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Fostering Faith Curriculum Guide
for Catechist Certification: Moral Life
I: The Dignity of the Human Person
Session Description
This session shows that the basis of the moral life is the
responsibility conferred on us by the freedom which derives from human likeness to God,
and explores the sources for understanding our responsibility.
Themes
 | Creation in the image of God as the basis for human freedom |
| Human vocation to beatitude |
| Revelation of our responsibility in natural law, conscience, the
teachings of Scripture and the Church |
| Discrimination between good and evil |
| Family as the primary source of virtue |
Focusing the Session
The creation stories of Genesis place human dignity within the
grandeur of creation and reflect on humanity's unique gift of freedom, while our Lord's
Beatitudes reveal the ultimate blessedness to which we are called. Within this framework
we are given the knowledge of our responsibility to choose the good in the face of the
possibility of choosing evil.
Instructional Objectives
In conducting this session, the facilitator will:
| Provide an awareness of the relationship between the image of God
in humanity and human freedom. |
| Use a variety of teaching methods in the teaching of moral concerns
which catechists can use to facilitate the growth of moral consciousness in learners. |
| Provide awareness of the close connection between the family and
the dignity of the person. |
Catechist Competencies
As a result of this session catechists will be able to:
| Articulate the Church's teaching on genuine freedom as living in
harmony with God's design for humankind. |
| List the sources which describe moral responsibility. |
| Demonstrate an ability to use age-appropriate ways for presenting
Christian morality according to the developmental needs of the learner. |
Special Points from the Documents
| The image of God is the basis of human dignity (CCC
#1700–1715) |
| Christian morality is a response to God's goodness. God gives us
the freedom to make responsible choices (CCC #1730–1737) |
| The home is well suited for education in the virtues (CCC
#2223) |
| Catechesis for justice, mercy and peace first occurs in the family (Sharing
#170) |
| The family is the most basic way the Lord forms us and acts in the
world (Follow the Way of Love #1) |
Documentary References
See Bibliography for secondary sources.
| Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern
World #1-32 |
| Catechism of the Catholic Church #1700–1876 |
| Sharing the Light of Faith #100–105 |
| Follow the Way of Love |
| A Family Perspective on Church and Society |
Scripture Contexts
| Genesis 1:26-27 Genesis
3:1-24
Psalm 8
Proverbs 4:1-27
Matthew 5:17-20
Romans 2:12-16
Colossians 3:1-21 |
God created humans as male and female in the divine
image Evil seduces us from hearing God’s word and doing
God’s will
A meditation on the magnificence of creation, especially humanity
A family style exhortation to seek wisdom for living
In God’s kingdom right living is more than adherence to
externals
Even those without God’s instruction have a sense of what is
right
Made new in Jesus, we seek what is above and lead lives of love |
Session Description
This session explores the call to obedience in the context of a
loving relationship with God.
Themes
| "Covenant" as the foundational image of the relationship
between God and humanity |
| Church's basic teachings on sin, grace, justification and
sanctification |
| Development of virtue by the cooperation of inner discipline and
the power of the Holy Spirit |
| Ten Commandments as the outline of the graced relationship with God |
Focusing the Session
As God graciously saved Israel from Egypt before giving the Ten
Commandments, so God's grace is the foundation for the moral life. Where "sin has
abounded" in the rejection of the divine-human relationship based on creation,
"grace has abounded even more" by recreating that relationship based on the gift
of justification (Rom. 5:20). This grace enhances natural human virtues and empowers the
theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Only in the context of grace does the
"keeping" of the Ten Commandments make sense.
Instructional Objectives
In conducting this session, the facilitator will:
| Provide a clear understanding of sin and grace within a covenantal
relationship to God. |
| Model methods of presenting Christian moral teaching according to
developmental levels. |
| Use various teaching methods which the catechists can in turn use
with their students. |
Catechist Competencies
As a result of this session, catechists will be able to:
| Define the meaning of the biblical concept of "covenant"
and explain a passage in the Bible where it appears. |
| Trace the relationship between the Ten Commandments and the first
of the two "Great Commands" to love God and neighbor. |
| Articulate the Church's teachings on sin, grace and justification. |
| Describe real-life examples demonstrating the Christian's
responsibility towards God, neighbor and self. |
| State a definition of the "theological" virtues of faith,
hope and charity. |
| Demonstrate an ability to use age-appropriate methods to teach the
Ten Commandments in the context of relationship with God. |
Special Points from the Documents
| Humans can ignore the gift of being created in God's image, and
choose to sin; but through grace one is reconciled with God (CCC #1739-1742) |
| Christian morality entails duties towards God, neighbor and self (Sharing
the Light of Faith #105) |
Documentary References
See Bibliography for secondary sources.
Catechism of the Catholic Church #1949–2195
Sharing the Light of Faith #98–99, 105
Scripture Contexts
| Exodus 20:1-11 Deuteronomy
6:5
Deuteronomy 29:1-14
Deuteronomy 30:1-20
Proverbs 1:1-7; 9:10
Matthew 5:1-16
Mark 12:28-34
John 8:1-12
Romans 5:20-6:23 |
The part of the Ten Commandments on relating to God Our God is one: Love your God with all of your being
All God’s people in every age enter into covenant with God
God circumcises the heart to choose the way of life over death
The fear (reverence) of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
Our Lord’s vision of blessedness for the poor in spirit
Pharisees question Jesus on the two greatest commandments
Jesus unforgettably teaches that mercy is ground of judgment
Our union with Jesus brings the grace which conquers sin |
Session Description
This session explores, in the context of the grace-filled life,
the process of conscience formation, personal responsibility and participation in social
justice.
Themes
| Role of conscience in the application of Christian moral principles |
| Moral decision-making today: human life and sexuality, social
justice, war and peace, prejudice, racism, discrimination, and other issues |
| Influence of contemporary society on moral decision-making |
| Ten Commandments as the outline of the graced relationship with our
neighbor, whether defined as individual, family, group, or society |
Focusing the Session
The Christian path is a life-long journey of conversion to the
mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16) as revealed by the Spirit and expressed in the morality
flowing from our response to the gift of God’s grace. God has formed us by first
acting justly toward us. The Fourth through the Tenth Commandments specify the patterns of
loving relationship we are to develop with fellow human beings. In their light we are
called to attend to issues of social justice guided by the Scriptures and the Church's
social teachings.
Instructional Objectives
In conducting this session, the facilitator will:
| Review the basic principles of the Church's social teachings. |
| Distinguish between obedience determined by the "letter"
or the "spirit," i.e. between "act-centered" and
"life-centered" morality. |
| Review the basic understanding of the morality of human acts in
dealing with contemporary issues. |
| Explain Christian moral living so as to correlate personal morality
and social responsibility. |
| Provide examples that may be used to teach others about caring for
others’ needs and to promote justice and peace in their homes (or families) and in
the world. |
| Use a variety of teaching methods in the teaching of contemporary
issues which catechists can then use to facilitate the growth of moral consciousness in
students. |
Catechist Competencies
As a result of this session catechists will be able to:
| Discuss the basic principles of the Church's social teachings and
apply them to circumstances today. |
| Distinguish between an externally focused "act-centered"
morality and a morality which focuses on attitudes. |
| Provide examples that will encourage learners to practice becoming
responsive to others’ needs and so better able to promote justice and peace in the
world. |
| Trace the relationship between the Ten Commandments and the second
of the two "Great Commands" to love God and neighbor. |
Special Points from the Documents
| The social dimension of morality (Sharing #165; CCC
#2234–2246) |
| The Church is called upon to engage in the problems of
contemporary society (Sharing #166–171; CCC #2302–2317,
2419–2449; The Gospel of Life) |
| The morality of human acts (CCC #1749–1756) |
| The family is the first community in which the Lord acts
in the world (Follow the Way of Love ch. 1) |
Documentary References
See Bibliography for secondary sources.
| Vatican II, Pastoral Constitution
on the Church in the Modern World #33-93
|
| General Catechetical Directory #60–64
|
| Catechism of the Catholic Church
#1749–1756, 2302–2317, 2419–2449, 2234–2246
|
| Sharing the Light of Faith
#101–105, 149–171, 190
|
| The Gospel of Life
|
| Follow the Way of Love
|
Scripture Contexts
| Exodus 20:12-17 Leviticus 19:18
Psalm 15
Jeremiah 7:1-15
Amos 5:14–15
Micah 6:6-8
Matthew 5:21-48
Matthew 7:12
Romans 13:8-10
Galatians 5:13-14
1 Corinthians 8:1-13
James 2:1-13
1 John 3:11-18
1 John 4:7-12 |
The part of Ten Commandments on
relating to the neighbor You shall love your neighbor as you
love yourself
Reminder of the need for holiness to enter God’s presence
Worship of God inextricably linked to justice and morality
Justice toward the neighbor a basic part of the sanctified life
Physical sacrifice is less important than the ways of the heart
Jesus affirms the importance of the heart to fulfill God’s
will
Treat others as you want to be treated: the "Golden
Rule"
Love toward the neighbor fulfills all commandments
Redemption buys us the freedom to serve one another in love
Service in love takes precedence even over spiritual freedom
One doing the "royal law" doesn’t prefer the rich
to the poor
We know we have passed from death to life because of love
Whoever loves is born of God and knows God, for God is love |
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