Christians gradually realised that, in the person of Jesus, they were
taught by God. His every thought, word and gesture communicated God. This is why
they could say:
At many moments in the past and by many means, God spoke to our ancestors
through the prophets; but in our time ... he has spoken to us in the person of his
Son ... (Hebrews 1:12)
Gods revelation ceased

with the death of the
last Apostle but, as
Jesus promised, the
Holy Spirit will
continue to deepen
peoples understanding
of all Jesus revealed
until the end of the
world (John 16:516).
Christ teaching surrounded

by the Apostles (fresco) by
Paleo-Christian, (3rd century)
15
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus came to complete the teachings of the Father in several ways, for instance:
Jesus revealed the Trinity

In Old Testament times belief in one God as Creator of the world was central to the
Jewish religion. Jesus revealed that this one God is a Trinity that is, in the One God
there are three divine Persons.
baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit
(Matthew 28:19)

The Holy Trinity is sometimes described as the divine communion of love. This expresses
the Christian belief that the Persons of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy
Spirit live in perfect love within a unity of being, that is, as One God. In other words, there
exists a perfect communion (or community) of love amongst the three Persons in the
One God. The Trinity is a mystery beyond full human understanding.
Jesus revealed that

Gods love is a love
of service
In Old Testament times God
revealed much about how to
relate with others. Jesus, by his
actions and his words, revealed
that genuine love is shown by
serving the good of others.
Jesus demonstrated that service
is the most basic characteristic
of human love when he
washed his disciples feet (John
13:117). After this he told his
followers that they must:
Ms 404 fol.7v Christ washing the disciples feet,

12th13th century (vellum) by Armenian School
love one another just as I have loved you. (John 13:34)
Jesus also revealed that he and creation are signs of Gods love and how the Father
provides for all (Matthew 6:2534).
16
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus gave his Church

the Eucharist
In Old Testament times God taught the Jews
to worship in community gatherings and to
pray to God personally each day.
Jesus revealed to his followers how he
wanted them to worship. He did this during
the Last Supper when he gave his Church
the Eucharist, telling his Apostles:
do this in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)
Jesus revealed what happens when people die

Old Testament teachings could not provide a full answer to the question: What happens
when I die? Jesus answered this question, teaching that as soon as people die, they are
destined for eternal friendship with God in heaven.
Jesus had a special love for those who kept on asking him
religious questions
Sometimes teenagers ask questions about religion. Examples include:
Why do I need to go to Mass?
What is the value of going to Reconciliation?
It is important to remember that Jesus loves people who ask these questions, especially
when they are genuinely seeking answers.
Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide his followers

People would still have questions after Jesus had gone and would still need to ask
questions about his teachings. To help his followers as they continued to ask questions,
Jesus promised:
I shall ask the Father, and he will give you ... the Spirit of truth ... 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, 26)
This promise was fulfilled at Pentecost when the disciples were filled with the
Holy Spirit (Acts 2:112).
17
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Holy Spirit guides Jesus followers to answer the

questions in their hearts
From Pentecost onwards, followers of Jesus would be guided by the Holy Spirit.
They would be filled with the Holy Spirit through the sacraments of Baptism and
Confirmation. In the sacrament of Confirmation Jesus gave his Church the seven gifts
of the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen Christians to discover and live answers to
human heart questions.
Baptism and Confirmation

Jesus gave his Church the Sacraments of
Baptism and Confirmation so that his future
followers could be filled with the Spirit.
They also receive the seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit, all of which relate either to:
guiding people to discover answers to
their human heart questions, or
strengthening them to live the answers.
From Pentecost onwards, followers of Jesus
would be guided by the Holy Spirit as they
tried to understand how his answers to the
questions of the human heart applied to
their personal and community lives.

The seven gifts of the Ho
ly Spirit are:
Wisdom
Understanding
Right Judgement
Courage
Knowledge
Reverence
Wonder and awe in
Gods
presence.
The Spirit continues this today as baptised and confirmed Christians pray for guidance
on such human heart questions as:
How can I show more love at home?
How can I forgive someone who has hurt me deeply?
How can I stop giving in to peer pressure?
How can I do what is right when my emotions urge me to do wrong?
Why do I find it hard to pray?
In Class Work
Write a prayer to the Holy Spirit for guidance on a question of your heart.
Gods answers to questions of the human heart lead to true happiness. It is the Holy
Spirit that guides followers of Jesus who worship, pray and live as he taught, to answer
the questions in their hearts.
18
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Imagine how different peoples lives would be if they

could have answers to:
religious human heart questions such as:
What will happen to me after I die?
How can I relate more closely with God?
personal human heart questions such as:
How should I deal with strong feelings?
What should I do after I leave school?
relationship human heart questions such as:
How can I make good friends?
How can I get on better with my parents?
human heart questions relating to creation such as:
How should I relate with the environment?
To what extent am I personally responsible for the
care of creation?
Picture yourself in a one-to-one conversation with Jesus.

What questions would you ask him? Describe how different
your life would be if Jesus answered all of your questions.
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapters 1 and 2 to help you to answer these
questions:
1. What are the four basic questions of the human heart?
2. Jesus is both _______________and __________________.
3. What is meant by the Incarnation? Why is it described as a mystery?
4. What is the Holy Trinity?
5. Why did Jesus send the Holy Spirit to his followers?
6. Which are the two sacraments that fill people with the Holy Spirit?
7. What are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit?
8. From __________________ onwards the followers of Jesus would
be guided by the Holy Spirit.
19
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Spirit guides the

Churchs Magisterium
! The Magisterium of the Church preserves Jesus teachings
! The Holy Spirit guides the Pope and bishops
! Tradition is the handing on of the teachings of the Apostles
under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
! The Pope is the successor to Saint Peter
! The infallibility of the Church is a gift of the Holy Spirit
! The Magisterium serves the Church by teaching, explaining
and applying Jesus teachings.
The Magisterium of the

Church preserves Jesus
teachings
It is very important for people to be clear
about what Jesus taught. They need to
know how to apply the teachings of Jesus
to situations in their lives. This leads to
the question: How can we know that the
Christian teachings people believe today are
really what Jesus taught two thousand years
ago?
Jesus solution to this question was to appoint
leaders from among his followers and to give
them special spiritual gifts. Through these
gifts the Holy Spirit would continue to guide
Jesus followers as they sought to live in their
particular time and culture.
St. Peter Placing the Papal Tiara on the Head

of St. Clement, from The Life of St. Peter
(wool tapestry) by French School, (15th century)

The meaning of Magisterium
comes from the Latin word
magister, meaning teacher.
Those appointed by Jesus to lead his Church

then passed on this authority to those who
succeeded them as leaders of the Church.
Magisterium refers to the leaders within the
Church who today have the spiritual gifts for guiding and preserving Church teaching.
It is essential that people understand the origins, the authority and the limits of the
Churchs Magisterium in order to understand why the Church cannot make the
changes in its teachings and practices called for by some people today.
21
Return to Return to
Return to Return to
3. THE SPIRIT GUIDES THE CHURCHS MAGISTERIUM
Apostles Peter and Paul, 1708 (tempera on gesso) by Klimentov, Feoktist (18th century)
The Holy Spirit guides the Pope and bishops

The leaders within the Church who today have the spiritual gifts to guide it are called
the Pope and bishops. They are the successors of the first leaders of the community
called the Apostles.
Apostles
The Apostles are so called because they were sent by Jesus. He told them:
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 28:1920)

Apostle derives from the Greek word apostolos meaning one who is sent. For St Paul, an
Apostle was someone specially called by God and sent out to preach the gospel.
22
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus gave the Apostles special authority

Jesus gave the Apostles special authority to lead other members of his Church when he
said to them:
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 16:19)
In Jesus time the owner of a property gave someone the authority to govern by giving
them the keys of the property. In those times, to bind and loose was a phrase that
meant a person had the power to make decisions about the accuracy of teachings and
laws.
The special spiritual gifts the Apostles received meant that they could be certain they
would be guided by the Holy Spirit. The power to bind and to loose gave them the
authority to determine the authentic teachings and beliefs of Jesus. There are many
examples of the Apostles using this power. One example is the Council of Apostles and
elders which met in Jerusalem around 48AD to decide on whether or not non-Jewish
converts to Christianity should follow Jewish laws. After debating the issues they made
a decision and sent a letter which began:
The apostles and elders, your brothers, send greetingsIt has been decided by
the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to impose on you any burden beyond these
essentials (Acts 15: 23, 28)
Jesus gave his Apostles five basic responsibilities in their leadership of the Church:
to be the principal teachers of the Gospel
to interpret the Gospel
to govern the Church in the name of Jesus
to guide his followers to live as he taught
to ensure that the sacraments were celebrated properly.
How does a bishop receive the special gifts Jesus gave the Apostles?
The Apostles received the fullness of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:12:10).
After Pentecost, the Apostles shared their special gifts and authority with others
as the Church spread to other countries.
The spiritual gifts and authority Jesus first gave the Apostles have been passed
down through the centuries. Today, those who have these powers are called bishops.
23
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Church Militant and Triumphant, detail of SS. Thomas and Peter confuting the heretics, from the
Spanish Chapel; c.1369 (fresco) (detail of 31612) by Andrea di Bonaiuto (Andrea da Firenze) (fl.134377)
Tradition is the handing on of the teachings of the

Apostles under the guidance of the Holy Spirit
Since earliest times, the teaching of the Apostles has been handed down from generation
to generation. In particular, the story of Jesus Resurrection, his life and teachings and
what is needed to live the Christian life were all handed on.
Tradition (always with a capital T), is a special word which refers to the handing on
of the teachings of the Apostles under the Holy Spirits guidance.
When speaking of Tradition, Catholics mean:
the teachings handed on by the Apostles the Creed, the sacraments, the moral
teachings of Christ and the Lords Prayer
the ways these teachings are handed on under the Holy Spirits guidance
(liturgies, official teachings by the Pope and bishops, and the essential elements
of the Christian life, especially prayer and moral teachings).
Through Tradition, the Holy Spirit protects the Church from losing or misrepresenting
the teaching of Jesus.
24
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Pope is the successor to Saint Peter

Jesus told the Apostles to spread his teachings across the earth. They were to:
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all (Mark 16:15)
This meant that they needed to go out and work in different parts of the world.
The distances between places meant that in an age of much slower transport and
communications, the Apostles found it very difficult to come together to work out
a correct understanding of Jesus teaching.
To ensure this correct understanding, Jesus had given Peter special spiritual gifts and
authority among the Apostles. He:
called Peter first (Mark 1:16)
changed his name from Simon to Peter (Matthew 16:18, John 1:42)
told Peter that he would be the foundation stone of the Church (Matthew 16:18)
gave Peter the keys of the kingdom (Matthew 16:19)
prayed for Peter to keep the faith and so support the other Apostles (Luke 22:32)
appointed Peter to guide and support the whole of his Church (John 21:1517).
Why did Jesus change Simons name?

In those days, to change a persons name was to give them a new mission and
responsibility. Jesus did this when he said:
Simon son of Jonah You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community.
(Matthew 16:1718)
Jesus spoke of himself as the

foundation stone of Gods
kingdom. Changing Simons
name meant that he was to
lead the Church on Jesus
behalf.

Peter comes from the Greek petros, meaning rock.
Jesus spoke of himself as the Good Shepherd. To further emphasise Peters special role
in the Church, Jesus gave Peter the responsibility for his flock. Jesus said to Peter:
Feed my lambs ... Look after my sheep ... Feed my sheep. (John 21:1517)
The early Christians realised that Peter was chosen for a special role of leadership in the
Church. His leading role or primacy is clearly evident in the gospels such as the way he
is always named first in any list of the Apostles.
25
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Peter was martyred in Rome around 64AD. The special gifts and authority he received
from Jesus were handed on to his successors as head of the Church first Linus, who
was martyred around 78AD, then Cletus, Clement and so on down to the present day.
Today the head of the Church who has these gifts and authority is called the Pope.
How is a Pope chosen?

The Apostles were faced with
the question of who should
succeed them. As their
successors would receive their
powers from God, the
Apostles would need to find a
way that enabled the Holy
Spirit to decide who would be
chosen. The Spirit guided the
Apostles to choose the method
of election, either by drawing
lots or voting (Acts 1:26, 6:5).
Popes today are elected by
special bishops called
cardinals. The gathering
during which the cardinals
elect a Pope is called a
conclave.
Sistine Chapel ceiling and lunettes, 150812 (fresco)
(post restoration) by Buonarroti, Michelangelo (14751564)

The word conclave is derived from a Latin word meaning a lockable room. The cardinals
who elect a new Pope meet in the Sistine Chapel. The Chapel is locked while the cardinals
vote in a secret ballot (or, if required, a series of ballots) for a new Pope.
Apostolic succession
The passing on of the spiritual gifts and authority in the Church from the
Apostles to the bishops today is called apostolic succession. The successors of
the Apostles were called either elders or bishops. Apostle is reserved out of
respect for the first Twelve who actually saw, knew and were sent out by Jesus.
The Holy Spirit continues to guide the Pope and bishops today as they use these
same spiritual gifts.
26
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The infallibility of the Church is a gift of the Holy Spirit

Jesus gave his followers the Holy Spirit,
the Spirit of truth, to guide them. This
means that, since God cannot make
errors, the whole Church cannot err
in its understanding of:
the teachings of Jesus
how these teachings are to be lived.
Infallibity is the name given to the gift of
the Holy Spirit that protects the Church
from error when solemnly defining
matters relating to Jesus teachings and
how they are to be lived. Infallibilty does
not apply to matters outside the areas of
faith and morals.
The infallibility of the Pope

This gift, given to the Church, means
that the Holy Spirit protects the Pope
from making errors when he solemnly
teaches what is essential to the message
of Jesus and how it applies to Christian
living.
The gift of infallibility does not protect
the Pope from any other errors.
How often is infallibility

exercised?
The gift of infallibility has been used
rarely over the last two thousand years.
Infallible doctrines include:
the Creed used during Sunday Mass
the Incarnation (that Jesus is both
divine and human)
the Trinity (that in One God there are
Three Persons the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit)
The Immaculate Conception by Murillo, Bartolome Esteban (161882)
Likewise, the Pope has rarely used the gift of infallibility. The Pope has exercised this
gift in the declaration of the following doctrines:
the Immaculate Conception (that Mary was conceived free from original sin)
the Assumption (that Mary was taken body and soul into heaven when her life
in this world ended).
27
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Magisterium serves the Church by teaching,

explaining and applying Jesus teachings
The Churchs Magisterium is the teaching
body of the Church. Ordinarily, this
consists of the Pope and the bishops
throughout the world, working within
their dioceses. The Extraordinary
Magisterium consists of the Pope and
bishops meeting at a Council representing
the whole Christian world. This is called
an Ecumenical Council.

It is important for people to understand
that the Magisterium cannot change
the teachings of Jesus by permitting
something that contradicts a teaching
of God.
Jesus told Peter and the Apostles to teach people

to observe all the commands I gave you. (Matthew 28:20)
Their authority, therefore, was limited. They

could only teach, explain and apply the
teachings of Jesus. They could not change his
teachings.
Likewise, the spiritual gifts and authority of the
Pope and bishops today are limited. They can
not go against a teaching of Jesus.
Many today argue that the Church needs to
change its teachings because people are ignoring
them and times have changed. They do not
realise that the teachings of Jesus cannot be
changed. The Churchs Magisterium has no
power to do so.
Many want the Pope and bishops to change:
the fifth commandment to allow the killing
Christ with a kneeling Bishop,
of unborn children (abortion) or the killing
15th century (stained glass)
of those who are suffering painful terminal
illnesses (euthanasia)
the sixth commandment to allow married people to have sex with people other than
their wives or husbands (adultery) or to allow sex between unmarried people
the command of Jesus that married people not remarry while their husband or
wife is alive (Mark 10:1012).
Neither the Pope nor the bishops have any

power to change the teachings of Jesus.
28
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapter 3 to help you to answer these questions:
1. List the five basic responsibilities that Jesus gave the leadership of his
Church. Who has these leadership responsibilities in the Church today?
2. Explain what is meant by Tradition. What work does the Holy Spirit do
through Tradition?
3. Explain how each of the following words is significant to the story of
St Peter, the first pope: Simon, keys, rock.
cardinals
4. Popes today are elected by special bishops called __________.
conclave is a gathering during which these men elect a new pope.
A _________
Infallibility
5. _____________________ is the gift of the Holy Spirit which protects the
Church from error when solemnly defining matters of faith and morals.
Pope
It protects the _________
from making errors in understanding and
teaching the essential aspects of Jesus message and how it applies to
Christian
Living
_________________
and _______________.
6. List two Church doctrines (teachings) where infallibility has been used.
Why do you think infallibility was used in each case?
7. Explain what is meant by the Churchs Magisterium. What teaching is
it unable to change?
8. What is the name of the Pope?
29
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Spirit of Truth inspired

the writing of the Bible
! God reveals answers to questions of the human heart
through the Bible
! The writing process of the Bible involved four broad steps
! The historical development of the Bible occurred over seven stages:
the Patriarchs of the people of Israel
the Exodus and entry into the Promised Land
the Monarchy
the Exile
the Post Exile
the Greek conquest
the Roman conquest.
God reveals answers to the questions of the

human heart through the Bible
The experiences of God recorded in the Old
Testament are central to an understanding of
Christs ministry and the foundation of the
Christian Church.
Around four thousand years ago, God began
revealing answers to questions of the human
heart in a special way through Abraham, the
father of the Jewish people. God continued
this special revelation until the conclusion of
the ministry of Jesus.
All that was revealed by God over this period
was written down under the direction of the
Holy Spirit. These writings were collected and
recorded in a library of seventy-three books
called the Bible.
Inspired by the guidance of the Holy Spirit,
writers especially called by God wrote and
edited the Bible. The inspired writers of the
Bible presented Gods teachings in many different
ways including poetry, stories and hymns.
Christ in Majesty with the Symbols of the

Evangelists, illustration from The Bible of Alcuin
(735804) completed in 801AD (vellum)
31
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
4. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH INSPIRED THE WRITING OF THE BIBLE
When completed, the Bible

contained all that God wanted
taught and only what God wanted
taught.

The word Bible comes from the two Greek words
ta biblia which mean the books.
The two Testaments

Within the Bible, the two collections of books
are called the Old Testament and the New
Testament.
The books of the Old Testament tell about God
forming the people of Israel as Gods own
people and preparing them for the coming of
Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
The books of the New Testament tell about
Jesus Christ and his teachings.

The books of the Bible were first
divided into chapters in the
thirteenth century by Stephen
Langton, Archbishop of
Canterbury. The use of numbered
verses was finalised by Robert
Estienne in 1555.
The writing process of the Bible involved four broad steps

Each part of the Bible was written in four broad steps:
the peoples experience of God
the development of an understanding of what these experiences meant
the inspiration of writers who recorded these understandings
the selection of inspired texts and the discarding of inaccurate and non-essential
texts.
1. Experiences of God
Over a period of nearly two thousand years the descendants of Abraham had many
experiences of God. Their greatest experience of God occurred when God acted to
rescue the people from slavery in Egypt. Before this experience was recorded in the
Book of Exodus it was remembered and celebrated through story, song and ritual.
Handing on knowledge of experiences of God in this way is called oral tradition.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of
Australia have oral traditions that go back more
than forty thousand years. These are the oldest
living oral traditions in the world.
32
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Locate and read some Aboriginal stories that have been handed
on orally. Explain why indigenous people think it is important to
hand these stories on from generation to generation.
2. Coming to understand the experience

The Holy Spirit inspired people to come to understand the experiences through which
they encountered God. It often took the people a long time to understand their full
significance. For example, it took centuries for them to realise fully that God always
cared for them, and not just while they were slaves in Egypt. God was always close to
them not distant and disinterested.
3. The Holy Spirit inspired writers

As God wanted everyone to learn about these experiences, the Holy Spirit stirred
thoughts and feelings in individuals and groups who recorded these in writing.
The Book of Exodus, for example, preserves some of the earliest writings. Fragments of texts
and information from various sources were collected to produce a record of the Passover.
As many people wrote about Gods teachings, it was not always immediately clear what
was inspired by the Spirit and what was not. Over time editors inspired by the Holy
Spirit were able to recognise what was not from God and they deleted these writings.
4. The selection of inspired texts

Sometimes, those who edited the Bible joined different inspired writings together and
occasionally did not even worry about apparently contradictory details which did not
touch the essentials of the teaching. One example is the story of the Passover. As the
Hebrews were escaping Egypt, God protected them. In the following text the inspired
editors concern was about Gods power over the seemingly invincible Egyptian army:
Then the angel of God, who preceeded the army of Israel, changed station and
followed behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from their front and took
position behind them. It came between the army of the Egyptians and the army
of Israel. (Exodus 14: 1920)
Here the editor combined two texts. One told of an angel of God protecting the army of
Israel and the other tells of a pillar of cloud performing the same function.
In Class Work
Read 1 Samuel 17:5051 and write down the contradictions within this text.
33
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The historical development of the Bible occurred

over seven stages
On timelines based on Christian history the abbreviations BC and AD are used. BC means
Before Christ and AD means Anno Domini (Latin for, In the Year of Our Lord).
Any number followed by BC represents a year that occurred before Jesus was born, e.g.
210 BC occurred two hundred and ten years before Jesus birth.
Many texts now use the abbreviations BCE (Before the Common Era) instead of BC, and
ACE (After the Common Era) instead of AD.
The revelation of God was gradual and the peoples understanding of God developed in
response to human experience in history. The books of the Bible were composed and
compiled over seven periods of Jewish history.
It is not possible in the remainder of this chapter to give a detailed outline of these
periods of Jewish history. The people, events and changes which influenced the
historical development of the Bible have been highlighted to illustrate how people came
to understand the experiences through which they encountered God.
34
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Periods of Jewish History from 1850BC to 135AD

FIRST PERIOD
The Patriarchs of the people of Israel
18501700BC (ie. 150 years)
INTERIM PERIOD 1
Descendants of the Patriarch Jacob in Egypt
17001300BC (ie. 400 years)
SECOND PERIOD
The Exodus and entry into the Promised Land
13001050BC (ie. 250 years)
INTERIM PERIOD 2
Final years of rule under the Judges
10501020BC (ie. 30 years)
THIRD PERIOD
The Monarchy
1020587BC (ie. 443 years)
FOURTH PERIOD
The Exile in Babylon
587539BC (ie. 48 years)
FIFTH PERIOD
The Post Exile
539333BC (ie. 206 years)
SIXTH PERIOD
The Greek conquest
33363BC (ie. 270 years)
SEVENTH PERIOD
The Roman empire
63BC135AD (ie. 198 years)

Some of the dates presented in this chapter are disputed by scholars. The dates given for
the periods follow those of The New Jerusalem Bible (1985).
35
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
First Period: The Patriarchs of

the people of Israel
(18501700BC)
The people of Israel had

their origins in nomadic
tribes who roamed the
region of Mesopotamia
from around 3000BC.
Little is known about the
fathers or Patriarchs
of the people of Israel.
Around 1850BC Abram
was called by God to leave
his home in Mesopotamia.
God made a covenant with
him and changed his name
Elijah, Jewish pictorial rug, from Tabriz in Iran,
to Abraham, promising him
1930s40s (cotton and silk)
many descendants (Genesis
15:5) and land. This
eventually became known
as the Promised Land (Genesis 15:18).
Abraham was the first Patriarch. The second Patriarch was Isaac, the son of Abraham
and his wife Sarah. The third Patriarch was Jacob, the younger of Isaacs two sons. God
eventually changed Jacobs name to Israel.
Jacob (Israel) had twelve sons: Reuben, Simeon and Levi, Judah, Zebulun and Issachar,
Dan, Gad and Asher, Naphtali, Joseph and Benjamin. The most famous was Joseph who
was sold into slavery by his brothers and who eventually became an important
administrator of Egypt. Jacobs twelve sons were the Patriarchs of the twelve tribes of
Israel. Their descendants were referred to as Israelites or Hebrews. Around 1700BC
the Israelites settled in Egypt.
Although writing existed, very few people at this time could read or write. The Holy
Spirit guided oral tradition so that the people never lost their memories of how this new
God discovered by Abraham was experienced. Until the time of Moses, the Patriarchs
and the people thought of the God revealed to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as a kind of
family or clan God. The Israelites handed on their memories through returning to the
holy places where God had been experienced through worship and ritual.
36
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Some of the holy places the Israelites returned to include Shechem (Genesis 32:3133),
Mamre (Genesis 18:1), Bethel (Genesis 28:19) and Peniel (Genesis 32:3133). These
were holy places where the Patriarchs had experienced God. Such places came to be
called sanctuaries because they kept alive the stories of what happened in those holy
places.
As part of their worship the Israelites celebrated ritual feasts to honour the God of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and to recall the experiences of the Patriarchs. Such feasts
included the sacrifice of animals.
The Israelites also celebrated a special ritual involving circumcision. Circumcision
was a sign, commanded by God, that every male Israelite carry from the eighth day
after his birth. Through this custom the Israelites would remember that, as
Abrahams children, they had a special relationship with God.
In Class Work
Write down a story that is part of your familys oral tradition. It might be a story
often recalled at family gatherings or a story about a family members
childhood that your mother, father or grandparent recalls. Are there special
people, places or events in this story? Share your story with the person
sitting next to you.
37
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Second Period: The Exodus and the

entry into the Promised Land
(13001050BC)
Around 1300BC the Israelites were forced into slavery by the Egyptians. God heard
their cries for help and appointed Moses to lead them to freedom (Exodus 2:253:12)
and safeguarded the Hebrews as they escaped from slavery.
This event is remembered and celebrated by the Passover through rituals and songs.
In Class Work
Revise your understanding of the Passover. Read Exodus 12:2128.
1. What instructions did God give the Hebrews to celebrate the Passover?
2. What happened to the families of the Hebrews?
3. What happened to the families of the Egyptians?
After their escape from Egypt, God had Moses lead the Israelites through the Sinai
desert to a mountain. There, God appeared to the Israelites in signs that people at that
time associated with a powerful God (Exodus 19:1620).
God made a sacred relationship treaty with the people, called a covenant. As part of this
covenant, God told Moses that the people must behave in ways that would not damage
their relationship with God. God identified appropriate behaviour in laws. These laws
were grouped under ten sayings called the Ten Words (Exodus 34:28).
Moses died before the Israelites moved into the Promised Land. The people were led
into this land by his successor, Joshua, who was appointed by God.
Today, these Ten Words are

called the Ten Commandments.
38
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Stories of Joshua

The ancient Hebrew name, Joshua means Yahweh is salvation. A later form of Joshua
was Yeshua. In the Greek of the New Testament this became Jesus.
The Book of Joshua records the story of the Israelites entering and settling the Promised
Land. Eleven of the twelve tribes of Israel then spread throughout different regions of
Palestine. Members of the twelfth tribe, the tribe of Levi, were scattered among the
other tribes to serve the people as priests.
Notes: *The sons

of Joseph, Ephraim
and Manasseh, were
given the status of
independent tribes.
The tribe of Levi was
scattered among the
other tribes to serve
as priests. The Levites
lands were located
in various places
throughout Palestine.
39
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
During this time the Israelites did not always remain

faithful to the Sinai Covenant. There developed a pattern
to their experience. They:
turned away from God, ignored Gods guidance and
protection and broke the Ten Commandments
suffered conquest and oppression by other nations
because they made decisions without Gods guidance
and direction
turned back to God and recalled the covenant
again enjoyed Gods guidance, protection, freedom
and deliverance from the oppression of other nations.
Recall a time when

you have followed a
similar pattern in
your life.
Judges
Those who led the Israelites after Joshua were called
Judges. From stories of the Judges, it seems that they were
liberators who were also military leaders of the Israelites.
Some of the notable Judges were Deborah, Gideon and Samson.
In Class Work
Research the story of one of the leaders of the people in the Book of Judges
and present your findings to the class.

Even though many people think that the earliest parts of the Bible to be written were the
opening chapters of the Book of Genesis, in fact these writings were not gathered into
books until many centuries after Moses.
Today, Bible scholars believe that the hymn of Deborah (Judges 5) is the oldest written
part of the Bible.
Oral tradition
The oral tradition of the Israelites continued to develop through new stories and poems,
new feasts, rituals and religious laws. Sacred places and objects served as visible
reminders of the special relationship they had with the God of Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.
40
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
41
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Third Period: The Monarchy

(1020587BC)
The development of the Kingdom of David (1040931BC)

Around 1040 BC the Israelites needed to unite against the neighbouring Philistines and
to become a nation. Their enemies had a king and they demanded a king too.
Samuel, a great prophet revealed that God had called a young man called Saul to be the
first king of Israel. As king of the Israelite tribes Saul was successful in many battles, he
disobeyed God however, which led God to call a young shepherd, David son of Jesse, to
become king.
Davids military successes and growing popularity with the people led Saul to try to
assassinate him. David and his supporters fled into the wilderness and managed to evade
the troops sent by Saul to kill him.
After some time, David and his followers sought the protection of the Philistines. In the
end, the Philistines fought Sauls army and Saul was killed. David then became king of
the southern tribe of Judah around 1000BC.
Seven years later, after the assassination of Sauls last surviving son, Ishbaal, David
became the king of Israel. The kingdom of Israel comprised the remaining ten tribes of
Israel and their lands to the north.

The Philistines, the inhabitants of Philistia, were one of the Sea Peoples of the ancient
Mediterranean world. They had access to iron which made their weapons superior to
those of the people of Israel. The Philistines and Israelites were ethnically different and
competed with each other over several centuries for land, trade and military supremacy.
Davids victories over the Philistines put an end to them as a threat to the Israelites.
David needed a capital acceptable to both the Israelite kingdoms. He conquered

Jerusalem around 1000BC making it the royal and religious capital of his united
kingdom of Judah and Israel. This period saw further development of the oral
tradition including stories of David and of how God, through David, united all
the Israelites into one kingdom.
42
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read the story of David and Goliath
(I Samuel 17). This version is based on
sources from the oral tradition.
1. How have the authors favoured David
over his rival Saul and the Philistine
enemy?
2. What does the story teach about the
power of ordinary people to do
good?
David Slaying Goliath, 1620 (oil on panel)

by Rubens, Peter Paul (15771640)
David was the greatest of the Israelite

kings. Although at times unfaithful to
God, he always repented. He was
succeeded by one of his sons, Solomon in
about 970BC and the kingdom became a
hereditary kingdom.
About 966BC, Solomon began building a
great Temple in Jerusalem to house the
Ark of the Covenant, which was to be the
dwelling of God. This Temple was
dedicated around 960BC. From then until
its destruction around 587BC, much of
the oral tradition reflected the position of
the Temple as the centre of Jewish faith.
Solomon did not remain faithful to God
for he allowed other religions to grow in
his kingdom and tried to dominate the
twelve tribes of Israel. This led to deep
resentments that culminated in the
division of the kingdom soon after his death.
43
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read 1 Kings 3: 1628. How is the wisdom of Solomon illustrated
in his judgement?
The Prophets
During the period of the Monarchy God called
special people known as prophets. In the Old
Testament a prophet was someone who spoke
publicly on Gods behalf, usually to the kings or
religious leaders. On occasions they addressed
their messages to an assembly of the whole people.
They explained Gods thoughts and the meanings
of events and experiences. The most famous of the
early prophets of this time were Samuel and Nathan.

The word prophet, from the
Greek prophetes, means one
who speaks for another.
Prophets were inspired by the Spirit through various experiences, such as dreams,
visions, great joy and also mystical experiences. They were distinctive by their
appearance, for instance, wearing clothing made of hair (2 Kings 1:8).
There were hundreds of prophets in the history of Israel. Often they were grouped into
schools or brotherhoods (e.g. 1 Samuel 10:11; 1 Kings 20:35; 2 Kings 2:3). They
were usually led by a great prophet such as Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:15).
The Judgement of Solomon, 1649 (oil on canvas) by Poussin, Nicolas (15941665)
44
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The greatest prophets

in the Old Testament:
Moses
Samuel
Elijah
Elisha
Amos
Hosea
Isaiah
Micah
Nahum
Zephaniah
Habakkuk
Jeremiah
Ezekiel.
Detail of the Portico

de la Gloria with the Old
Testament prophets (stone)
by Mateo, Master (fl.116888)
In Class Work
Read Jeremiah 1:110 and Amos 7:1416.
Put yourself in the shoes of one of the prophets, Amos or Jeremiah, and list
some of the feelings you think you would have experienced if you had been
called by God to be a prophet.
True prophets served as a conscience to the people of Israel. Their role was to remind
people to live as God called at Mount Sinai. They were generally unpopular with kings
and the people because what they said was often contrary to social trends. Sometimes
they told people what they did not want to hear. Often prophets warned about the
political and social consequences of being unfaithful and turning from God.
45
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
As a class discuss modern day prophets who have spoken out to remind society
of Gods Law. Who are recent Australian examples who serve as a conscience
to society on issues such as the environment, poverty and justice?
The Bible
The writing of the Bible began to develop rapidly
during the period of the Monarchy. The books of
the Old Testament can be grouped under three
headings:
the Law
the Prophets
the Writings.
Most biblical scholars believe that the books of
the Old Testament were written and edited by
various different traditions and writers over
many centuries, amongst these are four major
sources (or schools). Each of these sources
probably drew upon a number of other sources
for their material. The Old Testament is the
product of hundreds, if not thousands, of
contributors some as writers, others as editors. The four major sources are known as the:
Yahwist: thought to have been compiled eight or nine hundred years before Jesus,
around the time of Davids son, King Solomon
Elohist: thought to have been compiled around the same time as the Yahwist
Deuteronomist: thought to have been compiled around 600 years before Jesus
Priestly: thought to have been compiled around 400 years before Jesus.
The Law
During the early years of the Monarchy the Holy Spirit inspired authors, known today
only as the Yahwist, to begin writing about God as Creator of the universe, the story of
the Exodus, the covenant at Sinai and the entry into the Promised Land. The Yahwist
repeatedly refers to God as Yahweh.
The Prophets
The Yahwist also wrote stories of the prophets Samuel and Nathan, the great Israelite
kings such as Saul, David and Solomon and the early history of this period. This Yahwist
material and material from the Elohist and Deuteronomist were used by later editors,
probably the Priestly school, to produce the books of Kings 12 and Samuel 12.
46
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Writings
At this time the use of proverbs and special hymns called psalms began. The psalms
developed as a result of people worshipping God in the Temple. Inspired writers
continued to develop these forms of writing over the following eight centuries.
The division into two kingdoms Israel and Judah (931721BC)

When Solomon died around 931BC, he was succeeded by one of his sons, Rehoboam
who threatened to dominate the tribes even more than his father.
Davids united kingdom broke apart. This led to a revolt and reformed into the two
earlier kingdoms the northern kingdom (kingdom of Israel), and the southern kingdom
(kingdom of Judah). Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah.
The destruction of Israel (721BC)

The northern kingdom of Israel was
destroyed by the Assyrians in 721BC.
They captured its capital, Samaria, after
a three-year siege. People from other
areas of the Assyrian empire were
moved into the conquered kingdom to
break down its ethnic, racial and
religious unity.
The people of both kingdoms went
through periods of keeping and
breaking the Sinai Covenant. Often,
however, it was the kings and people of
Israel who tended to break Gods
commandments. Following the pattern
of unfaithfulness, they eventually turned
away from God and lost Gods guidance
and help. This led to their conquest and
oppression by the Assyrians.
The people of both kingdoms went through periods

of keeping and breaking the Sinai Covenant.
Often, however, it was the kings and people of Israel
who tended to break Gods commandments
47
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Law
After the division of the kingdoms,
God inspired another writer in the
northern kingdom to write about
topics similar to those of the
Yahwist. This author also drew from
the oral tradition and referred to
God as Elohim. Today this writer is
known as the Elohist.

Bible scholars believe that the combining of
existing written stories was probably the work
of a school of scholars from the Jewish order
of priests, the tribe of Levi or scholars closely
associated with them or at least sponsored by
them. The work of this Priestly tradition was
carried out over a long time, possibly
centuries.
When the northern kingdom was

conquered by the Assyrians in 721
BC, many Israelites fled to Judah.
In Jerusalem, the writings of the
Yahwist and the Elohist were gradually combined. In this way, writings in both sources
that were not inspired by God began to be discarded.
At this time, God inspired another writer to begin writing from the oral tradition. This
author is called the Deuteronomist. This writer filled out the Law in much greater detail
than had either the Yahwist or the Elohist writers.
Deuteronomy: Frontispiece in which God makes the Laws

(coloured woodcut) by German School, (15th century)
48
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Prophets
During this time major prophets such as
Amos and Hosea and others such as Elijah
and Elisha (1 Kings 17; 2 Kings 7) became
active in the northern kingdom. This is
recorded in the Books of Kings which
drew upon the royal historical documents.
There were other prophets in the southern
kingdom. The most famous are Isaiah and
Micah who have books in the Bible named
after them.
There were also many less significant
prophets inspired by God, called the
Minor Prophets. Their teachings were
also put into written form.
In Class Work
Search through your Bible
to find and then list in
writing those books
named after prophets
(e.g. Isaiah).
The Writings
The third group of books in the Bible, known
as Writings, also started in this period. The
Writings include the Book of Psalms, the
Book of Proverbs and the Song of Songs.
Fr 13091 f.29v The prophet Micah (vellum)

by Beauneveu, Andre (c.13351403/13)
There were other prophets in the southern kingdom.

The most famous are Isaiah and Micah who have
books in the Bible named after them.
49
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Fourth Period: The Exile

(587539BC)
Following the pattern of disobedience, the king and people of the southern kingdom of
Judah turned away from God just as the northern kingdom had prior to 721BC. God
called a new prophet, Jeremiah, to urge them to convert back to God. Jeremiah warned
that Jerusalem would be destroyed and the people exiled if they did not convert.
Jeremiah was ignored. The king made bad political decisions that upset the Babylonians and
their king, Nebuchadnezzar. The Babylonians conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in 587BC.
This was one of the greatest turning points in the history of the Jewish people,
comparable in importance with the Exodus almost five hundred years earlier. The
conquerors not only destroyed the city and the Temple; they forced nearly five thousand
of the leaders into exile among other nations within the Babylonian empire. Their
purpose was to destroy the identity of the Jewish people by removing political and
religious gathering places and to make those left in Palestine vulnerable to oppression
by other nations.
The most devastating event of all for the Jewish people was the destruction of
Solomons Temple, the plundering of the valuable sacred vessels and the loss of the Ark
of the Covenant. The symbol of Gods presence among them was gone. Everything but
the religious beliefs of the Jewish people was gradually destroyed or lost.
Building The Temple of

Solomon, illustration from
the Raphael Bible (gouache
over an etched base on
paper) by Italian School,
(18th century)
50
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Their experiences led them to realise that they were nothing without God. This led the
people to wonder about the Covenant of Sinai. How could their nation be destroyed,
the Temple desecrated, and the Ark of the Covenant with the tablets of the Covenant be
lost? Were they not Gods people? How could Gods people be destroyed?
The period of the Exile began an important stage
in the development of the Bible. There were
hundreds of scrolls in existence and during this
period they were collected together into books but
the Bible was not completed at this time.
The Law
During the period of Exile in Babylon, God
inspired more writers. One group became known
as the Priestly tradition.
This group collected and organised all the
Scriptures related to the creation of the universe,
the beginning of Gods people, Abraham and the
Patriarchs, Moses, the Exodus and the Sinai
Covenant. The foundation was laid for the
Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible.
The Prophets
The first of the great prophets of this period was
Jeremiah. His warnings that Judah and Jerusalem
would be destroyed and his prophecies about a
future restoration and a Messiah are found in the
Book of Jeremiah. Two other great prophets of this
time were Ezekiel and Isaiah.
Add 11639 f.522r The Ark of the Covenant, illumination from a

volume of a large selection of Hebrew texts, copied by Benjamin, a
pupil of Yehiel of Paris and illuminated by Christian artists from
Parisian workshops (vellum)
The Writings
During the Exile, many of the other Scriptures were refined and new writings begun
such as the books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Samuel and Kings. Inspired writers gathered
and organised historic traditions which recalled the pattern of success and failure the
people experienced in keeping the covenant God had made with them at Mount Sinai.
Other writings inspired by God continued to grow. These include important psalms and
sorrowful songs (or lamentations) about the Exile.
During the period of Exile in Babylon, God inspired

more writers. One group became known as the
Priestly tradition.
51
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Fifth Period:
The Post-Exile
(539333BC)
Tomb of Cyrus the Great (reg.559c.529BC) 6th century BC (photo)
In 539BC the kingdom of Babylon was conquered by a Persian king, Cyrus. In the
following year (538BC) Cyrus decreed that the Jews could return to Palestine. He also
allowed them to rebuild their Temple at state expense and returned sacred vessels
plundered by Nebuchadnezzar.
On their return to Palestine the Jewish people remained small in number. The
restoration of the Temple and Jerusalem was slow. This situation continued for about
ninety years, when a Jewish official at the Persian kings court, Nehemiah, had himself
appointed governor of Judah.
The name Jew dates from the Post-Exile

period. The only tribes of Israel to survive
the invasions and exiles of the eighth to
sixth centuries BC were the tribes of Judah
and Levi. The other ten tribes were lost, that
is, they disappeared from history. The name
Jews is derived from Judah.
A province is a name for the

principal administrative area in a
certain country. What Australians
call states, such as Queensland,
other countries, e.g. Canada,
South Africa, call provinces.
52
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
This appointment meant that Judah became recognised as a province within the Persian
empire. Now that Judah was no longer divided between surrounding provinces of the
Persian empire under other governors, Nehemiah began its rebuilding.
Nehemiah began many reforms, the most important of which were religious. Nehemiah
realised that the fortunes of the Jewish people depended upon them turning back to
God and drawing upon Gods guidance and strength. He proved a strict ruler,
determined to rebuild Judah as a viable community with Jerusalem as its capital.
Once its walls were rebuilt, Jerusalem became safe and attracted a larger population,
again becoming a major city. During this period another prophet, Ezra, came to
prominence. A scribe who represented Jewish interests at the Persian court, Ezra
returned to Jerusalem and worked to re-impose the Laws of the Sinai Covenant,
especially the Ten Commandments.
Handing on the experiences of God

Through the developments in Judah that
were happening under Nehemiah and Ezra,
the Jews realised that God was re-forming
them as the people of God. The recommitment of the people to the
conditions of the Covenant at Sinai,
including the Ten Commandments, and
worship in the Temple, became the
national concerns.

Messiah means Anointed one of God
in Aramaic. The equivalent term in
Greek is Christos, the Christ.
Finally, it was during this period that the Jewish people eagerly anticipated an anointed
one of God. Many thought that this Messiah would restore the religious kingdom of
David.
A scribe who represented Jewish interests at the

Persian court, Ezra returned to Jerusalem
and worked to re-impose the Laws of the
Sinai Covenant, especially the
Ten Commandments.
53
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Moses with the Ten Commandments and Solomon, from a series of portraits of illustrious men
(oil on panel) by Joos van Gent (fl.146075) and Berruguete, P. (c.14501504)
The Bible
By now, the Old Testament had been organised into the three parts we know today:
the Law (the first five books Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and
Deuteronomy)
the Prophets (writings related to prophets and books named after them)
the Writings (all inspired writings other than those related to the Law and the
Prophets).
The Law
In the Post-Exile period, the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible were
completed.
Together these books are called the Torah or the Law. Jesus referred to these books
when he said that he had come to complete the Law (Matthew 5:17).
The Writings
After the Exile, many of the writings, particularly Psalms and the wise sayings of a writer
named Qoheleth, were completed. Others continued to be developed.
The memories of Nehemiah and Ezra, dealing mostly with the return of the Jews from
exile in Babylon and the construction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem, were included
in the Bible in the books that now bear their names.
54
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Sixth Period:
The Greek conquest
(33363BC)
In 333BC the Persian empire was conquered by a young Greek king, Alexander the
Great. Within the next two years, Alexander moved through Syria and conquered Egypt.
He founded the city of Alexandria. This later became an important city for the Jews as a
centre of learning and scholarship, especially for the Greek translation of the Bible.
After Alexanders death in 323BC, his empire
was divided into two parts, each becoming a
kingdom under one of Alexanders generals.
One was the kingdom of Egypt, ruled by
Ptolemy. The other was the kingdom of Asia,
ruled by Seleucus.
For the next hundred years Palestine was within
the kingdom of Ptolemy. It was left relatively
free and could continue its religious traditions
and community life. Gradually, however, Greek
culture and influences began to grow. This led
to divisions between those Jews who remained
faithful to Jewish traditions and those who did
not.
Coin depicting Alexander the Great

(356323BC) (gold) by Greek School, (4th century BC)
In 200BC conditions changed and Antiochus a

successor of Seleucus took control of Israel and sought to impose Greek religion and
culture upon all in his kingdom, including the Jews.
Antiochus conducted a cruel persecution of the Jews between 167 and 164BC. On
15 December 167BC, he had the Temple in Jerusalem desecrated and an altar built
to the Greek god, Olympus.
Many Jews resisted Antiochus. They remained faithful to God, even under torture to the
point of death. In due course, this led to a rebellion headed by a prominent Jew, Judas
Maccabeus, and his family. Judas made an alliance with the Romans who had a policy of
supporting rebels in areas beyond their borders.
Over the next forty years a degree of independence was achieved as the Maccabees
fought for freedom. They were helped by the fact that the Romans wanted peace. This
led the Romans to pressure the successor of Antiochus to make peace with the Jews.
The Maccabee family became the High Priest family in Jerusalem, however, the Jewish
people who remained faithful to God divided into three sects the Pharisees, the
Sadducees and the Essenes. These three groups continued to exist during the lifetime
of Jesus.
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
55
In Class Work
Read 1 Maccabees 1:115. This gives a brief background on how some
Jews ignored Gods requirements for living good lives.
Handing on experiences of God

During the Greek period the sufferings of the people raised many questions such as
Why does God seem to have deserted us? Why is there so much suffering? and Why
remain faithful to God when so many are giving up their religion?
The Law
No further writings were added to the Law because the first five books of the Bible had
been completed.
The Prophets
The books of the Prophets were completed in this period. These include the books of
Jonah, Joel and Zechariah.
The Writings
During this period the Holy Spirit inspired most of the books grouped under the
Writings. These include the books of Baruch, Tobit, Judith, Esther and Daniel. Wise
sayings inspired by God, in addition to those in the Book of Proverbs, were also
completed. These are found today in the books of Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Ecclesiastes
(Qoheleth) and Wisdom. The Book of Psalms was finally completed, as were the Books
of Maccabees.
The Old Testament completed

Though the Old Testament was now completed, the Jews did not fully understand the
lessons from God it contained. There was a range of views about its meaning and
interpretation. There were disputes about how the Law should be lived. There were also
debates about how the teachings of the prophets related to the religious life of the
nation.
One of the greatest issues of debate was the coming Messiah. Some thought he would be
a great prophet, while others thought that he would be a great king.
Confusion about Gods guidance

The confusion of the Jews about the correct meaning of Gods teachings in the Old
Testament meant that many misunderstood Gods answers to questions of the human
heart. Now that the Old Testament was complete, the time had arrived for the final
stage of Gods plan for the human race. This began when Jesus Christ, the Son of God,
came into the world.
56
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Seventh Period:
Roman conquest and rule
(63BC135AD)
The New Testament

The New Testament was completed
in the seventh stage called the
Roman Period.
A new empire, the powerful
Roman empire, expanded
throughout the known world.
In 64BC a Roman army led by a
general named Pompey the Great,
conquered Syria and the last of the
Seleucid kings.
In 63BC Pompey entered
Jerusalem. Gradually Roman
power grew throughout Palestine
and the Romans installed the first
of the Herods as King.

The Herods were a family of kings who ruled small Jewish kingdoms within the Roman
empire over a period of about 100 years. The first Herod, called the Great, was at most
half-Jewish. Later Herods were recognised as being fully Jewish. Herod the Great was King
of Judaea, the Roman name for Judah, at the time of Jesus birth. He rebuilt the Temple in
Jerusalem at enormous expense. His son, Herod Antipas, was ruler of Galilee at the time of
Jesus public ministry and crucifixion. Both Herods appear in the Gospels (e.g. Herod the
Great: Matthew 2:1, Luke 1:5; Herod Antipas: Mark 6:14; Luke 23:712). A grandson of
Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa, is also mentioned in the Bible. He was the last of the
Herods. His death was sudden and extremely painful. The Bible says that, He was eaten
away by worms and died (Acts 12:2123).
57
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Over the next two centuries the Romans crushed several Jewish revolts. They were
sensitive to any threat against their power. They ruled through governors, the most
famous of whom was Pontius Pilate, who held office from 2636AD.
The Roman occupation encompassed Jesus lifetime. Jesus was born in Bethlehem in
Judea around 6BC when Caesar Augustus was emperor, Quirinius was the Roman
governor of Syria and Herod the Great was king of Judea. His mother Mary and her
husband Joseph travelled to the Judean village of Bethlehem from their home in
Nazareth situated in the hills of the northern district of Galilee. They did this to take
part in a general census of the empire. Jesus grew up in Nazareth and learned the trade
of his step-father. He began preaching and working miracles about 27AD. After about
three years as a wandering preacher he was crucified under the orders of Pontius Pilate
on a Friday in early April around 30AD. He rose from the dead early the following
Sunday. His followers realised that Jesus was both the Son of God and a human being.
They understood that, through Jesus, God spoke directly to people. God taught them
and answered their questions.
The Jews rebelled against Rome from 66 to 70AD. In 70AD the Romans destroyed
Jerusalem and the Temple. Ancient historians estimated that the Romans massacred
600,000 Jews after the city fell.
The Jews rebelled against Rome again in 113AD and war raged for three years before
the Romans put down the revolt.
In 132AD the third and last of the great Jewish revolts began. The Romans crushed this
revolt in 135AD and forbade any Jew from going within sight of the ruins of Jerusalem.
This was the final stage of the dispersal (diaspora) of the Jews throughout the world.
In Class Work
Research the fall of the Jewish stronghold of Masada
in around 74AD.
58
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to help you to answer these questions:
1. What is a Patriarch? List some of the Jewish Patriarchs.
2. What is a sanctuary? What role did sanctuaries play in the life of the Jewish
people?
3. Explain what is meant by oral tradition.
4. Give one example of a covenant that is written about in the Old Testament.
What characteristics did it have that were in keeping with the nature of
covenants?
5. Who is this person from the Old Testament? (Where there is a space in the
text, supply the missing word.)
I am a king and a successful military leader, however early in my life I was a
humble shepherd. I was not always a fighter. My friends and I fled into the
wilderness to avoid troops sent to kill me by the first king of Israel, ______.
The Sea People, _________________ sheltered me and later fought and
killed my enemy. I became the king of _________ but eventually I had to
fight my former friends, the Sea Peoples, because they threatened my
people. I am famous for killing _______________ with a _____________
I relied on the help of ______________ to unite my people into one
kingdom, however at times I was unfaithful and needed to reconcile our
relationship by _________. (Hint my story is told in the first and second
books of Samuel)
6. What is a prophet? List some of the prophets.
7. Biblical scholars think that the books of the Old Testament were written and
edited by four main sources or schools. Match the name of the school to its
appropriate description:
Yahwist
thought to have been compiled around 600 years

before Jesus
Elohist
thought to have been compiled 400 years before Jesus
Deuteronomist thought to have been written 800 or 900 years before Jesus
Priestly
thought to have been compiled around the same time as

the Yahwist
59
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
8. Match the words and statements:
Event /Person
Description
Destruction of
Solomons Temple
Many Jewish people separated from their land and

sent to live within the Babylonian empire, attempts
to destroy the Jews political and religious identity
Messiah
First five books of the Bible
Roman Period
Roman governor of Judea who tried Jesus
Herods
Inspired the books of the Old Testament called

the Writings
Pontius Pilate
Stage during which the New Testament was

completed (63BC135AD)
Exile
The most devastating event that faced the Jewish

people in Old Testament times
Holy Spirit
Aramaic for anointed one of God
Pentateuch
Kings who ruled the Jewish kingdom within the

Roman Empire during the lifetime of Jesus.
60
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Spirit of Truth inspired

the New Testament
! The Holy Spirit inspired each of the three stages
in the development of the New Testament
! The New Testament contains Letters written by several
authors
! The process of writing of the Gospels revealed who Jesus is
! The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the growth of the
early Church
! The story of Paul records his conversion and missionary
journeys
! The Book of Revelation is an example of apocalyptic literature.
The Holy Spirit inspired each of the three stages

in the development of the New Testament
Those who followed Jesus experienced God in completely new ways. These were
experiences of what Jesus called the Kingdom of God, the power of Gods love
present among them. Jesus told them to share these experiences of God with
others. He laid the foundation of what later was to become the Church so that
all who joined it could have these experiences. One way of sharing these new
experiences was through the written word. Those texts that were accepted by
the Church as inspired were collected into what became known as the
New Testament.
61
Return to
Return to Return to
CONTENTS CONTENTSCHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
5. THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH INSPIRED THE NEW TESTAMENT
Like the Old Testament, the New Testament was written by many inspired writers. It
developed in three stages:
Stage One:
The life and teachings of Jesus.
Stage Two:
The development of an oral tradition about Jesus.
Stage Three:
The writing of the New Testament Scriptures.
During each stage the Holy Spirit played a central role in:
guiding and strengthening Jesus, in his life and work (Luke 4:1,14)
giving the early Church a full understanding of who Jesus is, and guiding its
teaching about Jesus (Acts 2:113; 8:29-32; 10:38, 4447)
inspiring both the New Testament authors in their writing and the community
to omit those books that were not to be part of the New Testament.
62
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Stage One: The life and

teachings of Jesus
Jesus Christ showed himself
to be the Messiah
prophesied in the Old
Testament. As Son of God,
he completed Gods public
revelation to the human
race and provided his
followers with many
experiences of God.
Christ and His Apostles by Spanish School, (13th century)
During his life, Jesus told his followers to teach others what he had taught them. From
the New Testament, it is known:
he summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs, giving them
authority over unclean spirits. ... So they set off to proclaim repentance; and they
cast out many devils, and anointed many sick people with oil and cured them.
(Mark 6:7,1213)
After this the Lord appointed seventy two others and sent them out ahead of him
in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself would be visiting. And he said to
them, The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest
to send labourers to do his harvesting. (Luke 10:12)
Before leaving them, Jesus told his followers:

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 28:1920)
Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. (Mark 16:15)
He said to them, Peace be with you ... As the Father sent me, so am I sending
you. (John 20:1921)
63
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Trinity, 142728 (fresco) (detail) by Masaccio, Tommaso (140128)
Stage Two: The development of an oral tradition about Jesus

The oral tradition of the early Church developed as the Apostles repeated stories about
Jesus, as well as his sayings, parables and proverbs.
In developing the oral tradition of the Church, the Apostles repeated the story of Jesus
suffering, death and Resurrection and called others to believe (Acts 2:2224, 3741)
that he is the Son of God. They explained Jesus teachings and answered peoples
questions about them (Acts 15:1921). They also taught in different ways to different
audiences to help them understand (Acts 17:2131).
Another important way in which the oral tradition was passed on was through
the celebrations of Baptism and Eucharist in the Christian communities.
These early Christian communities:
remained faithful to the teaching of the apostles, to the brotherhood, to the
breaking of bread and to the prayers. (Acts 2:42)
64
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The teaching of the Apostles

*OUIFEFDBEFTBGUFS1FOUFDPTU UIF$IVSDITQSFBESBQJEMZUISPVHIPVUUIF3PNBO
&NQJSF'SPN"% GPMMPXFSTPG$ISJTUCFHBOUPFYQFSJFODFSFMJHJPVTQFSTFDVUJPO
.BOZEJFEBUUIFIBOETPGUIF+FXJTISFMJHJPVTBVUIPSJUJFTBOEMBUFS PUIFSTXFSFLJMMFE
CZUIF3PNBOT
5IFFBSMZ$ISJTUJBOTEJTDPWFSFEUIBUUIF)PMZ4QJSJUHVJEFEBOETUSFOHUIFOFEUIFNUP
SFNBJOGBJUIGVMUP+FTVTUISPVHIBMMPGUIFJSUSJBMT5ISPVHIIJT4QJSJU +FTVTSFWFBMFEUP
IJT"QPTUMFTUIBU
t (PEJTB5SJOJUZPGUIF'BUIFS UIF4POBOEUIF)PMZ4QJSJU)JTGPMMPXFSTDBOESBX
DMPTFTUUP(PECZSFMBUJOHXJUIFBDIPGUIF1FSTPOTPGUIF5SJOJUZ
t NBOZTQJSJUVBMHJGUTBSFSFDFJWFECZUIPTFXIPSFMBUFXJUIUIF5SJOJUZ$ISJTUJBOTESBX
POUIFTFCZDFMFCSBUJOHUIFTFWFOTBDSBNFOUT
t UIPTFXIPSFMBUFXJUIUIF5SJOJUZBOEESBXPOUIFTQJSJUVBMHJGUTPGUIFTBDSBNFOUTBSF
FNQPXFSFECZ(PEUPMJWFJOXBZTUIBUCSJOHUIFNDMPTFSUP(PE5IFTFXBZTBSF
TVNNBSJTFEJOUIFUXPHSFBUDPNNBOENFOUTPG+FTVT
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second
resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two
commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets too. .BUUIFXo
t BMMXIPSFMBUFXJUIUIF5SJOJUZ
BOEESBXPOUIFTQJSJUVBMHJGUT
PGUIFTBDSBNFOUTDBOSFMBUF
XJUI(PEUIF'BUIFSKVTUMJLF
+FTVT
t UIBUUIFZDBOFOKPZUIF
FYQFSJFODFTTVNNBSJTFEJO
UIFQSBZFS+FTVTUBVHIU
OBNFMZA5IF-PSET1SBZFS
BOEUIF"QPTUMFT$SFFE
Pater Noster The Lords Prayer,

illustration for The Life of Christ,
c.188694 (w/c & gouache on
paperboard) by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph
(18361902)
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
65
The Lords Prayer (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.
Apostles Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come 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.
66
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Apostles commissioned others

The Apostles shared with others the spiritual gifts Jesus had given them and
commissioned others to share in their work. These people taught as the Apostles did
about the Resurrection of Jesus. They also taught that he is the Son of God and told
stories about his life and repeated his teachings.
In this way they continued the oral tradition and the Christian message began to spread
throughout countries known today as Israel, Syria, Turkey, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus and
Italy.
Most of the Apostles were persecuted
and killed within the four decades
after the Ascension of Jesus.
Increasingly, his teachings were spread
by people who had never seen him or
heard him teach. More and more
people were wondering about both
Jesus and his teachings.

Of the twelve Apostles, the last to die was John, the
son of Zebedee who, scholars think, died peacefully
in about 100AD. John was the brother of another
of the Twelve, James.
To answer their questions, the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the New Testament of
the Bible.
Stage Three: The writing of the New Testament Scriptures

God wanted the teachings of Jesus to be known by all people so that all could learn how
to relate as closely with God as Jesus had during his life on earth. To carry out Gods
wish, the Holy Spirit inspired the writing of the New Testament.
The New Testament of the Bible consists of
twenty-seven books and they appear in the
following order:
t GPVS(PTQFMT
t UIF"DUTPGUIF"QPTUMFT
t UXFOUZPOF-FUUFST &QJTUMFT
t UIF#PPLPG3FWFMBUJPO
The first New Testament book of the Bible
to be completed was what is now called the
'JSTU-FUUFSPG4U1BVMUPUIF5IFTTBMPOJBOT
Scholars generally agree that this letter was
completed in 51AD, about fourteen years
before the first of the Gospels was
completed.
Scenes from the New Testament

(vellum) by Italian School, (14th century)
67
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The New Testament contains Letters written by

several authors
The writings of Saint Paul
St Paul was perhaps the most
famous of all who preached
the teachings of Jesus. From
3467AD Paul preached the
Gospel and made converts
wherever he went. As he
travelled, converts from the
places he had been sent him
questions. He kept in touch
with them through
messengers.
Plaque depicting St. Paul disputing with Greeks and Jews,
mid 12th century (champleve enamel on copper)
Paul wrote letters explaining the teachings of Jesus and challenging and encouraging
early converts to live moral lives. Early Christians copied and exchanged his letters.
The inspired writings of Paul were
gathered into some of the books known
today as the Letters of Paul. For
example, the First and Second Letters
of Paul to the Corinthians are the
compilations of several letters to the
Christians in the Greek port of Corinth.

The letters of the New Testament are also
called epistles after the Greek word
for letter, epistole.
Of the fourteen letters attributed to Paul, at least half were his own personal writings.
There is uncertainty about the others. Possibly, they were written by other inspired
writers who based what they wrote on the preaching of Paul. At that time many people
did not sign letters personally but used the names of others on whose teaching their
writings were based.
There are seven Letters in the New Testament not attributed to Paul. They are named
after other authoritative teachers in the early Church: James, John, Peter and Jude.
Read one of the letters of St Paul to the Corinthians.

Choose a verse that you find relevant to your life.
Write this verse in your journal and reflect on how
St Paul is speaking to you.
68
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
How the New Testament

Letters were written
There are twenty-one Letters
in the New Testament. These
were written in either one of
the following ways:
1. A person could write a
letter in much the same
way as today
2. Someone could dictate a
letter and have a secretary
write it. This person
would then sign the letter,
perhaps adding a few
personal words at the end.
St Paul used this method
at times (1 Corinthians
16:2124; Colossians 4:18;
Galatians 6:1118;
2 Thessalonians 3:17).
During New Testament times
more letters about how to live
the Christian life were written
than appear in the Bible. Most
of these letters are not included
in the Bible. The decision to
leave them out was taken by the
leaders of the early Church, who
came to understand that God
did not inspire these letters.
St. Paul the Apostle (oil on canvas) by Fracanzano,

Francesco (161256) (attr.)
There are twenty-one Letters in the

New Testament. They were either written
individually or someone dictated a letter
and the secretary wrote it.
69
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The process of writing of the Gospels revealed who Jesus is

By the time Jesus returned to the Father, his followers had many stories to tell about
him. They also recalled the different things that Jesus said. In the years that followed
many of these stories and sayings were collected and written down.
In preserving these stories Gospel writers selected from the life-events, stories and
sayings of Jesus to achieve their purpose of revealing who Jesus is. Each Gospel was
originally written for particular communities of Christians. These communities were
seeking to understand who Jesus is and what he revealed about the circumstances they
experienced as Christians.
In Class Work
Working in groups each person is to write and describe the day as they see it
when looking out of the window. Then they are to compare what they have
written with all the other members in the group.
The writers of the Gospels drew from many of the same sources. Some also made use of
other Gospels that had already been written. Most of Marks Gospel is repeated in
Matthew and Luke. They used whatever they needed to help their readers understand
who Jesus is and his teaching about God and the Kingdom of God.
The writers of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John had no interest in providing an exact
historical biography of Jesus or in writing down all they knew about him. The Gospel of
John concludes:
There were many other signs that Jesus worked in the sight of the disciples, but
they are not recorded in this book. These are recorded so that you may believe that
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God ... (John 20:3031)
The Holy Spirit inspired more than four people to write the four Gospels. The Gospels
today include all that God wanted taught about who Jesus is and his teaching about God
and the Kingdom, but nothing more.
This is why Johns Gospel has two conclusions (John 20:31 and 21:25). The same is
true of the Gospel of Mark (Mark 16:8 and 16:20).
Those who wrote the Gospel of Luke also wrote the Acts of the Apostles. The Gospel of
Luke teaches who Jesus is, and the Acts of the Apostles shows that Jesus shares the Holy
Spirit with his Church.
70
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The completion dates of the Gospels

Each of the Gospels was completed over
many years, even decades. Though no one
knows the dates for certain, they were
finalised at different times in the forms in
which we have them today:
t .BSLXBTDPNQMFUFEBSPVOE"%
t .BUUIFXXBTDPNQMFUFEBSPVOE"%
t -VLFXBTDPNQMFUFEBSPVOE"%
t +PIOXBTDPNQMFUFEBSPVOE"%
5IF(PTQFMTPG.BUUIFX .BSLBOE-VLF
TIBSFBDPNNPOWJFXPG+FTVT5IFZTIBSF
similar teachings and language.

Synoptic means with the same eye.
The first three Gospels are called the
Synoptic Gospels because of their
similarities. St Johns Gospel is quite
different from these.
Four Evangelists, 14th century (vellum) by Cione,

Jacopo di (fl.136298)
Many other gospels

0UIFSFBSMZ$ISJTUJBOTXSPUFHPTQFMTUPUFBDIBCPVU+FTVT5IFSFBSFHPTQFMTBCPVU+FTVT
JOGBODZ HPTQFMTOBNFEBGUFS"QPTUMFT TVDIBT1FUFSBOE5IPNBT BOEHPTQFMTOBNFE
after Christian communities such as the Hebrews. The Holy Spirit guided the early
Church to understand that, though these gospels present some interesting and possibly
BDDVSBUFNBUFSJBMBCPVU+FTVT UIFZBSFOPUJOTQJSFECZUIF4QJSJU.BOZTVDIHPTQFMT
have been found and others may be found in the future. From these gospels other facts
IBWFCFFOHBUIFSFE GPSFYBNQMF UIBUUIFOBNFTPGUIFQBSFOUTPG.BSZ UIFNPUIFSPG
+FTVT XFSF+PBDIJNBOE"OOF

Scholars believe the Churchs acceptance of only four Gospels was finally settled around
200AD, a century after completion of Johns Gospel and over 160 years after Christ.
71
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles is placed as
the first book after the Gospels.
The Acts of the Apostles tells the story of the growth of

the early Church
The Acts of the Apostles is placed as the first book after the Gospels. It was written by
the author of the Gospel of Luke. Originally this author intended that Acts be like a
gospel that focussed upon the Holy Spirit. His intent was that just as the Gospel of Luke
responds to the question: Who is Jesus? the Acts of the Apostles responds to the
question: Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles were separated by the Gospel of John
in the final editing of the New Testament. This was to ensure that the four books
dealing with the question Who is Jesus? were placed together.
In Class Work
1. Read the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles.
2. What do you think is the most important event described?
3. List some of the individuals who are mentioned.
72
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Spirit in the Church

The Acts of the Apostles is the story of the growth of the early Church under the
power of the Holy Spirit. It begins with the Church in Jerusalem and ends with
the Church spreading to Rome, the centre of the empire.
The Acts of the Apostles is written in the style of ancient history, that is,
historical events were used to teach what God wanted revealed in this book. It is
not a history in the modern sense of the word.
Contained in the Acts of the Apostles are many famous stories about the early
Church, including:
the Resurrection appearances of Jesus and his Ascension (or return)
into heaven (Acts 1:611)
Pentecost (Acts 2:113)
the cure of the crippled man by Peter and John (Acts 3:110)
the martyrdom of Stephen during the first of the persecutions of the
Church (Acts 6:815; 7:558:1)
the conversion of St Paul (Acts 9:119)
the conversion of the first Gentiles to Christ (Acts 10:148).
The Acts of the

Apostles is the story
of the growth of
the early Church
under the power of
the Holy Spirit.
The Martyrdom of St. Stephen

by Cigoli, Ludovico Cardi (15591613)
73
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The story of Paul records his conversion and

missionary journeys
Saul had been born in the city of Tarsus, the capital of the Roman province of Cilicia
(southern Turkey). Citizens of this town had been granted the privileges of Roman
citizenship by the Roman general, Mark Anthony. Later, the emperor, Caesar Augustus,
confirmed citizens of the city of Tarsus as Roman citizens, which is why Saul had the
privileges this rank brought (Acts 22:2529). He was a gifted student of one of the most
famous Jewish teachers, Gamaliel.
The conversion of Saul

Saul of Tarsus was a young Jew who thought that the teachings of the Apostles were
blasphemous. He became a leader in the earliest persecution of the Christians and was
a witness at the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7:58).
When he was leading a group to persecute Christians in the town of Damascus, Jesus
appeared to him in a vision. Jesus asked:
Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9:4)
Saul then had what is called a conversion experience. Following his conversion, Paul realised
that he was being called by God to preach especially, to those who were not Jews (Gentiles).
In Class Work
Read the following accounts of the conversion of Saul: Acts 9:319;
Galatians 1:1124.
Imagine you are a contemporary spray-paint artist such as Australian artist/
academic James Cochran (examples of his work can be found on the internet).
You have been commissioned to create a wall mural representing the
conversion of Saul. Make a suitable design on paper. Include a word or
a phrase to give an insight into how Saul felt about the experience.

A convert is a person who adopts the beliefs of a religious tradition. Conversion is a
turning towards God and towards the Church by accepting its teachings (Latin
convertare to turn towards).
From Saul to Paul

It was the custom of Jews dealing with non-Jews at that time to use Roman names. Saul
was a Jewish name but he was known as Paul to the Gentiles (Acts 13:9).
74
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The missionary journeys

Initially, Paul preached to Jews and Gentiles, however, twelve years after his conversion
he began the first of three missionary journeys to other countries (around 4549AD).
In major cities of these countries he preached and made Christian converts.
He made two other missionary journeys in 4953AD and 5358AD. In 58AD,
Paul returned to Jerusalem where he was arrested by the Jewish authorities.
Being a Roman citizen, Paul was taken into
custody by the Roman army. For safety
reasons, he was moved away from Jerusalem
and sent to the city of Caesarea where a
corrupt Roman procurator named Felix
governed. Felix kept Paul in prison for two
years, hoping to be bribed to release him.

A procurator is an official appointed
by the Roman emperor to govern a
province of the empire.
In 60AD there was a new procurator

named Festus. When he came to
power, Paul exercised a right that
Roman citizens had by requesting a
trial in Rome. Paul arrived in Rome
in 61AD and was put under house
arrest for a further two years.
What happened after 63AD is
uncertain. Paul was freed after his
trial, possibly for lack of evidence
against him. There are suggestions
he then went to Spain to preach the
Gospel.
Eventually he was imprisoned again
and then executed in Rome some
time before 67AD, during a
persecution of Christians by the
Emperor Nero. Being a Roman
citizen, Paul could not be crucified
but was beheaded with a sword.

People who give witness to their
faith by willingly suffering death
rather than give up their
religious beliefs are called
martyrs. Martyr is a Greek word
meaning witness.
The Execution of St Paul (oil on canvas) by

Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (151894)
75
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Book of Revelation is an example of

apocalyptic literature
The Book of Revelation is the last book of
the Bible. It is written in a literary form
called apocalyptic literature. The main
characteristic of biblical apocalyptic
literature is its use of visions and symbols. It
always relates to the future.

Persecution is a deliberate attempt
to make individuals or a group
suffer or die for their beliefs.
Generally the persecutors try to force
the believers to give up their faith.
Apocalyptic literature was used in times of

great persecution to remind people of Gods
promises. The Book of Daniel is one Old
Testament example and the Book of Revelation a New Testament example.
Christians experienced very severe sufferings and persecution in the first century after
Christ. The Colosseum in Rome is an example of the kind of places in which many
Christians were killed and eaten by wild beasts, crucified or burnt alive.
Their sufferings led many to question why God was allowing terrible things to happen
to them. God revealed answers to their questions and these are found in the Book of
Revelation.
The Book of Revelation teaches Christians that Gods promises will always be fulfilled
and that Gods power will always overcome evil in the end. Whilst many of the visions
and symbols in the Book of Revelation are hard for people today to understand, the
people for whom Revelation was written would have understood them.
Many visions recall the basic promises of Jesus. For example:
the second coming of Christ as conqueror of all evil (Revelation 19:1116)
the Last Judgement (Revelation 20:1115)
a vision of heaven as a city in which all who are saved live with God
(Revelation 21:14).
76
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. As a class, brainstorm widely recognised symbols in modern society,
eg. corporate logos, famous public buildings, events or individuals.
Hint: sometimes, modern symbols are described as icons.
2. In small groups, identify what each symbol or icon represents. Compare and
discuss findings as a class.
3. Read Revelations 21:17 and answer these questions:
a) What does the new Jerusalem represent?
b) How will the coming of the new Jerusalem change the lives of humanity?
c) What is meant by Alpha and Omega?
d) Where can you see these symbols in Catholic churches?
4. List any other symbols used in the passage and suggest some possible
meanings for them.
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to help you to answer these questions:
1. List the three stages in the writing of the New Testament.
2. Explain how the oral tradition of the early Church was passed on.
3. The New Testament consists of books that appear in the following order:
Four __________________
The _______ of the ____________
Twenty one Letters or ____________
The Book of ________________
4. Explain what synoptic means. List the three synoptic Gospels.

5. Which book of the New Testament focuses on responding to
the question: Who is the Holy Spirit?
6. What is a convert? Name a famous convert who is also a contributor
to the writings of the New Testament. What was his name prior
to his conversion?
77
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
How to read the Bible

! The Bible includes a range of literary forms
! As a literary form, gospels are used to announce good news
! There are various reasons for differences between Gospels.
The Bible was written over a long time and in a culture

whose language and ways of seeing the world were very
different from those of people today. To discover Gods
answers to the questions of the human heart people must
learn to read the Bible according to the meaning intended
by the sacred writers.
79
Return to
CONTENTS
ReturnReturn
to
to
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
6. HOW TO READ THE BIBLE
The Bible includes a range of literary forms

When an Old or New Testament writer realised that God wanted a truth or an idea to
be written down, the writer was faced with a question: What is the best way to write
down Gods teaching so that everyone will understand it?
People write what is important to them in different ways. Some write in prose, others in
poetry, songs, drama and letters.
There are many factors that influence the choice of a particular form and style of
writing. A person writing must ask Why am I writing this? For whom am I writing?
How will my writing be used? and What is the best way of writing this so that people
will understand?
No deeply human experience can be expressed fully in one way and no single kind of
writing can achieve Gods purpose in communicating his love and will for all humanity.
It is not surprising, then, that the Bible contains a variety of literary forms written by
writers in specific periods of history, for particular communities, and with certain
purposes in mind.
One example describes Gods love in prose:
God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and
constancy, maintaining his faithful love to thousands, forgiving fault, crime and
sin (Exodus 34:67)
Another writer was inspired to record Gods love through poetry:

Can a woman forget her baby at the breast, feel no pity for the child she has
borne? Even if these were to forget, I shall not forget you. (Isaiah 49:15)
80
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
How should the Bible be interpreted? The Catholic approach

The Catholic Church believes that the Bible should be read with an understanding that
the Sacred Authors did not intend people to take every detail in their writings as exact
historical fact.
Ancient historians often used historical figures and events in ways that best illustrated
the lessons they wanted to teach. They selected and reorganised events to suit their
purposes, frequently expressing these truths in the form of a story.
The Holy Spirit used the skill of biblical historians to present Gods teachings by:
1. leading the historian to understand the lessons God wanted written
2. guiding the historian to select historical people and events relevant to the lessons
3. guiding the historian to present these people and events in writing in ways that
would pass on the lessons.
One of the ways of sharing the truth they learned about God was to present it
symbolically. To do this, they used stories, poems, myths, wise sayings, and so on. This
is not to say that the Bible is without factual material; actually, it contains a great many
facts. Beyond any mere concern for what was factual, the prime concern of the authors
was to convey to the people the truth they knew about God.
Reading the Bible with the idea that every detail about every event actually took place is
called biblical fundamentalism: People who take this literal approach can misinterpret
the Bible. Some believe that it teaches that God created the universe and all living things
on earth in seven days or that Adam and Eve were the first two human beings and were
created in exactly the way the Bible says they were created.
Catholics are not obliged to take literally every detail contained in the Bible. For
example, the Church does not dismiss the theory that the universe may have started
with the Big Bang as proposed by many scientists nor the idea that human life may
have evolved over hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of years. The essential thing
is that Catholics recognise God as the Creator of the universe, of human life and the
human soul by whatever means God chose for their creation.
81
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Important teachings were recorded in biblical stories

In the ancient world, stories were an important literary form used to teach and help
people remember important lessons. Storytellers or storywriters would think about the
lessons their stories should convey and then develop story details to present each lesson.
The Bible begins with six very important stories. Five of these stories were basically
composed by the Yahwist and completed around four centuries later by the Priestly tradition.

None of the stories from the biblical world were being told as far back in time as some of
the stories developed by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.
These peoples have lived on the continent and islands of Australia for tens of thousands
of years. They told their stories over that vast period of time and many of the stories
continue to be told in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities today. It is very
important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to pass on their traditions
to younger generations and so keep alive cultures that go back farther in time than any
other culture in the world.
Pope John Paul II said in a speech to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
at Alice Springs in 1986:
Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be
allowed to disappear Share (your gifts) with each other and teach them to your
children Your songs, your stories, your languages must never be lost.
82
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The first story: the Priestly creation account

Neither the Priestly creation story nor any of the five Yahwist stories were meant to be
scientific explanations of historical events. Their authors would have been surprised to
learn that people, thousands of years later, would imagine that they were suggesting God
created the universe in seven days or, for instance, that there was an actual Tower of
Babel.
The authors of both these stories borrowed ideas that were widely accepted in their time
and drew on these for their own purposes. In those days, everyone thought that the
earth was an island in the middle of a sea and was set on firm foundations. They
believed that there was another ocean above the sky, supported by a solid vault or dome
in which there were trapdoors that opened to let rain drop on the earth before closing
again. The sun, moon and stars moved along the vault, and were called the hosts of
heaven. Light was thought to be independent of the heavenly hosts because light came
in the morning before the sun rose and went after the sun set. There were three levels of
heaven: the first, where birds fly; the second, where the sun, moon and stars move
across the vault; and the third, above the waters above the vault, where God lives.
In Class Work
As a class discuss how lack of information has resulted in people being
misguided about the world or cosmos. A well known example is the flat-earth
theory.
The author of the first biblical creation

story, the Priestly account, obviously
drew on this scientific understanding in
writing about God creating the universe
in seven days. Seven was a symbolic
number in the ancient world it
symbolised perfection or completeness.
The ancient world, on hearing about God
on the seventh day, would have
understood that the Priestly author was
teaching that God is perfect and
complete, as is creation. There is no
imperfection in God nor does God need
to develop any further.

The Bible has many examples of
symbolic numbers. Seven was the most
sacred. The numbers three, four, ten,
twelve and forty were also significant.
Multiples of symbolic numbers such as
49, 70 and 144 were correspondingly
important. Many scholars have written
on the subject and referring to a
reputable internet site may prove
fascinating.
83
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Facsimile copy of Genesis 2 22 God created Eve (colour litho)

by German School, (15th century) (after)
The five Yahwist stories

The Yahwist author initially composed the remaining five stories that open the Book of
Genesis. These tell of God creating human beings, how they sinned against God and
three common consequences of this sin in human society. The Yahwists stories were
refined by other authors. The last were those of the Priestly tradition.
Second Creation Account

Gods teaching in the Second Creation Account
Story detail
Example of Gods teachings:
God shaped the man from the

soil and breathed in him the
breath of life (Genesis 2:7)
God created human beings. By sharing with God the

sacred breath, the human was created sacred
God created a garden in Eden

(Genesis 2:8)
God created the human environment
God created animals and birds

from the soil (Genesis 2:19)
God created all other living things. All things are

precious to God
God brought each for the man

to name (Genesis 2:1920)
Humans were charged with the stewardship of

Gods creation
God created the woman from

the mans rib (Genesis
2:2123)
The woman shares the same nature as the man in

equal dignity before God
84
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Story of the Fall

The story of the Fall uses symbols to explain how sin came into the world.
Gods teaching in the Story of the Fall
Story detail
God created trees, the man

being forbidden from eating
the fruit from two of them
(Genesis 2:917)
God called for obedience from the man, who

depended upon God for everything
The Devil, disguised as a snake, The devil tempts people to disobey God
tempted the woman, deceiving
her into thinking she and the
The devil appeals to peoples pride, their desire to
man would become gods if
live independently of God
they ate the fruit of the tree of
knowledge of good and evil
(Genesis 3:16)
The woman ate some of the
fruit, sharing it with her
husband (Genesis 3:6)
The man and the woman disobeyed God
God walked in the garden to

see the man and the woman
(Genesis 3:8)
God created the man and the woman to be in close

friendship with their Creator
The man and woman hide

from God (Genesis 3:811)
The original human relationship between God and the

man and woman was broken
The man blames the woman

for his sin (Genesis 3:12)
The relationship between the man and the woman

was, in turn, damaged: peace was replaced by discord
God tells the couple they will

die (Genesis 3:19)
As a consequence of sin, the harmony of Gods

intended order was disrupted (now symbolised in the
reality of death)
God expels the couple from

The man and woman had to accept the consequences
the Garden (Genesis 3:2024)
of their sin yet God continued to care for them.
and clothes them with tunics of
skin
The Story of Cain and Abel

The Story of Cain and Abel shows that the breakdown of the relationship with God
leads to the serious breakdown of human relationships, even to the point of one brother
murdering another.
Cain and Abel
Story detail
Cain kills Abel (Genesis 4:18)
One result of the Fall was violence entering human

behaviour
God puts a mark of protection

on Cain (Genesis 4:916)
Gods love and forgiveness is always present no

matter how serious the sin.
85
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Story of Noah and the Flood

A further consequence of the Fall was the spread of evil and sin throughout human
society and creation.
Noah and the Flood
Story detail
God regretted making human

beings, deciding to destroy
them (Genesis 6:59)
God cannot bear sin
God tells Noah to make an

ark, filling it with his family
and pairs of creatures (Genesis
6:1416)
God saves those who are faithful
The flood destroys all other

living things (Genesis 7:2123)
Human sin also affects the rest of creation: the

original human harmony with creation was destroyed
God makes a promise to Noah

(Genesis 8:2122, 9:911).
God will deal patiently with sinful humanity, even

though God is repelled by sin, hoping always that
people will repent.
God wants, not the destruction, but the salvation of

the human race

Ark comes not from the original Hebrew but from the Latin translation of the Bible.
Arca is Latin for chest or box.
The Story of the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11:19)

Another consequence of the Fall was the spread of self-centred pride in human beings,
that is, the desire to live independently of God.
People today would find it impossible to understand how someone could imagine
building a tower to reach heaven, however, if we think of the three levels of heaven
imagined in the ancient world, the Story of the Tower of Babel becomes easier to
understand.
The Tower of Babel
Story detail
The people decide to build a

tower high enough for them to
enter heaven (Genesis 11: 14)
The Fall led to the human race no longer recognising

the need to depend upon God
God confuses their language

(Genesis 11:59)
Separation from God leads to chaos and confusion.
86
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Detail of the Isaiah Manuscript, c.100 BC, discovered in Qumran in 1947 (parchment) by Jewish School
Poetry is a major literary form in the Bible

In ancient times people used stories, such as the story of Cain and Abel, to help
remember Gods teaching. Poetry was also used by people for thousands of years to
express what a story could not express.
The Spirit of Truth inspired some biblical writers to use poetry in the Old Testament to
illustrate Gods response to many human heart questions.
Some of the most famous biblical poems are those found in the Book of Isaiah which
was completed over a period spanning at least two centuries. Over this period there
were three prophets called Isaiah.
In Class Work
1. Why did biblical writers and editors use poetry?
2. Look through the Bible and find examples of poems from books such as
Isaiah, Psalms and Job. List the references for these poems.
3. Find a poem that you like in the Bible and briefly describe:
what it is saying
why it appeals to you.
87
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Isaiah: prophecy of a child born to a virgin

The first Isaiah began preaching in Jerusalem around 742BC. The king, Ahaz, his
advisers, and many of the people had broken the condition of the Sinai Covenant
which required the Israelites to:
obey me and keep my covenant ... (Exodus 19:5)
In both the kingdoms of Judah and Israel at this time people commonly disobeyed Gods
laws. There was widespread social injustice as stronger and wealthier members of society
ignored weaker and poorer people. Many even took advantage of the poor.
Ahaz turned from God

Isaiah lived during a period of
great political turmoil between
Judah and the surrounding
nations. The most powerful
nation was Assyria (now part
of modern Turkey, Syria and
Iraq).
Ahaz wanted the kingdom of
Israel to remain free of the rule
of other nations. He ignored
God and Gods guidance and
planned to achieve his goals by
human effort alone.
The kingdom of Israel was
conquered by the Assyrians in
723BC. The Assyrians then
conquered Syria in 722BC and
forced Judah to become a
vassal state.
For your
information
To be a vassal is to be
subject to the power of a
dominant authority.
When the people of Judah were oppressed by the

Assyrians they began to wonder whether or not God
had deserted them. God responded to their cries
through a poem in the Book of Isaiah. The poem is
about the Messiah who would bring peace to the
people of Israel. It describes the end of war and
oppression and the Messiah coming as a special
child.
88
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light;

on the inhabitants of a country in shadow dark as death
light has blazed forth ...
For the yoke that weighed on it, the bar across its shoulders,
the rod of its oppressor,
these you have broken ...
For all the footgear clanking over the ground
and all the clothing rolled in blood,
will be burnt, will be food for the flames.
For a son has been born for us,
a son has been given to us,
and dominion has been laid on his shoulders;
and this is the name he has been given,
Wonder-Counsellor, Mighty-God,
Eternal-Father, Prince-of-Peace,
to extend his dominion in boundless peace ...
(Isaiah 9:1, 36)
In Class Work
1. Why had the people of Israel walked in darkness?
2. Who will be the light?
3. Why would soldiers footgear and blood-soaked clothing be burnt?
4. What type of king would the prophesied child be?
Another example of biblical poetry in the Old Testament is the vision described in the
Book of Daniel. Daniel has a vision of Antiochus IV being destroyed by Gods power.
Daniel sees the Son of Man coming from heaven whose rule would extend across the
whole world and would never end:
I was gazing into the visions of the night,
when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven,
as it were a son of man.
He came to the One most venerable
and was led into his presence.
On him was conferred rule,
honour and kingship,
and all peoples, nations and languages became his servants.
His is an everlasting rule
which will never pass away,
and his kingship will never come to an end.
(Daniel 7:1314)
89
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. Who does the son of man in Daniels vision represent?
2. What is meant by on him conferred rule, honour and kingship?
This vision is of a future event. The people of Israel came to understand this figure to
represent the Messiah the one promised by God, the anointed one who would restore
Gods power and rule throughout all creation.
In the Gospels Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man:
... the Son of man has authority to forgive sins ...
... the Son of man is master even of the Sabbath.
... if anyone ... is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will also be
ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father ...
(Mark 2:10, 28; 8:38)
Proverbs are used as a major literary form in the Bible

Most cultures have wise, short sayings called proverbs. Many inspired writers of the
Bible used sayings and proverbs to teach lessons revealed by God. Many of Gods
teachings about life are contained in the Wisdom literature including the Book of
Wisdom and the Book of Proverbs.
In Class Work
Reflect on some proverbs you have encountered in your life or read a section of
the Book of Proverbs and select some that you find meaningful. Write them in
your journal and explain how they have deepened your understanding of
yourself, life or your faith.
Proverbs 10:23
A fool takes pleasure in doing wrong,

the intelligent in cultivating wisdom.
90
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God revealed teachings

in the Hymns of the Old
Testament
Hymns or songs have always
been a popular way of
teaching a message. God
inspired many of the authors
of the Bible to write songs
that expressed what God
taught. The people of Israel
had a long tradition of
singing songs for prayer or
Temple worship.
An ancient example is the
hymn of praise to God for
freeing the Israelites from
slavery and rescuing them
from the Egyptians at the Sea
of Reeds. The writers of the
Book of Exodus included this
song of victory, known as the
Hymn of Miriam, after the
story of the crossing of the
sea (Exodus 15:121).
52:Miriam, designed by Burne-Jones,

executed by Morris Marshall Faulkner
and Co., chancel south window
91
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Psalms express deep feelings through poetic imagery

Among the hymns of the Israelites, special hymns called psalms were sung to the
accompaniment of stringed musical instruments. One hundred and fifty of these psalms
were inspired by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of preserving Gods teachings and were
eventually gathered together into one of the books of the Bible, the Book of Psalms.
Psalms usually express deep feelings and use poetic images. People come to understand
the psalms by getting in touch with the feelings they express and the teachings of God
they contain.
In Class Work
1. Read Psalm 9.
2. What feelings does the writer of this psalm express?
3. List some words from the psalm which helped to create this feeling.
4. How do you as a reader feel in response?
5. What is Gods teaching in this psalm?
PSALM 9
I thank you, Yahweh, with my whole heart,
I recount all your wonders,
2 I rejoice and delight in you,
I sing to your name, Most High.
3 My enemies are in retreat,
they stumble and perish at your presence,
4 for you have given fair judgment in my favor,
seated on your throne as upright judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations, destroyed the wicked,
blotted out their name forever and ever;
6 the enemy is wiped out - mere ruins for ever you have annihilated their cities, their memory has perished.
92
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
See,
7 Yahweh is enthroned forever,
keeping his throne firm for judgment;
8 he will himself judge the world in uprightness,
will give a true verdict on the nations.
9 May Yahweh be a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble!
10 Those who revere your name can rely on you,
you never desert those who seek you, Yahweh.
11 Sing to Yahweh who dwells in Zion,
tell the nations his mighty deeds,
12 for the avenger of blood does not forget them,
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.
13 Have pity on me, Yahweh, see my affliction,
pull me back from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises
at the gates of the daughter of Zion
and rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into the trap they made,
their feet caught in the snare they laid.
16 Yahweh has made himself known, given judgement,
he has ensnared the wicked in the work of their own hands.
17 May the wicked turn away to Sheol,
all the nations forgetful of God.
18 For the needy is not forgotten for ever,
not for ever does the hope of the poor come to nothing.
19 Arise, Yahweh; human strength shall not prevail.
The nations shall stand trial before you.
20 Strike them with terror, Yahweh;
the nations shall know that they are no more than human!
93
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Psalm 23 is another example. It is based upon two

images; that of a shepherd who cares for his
sheep and that of a royal banquet.
In ancient times, shepherds cared for small flocks

of sheep. They came to know and love each sheep
in the same way owners today often come to
know and love their pets. Life for shepherds was
sometimes dangerous as they were killed by
wolves as they protected their sheep.
A petition is a prayer asking

for Gods help.
A lament is a passionate
expression of grief, a cry of
mourning.
The second image, that of a royal banquet, is one of a king trying to show great
hospitality and generosity by providing more food and drink than would ever be needed.
There are many kinds of psalms which reflect the five elements of prayer, including
psalms of praise, lament, thanksgiving, sorrow for sins and petition. Many psalms
include a mixture of two or more of these elements.
Speeches
Stories based on historical events may use a speech or a number of speeches. The author
might then attribute these speeches to great historical figures. To keep his listeners
interested, before or after each speech, he might retell stories of battles or other events
in which the historical figure was involved. His purpose would be to interest his
audience, so he might exaggerate some aspects of the events and ignore other aspects
that did not suit his purposes.
One example is found in the Book of Leviticus, where God is talking to Moses.
This is the law to be applied on the day of the purification of someone who has
suffered from a contagious skin-disease. Such a person will be taken to the priest,
and the priest will go outside the camp. If he finds on examination that the person
has recovered from the disease, he will order the following to be brought for his
purification: two live birds that are clean, some cedar wood, scarlet material and
hyssop. (Leviticus 14:14)
94
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
As a literary form, gospels are used to

announce good news
In ancient times a gospel was an announcement of good news.
The Greeks used this form of announcement to bring good news of victory after a
war. As reports of conquest, gospels focussed on describing the final victory.
The Gospel of Mark was the first to use this style of announcement to tell the
story of the victory of Jesus and the Kingdom of God over Satan and evil.
He gave the greatest portion of his Gospel to the final victory of Jesus, his
Resurrection over suffering and death.
There are various reasons for differences between Gospels

The four Gospels have the same basic structure though there are many differences
between them.
1. The Gospels are historical writings just as the Old Testament historical writings were.
Their writers sought:
to use historical events and sayings of Jesus to present Gods teachings
about Jesus
to present stories that appealed to the imagination and were easy for
people to recall
to keep Gods teachings about Jesus interesting.
2. The Gospel writers often used stories of historical events in different ways to make
clear what they were teaching. For example:
Matthew records that Jesus sat on a hill as he taught eight beatitudes. He was
teaching his largely Jewish community that the Beatitudes begin the New Law of
the Covenant of Jesus; just as the Ten Commandments were the basis for the Old
Law that Moses received from God on Mt Sinai as part of the Old Covenant
Luke writes of Jesus teaching four beatitudes and four woes (or warnings) while
standing on level ground with his followers (Luke 6:17ff.). Luke is correcting the
ideas of some in his community that wealth is a sign of Gods blessing and that
poorer people are not favoured by God.
In this example, both Gospels refer to Jesus teaching beatitudes, but they present
them differently to preserve revealed teachings from God for their different communities.
95
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
3. Each Gospel was first written for a different community:

Mark was written for Christians and those thinking about becoming
Christians in Rome
Matthew was written for a community of Jewish Christians living in Antioch
in Syria, the third largest city in the Roman Empire
Luke was written for a community of mostly non-Jewish and financially
well-off Christians, also living in the city of Antioch
John was written for a community of Jewish Christians, probably living in
Ephesus, now part of modern Turkey experiencing persecution from Jewish
authorities.
4. Though common stories are shared, different Gospels use different stories as well.
For example, Luke emphasises stories about people in his community that many did
not care for, such as the poor, women and outcasts. More famous ones include:
the shepherds (Luke 2:1520), the parable of the rich man and the beggar
(Luke 16:1931), and the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector
(Luke 18:914)
the prophetess Anna (Luke 2:3638), the sinful woman (Luke 7:3650),
and Martha and Mary (Luke 10:3842)
the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:2937).
5. Stories were adapted to best pass on Gods teachings within the culture of the
community. For example, when retelling Jesus teaching that married people should
not remarry while their spouses were alive, Mark includes women in his stories who,
under Roman law, could divorce their husbands (Mark 10:1112). Other Gospels do
not, because only men could divorce their wives in Greek and Jewish cultures
(Matthew 19:9).
6. Gospel writers adapted the language they used to the sensitivities of their
communities. Matthew, however, knew that Christians of Jewish background felt the
word God was too sacred to be spoken. Therefore, he replaced the term kingdom
of God with kingdom of Heaven, as in Matthew 4:17.
96
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The New Testament books of the Bible were completed less than one hundred years
after the Ascension of Jesus. All but one was completed within the first sixty years.
The order of the New Testament books today is different from the order in which they
were completed. The Gospels have been placed first in the New Testament because they
announce the good news about Jesus and the new covenant he offers.
Interpreting Gods teachings in the Bible is not simple. The more informed the reader
becomes about the Bible and how it was written, the more revealing the message of God
becomes.
Apart from Jews who became Christians, the New Testament was also written for people
of different non-Jewish cultures and backgrounds. God knew that people from later
generations and cultures would not easily understand the Bible and how it was written.
To read a text of the Bible, therefore, people need to ask a number of questions. These
include:
t 8IBUJTUIFMJUFSBSZGPSN FHQPFUSZ TUPSZ

t 8IBUXBTUIFIJTUPSJDBMDPOUFYUBUUIFUJNFPGXSJUJOH FHTMBWFSZ EFMJWFSBODF

t %PFTUIFXSJUFSBTTVNFLOPXMFEHFPGFBSMJFSFWFOUT FH&YPEVT &YJMF

t 8IBUJEFBTEJEUIFQFPQMFPGUIFUJNFIPMEBCPVUUIFOBUVSFPGDSFBUJPOBOEUIF
VOJWFSTF FH5IFGJSTUDSFBUJPOTUPSZ 5PXFSPG#BCFM
The most important truth revealed by God is the reality of

his love communicated to us in the person of Jesus Christ.
97
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Spirit revealed Jesus

as the Messiah
! The Book of Isaiah prophesied the coming of a Messiah
! Jesus, is the Suffering Servant prophesied in Isaiah
! The Gospels provide accounts of the Resurrection
! Jesus Resurrection gives new meaning to the lives of
Christians.
The most important truth revealed by God is

the reality of his love communicated to us in
the person of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is the Son of God. Through the power
of God, Jesus offers people deliverance from
sin. Humanity is able to share in everlasting
life because Jesus has freed people from the
power of sin.
Christ offers people the guidance and
strength needed to draw closer to God.
By living as Christ lived, he leads them
to true and lasting happiness.

The Scriptural meaning of deliverance is to be set
free, in the sense of being rescued from something
bad. Jesus offers deliverance from sin. He set
humanity free from the power of sin by his death
and Resurrection.
Everlasting life is the sharing in the life of God,
beginning at Baptism and reaching fulfilment in
the eternal, face-to-face vision of God.
99
Return to
Return to Return to
CONTENTS CONTENTS CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
7. THE SPIRIT REVEALED TO JESUS AS THE MESSIAH
The Book of Isaiah prophesied the coming of a Messiah

The prophets of the
Old Testament
prophesied the coming
of a Messiah
someone filled with
the Spirit of God who
would deliver his
people and establish
Gods reign in the
world.
Among the most
famous of these
prophesies found in
the Old Testament are
those in the Book of
Isaiah. God inspired
Isaiah to prophesy the
Isaiah and Moses, detail from the Creation Window,
coming of one who
1861 (stained glass) (see 120153) by Campfield, George (fl.1861)
would later be recognised
as the Messiah:
The Lord will give you a sign in any case: It is this: the young woman is with child
and will give birth to a son whom she will call Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
In the midst of the poems related to this coming Messiah, four of these prophesy that, as
Gods servant, he would bring about Gods salvation of the human race through
suffering.
Jesus eventually identified himself as this Suffering Servant of God (Luke 22:35-38,
Matthew 12:18). These poems, called the Suffering Servant Songs, are most important
for understanding Jesus.
The first poem announces that the salvation God brings will be unexpected. It will be
for all nations not just the Jews.
I have sent my spirit upon him, he will bring fair judgement to the nations (Isaiah 42:1)
The servant in the third song suffers at the hands of others because he remains faithful
to God.
Lord Yahweh has opened my ear and I have not resisted, I have not turned away. (Isaiah 50:5)
100
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Fourth Suffering Servant Song (Isaiah 52:1353:12)

In the fourth song, the Suffering Servant would obey God and so suffer at the hands of
those opposed to the coming reign of God, offering himself to free the people from
their sins. To understand this, it is necessary to remember that God told Moses that God
would forgive the sins of the people if animal sacrifice was offered to God (Leviticus 16,
also 4 and 5). The Suffering Servant would offer his own life instead of that of an
animal.
Thus Yahweh says,

Look, my servant will prosper,
will grow great, will rise to great heights.
As many people were aghast at him
- he was so inhumanly disfigured
that he no longer looked like a man
so many nations will be astonished
and kings will stay tight-lipped before him,
seeing what had never been told them,
learning what they had not heard before.
Who has given credence to what we have heard?
And who has seen in it a revelation of Yahwehs arm?
Like a sapling he grew up before him,
like a root in arid ground.
He had no form or charm to attract us,
no beauty to win our hearts;
he was despised, the lowest of men,
a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering,
one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze,
despised, for whom we had no regard.
Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing,
ours the sorrows he was carrying,
while we thought of him as someone being punished
and struck with affliction by God;
whereas he was being wounded for our rebellions,
crushed because of our guilt;
the punishment reconciling us fell on him
and we have been healed by his bruises.
We had all gone astray like sheep,
each taking his own way,
and Yahweh brought the acts of rebellion
of all of us to bear on him.
Ill-treated and afflicted,
he never opened his mouth,
like a lamb led to the slaughter-house,
101
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
like a sheep dumb before its shearers

he never opened his mouth.
Forcibly, after sentence, he was taken.
Which of his contemporaries was concerned
at his having been cut off from the land of the living,
at his having been struck dead for his peoples rebellion?
He was given a grave with the wicked,
and his tomb is with the rich,
although he had done no violence,
had spoken no deceit.
It was Yahwehs good pleasure to crush him with pain;
if he gives his life as a sin offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his life
and through him Yahwehs good pleasure will be done.
After the ordeal he endured,
he will see the light and be content.
By his knowledge, the upright one, my servant will justify many
by taking their guilt on himself.
Hence, I shall give him a portion with the many,
and he will share the booty with the mighty,
for having exposed himself to death
and for being counted as one of the rebellious,
whereas he was bearing the sin of many
and interceding for the rebellious.
(Isaiah 52:1353:12)

The Fourth Suffering Servant Song is written in verse of extraordinary power with a style
that is heavy, lamenting and that matches the thoughts expressed. The words, Yahwehs
good pleasure will be done, do not mean God will be amused by the suffering but that
the servant will remain true to God and suffer as a consequence. This is exactly what
Jesus did in his life of obedience to God
102
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read the entire Fourth Suffering Servant song (Isaiah 52:13 - 53:12) and answer
the following questions:
1. What metaphor is used for the Suffering Servant in the song?
2. How is this reflected in the Mass? Quote one response from the Mass that
also uses this metaphor for Jesus.
3. List events from the last days of Jesus life that are referred to in the song.
Next to each event, record the verse number from Isaiah.
4. The composer Handel based one of his most famous compositions on this
song. Research the name of the work and some of its history. Listen to a
recording of this section (Clue: look at some of the arias in the second part
of Handels composition)
5. The concept of an innocent person giving up his life to save others intrigued
Handel. Many other writers, philosophers, theologians and ordinary people
have wondered at and continue to wonder at Jesus sacrifice. List some
questions that it raises in your mind and spend some time reflecting on
them in your journal.
103
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
tl: Entry of Christ into Jerusalem, tm: The Washing of the Feet, tr: The Kiss of Judas, bl: The Agony in
the Garden, bm: Christ Before Caiaphus, detail all from panel three of the Silver Treasury of Santissima
Annunziata, c.145053 (tempera on panel) by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.13871455) (and workshop);
br: Christ on the Cross between the Two Thieves, detail from panel four of the Silver Treasury of
Santissima Annunziata, c.1450-53 (tempera on panel) by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.13871455)
(and workshop)
Jesus, is the Suffering Servant prophesied in Isaiah

During Holy Week, the story of the last days of Jesus life recalls Jesus obeying God as
the servant who would:
free the human race from the power of sin and death
usher in the New Covenant between God and his people.
The accounts of the last twenty-four hours of Jesus life as told by the four evangelists
are read in Catholic Churches during Holy Week. These are found in:
Matthew 26:17 through to 27:61
Mark 14:32 through to 15:47
Luke 22 23:55
John, chapters 18 and 19.
104
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read or listen to the account of the last 24 hours of Jesus life, as told by one of
the four evangelists, and note the events that lead to the death of Jesus. Note
also:
those people on Jesus side and those strictly against
those people who stood by
those people who ran away
those people who came forward in the crisis
any forces that were at play behind the scenes.
In Class Work
As a class, write your own play of the last 24 hours of Jesus life and perform it during
Holy Week. You might find the following character and setting list a useful guide:
Some characters in the Passion Story
The High Priest
Barabbas
Herod
Chief Priests and Elders
Simon of Cyrene
Caiaphas
Joseph of Arimathaea
The Sanhedrin
Mary
The Pharisees
Annas
Mary Magdelene
The Sadducees
Peter
Mary, wife of Cleopas
Guards
Judas
Joanna
Soldiers
Pilates wife
Women of Jerusalem
The two thieves
Pontius Pilate
The young man in the linen cloth
Places
The Mount of Olives
Gethsemane
The Kidron valley
Golgotha
Gabbatha
Time
Mainly at night. The Gospels differ to some extent about which events
occurred during the night and which during the following day, eg. Mark
and Matthew have Jesus taken before the Sanhedrin during the night;
Luke has him taken before them the next morning.
105
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

The Stations of the Cross is a devotion that consists of prayers and meditations that recall
the sufferings and death of Jesus as he carried his cross to Calvary and was crucified.
Representations or pictures of the following fourteen stations are usually found on the
walls in churches:
1.
Jesus is condemned to death
2.
Jesus takes up his cross
3.
Jesus falls the first time
4.
Jesus meets his mother
5.
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross
6.
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
7.
Jesus falls the second time
8.
The women of Jerusalem weep for Jesus
9.
Jesus falls the third time
10. Jesus is stripped of his garments
11. Jesus is nailed to the cross
12. Jesus dies on the cross
13. Jesus is taken down from the cross
14. Jesus is laid in the tomb and, at some point over the next day or so,
raised to new life by God the Father.
As a private or communal devotion the Stations are a reminder of Gods great love for
his people and are recalled at many times of the year, especially on Fridays and during
the Season of Lent.
Praying the Stations of the Cross can be done in a variety of settings and ways. For
example, in communal worship, a leader in prayer may move from one station to the
next reciting prayers whilst people respond to these prayers as they reflect on the
sufferings of Jesus.
In Class Work
1. Create a series of pictures that depict the events of the last 24 hours of
Jesus life.
2. Write a poem or song about Jesus last 24 hours.
106
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Gospels provide accounts

of the Resurrection
The Gospels do not actually have eyewitness
accounts of the raising of Jesus, though there
are accounts of people who saw Jesus after he
was raised from the dead. The empty tomb
raises the question, Where did the body of
Jesus go?
For the writers of the Resurrection story, the
empty tomb signifies that Jesus is not here,
he is elsewhere.
Fol.126v The three Marys carry an ointment

to the tomb to annoint the body of Christ
(vellum) by Italian School, (15th century)
He has risen from the dead and now he is going ahead of you to Galilee; that is
where you will see him. (Matthew 28:7)
The appearances of Jesus

Many appearances of Jesus after the Resurrection are reported in all four Gospels, the
Acts of the Apostles and by Saint Paul. These are even more important to people in the
early Church than the empty tomb.
In Class Work
Many of the stories of the four evangelists differ in detail. Read the descriptions
of the scene at the empty tomb:
Matthew 28:17
Mark 16:18
Luke 24:17
John 20: 110.
1. How many differences can you find in these stories?
2. Compare Mathew 28:1620, Luke 24:3643 and John 20:1923. Where did
Jesus appear to his disciples Galilee or Jerusalem, or both places?
3. To whom did Jesus appear first was it the women or Peter?
4. From where does the tradition come that Jesus first appeared to his mother?
For the writers, it is not the descriptive details that matter. The stories have been handed
down within different groups in different ways. The people in the stories have met Jesus
during his life and now experience the Risen Christ. They are the witnesses to the
Resurrection.
107
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read one of the Resurrection stories and see if you can discover the
following pattern in it. In writing, record the verses in which each
part of the pattern is evident.
The Resurrection stories, though they differ, do have a great deal in common:
Those to whom Jesus appears are not expecting a resurrection. It surprises and
changes them.
It is Jesus who takes the initiative he appears to strengthen their faith and to give
them a mission Go tell!
Jesus greets personally those to whom he appears. They are his friends
There is a moment in the story when the persons or group see that is, they
recognise Jesus as Lord.
Jesus, as he appeared after the Resurrection, is the same but different. He is not
recognised at first (Luke 24:16, John 21:4) and some people doubt what they see even
though they are filled with joy and wonder (Matthew 28:17).
Jesus seems to be in another form (Mark 16:12) but he stresses his reality for those who
see him by touching (John 20:27), eating (Luke 24:4143), talking and listening (John
21:1522).
The disciples are convinced
that they have seen Jesus, a
transformed Jesus whom
they meet and to whom
they witness by a new title:
Jesus is Lord! Because Jesus
is raised from the dead,
Christians are able to share
his risen life.
Christ Appearing on the Road to Emmaus (fresco)

by Bartolommeo, Fra (Baccio della Porta) (14721517)
108
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus Resurrection gives new meaning to the

lives of Christians
Christians believe that Jesus came to fulfil Gods purpose and to help people discover
the truth that provides answers to the questions of the human heart.
The Resurrection is a call to believe in Jesus. It is the cause of joy and hope for all
Christians. It proclaims the truth that God transforms sin into freedom, death into
life and most wonderful of all human into divine:
For the Son of God became man so that we might become Godso that he, made
man, might make men gods. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 460, quoting Saints
Athanasius and Thomas Aquinas)
Through his death and Resurrection, Jesus reveals how God loves all people and wants
them to be united in God to become God.
When people draw on the power of this love, they are able to overcome the power of
sin and death in their present lives and allow Gods own Spirit of Love, the Holy Spirit,
to live within their hearts.
Christians celebrate the truth that Jesus achieved this for all humanity through his death
on the cross. The Son of God goes to a hideously painful, criminals death. Amazingly,
it is a death he freely accepted (Eucharistic Prayer II from the English translation of
the Roman Missal).
On his last visit to Jerusalem, Jesus knew that it was his Fathers will that he stay there,
though his own human instinct for self-preservation would have urged him to leave the
city and return to the comparative safety of Galilee (Luke 22:42). Jesus knew that in
accepting the Fathers will his enemies would destroy him (Luke 18:3132).
At the Passover meal Jesus shared with his Apostles in Jerusalem, the Last Supper, he
instituted the Sacrament of the Eucharist. In doing so, he revealed that he was the new
Paschal sacrifice a sacrifice that would have the power to free all people enslaved by
sin and lead them back to the Fathers love (Matthew 26:2829).

The word Paschal comes from an ancient Aramaic word, pasha (Hebrew, pesah)
meaning Passover.
The Gospel of John makes a clear reference to Jesus pesah his passage from this
world to the Father:
Before the festival of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his hour had come to pass
from this world to the Father (John 13:1)
109
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Catholics name this truth the Paschal mystery.

The Paschal mystery Jesus death and
Resurrection is a living reality for Christians.
It is not just an event that happened 2000 years
ago; in fact, it is the presence of the Risen Jesus,
his Spirit and his kingdom, today and always.
The Paschal mystery continues to draw people
into communion with God. Catholics experience
Fol.135v Jesus Appears to the Disciples
this communion in the most profound way
Gathered Under One Roof for Fear of the
Judges (vellum) by Italian School, (15th century)
when they receive Jesus in Holy Communion.
Here, Jesus followers come together in unity,
share life and receive the spiritual food Jesus himself in the Eucharist that gives them
the strength and energy to reach out to others in love and compassion.
The Paschal mystery, therefore, enables Christians to know Jesus in a relationship that
grows ever more loving and ever more life-giving.
Christians relate closely with God during their life in this world, especially in the
Eucharist, but complete communion with God Father, Son and Spirit is possible only
after death. This perfect life with God, in which people live with Jesus forever, is called
heaven.
In Class Work
Use the information in this chapter to help you to answer these questions
1. The Book of ___________ from the Old Testament prophesied the coming
of a _____________________.
2. The suffering servant is the central figure in the prophetic songs of Isaiah.
To whom do Christians consider these songs to refer?
3. All four Gospels detail the passion and death of Jesus. List several differences
between these accounts.
4. A traditional meditation on the suffering and death of Jesus is conducted
around the walls of churches. This is called _________________________.
5. Jesus appeared to many after the Resurrection. How did his appearance
differ from how he looked before his death?
6. Did Jesus have any choice in his death? Explain.
7. What is the Paschal mystery?
8. Explain why the Resurrection of Jesus gives new meaning to the
lives of Christians. What did Jesus reveal through his death and
Resurrection?
110
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Young people discover new

spiritual experiences
! The beginnings of spiritual experience childhood
! People develop spiritually in many different ways.
The beginnings of spiritual experience childhood

Personal spiritual experiences begin in childhood. For example children experience:
the desire to speak and behave in ways that are good
wonder, particularly at nature
awe, when feeling insignificant in the presence of some wondrous aspect of creation
the desire to show love to others through words and actions
the desire to do what is right.
An experience common to many teenagers is the continued sense of mystery first
experienced in childhood, with questions of such as the following:
Why do I exist?
What is the meaning of my life?
What is the meaning of human life as part of a vast universe?
Does God exist?
Did God bring everything else into existence?
Does this God have any concern for me and the rest of the human race?
As people search for the answers to these questions throughout
their lives they grow in understanding of the Mystery, who is God.
A growing awareness of the mystery of God leads people to do many things that help to
develop their spiritual lives, for example, spending time in prayer and meditation or
simply spending time in beautiful environments gazing in awe at
Gods creation.
Some teenagers are unaware of the spiritual dimension
of their lives. They ignore or miss opportunities to
experience and reflect on the mysteries of their own
life, of all life and especially of God.
Young people who cannot recognise their spiritual
experiences, or who do not consider them important,
can fail to develop these experiences in ways that are
necessary if they are to find true happiness.
113
Return toReturn to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return toReturn to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
1. YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVER NEW SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCES
Be still and think back to a time when you experienced

some sense of mystery in your life. Perhaps it was when
something wonderful happened that you cant explain in
any other way than it was part of the mystery of life.
Perhaps it was when you felt that God was really with you
during an important event in your life. Perhaps it was when
you were blown away by the sheer beauty or awesomeness
of something you saw, heard or felt.
Write about the experience in your journal. What does it tell
you about yourself, about life, about God?
Experiences of expressing ones inner goodness

reflect spiritual development
Teenagers can be stirred to express their inner potential for goodness. This can be
reflected in spiritual experiences such as:
developing personal ideals
being inspired
stirring inner strength to rise above
personal challenges
desiring inner harmony and peace.
Personal ideals
Ideals are the best possible standards people would like to
achieve.
People begin to achieve at least some
of their ideals when they try their best to:
be good, to both self and others
do good and do it well, in line with
the ideals they have chosen.
Every human ideal reflects
some aspect of what human
beings have learnt about God.
No one can behave in ways that
are always good. Ideals, therefore,
are always what people strive for,
they reflect how people would
like others to think about them.
Ideals are not impossible to
achieve, but most individuals find
living up to their ideals a challenge.
I want to do my best
at school and be
good to others.
114
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Teenagers become aware of a range of personal ideals. They include the desires to
become more:
loving towards others
loyal towards friends
honest with themselves and others
kind towards those who are sad or need help or understanding
compassionate to those who feel suffering, disappointment or who are experiencing
problems
generous.
These ideals come from the human need to reflect God. For example, to become more
loving means to become more like God, who loves all people. In the same way:
loyalty reflects Gods faithfulness
honesty reflects Gods justice
kindness reflects Gods kindness
compassion reflects Gods care and love for all in need
generosity reflects Gods generosity.
Ways of recognising personal ideals

There are many ways to discover personal
ideals. One is to ask questions like:
What kind of person would I like to
be?
What would I like people to say about
me after I die?
No one likes others to think they are a
bad person. So no one would like to be
thought of as selfish, disloyal,
hypocritical, unkind, heartless or mean.
A second way people can discover their
ideals, therefore, is by asking questions
such as:
How would I not like others to
think about me?
What would I not like others to discover about me?
People do not always share their ideals with others because they are afraid that they
cannot live up to them. Ideals are often kept secret or shared with one or two very
close relatives or friends.
Everyone has ideals, though they may not yet have discovered them. Discovery of
personal ideals is a necessary step towards understanding oneself. Personal ideals
originate from within, as does the desire to reflect these ideals in our words and
actions. They are spiritual experiences.
115
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Pretend for a moment that you have been honoured as a guest on This is Your
Life. At the end of the program you have been presented with a file outlining
how you have lived your life.
In writing, describe what others have said about you as a person and what has
made you so special. It may be appropriate to include some mention of how
people admire you for trying to live up to your personal ideals.
Experiences of being inspired

People feel inspired when they are moved by examples of goodness in others. They may
be moved:
to admire anothers actions or words
to wish to be more like someone they admire
by an ideal
by the courage of another person.
To be inspired by someone or something is a spiritual experience every human being
needs. To be open to such experiences people need to develop the habit of looking for
signs of love and goodness in others. This can be difficult, but signs of love and
goodness are to be found in every human person.
Inner strength to rise above personal challenges

People face many personal challenges throughout their lives. Common examples include:
physical illness
study difficulties
temptations to give up
the death of loved ones
the breakdown of relationships.
It is the spiritual dimension of the human person that stirs them to rise above
challenges, to keep going or to begin again. It is their inner spirit that stirs:
those who find study hard, to keep going
frightened people to face and overcome
whatever frightens them
athletes to keep on training after consistently
losing events
families to overcome their grief and to go on
with their lives after a family tragedy or crisis
shy people to make friends
family members to forgive hurt.
116
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Everyone has inner spiritual strength. It is called courage. Courage needs to be

developed if people are to overcome personal challenges and difficulties. Teenagers,
for example, need to develop their inner spiritual strength or courage:
to resist peer pressure to do what they know to be wrong
to overcome social pressure by dressing, speaking and behaving in ways that reflect
who they really are.
Those who develop courage can do extraordinary things. Many show this by risking
their own lives to:
save the lives of others
overcome great pain or refuse to give in to major disappointments
overcome great dangers, challenges and difficulties
overcome addiction to drugs.
Many individuals have had to develop courage and inner strength. Strength or courage
comes from the inner depths of a person, from their spirit. To act courageously shows
that one is developing spiritually.
In Class Work
Using the word courage, create an acrostic poem about how teenagers can
work to overcome personal challengers and difficulties.
Desire for inner harmony and peace

People are complex creatures. All have a body, ideals,
emotions, an intellect and a will. When these elements work
together, people experience inner harmony or peace. This
happens, for example, when:
emotions such as desire, move them to do what is right
their bodies express goodness that comes from deep within
them
their words and actions reflect what they really think
they succeed in living by their ideals.
The desire for inner harmony and peace is another spiritual
experience stirring people to develop spiritually.
The spiritual aspect of people is deeper than their thoughts,
emotions, will or attitudes. It can influence every other
human gift bringing all together in harmony. It can bring
about feelings of peace, rather than inner conflict and stress.
117
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
When people develop spiritually they gradually find:

t JUFBTJFSUPEJSFDUUIFJSFNPUJPOTUPEPXIBUJTSJHIU
t UIFZDBONBLFBOELFFQSFTPMVUJPOTUPDIBOHFGPSUIFCFUUFS
t UIFJSDIPJDFTSFGMFDUXIBUUIFZSFBMMZUIJOL SBUIFSUIBOXIBUPUIFSTFYQFDUPSUSZUP
QSFTTVSFUIFNUPEP
t UIFJSJEFBMTCFDPNFTUSPOHFOPVHIUPPWFSDPNFGFBSTBOEXIBUFWFSFMTFNJHIUXPSL
BHBJOTUUIFN
*OOFSQFBDFBOEIBSNPOZ UIFSFGPSF BSFJNQPSUBOUTQJSJUVBMFYQFSJFODFT1FPQMFOFFEUP
TUSJWFGPSHSFBUFSTQJSJUVBMEFWFMPQNFOUJOBSFBTXIFSFJUJTMBDLJOH
People develop spiritually in many different ways

In
t
t
t
t
order to develop spiritually people need to:

SFMBUFNPSFDMPTFMZXJUI(PE
TUSJWFUPCFDPNFNPSFMJLF(PE
EFWFMPQWJSUVFT
EFWFMPQDIBSBDUFSBOETFMGNBTUFSZ
Relating with God

)VNBOCFJOHTBSFDSFBUFEUPSFMBUFQFSTPOBMMZXJUI(PE#ZSFTQPOEJOHUPUIF4QJSJU
XJUIJOUIFNBOEEFWFMPQJOHUIFJSJOOFSQPUFOUJBMGPSHPPEOFTTUIFJSSFMBUJPOTIJQXJUI
(PEEFFQFOT
5IJTSFMBUJPOTIJQXJUI(PEJTTUSFOHUIFOFEUISPVHIBMJGFPGQFSTPOBMBOEDPNNVOBM
QSBZFS+FTVTUBVHIUQFPQMFUIFCFTUXBZTUPQSBZBOEXPSTIJQJOPSEFSUPEFFQFOUIFJS
SFMBUJPOTIJQXJUI(PE
Striving to become more like God

5PSFMBUFXJUI(PE QFPQMFOFFEUPHSPXBTJNBHFTPG(PE5IJTSFRVJSFTHSPXUIJOMPWF
BOEHPPEOFTTBOEPWFSDPNJOHTFMGJTIOFTTBOEUFOEFODJFTUPEPXSPOH
Virtues
With the help and strength of
(PETHSBDF QFPQMFEFWFMPQ
virtues as they:
t QSBDUJTFMJWJOHBDDPSEJOHUP
their ideals and
t EPXIBUUIFZLOPXUPCF
SJHIU

A virtue is a habit of doing what is good. Some of
the Christian virtues are faith, hope and love,
compassion, honesty, humility, respect and
loyalty.
"OZHPPEUIPVHIU XPSEPSBDUJPOVMUJNBUFMZJTBTQJSJUVBMFYQFSJFODF5IFNPSFQFPQMF
USZUPEPXIBUJTHPPE PSUPMJWFBDDPSEJOHUPUIFJSJEFBMT UIFNPSFUIFZQSBDUJTF
ESBXJOHPOUIFTQJSJUVBMTUSFOHUIUIBUJTXJUIJOUIFN*OUIJTXBZBIBCJUPGEPJOHHPPE
PSBWJSUVF EFWFMPQT
118
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The four cardinal virtues

There are many human virtues.
For example, people strive to be
more loving, honest, loyal and
courageous.

The word cardinal comes from the Latin word
for hinge. The development of all other human
virtues hinges on the cardinal virtues.
Four particular virtues, however,

are foundational or basic to
Christian living. They are the virtues
of: prudence, justice, fortitude and
temperance. These virtues are called
cardinal virtues because they are
needed to develop other virtues.
CARDINAL VIRTUES
Prudence is the virtue enabling

people to discern what is truly best
for them in each particular situation
in life, and to choose the right means
of achieving it.
The opposite of prudence is to make a choice
without giving due thought to what is right in the
situation and the best means to achieve it. People show
that they lack prudence when they lack the inner freedom
to slow down, to think before acting.
Justice is the virtue that makes people willing to be fair in their dealings with God and
with others, giving to each what is due to them. Justice to God requires prayer, worship
and trying to live as God taught. Justice to others involves respecting the rights of others.
The opposite of justice, injustice, is when people neglect the rights of God and others.
People show that they lack justice when they neglect to give time to God or when they
engage in discrimination and prejudice.
Fortitude is the virtue of continuing to try to do what is right. Fortitude is shown when
people keep trying even when it is difficult (temptations, peer and social pressures) to
overcome habits that need changing (gossiping, lying, laziness). Even if they fail, people
of fortitude never give up; they try again.
The opposite of fortitude is weakness of character, the habit of giving in or of always
taking the easiest way out. It is the lack of freedom to resist temptation and pressures.
Temperance is the virtue of moderation, governing our emotions and desires so that they
do not lead us to excesses.
The opposite of temperance is lack of control over instincts and desires.
People can develop the cardinal or any other virtues only by developing a strong
spiritual life. Vices are the results of spiritual weakness.
119
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
In a group, create a series of designs for stained glass panels for the four
cardinal virtues. In each panel use images and symbols that are relevant to
modern teenagers. Be prepared to explain your choices to the class.

The opposite of a virtue is a vice. This is a particular habit of doing what is wrong.
Character
When people grow strong in virtues, those virtues become part of their personalities.
People develop what is called character.
Character means that a person is so strong in one or more virtues that others can rely
upon them to behave in predictably good ways. For example, a person may be described
as an honest character. Others can predict that he or she will tell the truth, say what he
or she thinks and be trustworthy with money.
Another person may be described as having a strong character. Such a person will not
be swayed from doing what is right by difficulties or pressures. This includes peer and
social pressures. A person with strong character will make decisions based on what he or
she believes to be good or right, rather than on what is popular or easy.
Self-mastery
Self-mastery is an important aspect of
character. It means being strong-willed
enough to have control over ones thoughts,
emotions and feelings.
When thoughts and feelings take over so
that people fail to live according to their
ideals and virtues, the opposite of selfmastery happens.
Self-mastery takes a lifetime. It is required
for inner peace. Lack of self-mastery causes
inner stress and conflict. It also leads to
feelings of regret and guilt.
The Four Cardinal Virtues, from Compendium Historial

by Henri Romain (vellum) by French School, (15th century)
120
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
People can develop spiritual

relationships
! People have wondered and learnt much about the human soul
! The spirituality of the human person makes spiritual
relationships possible.
People have wondered and learnt much about the

human soul
Over thousands of years human beings have wondered and learnt much about the
human soul. This includes what God, its Creator, has revealed.
The source of human life

The human soul is the principle of life within
every human person. While their souls remain in
them, people live. When a persons soul leaves
their body, they die.

The soul is the immortal spirit
in each living human person.
The soul does not die

Though death is experienced sooner or later by everyone on earth, people are destined
to live forever.
What happens to people after death?

God created people to live forever with God in a happiness that is beyond human
imagination. This happiness is called heaven.
God is perfect love and goodness. To live forever with God, people
need to have lived lives of love and goodness.
People who have traces of selfishness, human
weakness and wrongdoing when they die, have
an experience of final purification called
purgatory before they can experience
heaven.
God created people with free will. People,
therefore, can choose not to relate with God.
They make this choice by refusing to live the
commandments of God.
121
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
2. PEOPLE CAN DEVELOP SPIRITUAL RELATIONSHIPS
God respects the choice made by those who refuse to live the commandments and does
not force anyone into heaven. It is the choice that people make in their lives that can
exclude them from the happiness that living with God brings.
The soul and body are a unity

Whilst in this world, each human being is a total person. The spiritual and the physical
dimensions of a person are not separated body and soul are a unity.
The spirituality of the human person makes spiritual

relationships possible
In their relationships, human beings are capable of relating at a spiritual as well as at a
physical level.
The ability to recognise what God is communicating depends upon how well people are
developed spiritually through a regular prayer life.
Communicating with God

God communicates personally with people. It might be through:
t BUIPVHIUUIBUMFBETUPBOJOTJHIUJOUPBQSPCMFN
t BOJEFBUIBUTVHHFTUTIPXPOFTIPVMESFTQPOEUPBOPUIFSQFSTPOPSBQSPCMFN
t BTFOTFPGQFBDFUIBUUFMMTQFPQMFUIFSJHIUUIJOHUPEP
t BGFFMJOHPGEJTDPNGPSUUIBUXBSOTUIBUTPNFUIJOHJTPSXJMMCFXSPOH
t BNFNPSZPGBDPNNBOENFOUUIBUBQQMJFTUPTPNFBDUJPOCFJOHDPOTJEFSFE
People usually express in thoughts and words what they want to say to God. Even when
they cannot find the right way to express themselves, the Spirit communicates with their
spirit in expressing to God what is in their heart:
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 in groans
that cannot be put into words; and [God] who can see into all hearts knows what
the Spirit means because the prayers that the Spirit makes for Gods holy people
are always in accordance with the mind of God. (Romans 8:2627)
Communicating with
God is called prayer.
122
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Communicating with Mary and the saints

In the same way that people can relate spiritually with God, they can relate to Mary
and the saints. For thousands of years, Catholics have asked Mary and the saints to
pray on their behalf to God. They have received many blessings as a result of their
prayers.
THE LIVES OF SAINTS

The Catholic Church honours those, now in heaven, whose lives provide great examples
of service to God and other people. The Church calls such people saints. They have lived
the kind of lives all Christians are called to live through their baptism. Some saints
receive official status through the Churchs process of canonisation and have the title
Saint, abbreviated to St, placed before their name, e.g. St Patrick and
St Mary Magdalene.
Several thousand people have been canonised as saints by the Church, but most people
who have died and gone to heaven in fact do not receive official recognition of their
sainthood. This does not make them any less saints than those who are canonised; they
are simply less well known. All saints, whether canonised or not, are able to pray to God
for people living in this world.
A common characteristic of the faith of some saints is the courage they displayed. Listed
below are two examples of saints honoured for their courage to live as God wanted:
St Maximilian Kolbe: Father Kolbe was a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp during
1941. The Nazis practice was to punish the escape of one man from the camp with the
execution of ten. Fr Kolbe offered himself in place of a young husband and father who
was to be executed. After suffering two weeks of starvation and thirst, Kolbe was the last
of the ten men to die. Throughout his ordeal Kolbe encouraged the other prisoners with
prayers, psalms and meditations.
St Angela Merici: In the 16th Century times were different. Women were not allowed to
be teachers and unmarried women were not allowed to go out by themselves. During
this time girls received little education and poor girls received no education. St Angela
saw this situation and gathered other women around her to teach these girls about
religion and other things.
It took many years of frustration before St Angela's radical ideas of education for all
were accepted. They are commonplace to us now because people like St Angela wanted
to help others no matter what the cost. St Angela reminds us of her approach to
change: "Beware of trying to accomplish anything by force, for God has given every
single person free will and desires to constrain none; he merely shows them the way,
invites them and counsels them."
Although it was never a religious order in her lifetime, St Angela's Company of Saint
Ursula, or the Ursulines, was the first group of women religious to work outside the
convent and the first teaching order of women.
123
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Communicating with those who have died

Human beings can also communicate on a spiritual level with loved ones who have died.
This is important when people want to ask for forgiveness for hurts that have not been
resolved at the time of the persons death.
In turn, those who have died can communicate spiritually with people living in this
world. They do so by prayers to God for their loved ones.
Communicating spiritually with others who are alive

People can also develop spiritual relationships with one another. Through thoughts
and feelings, a persons spirit stirs them to express an ideal, a virtue or some other
expression of goodness by action or word. The other person sees this expression of
goodness and may then be inspired by it.
Lasting relationships
Lasting relationships require loyalty, courage and effort. Friends need to stand by each
other, especially when others reject or ridicule them.
This is why relationships that are based solely upon physical or sexual attraction do not
last. Relationships often begin as people are physically attracted to each other, but can
go no further unless they relate intellectually and spiritually with each other.
To
be lasting, relationships need to be strong. They need to be:

intellectual (sharing many common ideas)
emotional (liking each other)
spiritual (sharing common ideals and virtues).
To become true friends, people need to be able to see beyond the physical attraction to
the whole person in their uniqueness and spirituality.
In Class Work
1. List 10 qualities that you think are important to look for in a friend.
2. Rank them in order of importance.
3. Consider some of the television shows you watch and the characters in
them. To each of the qualities of friendship in your list assign a TV character
who exhibits it.
4. Do popular television shows portray an accurate and balanced view of
friendship? Discuss.
124
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The more people understand the depth and

richness that spirituality can bring to their lives,
the more they will want to develop spiritually.
The more people understand the depth and richness that spirituality can bring to their
lives, the more they will want to develop spiritually. They will want the kinds of strong
lasting relationships that only spiritual growth can bring. This will lead them to ask:
How can I grow stronger spiritually?
In Class Work
Use Chapters 1 and 2 to help you to answer these questions:
1. Explain the meaning of soul.
2. What is a cardinal virtue? List each of the four cardinal virtues and for each,
give examples of how Year 9 students could live these virtues.
3. What is a vice?
4. What is the main purpose of prayer?
5. What do Catholics believe will happen to human beings after death?
125
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
People find it hard to

develop spiritually
! Original sin prevents people from developing spiritually
! People experience difficulty in recognising love and goodness
in their behaviour
! People must overcome challenges and difficulties if they are to
develop spiritually
! There are seven bad habits (vices) that seriously hamper
spiritual development.
Original sin prevents

people from developing
spiritually
The basic cause of human beings failing
to develop spiritually is original sin
the human tendency to disobey God,
inherited from the parents of the human
race. Original sin is at the basis of all
human selfishness and wrongdoing.
Jesus and, through Jesus, Mary, are the
only people free of original sin. They are
fully capable of reflecting Gods love and
goodness. For everyone else, spiritual
development is a life-long task requiring
Gods grace. Without this grace, people
commonly fail to:
t SFBMJTFUIFJSJOOFSQPUFOUJBMGPS
goodness
t PWFSDPNFDIBMMFOHFT
t EFWFMPQTQJSJUVBMTUSFOHUIBOEEFQUI
Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of ori
Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. J
the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and M
people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary ar
of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only p
sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free o
and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original
are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus a
people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people free of original sin. Jesus and Mary ar
of original sin.COME
JesusFOLLOW
and ME
Mary
the only people free of original sin. Jesus and
YEARare
9
127 Mary are the only p
Return
toReturn
Return
toReturn
to and Mary are the only people free o
sin. Jesus and Mary are the only people
free
of tooriginal
sin.
Jesus
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
and Mary are the only people free of original
sin. Jesus
andCHAPTER
Mary are the only people free of original
3. PEOPLE FIND IT HARD TO DEVELOP SPIRITUALLY
People experience difficulty in recognising love and

goodness in their behaviour
Original sin damaged the human relationship with God. As a result, without Gods help
people cannot realize their potential to reflect Gods perfect love and goodness. Nor can
they appreciate this potential in others. Gods help comes to Christians through
Baptism, the other sacraments, and by means of the community of believers, the Church.
People must overcome challenges and difficulties if they

are to develop spiritually
Spiritual development requires practice through experiences of overcoming challenges
and difficulties in daily life. People who always refuse challenges and give in to
difficulties fail to develop their inner spiritual strength.
Challenges and difficulties teenagers commonly
face include:
peer pressure to do wrong
emotions more intense than those experienced
in childhood
sexual desires that need to be controlled and directed positively
reluctance or failure to commit to study.
To overcome such challenges and difficulties, teenagers need to accept the responsibility
to develop spiritually, in the same way as they need to accept responsibility for
developing themselves intellectually, emotionally and physically.
In order to develop spiritually, people need to reflect on their behaviour and their
experiences. Without time for reflection they cannot discover ideals, words or actions
that reveal their inner potential for love and goodness.
Over-active lifestyle
Many people today do not live in ways that help spiritual growth. For example they may:
be too active to take time out for themselves
fail to provide times of quiet, necessary for reflection
fail to think about or try to understand their feelings
fail to direct their emotions positively
ignore their human heart questions such as:
How can I learn to deal with my feelings?
How can I be a better person?
Whats life all about?
How can I become more independent?
How can I become more accepted by my peers while remaining true to myself?
What is my future?
128
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
List examples of how people try to live in ways that help them to grow
spiritually
and/or:
In a small group prepare a role play that has two parts. The first part shows an
example of how a person does not live in a way that helps their spiritual
growth. The second part shows an example of how the same person might
behave when they realise the importance of living in ways that help spiritual
growth.
Failure to relate closely with God

Many people today fail to relate closely with God in the ways Jesus revealed. They:
ignore or deliberately disobey Gods commandments
pray infrequently
ignore the Church as a means to help them draw closer to God
do not join in Church worship.
Some people see God and religion as irrelevant, with the result that their spiritual
development is limited. Many:
neglect Gods guidance, and so make mistakes that could be avoided with Gods
help, such as in their choices of friends, careers and marriage partners
lack inner spiritual strength and so are unable to overcome pressures, particularly
peer and social pressures.
Escapes from inner stresses

As people develop spiritually they grow in inner peace and
harmony. Those who do not develop spiritually may
gradually experience inner conflict and stress.
Without clear ideals, young people may tend to feel confused
about who they are, what they should do with their lives and
many other issues. In the absence of strong personal values,
they may find it hard to resist human weaknesses such as
selfishness.
Many people today seek temporary relief from these
problems by, for example:
taking drugs or drinking to excess
withdrawing emotionally
engaging in inappropriate sexual behaviour.
129
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Spend a few moments reflecting upon your own life. Have

there been or are there any issues that concern you?
Write about these issues, outlining why they caused you to
experience inner conflict and stress and what you need to
do to cope more successfully when faced with these or
other issues in future.
The seven bad habits (vices) that hamper spiritual

development
There are seven bad habits that if people allow them to become regular they can cause
people to fail to develop spiritually. These are often referred to as the seven deadly sins
or capital sins. They are called capital in that they are the starting points of other sins
and vices in a persons life. They are called sins because they weaken the ability to live
a Christian moral life.
Capital sin of:
For example can lead to habits of:
Pride
boasting, pushing to be first, never listening to advice, being

demanding and selfish or never admitting mistakes
Avarice (greed)
taking more than one needs, never sharing, refusing to donate

money or being selfish about possessions
Envy
behaving in jealous ways towards those who have more, refusing to

congratulate others on their successes, being angry when others do
better at sport or other challenges, or failing to wish others well in
competitions
Anger
swearing or behaving violently, being difficult to get on with, always

being critical and negative, showing impatience or vandalising
property
Lust
engaging in premarital sex, using and promoting pornographic

material, abusing the sexuality of others or self because of sexual
desires
Gluttony
eating more food than is needed, binge drinking or drinking to

excess
Sloth (laziness)
getting out of chores at home, not doing ones share or not helping
others, spending too much time resting and sleeping, or wasting time
not fulfilling responsibilities such as homework.
130
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God the Father and Jesus

sent the Holy Spirit
! God the Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to guide and
strengthen baptised Christians
! The communion of saints is another way of describing the
Church made up of baptised people
! Those who respond to the Holy Spirit find the fruits of the Holy
Spirit growing within them
! The Holy Spirit helps people to overcome the seven deadly or
capital sins
! The Christian promise can become a reality if people draw on
the power of salvation Jesus offers through the Holy Spirit.
God the Father and Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to

guide and strengthen baptised Christians
How can I grow stronger spiritually? is a persistent question in the lives of many
people, calling them to relate more closely with God.
To strengthen people spiritually in this life, Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to all
who believe in him and who receive Baptism and Confirmation.
God the Father sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit to work together always.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary
through the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promised to remain always with his followers, even though they would
not always be able to see him. He said, for example:
For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them. (Matthew 18:20)
And look, I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. (Matthew 28:20)
Jesus also promised to share the Holy Spirit with them. Just as Jesus had been led and
strengthened by the Spirit during his life in this world, so the Spirit would guide and
strengthen his followers.
131
Return to Return to
Return to Return to
4. GOD THE FATHER AND JESUS SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT
Examples of gradual change

Gradually selfishness is changed by love; temptations to do wrong are changed by
goodness. Guilt is replaced by peace and deep hurts experienced in life, by inner healing.
God sending the Holy Spirit on apostles and mary (Warmun Community, WA),
by Queenie McKenzie (c. 19301998)
In Class Work
1. Read the story of Pentecost in Acts 2:14. Note the mention of Mary being
present with the Apostles.
2. What message about Pentecost is Queenie McKenzie conveying in her
painting, God sending the Holy Spirit on apostles and Mary?
3. Describe the link between the symbols used in the painting and the story of
Pentecost.
4. What place does Mary occupy and how is she represented in the painting?
How does this differ from other representations of Mary that you have seen?
5. Using Marys point of view, create your own visual representation of
Pentecost using a contemporary Australian setting.
132
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

When they gathered on the Jewish feast of Pentecost the Apostles were filled with the
Holy Spirit, as Jesus had promised. They had a vision of the Spirit coming down on them
like tongues of fire (Acts 2:14).
Fire changes whatever it touches. Wood is burnt to ash, chemicals combine to become
something new and sand changes to glass.
Tongues of fire symbolise that, like fire, the Holy Spirit changes all who respond to the
Spirit living in them. Gradually, they grow to think, speak and behave more like Jesus.
The Spirit in the Church

The Holy Spirit lives today in the heart of every baptised person. As St Paul wrote:
Do you not realise that you are a temple of God with the Spirit of God living in
you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
Do you not realise that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you
and whom you received from God? (1 Corinthians 6:19)
All those who share the Spirit are inwardly moved by the Spirit, who draws them
together as the communion of saints.
The communion of saints is another way of describing

the Church made up of baptised people
Members of the Church, with the Spirit
living in them, can be referred to as saints.
The communion of saints is another way
of describing the Church, which is made up
of all baptised people, including its
members in heaven, those who are in
Purgatory, and those who are still alive in
the world.

Saint comes from the Latin sanctus
or holy. St Paul wrote that all
believers are Gods holy people, his
saints. (Romans 1:7)
The idea of a communion comprised of those who are living and those who are with
God is beautifully expressed in many prayers that speak of those who have died being
greeted by the saints as a mark of their entry into eternal life with God.
133
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Prayer of Commendation
I commend you, my dear brother/sister,
to almighty God, and entrust you to your Creator.
May you return to him
who formed you from the dust of the earth.
May holy Mary, the angels, and all the saints
come to meet you as you go from this life.
May Christ who was crucified for you
bring you freedom and peace.
May Christ who died for you,
admit you into his garden of paradise.
May Christ, the true shepherd,
acknowledge you as one of his flock.
May he forgive all your sins and set you among those he has chosen.
May you see your Redeemer face to face,
and enjoy the vision of God for ever and ever.
Amen.
(Pastoral Care of the Sick, no 220B)
(The Rites, Volume One, 220)
The prayers of those in heaven

Mary and the saints in heaven are more closely united with God than members of the
Church who are not yet in heaven. Their prayers, therefore, are more powerful. For this
reason, Mary and the saints pray for members of the communion of saints who are not
in heaven. Many followers of Jesus ask Mary and the saints to pray for special needs.
In Class Work
Identify something you would like
to ask God for and write a prayer
asking Mary and the saints to pray
to God with you for your special
need.
134
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Mary a unique member of the Church

Mary, the mother of Jesus, holds a unique place in the Church. From the moment of her
conception God prepared her to become the Mother of the Son of God. Her life is the
model for all people of how to follow Christ and be saved.
Marian Prayer
Because Mary is so close to Jesus, people ask her specifically to intercede for them
before God. (To intercede is to speak on another persons behalf). Catholic prayer is
not directed to Mary in the same way that it is directed to God. By interceding on their
behalf, Mary asks God to look with favour on their prayer. This becomes obvious when
the well-known Marian prayer, the Hail Mary, is examined.
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.
Ave Maria prayer

card (colour litho)
by French School,
(19th century)
The Memorare and the Hail Holy Queen are two examples of prayers where followers of
Jesus ask Mary to pray for them.
Memorare
Remember, most loving Virgin Mary,
never was it heard
that anyone who turned to you for help
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
though burdened by my sins,
I run to your protection
for you are my mother.
Mother of the Word of God,
do not despise my words of pleading
but be merciful and hear my prayer.
Amen
135
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
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 toward 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 Rosary
Another Marian devotion, the Rosary, consists of decades of prayers, each one focussing
on a different aspect of the life of Jesus and Mary. Each decade of the Rosary is made up
of praying the Our Father once and the Hail Mary ten times. In total there are twenty
decades of the Rosary, divided up into the following four mysteries.
The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation of the Lord
2. The Visit of the Virgin Mary to
Elizabeth
3. The Birth of the Lord
4. The Presentation of the Lord
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
The Luminous Mysteries

1. Jesus is baptised in the Jordan
2. Jesus self-revelation at the wedding
of Cana
3. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of God
4. The Transfiguration
5. Jesus institutes the Eucharist
The Sorrowful Mysteries

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
Jesus
in the Garden of Gethsemane

is Scourged
is Crowned with Thorns
Carries his Cross
Dies on the Cross
The Glorious Mysteries

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The
The
The
The
The
Resurrection of the Lord

Ascension of the Lord
Descent of the Holy Spirit
Assumption of the Virgin Mary
Queenship of the Virgin Mary

Although the Rosary has existed since at least the Middle Ages, the Luminous Mysteries
(or Mysteries of Light) were introduced as recently as 2002 by Pope John Paul II.
136
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Another traditional Marian

prayer is the Angelus. The
Angelus is prayed at 6am,
12pm and at 6pm. In the past,
in some countries of the world,
Catholic Church bells would
call Catholics to stop work and
to pray the Angelus.
Today, in various parishes,
convents, monasteries and even
schools, the Angelus bell still
invites people to prayer.
Annunciation by Lippi, Filippino (c.14571504)
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 among 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.
137
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Research a range of images of Mary. For each note:
the name of the artist
the country and time period in which it was created
any other people or symbols used in the art work.
Which symbols are most frequently used? Why?
Are any of these symbols linked to any Marian Prayers? Explain.
The communion of saints shares spiritual gifts

The many spiritual gifts Jesus promised to his disciples in the Kingdom of God are
communicated to all Christians through the power of the Holy Spirit.
All who belong to the Church are heirs to all the gifts that the Holy Spirit brings. Many
of these gifts are received through the sacraments.
Among the many gifts the Holy Spirit brings are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
received through the Sacrament of Confirmation.
GIFTS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit
Explanations
of the gift
Experiences
Drawing on the gift,

a person can be
saved from
The Spirit of
Wisdom
Ability to see the

good in everything
as God does, just as
Jesus did
Developing ability
to see good in
difficult situations
and good coming
from tragedy
the tendency to be
overcome by bad
experiences and
setbacks
When can it be
difficult to see the
good in people and
events?
Seeing the good in

people and their
actions
the tendency to see

the negative in
others and be
cynical
Discovering the
good in oneself
a negative selfimage
Identifying the need

to die a friend of
God
feelings of being
unlovable
lack of concern at
breaking the
commandments of
God
138
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

The seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit
Explanations
of the gift
Experiences

a person can be
saved from
The Spirit of
Understanding
Ability to
understand, like
Jesus, the meaning
of Gods actions
Discovering Gods
love through events
and people such as
parents and other
carers
the difficulty of
seeing signs of
Gods presence and
love in others
When can it be
hard to believe that
God cares for
people?
Recognising Gods
support through
caring people
the tendency to feel

that God is not
interested in
personal problems
and difficulties
Ability to judge the

true value of
everything, as Jesus
did
Deciding the value

of future options
when leaving school
a lack of direction
in life
Growing in the
ability to see the
true values on
which to base ones
life
placing too much

emphasis on secular
concerns such as
money, social status
and popularity
Having a sense of
personal vocation
or life calling from
God
not being able to

see personal
meaning or the
meaning in life
difficulties, such as
illness
Learning to choose
good life priorities
being attracted to
false values
The Spirit of
Right Judgement
When can people

become confused
about what is really
of value?
The Spirit of
Courage
Strength to meet
personal challenges
and overcome fears,
even in the face of
death, as Jesus did
When can it be
hard to believe and
to behave as Jesus
taught?
Strengthening
being overwhelmed
within to face lifes by personal
problems
peer pressures,
failures and physical
disability
Developing the
inner strength to
overcome peer and
social pressures
giving into peer and

group pressures
Strengthening
against temptations
to disobey the
Commandments
weakening in times
of temptation
Becoming
strengthened to live
the teachings of
Jesus each day
fear of being
recognised as a
Christian
139
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

The seven gifts of
the Holy Spirit
Explanations
of the gift
Experiences

a person can be
saved from
The Spirit of
Knowledge
Ability to come to
know God better
and to learn new
lessons from
experiences of God
Developing the
ability to remember
that:
God helps in time
of need
God will forgive
whatever sin has
been repented
God consoles in
times of sorrow
being confused and

fearful of God
During what times

can it be hard to
remember Gods
promises?
Developing the
knowledge of how
to relate personally
with God
feeling God is
distant
Ability to keep
growing in respect
for God and
awareness of Gods
closeness and love
Feeling that God is

present always,
especially in times
of difficulties and
loneliness
difficulties in prayer
When can it be
hard to remember
that God is always
present and ready
to love people?
Prayer growing
easier and more
personal
Ability to keep
returning love to
God for all Gods
gifts
Wanting to live
daily as Jesus taught
The Spirit of
Reverence
The Spirit of
Wonder and Awe in
Gods presence
not remembering
Gods special love
and support for
those in trouble
feeling that God is

absent or does not
exist
showing little
interest in God or
in loving God.
When can Gods

love be taken for
granted?
The Holy Spirit,detail from the Creation Window, 1861

(stained glass) (detail of 120153) by Webb, Philip (18311915)
140
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Those who respond to the Holy Spirit find the fruits of

the Holy Spirit growing within them
People who respond to the Holy Spirit find themselves changed in other ways as well.
They find the fruits of the Holy Spirit gradually growing within them:
love overcomes selfishness
joy replaces sadness and feelings of negativity
peace replaces inner conflicts and stress
patience overcomes impatience
kindness replaces indifference to the needs of others
goodness replaces vices and the seven deadly sins
trustfulness replaces the desire for excessive control
gentleness replaces insensitivity
self-control overcomes personal weaknesses.
In Class Work
Working in small groups construct a mobile which clearly highlights the
positive effects of the fruits of the Holy Spirit growing within a person.
Display your group mobile in the class as a daily reminder of the inner
spiritual strength offered by the Holy Spirit.
People can draw on the Spirit through prayer and liturgy
seven sacraments
God the Father is the source of all the spiritual gifts

of the Kingdom of God. Jesus asks for, and receives
these gifts from the Father for the human race.
Baptised people can receive these gifts from Jesus
because Jesus has shared the Holy Spirit with them.
Jesus is always praying to God the Father for the needs
of the human race. Jesus is living forever to intercede
for all who come to God through him (Hebrews 7:25).
He shares the Holy Spirit and the gifts the Spirit brings
with all who join him in his prayer to God the Father.
In order to join Jesus in his prayer and receive the
blessings of the gifts of God the Father, Jesus gave
his Church seven special ways of celebrating or
seven special community celebrations. These
are called the seven sacraments of the Church.
Marriag
e
Holy Orders
Anointin
g of the S
ick
Penance
Eucharist
Confirmation
Baptism
141
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Holy Spirit helps people to overcome the

seven deadly or capital sins
The Spirit gradually gives people the inner spiritual power to resist temptations of the
seven deadly sins.
The Holy Spirit empowers Christians to overcome the seven deadly sins:
Deadly sin
The Holy Spirit empowers people to:
Pride
perform acts of service, stop boasting, admit mistakes
Avarice
donate money to those in need, use or buy only what is

needed, avoid unnecessary luxury, share generously, especially
with family and friends
Envy
congratulate others on their successes, avoid feelings of

jealousy, stop criticising others who have what they want
Anger
exercise patience, help others to understand in loving ways

what makes people angry, take time to think instead of
reacting
Lust
direct sexual desires in accordance with Gods purpose; value

sexuality of self and others, rather than thinking of others in
purely sexual ways
Gluttony
fast (eg. during Lent, as an act of self-denial), eat what is

healthy, avoid binge eating or drinking
Sloth
fulfil responsibilities, engage in physical activity, take rest

needed for health and well-being, work or study with
determination to do ones best.
142
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Christian promise can become a reality if people

draw on the power of salvation Jesus offers through the
Holy Spirit
The salvation offered by Jesus is received through the Holy Spirit. The more we draw
on Gods saving power, the more the reality of what Jesus promises comes to life in the
world in which we live.
Just imagine what Australia would be like

if all Australians were to become members
of the communion of saints by receiving
Baptism, praying daily, receiving Jesus in
Holy Communion regularly and trying to
live as Jesus taught. How would the ways
in which people related to each other be
different?
The Holy Spirit would free people from the
seven deadly sins and their effects.
Peoples hearts would be changed and
Gods love and goodness would be clearly
at work in all aspects of society.
In Class Work
How would Australian society
change if all Australians were
purified of pride, avarice, envy,
anger, lust, gluttony and sloth?
One example of the changes
that would take place is that
road rage would disappear as
people were purified of anger.
List some examples of your
own.
143
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use Chapter 3 and 4 to help you to answer these questions:
1. What is original sin and why does it prevent people from developing
spiritually?
2. Explain how an over-active lifestyle can interfere with peoples ability to
grow spiritually.
3. Explain the meaning of capital sins.
4. _______________________ was a sign that the Holy Spirit came upon the
Apostles at Pentecost.
5. Explain what is meant by the communion of saints.
6. What is Marian prayer? Give three examples of this type of prayer.
7. List which of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation
empowers people to experience each of the following:
t
EJTDPWFSJOH(PETMPWFUISPVHIFWFOUTBOEQFPQMF@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
EFWFMPQJOHUIFJOOFSTUSFOHUIUPPWFSDPNFQFFSQSFTTVSF@@@@@@@@@@@
EFWFMPQJOHUIFLOPXMFEHFPGIPXUPSFMBUFQFSTPOBMMZUP(PE@@@@@@@@
XBOUJOHUPMJWFBT+FTVTUBVHIU@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
MFBSOJOHUPDIPPTFHPPEMJGFQSJPSJUJFT@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
GFFMJOHUIBU(PEJTQSFTFOUBMXBZT@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
EFWFMPQJOHUIFBCJMJUZUPTFFHPPEJOEJGGJDVMUTJUVBUJPOT@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
8. -PWF KPZ QFBDF QBUJFODF LJOEOFTT HPPEOFTT USVTUGVMOFTT HFOUMFOFTTBOE

self-control are all __________________ of the _______________________.
9. Rearrange the groups of letters below to form words. What are they
examples of?
holts
eargn
loytuglt
racaive
sult
dierp
nevy.
144
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus was filled with

the Holy Spirit
! God inspired Mark to reveal who Jesus is and how the Holy
Spirit would transform his followers
! Jesus lived in the Jewish society of first century, Romanoccupied Palestine
! To demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit and as part of his
mission, Jesus performed miracles
! Parables were used to teach important lessons
! The Holy Spirit can empower Christians to overcome everything
in life that does not reflect the love and goodness of God.
God inspired Mark to reveal who Jesus is and how the

Holy Spirit would transform his followers
Jesus revealed himself to be the
Messiah, the one the Old Testament
prophets foretold would be filled with
the Spirit. Led and strengthened by the
Spirit, Jesus by his words and actions
revealed the Kingdom of God and how
the Spirit would affect the lives of those
who follow him.
How Jesus revealed these things is
recorded in the Gospel of Mark and
the other three Gospels of the New
Testament.
God inspired Mark to present the
revelations of Jesus by drawing on
stories and sayings of Jesus to develop
his Gospel. This Gospel was completed
over many years.
Winged lion of St. Mark (gilded wood) by Italian School, (16th century)
145
Return to
Return to Return to
Return to
CHAPTER
5. JESUS WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Gospel of Mark emphasises certain things about Jesus

The community for which Mark was written
The Gospel according to Mark was written for a Christian
community facing persecution in Rome.
The Roman emperor, Nero, had become cruel and corrupt
in the latter years of his reign. In 64AD, a fire burned
most of Rome. Nero began persecuting the Christians, blaming
the fire upon them. Many Christians were tortured, crucified and
burned, while others were fed to wild beasts.
Peter who had been appointed by Jesus to lead the Apostles was living in Rome when he
was crucified between 64 and 67AD. Even some of the leaders of the early Church were
persecuted and martyred. Paul had been brought to Rome and imprisoned. He was
beheaded around 67AD.
Many Roman Christians had been born Jews. These people feared retaliation and
persecution as the result of a revolt against Roman power that began in 66AD in
Jerusalem and ended in 70AD with the defeat of the Jews.
In Class Work
Research these and any other events which affected the Christian
community in Rome in the first century.
The questions of the Roman Christians

The risk of death by martyrdom caused Roman Christians to ask many serious questions
about their faith. These included:
t XIPJT+FTVT
t XIBUEPFT+FTVTPGGFS
t IPXEPFTB$ISJTUJBOESBXPOXIBU+FTVTPGGFST
Mark started his Gospel by listening carefully to the questions troubling Roman
Christians and Romans who were thinking about receiving Baptism. God then inspired
him to write the Gospel in two parts.
Part One is about the divine power (or source of the kingdom) that Jesus offers.
This power is experienced through the Holy Spirit.
Part Two deals with what people need to do to experience this power helping them
in their lives.
Mark further planned that his Gospel would begin with a prologue (or introduction)
and with both parts of his Gospel consisting of three sections.
146
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
PROLOGUE:
Who is Jesus?
PART ONE:
Section One:
Section Two:
Section Three:
What does Jesus offer the human race?

How did Jesus reveal what he offers?
How did the people in Jesus time respond?
What attitude does a person need in order to experience all that
Jesus offers?
PART TWO:
Section Four:
How can people experience in their daily lives what Jesus offers?
What did Jesus teach about the saving power of God and how to
live as his disciples?
Why was Jesus killed?
How did Jesus live in accordance with his teachings?
Section Five:
Section Six:
When Mark began his Gospel, Christians knew many stories and sayings of Jesus. These
came from those who had seen and heard Jesus, especially Peter.
Mark began to select materials from among the stories and sayings of Jesus to answer
the questions of the Roman Christians. In doing so, he sought to answer other important
questions as well.
God inspired Mark to record several truths about Jesus in the prologue
to his Gospel
Marks Gospel: the prologue
A core teaching of Marks Gospel is that God the Father sent Jesus and the Holy Spirit
together to restore the human relationship with God.
147
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The prologue relates how:

t +FTVTJTUIFEJWJOF4POPG(PE
t +PIOUIF#BQUJTUXBTUIFPOFXIPUIF0ME5FTUBNFOUQSPQIFUTTBJEXPVMEQSFQBSF
the way of the Messiah who would be filled with the Spirit
t +FTVTTIBSFTUIF)PMZ4QJSJUXJUIBMMXIPSFDFJWF#BQUJTN
t +FTVT UIF4POPG(PE JTGVMMZDPNNJUUFEUPIJTNJTTJPOGSPN(PEUIF'BUIFS
t +FTVTFYQFSJFODFEUFNQUBUJPOTUPTJO KVTUMJLFBMMIVNBOCFJOHT CVUDPORVFSFEUIFN
by the power of the Spirit
t +FTVTDPVMEDPORVFS4BUBO UIFTPVSDFPGBMMUFNQUBUJPOTUPTJO UISPVHIUIFQPXFSPGUIF
Spirit.
After his opening statement about who Jesus is, Mark chose three stories about Jesus to
teach these truths. These are the stories of:
t +PIOUIF#BQUJTUUFBDIJOHBCPVU+FTVT .BSLo
t UIFCBQUJTNPG+FTVTCZ+PIOUIF#BQUJTU .BSLo
t +FTVTCFJOHUFNQUFECZ4BUBOJOUIFEFTFSU .BSLo

Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapter 1 (Mark 1:213)

Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key texts
Opening (Mark 1:1)
Jesus is the Son of God
about Jesus Christ,

the Son of God
John the Baptist

(Mark 1:28)
John was the prophesied

prophet who would
prepare people for the
coming of the Lord
Old Testament texts

recalled (1:23)
Jesus will share the Holy

Spirit with all who receive
Baptism
... he will baptise you with

the Holy Spirit. (1:8)
The Baptism of Jesus

(Mark 1:911)
Jesus was fully committed

... (he) was baptised in the
to his mission from God
Jordan by John. (1:9)
the Father, and went
through a ritual that people
at the time understood as
symbolizing full conversion
to God
Jesus is the Messiah, the
servant prophesied as the
one who would be filled
with the Holy Spirit
You are my Son (1:11)
You are my Son... (1:11)
God the Father recognized

Jesus as his divine Son
Jesus tempted by Satan
(Mark 1:1213)
Jesus experienced
temptations to sin like all
other human beings, but
overcame them.
148
... (he) was put to the test

by Satan. (1:12)
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Each of the three sections that make up Part One of the Gospel of Mark relates to the
most basic teaching of Jesus, which is:
The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and
believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
SECTION ONE: Jesus teaching and how it was revealed

Mark wanted to teach several basic lessons about Jesus. These are:
the most basic teaching about Jesus himself
what Jesus offers those who decide to follow him
how Jesus communicated with God the Father
those for whom Jesus came
how Jesus came to fulfil the law and to bring all people into communion with God
by founding a movement which would later become the Church.
The Roman Christian community

At the time Mark began his Gospel the
Christians in Rome were experiencing
difficulties. The Roman authorities were
suspicious of any talk about kingdoms.
They worried that such talk could lead to
revolt.
The Romans were also concerned about the
Jewish belief in a Messiah. This belief
seemed to imply someone who would free
the Jews from Roman control.
The Christians in Rome had other
problems. They were heavily criticised by
Jewish leaders because:
they believed Jesus to be the Son of
God and the Messiah
they did not observe all of the Jewish
religious laws
they believed that Jesus could forgive
sins, no matter how serious they might be
they included in their community those
recognised publicly as sinners and who
were not considered fit to belong to a
genuine religion.
The time is fulfilled, and

the kingdom of God is
close at hand. Repent,
and believe the gospel
149
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus on his way to

Galilee, illustration
for The Life of
Christ, c.188696
(gouache on paperboard) by Tissot,
James Jacques Joseph
(18361902)
The following stories in Section One of Marks Gospel would have reassured Roman
Christians, and those thinking of becoming Christians, that Jesus came for them.
Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapters 12 (Mark 1:142:183:6)

Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus proclaimed the gospel

(1:1415)
Jesus came to offer

humanity the power of
God through the Holy
Spirit, to help them in their
daily lives
... the kingdom of God is

close at hand. (1:15)
To draw on this power,

people need to stop
disobeying Gods
commandments and to
believe in all that Jesus
taught
Repent, and believe ...

(1:15)
Jesus calls his disciples

(1:1620)
People need to become

followers of Jesus to learn
how to draw on the power
he offers them
Come after me and I will

make you into fishers of
people. (1:17)
Jesus exorcised the man

possessed by an evil spirit
(1:2128)
The power that Jesus offers

is more powerful than that
of Satan
Be quiet! Come out of

him! (1:25)
Jesus cured illnesses and

drove out demons
(1:2934)
The power that the Spirit

shares with baptised
Christians conquers all the
harm that Satan causes in
people
... (he) took her by the hand

and helped her up. (1:31)
150
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus went to pray

(1:3539)
Jesus communicates with

God the Father, just as
anyone must who wants to
draw on the power of God
through the Spirit
... (he) went off to a lonely

place and prayed there.
(1:35)
Jesus offers his power to all Let us go elsewhere ...

because that is why I came.
(1:38)
Jesus cured skin diseases
(1:4045)
Jesus offers compassion to

those who turn to him
Be cleansed. (1:41)
Jesus cured the paralytic

(2:112)
Jesus worked miracles to

demonstrate his greater
power the power to
forgive sin, the barrier that
keeps people from drawing
closer to God and from
experiencing Gods love
and power in their lives
... to prove to you that

the Son of man has
authority to forgive sins on
earth I order you: get up
... (2:10)
Some reacted negatively
... some scribes ... thought

to themselves, He is being
blasphemous. (2:67)
Others were astonished
We have never seen

anything like this! (2:12)
Jesus came to help those

who do not imagine that
they are good enough to
relate with God and who
do not participate in
community worship of God
I came to call ... sinners

(2:17)
The tax-collectors reaction

was to follow Jesus (unlike
those who thought
themselves right with God
already)
And he got up and

followed him. (2:14)
Jesus, the Son of God, was

offering a way to relate
with God that was
altogether new: as Father,
Son and Holy Spirit.
... nobody puts new wine

into old wineskins (2:22)
The reaction of the

Pharisees was negative
The Pharisees went

out to plot with the
Herodians ... (3:6)
Jesus called Levi and ate

with sinners (2:1317)
The discussions on laws of

the Old Testament
(2:183:6)
151
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Fol.134v Jesus at the Tiberian Lake with the Disciples (vellum)
Jesus lived in the Jewish society of first-century,

Roman-occupied Palestine
Jesus lived and taught people from a particular ethnic background and culture. Like all
cultures, Jewish people had their own ways of thinking and speaking.
To understand the words and behaviour of Jesus, people need to understand something
of the culture in which he lived.
People in the time of Jesus

The Pharisees
Around one hundred and thirty years before Jesus a religious reform movement began.
Those who tried to live its strict religious observances were called Pharisees.
By the time of Jesus, there were different
groups of Pharisees. Some were friendly
towards Jesus, even defending him from
attacks; others were hostile to him. These
Pharisees tended to interpret Gods laws in
strict, unbending ways that made the literal
observance (or the letter) of the Law of
Moses difficult for many people,
particularly the poorer members of society.

Pharisee is a Hebrew word which
means separated. Although not
priests, the Pharisees considered
themselves a special, separate,
religiously superior class of Jews.
152
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus never condemned the Pharisees as a group, although he did criticise those who
were hostile towards him.
He criticised as hypocrites, those Pharisees who boasted that they were very obedient
to Gods Law but who were actually mean-spirited towards people they considered to be
sinners.
In Jesus time, a person afflicted with a terrible disease like leprosy or who failed to
keep any of the Law of Moses was looked on as a sinner. The Law of Moses included
over 600 religious laws concerning just about every aspect of life. The reason a diseased
person was looked on in this way was that their disease was seen as a punishment from
God for their sins or even for the sins committed by an ancestor.
Poverty was also understood as a punishment that befell those who failed to observe the
laws satisfactorily. This was a vicious circle in that a poor person would never be in a
financial position to keep all the laws, including those requiring various animals to be
purchased as sacrifices to God. They were therefore considered to be sinners by those
who strictly observed the laws, including most of the religious authorities in Jesus time.
The Herodians
The Romans appointed kings in some parts of their empire. The kings in Galilee during
the time of Jesus were the Herods. Those who supported the Herods were called
Herodians.
The Herodians and the Pharisees were religious and political enemies. Their reaction to
Jesus in Marks Gospel conspiring to destroy him shows how afraid they were of
Jesus and how much his words and actions offended them (Mark 3:6).
Money-changers and dove-sellers in the Temple

A number of different currencies were used in Jerusalem. Greek and Roman coins were
used, along with the coins brought by travellers from other countries.
Pagan (i.e. non-Jewish) money could not be taken into the Temple or used to purchase
animals for sacrifice. This was because all pagan coins were minted with images of
emperors and kings, and Jewish Law strictly forbade the use of such images. Moneychangers, therefore, provided a necessary and important service to the Jewish
worshippers at the Temple, many of whom came to Jerusalem on pilgrimage as often as
they could afford.
Dove-sellers also provided an essential service for worshippers. Doves were the least
expensive of all the animals that could be sacrificed at the Temple (lambs and bulls cost
much more), so poor people bought doves to offer in sacrifice to God.
The Gospels indicate that in the time of Jesus many of the money-changers and dovesellers took advantage of their control of this specialised market to charge outrageous
prices to rich and poor alike. Jesus saw this injustice. The priests of the Temple had
allowed vendors to conduct business in the very courtyards dedicated to prayer. This
activity was offensive to God.
153
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The tax-collectors and sinners

In the time of Jesus, the Jews were captives to the power of the Roman Empire. Taxcollectors were considered traitors, for they collected taxes from their fellow Jews on
behalf of their Roman oppressors.
Tax-collectors were also well-known for cheating by charging more tax than they
should, keeping the extra money for themselves. Tax-collectors were excluded from
community worship. In the eyes of most Jews of the time, this put tax-collectors on the
same level as sinners.
The Gospel of Luke emphasises the way Jesus treated these people in the stories of:
the Publican (or the tax-collector) and the Pharisee (Luke 18:914)
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:110).
The Sadducees
The Sadducees were a conservative priestly
party. They were wealthy and powerful and, in
general, they scorned the ordinary people.
The Sadducees had been prominent as the
ruling class in Israel during the centuries before
Rome conquered the Jews (66BC).

Sadducee is derived from Zadok
the name of a famous Jewish
high priest (Ezekiel 40:46) at the
time of Solomon (1 Kings1:38-40).
The main influence of the Sadducees was in

Temple worship. They were religious fundamentalists who did not believe in a messiah
or the resurrection of the dead.
The only books of the Bible they accepted were the first five, known collectively as the
Torah. Because of this, they rejected many of the religious ideas that other Jews
accepted. This put them in conflict with the Pharisees.
The Sadducees did not involve themselves directly in political affairs; however, as
leaders of the priestly class, they could exercise great influence over the Jewish people.
The Sadducees attitude to Roman rule was more accepting than other Jewish groups
because the Romans allowed:
the Jews to practise their religion freely (a privilege rarely granted by Rome)
the Sadducees to exercise authority over the Jews with little interference from Rome.
The Zealots
This group was similar to the
Pharisees but they were also militant
nationalists. The Zealots tried to end
Roman rule of Palestine by violent
means. They recognised only God or
someone sent by God as their leader.
Like many Jews, they anxiously
awaited a Messiah to lead a powerful
army that would defeat the Romans.

Zealot comes from the word zeal or intense
devotion or enthusiasm. The Apostle Simon
was a Zealot. In following Jesus he was
required to abandon his involvement in
violent resistance against Rome.
154
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Construct a mind-map of the different groups that made up the structure of
society of first century Jerusalem.
Jesus the Messiah (the Christ)

The prophets of the Old Testament foretold
the coming of a servant of God who would
be filled with the Holy Spirit and bring
about the salvation of Gods people. They
called him the Messiah.

The Greek word for messiah is
Christos (the Christ). Both Messiah
and Christ mean the Anointed One.
In the time of Jesus, people had different

ideas about what this messiah would do.
Many thought he would be a warrior king who would free Israel from Roman power.
The Romans were concerned about the Messiah. They feared that he would attract
thousands of followers and lead a rebellion against them.
Jesus knew that, though he was the Messiah, he would not be a warrior king. He did not want
to be known as the Messiah until he had taught his followers what this term really meant.
Jesus the Son of man

One of the books of the Old Testament is the Book of Daniel. In this book, there is a
prophecy about an enigmatic figure called the Son of man. This referred to someone
who would receive power over all the nations of the earth in the act of establishing the
Kingdom of God:
His rule is an everlasting rule which will never pass away, and his kingship will
never come to an end. (Daniel 7:14)
Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man on a number of occasions. In Marks

Gospel especially, Jesus preferred the title Son of man to that of Messiah. One
example occurs when Jesus told a paralysed man that his sins were forgiven. The scribes
thought Jesus was being blasphemous on the grounds that only God could forgive sin.
Jesus responded by giving all present a clear sign of the Kingdom of God,
to prove to you that the Son of man has the authority to forgive sins on earth
he said to the paralytic I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go off
home. (Mark 2:1011)
The Son of man commissioned his Apostles to advance the kingdom he had begun. He
equipped them for this mission by entrusting them with the power to forgive sins too.
155
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
To demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit and as part

of his mission, Jesus performed miracles
Jesus Opens the Eyes of a Man Born Blind, 1311 (egg tempera on panel)
by Duccio di Buoninsegna, (c.12781318)
Jesus began his mission by working

miracles that demonstrated his own
unique power and the power the Spirit
shares with all who follow him. Jesus
used this power to conquer evils that
people at that time believed were
caused by Satan:
possession by demons
sickness
serious skin diseases.

A miracle is something that cannot be
explained by the laws of nature or science.
A miracle is an experience of the
supernatural.
The Jewish people looked forward to a

time when the whole of creation would
reflect the love and goodness that
comes from the redemptive power of
God. This would be at the end of the world.
Demons are evil spirits who serve Satan.
156
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus began his mission by showing that, in him, Gods power was coming into the
world. He offers this power through the Holy Spirit to all who are willing to change
their lives to live as God wishes.
All who accept Jesus offer find themselves changing gradually, through the power of the
Holy Spirit, into people of greater love and goodness. They will be able to overcome
selfishness and temptations to do wrong. Tensions and hostility between people will be
overcome and love between them will grow.
Gods redemptive power

Gods redemptive power means
that God redeems, that is, God
acts to save (or rescue) people
from the power of sin and its
consequences in the world.
Gods redemptive power
transforms everything that has
been damaged by sin. God
especially transforms human life,
which is damaged by the effects
of original sin.

To redeem means to recover something of value
by ones effort or a payment of some kind. For
example, a person may pawn an item in
exchange for cash. To redeem the item from the
pawnbroker the person must return the pawn
ticket and pay back the loan plus an agreed fee.
It is with this meaning in mind that Jesus can be understood as the Redeemer. His
death and Resurrection means that God has overcome the power of sin and death once
and for all. Death has been transformed by God into eternal life not only for Jesus but
for all who are redeemed by Jesus.
The Healing of the Lame in the Temple, illustration for The Life of Christ, c.188694
(w/c & gouache on paperboard) by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (18361902)
157
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
In small groups choose one of Marks accounts of Jesus healing power: Mark
1:2327; 1:2931; 1:4044; 2:1-12; 3:16; 5:119; 5:2143; 7:2430; 7:3137.
Present your story as a drama. Each drama should address the following
questions:
What is the nature of the sickness?
How does Jesus respond to the person?
How does Jesus heal the sick person?
What are the reactions of the sick person and any of the bystanders?
What instructions does Jesus give?
SECTION TWO: How did the people in Jesus time respond to his message?
The kingdom of God is alive and active in people and in the world The kingdom of
God began with the death and resurrection of Jesus and continues to be extended by
Christians until it has been brought into perfection by Christ at the end of time.
Christians continue the work of the kingdom by living the way Jesus lived, and by
promoting peace and justice. Christians are able to accomplish what is needed for the
kingdom by discerning how the Holy Spirit is calling them to act in the concrete
circumstances of their lives.
This leads to questions such as: If the kingdom of God is alive and active, why cant
everyones life be happier now? If God can bring peace, why is there not greater peace
in the world today? Why are there tensions, and even war, between Christians?
God inspired Mark to compose the second section of his Gospel to answer these
questions. He:
presents common reactions to Jesus
gives reasons why some people are unable to respond positively to Jesus and so draw
on the saving power he offers
reassures that the kingdom will continue to grow in the world, even though many
may react negatively to the teachings of Jesus
encourages the Roman community to respond positively to Jesus by offering them
more examples of Gods saving power active in Jesus
reminds his community that the power of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, can be drawn on by
anyone who has faith in Jesus.
158
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Tensions in Rome between Jews and Christians and

amongst Christians themselves
In Rome, during the time when
Marks gospel was being
written, tension existed
between Christians and Jews
and amongst Christians
themselves. There were a
number of reasons for such
tension.
There was a large community
of Jews in the city of Rome in
the time of Mark. The Jewish
community was defensive and
did not like members
converting to Christianity. This
led them to denounce Jesus as
someone possessed by Satan.
They claimed that his miracles
were performed through
Satans power.
Aureus (obverse) of the deified Claudius I (AD41AD54) minted

under Nero (AD54AD68) (gold) Inscription: DIVVS CLAVDIVS
AVGVSTVS (for reverse see 119149) by Roman, (1st century AD)
The Jewish community also experienced difficulties with the Roman authorities. In
49AD Romes emperor, Claudius, expelled some Jews from Rome, accusing them of
being agitators. This situation contributed to the growth of distrust and tension between
Jews and Christians.
Jews who converted to Christianity wondered about other converts who were not
descendants of Abraham or the twelve Patriarchs of Israel. These Christians of Jewish
heritage understood Judaism to be the mother of Christianity and found it difficult to
see how Gentiles (non-Jews) could fit into this tradition.
159
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Parables were used to teach important lessons

Mark emphasises certain teachings about
Jesus using a variety of literary forms
including:
sayings of Jesus
miracle stories
teachings of Jesus
parables
mission-narratives (ie. stories that
throw light on Jesus mission and
ministry)
The most prominent literary form in this
section is the parable.
Parable details were selected with great
care. People reflected on details to deepen
their understanding of the parable.
Jesus used parables to teach about Gods
kingdom by making simple comparisons
that were familiar to everyone. In this way,
Jesus helped people move slowly from the
known to the unknown. Parables enabled people to stretch their minds and imaginations
and to embrace ideas that were bigger than those to which they were accustomed.
Parables also invited people to discover themselves as they really were. They acted as a
kind of test to see if a persons heart was open or closed to hearing the truth. In this
way they were also a key to peoples reactions to the teaching of Jesus.
People reacted in different ways to Jesus (Mark 3:735)

Marks Gospel records the different reactions of people to Jesus
Great crowds reacted positively by following Jesus as he continued to heal and
cast out demons (unclean spirits) (3:712)
Jesus called the Twelve, who reacted positively by committing themselves to
Jesus. (3:1319)
Some of Jesus relations reacted negatively (3:2021)
The Jewish leaders reacted negatively, saying the power Jesus showed was of
Satan, not God. (3:2230)
The true relatives of Jesus (3:3135)

Beelzebub, or Beelzebul was the name given in the ancient world to an evil spirit. To Jews
in the time of Jesus, it was another name for Satan.
160
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Using parables, Jesus explains peoples reactions to him (4:125)

Jesus was able to use parables to explain why many would reject his message. In the
parable of the sower (Mark 4:19) he illustrated that peoples values and lifestyles
would affect their reaction to the power he offered. He pointed out that his use of
parables was for the benefit of those who had ears to hear and he wasnt going to
explain their meaning. Nevertheless, Jesus gave a detailed explanation of the parable of
the sower to his disciples (Mark 4:1320). Two other parables Jesus used to highlight
peoples reactions to the good news were the parable of the lamp (4:2123) and the
parable of the measure (4:2425).
The power of the kingdom will continue to grow in the world (4:2634)
Where the message of Jesus was accepted, the kingdom would grow. This is
demonstrated in the parables of the seed growing by itself (4:2629) and the
mustard seed (4:3034).
Jesus demonstrates the power of God at work in the kingdom (4:355:20)

The miracles of Jesus were convincing signs of the Kingdom of God. He showed power
over the forces of nature by calming the storm (4:3541) and over the forces of evil by
exorcism (5:120).
All who have faith in Jesus can draw on his power (5:2143)
Jesus responded to those who had faith in him. This is shown by his compassion in the
raising to life of Jairus daughter (5:2124, 3543) and the curing of the woman with
the blood disease (5:2534).
Christ is Tempted by the Devil in the Desert, mid 14th century (fresco)
161
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
There are three parables in this section of Marks Gospel that give an image of
the Kingdom of God.
Mark 4:229
Mark 4:2629
Mark 4:3032
Choose one of these parables and identify the main message that
Jesus conveys to his listeners.
SECTION THREE: What attitude is needed in people to experience all that Jesus offers?
Faith in Jesus Christ himself is needed to draw on all that he offers

Faith in Jesus Christ himself is needed to draw on all that he offers. A Christian is first
and foremost someone who relates personally with Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in faith
and trust. Today, many people do not realise that it is impossible to experience Jesus
power through the Holy Spirit unless they believe in him, pray and worship as he
taught.
Only with the power of the Holy Spirit can a person live completely as
Jesus taught
Only with the power of the Holy Spirit can a person live completely as Jesus taught.
Marks Gospel was written for Christians in Rome who were:
wavering in their faith under the persecution they were suffering
receiving instruction in the Christian faith (catechumens)
thinking about whether or not to become Christian.
Mark concludes Section Three with confronting questions for anyone reluctant to
believe in Jesus.
Do you still not understand, still not realise? (Mark 8:17)
Are your minds closed? (Mark 8:17)
Have you eyes and do not see, ears and do not hear? (Mark 8:18)
Or do you not remember? (Mark 8:18)
Marks Christian Community

The Christian community for which the Gospel of Mark was written comprised Jewish
and non-Jewish (or Gentile) converts. The Jewish-Christians were having trouble
understanding that, although God prepared them for Christianity through Jewish faith,
many Jewish practices were not part of the new religious movement initiated by Jesus.
162
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Many ritual requirements of the Jewish faith did not permit Jews to eat certain foods
and imposed rules about washing before meals.
Ritual cleanliness or purity was required before a person could draw near to God
through worship. It was needed to enter holy places, such as the Temple.
In the Old Testament, God gave many laws about ritual cleanliness. Many of these were
abolished by the early Christian community. In abolishing these laws, they were
following Jesus insistence on Gods real standard for worthiness actions that reflected
a heart that was turned to God.
Mark emphasises Jesus insistence on purity of heart and the need for faith (7:1423)
Jesus invites all to believe in him

Jesus was born into a Jewish family and was a devoted Jew. He reminded other Jews of
the need to live their faith from the heart and not just in outward practice. He said his
personal mission was to the lost sheep of Israel. Jesus, however, crossed the border into
Gentile territory and his treatment of those he met there is a sign of Gods love for all
people. Belief in Jesus is the primary sign of belonging to Gods kingdom.
Jesus responded to the faith of a Gentile woman by answering her request to heal her
daughter (7:2430). In the Gentile territory on the eastern side of Lake Galilee, he
cured a deaf man at the request of a group of Gentiles (7:3137). Mark records a
second miracle of the loaves and it would appear that this was also in foreign territory
(8:110). The seven baskets of leftovers are often taken as a reference to the Gentile
mission of the early Church, that is, to the seventy nations of the known world.
Not everyone appreciated the miracles of Jesus for as signs of the Kingdom. The
Pharisees, for instance, demanded more signs (8:1113). Jesus warned his followers
against following the example of those with closed minds and, instead, to have faith in
him (8:1421).
163
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The following table summarises key teachings in this section of Marks gospel
Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapters 78 (Mark 7:18:21)

Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
The argument about Jewish Jesus reveals and explains

purification rituals (7:113) Gods laws with authority
You put aside the

commandment of God
to observe human
traditions. (7:8)
Discussion about what is

clean and unclean
(7:1423)
Religious purity is found in

the heart
Nothing that goes into

someone from outside can
make that person unclean
(7:15)
Actions that reflect evil

intentions in their hearts
prevent people from
relating with God
... fornication, theft,

murder, adultery, avarice,
malice, deceit, indecency,
envy, slander, pride, folly.
(7:2122)
The healing of the daughter Jesus uses his power for all
of the Gentile (non-Jewish) who have faith (believe) in
woman (7:2430)
him
For saying this, you may

go home happy (7:29)
The healing of the deaf

man in response to the
request of a group of
Gentiles (7:3137)
Jesus uses his power for all

who have faith (believe) in
him
Be opened (7:34)
The second great

multiplication of loaves
(Mark 8:110)
Jesus is the Messiah also

for non-Jews who believe
in him
... they collected seven

basketfuls of the scraps left
over. (8:8)
The disciples still fail to

believe in him (Christians
need to develop faith to
experience the power of
Jesus)
Where could anyone get

these people enough bread
to eat in a deserted place?
(8:4)
The Pharisees demand a

spectacular sign (8:1121)
To understand who Jesus is, ... no sign will be given to

people need to understand this generation. (8:12)
the meaning of his miracles
Jesus challenges his

disciples to believe in him
Faith in Jesus is the first

requirement for anyone
wanting to experience his
power
164
Do you still not

understand Are your
minds closed? (8:17)
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Holy Spirit can empower Christians to overcome

everything in life that does not reflect the love and
goodness of God
Christians learn that the Holy Spirit shared
by Jesus with all who follow him can
empower them to overcome everything in their
lives that does not reflect Gods love and
goodness. This includes selfishness, feelings of
guilt, jealousy and temptations to do wrong.
Jesus showed that the Spirits power could
overcome human failings and sinfulness. He
also showed that the Spirits power can forgive
sin.
Mark chose stories about Jesus that showed his
great courage in the face of powerful pressures
and forces that wanted to prevent him fulfilling
his mission.
Ms Lat. Q.v.I.126 f.90

The Holy Spirit, from
the Book of Hours of
Louis dOrleans, 1469
(vellum) by Colombe,
Jean (c.1430c.93)
In Class Work
1.
Describe the community for which Mark wrote his Gospel.
2.
What is the core teaching of Marks Gospel?
3.
Why did Jesus perform his first miracles?
4.
In Jesus time people believed that sickness was caused by

____________________________________.
5.
Why is Jesus called the Redeemer?
6.
Who were the Pharisees? Why did Jesus criticise some of them?
7.
Explain why money-changers and dove-sellers were located in the Temple

courtyard. What attitude did Jesus have to this practice?
8.
Who were the Sadducees and the Zealots?
9.
At the time during which Jesus lived, what sort of Messiah did many of the
Jewish people hope for? How did the Romans react to this?
10. Explain why Jesus used parables to teach his followers.

11. Give two examples of parables used in Marks Gospel. For each example
summarise the main teaching or moral.
165
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus revealed how to draw on

the strength of the Holy Spirit
! Part Two of Marks Gospel teaches that people who follow
Jesus can draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit to live heroic
Christian lives
! The cross and Resurrection are together the ultimate symbols
of Gods power to bring all to fullness of life with God
! Marks Gospel presents an explanation as to why Jesus was
killed
! Marks Gospel presents the meaning of Jesus death and
Resurrection
! The Holy Spirit can empower people to overcome obstacles in
their efforts to live a full Christian life.
Part Two of Marks Gospel teaches that people who

follow Jesus can draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit
to live heroic Christian lives
Jesus showed by his words and actions that
Gods power which people receive through
the Holy Spirit could affect people in many
ways. The Spirits power could help people
to:
be healed of hurts
resist temptations
forgive offences and be forgiven
be freed from guilt
find guidance for their lives.
When people learn about the Spirits power,
they then ask a very important question:
How can people draw on the power of the
Spirit which Jesus offers in their daily lives?
Marks Gospel: Part Two

Mark gives Jesus answer to this question in Part Two of his Gospel. He presents Jesus
revealing an answer to this question by grouping stories into the fourth, fifth and sixth
sections of his Gospel.
167
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
6. JESUS REVEALED HOW TO DRAW ON THE STRENGTH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
SECTION FOUR: What did Jesus teach his disciples about Gods saving power?
The question about how to draw upon the power of God is so important that it is
answered three times. People draw upon Gods saving power by carrying their cross and
by belief in the power of Christs Resurrection.
Then he began to teach them 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)
If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up
his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)
The Son of man will be delivered into the power of men; they will put him to
death; and three days after he has been put to death he will rise again.
(Mark 9:31)
the Son of man is about to be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes.
They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the gentiles, who will
mock him and spit at him and scourge him and put him to death; and after three
days he will rise again. (Mark 10:3334)
The greatest sign of Jesus experiencing the

power of Gods kingdom was his
Resurrection from the dead. The sufferings
and death of Jesus were the result of the
human actions of those who wanted to
destroy him. They denied his mission from
God.
The cross is the symbol of the obedience of
Jesus to God the Father, for Jesus accepted
death rather than refuse the mission his
Father willed for him.
The three predictions outlined in the
Scripture passage have literal and symbolic
meanings. Some of Marks readers in the
Church in Rome followed the literal path,
suffering and dying for their faith. Most,
however, followed the symbolic meaning,
living the symbolic life of taking up the
cross spelt out by Mark.
168
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The parts of Section Four:

Part A: Presents Jesus teachings about how to experience the saving power of God
Part B: Gives examples of Jesus teaching that living as God desires requires great
courage and heroism
Part C: Gives further examples of living heroically in fulfilment of Gods will.
The issues of suffering and death

were very relevant to the Roman
Christians for many reasons,
including the following:
Roman Christians had
experienced persecution
already. Some had given into
the pressures of the
persecutors by denying their
faith
Many were reluctant to accept
Jesus teaching on the path to
the kingdom. Their reactions
were similar to those of Jesus
disciples, as described by
Mark in Section Four
The symbolic ways of taking
up the cross required a heroic
commitment by the early
Roman Christians to follow
Jesus which is just as true
for all Christians today.
The Transfiguration (tempera & gold leaf on panel)

by Gaddi, Taddeo (c.1300-66)
The section opens and closes with stories of blind men being given sight by Jesus. The
first (8:2226) received sight slowly, the second (10:4652) instantly.
Through these stories, Mark is reminding readers that only Jesus can help them to see
and to believe in the path of the cross (8:279:1). They should read this section,
therefore, asking for the faith to believe.
Mark sought to encourage his readers in the challenge of this section by inserting the
stories of the Transfiguration (9:28) and of Jesus curing an epileptic (9:14 29) after the
first Passion prediction. Their purpose is to remind everyone of exactly who it is the
Son of God who is explaining the path to sharing in Gods kingdom. The first includes
the words of God the Father:
This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him. (Mark 9:7)
169
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapters 810 (Mark 8:2210:52)

Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus gives sight to the

blind man at Bethsaida
(8:2226)
To everyone who believes

in him Jesus gives the faith
enabling them to follow
him in heroic ways
... he laid his hands on the

mans eyes again and he
saw clearly (8:25)
Peter proclaims his faith in

Jesus (8:2730)
Belief in Jesus is required

to experience the power of
the Spirit
You are the Christ. (8:29)
First Passion prediction

(8:3133)
Jesus rose from the dead

because he did what God
wanted, even when this
required courage and
heroism
... the Son of man ... (will)

be put to death, and after
three days to rise again
(8:31)
Jesus teaches that anyone

wanting to be his follower
must be willing to take up
their cross also (8:349:1)
Obedience to God, even

when this requires heroism,
is the condition for
experiencing fully the love
and presence of God
If anyone wants to be a
follower of mine, let him
renounce himself and take
up his cross and follow me.
(8:34)
Transfiguration account:
Jesus appears in his glory as
the Son of God, with two
prophets who saw God, i.e.
Moses and Elijah (Exodus
34:6; 1 Kings 19:1114)
Jesus is the Son of God.

His followers need to listen
to him, even when his
teachings seem difficult
This is my Son, the

Beloved. Listen to him.
(9:7)
Cure of the epileptic

(9:1429)
Jesus insists on the

necessity of faith if people
are to experience his saving
power
Everything is possible for

one who has faith. (9:24)
170
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
The second Passion

prediction (9:3032)

the Father wanted, even
when this required courage
and heroism
... three days after he has

been put to death he will
rise again. (9:31)
The disciples argue about

who will be the greatest in
Gods kingdom (9:3337)
The cross means Christian

heroism through:
welcoming Jesus by
welcoming and serving
people that society and
peers consider to be
worthless
Anyone who welcomes a

little child ... in my name,
welcomes me; and anyone
who welcomes me,
welcomes not me but the
one who sent me. (9:37)
The disciples are jealous of

others invoking the saving
power of God (9:3840)
claiming no special rights

because they are
Christian
You must not stop him

(9:39)
Jesus teaches grateful

acceptance (9:41)
accepting peoples
kindness, but never
demanding it
If anyone gives you ...

(9:41)
Jesus warns against leading

others away from him or
from not praying,
worshipping and living as
he taught (9:4250)
challenging those who

would lead or pressure
others not to live as Jesus
taught (here, the body
symbolises the Christian
community)
And if your hand should

be your downfall, cut it off
... (9:43)
Jesus forbids remarriage

after divorce while the first
spouse lives (10:112)
lifelong faithfulness to
marriage vows
... what God has united,

human beings must not
divide. (10:9)
Jesus blesses the children

(10:1316)
maintaining childlike
trust that God will help,
even in times of extreme
difficulty or when the
Christian message seems
hard to live
... anyone who does not

welcome the kingdom of
God like a little child will
never enter it. (10:15)
The rich young man

(10:1727)
resisting materialistic
values, for these prevent
people from experiencing
Gods power
It is easier for a camel to

pass through the eye of a
needle than for someone
rich to enter the kingdom of
God. (10:25)
Personal renunciation will

be rewarded (10:2831)
following Jesus will lead

to greater happiness than
giving into negative peer
pressure, obsessive
desires for wealth, power
or fame, or even putting
family before God.
... there is no one who has

left (everything) ... for my
sake and the sake of the
gospel who will not receive
a hundred times as much
... (10:2930)
171
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
The third Passion

prediction (10:3234)

wanted, even when this
required immense courage
and heroism
... after three days he will

rise again. (10:34)
The request of the sons of

Zebedee (the cup
symbolises suffering:
baptism here means
suffering as a result of
rejecting everything
opposed to God and Gods
will) (10:3540)
The cross can call for

Christian heroism through
personal suffering
Can you drink the cup that

I shall drink, or be baptised
with the baptism with
which I shall be baptised?
(10:38)
Leadership by service
(10:4145)
Christian leadership entails

unconditional service to all
without expecting any
reward
... anyone who wants to

become great among you
must be your servant, and
anyone who wants to be
first among you must be
slave to all. (10:4344)
Cure of the blind man at

Jericho (10:4652)
Jesus will gradually lead

Go; your faith has saved
those who believe in him to you. And at once his sight
see how to live these
returned and he followed
teachings
him along the road. (10:52)
The cross and Resurrection are together the ultimate

symbols of Gods power to bring all to fullness of life
with God
The cross
Throughout the Roman Empire, the cross was a symbol of punishment, shame, suffering
and death. At times the Romans executed great numbers of people. For example, when a
slave revolt led by Spartacus was put down in 7371BC, six thousand captured slaves
were crucified along the main road between Rome and Naples. In this way Rome
demonstrated the punishment that awaited anyone who stood against the power of the
empire.
The Romans nailed or tied victims to crosses. Death came as a result of respiratory or
circulatory problems or exhaustion. To speed their deaths, sometimes victims legs were
broken to prevent them straightening themselves to catch their breath.
Slaves and people who were not Romans were scourged after being sentenced to death
by crucifixion. Their clothes became the property of their executioners. Criminals who
were Roman citizens were never crucified but were beheaded.
172
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Like all Jews, Jesus would have been well aware that the Romans acted with ruthless
efficiency to crush any and all opposition to their rule. Thousands of Jews had been
crucified before the time of Jesus for resisting Roman rule. Many were crucified simply
because they were suspected of being involved with rebels.
The Christian meaning of the cross

Jesus knew that crucifixion would be his fate if he continued his mission. Doing what
God the Father wanted required great courage and heroism. However, as he explained:
... I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him
who sent me. (John 6:38)
For Christians, the cross has become the symbol of what is required to live as God wants
the people of God to live that is, in heroic ways. These include:
overcoming pressures from peers to ignore God or to do wrong
overcoming fears that peers will persecute them, either through ridicule or rejection,
for praying, worshipping and living as Jesus calls
loving those it is difficult to like
bearing illness and suffering in our own life
resisting temptations against keeping Gods commandments.
After his death on the cross, Jesus rose from the dead. His Resurrection is the greatest
sign of the power of God.
Because of the Resurrection, those who believe in Jesus do not see the cross as a symbol
of death but as a means of experiencing the power of God to overcome death and bring
all people, through Jesus, to fullness of life with God.
In Class Work
Using twigs or pieces of wood
create a cross.
On your cross attempt to
illustrate, using paint, clippings,
drawings etc., examples of
ways Christians take up the
cross in Australian society
today.
173
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Marks Gospel presents an explanation as to

why Jesus was killed
SECTION FIVE: Why was Jesus killed?
Having shown ways to draw on and to
experience the Kingdom of God through
the power of the Holy Spirit, Section Five
of the Gospel of Mark consists of stories
and sayings of Jesus teaching and activity
that antagonised a number of the religious
authorities. This hostility towards Jesus
became so great that the authorities
eventually sought to have him put to death.
In selecting these stories and sayings, Mark
also sought to keep reminding his readers:
who Jesus is
that Christian faith must come from the heart.
Maesta: Jesus before Herod, 130811

(oil on panel) by Duccio di Buoninsegna,
(c.12781318)
The parts of Section Five:

Section Five of Marks Gospel consists of four parts:
Part A:
The triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem (11:111)
Part B:
Jesus showing that he had come to fulfil the Sinai Covenant (11:1225)
Part C:
The controversies that led to Jesus opponents seeking his death (11:2712:44)
Part D:
The need for Christians to be patient until Jesus comes again, even though
many will suffer as he did (Chapter 13)
Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapters 1113 (Mark 11, 12, 13)
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
A. The triumphal entry of

Jesus into Jerusalem
Jesus is the Messiah
... close by the Mount of

Olives ... they took the colt
to Jesus ... (11:1, 7)
Jesus overturned the abuse

of certain practices allowed
at the Temple by the
religious authorities. These
practices were unfaithful to
the Sinai Covenant because
they involved exploitation
of poor and vulnerable
Jews who came to offer
sacrifice to God.
... he upset the tables of the

money changers and the
seats of the dove-sellers.
(11:15)
B. Jesus shows that he has

come to fulfil the Sinai
Covenant
Jesus expels the money
changers and dove sellers
from the Temple, quoting
prophecies from Isaiah and
Jeremiah (11:1519)
174
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus new covenant (as

prophesied by Isaiah) will
be for the whole of
humanity, not just the Jews
Does not scripture say: My

house will be called a house
of prayer for all peoples?
(11:17)
The Temple will be

replaced (as prophesied by
Jeremiah)
... you have turned it into

a bandits den. (11:17)
The authority of Jesus

questioned by the chief
priests and scribes
(11:2733)
Jesus acts with the

authority of God
What authority have you

for acting like this? (11:28)
Parable of the wicked

tenants aimed at those who
questioned Jesus authority
(12:112)
Jesus himself is the

cornerstone of the
Kingdom of God
The stone which the

builders rejected has
become the cornerstone
(12:10)
Trick question about tribute

to Caesar asked by
Pharisees and Herodians
(12:1317)
People must give to God

what is Gods due and to
the state what is the states
due
Pay Caesar what belongs to

Caesar and God what
belongs to God (12:17)
Trick questions about the

resurrection of the dead
put to Jesus by the
Sadducees (12:1827)
All will rise from the dead
He is God, not of the dead,

but of the living. (12:27)
The trick question by a

scribe about the greatest of
all the commandments
(12:2834)
The first and greatest

commandment is to love
God. The second
commandment is to love
your neighbour as yourself
... 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. (12:29-31)
Jesus challenges a basic

teaching of the scribes
(12:3537)
Jesus is superior to David
David himself calls him

Lord ... (12:37)
Jesus condemns the

hypocrisy and vanity of the
scribes (12:3840)
True religion comes from

the heart
Beware of the scribes ...

(12:38)
Jesus presents the widow as

the model of true religion
(12:4144)
True religion comes from

the heart
... she in her poverty has

put in everything she
possessed (12:44)
C. The controversies that

led to Jesus opponents
seeking his death
175
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus will return but

many Christians will suffer
rejection and persecution in
the meantime, just as Jesus
himself had suffered
rejection and persecution
So stay awake, because you

do not know when the
master of the house is
coming... (13:35)
D. The need for Christians

to be patient until Jesus
comes again, even though
many will suffer as he did
Jesus teaching about the
need for patience before his
second coming:
the destruction of the
Temple (13:14)
the time of sorrows
(13:513)
the sufferings of
Jerusalem (13:1423)
the coming of the Son of
man (13:2437).
Marks Gospel makes it clear that throughout his public life Jesus spoke and acted in
ways that would be understood by the Jewish people of his time.
A prophecy of the Messiah

The prophet Zechariah
prophesied the coming of the
Messiah who would bring about
Gods peaceful rule (Zechariah
9:910). Through him, God
would battle against evil. These
prophecies were probably made
during the earlier Greek period of
Jewish history (i.e. two to three
hundred years before Jesus birth).
The Messiah-king would enter
Jerusalem. He would ride a colt
because he would be a man of
peace. Horses and chariots were
used in battle.
The Jews knew that prophets
sometimes performed symbolic
actions. Their purpose in these
actions was to emphasise very
important teachings from God.
Icon depicting Christ's Entry into Jerusalem (oil on panel)

by Russian School, (17th century)
176
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Marks Gospel presents the meaning of Jesus death

and Resurrection
SECTION SIX: Jesus follows the path of Resurrection
Roman Christians risked terrible
persecution and cruel death. The last
part of Marks Gospel is intended to
teach them several lessons:
Jesus suffered, died and rose
again. Christians who suffer and
die for their faith will be raised
again to life by the power of the
Spirit.
Jesus will always be with the
Christian who suffers persecution
for the Christian faith. He will
always support and strengthen
and never abandon them.
Jesus will always forgive even
those who deny knowing him, as
Jesus forgave his Apostles.
The Suffering Servant
The Resurrection, right hand predella panel from the Altarpiece of St. Zeno of Verona,
145660 (oil on panel) by Mantegna, Andrea (14311506)
The Jewish people looked forward to the Messiah, though they had different ideas about
what kind of Messiah he would be. Those familiar with the prophet Isaiah knew of the
four Suffering Servant Songs.
Jesus wanted his followers to understand that he was the Suffering Servant prophesied
by Isaiah. Mark presents incidents that teach that Jesus would be the Messiah who gave
his life for all people.
The first incident concerns the woman who anoints the head of Jesus with ointment.
The second incident emphasises Jesus giving himself up to die for the sins of all. This is
the story of the institution of the Eucharist.

Quoting Psalms to convey meaning
In the time of Jesus, one way of teaching was to quote well-known psalms. Psalm 22
begins with a cry of seeming abandonment by God but ends with a statement of faith
and trust in God.
In Marks Gospel, Jesus says the first verse of this Psalm to show his complete faith and
trust, even in his sufferings.
177
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The following table presents Jesus teachings in Section Six of Marks Gospel.
The teachings are presented in four parts:
Part A:
Jesus is the Messiah who gave his life for the human race
Part B:
Jesus saved people by remaining faithful to God the Father
Part C:
The sufferings of Jesus
Part D:
The death of Jesus
Part E:
Jesus is raised from the dead
Revealed Teachings: Marks Gospel, Chapters 1416 (Mark 14, 15, 16:18)
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
A. Jesus is the Messiah who

gave his life for the human
race
...the chief priests and the
scribes were looking for a
way to arrest Jesus by some
trick and have him put to
death. (14:1)
The Pharisees plot against

Jesus because they are blind
to who he is (14:12)
The woman anoints the

head of Jesus (14:39)
Jesus is the Messiah who

will suffer so that the sins
of all will be forgiven
... you will not always

have me. (14:7)
Judas plots against Jesus

with the Pharisees because
he is as blind as they are
(14:1011)
Judas Iscariot ... (offered) to

hand Jesus over to them
(The Chief priests). (14:10)
Passover preparation
(14:1216)
Where is the room for me

to eat the Passover with my
disciples? (14:14)
Jesus foretells the treachery

of Judas (14:1721)
Jesus is the sacrifice of his

New Covenant
...one of you is about to

betray me ...(14:18)
The institution of the

Eucharist (14:2225)
Jesus is the Suffering

Servant who died for the
forgiveness of the sins of
the human race
Take it, he said, this is my

body ... This is my blood,
the blood of the
covenant (14:2224)
Jesus gave his followers the

Eucharist for them to
celebrate and repeat as a
sign of his totally selfgiving love for all
In truth I tell you ... you
will have disowned me
three times. (14:30)
Jesus foretells that Peter

will deny him (14:2631)
178
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
Jesus remained faithful to

God the Father in the face
of death
Abba, Father! ... Take this

cup away from me. But let
it be as you, not I, would
have it. (14:36)
B. Jesus saves people by

remaining faithful to God
the Father
The agony in the garden of
Gethsemane (14:3242)
... this is to fulfil the

scriptures. (14:49)
The arrest (14:4352)

C. The sufferings of Jesus
Trial before the Sanhedrin
(14:5365)
Jesus is the Messiah (or

Christ)
Are you the Christ ...?

(14:61)
Jesus is the Son of God
Are you ... the Son of the

Blessed One? (14:61)
Peter recalled what Jesus
had said to him ... (14:72)
Peters denials (14:6672)

Jesus before Pilate
(15:115)
Jesus is king (the only one

through whom a person
can enter the Kingdom of
God)
Are you the king of the

Jews? (15:2)
Hail, king of the Jews!

(15:18)
Jesus is crowned with

thorns (15:1620)
D. The death of Jesus
The way of the cross
(15:2122)
Jesus suffered and died to

free the human race from
their sins, which prevent
them from relating closely
with God
They led him out to crucify

him. (15:21)
Jesus is crucified
(15:2328)
The inscription ... read, The

King of the Jews. (15:26)
Jesus is mocked (15:2932)
Let the Christ, the king of

Israel come down ...
(15:32)
The death of Jesus

(15:3339)
My God, my God, why

have you forsaken me?
(15:34)
In truth, this man was Son
of God. (15:39)
179
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel text
Revealed teaching
Key text
The women on Calvary

(15:4041)
There were some women

watching from a distance.
(15:40)
The burial (15:4247)
... took Jesus down from

the cross, wrapped him in
the shroud and laid him in
a tomb ... (15:46)
E. Jesus is raised from the

dead by the Father
The empty tomb (16:18)
Jesus is risen
The young man in a white

robe (16:5)
The Christian who is close

to the Risen Christ can
draw on the divine power
that raised Christ from the
dead
... he has risen ... (16:6)
The women run away

afraid (16:8)
The Holy Spirit can empower

people to overcome obstacles
in their efforts to live a full
Christian life
Through their faith in Jesus, Christians learn that
the Holy Spirit can empower people to overcome
every obstacle they face in their efforts to live
according to Gods will. Even peer pressure and
hostility can be overcome.
To be empowered by the Spirit, people need to keep
striving to live good lives in heroic ways when this
is needed, just as Jesus did. Yet, even if Christians
fail, they can always turn to Jesus for forgiveness
and for help as they continue their journey in faith.
In Class Work
Roman Christians asked many serious questions about Jesus such as: Who is Jesus?
What does Jesus offer? How does a follower of Jesus draw on what Jesus offers?
Outline how the evangelist Mark answered their questions.
What important understandings from Marks Gospel are relevant to
the lives of modern Australians?
180
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Mary was filled with the

Holy Spirit
! Mary is a model for all people who are trying to live
as Jesus taught
! Catholic Tradition honours Mary as the Mother of God
! Mary is honoured as the Mother of the Church.
Mary is a model for all people who are trying

to live as Jesus taught
Jesus Christ is both the Son of God and fully human. He showed how the Holy Spirit
makes it possible to live a richly human, spiritual life.
To help people further, God called a young girl, Mary, to become the mother of Jesus.
The Holy Spirit prepared her in a special way to fulfil this role.
Mary was probably around thirteen or
fourteen when she became the mother of
Jesus. She responded to the Holy Spirit so
completely that she became a model for all
people who are trying to follow and to live
like Jesus.
The Immaculate Conception:

Mary filled with the Holy Spirit
God prepared Mary to become the
mother of the Son of God. She
could have no trace of sin, for sin
is incompatible with the holiness
of God.
For this reason, the Holy Spirit
preserved Mary from the moment
of her conception from original sin.
She was the first to enjoy the blessings of
Christs saving work, a work not limited
by time.
Virgin and Child (oil on canvas)

by Sassoferrato, Il (Giovanni Battista Salvi) (160985)
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTER CHAPTER
181
7. MARY WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
This is known as the Immaculate Conception. Mary was filled with the Holy Spirit
from her conception and Catholics acknowledge that Mary is full of grace.
Her conception is referred to as immaculate because she was preserved from original
sin. Hence the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th, refers to the
conception of Mary, not that of Jesus.
In Class Work
1. What feelings might Mary have experienced as she faced the consequences
of saying Yes to God?
2. What qualities, stirred by the Spirit, did Mary show in her response?

It was the common practice in the Jewish society of first century Palestine to betroth a
man and woman before they married. It was often an arrangement reached between
their parents. Mary was betrothed to Joseph. This meant that they were pledged to each
other for life. Even though they remained apart until the actual wedding the betrothed
couple could be called husband and wife. A betrothal was binding and it could not be
broken without a formal divorce being carried out.
In Class Work
Research some paintings of the
Annunciation and the Nativity. Use
them in a PowerPoint prayer about
Mary.
The Annunciation, 1495 (oil on canvas) by Cima da Conegliano,

Giovanni Battista (c.14591517)
182
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Catholic Tradition ho
nours Mar y as the M
other of God
Jesus Christ is God the

Son. As the mother of
Jesus, who is God, M
Catholics and many oth
ary is recognised by
er Christians as the M
other of God. Catholic
in highest honour am
Tradition holds her
ong all the saints.
Key events in the life

of Mar y as Mother of
God
The visitation to Eliza
beth
The angel Gabriel told

Mary that her cousin,
Elizabeth, was having
Though now pregnan
a child late in life.
t herself, Mary went to
tak
e care of Elizabeth, as
relatives at that time.
was the custom for
To do so, Mary had to
take a difficult journe
group of travellers (Lu
y,
pro
bably with a
ke 1:3940).
The jour ney to Bethleh

em
The Roman emperor,

Augustus, ordered a cen
sus of the Roman Empir
that it was conducted
e. Historians suggest
between 10 and 4BC,
probably nearer the lat
ter date.
The Gospel of Luke tel
ls of Mary and Joseph
needing to travel from
Bethlehem to register
Nazareth to
for the census while M
ary was expecting Jesus.
Bethlehem and placed
Jesus was born in
in a manger because no
suitable accommodatio
n was available.
The presentation of Je
sus in the Te
mple
The Law of Moses req
uired that first-born ba
bies be presented to Go
Mary and Joseph travel
d in the Temple.
led to Jerusalem to the
Temple to fulfil this law
there, two prophets, Sim
of God. While
eon and Anna, recognis
ed who Jesus was the
of the chosen people
promised deliverer
(i.e. the Messiah).
Simeon told Mary tha
t not only would Jesus
suffer, but she would
(Luke 2:3335).
also suffer with him
The flight into Egypt
King Herod of Galilee

threatened the life of
the infant Jesus. Herod
might eventually cause
feared that Jesus
the collapse of his kin
gd
om
.
M
ary
an
d Joseph undertook the
journey to Egypt in ord
long
er to protect Jesus by
putting him out of He
rods reach.
Finding Jesus in the

Temple
When he was twelve Jes

us remained in the Te
mple in Jerusalem wh
left Jerusalem in a car
ile Mary and Joseph
avan with their relatives
, not realising that Jes
caravan (Luke 2:4145
us was not with the
).
On finding that Jesus
was not with them, M
ary and Joseph return
found him talking in the
ed to Jerusalem. They
Temple with learned sch
olars. Mary had her fir
Jesus was now going to
st indication that
follow the path set by
God the Father.
183
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Discuss what feelings the Spirit would have helped Mary to overcome
in these situations.

The caravan in which Mary and Joseph travelled (Luke 2:44) was not a small, mobile
home but a number of cargo-laden animals, usually camels or donkeys, led by their
handlers. Sometimes a caravan would transport people, such as pilgrims going to
Jerusalem for one of the major Jewish festivals (e.g. Passover), as well as cargo. Animal
caravans are still used in certain parts of the world.
Early in Jesus public life, Mary faced

the challenge of perceptions that Jesus
was out of his mind
When large crowds began to seek Jesus, his
relatives did not understand his work. They
thought he had gone out of his mind. They
went to take control of Jesus to bring him home.
When his relations heard of this, they set out to
take charge of him; they said, He is out of his
mind. (Mark 3:21)
Marys confidence in Jesus withstood this
challenge. The Book of Acts reports that Mary
was present with Jesus disciples before and
during Pentecost. This identifies Mary very
closely with the earliest Church community in
Jerusalem that was brought to life by the Spirit
of Jesus (Acts 1:14, 2:14).
Scripture is clear, then, that whatever concerns
or doubts Mary may have had initially about
Jesus when he began to act with the authority of
God, were removed completely as a result of
what Jesus went on to do and to be. Marys
faith in Jesus grew as she witnessed his public
ministry, death, Resurrection and Ascension into
heaven.
Lamentation over the Dead Christ, 143641 (tempera on panel) (detail)
by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.13871455)
184
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Have you ever experienced situations in your life which can

be likened to those Mary experienced in the Gospel
accounts?
Take a few moments to reflect on the following:
fear of being harmed by others because you chose to do
the right thing
caring for others, despite your personal needs
physical hardship
fulfilling responsibilities, even though these may involve
suffering
times of confusion.
If you have experienced any of the above write about these
times.
OR
Identify people today who have experienced these kinds of
struggles in their life.
Mary remained a virgin and

a mother always
Mary remained a virgin always. She
shared in Jesus mission of love for the
whole human race and had no other
children.
Having had no other children, Mary
could dedicate herself completely to Jesus.
When he was dying on the cross, Jesus
made her the spiritual mother of all his
followers, as well as of the whole human
race.
The Gospel of John tells the story of Jesus
making Mary the spiritual mother of all.
Mary, along with John, the youngest of
the Apostles, was standing beside the cross
on which the dying Jesus hung. Jesus
spoke to them both:
Christ on the Cross (tempera and gold leaf on panel)

by Russian School, (19th century)
Woman, this is your son ... This is your mother. (John 19:2627)
In the Jewish culture, woman was remembered as the word used by God to refer to
Eve, the mother of the human race (Genesis 3:15, 20). Jesus was speaking to Mary as
the spiritual mother of all his followers, his Church, and of all people.
185
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Scenes from the Nativity, panel one from the Silver Treasury of Santissima Annunziata, c.145053
(tempera on panel) by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.13871455)
Mary is honoured as the Mother of the Church

Today, as well as being called the Mother of God, Mary is also called the Mother of
the Church. This reminds all that everyone who follows Jesus can turn to Mary as their
spiritual mother. She is always concerned about their problems and needs and she wants
to help.
Catholics and many other Christians pray to Mary, asking her to present their needs to
Jesus, her Son.
Marian devotions
Because Catholics and many other Christians honour Mary as the Mother of God and
Mother of the Church, they:
celebrate the major events in her life as feast days or days of special celebration
pray special prayers in her honour, such as the Rosary and the Angelus, the prayer
that recalls the Annunciation.
186
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Mary was assumed body and soul into heaven

Death was not part of Gods plan when creating the human race. Originally God
intended taking people, body and soul, into heaven at the end of their lives.
As a result of the sin of the
first parents of the human
race, the punishment for
their disobedience is that
people now experience the
mystery of death sometimes
in fear and insecurity.
Mary, however, responded
perfectly to the Holy Spirit
throughout her life.
Conceived without original
sin, Mary had no trace of
sin throughout her lifetime.
When she died her body
did not decay in the tomb.
Mary was taken, or
assumed, into heaven
immediately, body and
soul.

Major Feast Days of Mary celebrated by the Church:
January 1
Mary, Mother of God
March 25
The Annunciation of the Lord
May 24
Our Lady Help of Christians
May 31
The Visitation
August 15
The Assumption
September 8
The Birth of Mary
December 8
The Immaculate Conception.
The Church celebrates this

event each year on the feast
of the Assumption, 15
August. In heaven, Mary
continues today to exercise
her role as the spiritual
mother of all who follow
Jesus.
The Immaculate Conception (oil on canvas) by Guercino

(Giovanni Francesco Barbieri) (15911666)
In Class Work
Write an acrostic poem, attempting to capture the life of Mary and
the qualities she possessed.
187
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information from Chapters 6 and 7 to help you answer the following
questions:
1. Jesus experienced Gods saving power. The greatest sign of this was the
_________________. The human actions of those who wanted to destroy
Jesus and deny his mission resulted in his _________________ and
_______________.
2. For Christians what is the symbolic meaning of the cross? What symbolic
meanings did the Romans and the Jews of the first century associate with
the cross?
3. Explain why Mary is a model for all people who try to live as Jesus taught.
4. List the ways in which Catholics and other Christians honour Mary as the
Mother of God and Mother of the Church.
5. The feast of the Assumption is an important feast celebrated by Catholics.
Explain why it is significant.
188
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Emotions move people

! Experiences of emotions give rise to the question:
How can I handle my emotions?
! The principal emotions are love, hatred, desire, fear, joy,
sadness and anger
! Developing emotionally involves three steps: recognising the
emotion, accepting it, and choosing how to direct the emotion
in life-giving ways
! Love is the most fundamental emotion.
Experiences of emotions give rise to the question:

How can I handle my emotions?
Everyone has emotions. Different
emotions move people in different
ways. Over time, people have tried to
understand human emotions. This has
led people to learn about the ways
human beings behave because of their
emotions and how emotions can be
directed in appropriate ways.

The word emotion comes from the Latin
word movere, which means to move.
Emotions move people to behave in
certain ways.
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
? ? ?
?
?
191
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTERCHAPTER
1. EMOTIONS MOVE PEOPLE
The principal emotions are love, hatred, desire, fear,

joy, sadness and anger
God created emotions as part of human nature. People experience and learn a lot
through their emotions about what it is to be human. From a very young age, human
beings experience emotions and begin to express themselves emotionally. For example:
a baby begins to experience the love of parents and to return their love
a toddler who is frustrated by something may become angry
a child who makes an exciting new discovery may express joy
a teenager who discovers they have a special gift in some area of life may feel a
strong desire to enter a career that will make full use of this gift.
The principal emotions are love and hatred, desire and fear, joy, sadness and anger.
These emotions play an important role in the life of every person.
The most fundamental emotion is love, which seeks out what is good. Love causes
people to hope that good can be achieved, even when they face bad situations.
Emotions should not be confused with behaviours

Some people confuse emotions with behaviours. All behaviour is a result of the choices
people make, not the emotion they feel. It is the behaviour that results from an emotion
that can be considered either good or bad, not the emotion itself.
For example, hate, like all the emotions, is neither good nor bad, except as it affects a
person. Hate can move people to try to change injustices that they see a good effect
or it can move people to do hurtful things clearly a bad effect.
To develop as a Christian person, it is important to learn how to deal appropriately with
emotions in order to live as God wants.
Developing an emotion means learning to direct it so that it helps rather than hinders
people from doing what is right.
192
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Developing emotionally involves three steps: recognising

the emotion, accepting it, and choosing how to direct the
emotion in life-giving ways
Emotional development involves three steps
The development of an emotion requires three steps:
1. Recognising the emotion
2. Accepting the emotion
3. Making a choice to direct an emotion.
1. Recognising the emotion

To recognise an emotion, people need to stop and allow themselves to feel its effects,
particularly in their bodies. Then the emotion needs to be named, for example, fear, joy,
sadness or anger.
Many people are unable to recognise the principal emotions that stir within them, such
as anger and fear, while others will try to avoid dealing with such emotions. They carry
on as though they do not exist. For example, in some cultures people are expected to
ignore or hide emotions like anger and sadness, reflected in statements such as:
Just keep a stiff upper lip
Youve got to pull yourself together
You can just keep those feelings to yourself!
Recognising emotions is a necessary and healthy response. In fact, many benefits can be
gained from learning to recognise emotions for what they are a part of each persons
life experience that helps them to develop.
Unrecognised emotions will not simply go away. They can build up and cause inner
tension, stress and general unhappiness, or they can even burst out in uncontrollable
ways that can cause great harm to peoples health or their relationships.
2. Accepting the emotion

After recognising an emotion, the next important step is to try to understand what has
caused the emotion and whether the emotion was appropriate to the situation. For example,
sometimes people can confuse the emotions of anger and sadness or desire and love.
3. Making a choice to direct an emotion

To make a choice about directing an emotion people need to take into account a number
of considerations, such as:
Is the response appropriate to the situation?
Will the response restore or strengthen relationships?
Will the response bring inner peace?
193
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
If the answers are yes in each case, a person can be confident that the choice they have
made about how to direct their emotions will turn out to be life-giving for themselves and others.
A person who feels very angry because they believe that they have been unfairly blamed
and punished might want to lash out at the person in authority or may even try to get
revenge. Instead, they might direct their anger in a constructive way, by choosing a lifegiving response that:
t JTBQQSPQSJBUFUPUIFTJUVBUJPO
t XJMMIBWFBDIBODFPGSFTUPSJOHUIFSFMBUJPOTIJQXJUIUIFPUIFSQFSTPO
t XJMMCFMJLFMZUPCSJOHJOOFSQFBDF
"GUFSBEJTBHSFFNFOUQFPQMFNJHIUBTLGPSBNFFUJOHUIBUXJMMMPPLBHBJOBUXIBU
happened, giving each person the opportunity to understand the others feelings and to
consider appropriate ways to respond.
5IJTJTUIFLJOEPGBQQSPBDI+FTVTEJSFDUFEIJTEJTDJQMFTUPUBLFJOSFTPMWJOHEJGGFSFODFT
between them:
If your brother does something wrong, go and have it out with him alone,
between your two selves. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If
he does not listen take two or three others along with you (Matthew 18:1516)
Over time, individuals can learn to express their emotions appropriately, using them to
do what is right and live according to their ideals and other inner gifts.
Think about things you have done or are doing now that
can be considered life-giving for yourself and others. What
do other people do that is not life-giving for you or for
others? Write about some of these experiences and how
they affect you.
Think about something that you
have done in the past or that you
are doing now that is life-negating.
How might you change your behaviour
to become more life-giving in
these areas of your life? Write down
some of your thoughts.
194
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Apply the steps outlined above for making an appropriate life-giving response
to each of the following cases:
1. You become angry when you see a younger student being bullied by
someone in your year at school.
2. You are sad and angry that your closest friend seems to be drifting into a
new friendship group with people who make life-negating choices.
3. You really hate seeing the suffering of people, especially children, when you
watch the news on TV.
4. You are afraid that you will look out of place on a free dress day at school
and you know your parents cant afford to buy you new clothes and
shoes at the moment.
Love is the most fundamental emotion

Of all the emotions, love is the most basic
emotion needed for the human person to
flourish. It involves choosing to do what is
good for self and others. It means asking
the question, What is truly in my best
interest or the best interest of the other
person or both?
A person who recognises that they feel
love for self and others, even people they
dont know personally, will be prepared to
make life-giving choices. The kind,
generous behaviour of the person who
makes a stranger welcome is an example of
how love can be directed in such a way.
Sometimes a person must overcome the
temptation to take the easy option when
they can see that their choice may result in
harm to self or others. Self-control in situations like this is a sign of putting the good of
self and others first.
Sometimes the right and most loving answer to someones request will be a straight no,
or to say to them, I dont think thats the right thing to do.
195
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Discuss what would be the most loving response in each of the following
situations:
a friend is harming herself to lose weight by vomiting after meals

and asks you not to tell anyone
a friend is bullying a student at school
an older brother or sister is going to parties on the weekend

and getting drunk
a brother or a friend asks you to tell a lie to his parents as a cover

for what he actually intends to do.
Spend some time reflecting about the most loving

response to each of these scenarios. Then write your
thoughts in your journal.
People wonder about how they might achieve their
personal ideals, such as loyalty and fairness, and the
qualities they need to develop in order to become good
and responsible people.
One of the ways they do this is by developing their
emotions and directing them consistently in appropriate
ways. In order for people to do this they need to be clear
about what is right and what is wrong.
One of the ways they do this is by developing

their emotions and directing them consistently
in appropriate ways. In order for people to do
this they need to be clear about what is right
and what is wrong.
196
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The emotions function best

when directed by the will
! Emotions function best when appropriately directed by the will
! Failure to direct emotions in life-giving ways can result in
emotional stress
! People need to respect their emotions.
Emotions function best when appropriately

directed by the will
Sometimes people find it difficult to direct their
emotions. Instead of being under control, they can
take over peoples lives, confusing them about how
to behave in ways that are appropriate to the
situation.
Emotions function best in a persons life when they
are directed by the will. The ability to use the will
to appropriately direct emotions leads a person to
do what is in the best interests of self and others.
They can achieve a real harmony between what
they feel and how they choose to act or direct those
feelings.
Where people let their emotions dominate, their
emotions can take over, leading them to say and do
what they might later regret. Not recognising or
accepting their emotions may confuse people with so many thoughts that working out
right and wrong becomes impossible. There can be many reasons why people become
confused about their emotions and fail to direct them appropriately.

God created people as rational beings with free will, able to make decisions about and
control their own actions.
It is the willthat enables people to exercise the ability they have to choose between what
is good and what is evil.
197
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTERCHAPTER
2. THE EMOTIONS FUNCTION BEST WHEN DIRECTED BY THE WILL
Take some time to think about a recent occasion when you

did not direct your emotions appropriately and as a
consequence you behaved in a way that was not life-giving.
In your journal, write a dialogue between yourself and the
other person/people involved. You need to ensure that you
write about how you felt at the time and why you chose the
action you did. You should also try to express how you feel
about the situation now and the positive choice you would
hope to make if the situation were to happen again.
People often do not understand their emotions

People have many gifts. Their emotions are only some of these. If they do not integrate
their emotions with their other gifts, their emotions can tend to take over. As a result,
emotions can lead them to do what is wrong. While this may bring joy, pleasure or
satisfaction for a while, the person can in the long-term experience unease or guilt.
Failure to direct emotions in life-giving ways can result

in emotional stress
When people do not understand how to direct their emotions in life-giving ways, they are
likely to feel emotional stress. For example, a student may experience anxiety because
they are afraid of failing an exam. Instead of focusing and studying hard this anxiety can
make it difficult for them to concentrate. As a result they are left feeling stressed.
Emotional stress grows

People who do not understand their emotions become so used to feeling stressed that
stress is taken for granted as normal.
Stressed people often seek relief in unhealthy ways. The most common are:
drugs taken for non-medicinal purposes
alcohol abuse
violence.
drugs
ALCOHOL
VIOLENCE
198
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
As a class, discuss examples
of how emotions, if not
directed, can cause people
to behave in ways they may
not wish. Examples can be
found in videos,
newspapers, books or from
observations of society.
What reasons can you
suggest which would
explain why people allow
their emotions to take over
their behaviour?
People need to respect their emotions

Emotions are part of human nature as created by God and, as such, they need to be respected.
Every time an emotion is experienced but not understood or properly directed, the emotion grows
more powerful. The power that goes with emotions can give a person great energy. This energy can
be used in positive ways to give life to self and others, or it may be used in ways that can cause
damage.
People who imagine or place themselves in situations which stir strong emotions run the risk of
allowing their emotions to control their actions rather than being in control of directing their
actions. Respect for emotions always involves integrating other gifts, or aspects of ones character,
when a choice is to be made.
Everyone would rather be able to direct their emotions in life-giving ways. People who fail to direct
their emotions sooner or later can expect to experience stress, conflict and confusion. This leads
people to ask: How can I learn to appropriately direct my emotions and find emotional peace?
199
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapters 1 and 2 to help you to answer these questions
1. List the principal emotions.
2. List the three steps people need to take if they are to develop emotionally.
3. Why is love seen as the most fundamental emotion?
4. Explain why a persons will is important to their emotional development?
200
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus promises salvation

! All people are created in Gods image
! The Scriptures recall signs of Gods love
! The emotions of Jesus always reflect Gods love
! The Christian promise can become a reality if people are
empowered by the love of Jesus.
All people are created in Gods image

No one can handle their emotions
appropriately all the time. Everyone
has the experience of sometimes
saying or doing something which
they later regret. This leads people
to ask: How can I use my will and
choose to appropriately direct my
emotions and so find emotional
peace? God created this and other
human heart questions to draw
people closer to God.
People are created in the image of
God. This means that God has
created in each person the gifts
needed to become like God. When
people behave in God-like ways,
they find happiness growing in
them. When they do not behave in
God-like ways, they eventually
experience unhappiness.
The early Christians, remembering all that God has done for people, would say:
We have recognised for ourselves, and put our faith in, the love God has for us. God
is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. (1 John 4:16)
God created the emotion of love so that people can behave like God, who is love (1 John 4:8).
201
Return toReturn to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return toReturn to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
3. JESUS PROMISES SALVATION
The Scriptures recall signs of Gods love

God created people out of love. God wants people to enjoy love forever and to spend
eternity in heaven after they die. To help people achieve this goal, God revealed to
people how they need to live.
There are many examples in the Bible of love being Gods underlying motive for
everything.
The call of Abraham showed Gods desire to begin relating more closely with people
than was previously the case:
Yahweh said to Abram, Leave your country, your kindred and your fathers 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! (Genesis 12:12)
The covenant at Sinai showed that God wanted a close relationship with people. Moses
was commanded to sprinkle the altar and the people with bullocks blood to show Gods
desire that their relationship with their Creator be like a blood relationship:
Moses then took half the blood and put it into basins, and the other half he
sprinkled on the altar Moses then took the blood and sprinkled it over the
people (Exodus 24:6, 8)
God had the representatives of the people eat a meal in Gods presence:
Moses, Aaron and seventy elders of Israel then went up they actually gazed on
God and then ate and drank. (Exodus 24:9, 11)
By obeying the Ten Commandments, given at Sinai, people would avoid behaviours that
would damage their relationship with God and others.
To relate closely to God people must:
Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)
God commanded that the Passover ritual be celebrated annually so that the people
would not forget the love God had shown them by freeing the Israelites from slavery in
Egypt:
The whole community of Israel must keep it. (Exodus 12:47)
202
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
When the people of Israel disobeyed the Ten Commandments, God sent prophets such
as Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah and Ezekiel to call the people to change their ways so
that they could again relate closely with God.
The greatest sign of Gods love Jesus Christ

The greatest example of Gods love was the coming of Jesus Christ his Son into the
world.
For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son, so that everyone who
believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. For God sent his Son
into the world, but so that through him the world might be saved. (John 3:16, 17)
The emotions of Jesus always reflect Gods love

Jesus Christ is both God the Son and a human person. He had
emotions like every other human being. Those who knew Jesus
realised that his every thought, word and action reflected Gods
love.
The emotions of Jesus show his love

The Gospels tell many stories of Jesus expressing emotions. He
always did so in ways that were consistent with his basic choice to
love. Jesus showed how people can direct emotions in life-giving
ways. Examples are:
Jesus love for children moved him to overcome tiredness to
bless those who approached him (Matthew 19:14)
Jesus weeping when thinking of the consequences for Jerusalem
after the people refused to listen to him (Luke 19:4142)
Jesus grieving at the death of Lazarus his friend (John 11:3335)
Jesus expressing frustration in ways that did not hurt his
followers (John 14:9)
Jesus feeling compassion for the widow whose only son
had died (Luke 7:1117)
Jesus overcoming the fear of death to continue showing
love (Luke 22:44).
The love of Jesus was powerful

People who knew Jesus well, especially the Apostles, realised that
he never behaved selfishly. Nothing stopped Jesus from loving. He
loved even his executioners so powerfully that he prayed for their
forgiveness, even making an excuse for them to God the Father:
Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)
203
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus shares this love with his followers

His first followers realised that Jesus was offering to share his power to love with them.
With this love, they could gradually love like Jesus and selfishness would decline.
Jesus shares this love today by sending the Holy Spirit to all who receive Baptism. To
the extent that they respond to the Holy Spirit, the special power of Jesus to love will
grow in them.
The Christian promise can become a reality if people are

empowered by the love of Jesus
The love of Jesus can empower people to use their wills in order to appropriately direct
their emotions. By drawing on the power of the Holy Spirit to help them love as Jesus
taught, people can respond to Gods call.
Imagine what it would be like if all

people showed their emotions in ways
that were consistent with the basic
choice to love. All signs of selfishness
would disappear from the world.
Imagine for a moment what Australia
would be like!
In Class Work
Take a few moments to reflect upon how different the world would be if
everyone today shared the love of Jesus.
Using any artistic medium, create your expression of how you think the world
would be if everyone responded to the call to love as Jesus does.
Display images around the class.
204
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus shares his power to love:

sacraments and commandments
! Jesus shares his power to love through the sacraments of
Baptism and Confirmation
! Charity is the power to love as Jesus does a selfless love
that grows as people keep his commandments
! The commandments of Jesus call Christians to live the Ten
Commandments in love of God and neighbour.
Jesus shares his power to love through the sacraments

of Baptism and Confirmation
People are not always able to express
their emotions as Jesus did. The ways
they behave do not always reflect
Gods love. Jesus wants to help people
behave in ways that reflect his love.
He does so by sharing his spiritual
power to love with everyone who
follows him.
To the extent that the followers of
Jesus pray, worship and live as he
taught, his power grows stronger
within them. No one can live as a
Christian without this spiritual
power.
For this reason, Jesus commanded that all who believe in him receive Baptism:
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)
In early times, Baptism and Confirmation were celebrated in the one ceremony. These
words of Jesus refer to both sacraments. The spiritual gifts of both are needed to live the
Christian life, which includes expressing emotions in ways that reflect Gods love.
205
Return to Return to
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS CHAPTER CHAPTER
4. JESUS SHARES HIS POWER TO LOVE: SACRAMENTS AND COMMANDMENTS
THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM IN DAILY LIFE

Spiritual gifts of the
Promised help
sacrament of Baptism
If developed, these
graces gradually
empower people to...
Freedom from
original sin
The power to
overcome
selfishness and
temptations to do
wrong
Overcome
frustrated at the
selfishness, habits of limits of human
doing wrong and
nature in efforts to
unjust and other
overcome
negative attitudes
selfishness and
negative attitudes
and to change for
the better
Sharing in the life

of God
The power to
behave more like
Jesus
think, speak and

behave more in
ways that reflect
Gods
love
goodness
truthfulness
justice
forgiveness
mercy
frustrated as human
weaknesses continue
to hamper their
efforts to become a
better human being
The gift of faith;

freely committing
oneself to God
overcome questions
and doubts about
God, Jesus, and the
teachings of Jesus.
In doing this they
will be able to draw
on Gods love and
power to live more
like Jesus
limited by the
human capacity to
change for the
better
The gift of hope;

trusting in Gods
promises whilst
looking forward to
the kingdom of
heaven and eternal
life
trust that God will

always help them.
Hope that they will
never be overcome
again by human
weaknesses
lacking in hope
because of the
continuing hold of
human weaknesses
The gift of charity;

loving God above
all things and
sharing Gods love
with others
keep loving God

more deeply for
Gods own sake,
and to draw on
Gods power for
daily life
unable to keep
drawing closer in a
personal
relationship with
God or to draw on
Gods power
gradually draw on
Gods power to love
other people, even
those it is difficult
to like
limited by their
human capacity to
see beyond what
they may not like
about a person, or to
forgive as Jesus did
206
If not developed,
people remain...
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Spiritual gifts of the

Promised help
sacrament of Baptism
If developed, these
graces gradually
empower people to...
If not developed,
people remain...
Membership in
Church of Jesus
The power to share

in the work of Jesus
by drawing others
to God
teach others about

Jesus by example
limited by their
human capacity to
live the Christian
life
The graces of the

Eucharist and the
other sacraments
draw closer to God

by receiving Jesus in
Holy Communion
and the graces of
the other
sacraments
unable to receive
the other
sacraments and so
unable to receive
their graces
The Holy Spirit

drawing baptized
Christians closer
together.
develop good
relationships with
other Christians.
unable to establish a
sense of belonging,
experiencing
loneliness.
Being united by the

Holy Spirit with
other baptized
believers
207
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SEVEN GIFTS COMMUNICATED

THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION IN DAILY LIFE
The seven gifts of the
Holy Spirit
Promised help
If developed, these
gifts empower
people to...
If these gifts are not

developed, there
is ...
The Spirit of
Wisdom
The ability to see

everyone and every
situation as God
and Jesus would
seem them
grow in their ability

to see good in
difficult situations,
and good coming
from tragedy
the tendency to be
overcome by bad
experiences
see the good in

people and their
actions
the tendency to see

the negative in
others and be cynical
discover the good in the tendency to

oneself
develop a negative
self-image
the tendency to
develop feelings of
being unlovable
The Spirit of
Understanding
The Spirit of Right

Judgement
Able to understand,
as Jesus does, the
meaning of Gods
actions
Able to judge the

true value of
everything, as Jesus
did
be conscious of the
need to die a friend
of God
a lack of concern at
breaking serious
commandments of
God
discover Gods love

through events and
people such as parents
and other carers
difficulty in seeing
signs of Gods
presence and love in
others
recognise Gods
support through
other people

that God is not
interested in
personal problems
and difficulties
decide the value of

future options when
leaving school
lack of direction in
life
be able to see the

true values on
which to base ones
life
the tendency to
place too much
value on material
possessions
have a sense of
personal vocation
or life-calling from
God
the tendency to not

see personal
meaning or meaning
in life difficulties,
such as illness
learn to choose
good life priorities
the tendency to be
attracted to false
values
208
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The seven gifts of the

Holy Spirit
Promised help
If developed, these
gifts empower
people to...
The Spirit of
Courage
Able to rise above

personal challenges
and fears, even in
the face of death, as
Jesus did
be strengthened
the tendency to be
within to face life
overwhelmed by
personal problems
failures and physical
disability
The Spirit of
Knowledge
Able to understand,
as Jesus does, the
meaning of Gods
actions
If these gifts are not

developed, there
is ...
develop inner
strength to
overcome peer and
social pressures
the tendency to give

into peer and group
pressures
be strengthened
against temptations
to disobey the
commandments
weakening in times
of temptation
be strengthened to
live the teachings of
Jesus each day
fear of being
recognised as a
Christian
come to know God

better and to learn
new lessons from
experiences of God
to remember that:
God helps in time
of need
God will forgive
whatever sin has
been repented
God consoles in
times of sorrow
confusion and fear

of God
the tendency to not

remember Gods
special love and
support for those in
trouble
know how to relate the tendency to feel

personally with God that God is distant
The Spirit of
Reverence
The Spirit of
Wonder and Awe in
Gods presence
Able to keep
growing in
awareness of Gods
closeness and love
pray more easily

and personally
the tendency to find

prayer difficult
feel that God is

present always,
especially in times
of difficulties and
loneliness

that God is absent
or does not exist
Able to keep
returning love to
God for all Gods
Gifts
want to live daily as

Jesus taught
little interest in God

or in loving God.
209
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Charity is the power to love as Jesus does

a selfless love that grows as people keep his
commandments
Through Baptism, Jesus followers receive the power of
Jesus to love as he does. This power is called charity.
It is strengthened through Confirmation.
Charity empowers Christians in two ways:
to love God for Gods own sake
to love every human person for Gods sake.
In Class Work
Make a list of people who are living examples of charity or Christian love.
Be prepared to share your list with others and explain the reasons for your
choice.
People can love God for many reasons, for example, to benefit from Gods help or to
avoid some punishment they fear. Charity makes it possible to love God with no ulterior
motive. Charity empowers Christians to love others as Jesus loves them. They can grow
to love not only those they dislike, but even enemies. So when Christians fail to love, to
forgive, or to show compassion, they have not sufficiently developed the gift of charity.
To
grow in charity, Christians need to:

nourish this gift by receiving Jesus in Holy Communion
practise loving God for Gods own sake, especially through daily prayer
practise praying for others
pray to God for help to love others, especially those it is hard to like and forgive
make a genuine effort to behave towards others in selflessly loving ways.
Jesus taught his followers to develop charity by practising it in specific ways. These are
summed up in his two greatest commandments:
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)
You must love your neighbour as yourself. (Matthew 22:39)
Only God can empower Christians to love others as Jesus does. This is why love for
others is the second commandment.
210
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Ten Commandments

Before Jesus came, the People of Israel
tried to love God and others in the
ways prescribed by the Ten
Commandments (the Decalogue) given
to Moses on Mt Sinai. Often they
failed to do so.
The Ten Commandments were meant
to help the Israelites to develop the
holiness needed to relate with God.
God told them:
Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy. (Leviticus 19:2)
The Ten Commandments summarised all of Gods laws. Each was meant to remind the
people of Israel of a number of these laws. No commandment was thought of purely in
a literal sense, but they were meant to help recall Gods laws.
Christians are empowered to love in new ways

Charity and Jesus two great commandments empower people to develop the holiness
that makes growing closer to God possible. Jesus said:
Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come
not to abolish but to complete them. (Matthew 5:17)
Only God is perfect. Human weakness and the tendency to do wrong means that
Christians will always have to struggle to develop the power of charity needed to love
God and others in the ways indicated in the Ten Commandments.
People who develop charity find themselves gradually behaving more as God wants them
to behave. Those who find themselves unable to overcome their human failings and
weaknesses can gradually grow apart from God. This distance widens if people fail to
recognise the need to turn back to God, repent and receive forgiveness.
In Class Work
Write an acrostic poem on love, based on the teachings of the two great
commandments of Jesus.
211
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The commandments of Jesus call Christians to live the

Ten Commandments in love of God and neighbour
*UJTOPUBMXBZTFBTZUPPCFZUIPTFPGUIF5FO$PNNBOENFOUTXIJDISFMBUFUPUIFTFDPOE
HSFBUDPNNBOENFOUPG+FTVT
COMMANDMENTS OF THE DECALOGUE WHICH RELATE TO THE

SECOND GREAT COMMANDMENT OF JESUS
Jesus second great
commandment: You must
yourself
Charity gradually empowers

people to
People who do not develop

charity may ...
4. Honour your father

and your mother
t TIPXSFTQFDUGPSQBSFOUT
t TIPXEJTSFTQFDUUP
QBSFOUT
t PCFZQBSFOUT
t EJTPCFZQBSFOUT
t MJWFJOIBSNPOZXJUI
CSPUIFSTBOETJTUFST
t GJHIUXJUICSPUIFSTBOE
TJTUFST
t TIPXSFTQFDUGPSPMEFS
GBNJMZNFNCFST
t CFIBWFJOEJTSFTQFDUGVM
XBZTUPPMEFSGBNJMZ
NFNCFST
t TIPXSFTQFDUGPS BOE
PCFEJFODFUP UIPTFJO
BVUIPSJUZ
t CFEJTSFTQFDUGVMBOE
EJTPCFEJFOUUPQFPQMF
XIPFYFSDJTFBVUIPSJUZ
t SFTQFDUIVNBOMJGFBTB
HJGUPG(PE
t EFMJCFSBUFMZLJMMIVNBO
CFJOHTCZNVSEFSPS
BCPSUJPO
t EJSFDUBOHFSTPUIBUJUJT
FYQSFTTFEJOXBZTUIBU
SFGMFDUMPWFBOEDBSFGPS
PUIFST
t HJWFJOUPVOEJSFDUFE
BOHFSCZIBSNJOHPS
PGGFOEJOHPUIFST PS
EBNBHJOHQSPQFSUZ
t MPWFBOEDBSFGPSUIFTJDL
BOEUIFEZJOH
t DPNNJUFVUIBOBTJBPS
BTTJTUPUIFSTUPDPNNJU
TVJDJEF
t UBLFDBSFPGQFSTPOBM
IFBMUI
t UBLFESVHTGPSOPO
NFEJDJOBMQVSQPTFT PS
HFUESVOL
t EFGFOEMJGFVOEFSBUUBDL
GSPNBOBHHSFTTPS
t UBLFVOOFDFTTBSZPS
DBSFMFTTSJTLTXJUIUIFJS
PXOPSPUIFSTMJWFT
5. You shall not kill
t USFBUPUIFSTJOWJPMFOU
XBZT JODMVEJOHGJHIUJOH
LJEOBQQJOHBOEUPSUVSF
212
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus second great

yourself

people to

charity may ...
5. You shall not kill
t FODPVSBHFQFBDF
t AHFUFWFOPSUBLFSFWFOHF
t IBUFBOPUIFSIVNBO
CFJOH
6. You shall not commit

adultery
t USFBUBOJNBMTXJUI
LJOEOFTT
t DBVTFVOOFDFTTBSZ
EBNBHFUPUIF
FOWJSPONFOUBOE
TVGGFSJOHUPBOJNBMT
t USFBUPOFTPXOTFYVBMJUZ
XJUISFTQFDU
t SBQF TFYVBMMZBCVTFPS
BTTBVMUBOPUIFSQFSTPO
t EFWFMPQSFTQFDUGPSPUIFS
QFPQMFTTFYVBMJUZ
t TFFLTFYVBMQMFBTVSFCZ
JNBHJOJOHTFYVBMBDUT
XJUIBOPUIFSQFSTPO
MVTU
t TFFLTFYVBMQMFBTVSFCZ
MPPLJOHBUNFEJBXIJDI
QPSUSBZQFPQMFFOHBHJOH
JOTFYVBMBDUT PSBDUVBMMZ
XBUDIJOHUIFNEPTP
QPSOPHSBQIZ
t FOHBHFJOQSPTUJUVUJPO
t FOHBHFJOIPNPTFYVBM
BDUJPOT
t TUJNVMBUFUIFJSTFYVBM
PSHBOTPOQVSQPTFGPS
TFYVBMQMFBTVSF
NBTUVSCBUJPO
t SFTQFDUUIFSFMBUJPOTIJQ
BOESFTQPOTJCJMJUJFTPG
IVTCBOETBOEXJWFT
UPXBSETFBDIPUIFS
t TFFLTFYVBMQMFBTVSF
PVUTJEFUIFNBSSJBHF
SFMBUJPOTIJQ
t MJWFJOBde facto
SFMBUJPOTIJQ
t FOUFSJOUPBAUSJBM
NBSSJBHF
213
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus second great

yourself

people to

charity may ...
7. You shall not steal
respect the right of every

person to the necessities
of life adequate food
and clothing, housing,
health care, education,
employment and social
services
fail to care for or give

money or possessions to
the poor, or to the
Church or other
organisations which help
the poor
respect the property of

others
fail to pay a fair share of

taxes
restore to the legitimate

owner what has been
stolen or lost, whenever
possible
steal what does not

belong to them
respect the environment
deliberately damage the

environment
do their fair share of

work
fail to fulfil the work

responsibilities for which
they receive payment
develop love for the poor
refuse to donate money

to causes for those in
need
tell the truth
commit perjury
8. You shall not bear false

witness against your
neighbour
fail to return what has

been borrowed
lie about others

(calumny)
gossip about or look at
others faults and
weaknesses (detraction)
tell lies
keep secrets shared by
others (except if this
allows harm to occur)
9. You shall not covet your view others as God does,

neighbours wife
and not for purposes of
sexual pleasure
214
tell people others secrets

shared in confidence
think about or look at
others in ways that stir
sexual desires that can
lead to breaking the sixth
commandment
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus second great

yourself

people to
9. You shall not covet your develop modesty

neighbours wife

charity may ...
dress deliberately in ways

that tempt others to see
or imagine them in
purely sexual ways
look at others for sexual
pleasure
10.You shall not covet your develop a spirit of

keep accumulating money
neighbours goods
poverty (wanting only as
and possessions out of
much as one needs to live
greed
simply and in basic
comfort).
be jealous of others
because of their
possessions.

Detraction is to repeat something that, while true, damages another persons right to a
good reputation.
Common offences of detraction are often found in the media, especially print media.
Gossip and the passing on of stories about people which may damage their reputation
are other examples.
Charity the virtue that empowers people

to love as God loves
Charity empowers people to love selflessly. The more love is in
harmony with the other gifts within the person, the greater the
energy to live the commandments. If selfless love moves people to
respect human life, their love will attract them to everything that is
good for life. The emotion of:
love will attract their attention to everything that is good for life
desire will cause them to want to care for others, such as those
who are sick or lacking the basic necessities of life
joy will increase when others become well again or human life
has been saved
hatred will focus them on whatever threatens someones life
fear will move them to become alert to what endangers others
lives
sadness will be felt when someone has been harmed, or cannot
be saved from a terminal illness, or killed.
If selfless love moves people to respect

human life, their love will attract them to
everything that is good for life.
215
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The need for

Christians to reflect
on Jesus first
commandment
8IFO$ISJTUJBOTGJOEJU
IBSEUPPCFZUIFNPTU
EJGGJDVMUMBXTPG(PE UIFZ
OFFEUPSFGMFDUPOXIFUIFS
PSOPUUIFZBSFMPWJOH(PE
BT+FTVTUBVHIUJOIJTGJSTU
DPNNBOENFOU"T
$ISJTUJBOTTUSJWFGPSUIJT
NPSFBOENPSF (PET
HSBDFDBOIFMQUIFNUPEFBM
XJUITUSPOHFNPUJPOT5IJT
NFBOTSFDBMMJOHUIFGJSTU
UISFFPGUIF5FO
$PNNBOENFOUT
COMMANDMENTS OF THE DECALOGUE THAT RELATE TO THE

FIRST GREAT COMMANDMENT OF JESUS
Jesus first great
commandment you must
love the Lord your God...
Charity grows as Christians ... Christians who do not

develop charity can
1. I am the Lord your God

you shall not have
strange gods before me
t QSBZ PSSFGMFDUCFGPSF
QSBZJOH UPSFDPHOJTFUIF
HSFBUMPWFPG(PEBOE
UIBU(PEDSFBUFE
FWFSZUIJOHUIBUFYJTUT
t JHOPSF(PEJOEBJMZMJGF
t QSBJTFBOEUIBOL(PEJO
EBJMZQSBZFSGPSFWFSZ
HPPEUIJOHJOUIFJSMJWFT
t CFVOHSBUFGVMUPXBSET
(PE
t QSBZEBJMZGPSUIFJSOFFET
t GBJMUPQSBZGPSUIFJS
OFFET
t QSBZEBJMZGPSUIFOFFET
PGPUIFST
t GBJMUPQSBZGPSPUIFST
t QSBZEBJMZUPQSPNJTF
(PEUIFZXJMMUSZUPMJWF
BT(PEXBOUT FH
.PSOJOH0GGFSJOH
t GBJMUPMJWFBT(PEXBOUT
UIFNUPMJWF
216
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus first great

commandment you must
love the Lord your God...
Charity grows as Christians ... Christians who do not

develop charity can
1. I am the Lord your God

you shall not have
strange gods before me
worship God in
community with others,
especially through the
Eucharist and the other
sacraments
fail to worship God
try to develop greater

faith by trying to learn
more about God and the
teachings of Jesus
fail to resolve religious

doubts or questions
practise to achieve
control over their life
become indifferent to
learning about God
pray for confidence that

God will always:
help
fulfil promises
bring good out of
tragedy and every bad
experience
despair
engage in worship of
false gods: consumerism,
wealth, etc.
presume that they can

live without Gods help
reject or become
indifferent about God
pray to grow in love for

God
respect the right of others
to religious freedom
2. You shall not take the
name of the Lord your
God in vain
speak only with respect

about God, Jesus, Mary
and saints
speak disrespectfully
about God, Jesus, Mary
and saints
use the names of God,
Jesus, Mary or the saints
disrespectfully by
swearing
swear false oaths, calling
on God as a witness to
what is untrue
teach others about God

and the teachings of Jesus
3. Keep holy the
Lords Day
worship God by
participating in the
Eucharist at least on
Sundays the day of
Christs resurrection
miss Sunday Mass

without a serious reason
enjoy rest and leisure on

Sundays
work unnecessarily on
Sundays.
217
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information from Chapters 3 and 4 to help you to answer these questions
1.
A core belief of Catholics is that: People are created in the image of God.
Explain your understanding of this.
2.
Give four examples from the Scriptures that showed that Jesus was human
and experienced emotions. For each example list the emotion Jesus
displayed.
3.
Why did Jesus command that all who believe in him should receive
Baptism?
4.
Explain how the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation are related.
5.
In the early church when were these sacraments received?
6.
What is charity and what does it empower Christians to do?
7.
List five ways that Christians can grow in charity.
8.
What were the two greatest commandments given by Jesus?
9.
List the Ten Commandments which relate to people loving

a) their neighbours b) God
10. For each commandment give an example of one way in which charity
empowers people to keep the commandment.
218
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Sin and how God helps people

to overcome it
! Sin is any deliberate thought, word or deed which is against
Gods law
! There are three conditions for sin
! God wants to forgive and heal
! No one can judge anothers sinfulness
! God has revealed that there are two degrees of sin: mortal sin
and venial sin
Mortal sin completely breaks a persons relationship with
God, and those who die in this state risk separation from
God forever
Venial sin weakens but does not destroy a persons
relationship with God, so God purifies a person after death
before they enter heaven.
Sin is any deliberate thought, word or deed which is

against Gods law
The power of charity is strengthened by prayer, worship
and living as Jesus taught. Charity is weakened by sin. As
charity weakens, followers of Jesus find it harder to
express their emotions in ways that reflect Gods love.
Jesus told his followers that people who want to be close
to him need to express this love in their actions:
It is not anyone who says to me Lord, Lord who will enter the kingdom of Heaven,
but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:21)
God saw the need to teach people in the ways of holiness by giving them the
Ten Commandments or Decalogue. These were the conditions they needed to meet to
enjoy the blessings that came from their covenant relationship with God:
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. (Exodus 19:5)
When people deliberately disobey a commandment, they sin. As a result, holiness, which
is needed to be close to God, is weakened.
219
Return to
Return to Return to
CONTENTS CONTENTS CHAPTER
Return to
CHAPTER
5. SIN AND HOW GOD HELPS PEOPLE TO OVERCOME IT
What is
SIN?
Sin is any deliberate thought, word or deed against the law of God.
Deliberate means knowing that the thought, word or deed is
against a law of God and the person still does it on purpose. Sin,
therefore, is disobedience against God by deliberately thinking,
speaking or acting in an unholy or ungodly way.
There are three conditions for sin

People can determine whether or not they have sinned by asking themselves three
questions. These are:
1. Was the thought word or action against Gods law?
2. Did I know that it was against a law of God?
3. Did I freely choose to go against Gods law?
People always need to have these questions in mind so that when they:
t GFFMHVJMUZBCPVUTPNFUIJOH UIFZSFGMFDUPOUIFGJSTURVFTUJPO
t SFBMJTFUIFZIBWFEPOFXSPOH UIFZSFGMFDUPOUIFTFDPOEBOEUIJSERVFTUJPOT
Full knowledge
*UJTBMXBZTXSPOHUPCSFBLBMBXPG(PE)PXFWFS BQFSTPONBZCFXSPOHXJUIPVUB
sin being committed.
The following are two examples:
1. Many pagan religions over past centuries have thought that human sacrifice was the
best way to honour their gods. Human sacrifice breaks the fifth commandment and
TPJTXSPOH)PXFWFS UIPTFXIPQFSGPSNFEUIJTSJUVBMEJEOPULOPXUIJT"MUIPVHI
XIBUUIFZEJEXBTXSPOH UIFZEJEOPUTJO
*OUIFQBTUNBOZOBUJPOTBOEBOVNCFSPGSFMJHJPVTUSBEJUJPOT JODMVEJOH$ISJTUJBOJUZ
believed that slavery was acceptable. Good people owned and sold slaves. But slavery
is wrong and breaks the fifth commandment. Those who did not know this and who
owned slaves did not sin.
220
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Are there any examples of laws in todays society that break Gods laws? As a
class, discuss how each of the laws that have been identified go against certain
laws of God.
Ignorance must be genuine

To avoid sin, a person must be in genuine ignorance. This means that their ignorance
must not be through their own fault. For example, their ignorance cannot be due to:
failure to find out if the action might be wrong
carelessness
a wrongly formed conscience.
Consent
There can be many reasons why people break a law of God but, because they have not
given personal consent, they have not sinned.
Sometimes emotions can be so powerful that a person may break Gods law before they
realise it. For example, sudden anger may lead a parent to seriously injure someone they
found harming their child, or panic may stop someone helping another person who is
being beaten. Serious depression or fear of torture can lead someone to commit suicide.
People can be forced to do wrong when they are not free to do the opposite. For
example, a person may be forced to engage in a robbery because a gun is being held at
their head or the head of someone else. In this instance they do not sin. In situations
like these, if the person was deprived of all freedom to choose, they did not sin.
In Class Work
What are some of the things that could limit or restrict a persons ability to
avoid doing wrong? Give examples of how this can occur.
The loss of freedom to consent must be genuine

None of these examples is valid unless a person genuinely suffers in these ways through
no fault of their own. For example, a person still sins when they:
lose the ability to consent freely because they have been drinking alcohol to excess,
and then break a law of God while drunk
go into a situation in which they know others will force them to break a law of God
normally manage a psychological illness with medication but choose to stop taking
their medication as prescribed or take other drugs they know will interfere with the
medication, leading them to break a law of God
go knowingly into a situation when they know that sexual or other urges may
become irresistible
use drugs knowingly and break a law of God while under their influence.
221
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Serious habits may lessen the seriousness of a sin

People can get into physical and psychological habits that break Gods laws. They may
or may not know this when the habit begins.
Later, they may want break the habit. However, the habit may be too strong to stop
immediately. For example, a person may suffer an addiction to:
t ESVHT
t BMDPIPM
t CVMMZJOHPUIFST
t TUJNVMBUJOHUIFNTFMWFTTFYVBMMZ
Addictions are usually attempts to escape deeper, unpleasant feelings such as:
t MPXTFMGFTUFFN
t GFBSPGGBJMVSF
t TUSFTTBOEUFOTJPO
t EJGGJDVMUZJONBLJOHUSVFGSJFOET
Sometimes, addictions can start for other reasons as well, such as:
t DVSJPTJUZUIBUMFBETUPFYQFSJNFOUBUJPO
t XBOUJOHQFFSBDDFQUBODF
The seriousness of sinful strong habits is lessened if the following three conditions are
applied:
t 5IFQFSTPOHFOVJOFMZUSJFTUPSFTJTUUIFIBCJU
t 5IFQFSTPOBWPJETUIFTJUVBUJPOJOXIJDIUIFIBCJUJTMJLFMZUPBSJTF
t 5IFQFSTPONBLFTBDPODFSUFEFGGPSUUPVOEFSTUBOEBOEUPBEESFTTUIFDBVTFT
of the habit.
222
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God wants to forgive and heal

0OFPGUIFNPTUJNQPSUBOUUFBDIJOHTPG+FTVTJTUIBU(PEGPSHJWFTBOEIFBMT5IFSFBSF
NBOZ(PTQFMTUPSJFTPG+FTVTGPSHJWJOHTJOTBOEIFBMJOH5IFGPMMPXJOHTUPSZJTPOF
example that looks at the forgiving and healing power of Jesus:
Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, My child, your sins are forgiven.
Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, How can
this man talk like that? ... Who but God can forgive sins? And at once, Jesus, ...
said to them, Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is
easier to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven or to say, Get up, pick up
your stretcher and walk? But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority
to forgive sins on earth he said to the paralytic I order you: get up, pick up
your stretcher, and go off home. And the man got up, and at once picked up his
stretcher and walked out in front of everyone ... (Mark 2:512)

A paralytic is a person suffering from paralysis, a condition that prevents them from using
some or all of their limbs. At the time of Jesus, the religious authorities regarded such
sickness as the result of a sin committed either by the sufferer or by his parents.
Jesus continues to
forgive and to heal
today through the
Churchs two
sacraments of Penance
and Anointing:
t 5ISPVHI1FOBODF
Jesus forgives sins
and heals a persons
relationship with
God and with the
Church
t 5ISPVHI"OPJOUJOH
Jesus forgives sin and
gives strength, peace
and courage to
overcome the
difficulties that go
with serious illness.
The Paralytic of Capharnaum is Lowered from the Roof,

Scenes from the Life of Christ (mosaic) by Byzantine School, (6th century)
223
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
People can overcome sinful habits by drawing

on the power of God, available through daily
prayer and the sacraments
The power of God will help people to overcome
sinful habits. People draw on this power by:
praying daily to God, asking for help to
understand and to overcome the sinful habit
seeking spiritual strength from Jesus by receiving
him in Holy Communion
seeking Gods forgiveness for times when
the habit was given into.
PRAY
DAILY
No one can judge anothers sinfulness

Jesus warned his followers never to judge whether or not another person has committed sin:
Do not judge, and you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1)
Only the individual themselves can know whether or not they have sinned. Even a priest
can only explain Gods law on a matter. He cannot answer the question Did I sin?
unless the person tells him their answers to the following three questions:
Was the thought, word or action against Gods law?
Did I know that it was against a law of God?
Did I freely choose to go against Gods law?
Jesus was only referring to sin when he said Do not judge. He did not mean that:
parents should not make judgements about their childrens behaviour
teachers should not make judgements about whether school rules are being kept
people should not make judgements about whether someone is breaking the law by,
for example, speeding, going through a red light, or breaking into a house
a Christian should not make judgements about whether or not actions break a
law of God.
In Class Work
Write in your own words what is meant by the quote from Matthew 7:1:
Do not judge, and you will not be judged.
Search through magazines and newspapers to find examples of where you
consider someone has been judged.
Create a paraphrased version of the above quote as you see it
applied by the media.
224
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God has revealed that there are two degrees of sin:

mortal sin and venial sin
God has revealed that there are two degrees of sin. One is called mortal sin, and the
other is called venial sin:
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 this brother There is sin that leads to death
Every kind of wickedness is sin, but not all sin leads to death. (1 John 5:1617)
What is mortal sin?

The Church teaches that mortal sin:
destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of Gods law; it turns
man away from God who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an
inferior good to him Catechism 1855.
Mortal sin completely turns a person away from God. It destroys the gift of charity that
empowers people to keep the laws of God they find difficult.
Within the person mortal sin destroys charity and the gifts of God received through
Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage. For example:
t QFFSQSFTTVSFUPEPXSPOHCFDPNFTNPSFEJGGJDVMUUPSFTJTUBTUIFTQJSJUPGDPVSBHF
received through Confirmation, weakens
t (PETHVJEBODFJOEBJMZEFDJTJPONBLJOHJTMPTUCFDBVTFASJHIUKVEHFNFOUIBTCFFO
lost
t FNPUJPOTFYFSUHSFBUFSDPOUSPMCFDBVTFUIFTQFDJBMTUSFOHUIUIF)PMZ4QJSJUHJWFTB
person is lost.
5IFFGGFDUTPGNPSUBMTJOMBTUVOUJMTVDIUJNFBTUIFQFSTPOSFTQPOETUP(PETDPOTUBOU
JOWJUBUJPOUPDPNFCBDLBOESFOFXUIFSFMBUJPOTIJQ5PEPTP UIFQFSTPONVTUSFQFOUPG
UIFTJOUIBUDBVTFEUIFTFQBSBUJPOBOESFDFJWF(PETGPSHJWFOFTTUISPVHIUIFTBDSBNFOU
PG3FDPODJMJBUJPO*UJTOFWFS(PETDIPJDFUPCFTFQBSBUFEGSPNBOZPOFCVUQFPQMFIBWF
the freedom to turn away from God.
Hell or eternal punishment

5PEJFJOVOGPSHJWFONPSUBMTJOXPVMECFUPSFNBJO
TFQBSBUFEGSPN(PEGPSFWFS5IJTJTUIFAFUFSOBM
QVOJTINFOUQFPQMFDBOCSJOHPOUIFNTFMWFTCZUVSOJOH
BXBZGSPN(PE*UJTDBMMFEAIFMM
God does not inflict hell on anyone. Were one to die in
mortal sin, God, respecting human freedom, would have
UPBDDFQUBQFSTPOTDIPJDFUPSFKFDU(PE
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

It is important to realise that hell
excluding oneself from eternal
life with God is the result of
human choice and not Gods will.
It is also important to know that
Gods mercy has no limits for those
who seek forgiveness in this life.
225
Conditions for mortal sin

For people to commit mortal sin three conditions are necessary:
Mortal sin is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full
knowledge and deliberate consent. Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1857
1. Grave matter
Grave matter is specified by the Ten Commandments, corresponding to the answer of
Jesus to the rich young man:
You shall not kill; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You
shall not give false witness; You shall not defraud; Honour your father and
mother. (Mark 10:19)
Within the Ten Commandments, some of Gods laws are more serious than others. For
example:
t NVSEFSJTNPSFTFSJPVTUIBOTXFBSJOHBUTPNFPOFJOBOHFS GJGUIDPNNBOENFOU
t TUFBMJOHTPNFUIJOHFYQFOTJWFJTNPSFTFSJPVTUIBOGBJMJOHUPSFUVSOBCPSSPXFEOPWFM
(seventh commandment)
t SFGVTJOHUPHJWFTPNFPOFXIBUUIFZOFFEUPSFNBJOBMJWF TVDIBTXBUFSPSGPPE JT
more grave than shop-lifting (seventh commandment)
t EBNBHJOHTPNFPOFTSFQVUBUJPOJTNPSFTFSJPVTUIBOMZJOHUPHFUPVUPGUSPVCMF
(eighth commandment)
People also need to take into account the person the sin is committed against. For
example, to steal a certain amount of money from a person one knows to be poor is
more serious than to steal that same amount from a person one knows to be wealthy.
2. Full knowledge
Full knowledge means knowing that the word or action is against a grave law of God or
grave matter.
3. Deliberate consent
Deliberate consent means a deliberate and fully conscious choice.
226
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Holy Communion cannot be received while in mortal sin

People in mortal sin have turned away from God and Jesus.
As a result, they cannot receive Holy Communion, which is a sign of friendship with
Jesus, until the mortal sin has been forgiven. To do so would be dishonest. They would
be pretending to be close to Jesus when, in reality, their own actions have damaged their
friendship with Jesus.
What is venial sin?

Venial sin, on the other hand, does not turn a person away from God but weakens their
relationship with God. The weakening of their relationship with God also weakens the
power of charity within them.
Venial sins can weaken charity to such an extent that eventually those who commit them
also commit mortal sin. As their love for God declines, so do their concerns at the
prospect of breaking their relationship with God and the power to love others as Jesus
does.
The consequences of venial sin

Venial sins can draw people further and further from God. They weaken the gift of
charity in their lives. For example:
the spiritual strength received through Confirmation is weakened, which makes it
more difficult to resist peer pressure and other temptations to do wrong
it becomes more difficult to recognise the guiding thoughts and feelings that the
Holy Spirit stirs through the gifts of the Spirit.
Venial sins lead to habits that make drawing closer to God more difficult. Strong
emotions that make it difficult to live as God would want one to live become harder to
direct. God forgives venial sins when people show they are sincerely sorry for them,
restoring in them the strength of the power of charity.
People show their sorrow for venial sins through acts of love for God or others. These
include:
receiving Jesus in Holy Communion
celebrating the sacrament of Reconciliation
expressing genuine sorrow through prayer
praying to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, asking her to pray in turn to her Son for help
to stop habits of venial sin
sincere examination of conscience leading to repentance
offering personal illness, suffering or sadness to God, as a sign of sorrow for hurting
God.
Acts of love for others include:
giving personal or material support to others in need
apologising for hurt caused or wrongdoing
doing good deeds for others.
227
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God purifies a person after

death before he or she enters
heaven: Purgatory and temporal
punishment
God is perfectly loving and good.
In God, there is not the slightest
imperfection. There is not the slightest
trace of selfishness or desire for
anything that is not good.
To be close to God in heaven a person
must die free from the slightest trace of
sin and selfishness.
Venial sin weakens charity. As a result,
selfish attitudes, bad habits and desires
for anything other than God grow
stronger. To enter heaven, a person
needs to be purified of these.
People can be purified of imperfections
before they die. Offering periods of
suffering or long periods of care for
another person help purify people in
this life. Prayer and suffering free a
person from at least some temporal
punishment.
If a person dies in venial sin God
purifies the person through Purgatory.
This purification frees one from the
temporal punishment of sin.
God forgives venial sin

when people show they
are sincerely sorry for
them, restoring in them
the strength of the
power of charity.
Purgatory - from the Latin purgare

meaning to cleanse is a state of
existence in which those who have
died are purified of imperfections
and selfishness before being
united with God.
Temporal punishment is the

separation from God until the
person has been purified by God.
(Here, the word temporal is closely
related to temporary for a time,
but not forever.)
Opposite: The souls of Purgatory rise towards Heaven as they are purified,
1995 (oil on panel) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
228
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
229
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapter 5 to help you answer these questions
1.
Explain what is meant by sin.
2.
What are the conditions for sin? Explain your understanding of each.
3.
Explain what is meant by mortal sin. List the conditions for it.
4.
Explain how a person may have acted wrongly because they have broken
Gods law yet they have not sinned.
5.
One of the most important of Jesus teachings is that God forgives and
heals. Explain how Jesus forgives and heals today through the sacraments
of the Church.
6.
List three ways in which people can draw on the power of God to help
them overcome sinful habits.
7.
Jesus said: Do not judge, and you will not be judged (Matthew 7:1)
What lesson was Jesus teaching when he made this statement?
8.
The Catholic Churchs teaching about hell is that it is a state of being in

which a person is separated from God forever. List two additional points of
the Churchs teaching about hell.
9.
What is venial sin? Explain the consequences of venial sin. How can people
seek Gods forgiveness for venial sin? List some ways in which people can
show their sorrow for venial sin.
10. What is Purgatory?
230
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Penance Sacrament of healing

! The Old Testament tells how the people of Israel sought
forgiveness from God
! Jesus came to heal peoples relationships with God
! Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his Church
! The sacrament of Penance brings about healing and
reconciliation with God, with the Church and the human
community
! The gifts of the sacrament of Penance help people to live the
Christian life
! Gospel stories about Jesus contain elements of the Rites of
Reconciliation
! The sacrament of Penance includes the elements:
contrition, confession, satisfaction and absolution
! People need to examine their conscience to prepare for
Reconciliation.
The Old Testament tells how

the people of Israel sought
forgiveness from God
In Old Testament times, the sacrifice of bullocks,
pouring half their blood on the altar and sprinkling
the rest over the people, was central in sealing the
Sinai covenant between God and the people of
Israel. The ceremonies seeking Gods forgiveness for
sins also involved sacrifices. These emphasised the
renewal of the covenant relationship with God.
There were different sacrifices for different people
(Leviticus 45):
the High Priest was required to sacrifice a bull
a leader of the community was required to
offer a he-goat
an ordinary person could offer a she-goat
or a sheep
a very poor person could offer two doves
or pigeons, or some flour.
The Sacrifice of Noah (oil on canvas)

by Puget, Pierre (162094)
231
Return to Return to
Return to Return to
6. PENANCE SACRAMENT OF HEALING
The annual Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur)

God ordered the institution of an annual Day of Atonement, which today is
known as Yom Kippur. On this day each September, sacrifice had to be offered in
the Temple to ask God for the forgiveness of all the sins of the Jewish nation
during the previous year.
God ordered two ceremonies to be celebrated on Yom Kippur:
1. The sacrifice of the bull and the goat

The High Priest had to sacrifice a
bull for his own sins and those of
his family. He could not seek
Gods forgiveness for the nation
until he had first been forgiven
himself.
Next, the people would present
two goats to the High Priest. Lots
were cast and one goat was
selected For Yahweh. The High
Priest sacrificed this goat For
Yahweh to make up for the sins
of the people.
The High Priest sprinkled the
people with some of the blood
from the sacrifices. The rest of the
blood was used on sacred Temple
symbols of God. Some was rubbed
on to horns placed at each of the
four corners of the altar; some
was sprinkled in the sanctuary
outside the Holy of Holies, the
dwelling place of the presence of
God. Finally, the High Priest
sprinkled blood in the Holy of
Holies itself.
The Scapegoat, illustration for 'The Life of

Christ', c.188694 (w/c & gouache on paperboard)
by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (18361902)
2. The scapegoat
This ceremony involved the High Priest laying his hands over the head of the second
goat and confessing all the sins of the people. In this way, the sins were symbolically
placed on the goat.
The goat was then sent into the desert, symbolising that God had forgiven and taken
away the sins of the people.
232
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus came to heal peoples relationships with God

No matter how hard they tried the people of Israel kept sinning against God. To draw
people into closer relationship, God had to do more than just forgive their sins; he sent
his own Son as a sacrifice for sin (2 Corinthians 5:21).
Jesus explained that he had come for sinners:
It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick And indeed I came to
call not the upright, but sinners. (Matthew 9:12, 13)
the Son of man has come to seek out and save what was lost. (Luke 19:10)
Jesus came to heal peoples relationships with

God and one another. The Gospels reveal that
he came to bring reconciliation and peace
between God and humanity.
Jesus told parables to teach people about
Gods forgiveness and how God feels about
sinners. Examples are:
the Pharisee and the Tax Collector
(Luke 18:914)
the three Parables of Gods Mercy
(Luke 15:132).
Jesus showed by his own example how God
feels about sinners. Among the best known
Gospel stories are those about:
Zacchaeus (Luke 19:110)
eating with sinners (Mark 2:1517)
the adulterous woman (John 8:111).
Jesus forgives sins. Famous Gospel
examples include:
the cripple (Mark 2:112)
the woman who was a sinner
(Luke 7:3650).
Jesus forgives the woman caught in adultery,

2006 (w/c on paper), Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
233
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his Church

Jesus gave the power to forgive sins to his Church. This was later formalised in the
sacrament of Penance.
The Gospel of John presents this teaching in the story of an appearance by Jesus to the
Apostles after his Resurrection:
The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord, and he said to them again,
Peace be with you.
As the Father sent me,
So am I sending you.
After saying this he breathed on them and said:
Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive anyones sins,
they are forgiven;
if you retain anyones sins,
they are retained.
(John 20:2023)
To retain means to refuse to forgive a persons sins. This would happen only where the
person who committed a sin is not serious about trying to avoid committing the sin again.
The Apostles handed on to others the spiritual powers given to them by Jesus. Today this
spiritual power is exercised by bishops and priests. When they forgive someones sins, it
is really Jesus who forgives them through the actions and words of the priest or bishops.
234
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The sacrament of Penance brings about healing and

reconciliation with God, with the Church and the
human community
When someone says sorry for offending a friend, the friend may forgive by saying:
thats okay. However, they may not be as friendly as they were before offence was
given.
There is a big difference between forgiveness and a relationship being fully restored.
People can seek forgiveness of venial sins in a number of ways Holy Communion,
sincere prayer, acts of kindness and many others.
Write about a time when you wanted to say sorry

but couldnt. Then write about a time when you did
say sorry and felt forgiven.
Focus on how you felt, knowing that you had been
forgiven.
Sin not only offends God, it also damages the relationship between individuals and other
people. Jesus wants to do more than forgive sins through Reconciliation. Through the
Church, he shares his power and spiritual gifts with his followers, and restores right
relationships with God and all those affected by the sin.
Charity grows stronger in people again because they can love God and others more
fully than while they were in sin.
235
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The following explains the elements of the four steps in the practice of
reconciliation between people:
Contrition
Recalling the words or actions that caused offence

Expressing sorrow for something said or done
Feeling the need to make up with someone after causing offence
Confession
Telling the person you hurt what was said or done and why
Writing a letter of apology and explanation
Going for a walk to talk over the problem
Discussing why a relationship is not as good as it was
Satisfaction
Returning something stolen

Mending something broken, or buying a new one
Doing something to make-up for the offence
Reconciliation
Apology accepted in the full knowledge of the offence and the

persons contribution
Giving a hug
Shaking hands
Spending quality time together talking, going for a walk,
seeing a movie.
Can you remember an incident recently when you hurt

someone?
Write down what you did to hurt the person. Outline what
steps you took or should take to seek reconciliation with
the person.
Knowing what you do about the four steps in the practice
of reconciliation, what did you do well? What areas need
improvement? Explain.
236
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Reconciliation brings peace

Sin often leaves people feeling regretful, uneasy, troubled and guilty. Reconciliation frees
sinners from these feelings. It leaves them feeling at peace. Their conscience no longer
troubles them.
Sometimes a persons sense of guilt can become so strong that it causes sadness and even
serious illness. Many troubled people today could be freed of at least some of their
difficulties if they received Gods love and forgiveness offered in the sacrament of
Penance.
Counselling can also help people with emotional and other difficulties. It is an
important source of help and support for people who experience intense guilt.
Counselling cannot however offer people the healing that comes from knowing God has
forgiven their sins and erased their guilt.
Reconciliation helps people to avoid damaging their relationship with God. Jesus
strengthens them spiritually against the temptations which are the cause of their sins.
The sacrament of Penance is a sacrament of healing

Reconciliation is also called a sacrament of healing, as is seen in the chart:
If someone sins...
God gradually heals and strengthens

people as they...
through violence against another

because of jealousy
pray for freedom from jealousy that

led to the violence
by causing harm because they are angry
continue to pray for freedom from

their anger
by doing something to get even with

another person who has hurt them
pray for the ability to rise above the

hurt and reject any thought of
retaliation
by giving into sexual thoughts and

temptations that break Gods laws
pray for freedom from sexual feelings

and desires that become too strong to
resist
by stealing for love of money and

material possessions
pray for freedom from love of money and

possessions and the desire it occasions
by breaking a law of God because of

peer pressure.
pray for freedom from peer pressure.
237
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
1. Recall a situation from a TV show, a movie or a novel in

which one of the characters does something as listed on
the left-hand side of the table. Briefly recount the
situation.
2. Suggest ways in which they could repair the damage
between themselves, other people and God.
3. List what personal qualities they would need to heal the
situation.
4. Reflect on how these qualities could also assist you to
heal your relationship with God and others and how you
could develop or strengthen these qualities.
5. Draw a pair of human hands to symbolise healing.
Within the hands write your own prayer asking God to
help you develop these healing qualities.
The gifts of the sacrament of Penance help

people to live the Christian life
The healing brought about by God
through Reconciliation is gradual. It
increases as a person prays and
celebrates this sacrament more frequently.
Frequent Reconciliation will help a person
to gradually overcome even the strongest
and most persistent temptations. All
desires and feelings can be overcome
through the power of this sacrament.
The sacrament of Penance completely
forgives sin and restores the relationship
with God. If the person were to die after
being absolved from mortal sins, they
would be united with God in heaven.
The more frequently people celebrate Reconciliation, the more at peace and stronger
they become. It becomes easier to draw closer to God, who is perfect love and goodness.
The gifts received through the sacrament of Penance help Christians in many ways. The
extent to which they do so is affected by how frequently Penance is celebrated.
238
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The following table gives examples.

THE GIFTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF PENANCE
SPIRITUAL GIFT
POSSIBLE EXPERIENCES
Reconciliation with God
People feel closer to God

Prayers become more powerful
Prayer becomes easier
Reconciliation with the Church
People can draw fully on the spiritual

gifts of the other sacraments
Attitudes to other Church members
grow more friendly, especially family
members and friends
Peace of conscience
People experience a greater sense of

happiness
Strong emotions urging a person to do
wrong are weakened
People become more sensitive to guiding
thoughts and feelings stirred by the
Holy Spirit
Increased spiritual strength
Obeying Gods laws becomes easier

People are more able to resist
temptations to break a law of God
Weaknesses that underlie temptations
are gradually healed.
The healing brought about by God through Reconciliation

is gradual. It increases as a person prays and
celebrates this sacrament more frequently.
239
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gospel stories about Jesus contain elements of the

Rites of Reconciliation
The elements of the Rites of Reconciliation can be seen in the Gospel in the Parable of
the Two Sons (Luke 15:1132) and in the reconciliation of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:110).
The Parable of the Two Sons

Jesus told a story about a son who turned away from his father, just as people turn away
from the friendship God gives them at Baptism when they sin (Luke 15:1112).
Away from his father, the son committed other sins, just as people today find it harder
to do what is right if they grow away from the baptismal relationship given by God
(Luke 15:13).
Eventually, the son realised he was missing the happiness that would have been his if he
had maintained a close relationship with his father, just as people miss out on the
happiness God wants for them if they drift away from their baptismal relationship with
God (Luke 15:1417).
The son then decided to go back to his father, asking forgiveness (Luke 15:1920).
However, instead of finding it hard to say sorry to his father, the son found that his
father was looking out for him, hoping to see him come back just as God is always
waiting for all who sin to come back to the special relationship that God gives in
Baptism (Luke 15:20).
The father not only looked for the son, he was so excited at his return that the son
could not finish what he had planned to say, giving us some idea of how happy God is
when we celebrate Penance (Luke 15:21 compare this with 15:1819).
The father then called for a celebration of all his friends to welcome back his son, just as
through Penance, God welcomes a person back with all who share the Baptismal
relationship with God (Luke 15:2224).
In Class Work
1. How do you think the son would have felt after meeting his father?
2. Why do you think the father so quickly and easily forgave his son? Explain.
3. Has there ever been a time when you have felt like the lost son? If so, using
your journal, write about your experience, recalling how you were offered
forgiveness and how this made you feel.
240
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
How Jesus reconciles:

The Story of Zacchaeus
One of the most famous stories of how Jesus
reconciles people is that of Zacchaeus (Luke
19:110). Studying this story helps people to
understand the corresponding elements of the
sacrament of Penance and the structure of the
Rite of Reconciliation.
Zacchaeus, a cheating tax-collector, wanted to
find Jesus. People today show that they want
to find Jesus every time they celebrate the
sacrament of Penance (Luke 19:34).
When Jesus saw Zacchaeus, he spoke warmly to him just as the priest welcomes people
to this sacrament in Jesus name. Just as Zacchaeus heard Jesus words, people listen
today to the readings from Scripture (Luke 19:56).
Zacchaeus, encouraged by Jesus, confessed to his sins just as people today are
encouraged to do so by Jesus who is present in the sacrament of Penance
(Luke 19:810).
As well as confessing his sins, Zacchaeus resolved to undo the harm his sins had done to
others. People today do the same by accepting their penance in the sacrament of
Penance.
Jesus and his friends joined Zacchaeus, staying at his house, to show that Jesus was
reconciling Zacchaeus with the group just as people today are reconciled with the
Church community in the sacrament (Luke 19:6).
In Class Work
1. What do you learn from Jesus behaviour in the story of Zacchaeus?
2. What do you learn from the behaviour of Zacchaeus?
3. How is Zacchaeus different at the end of the story from the way
he was at the beginning?
The sacrament of Penance is the celebration of the forgiving love of God. It is the
opportunity to turn back to God whose love is capable of filling peoples lives.
Reconciliation heals people because it puts life back into the right perspective, putting
things into right relationship with one another. The chaos caused by not learning how to
accept and direct emotions is overcome when people learn to love themselves and others
and open their lives to the love of God.
241
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The sacrament of Penance includes the elements:

contrition, confession, satisfaction and absolution
The four elements needed for reconciliation with God are called:
1. contrition or sorrow for sins, with the firm resolve not to commit them again
2. confession or owning up honestly about sins committed, accepting
responsibility for them
3. satisfaction or doing whatever is possible to repair harm or offence
caused by the sin
4. absolution, or forgiveness by Jesus through the priest.
Why confess to a priest?

The spiritual powers Jesus gave the Apostles
to forgive sins have been handed down
through a special sacrament called Holy
Orders.
In Reconciliation, the priest is the one
through whom Jesus:
t IFBSTUIFDPOGFTTJPO
t TUBUFTUIFXBZTBUJTGBDUJPOTIPVMECFNBEF
this is called the penance
t GPSHJWFTUIFTJOTBOEHJWFTUIFPUIFS
spiritual gifts of this sacrament.

Priests are bound by absolute
secrecy never to tell anyone else
what they hear during the
sacrament of Penance regarding a
persons sins. This secret is called
the Sacramental Seal and there
are no exceptions which ever allow
it to be broken.
Contrition
Contrition begins before the celebration of the sacrament. It requires

sincere examination of conscience to recall the various ways offence has
been given to God by breaking Gods laws.
Confession
During the sacrament, the person owns up to or states all mortal sins
and regular venial sins. There is no need to confess all venial sins, but
only those for which the spiritual gifts of the sacrament are most
needed.
Satisfaction
In the sacrament of Penance, satisfaction has two parts: the penance and
the prayer of sorrow.
The penance
The priest states the satisfaction to be made. This is called the penance.
Usually it is related to what has been confessed, for example:
t SFUVSOPGTUPMFOHPPET
t DPNQFOTBUJPOGPSEBNBHFEPOF
t BIVHPSBLJOEBDUUPBIVSUQBSFOU
t BQSBZFSUP(PEUPTIPXSFHSFUGPSCSFBLJOHBMBXPG(PE
242
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Prayer of sorrow
After the penance has been given, the priest asks the person to
say a Prayer of Sorrow (or Act of Contrition). This can be:
t BQSBZFSJOUIFQFSTPOTPXOXPSET
t BGPSNBMQSBZFSTVDIBT<3JUFPG3FDPODJMJBUJPO
>
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God
have mercy on me, a sinner.
03
O my God, I am very sorry
that I have sinned against you,
because you are so good,
and with the help of your grace,
I will not sin again.
Absolution
5IFQSJFTUABCTPMWFTPSATFUTGSFFUIFQFSTPOGSPNUIFJSTJOT5IJTJT
DBMMFEABCTPMVUJPO
5IFQSJFTUFYFSDJTFTUIFQPXFSUPGPSHJWFBQFSTPOTTJOTCZIPMEJOH
IJTIBOEPWFSUIFQFSTPOBOECMFTTJOHUIFNXIJMFTBZJOH
God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection
of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy
Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of
the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve
you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. $BUFDIJTN
If you have received the sacrament of Reconciliation,

write a diary entry of your very first experience.
If you have not received the sacrament, reflect on the
ways that you have sought forgiveness from God and
others.
243
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Celebrating the sacrament of Penance

Every sacrament is a prayerful action of Jesus.
Members of the Church join Jesus in his prayer
when they join in the celebration of any
sacrament.
In Reconciliation, his followers join Jesus as he
prays to God the Father for forgiveness of their
sins, as well as the other spiritual gifts this
sacrament offers.
They gather remembering his promise:
For where two or three meet in my name, I am there among them. (Matthew 18:20)
Catholics celebrate Reconciliation by:

individually meeting a priest and experiencing the First Rite of Reconciliation
joining with a Catholic community to celebrate the Second Rite of Reconciliation.
If a person is dying in an accident, or in a life-threatening situation (such as soldiers
going into battle), there is an abbreviated celebration of the sacrament.
RECONCILIATION ELEMENTS
FIRST RITE STEPS
Contrition
Personal preparation
examination of conscience
SECOND RITE STEPS
Greeting by the priest
Greeting by the priest

Opening Prayer
Reading of the Word of

God (optional)
Celebration of the Word

of God Homily
Community examination
of conscience
Confession
General Confession of Sins

Individual confession
Individual confession
Satisfaction
Individual penance given

by the priest
Individual penance given

by the priest
Absolution
Individually the priest

absolves the persons sins
Individually the priest

absolves the persons sins
244
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
People need to examine their conscience to

prepare for Reconciliation
A regular examination of conscience is a useful tool in developing the power to love as a
Christian.
Below is an example of an examination of conscience.
I.
Jesus says:
You must love the Lord your God with all your heart (Matthew 22:37)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Do I pray to God and recognise Gods love for me?

Do I pray daily for the strength to live as God wants?
Do I recognise that God created everything that exists?
Do I praise and thank God, in daily prayer, for all the good things
in my life?
(5) Do I pray daily not only for my needs but for those of others?
(6) Do I participate in the life of the Church by going to Mass and
Reconciliation?
(7) Do I use the names God or Jesus in a disrespectful way?
II. Jesus says:
love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
Do I show respect for and obey my parents?

Do I pray daily for the strength to love others as God loves them?
Have I lived in harmony with my brothers and sisters?
Have I shown respect for and obedience to others in whose care my
parents have placed me eg. teachers and sports coaches?
(5) Have I shown love and care for the sick and those in need?
(6) Do I strive to do my best at school in order to become the person God
wants me to be, eg. am I hard working, honest and caring?
III. Jesus says:
You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.
(Matthew 5:48)
(1) Have I taken care of my health?
(2) Have I directed my emotions so that I always do what is for
the good of the other?
(3) Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappointments
in my life?
(4) Have I given in to peer pressure or gone against my conscience
to do what is wrong?
245
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information from Chapter 6 to help you answer these questions
1.
How did the Jewish people of the Old Testament seek forgiveness
from God?
2.
What was the scapegoat?
3.
The Gospels give many examples of Jesus forgiving sinners.

Choose one and retell what happened.
4.
What does reconciliation with God through the sacrament of

Penance free sinners from?
5.
Complete the table below:

Four elements of reconciliation in the Sacrament of Penance
Contrition
_____________ begins the celebration

of the sacrament. It requires ______________
_____________________________________ .
Confession
The person states all ___________ sins and

regular _______ Sins. There is no need to
confess all _________ sins.
Satisfaction
Has two parts: __________________ and

_________________________ .
Absolution
The priest _____________ sins by:

_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
6.
Why should people examine their consciences to prepare

for Reconciliation?
246
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Anointing A Sacrament
of healing
! Experiences of illness and death are some of the most
emotional times in life
! The Catholic Church continues the work of Jesus in showing
special care for the sick
! Jesus gave his Church the power to heal and care for the sick
through the sacrament of Anointing
! The Last Rites consist of three sacraments
! The gifts of the sacrament of Anointing can heal people and
draw them closer to God.
Experiences of illness and death are

some of the most emotional times in life
People can suffer great shock
on receiving the news that they
have an illness that will burden
them for the rest of their lives
or an illness that will kill them.
This can be one of the most
emotional times in a persons
life.
There can be feelings of fear,
anger and despair. There can
be a sense of powerlessness and
frustration. Instead of
expressing their emotions in
ways that reflect God, there
can be anger against God and
even rejection of God.
Illness can be one of the

most emotional times in
a persons life.
247
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTER CHAPTER
7. ANOINTING A SACRAMENT OF HEALING
Jewish rug depicting Adam and Eve at the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil,
made in the Marbadiah Carpet Factory, Jerusalem, 1920s (cotton and wool)
The origin of illness

The story of the Fall reveals that death and sickness, as people presently experience
them, came into creation as a result of the sin of Adam and Eve.
The body of Jesus after the Resurrection

The early Christians learned about the human body in heaven from Jesus especially
when they saw the body of Jesus after the Resurrection. They saw that it had different
characteristics, Jesus could:
appear in the midst of the Apostles even though the doors of the room were locked
(John 20:19)
disappear from their sight (Luke 24:31).
The Apostle Paul, who saw Jesus when he appeared as a light from heaven, explained
that the human body is now like a seed. After the Resurrection of the Dead at the end of
the world, the bodies of people will be as different from their current bodies as plants
and trees are to the seeds from which they began life (cf 1 Corinthians 15:3538).
248
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Catholic Church continues the work of

Jesus in showing special care for the sick
There are many well-known Gospel examples of Jesus caring for the sick.
For example, he cured:
skin diseases (Matthew 8:14)
fevers (Matthew 8:1415)
paralytics (Mark 2:112)
blood diseases (Matthew 9:2022)
blindness (Matthew 9:2731)
those who could not speak (Matthew 9:3234).
Jesus told his followers that they must also care for the sick. He warned in the Parable
of the Last Judgement that he would praise those who cared for the sick, and condemn
those who neglected them:
(I was) sick and you visited me Then the upright will say When did we find
you sick and go to see you? And the King will answer, 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. (Matthew 25:3640)
Jesus told his Church to continue his mission. This includes caring for the sick.
Over the past two thousand years, the followers of Jesus in every generation have
continued the task he gave them of caring for the sick. Because he has made a home in
them through Baptism, Jesus continues to reach out to the sick and to make them feel
especially loved through his followers. For example, his followers today:
visit those who are sick in hospital or in their homes. Examples include the Legion of
Mary and the St Vincent de Paul Society. Some parish pastoral councils also organise
outreach and visitation services
pray for all who are sick in the parish during the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass
care for sick neighbours and friends by providing food, spending time with them,
inviting them to join family meals, caring for their gardens, doing their washing
work in hospitals and the many community services to the sick
spend time with individuals to talk and encourage them.
Jesus told his Church to

continue his mission.
This includes caring for the sick.
249
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Church institutions caring for the sick

Over the centuries, through the Holy Spirit, Jesus has inspired his Church to establish
hospitals, other medical institutions and support services for those who are sick. Two
examples in Western Australia are St John of God Health Care and Mercy Hospital.
The Catholic Church continues to care for the sick through its agencies and institutions.
These Church organisations usually receive some funding from the government but must
meet many of their costs from private sources. In many cases, Church and government
organisations work closely together to care for the sick.
In Class Work
Use the telephone directory to find examples of the Church in
Western Australia taking on the responsibility of caring for the sick.
Include organisations where more than physical care is provided.
250
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Through his Church, followers of Jesus continue to ensure that more than physical care
is available for the sick. They also try to help society to remember the need to care for
the whole person not simply their physical needs.
Many countries are unable to provide adequate health care for their citizens. These
countries are often too poor to meet their citizens needs due to such factors as unjust
economic structures.
In these areas of the world, often the Church is the main provider of medical care.
Many Catholics join religious congregations to dedicate their lives to the sick in these
countries. Also many lay Catholics with medical skills feel called to offer voluntary
service alongside these religious for specific periods of time.
Many Catholics are unable to do this work themselves; instead, they give generous
financial support through the various Church organisations established for this purpose.
Christians are concerned for all who are sick and make the time to pray for them. They
pray, for example, for:
sick family members and friends
others they know of who are ill
people throughout the world who are ill, particularly those who have no one else to
pray for them.
In Class Work
As a class, make a list of Catholic agencies and institutions who have responded
to the call of following the example of Jesus by looking after the poor who are
sick and dying around the world.
Discuss what you believe are the personal qualities that the people
who work in these organisations possess.
251
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus gave his Church the power to heal and care for the
sick through the sacrament of Anointing
Jesus cured many who were sick. He sent his followers to do the same by anointing
them with oil. They:
... anointed many sick people with oil and cured them. (Mark 6:13)
After his Ascension, the followers of Jesus celebrated this power in sacramental form.
The Letter of St James directs:
Anyone of you who is ill should send for the elders of the church, and they must
anoint the sick person with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. (James 5:14)
The early followers of Jesus thought of oil as having healing power for wounds. Today
oil-based medicines are still used as ointments.
The two main parts of the sacrament of Anointing

There are several parts to celebrating the sacrament of Anointing. The two main
parts are:
1. the priest laying his hands in silence on the head of the one receiving the
sacrament as a reminder of the hand of God, from whom all love and other
gifts come
2. the essential part, when the priest anoints the sick person on the forehead and
the hands while saying:
Through this holy anointing, may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with
the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and
raise you up. (Sacrament of Anointing)
Though the sacrament of Anointing is for all who are seriously ill, or who suffer
physical frailty such as the elderly, it is also celebrated as one of the Last Rites
when a person is dying.
252
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Last Rites consist of three sacraments

The Last Rites consist of three sacraments which together, prepare a person to pass from
this world to God. These are:
1. Reconciliation, through which Jesus forgives the persons sins and gives them all the
gifts of the sacrament
2. Anointing, through which Jesus gives the gifts of this sacrament
3. Holy Communion, through which Jesus unites the person with himself, nourishing
them for the journey he took when he passed from this world to the Father
(John 13:1).
Every baptised Catholic is entitled to the Last Rites even those who have not gone to
Church for most of their lives. This is true even if they have committed mortal sins or
grave crimes in their lives.
No sin a person may have committed is beyond the love of Jesus or the power he will
use to help them prepare to meet God.

Holy Communion received as a Last rite is called viaticum meaning provisions for the
journey from the Latin words for road (via) and with (cum). The word emphasizes
Jesus as the companion of the person who is dying.
253
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus offered his suffering for the salvation of all people

The life, death and Resurrection of Jesus benefited all humanity, for this is how he won
salvation for all people. During his life, he suffered in many ways apart from the
sufferings that led to his death. For example, he experienced
temptation (Matthew 4:111)
grief (John 11:3335)
disappointment (Matthew 23:3739)
thirst (John 4:7)
frustration (John 14:9)
loneliness (Matthew 26:36
rejection (Mark 6:4)
poverty (Luke 9:58).
Jesus agony in the garden showed that he did not find suffering easy and sought
comfort from his Father (Luke 22:4144). His suffering was an essential element of his
life and mission.
Ultimately, Jesus suffered to the extent that he felt completely deserted by God:
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus agony in the garden showed

that he did not find suffering easy and
sought comfort from his Father
254
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

To be forsaken is to be abandoned. It can mean being given up to a terrible fate without
the help, support or comfort one expects from family or friends.
Jesus today continues to suffer through his followers sufferings as they offer them for
the salvation and good of humanity.
This Christian truth can be difficult to understand. Human suffering and its value are
beyond the grasp of the human mind. Christians rely upon their Creator to guide their
responses to suffering. St Pauls belief in this truth led him to exclaim:
It makes me happy to be suffering for you now, and in my own body to make up
all the hardships that still have to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body,
the Church. (Colossians 1:24)
The sufferings and death of Jesus led to his Resurrection. They also brought Gods
salvation to the whole human race.
Jesus unites the sufferings of the anointed person with his own. This means that the
anointed persons sufferings contribute to the good of the human race as well as to the
whole Church. He or she can offer them to God for the good of loved ones.
By offering their suffering to God, people acknowledge Gods love, goodness and
presence in their lives. This can help them to overcome feelings that human sufferings
have no value and life has no purpose.
255
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The gifts of the sacrament of Anointing can heal people

and draw them closer to God
Jesus told his followers to anoint sick people in order to cure them. They soon realized
that a person could not avoid dying even though they were anointed repeatedly. Once
they understood the spiritual life Jesus promises, the early Christians learned that the
sacrament of Anointing primarily offers spiritual healing and gifts.
Everyone knows what it is like to be sick. But there are times when
people suffer serious illnesses. All sickness brings physical and
emotional suffering. Christians know that Jesus experienced physical
and emotional suffering. They know that, by offering these to God
the Father, the sufferings of Jesus brought about good for the whole
human race. When Christians offer their suffering to God it can
bring about good for others in ways that cannot be understood in
this life.
The Catholic Tradition says that, through the sacrament of
Anointing, Jesus helps people to offer their sufferings to God the
Father as he did which in turn brings blessings and goodness to
others. This leads Catholics to offer their sufferings for those they
love and know, as well as for all people in the world.
Illness is not caused directly by God. Eventually everything made of
matter wears out including the human body. This process begins at
different times for different people and even children die, some
before they are born. Death may be premature due to a medical
condition or an acquired illness although medical treatment can slow
this process down in some cases.
For those who believe Jesus teachings about life after death, human
illness helps them to keep in touch with two realities. The first is their
dependence upon God and the second that everyone is going to die.
Sickness weakens people, so that often they lose control of their
lives. Many face up to the fact that their lives really depend upon
God. This has led many to realise that their illness can bring them
closer to God.
If the sick person is unable to celebrate Reconciliation because they
are too ill or unconscious, Jesus forgives their sins through the
sacrament of Anointing.
Anointing is the sacrament for those who are seriously ill or elderly.
It may be repeated every month or so during the illness. Anointing is
also celebrated before any serious surgery. The age of the patient
does not matter.
256
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
What happens if people do not receive the Last Rites?

Those people who do not have the opportunity to make their final peace with God by
receiving the Last Rites are no less loved by God.
If they die in Gods grace and friendship they are assured of eternal salvation. Some may
still have to undergo some form of purification after death so as to achieve the holiness
necessary to enter the joy of the presence of God
People must never put a limit on Gods mercy and desire to share divine life with all humanity.
Through Anointing, Jesus strengthens the anointed person; this is why the Church
encourages Catholics to receive this sacrament. The gifts of the sacrament of Anointing
help sick people in many ways.
WAYS IN WHICH THE GIFTS OF THE SACRAMENT OF ANOINTING HELP SICK PEOPLE
GIFT
EXAMPLES
Union with the sufferings of Jesus
Sense of union and closeness with Jesus

Awareness that sufferings have purpose,
and can bring blessings and other
benefits for loved ones, the Church and
the whole human race
Feelings of worthlessness and frustration
decline
Strengthening
Help to face the illness and all that it

may bring
Faith in God strengthened
Peace
Emotional calm, a sense of consolation

and not being left alone in illness
Freedom from distress and despair
caused by illness
Courage
Fear of future sufferings, surgery and

painful treatments declines
Forgiveness of sins
Reconciliation with God

Loss of the fear of judgement by God
Restoration of health
Health returns if God sees this as good

for the persons salvation
Preparation for death
Fear of death replaced by peace and

serenity
Sense of Jesus being close to help one
whilst dying.
Through the sacraments of healing, Jesus can help those who are open to his Spirit
working in their hearts, integrate and express their emotions in ways that are
responsible and life-giving. He can help them to become more committed to developing
into the best persons they can become.
257
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God offers the gifts, through Jesus, to enable people to direct their emotions in ways
that demonstrate love and what is good for them. In turn, they experience growing
happiness and fulfilment.
As people draw closer to him, Jesus shares Gods power with them. This is how he
changes their lives.
It was Jesus death and Resurrection that freed humanity from the forces of evil in the
most decisive way possible by overcoming the power of death.
The salvation won by Jesus, his saving work changes the minds and hearts of his
followers forever. Death is not the end of life for the Christian but the beginning of the
next stage in their journey towards complete union with God in heaven.
People need to decide whether or not they are going to relate with Jesus. An important
part of a relationship with Jesus is appreciating and accepting the gifts Jesus offers.
These gifts enable Christians to respect their emotions so that they can integrate and
express them in ways that are consistent with Gods laws and their own sense of what is
right and good. These gifts also enable people to direct their emotions so as to achieve
emotional harmony.
The power of God also helps Christians to choose thoughts, words and deeds in their
daily life that are life-giving and not sinful.
People respond to Gods guidance and find the Holy Spirit helping them to order and
direct their emotions appropriately as they draw on the gifts offered by the sacrament of
Anointing and the sacrament of Penance. Through these two sacraments of healing, Jesus
cares for the sick and restores sinners relationships with God.
The Christian promise gives rise to hopes. For these hopes to be realistic, believers must
make choices. They need to do so by:
striving to integrate and express their emotions as God would wish them to
accepting the gifts God offers in the sacraments of healing.
An important part of a
relationship with Jesus is
appreciating and accepting
the gifts Jesus offers.
258
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Adolescence is a time of change,

challenge and growth
! Adolescence is a period of rapid change in the lives of young
people
! Adolescence is a time of preparation for adult life and
relationships.
Adolescence is a period of rapid change in the

lives of young people
Adolescents experience change in all areas of their personal growth and development
physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and spiritually.
It is important not to focus only on the physical changes in adolescence, but to
remember the purpose of these changes and that the human body is meant to serve as
the means by which people express themselves.
In Class Work
Working in small groups, brainstorm all of the changes that take place in
peoples lives as they grow from childhood to adolescence using the headings:
Physical, Intellectual, Emotional, Social, Spiritual.
261
Return to
Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to
Return to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
1. ADOLESCENCE IS A TIME OF CHANGE, CHALLENGE AND GROWTH
Challenges and opportunities

The often rapid changes that adolescents deal with as they mature present many
challenges and opportunities. The experiences of adolescence can be exhilarating and
bring much joy and satisfaction. Personal horizons broaden and new skills are learned as
adolescents develop new interests, particularly in relationships with one another, with
other family members and friends, and with peers and adults in the workplace as some
begin part-time employment. Adolescence is an experience that triggers new ways of
seeing self, other people and the world.
Most adolescents find themselves questioning many of the things they took for granted
as children. They question attitudes and beliefs that they had accepted from various
sources parents, the media, teachers and even their childhood friends. Sometimes
adolescents can become confused by some of the new experiences resulting from their
growth and development.
262
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
1. ADOLESCENCE IS A TIME OF CHANGE, CHALLENGE AND GROWTH
Adolescence is a time of preparation for adult life

and relationships
It is important that people learn to develop healthy relationships in every area of their
lives, this includes with their family, friends, and spouses. Adolescence is a time when
individuals learn to relate to people in mature adult ways.
Just as the adolescent years are a time of preparation for adult responsibilities in other
areas of life such as study, employment and participation in wider community activities,
they are also a time of preparation for the role many will later have in life as married
people and parents.
Spend some time reflecting on the relationships you now

have in your life.
How is the way you relate with people in your life
changing? How could this process help you to develop
healthy adult relationships later in your life?
Factors that influence an adolescents development

During adolescence the bodies of boys and girls develop adult male and female physical
characteristics. The hormones testosterone and oestrogen are responsible for these major
physical changes.
Adolescence is a time of physical, social and emotional development. It is also meant to
be a time of spiritual growth as the adolescent moves toward a more mature faith, based
on a deeper personal commitment to Jesus. These areas of development are not
synchronised but happen in a unique way for each individual young person.
As a result, one adolescent
might begin to experience
emotional mood changes earlier
than others, while another
might begin to experience more
rapid physical changes. This
is true also of spiritual
development. Many different
influences account for how
young people mature spiritually.
263
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Gift of sexuality

! Persons communicate with one another by means of the body
! Sexuality refers to how one understands oneself and relates
with others as a male or female
! The different types of love
! Adolescents need to understand and appreciate the gift of
human sexuality
! All personal gifts need to be developed to support a healthy
sexuality.
Persons communicate with one another by

means of the body
When young people appreciate this truth about the human body, they are able to
communicate verbally and non-verbally all that is maturing within them, such as their
thoughts, ideals, virtues and emotions.
God created the human body with the potential to express the goodness within the
person. This goodness can be expressed verbally, in spoken or written words, and
non-verbally, through facial expressions and other physical signs.
The [human] body, and it alone, is capable

of making visible what is invisible:
the spiritual and the divine.
Pope John Paul II in General Audience, 20 February 1980.
265
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTERCHAPTER
2. THE GIFT OF SEXUALITY
In Class Work
As a class, brainstorm sayings that have to do with non-verbal expression eg.
She had a face like thunder. Write these expressions on cards to be used for
mirror mimes.
This is a body-talk exercise. It relies on your skills of non-verbal communication.
You must not speak. Sit on a chair or on the floor facing a partner. You both
need to be at roughly the same height.
Person A mimes the expression on the first card, Person B imitates Person As
interpretation as though B is a mirror, then Person B identifies what description
they think is being expressed. Reverse roles so that Person B starts off with a
new expression.
Evaluation:
Discuss how easy or difficult it was to interpret meaning

without the use of words.
Research:
What percentage of our communication with other

humans is non-verbal (body-talk) rather than verbal?
Sexuality refers to how one understands oneself and

relates with others as male or female
Many people today confuse sex and sexuality. They understand both words to mean
sexual feelings and desires, even sexual intercourse. However, sexuality does not have
the same meaning as sex, though the two words are closely related.
Sexuality refers to the total person

To understand what sexuality means, it is important to remember that people relate over
a lifetime. They do so as male or female, whether they are infants or children, teenagers,
adults or elderly people.
Sexuality refers to how one perceives oneself and relates to others as male or female. It
is about how males relate with females and other males and how females relate with
males and other females.
Each persons sexuality has an influence on them from their infancy to old age. It
influences what they think, feel and do, as well as their interests and how they relate.
A teenagers sexuality, male or female, affects all aspects of his or her personal
development. This includes their intellectual, emotional, spiritual and physical
development.
266
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Sexuality is related to but different from sex

Sexuality is different from sex. Often when people speak of sex they are referring only
to the observable physical differences between males and females and to the act of
sexual intercourse. Sexuality involves a fuller understanding of the human person.
Sexuality is a vital and dynamic part of every persons identity. It is an integral part of
life that commences at birth and continues throughout a persons life.
Everyone needs to learn to express their male or female sexuality in appropriate ways.
This is an important challenge that young people face since it is essential for positive,
life-affirming relationships with other people. In meeting this challenge during their
adolescent years and beyond, adolescents learn many of the essential things they will
need to bring to all their relationships as mature adults whether they remain single,
marry, become priests or consecrated religious. They will need to learn attitudes and
skills centred on putting others before themselves.
Gender identity
Gender, being male or female, is the foundation of sexuality. Gender identity refers to
whether a person sees themselves as male or female. Gender identity depends on more
than purely observable characteristics. It results from factors such as how people
perceive themselves and how they are treated and related to from birth.
A persons gender affects how they relate with others. It affects how they see and feel
about things. It affects their interests, activities and attitudes. In order to develop as
fully integrated sexual beings, people need to relate with others both male and female,
since males and females complement each other. Generally speaking men and women
think, feel and see things differently, so they tend to relate differently, and reflect some
human qualities more strongly than others. Males and females enrich each other.
267
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The different types of love

Real relationships can only develop as people
grow to love others. Different kinds of
relationships grow from the different kinds of
love people have for each other.
The word love can mean different things to
different people. When the word love is
used today in songs or literature or the
media, particularly television or movies, the
meaning it is given usually relates to sexual or
romantic love. Important as these aspects are,
true love means much more than this.
Familial love
Familial love is the love between family members. It
moves family members to be concerned and to care for each other.
The strength of familial love can be seen when family members:
stick together and show loyalty to each other
accept in each other what they would find unacceptable in others
support each other in difficult times.
Altruistic love
Altruistic love enables people to show genuine concern and care for others whether they
know them or not. People demonstrate this love when they:
help others, expecting nothing in return
try to help after an accident or tragedy
donate money to needy causes
join in community service programs.
Romantic love
Romantic love refers to the love flowing from psychological and physical attraction.
People often refer to this as being in love. It stirs strong feelings in people, which may
lead them to seek to satisfy them in a sexual way. People who are romantically in love
may:
feel the need to be with those to whom they are attracted
invest a great amount of time, effort and thought in that relationship.
be led to physically express the depth of Gods love for one another in marriage.
When this love is based exclusively on self-gratification that is, where satisfying ones
own sexual desires is what matters to an individual then it is not authentic love.
268
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
It takes time to develop a healthy sexuality

Sexuality permeates the identity and personality of every person.
Just as it can take many years to become certain about who we are, it can take a long
time to develop a healthy sexuality.
Teenagers who feel confused about this, need to focus on the question: How can I
develop a healthy and mature sexuality? In addition to this, they need to ask themselves
questions such as:
Do I worry too much about the expectations of others, especially peers?
Do I compare myself too much to others?
Where do my ideas about being male and female come from?
Do I take too much notice of how others of my gender behave in TV shows or other
media?
How much are my ideas on sexuality influenced by TV or sports personalities or
other public figures?
Reflect on these questions. In your journal, jot down any

issues that are of concern to you.
Spend some time writing about what you need to do to

ensure that you develop a healthy and mature sexuality.
Adolescents should be wary of sexual experimentation

Adolescence is the stage in each young persons life for developing character, attitudes,
values and skills that will help them to commit to the tasks of adult life, one of which
may be commitment to married love.
This is an important responsibility for every adolescent and there are no short cuts to
reaching the level of maturity and a healthy sexuality that will enable a person to find
the happiness and fulfilment that married love offers.
Young people need to be particularly wary of engaging in sexual experimentation.
Because experimentation takes place in short-term or casual relationships lacking
commitment or even concern for the other person, such love is not authentic. In fact, it
is not love at all. Sexual experimentation, because it is self-centred rather than othercentred, can harm the development of a persons sexuality in ways that affect them for
the rest of their lives. Habits can be formed that are very difficult to break, even once a
person is married.
269
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Adolescents need to be particularly wary of others who try to persuade them to engage
in sexual experimentation because the motives of such people will not be altruistic (ie.
focussed on doing what is in the best interests of the other person).
Young people need to be aware of the possible consequences of engaging in sexual
experimentation which may include:
t physical harm, such as contracting sexually transmitted infections. These infections
affect persons who engage in sexual experimentation far more than anyone else
t emotional harm, such as the distress resulting from an unplanned pregnancy
t social harm, such as focussing so much on sexual encounters that other aspects of
forming balanced relationships are neglected
t spiritual harm, as sexual experimentation often results in a self-centredness that
leaves little room for God and committed love of others.
Each adolescent develops in a unique way

It is important to remember that the age or time at which each person begins to develop
sexual feelings and interests varies. Adolescents are not all programmed to develop in
the same way or at the same time. Each is unique.
Some young people become more conscious of their sexuality at an earlier point of their
development than others. For many individuals, other areas of their lives develop first.
Variations in the areas and rates of development between people tend to even out over
time.
Adolescents need to understand and appreciate the

gift of human sexuality
The speed and number of changes experienced in the adolescent years can leave
teenagers confused. For example, they can feel confused as strong emotions urge them
to behave differently from how they think they should behave.
Adolescents can also find that their emotions seem to battle each other. For example,
they may feel that they hate someone they normally love. Powerful feelings can also
make it hard to resist doing what teenagers know to be wrong.
A challenge for adolescents is to learn to integrate their thoughts, emotions, values and
other personal gifts so that they function together in harmonious ways. The reality,
however, seems to be that, instead of functioning in harmony, they seem to work against
each other.
Adolescents need to remember, therefore, that no matter how strongly sexual feelings
affect them, such feelings remain only part of the whole person. They are not the whole
of ones sexuality and they should not be allowed to take over or to dominate.
270
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Developing self discipline

Adolescents are no different from adults in the need for self-discipline. An adolescent needs
to try to exercise self-discipline whenever they become aware of powerful sexual feelings.
If one doesnt learn to control these feelings, they can end up being expressed in ways that
are harmful to self and others, and are morally wrong such as treating persons as mere
objects to be taken or used for ones pleasure and self-gratification.
Where this happens, sexual feelings can control how a
person behaves. This is far from the kind of preparation
a person needs for a healthy sexuality.
Sexual self-discipline involves understanding ones sexual
feelings and learning to express them in ways that are
consistent with the values and ideals young people know
to be good and true. In this way individuals learn to
integrate and express their sexuality in mature and
respectful ways.
The skill of disciplining and learning to express ones
self sexually in the way God would want requires constant
prayer, reflection and determination, especially in todays
society.
Take some time to

reflect on your
progress in
developing selfdiscipline in all
aspects of your life.
271
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
All personal gifts need to be developed to support a

healthy sexuality
To develop a healthy sexuality, it is important not to over-emphasise the sexual
aspects of a person. People need to develop other gifts as well. Some of these
other gifts are the intellect, emotions, spirit and will. As young people grow
stronger, the development of these other basic human gifts helps to keep sexual
feelings in perspective.
The Intellect
Intellectual gifts can help people to develop a healthy sexuality. For example,
people learn to understand their sexual feelings, to evaluate them against ideals
and moral values and to work out right and wrong ways of behaving.
Intellectual gifts can help adolescents to come to know others as people and to
evaluate sexual stereotypes, social trends and influences.
The Emotions
As people learn to understand and express their emotions appropriately, they also
learn to do the same with their sexual feelings. The same skills and habits apply
to making choices in times of strong emotions as they do to making choices when
sexual feelings are strong.
The Spirit
As people develop spiritually, their inner spiritual strength grows. As it does so,
they can draw upon it to overcome any expressions of sexual feelings that are not
appropriate to particular situations. This helps them to achieve greater inner
freedom. For example, they can overcome desires to engage in sexual activities
that are appropriate only to the relationship between husband and wife.
The Will
As people use their wills to develop self-control, they grow in their ability to
make responsible choices, rather than be controlled by sexual feelings. At times,
despite their best efforts, individuals may not be able to express their sexual
feelings in ways that respect their sexuality or the sexuality of others. As they
learn self-mastery, they also learn to express their sexual feelings appropriately.
Relating skills
As people develop healthy relationships, they grow in the ability to exercise self-control
over sexual feelings that are relationally inappropriate. This is because the emphasis
shifts to realising the full potential of relationships based on a healthy sexuality.
Adolescents find that they are able to express their strong sexual feelings in
positive, life-giving ways for self and others as they overcome self-centred
attitudes and behaviours.
272
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapters 1 and 2 to help you to answer the following
questions:
1. Explain the difference between sexuality and sex.
2. Explain the meanings of familial love, altruistic love and romantic love.
For each type of love give two examples of positive ways that people can
express this form of love.
3. Why should young people be particularly wary of engaging in sexual
experimentation?
4. List four possible consequences of engaging in sexual experimentation.
5. Individuals learn to integrate and express their sexuality in mature and
respectful ways by _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
6. List the basic human gifts that people need to develop in order to support
a healthy sexuality.
273
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Developing a Healthy Sexuality

! People develop a healthy sexuality as they strive to
love like God
! God teaches that sexuality is the basis for all relationships
! Married love is the basis of the unique relationship that
exists between a wife and husband
! The characteristics of healthy human sexuality.
People develop a healthy sexuality as

they strive to love like God
God, the Creator of human sexuality,
has revealed what people need to do
to develop a healthy sexuality.
Every human gift has a purpose.
It develops as it is used for that
purpose. Adolescent bodies, for
example, grow stronger and more
coordinated as teenagers walk, run
and exercise.
The development of a healthy
sexuality during adolescence prepares
young people for situations they will
face as adults.
A persons sexuality has a purpose
just like all their other gifts. God, the
Creator of human nature, revealed
this purpose thousands of years ago.
Sistine Chapel ceiling: Creation of Eve, with four Ignudi, 1511

(fresco) (pre restoration) by Buonarroti, Michelangelo (14751564)
Gods teaching is recorded in various

books of the Bible. The most basic idea
is presented in the Creation Stories at
the beginning of the Bible.
275
Return to
Return to Return to
Return to
CHAPTER
3. DEVELOPING A HEALTHY SEXUALITY
The Priestly Creation Story

The first of these stories preserves Gods teaching that males and females were created
in Gods own image and likeness:
... in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.
(Genesis 1:27)
Each was created in Gods image and likeness and each was created to reflect God in
different ways.
Males have been created to reflect God in masculine ways and females have been created
to reflect God in feminine ways. Males do not reflect God better than females, nor do
females better reflect God than males.
Equal in dignity
Created in Gods image and likeness, male and female are also equal in dignity. Each
respects their own dignity and that of others when they treat each other with respect.
Neither should treat the other as less equal than themselves.
God teaches that sexuality is the basis for all relationship

The Yahwist Creation Story
The Yahwist Creation Story portrays God personally giving the gift of life to people,
Yahweh God shaped the 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)
The man had the whole of creation to enjoy, yet he still felt alone and incomplete and
needed another human being. God then created a woman from the rib of the man
(Genesis 2:22).
The first parents were created as male and female. Their sexuality was not merely an
addition but was an essential part of their nature.
In this way, the Yahwist Creation Story preserves Gods teaching that God created
human sexuality for the purpose of human beings relating with each other.
Human sexuality, therefore, is not primarily about sexual intercourse or human
reproduction. It was created first and foremost so that people could relate with each
other. The key to their relationship was that it was to reflect Gods relationship with
them, a relationship of love and communion.
276
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Married love is the basis of the unique relationship that

exists between a wife and husband
God revealed sexual intercourse as a special means for expressing married love before
relating it to having children. Catholic teaching speaks of the two purposes of
intercourse, without prioritising them. Neither is more important than the other.
The closest of all chosen relationships is marriage. This love is so close that the husband
and wife feel unable to love any other person in the same way. It is a love that needs a
special expression, an expression described as the reason why,
a man ... becomes attached to his

wife, and they become one flesh.
(Genesis 2:24)

Become one flesh was an ancient
Jewish phrase for sexual intercourse.
The second Creation Story describes this love in an ancient Jewish way when the first
man and woman marry:
Now, both of them were naked, the man and his wife, but they felt no shame
before each other. (Genesis 2:25)
The purpose for which God created human beings capable of sexual intercourse,
therefore, is to express married love. Sexual intercourse is an expression of relationship
only in so far as it is a way of expressing married love.
277
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The characteristics of healthy human sexuality

From all that God revealed about human sexuality in the two creation stories, healthy
human sexuality can be said to have the characteristics outlined in the following table:
Basic characteristics revealed in the
Creation Stories
People develop a healthy sexuality when God

enables them to ...
1. God created males and females in

Gods own image and likeness
think, speak and behave all their life in

ways that reflect Gods selfless love and
goodness
2. God gave males and females equal

dignity
show respect towards those of the

opposite sex, and never exploit them
or treat them in disrespectful ways
3. God created males and females to

reflect God equally, but in different
ways
fulfil their roles as men and women based

on their equality as males and females
4. God charged the first human beings to have the sexual self-discipline needed to
develop the good in creation, including understand and direct sexual feelings and
curiosity, so that they do not behave in
themselves
ways that disobey Gods laws
5. Love means being committed to the
good of others
allow their sexual feelings and curiosity to

assist them to do only what is good for
others
6. God created sexuality as part of

human nature
to think of themselves and others (or to

treat others) in a respectful way; as people
of dignity and not as sex objects
7. God created males and females capable reflect God as Creator of life, by
of sexual intercourse so that they could conceiving and bearing children and to
remain faithful to their marriage vows
express the special relationship of
marriage
Principles for a healthy sexuality

In order to develop their sexuality in healthy ways, people need to understand the
following principles:
human sexuality is part of every person. It affects the ways they think, feel and
express themselves
as part of their nature, sexuality affects people for the whole of their lives
adolescent physical development is more than the development of the capacity to
contribute to human reproduction
the purpose of teenage physical sexual development is to more fully express their
sexuality
people develop a healthy sexuality to the extent that they relate with others in ways
that express their love of family, friendship or married love
the purpose of sexual intercourse is to express married love in a distinctive and
special way which may include the procreation of children.
the common characteristic of genuine love in every human relationship is to will the
good of another.
278
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. Read through the principles for developing a healthy sexuality as listed
above.
2. In your own words describe what it means to develop a healthy sexuality.
3. Identify examples of young people in the media who you think might serve
as role models for teenagers who are striving to develop a healthy sexuality.
4. Explain what it is about these young people and how they live that
demonstrates that they are striving to develop a healthy sexuality.
279
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Challenge of Developing

a Healthy Sexuality
This chapter presents the following key learning point:
! People can fail to develop a healthy sexuality for a
number of reasons.
People can fail to develop a healthy sexuality

for a number of reasons
People can find developing a healthy sexuality to be challenging. Sexual feelings
and desires can be very difficult to resist at times.
This has led people to experience:
prostitution
sexual abuse
marriages based upon sexual feelings instead of a commitment in love
people pretending to be friends and to love others, in order to
satisfy their sexual desires
looking at and using others as sex-objects through pornography
sexually explicit media
people feeling deeply hurt and betrayed after they discover
that someone they thought loved them really only wanted
them for sexual self-gratification.
People find developing a healthy sexuality challenging

Originally, people were created in close relationship with God.
Because they were in harmony with God, they were also in
harmony with each other, as well as within themselves. Sexual
feelings were harmoniously integrated as people were seen as
human beings, not as sex objects.
This situation changed when the parents of the human race
damaged their relationship with God through original sin.
Then the eyes of both of them were opened and they
realized that they were naked. So they sewed fig-leaves
together to make themselves loin-cloths. (Genesis 3:7)
281
Return toReturn to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return toReturn to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
4. THE CHALLENGE OF DEVELOPING A HEALTHY SEXUALITY
The author of the story of the Fall recorded this story to illustrate that, to the extent
that human beings fail to relate with God, they will find it difficult to develop a healthy
sexuality.
To the extent that they do not relate with God, people find it challenging at times not to
give into their sexual feelings. This results in:
t TFYVBMUFNQUBUJPOTUIBUBSFEJGGJDVMUUPSFTJTU
t TUSPOHEFTJSFTUPFOHBHFJOTFYVBMBDUJWJUJFTPVUTJEFNBSSJBHF
t EFTJSFTUPTFFPSJNBHJOFPUIFSTBTPCKFDUTGPSTFYVBMTFMGHSBUJGJDBUJPO
In Class Work
List names of magazines and television programs that are commonly read and
viewed by teenagers.
1. Next to each title, outline the topics they cover.
2. Roughly what percentage of the content is based on issues connected to
human sexuality?
3. What stereotypes are presented of male and female behaviour?
4. How real is the portrayal of teenagers in these media sources?
5. Do you think the information presented is reliable and helpful to young
people as they try to develop a healthy sexuality?
6. Would you trust these same sources to give you career or
financial advice?
282
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Commitment and genuine love

Genuine love for family members, friends and husband or wife is required to develop a
healthy sexuality. Although different kinds of love are needed for different relationships,
the common characteristic of all forms of genuine love is commitment to the good of
the person being loved.
Sexual attraction can be the start to a committed relationship if it matures to genuine
care for the other. However, this is not likely to happen for people who give in to their
sexual feelings and act in selfish and self-centred ways.
Many teenagers and young adults today become sexually involved because they are
physically attracted to each other. They feel very close, and are hurt when those with
whom they had sexual experiences want to end the relationship. This type of love can
be very misleading. People can feel close, when in fact there is no mutual loyalty or
commitment to the other.
Romantic love is a wonderful experience based, as it is, upon strong emotional feelings
towards another person. As teenagers develop in their sexuality, the attraction of
romantic love will feature more strongly in their experience. However, while
relationships may begin romantically, they need to mature to genuine love if they are to
be lasting. Couples who confuse romantic feelings with commitment can be deeply hurt
when their relationship breaks up.
People affect the development of one anothers sexuality. It is important to be critical of
what others, especially the media, portray as the way to live as sexual beings.
Adolescents need to develop a healthy questioning of why advertisers so often promote
products by associating them with far from subtle sexual images.
283
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
1. Brainstorm examples of advertisements that use sexual imagery to sell
products or services.
2. Do a simple analysis on advertisements by filling out a table with the
following format:
Product/Service
advertised
Sexual imagery
portrayed
Human needs to which

the advertisement
appeals
3. What conclusions can be drawn from your analysis?

4. If possible, research the percentage of the annual budget spent on
advertising by one or more of these companies.
Ideas that differ from what God has revealed cannot lead to the development of a
healthy and mature sexuality.
The ways people experience the first stirrings of sexual interest vary from person to
person. It is important, therefore, to remain true to oneself, and not to worry if one
does not fit current stereotypes.
Teenagers can feel pressured into pretending that they are more interested in sexual
matters than in fact they are in reality. For example, many are interested in relating with
the opposite sex as people, rather than just focusing on them simply as sexual objects.
They may feel pressured to engage in friendships for which they are not yet ready. They
may even make up stories about sexual exploits just to impress their friends.
Some young people are much
happier socialising in groups
with both boys and girls and
do not want to pair off into
couples too soon. Yet society
is promoting the girlfriendboyfriend relationship as the
norm for young people. Young
people should learn to take
the time to get to know others
and to develop relationships
with them.
Adolescents need to be true to the

vision of a healthy sexuality that
God has revealed.
284
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
What does it mean to be a true friend?

List as many characteristics as you can of what
being a true friend would mean to you.
When was the last time that a friend went out of
his or her way to do something special for you?
What did this tell you about the friendship? The friend?
Yourself?
Take some time to pray for guidance about how
to be a true friend.
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapters 3 and 4 to help you to answer the following
questions:
1. The Priestly Creation story contains some of Gods teachings about
human sexuality. It teaches that males and females were created in
Gods ______________________ and ___________________.
Therefore they are equal in ___________ and they should each treat
the other with _______________.
2. The Yahwist Creation Story teaches that God created human sexuality for
the purpose of ________________ with each other in a way that reflected
Gods relationship with them one of __________ and _______________.
In the story God shaped man from the _____________. Man received life
when God ___________________________________________. The man felt
alone so God created ______________________ from _________________.
3. What are the two purposes of sexual intercourse?
4. In a human relationship genuine love must always involve
________________________________________________.
5. Give some examples of ways in which human beings have suffered because
they have at times been unable to express their sexuality in the healthy ways
that God intended.
6. List some of the challenges that teenagers face in trying to
develop a healthy sexuality.
285
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus promises the power

of divine love
! God gives guidance and strength to people in developing their
human sexuality in healthy ways
! Jesus is the model for Christians of expressing the divine
power of charity to others
! Charity is developed through receiving Jesus in Holy
Communion, prayer and in striving to live Jesus two great
commandments
! The Christian promise can become a reality if people strive to
live the vision of charity and chastity revealed by Jesus.
God gives guidance and strength to people in

developing their human sexuality in healthy ways
No one can develop a healthy sexuality unless they love others as God does. To do this,
they must first be close to God.
The human ability to love as God loves was damaged by original sin, as was peoples
ability to develop a healthy sexuality. To develop a healthy sexuality, the first thing
people need to do is to again draw close to God.
God the Father sent his son Jesus and the Holy Spirit to the human race in order to give
Gods guidance and strength to people as they struggle to develop their human sexuality
in healthy ways.
In Class Work
Why do people need Gods guidance and strength to develop their sexuality in
healthy ways? Why cant they just do this on their own? Discuss in groups
and/or as a class.
287
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTER CHAPTER
5. JESUS PROMISES THE POWER OF DIVINE LOVE
Charity, the divine power to love as God loves

Jesus Christ came to make it possible for all people to draw close to God. He
proclaimed:
The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and
believe the gospel. (Mark 1:15)
The Kingdom of God exists where the divine power of love and goodness is accepted. It
is a share in the power of Gods own love.
The divine power to love as God does has a special name charity. Charity helps people
to relate with God as originally intended in creation. The closer a person draws to God,
the more they are empowered by God to love others as originally intended. Charity,
then, is the power God gives people to:
love God for Gods own sake
love others for Gods sake.
live Gods commandments
love self and others as God does.
Many people today think of charity in terms of giving money and possessions to the
poor. While it does include giving to those in need, charity is much more than this. It is
the share in Gods power to love, a gift received through Baptism.
288
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Construct a mind map with the word charity at the centre and the four aspects
of charity, given in the dot points, as offshoots. From these offshoots, map
practical ways in which people your age can demonstrate each of these
aspects of charity.
The two great commandments of Christ

Having promised to share the divine power of charity with his followers, Jesus gave
them two commandments that they need to obey for the power of charity to grow
within them. He told them:
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)
Jesus described these as the two greatest commandments. The order in which they are
presented is very important.
Why is love for God first?

Love for God is first because only by loving God are Christians empowered to love their
neighbour as Jesus did. The power of charity cannot grow by trying to love others
without first loving God and receiving this power to love from him.
In Class Work
In pairs, create a flyer or brochure that seeks to explain the two great
commandments of Jesus.
In your brochure outline why people need to live by these commandments
in order to love others as God wants people to love them.
289
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Jesus is the model

for expressing the
divine power of
charity to others
Jesus is both the Son of God
and human. He showed and
taught his followers how to
love others as God loves
them. Jesus is the perfect
model of charity for
Christians to follow as they
seek to love others as he did.
Jesus modelled love of God

Jesus demonstrated how his followers should love God by the ways he showed love for
God the Father. He:
prayed (Mark 1:35; Luke 11:1 )
worshipped (John 17:14; Hebrews 5:7)
promoted, as well as kept, the commandments (Matthew 5:1719).
Jesus modelled love of others

Jesus modelled the basic gospel principle of charity: Christians must love everyone they
encounter within the roles and commitments to which God has called them. Jesus
demonstrated this in his own life by loving everyone he met regardless of:
social status (Luke 17:1119; 19:110)
age (Luke 4:3839; 18:1517)
cultural background (Luke 7:110)
social condition (Luke 7:1117)
religion (John 4:110)
gender (Luke 23:49)
moral standing (John 8:111; Luke 5:2932; 7:3650).
290
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
He demonstrated that charity requires love for everyone. Perhaps the most dramatic
demonstration of this was his forgiveness of those who crucified him.
When they reached the place called The Skull, there they crucified him and the two
criminals, one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, Father, forgive them;
they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:3334)
As well as loving everyone he met, Jesus taught his followers that they must do the
same. He said:
...be reconciled with your brother ... (Matthew 5:24)
...if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well. (Matthew 5:39)
love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you... (Matthew 5:44)
So always treat others as you would like them to treat you ... (Matthew 7:12)
Jesus and his love for women

Jesus demonstrated that Christian love always leads a man to respect women in
imitation of Gods respect for them.
Jesus showed in ways that were revolutionary for his time that respect for women
required seeing them as equals. For example, unlike other rabbis at the time, who only
taught men, Jesus included women among his disciples (Luke 8:13). In those times,
only men were regarded as reliable witnesses. In revealing his Resurrection to women
first (Mark 16:18), Jesus rejected the social attitude of his time.
The basic lesson Jesus taught in his life and ministry was that people must always respect
each other as persons of equal dignity.

In the Jewish society of Jesus day, women held a position of social inferiority. They were
subordinate to men within families. This was reflected in the fact that men avoided
speaking to women in public, even to their wives and daughters.
The Gospels reveal that, in openly relating with women, Jesus deviated sharply from the
conventions of his society. It was behaviour that took even his disciples by surprise:
his disciples returned and were surprised to find him speaking to a woman
(John 4:27)
291
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Read the story of Jesus revealing his Resurrection to the women in Mark 16:18.
Imagine what the women would have felt after finding the tomb empty and
encountering the young man in a white robe. Using the perspective of one of
the women, write about the event, describing your feelings.
How would you explain to Peter and the disciples what you had witnessed?
How do you think they would react to your news?
Jesus is the model of celibate love

Jesus never married or had a family. The divine love in Jesus moved him to dedicate his
entire life to loving as many people as possible. God loves every human being and so the
divine power of charity in Jesus embraced all people he encountered.
His task was to teach about the Kingdom of God and to invite all to accept Gods power
of love and goodness.
A sign of the Kingdom of God

In this life, the Kingdom of God exists in the power of God. Christians are called to
share the power of the Kingdom in the service of God and humanity.
The special love Jesus demonstrated is called celibate love, or simply celibacy. Jesus
taught that all his followers are called to this kind of love at sometime during their lives.
Teenagers and all other people who are not married are called to live celibate single lives.
Religious brothers, sisters and priests are called in a special way to celibate love, and like
Jesus they are called to celibacy for their whole lives. Part of their calling to celibacy is
the desire to dedicate their whole lives to serving God by loving as Jesus loves. They are
called to remain unmarried for the rest of their lives, as was Jesus, for the sake of the
kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 19:12).
Priests and religious brothers and sisters make a conscious choice for a life of celibacy as
a special way of loving and accept this as a requirement of the Church and as a gift from
God.
Heaven is where people will experience, with all the angels and saints, the perfect
fullness of Gods love. It will be a love that far surpasses even the married love people
experience in their earthly lives.
Jesus revealed that, in heaven, people do not marry.
they are like the angels in heaven. (Mark 12:25)
292
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Charity is developed through receiving Jesus in Holy

Communion, prayer and in striving to live Jesus
two great commandments
Though Gods love is received through
Baptism and strengthened through
Confirmation, it needs to be developed
in peoples lives. Jesus taught his
followers how to do this. The three
most important ways are by:
receiving the Body and Blood of
Jesus in Holy Communion. Holy
Communion nourishes charity, just as
food nourishes the body
praying daily
striving each day to live Jesus two
great commandments. The first
commandment calls Christians to
ever deeper love of God, and the
second commandment to love of
neighbour.
Charity develops with chastity

Charity moves people to love others as
God loves them, not simply as sexual
beings but as whole persons.
Charity moves people in such a way that
gradually, their thoughts, emotions and
other gifts are brought into harmony.
As this happens, they are moved to love
others as God loves them. This ability to
harmonise sexual thoughts, feelings and
desires is called chastity. It is the growing
ability to see others as God sees them.
This means seeing beyond an individuals
sexuality, wonderful as that gift is, to the
whole person God loves.
Holy Communion nourishes

charity, just as food
nourishes the body
How is chastity developed?

Two requirements are needed to develop chastity. In a similar way to charity,
the first requirement is to develop a close relationship with God through:
daily prayer
receiving the spiritual nourishment of Holy Communion
receiving Gods forgiveness in the Sacrament of Penance
accepting Gods grace in the Sacrament of Penance to amend ones life
and do better in future.
293
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The second requirement for developing chastity is self-mastery. This means working to
understand sexual feelings and desires and to discipline them like any other emotion, so
that they do not become too powerful to resist.
Many people try to live the virtue of chastity by self-discipline alone. They find that it is
not possible without Gods help. They can find themselves failing at times to resist
sexual temptations.
Modesty is a key element to living a chaste life

Modesty is a key element of living a chaste life and is related to chastity. It means
behaving in ways that reflect proper attitudes to sexuality. Modesty is not just about me
and what I like, but how I affect others. It is the development of the habit of avoiding
whatever may tempt people to think of others or themselves in sexual ways. It means
respect for others and themselves.
Modesty is natural within people. It is a spiritual quality. While its demands vary from
society to society, it means avoiding sexually explicit and pornographic materials.
Modesty also means that people will dress in ways that do not provoke others to see
them as sex objects.
294
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The Christian promise can become a reality if people

strive to live the vision of charity and chastity revealed
by Jesus
If all people accepted and developed the

gift of chastity as a positive good for
themselves and others, they would develop
their sexuality in healthy ways. What
differences would be seen in Australian
society if all people developed a healthy
sexuality?
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapter 5 to help you to answer the following questions:
1.
Name two of the effects of original sin on humanity.
2.
Charity is _________________________________________.
3.
Charity gives people the power to:

a) _________________________________________________
b) _________________________________________________
c) _________________________________________________
d) _________________________________________________
4.
What are Jesus two greatest commandments? Why is their order important?
5.
Explain how Jesus modelled love of others.
6.
How was Jesus attitude to women very unusual for a Jewish man of his
times? Give one example from Scripture that demonstrated his treatment
of women.
7.
What does celibate mean?
8.
Jesus modelled celibate love. What people in the Church today commit
themselves in a special way to celibate love?
9.
Explain how they live as Jesus did as a result of this lifetime commitment.
10. Explain how participation in the Church can help people to develop
charity in their lives.
11. List the two requirements needed if people are to develop chastity.
12. How does developing chastity also enable people to develop charity?
13. List four characteristics of modesty.
295
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God empowers people to live

chaste lives
! God originally created human beings with healthy sexualities
! Jesus gives sacramental grace to enable people to develop a
healthy sexuality.
God originally created human beings with

healthy sexualities
God originally created human beings with a healthy sexuality. They loved and respected
each other as male and female in ways that reflected Gods love and respect for each
other. God created all of their physical characteristics.
God had two purposes in creating sexual organs; these were that married couples could:
express their married love to each other
conceive children.
Through sexual intercourse, each was to express in marriage the kind of love that
reflected Gods faithfulness and total generosity. Together, they were also able to reflect
God, the giver of life, by conceiving children.
Sexual intercourse was created by God, therefore, to be both love-giving and life-giving.
Differences between human beings and other creatures

Human sexuality is one of the characteristics that make human beings different
from other creatures. While all Gods creatures have sexual organs and
reproductive systems, human beings are different in three key ways.
1. Human beings have free will. They can choose when to express married love
and to have children. Other creatures engage sexually by instinct and urges.
Human beings can choose not to follow sexual urges.
2. Husband and wife reflect the love of God for each other when they express
married love in sexual ways. Other creatures cannot do this because they were
not created in Gods own image and likeness.
3. God created human beings sacred as in the image and likeness of God. Unlike
animal or insect life, new human life is sacred from the moment of conception.
297
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTERCHAPTER
6. GOD EMPOWERS PEOPLE TO LIVE CHASTE LIVES
Jesus gives sacramental grace to

enable people to develop a healthy sexuality
God the Father sent Jesus to offer
people ways for drawing on the
saving power of God. These are
the gifts received through the
sacraments.
Baptism
Confirmation
Eucharist
Four sacraments especially provide

people with the gifts needed to live
as a Christian. They are the sacraments
of Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist and
Reconciliation.
Reconciliation
Baptism
Some of the spiritual gifts received through Baptism relate particularly to developing a
healthy sexuality.
Grace
Promised help
If developed, these graces

gradually empower the
Christian to ...
Freedom from original sin
The power to overcome

selfishness and temptations
to do wrong
think and behave in sexual

ways that obey Gods laws
overcome selfishness and
temptations
The life of God
United by the Holy Spirit

with other baptized
believers
The power to behave more

like Jesus
think, speak and behave in

ways that reflect Jesus love
for all people
The gift of faith
understand and appreciate

Gods laws related to
sexual behaviour
The gift of hope
have the ability to trust,

that God will always help
those who strive to live as
Jesus
The gift of charity
keep loving God more

deeply for Gods own sake
draw on Gods power to
love and relate with others
in chaste ways
The Holy Spirit will draw

baptized Christians closer
together.
act on the desire to belong

to a faith community with
others who seek to live as
God calls
298
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
It is important to understand that people who draw on the graces of Baptism are
enabled to:
turn to God by praying for help to resist sexual temptations
exercise self-control when they experience powerful sexual feelings and desires
develop the virtue of chastity as they draw closer to Jesus.
Confirmation
Through Confirmation, the gifts of baptised people are strengthened as they receive the
special strength of the Holy Spirit. These include those gifts which relate to their sexuality.
Spend some time reflecting on the following

questions then; write your thoughts in your
journal:
When can it be difficult to see the good

in people and in events?
When can it be hard to believe that

God cares for people?
When can people become confused

about what is really of value?
When can it be hard to believe and to

behave as Jesus taught?
When is it hard to remember Gods

promises?
When can it be difficult to feel

that God is close?
When can Gods love be taken

for granted?
Spend some time discussing the

questions in small groups.
299
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gifts of Confirmation
Gift:
Experiences
The Spirit of Wisdom

Ability to see the good in everything as
God does, and as Jesus did
Growing ability to see the wholeness of

persons rather than viewing them solely
in sexual ways.
Accepting ones sexuality as one aspect
of being a person
Discovering the good in oneself
Becoming more aware of the need to
die a friend of God to enter heaven
The Spirit of Understanding

Ability to understand, as Jesus did, the
meaning of Gods actions
Understanding how to behave as God

wants in times of sexual temptation
Discovering Gods purposes for human
sexuality
Discovering the true meaning of love as
charity
The Spirit of Right Judgement

Ability to judge the true value of
everything, as did Jesus
Making decisions that respect the need to

strive for a healthy sexuality
The Spirit of Courage

Ability to rise above personal challenges
and fears, even in the face of death, as
Jesus did
Strengthened to resist pressures to ignore

Gods laws for developing a healthy
sexuality
Valuing a healthy sexuality
Strengthened against temptations to

disobey the sixth and ninth
commandments
Strengthened to live the teachings of Jesus
each day
The Spirit of Knowledge
Ability to come to know God better and to
learn new lessons from experiences of God
Able to remember that God is eager to

help people resist pressures and
temptations against Christian teaching
on human sexuality
The Spirit of Reverence

Ability to keep growing in awareness of
Gods closeness and love
Prayer for Gods support to live a chaste

life grows easier and more personal
The Spirit of Wonder and Awe

in Gods Presence
Ability to keep returning love to
God for all Gods gifts
Wanting to show love for God by living

a life of charity and chastity
Feeling that God is present always,

especially in times of temptation
300
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
For those who seek it, the special strength of the Holy Spirit strengthens them against
sexual feelings and desires that otherwise would lead them to behave in ways God does
not want. This strengthens charity.
As Christians develop and use the gifts of the Spirit, the fruits of the Holy Spirit grow
further in them. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Eucharist
The graces of the Eucharist help a person to develop a healthy sexuality in three key
ways:
1. Union with Christ strengthens against sexual temptations by drawing anyone who
receives Holy Communion regularly, closer to Jesus.
2. The Eucharist nourishes all spiritual gifts, including those of Baptism and
Confirmation. Without this nourishment, the gifts received through Baptism and
Confirmation will not develop as intended by God.
3. The Eucharist deepens union with Christ and strengthens charity; it wipes away past
venial sin and strengthens against temptations to break serious laws of God and
commit a mortal sin.
Penance
Many Australians today do not understand the gift of chastity. Nor do they realise that
one must have a relationship with God in order to receive the power of Gods love upon
which chastity is based.
Many today say chastity is old-fashioned because they find it hard to live chaste lives.
Perhaps they try but lack the strength Gods love brings because they:
do not worship or pray to God
do not try to keep Gods commandments.
This does not mean that Christians always behave in chaste ways. They are tempted and
at times will fail to keep Gods commandments.
Jesus understood that this would be the case. It is one reason why he instituted the
Sacrament of Penance. Through this sacrament:
the relationship with God of those who have sinned is healed
the divine power upon which chastity is based grows stronger.
In Class Work
What are the forces or factors at work in society today that make it hard for
people, including Christians, to live chaste lives?
Discuss in small groups and report to the class.
301
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
To draw on the graces of the

sacraments it is necessary to pray
The need for Prayer

To draw on the graces of the sacraments it is necessary to pray, asking for Gods help to
deal with sexual temptations and difficulties in life-giving ways. What is needed is to ask
God for greater strength and understanding.
Reflecting on the need for prayer to deal with sexual

temptation in life-giving ways, spend time with God silently
and privately. Then compose a prayer in your journal
sharing your thoughts and feelings with God who wants
nothing more than to be able to help and support you. You
may wish to ask for Gods strengthening grace in those
times when you will be tempted, as all people are, to give in
to sexual feelings. You may also want to ask God to
strengthen the gifts you have received in the sacraments
that will help you grow more fully. Consider the gifts of
charity, chastity and modesty.
302
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information in Chapter 6 to help you to answer the following questions
1. Name the three graces of Baptism that relate particularly to developing
a healthy sexuality.
2. By drawing on the graces of Baptism people are enabled to:
a) ______________________________________________
b) ______________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________
3. The strength of the Holy Spirit can enable people to cope with sexual
feelings and desires that can lead them to behave in ways that God does not
intend. Complete the table below to show how the seven gifts of the Holy
Spirit received at Confirmation can assist people in this aspect of their lives.
Gifts of Confirmation
Gift:
Experiences
The Spirit of Wisdom

Ability to see __________________
______________________________
______________________________
Growing ability to see the

___________ of persons rather
than viewing them solely in
sexual ways.
Accepting ones sexuality as one
aspect of being _____________
Discovering the _________ oneself
The Spirit of __________________

Ability to ____________, as Jesus
did, the meaning of Gods actions
Discovering Gods purposes for

_________________________
The Spirit of Right Judgement

Ability to judge _______________
Making decisions that

______________________________
______________________________
Discovering the true meaning of

love as ________
Valuing a _____________________
_____________________________
The Spirit of Courage
Ability to rise above ____________
______________________________
______________________________
Strengthened to resist ___________

______________________________
Strengthened to live the _________
______________________________
303
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
The Spirit of Knowledge
Ability to come to ______________
God better and to learn new
lessons from ___________________
Able to remember that God is

______________________________
______________________________
__________________________
The Spirit of Reverence

Ability to keep growing in
awareness of Gods _________ and
________
Prayer for Gods support to ______

______________________________
______________________________
Feeling that God is _____________
______________________________
The Spirit of Wonder and _______ Wanting to show ________ God by

in Gods Presence
living a life of ___________ and
Ability to ______________________ _______________
______________________________
4. List ways the sacraments of (a) Eucharist and (b) Penance empower
people to live chaste lives.
304
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God calls people to develop

a healthy sexuality
! God calls people to respect the dignity of the whole person,
including their sexuality
! God seeks to restore human sexuality
! Gods commandments protect people from behaviours that
fail to respect the dignity of the person.
God calls people to respect the dignity of the whole

person, including their sexuality
God gives people the responsibility to work to develop healthy sexualities. To help them
God has revealed in the Bible a vision of how people should behave and has provided
them with gifts to help them develop.
Respect for the sexuality of others as males and females

Males and females reflect God and it is important to emphasise that equality between
females and males is based upon each being created in Gods image and likeness. It is
not based upon roles, nor upon what they do or are capable of doing.
In creating both sexes, it is Gods intention that each reflect God in
unique ways. The most obvious example is that women are
created capable of bearing children and men are not.
This shows that God does not create men and women
to reflect their Creator in exactly the same ways.
Nor does God create men and women to always
fulfil the same roles. For example, males are created
to reflect God by loving their children as fathers and
women by loving their children as mothers.
305
Return toReturn to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return toReturn to
CHAPTER
CHAPTER
7. GOD CALLS PEOPLE TO DEVELOP A HEALTHY SEXUALITY
Homosexual orientation
As they develop, some people feel that they are orientated sexually towards others of the
same gender. This is referred to as a homosexual orientation.
Homosexual orientation refers only to sexual feelings and desires. It does not refer to
any other aspects of a person.
Many teenagers and young adults can experience homosexual feelings. These are feelings
of sexual attraction to persons of the same gender. To have such feelings in adolescence
does not mean that a person will have a homosexual orientation. To engage in sexual
activity including homosexual actions in the developing teenage years can damage the
development of a healthy sexuality.
Church teaching regarding homosexual actions

God calls all human beings to develop charity and chastity. This includes those who find
that they have a sexual attraction to others of the same sex.
God forbids sexual acts between males or females with others of the same gender
because this activity is not consistent with the biblical meaning of human sexuality. Bible
teaching and hence Church teaching is that sexual activity is to be between a man and a
woman, that it be an expression of love, in a lasting relationship of marriage open to the
procreation of children. (Genesis 19; 1 Corinthians 6:910; 1 Timothy 1:910;
Romans 1: 18, 2228 and Jude 1:7).
Many people live Gods laws related to human sexuality. These laws are as achievable
for homosexual people as for others. Homosexual persons, like those who are not
married are therefore called to be celibate and chaste. The means for being freed from
inappropriate sexual desires and impulses are as available to homosexual people as they
are to heterosexual people.
Gods laws relate to homosexual actions. In no way does God condemn people for
having a homosexual orientation. On the contrary, those who for whatever reason, have
a homosexual orientation are loved by God as is every other human person.
Respect for homosexual people

Everyone should remember that the dignity homosexual people are entitled to is the
same dignity as for everyone else. This is also supported in civil law.
Many today ridicule and even commit acts of violence against homosexual people. Any
form of persecution or ridicule of homosexual people violates their God-given dignity. It
is important to keep in mind always that those who have this orientation:
... do not choose their homosexual condition; for most of them it is a trial. They
must be accepted with respect, compassion and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust
discrimination in their regard should be avoided. (Catechism 2358)
306
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
How widely held in Australian society is the idea that the whole person must
be respected?
What TV shows or films present situations that show respect for the whole
person? List and describe some TV shows or films that show an absence of
respect for the whole person.
What can failure to respect the whole person lead to in relationships and in the
ways people are treated at work, school, among peers, etc?
God seeks to restore human sexuality

A persons sexuality is healthy when it is expressed in ways originally created by God.
God wants everyone to develop a healthy sexuality and offers sacramental gifts and
guiding principles which help them to do so.
Church teaching about the dignity of human sexuality

Sexual thoughts can arise at any time. They are normal, not planned. These thoughts
should be directed to other interests and responsibilities, otherwise, they can stir sexual
desires that are hard to resist and lead people to behave in sexual ways that disobey
Gods laws.
Many people, however, deliberately stir their sexual thoughts and feelings by violating
sexual modesty. Ways they do so include:
reading and viewing sexually explicit photographs, magazines and books
selecting movies and TV programmes to see their sexual scenes
imagining others, to whom they are attracted, in sexual situations
listening to songs which have sexually explicit lyrics.
To continue sexual fantasies deliberately is called lust. The difference between natural
sexual thoughts and lust is the deliberate intent involved in lust. Lust fails to respect the
sexuality of others. It fails to give them the dignity and equality expected by God. Jesus
warned that lust breaks the sixth commandment. It fails to respect the sexuality of self
and others. Jesus gave one example:
I say this to you, if a man looks at a woman lustfully, he has already
committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:2728)
307
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God created male and female

capable of sexual intercourse
so that they could express married love
in a special way.
Actions contrary to chastity
Masturbation is the act of deliberately stimulating genital organs to experience sexual
pleasure. It abuses the purpose of these organs, which is to express married love to a
partner of the opposite gender. Masturbation fails to respect ones own sexual gifts and
sexuality as a male or female person.
Pre-marital sex, or fornication, was forbidden by God. Jesus described pre-marital sex as
an evil that comes from the heart (Mark 7:21). To those of his time, evil meant
something that:
broke a persons relationship with God
directly frustrated some good intended by God.
Premarital sex fails to respect the gifts of sexuality God has given on trust. It can be the
result of failing to relate with others as male or female persons.
When people disobey laws about healthy sexuality, they may stop going to Mass and
praying because of guilt. Yet God is always with people in their struggles with their
sexuality.
God created male and female capable of sexual intercourse so that they could express
married love in a special way. God means this act to make possible the conception of
children.
Unmarried couples do not have the kind of relationship needed to provide all that a
child needs to develop into a mature adult. Often premarital sexual relationships result
in unhappy experiences for the couple and children if they are conceived. These are
consequences that God never intended.
People who reject Jesus teaching about their sexuality may find it harder to live other
teachings of God.
308
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Church teaching condemning exploitation of human sexuality

Prostitution means engaging in sexual acts for payment. This:
violates the dignity of both parties
abuses their dignity as females or males
uses sexuality in ways forbidden by God.
Some people argue that it is a persons choice to serve as a prostitute; however,
no one is morally free to violate Gods laws. In practice, many who are
prostitutes submit because of financial difficulties, blackmail or pressures such as
feeding a drug habit. Tragically some, including many children in poorer
countries, are abducted and sold into prostitution.
Pornography is the deliberate presentation or performance of sexual images, for
the express purpose of sexual pleasure. This violates the human dignity of the
person. Pornography violates:
the dignity of the person who is the object of sexual pleasure
the dignity of the person who derives pleasure from viewing such activities.
Like prostitution, pornography involves looking at other people as sexual objects.
It ignores their personal hopes or achievements, hurts or difficulties in life. People
who seek sexual pleasure from pornography fail to respect their sexuality in ways
God expects. They fail to think, speak and act modestly in ways that respect
human sexuality.
Rape is forcing another person become an object of sexual gratification. It not
only violates their dignity and sexuality, but also violates justice and their Godgiven rights. It usually causes long-term damage to a person.
To commit child sex abuse is to force, persuade or entice an adolescent or child to
participate in actions for sexual pleasure. This is a most serious crime against the
child or teenager. Child abuse is always the fault of the adult since the sexuality
of teenagers and children has not yet reached maturity, even if they have matured
physically.
Victims of sex abuse are often reluctant to seek help because of their feelings of
guilt. This is part of the damage abuse causes. These feelings can be misleading. In
the case of sexual abuse young people who are abused should always seek help
from someone they can trust.

Child abuse is legally as well as morally wrong and laws exist to protect children from
being abused. Where a child is in an abusive situation it must be brought to the attention
of a responsible adult for the situation to be dealt with appropriately.
309
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gods commandments protect people from behaviours

that fail to respect the dignity of the person
God created human beings to have healthy and happy lives. God wishes them to develop
a healthy sexuality so that they feel positive about themselves and enjoy good
relationships with others.
In your journal reflect on these questions which relate to

the following information:
1. What important things have you learned about the
Churchs teachings that you didnt know or understand
before?
2. What are the most positive messages you can take from
what you have learned?
3. What personal attitudes and values are clearer to you as
a result of your learning?
4. What have you found most challenging?
Gods laws are meant to protect people from different forms of harm. The sixth and
ninth commandments are meant to protect them from harming their sexuality.
People do not realise the interrelationship of these commandments. Breaking one
commandment frequently weakens peoples capacity to resist another which in
turn can eventually weaken their capacity to remain faithful in marriage.
310
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Gods plan for married love

! God created marriage
! Jesus revealed that marriage means a man and wife joined by
God for life
! Through his Church, Jesus instituted the Sacrament of
Marriage
! God forbids actions contrary to marriage
God created marriage

God revealed that marriage should be a special love relationship between a man and a
woman. This revelation about marriage is recorded in the Yahwist Creation story found
in the Bible:
... a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife, and they
become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)
God created marriage, therefore, to be between

one man and one woman. The phrase they become
one flesh had several meanings in Old Testament
times.
Becoming one flesh (or one body) meant
becoming one to express an inner oneness
or love. As explained in Genesis 2:24, become one
flesh was an ancient eastern way of referring to
sexual intercourse. It reveals that the first purpose
of sexual intercourse is to express married love.
Becoming one flesh meant that the love between
husband and wife must be without any
reservations. It could not be withdrawn, marriage
being a covenant between one man and one
woman for life.
In revealing that marriage should be a love
relationship, God was correcting marriage practices common in Old Testament times
where marriages were often arranged solely for business or political purposes.
311
Return to Return to
CONTENTS
CONTENTS
Return to Return to
CHAPTERCHAPTER
8. GODS PLAN FOR MARRIED LOVE
The second purpose for which God created marriage is revealed with the First Creation
Story in the Bible, the Priestly account:
in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them. God
blessed them, saying to them, Be fruitful, multiply (Genesis 1:2728)
In this text, in the image of Godmale and female he created them means that males
and females should behave like God in masculine and feminine ways. The other purpose
of marriage is to procreate children. The word, procreate, means to cooperate with
God in the conception and development of children until they reach adulthood.
God creates the soul of each child personally. It is from the soul, which is not inherited,
but directly created by God, that children receive their individuality.
Jesus revealed that marriage means a man and wife

joined by God for life
As a result of the Fall, original sin weakened married love. Married people found it difficult
to live as God wanted. Marriage for life seemed impossible for many. In Jewish society, a
man could divorce his wife by writing a writ of dismissal (see Deuteronomy 24:14).
Commitment in marriage
1. Draw a wedding ring. Note how it has no beginning or
end and is therefore a symbol of the continuity of a
committed marriage and the seamlessness of married
love.
2. In the centre of the ring place the names of a couple
you know whose marriage represents true commitment.
It may be your parents, your grandparents, an aunt and
uncle or your neighbours.
3. Around the outside of the ring, write down the qualities
you have observed that you feel have enabled the
couples commitment to grow, eg. he always listens, she
never says anything negative about him to others. Link
each quality with a line to the person whose actions
demonstrate these qualities.
4. Reflect on what you have written. Which qualities would
you like to develop? How would you go about
developing them so that, if you marry in the future, you
can strengthen your commitment to your wife or
husband? Spend a few moments in prayer, asking Gods
assistance to help you on your journey.
312
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
The saving power of God

Jesus came to offer people the saving power of God, a power to love and to do good as God
does. With this power, received through Baptism, married people could be strengthened by
God to love each other and to remain together for life as God originally planned.
Jesus confirmed for his followers Gods intention regarding marriage. This made it possible
for them to draw upon the power of God in ways relevant to the needs of married life.
Jesus forbade remarriage after divorce

Jesus developed the teaching on marriage by explaining that married people were joined
by God and could not be divorced:
Some Pharisees approached him, and to put him to the test they said, Is it against
the Law for a man to divorce his wife on any pretext whatever? He answered, Have
you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female, and
that he said: This is why a man leaves his father and mother and become attached to
his wife, and the two become one flesh? They are no longer two, therefore, but one
flesh. So then, what God has united, human beings must not divide.
They said to him, Then why did Moses command that a writ of dismissal should be
given in cases of divorce? He said to them, It was because you were so hardhearted,
that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the
beginning. Now I say this to you: anyone who divorces his wife I am not speaking
of an illicit marriage and marries another, is guilty of adultery. (Matthew 19:39)

Illicit marriages were those between family members, people previously married but not
divorced, and a sexual relationship between two people of the same gender (Leviticus 18).
313
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Through his Church, Jesus

instituted the Sacrament
of Marriage
Through his Church, Jesus instituted a special
sacrament for baptised couples, called the
Sacrament of Marriage. This sacrament enables
married couples to draw on the power of Gods
love to help them live the many challenges of
married life.
In Class Work
Research the difference between a
Church marriage and a civil marriage.
Make a list of the things a couple is
required to do and have if they wish to
marry in the Catholic Church.
Gifts received through the Sacrament of Marriage

Through the Sacrament of Marriage, married people are offered gifts to help them live
marriage as God planned. As they do so, their love and happiness deepens.
Effects of the graces (gifts) of the Sacrament of Marriage in daily life

Gift
Examples of effects
Love and unity strengthened
Husband and wife can draw on Gods love to

strengthen their marriage relationship
Jesus is with them to strengthen Husband and wife can draw on Jesus power
them to:
to help them face and overcome daily difficulties
of married life
take up their crosses
to rise again after they have
fallen
to forgive one another
to bear one anothers burdens
to serve one another as
Jesus served his Apostles
(John 13:115)
314
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
As with the gifts of every sacrament, those received through Marriage need to be
developed. They need to be strengthened if married couples are to draw upon these
gifts. To do so, they need:
to pray daily. This prayer needs to include asking God for help with any issue or
problem affecting their marriage
to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. Without the Eucharist, the spiritual gifts of
marriage lack the spiritual nourishment they need to grow stronger
after sin, to be reconciled by Jesus with God through the Sacrament of
Reconciliation. Otherwise the closeness with God needed to strengthen their married
love and the gifts of the Sacrament of Marriage will be lacking
to strive sincerely to live the commandments related to marriage.
In Class Work
Write a half page explanation on the extra dimension Jesus offers to
marriage by making it a sacrament of the Church. In particular, explain
the effects of the gifts of the sacrament.
315
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
God forbids actions contrary to marriage

As discussed earlier, the two purposes of marriage are:
the growing loving union between husband and wife
the procreation of children.
God forbids actions which frustrate these purposes. Such actions weaken marriage
relationships. They also weaken the sexuality of people. This can affect their
ability to remain faithful in marriage.
Actions against the union between husband and wife

There are five basic actions that violate the marriage vows taken between a
husband and wife.
Adultery
Adultery is sexual intercourse between a man and a woman, one or both of whom
is married to someone else. Jesus identified adultery as anevil that comes from
the heart - just like pre-marital sex (Mark 7:22).
Through adultery, people deprive themselves of Gods guidance and strength,
abusing the sexual gifts meant to express married love.
Remarriage after divorce

Many people marry and later separate. There can be many reasons for this. Most
people in these situations divorce. However, the command of Jesus is that they
cannot remarry while their spouse remains alive.
Through the power of God, Jesus supports and consoles separated marriage
partners. He strengthens them to move on with their lives by supporting them
with his grace to live a chaste single life.
Remarriage after civil divorce is forbidden by God for several reasons:
God created marriage to be a life-long relationship
children of the marriage can suffer
children can be torn between their parents and this violates their rights
and so is unjust.
God forbids actions

contrary to marriage
316
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
REMARRIAGE AFTER DIVORCE
DE FACTO
Incest
Incest means sexual relations between members and in-laws of the immediate
family whose relationship is too close to permit a legal marriage. This is
forbidden by God and is also considered to be a grave offence in civil law.
Living together or de facto unions

Sexual intercourse between couples who live together without being married is
the same as fornication, pre-marital sex or in some cases adultery. It is forbidden
by God and identified by Jesus as evil (Mark 7:21).
Trial-marriage
A trial-marriage is where a couple, who intend to marry to live together as
husband and wife before marrying. Again, sexual intercourse between any couple
who have not married is the same as pre-marital sex. It is forbidden by God and
identified by Jesus as evil (Mark 7:21).
Marriage annulment
People can go through a marriage ceremony in good faith, unaware that one or
more conditions for a valid marriage is not present. There are many reasons why
this can happen, even though the couple are sincere and in good faith at the time
of the marriage.
The actual reasons why a marriage might not be valid are very complex. Where
one or both people in a divorced couple fail to fulfil the conditions for a valid
marriage, they receive an annulment. This is a legal document stating that no
marriage in fact took place, leaving each person free to marry again.
A Church Matrimonial Tribunal grants a marriage annulment. Divorced people
apply for annulments to this Tribunal.
TRIAL-MARRIAGE
ADULTERY
MARRIAGE ANNULMENT
INCEST
317
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
In Class Work
Use the information from Chapters 7 and 8 to help find the best answer for
each of the following.
1. The Sixth and Ninth Commandments are specifically meant to protect:
a) the welfare of parents
b) people from harming their sexuality
c) a neighbours private property
d) a persons good name
2. Jesus revealed that marriage is life-long. Therefore:
a) what God has united, let no person divide
b) existing illicit marriages are to remain in place
c) marriage can only be dissolved by a writ of dismissal
d) if one partner dies, the other must never remarry
3. To develop the gifts of the Sacrament of Marriage couples need:
a) to pray daily and strive to live the commandments
b) to receive Jesus in Holy Communion
c) after sin, to be reconciled by Jesus with God through Penance
d) all of the above
4. Write an article for a Catholic magazine with the following title:
A wedding is one day; marriage is for life!
In order to write the article research and address the Catholic understanding
of marriage; the beauty and importance of Christian marriage in Australian
society and how Christian marriage goes against Australian social trends.
318
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Our Prayers
1. Sign of the Cross
5. Grace Before Meals
In the name of the Father, and of the

Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Bless (+) us, O Lord, and these your

gifts
which by your goodness we are about
to receive,
through Christ our Lord.
2. The Lords Prayer

(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
R: Amen.
6. Grace After Meals

We give you thanks for all your gifts,
almighty God,
who lives and reigns now and forever.
R: Amen.
7. Prayer of Sorrow
(Act of Contrition)
3. 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
4. Glory Be to the Father

(Gloria Patri)
O my God, I am very sorry

that I have sinned against you,
because you are so good,
and with the help of your grace,
I will not sin again.
8. Act of Faith, Hope and Love

My God, I believe in you,
I trust in you,
I love you above all things
with all my heart and mind and
strength. Amen
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.
321
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
9. Prayer to the Guardian Angel
11. Morning Offering
Angel sent by God to guide me;

be my light and walk beside me,
be my guardian and protect me;
on the paths of life direct me.
Lord, I give you today my prayers,

thoughts, works and actions,
that they may be for your glory.
and for the good of the world.
OR
12. Come, Holy Spirit

Angel of God, my guardian dear,
to whom Gods love commits me here,
ever this day be at my side
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
10. Prayer for Meetings

We come before you, Holy Spirit,
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we gather in your name.
Come to us, remain with us,
and enlighten our hearts.
Give us light and strength:
to know your will
to make it our own,
and to live it in our lives.
Guide us by your wisdom,
support us by your power,
for you are God,
sharing the glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all:
enable us to uphold the rights of
others;
do not allow us to be misled by
ignorance
or corrupted by fear or favour.
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
As we gather in your name
may we temper justice with love,
so that all our decisions
may be pleasing to you,
and earn the reward
promised to good and faithful servants.
Amen.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts

of your faithful.
R: And kindle in them the fire
of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be
created.
R: And you will renew the face
of the earth.
Let us pray.
Lord,
By the light of the Holy Spirit
you have taught the hearts of your
faithful.
In the same Spirit
help us to be truly wise
and always rejoice in your consolation.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
13. A Prayer for Christian Unity

Across all our barriers of language,
race and nationality,
R: Unite us, Jesus.
Across all our mutual ignorance,
prejudice and hostility,
R: Unite us, Jesus.
Across all our differences of thought,
outlook and religious allegiance,
R: Unite us, Jesus.
O God, for your greater glory,
R: Gather together the separated
Christians.
O God, for the triumph of goodness
and truth,
322
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES

Christians.
O God, that there may be one flock
and one Shepherd,
Christians.
O God, to confound the pride of Satan
and his assaults,
Christians.
O God, that peace may reign in the
world at last,
Christians.
O God, for the greater joy of the heart
of your Son,
Christians.
Paul Couturier, Week of Prayer
14. Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, fill me.
Water from the side of Christ,
wash me.
passion of Christ, strengthen me.
Good Jesus, hear me.
In your wounds, shelter me.
From turning away, keep me.
From the evil one, protect me.
At the hour of my death, call me.
Into your presence, lead me
to praise you with all your saints
forever and ever.
Amen.
15. 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 to 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.
16. 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.
323
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
17. Memorare
19. Prayer of St Ignatius
Remember, most loving Virgin Mary,

never was it heard
that anyone who turned to you for
help was left unaided.
Take hold of me, Lord.

Accept this offering of freedom, of
memory, of mind, of will,
these things I cling to and count as
my own.
All are your gifts, Lord: now I return
them,
They are yours: do as your will.
Give me only your free gift of love: in
this you give all.
Inspired by this confidence,

though burdened by my sins,
I run to your protection
for you are my mother.
Mother of the Word of God,
do not despise my words of pleading
but be merciful and hear my prayer.
Amen.
20. Prayer for Generosity
18. Prayer of St Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your
peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O divine Master, grant that I may not
so much seek,
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love,
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are
pardoned,
It is in dying that we are born to
eternal life.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous:

To serve you as you deserve to be served,
To give without counting the cost,
To fight without heeding the wounds,
To work without seeking rest,
To spend my life without expecting any
other return,
Than the knowledge that I do your
holy will.
21. Prayer for Serenity

O God, give me the serenity,
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the
difference.
22. Prayer for the Dead

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.
324
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
You have given joy to the world

by the resurrection of your Son our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Through the prayers of his mother, the
Virgin Mary,
bring us to the happiness of eternal
life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
R: Amen.
I believe in one God,

the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.
I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.
23. The Divine Praises

Blessed be God.
Blessed be his holy name.
Blessed be
true man.
Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be
Blessed be
Sacrament
24. Nicene Creed
Jesus Christ, true God and

the name of Jesus.
his most Sacred Heart.
his most Precious Blood.
Jesus in the Most Holy
of the altar.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the

paraclete.
Blessed be the great mother of God,
Mary most holy.
Blessed be her most holy and
Immaculate Conception.
Blessed be her glorious Assumption.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin
and mother.
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most
chaste spouse.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his
saints.
For us men and for our salvation

he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit
was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.
For our sake he was crucified under
Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated
at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord,
the giver of life, who proceeds
from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.
I believe in one, holy, catholic
and apostolic Church.
I confess one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and look forward to the resurrection
of the dead
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.
325
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
25. Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth,
and in Jesus Christ, his only son,
our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried;
he descended into hell;
on the third day he rose again from the dead;
he ascended into heaven,
and is seated at the right hand
of God the Father almighty;
from there he will come 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.
26. The Song of Mary

(Magnificat)( Luke 1:3956)
My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my saviour,
who has looked with favour on his
lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call
me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for
me and holy is his Name.
God has mercy on those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
The Lord has shown strength with his
arm
and scattered the proud in their
conceit,
casting down the mighty from their
thrones
and lifting up the lowly.
God has filled the hungry with good
things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his servant

Israel,
to remember the promise of mercy,
the promise made to our forebears
to Abraham and his children forever.
27. The Song of Zechariah

(Benedictus)(Luke 1:6879)
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
Who has come to his people and set
them free.
The Lord has raised up for us a mighty
Saviour,
Born of the house of his servant David.
through the holy prophets, God
promised of old
To save us from our enemies,
From the hands of all who hate us,
To show mercy to our forebears,
And to remember his holy covenant.
This is the oath God swore to our
father Abraham.
To set us free from the hands of our
enemies,
Free to worship him without fear,
Holy and righteous before him,
All the days of our life.
28. Stations of the Cross

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
The Last Supper

The Garden of Gethsemane
Jesus before the Sanhedrin
Jesus before Pilate
Jesus is whipped and crowned with
thorns
Jesus carries his cross
Jesus is helped by the Cyrenean
Jesus speaks to the women of
Jerusalem
Jesus is stripped and nailed to the
cross
Jesus and the good thief
Jesus speaks to Mary and John
Jesus dies on the cross
Jesus is buried
Jesus is raised from the dead.
326
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
OR
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
Jesus is condemned to death

Jesus takes up his cross
Jesus falls the first time
Jesus meets his mother
Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry
the cross
Veronica wipes the face of Jesus
Jesus falls the second time
The women of Jerusalem weep for
Jesus
Jesus falls the third time
Jesus is stripped of his garments
Jesus is nailed to the cross
Jesus dies on the cross
Jesus is taken down from the cross
Jesus is laid in the tomb.
29. The Mysteries of the Rosary

The Five Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation of the Lord
(Luke 1:2638)
2. The Visit of the Virgin Mary to
Elizabeth (Luke 1:3945)
3. The Birth of the Lord
(Luke 2:120)
4. The Presentation of the Lord
(Luke 2:2238)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
(Luke 2:4152)
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries

1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
(Mark 14:3242)
2. Jesus is Scourged (Mark15:15)
3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
(Mark 15:1620)
4. Jesus Carries his Cross
(Mark 15:21)
5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
(Mark 15:3339)
The Five Glorious Mysteries
1. The Resurrection of the Lord
(Mark 16:120)
2. The Ascension of the Lord
(Acts 1:611)
3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:113)
4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
into Heaven (Revelation 12)
5. The Queenship of the Virgin Mary
(Revelation 12:12,5)
The Mysteries of Light

1. Jesus is baptised in the Jordan
(Matthew 3:1317)
2. Jesus selfrevelation at the
wedding at Cana (John 2:111)
3. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of
God (Mark 1:1415)
4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9:2835)
5. Jesus institutes the Eucharist
(Matthew 26:1728)
327
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
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
Lords 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 neighbours wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbours 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 22:3739]
Christs New Law of Love

Love one another as I have loved you. [John 15:12]
The Beatitudes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.
328
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
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 ones 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 Churchs 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
Confirmation
Eucharist
Penance
Anointing of the Sick
Marriage
Holy Orders
Wisdom
Understanding
Right Judgement
Courage
Knowledge
Reverence
Wonder and awe in Gods presence
The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Trustfulness
Gentleness
Self Control
The Seven Spiritual

Works of Mercy
The Seven Corporal

Works of Mercy
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
To
To
To
To
To
To
To
convert the sinner

instruct the ignorant
counsel the doubtful
comfort the sorrowful
bear wrongs patiently
forgive injuries
pray for the living and the dead
To
To
To
To
To
To
To
feed the hungry

give drink to the thirsty
clothe the naked
give welcome to strangers
visit the sick
visit the imprisoned
bury the dead
329
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
The Virtues
Cardinal Virtues
Prudence, justice, temperance
and fortitude
Theological Virtues
Faith, hope and love (charity)
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 20
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
(chosen to take the place of Judas)
May 14
Paul
January 25
June 29
The Four Evangelists
Holy Days of Obligation in Australia
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Christmas Day
Assumption of our Lady 15th August
330
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Major Feasts of the Church Year

Presentation of the Lord
2 February
St Patrick
17 March
St Joseph, husband of Mary
19 March
The Annunciation
25 March
Holy Week
Palm (Passion) Sunday
The sixth and last Sunday of Lent
Holy Thursday
Mass of the Lords Supper
Good Friday
Celebration of the Lords Passion
Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday
Celebration of Christs Resurrection

The actual conditions to determine the date
for Easter are: Easter must be on a Sunday;
this Sunday must follow the 14th day of the
paschal moon; the paschal moon is that of
which the 14th day (full moon) falls on or
next follows the day of the vernal equinox;
and the equinox is fixed in the calendar as
March 21.
The Ascension of the Lord
Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after

his Resurrection
Pentecost
Referred to as the Birth of the Church

Pente (5) hence Pentecost fifty days
after the resurrection of Jesus at Easter
Saints Peter and Paul
29 June
Blessed Mary MacKillop
8 August
The Assumption of the

Blessed Virgin Mary
15 August
All Saints Day
1 November
All Souls Day
2 November
Christ the King
Last Sunday before Advent marks the end

of the Churchs liturgical year
Immaculate Conception of
the Virgin Mary
8 December
Christmas Day
25 December
331
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
The Seasons of the Liturgical Year

The liturgical year consists of two major seasons separated by "Ordinary Time".
AdventChristmas runs from the first Sunday of Advent until the feast of the
Baptism of the Lord (the Sunday after Epiphany).
LentEaster 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.
b er
nu
Septe
IM
YT
AR
ru a r y
m be
F eb
CH
RI
ST
M
AS
T
IM
Ja
ar
ct
r
be
SU
ER
D ec e m
ADVENT
N
RI
embe
SP
N ov
DIN
OR
ORDINARY TIME
LEN
u st
Au g
M ar c
ly
ril
Ma y
Ju
COST
M
U
R
TE
AU
PENTE
Ap
IM
RT
E
ST
EA
Ju ne
332
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Sources of images/illustrations
T: top; b: bottom; c: centre; l: left; r: right
Cover istockphoto.com; 6 istockphoto.com; 7tr istockphoto.com; 7br istockphoto.com;
8 istockphoto.com; 9 istockphoto.com; 10 istockphoto.com; 11 istockphoto.com;
13 Guildhall Art Gallery, City of London/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 15 Catacombs of Domitilla,
Rome, Italy/ Photo Held Collection/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 16 Armenian Cathedral and Museum,
Julfa, Isfahan, Iran/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 17 Marilyn Volan/shutterstock.com;
17tr Sean / TheShaman/shutterstock.com; 21 Beauvais Cathedral, Beauvais, France/ Giraudon/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 22 Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
23 istockphoto.com; 24 Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
25 Jozef Sedmak/shutterstock.com; 26 Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City, Italy/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 27 Museo de Bellas Artes, Seville, Spain/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 28 Saint-Etienne Cathedral, Bourges, France/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 31 British Museum,
London, UK/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 32 Royik Yevgen/shutterstock.com; 33 Jenny
Solomon/shutterstock.com; 34 Avner Richard/shutterstock.com; 36 Private Collection/ The Bridgeman
Art Library; 37 Michael Selivanov/shutterstock.com; 39 Abingdon Press; 41 Charles Shapiro/
shutterstock.com; 43tr Samuel Courtauld Trust, Courtauld Institute of Art Gallery/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 43bl Abingdon Press; 44 Louvre, Paris, France/ Lauros / Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
45 Cathedral of St. James, Santiago da Compostela, Spain/ Joseph Martin/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
46 istockphoto.com; 47 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 48 Private Collection/ The
Stapleton Collection/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 49 Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris, France/ The Bridgeman
Art Library; 50 Private Collection/ Photo Bonhams, London, UK/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
51 British Library, London, UK/ British Library Board. All Rights Reserved/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
52 Pasargadae, Iran/ Ann & Bury Peerless Picture Library/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 54 Galleria
Nazionale delle Marche, Urbino, Italy/ Alinari/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 55 Location Unknown/ Ancient
Art and Architecture Collection Ltd./ The Bridgeman Art Library; 57 Joseph Calev/shutterstock.com;
61 istockphoto.com; 62 Anastazzo/shutterstock.com; 63 Museo de Arte de Catalunya, Barcelona,
Spain/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 64 Santa Maria Novella, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
65 Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 67 Musee Marmottan, Paris,
France/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 68 Victoria & Albert Museum, London, UK/ The Bridgeman
Art Library; 69tr The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
69 istockphoto.com; 70 istockphoto.com; 71 Museu Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 72 istockphoto.com; 73 Palazzo Pitti, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 75 Church of the Madonna dellOrto, Venice, Italy/ Cameraphoto Arte Venezia/ The Bridgeman
Art Library; 76 istockphoto.com; 79 Alejandro Sanz Torrente/shutterstock.com; 80 OlgaLis/
shutterstock.com; 81 Carlos Arranz/shutterstock.com; 82 Kaspars Grinvalds/shutterstock.com;
84 Private Collection/ The Stapleton Collection/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 87t Israel Museum,
Jerusalem, Israel/ Ancient Art and Architecture Collection Ltd./ The Bridgeman Art Library; 87b Marilyn
Volan/shutterstock.com; 88cr Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 88 Marilyn
Volan/shutterstock.com; 90b istockphoto.com; 91 St.Michael & All Angels Church, Waterford,
Hertfordshire, UK/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 94 Noel Powell, Schaumburg/shutterstock.com;
96 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 97 Kuzma/shutterstock.com; 99 Efrat
Vilenski/shutterstock.com; 100 All Saints Church, Selsley, Gloucestershire, UK/ Martyn OKelly
Photography/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 103 istockphoto.com; 104tl Museo di San Marco
dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 104tc Museo di San Marco dellAngelico,
Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 104tr Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 104bl Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 104bc Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
104br Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 107 Biblioteca
Reale, Turin, Italy/ Alinari/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 108 Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence,
Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 109 Michel Isola/shutterstock.com; 110 Biblioteca Reale, Turin, Italy/
Alinari/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 113 Graham Prentice/shutterstock.com; 114 Thomas M
Perkins/shutterstock.com; 115 argus/shutterstock.com; 116 Laurie Barr/shutterstock.com;
116br Danny Warren/shutterstock.com; 117 Petro Feketa/shutterstock.com; 119 istockphoto.com;
120 Musee Conde, Chantilly, France/ Lauros / Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
121 Dimitrios Kaisaris/shutterstock.com; 122 Rui Vale de Sousa/shutterstock.com; 123 Ramzi
Hachicho/shutterstock.com; 125 Sybille Yates/shutterstock.com; 127 Christian Noval/shutterstock.com;
129 Ken Schulze/shutterstock.com; 130 Marilyn Volan/shutterstock.com; 132 National Gallery of
Victoria; 134 Clara Natoli/shutterstock.com; 135 Private Collection/ Archives Charmet/ The Bridgeman
Art Library; 136 photooiasson/shutterstock.com; 137 Galleria dell Accademia, Florence, Italy/ The
Bridgeman Art Library; 140 All Saints Church, Selsley, Gloucestershire, UK/ Martyn OKelly Photography/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 141 istockphoto.com; 142 Elena Ray/shutterstock.com;
333
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
143 Fabrizio Zanier/shutterstock.com; 145 Museo Marciano, Basilica di San Marco, Venice, Italy/
Sarah Quill / Venice Picture Library/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 146 Catholic Education Office of
Western Australia; 147 Stephen Aaron Rees/shutterstock.com; 149 Marilyn Volan/shutterstock.com;
149br Nir Shindler/shutterstock.com; 150 Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 152 Biblioteca Reale, Turin, Italy/ Alinari/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 154 istockphoto.com;
156 National Gallery, London, UK/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 157 Brooklyn Museum of
Art, New York, USA/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 159 Museo Archeologico Nazionale, Naples, Italy/ The
Bridgeman Art Library; 160 Keith McIntyre/shutterstock.com; 161 Sant Abbondio, Como, Lombardy,
Italy/ Merilyn Thorold/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 163 Killroy Productions/shutterstock.com;
165 National Library, St. Petersburg, Russia/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 167 V. J. Matthew/
shutterstock.com; 168 George Nazmi Bebawi/shutterstock.com; 169 Galleria dell Accademia, Florence,
Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 170 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 173 inacio
pires/shutterstock.com; 174 Duomo, Siena, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 176 Arkhangelsk Museum,
Russia/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 177 Musee des Beaux-Arts, Tours, France/ Lauros / Giraudon/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 180 Cristy/shutterstock.com; 181 Musee Bonnat, Bayonne, France/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 181 frame: Adam Radosavljevic/shutterstock.com; 182 Hermitage,
St. Petersburg, Russia/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 183 istockphoto.com; 184 Museo di San Marco
dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 185 Private Collection/ Archives Charmet/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 186 Museo di San Marco dellAngelico, Florence, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 187 istockphoto.com; 187br Pinacoteca Capitolina, Palazzo Conservatori, Rome, Italy/ Alinari/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 191 Losevsky Pavel/shutterstock.com; 192 Linda Webb/shutterstock.com;
194 Pedro Nogueira/shutterstock.com; 195 Pot of Grass Productions/shutterstock.com; 196 amygdala
imagery/shutterstock.com; 197 John Bailey/shutterstock.com; 198 kwest/shutterstock.com;
199 Vova Pomortzeff/shutterstock.com; 201 Laura Clay Ballard/shutterstock.com; 203 Kwan Fah Mun/
shutterstock.com; 205 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 206207 ANP/ shutterstock.com;
208209 ANP/shutterstock.com; 210 Clara Natoli/shutterstock.com; 211 Saniphoto/shutterstock.com;
215 istockphoto.com; 216 Gordon Swanson/shutterstock.com; 219 Gordan/shutterstock.com;
220 Anastazzo/shutterstock.com; 222 Anyka/shutterstock.com; 223 SantApollinare Nuovo, Ravenna,
Italy/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 225 Gordan/shutterstock.com; 226 Gordan/
shutterstock.com; 228 Juan Luis Jones/shutterstock.com; 229 Private Collection/ Radiant Light/
The Bridgeman Art Library; 231 Musee des Beaux-Arts, Marseille, France/ Giraudon/ The Bridgeman Art
Library; 232 Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York, USA/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 233 Private
Collection/ Radiant Light/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 234 Catholic Education Office of Western
Australia; 235 istockphoto.com; 236 Bella D/shutterstock.com; 237 istockphoto.com; 238 Catholic
Education Office of Western Australia; 239 Bella D/shutterstock.com; 240 dan ionut popescu/
shutterstock.com; 241 Christian Stock Images; 242 Lawrence Roberg/shutterstock.com;
243 istockphoto.com; 244tr Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 244b newyear2008/
shutterstock.com; 247 istockphoto.com; 248 Private Collection/ The Bridgeman Art Library;
249 istockphoto.com; 250 istockphoto.com; 252 atanasis/shutterstock.com; 253 istockphoto.com;
254255 istockphoto.com; 256 istockphoto.com; 258 javarman/shutterstock.com; 261 Khafizov
Ivan Harisovich/shutterstock.com; 262 matka_Wariatka/shutterstock.com; 263 istockphoto.com;
265 fred goldstein/shutterstock.com; 267 istockphoto.com; 268 redrabit/shutterstock.com;
270 istockphoto.com; 271 Tereshchenko Dmitry/shutterstock.com; 272 atanasis/shutterstock.com;
275 Vatican Museums and Galleries, Vatican City, Italy/ The Bridgeman Art Library; 276 atanasis/
shutterstock.com; 277 Margaret Stephenson/shutterstock.com; 279 Cheryl Casey/shutterstock.com;
281 istockphoto.com; 282 istockphoto.com; 283 Simon Krzic/shutterstock.com; 284 debra hughes/
shutterstock.com; 287 Jeanne Hatch/shutterstock.com; 288 Ricardo A. Alves/shutterstock.com;
289 James Steidl/shutterstock.com; 290 flashon/shutterstock.com; 291 istockphoto.com;
293 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia; 294 Andresr/shutterstock.com;
299 Slvia Antunes/shutterstock.com; 301 istockphoto.com; 302 Anette Linnea Rasmussen/
shutterstock.com; 305 istockphoto.com; 306 istockphoto.com; 308 A. Radzkou/shutterstock.com;
309 David M. Schrader/shutterstock.com; 311 Brad Thompson/shutterstock.com;
312 Jaroslaw Grudzinski/shutterstock.com; 313 Gordana Sermek/shutterstock.com;
314 David Coleman/shutterstock.com; 315 Catholic Education Office of Western Australia;
317 atanasis/shutterstock.com; 318 GeoM/shutterstock.com
Pages 36b60b: istockphoto.com; Pages 36t, 38t, 42t, 50t, 52t, 55t, 57t: istockphoto.com; The Journal
Activity graphic, Catechism Quote background and bible quote backgrounds appearing throughout the
document: istockphoto.com.
334
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Index
Aboriginal, 3233, 82
Abraham (Abram), 3132, 36, 37, 40,
51, 159, 202
Absolution, see Penance
Acts of the Apostles, 6768, 70, 7273, 107
Adolescence, 261263, 269, 275
Advent, see Liturgical Year
All Saints Day, see Liturgical Year
Anointing, (Sacrament of), 223, 247258, 329
Apostles, 17, 2126, 28, 6465, 67, 7074,
109, 132, 133, 154, 155, 177, 185, 203,
234, 242, 248, 314, 330
Apostles Creed, 6566, 326
Ascension, 73, also see Liturgical Year
Assumption, 27, 187, 329330, also see
Liturgical Year
Baptism, (Sacrament of), 18, 99, 128, 131,
148, 172, 204207, 210, 225, 240, 249,
288, 293, 298299, 301, 313, 329
Beatitudes, 95, 328
Bible, 3160, 6177, 8197, 154, 202, 275,
305, 311312
Body, 261, 265
Celibacy (Celibate love), 292
Charity, 206, 208, 210217, 219, 225,
227228, 235, 288295, 298, 300301
Chastity, 293295, 299, 301, 306, 308
Commandments of Jesus, 65, 211212,
216217, 289, 293
Commandments, 38, 95, 203, 210217,
219, 226, 288290, 293, 300, 301,
310, 315, 328
Communion, Holy, 110, 207, 209, 210,
224, 227, 235, 253, 293, 301, 315, 329,
also see Eucharist
Communion of Saints, 133134, 138
Confession, see Penance
Confirmation, 18, 131, 138140, 205,
208, 210, 225, 227, 293, 298, 299300,
301, 329
Conscience, 221, 227, 237, 239, 242,
244245
Conscience, Examination of, 242, 244245
Contrition, see Penance
Conversion of St Paul, 7374
Covenant, Ark of, 43, 50, 51
Covenant, New Testament, 95, 97, 104,
174175, 178
Covenant, Old Testament, 36, 38, 40, 4647,
51, 53, 88, 95, 174, 202, 219, 231
Creation, 7 8, 16, 19, 51, 63, 79, 83, 84, 86,
90, 97, 113, 156, 248, 275278
Decalogue, see Ten Commandments

Demons (or devils), 85, 150151, 156,
160161
Easter, see Liturgical Year
Emotions, 18, 117120, 128, 191199, 201,
203206, 216, 219, 221, 225, 227, 239,
241, 247, 257258, 265, 270, 272, 293
Eucharist, 17, 64, 109110, 177178, 207,
217, 298, 301, 315, also see Mass
Exodus, 35, 38, 46, 50, 51, 97
Faith, 162164, 169, 170, 174, 180,
206, 217, 263
Free will, 197, 201, 272, 297
Gospels, 14, 67, 7071, 79, 90, 9597,
105, 107, 145, 153, 203, 233, 291
Grace, 118,127, 206207, 216, 257, 297,
298, 301, 302, 314, 316
Heaven, 17, 27, 73, 76, 83, 86, 110,
121123, 133134, 175, 187, 202,
206, 238, 248, 258, 292, 300
Hell, 225, 230
Holy Days of Obligation, 329
Holy Spirit, 1518, 2124, 2627, 31, 33, 36,
46, 56, 6062, 65, 67, 7073, 81, 92, 109,
131, 133, 138143, 145158, 161162,
165, 167187, 204205, 207208, 209,
225, 227, 234, 239, 243, 250, 252, 258,
287, 298299, 301302
Immaculate Conception, 27, 181, 182, 187
Incarnation, 13, 27
John the Baptist, 148
Joy, 109, 141, 193, 301
Kingdom of God, 61, 70, 9596, 138, 141,
145, 149, 155, 158, 161162, 171,
174175, 179, 288, 292
Kingdom of Heaven, 96, 206, 292
Last Judgement, 249
Liturgical Year, 331332
Lords Day, 217, 328
Lords Prayer, see Our Father
Love, divine, 287288, 290295, Gods, 16,
61, 80, 85, 127, 151, 163, 165, 202203,
205206, 208, 237, 241, 255, 257, 268,
292293, 297, 301, 314, married, 269270,
275279, 297, 308, 311318, types of, 268,
301
335
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
APPENDICES
Magisterium, 2128
Marian Prayer, 135137, 186, 323, 327
Marriage, 171, 213, 270, 277278, 297,
311318, 329
Martyrdom, Martyrs, 26, 7375, 146
Mary, 27, 58, 71, 123, 127, 131132,
134136, 181188
Mass, 17, 27, 217, 245, 249, 329
Masturbation, 213, 308
Messiah, 53, 63, 88, 99110, 145, 148149,
155, 164, 176179, 183
Miracles, 58, 151, 156, 159, 161
Modesty, 215, 294, 307
Mortal sin, 219, 225227, 238, 242, 253, 301
New Testament, 32, 57, 6180, 97
Old Testament, 3156, 76, 87, 89, 91, 101,
145, 148, 155, 163, 231, 311
Original sin, 127128, 157, 182, 187, 206,
281, 287, 298, 312
Parables, 96, 160162, 175, 240, 245, 249
Passover, 33, 38, 109, 178, 202
Patriarchs of Israel, 3537, 51, 159
Penance, Sacrament of (Reconciliation), 223,
231246, 258, 293, 301, 329
Pentecost, 1718, 23, 65, 73, 132, 135, 184,
331332
Paul, St, 6769, 7375, 107, 133, 146, 248
Peter, St, 2529, 71, 146147, 170, 178179,
330331
Pope, 2129, 146
Prayer, 1011, 24, 65, 67, 94, 106, 115, 119,
122123, 134135, 137, 140, 141, 153,
209210, 216, 219, 224, 227228, 235,
239, 242245, 249, 271, 287, 293, 300,
302, 315, 321327, also see Marian Prayer
Precepts of the Church, 329
Priests, priesthood, 234, 241244, 252,
267, 292, 329
Priests Jewish, In the Old Testament, 39, 48,
94, 231232, In the time of Jesus, 152, 153,
154, 168, 175, 178
Prophets, 42, 4446, 4965, 87, 100, 145,
148, 155, 176, 183, 203
Psalms, 47, 49, 51, 54, 56, 92, 94, 123, 177
Purgatory, 121, 132, 228
Saints, 123, 133134, 138, 143, 183,

217, 292
Satan, 95, 148, 150, 156, 159, 160
Sexuality, 142, 213, 265272, 275278,
281284, 287, 293, 297, 298301,
305310, 316, 318
Sin, 13, 8486, 99, 104, 109, 130, 140, 142,
148, 151, 155, 165, 181, 209, 219228,
233234, 235, 237238, 240, 253, 315,
also see Mortal sin, Venial sin, Original sin
Soul, 81, 121, 122, 125, 185, 187, 312
Spirit, see Holy Spirit
Ten Commandments, see Commandments
Trinity, 16, 27, 65
Venial sin, 225, 227229, 235, 242, 301
Viaticum, 253
Virgin Mary, see Mary
Virtues, 118, 119, 120, 124125, 265, 330
Will, see Free Will
Worship, 911, 1718, 3637, 106, 118, 119,
129, 151, 154, 162, 163, 205, 217, 219,
301, 329
Reconciliation, 17, 225, 227, 236246, 253,

256257, 298, 315, also see Penance
Resurrection, 13, 24, 64, 67, 73, 95, 99,
107110, 154, 157, 158, 167168,
172173, 175, 177, 184, 217, 234, 243,
248, 254255, 258, 291
Revelation, 15, 31, 34, 63, 145
Ritual, 32, 3637, 148, 163, 202, 220
Rosary, 136, 186, 327
336
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER
Return to
CONTENTS
Return to
CHAPTER

Student Resource Religion

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Student Resource Religion

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Second Edition, January 2014

The Catholic Education Office

Most Reverend Barry James Hickey

The invaluable advice and

6th January 2008

The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official

Come Follow Me Year 9 Student Resource

Crystal Printing Solutions trading as Worldwide Online Printing Cannington

Most Rev. B.J. Hickey

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

The Human Search for Truth

The human need to question

People Grow Stronger Spiritually

Young people discover new spiritual experiences

People Can Achieve Emotional Peace

Emotions move people

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

Christian Love and Sexuality

Adolescence is a time of change, challenge and growth

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

The human need to question

People ask many human heart questions

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

There are four basic questions of the human heart

Spend some quiet time identifying:

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

List human heart

3. Questions about the future

List questions about

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

4. Questions about God

1. Do you have any religious questions of

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

The search for truth leads to God

Becoming open to Gods truth

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

People fail to recognise their human heart

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

1. THE HUMAN NEED TO QUESTION

When you have finished reflect on your lifestyle.

Do you think you lead a balanced life? Explain.

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

Jesus came to fulfil Gods answers

Jesus thought, questioned and understood like anyone

For your information

Being fully divine, Jesus was incapable

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

2. JESUS CAME TO FULFIL GODS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF THE HUMAN HEART

learned carpentry skills:

For your information

he had to ask questions such as:

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

2. JESUS CAME TO FULFIL GODS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF THE HUMAN HEART

Jesus came to complete the teachings of the Father

Gods revelation ceased

Christ teaching surrounded

COME FOLLOW ME YEAR 9

2. JESUS CAME TO FULFIL GODS ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS OF THE HUMAN HEART

Jesus revealed the Trinity