Church History
Showing 1–77 of 77 results. View 24 per page
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Chapter J: Major Events in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries
Students order important events from the 19th and 20th centuries.
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Chapter I: Tough Questions
The worksheet poses several questions that ask students to reflect on how they would have stood up for their faith during the French and American Revolution.
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Chapter E: Early Christians Plant the Seeds
On this worksheet, students solve clues to list the names of important early Christians. These answers are then used to decode a secret message.
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Exercise Your Catechism
This handout guides students as they become familiar with searching for information in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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The Spirit in Multiple Acts
Students look up and read several passages that the Holy Spirit. The worksheet asks students to summarize each passage and describe the role of the Holy Spirit in spreading the Good News.
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She Is Your Mother
As students complete this worksheet, they will explore what it means when we say that Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church.
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Cana Connections
Students match symbols from Jesus’ first miracle the wedding feast in Cana with their meaning and significance.
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Gospel Comparisons
On this worksheet, students read all four Gospel accounts of the resurrection before identifying similarities and differences between them.
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From the Apostles to Us
Students create a storyboard to show how God is revealed in Sacred Tradition.
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The Development of Catholic Trinitarian Theology
This worksheet has students fill in blanks from Chapter 2, Section 6-8, focusing on the faith changes during the early Church centered on the Trinity.
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Lesson Plan for Lesson 14
A lesson plan for lesson 14 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.
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Lesson Plan for Lesson 13
A lesson plan for lesson 13 in The Catholic Faith Handbook for Youth: Catechist Guide.
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A Healthy Approach to Life
It may be easy to think of church councils as having very little to do with our personal life. Yet the themes of Vatican Council II—change and renewal—are ones that we are called to live out for the rest of …
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Reading Reflection: Pope John Paul II's 1992 Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences
In your group, read the excerpt from Pope Saint John Paul II’s 1992 Address to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. Work in your group to answer the questions about your assigned paragraph. Then complete the questions about the remaining paragraphs …
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Read and Reflect: A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indians
Complete this handout as you read the excerpt from Bartolomé de las Casas’s A Brief Account of the Destruction of the Indians. Use a separate sheet of paper as needed.
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Film Reflection: The Mission
Complete this handout as you view the film The Mission (1986, 125 minutes, rated A-III and PG).
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Explorers, Conquistadors, and Missionaries Mind Map
Complete this mind map as you listen to the presentations of your classmates. Attach lines and boxes to each topic to add notes.
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Examining the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
Answer the following questions as a group.
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Reflecting on Luther's Theses
Read these five excerpts from Martin Luther’s Ninety-five Theses. Then answer the reflection questions. Use a separate sheet of paper if you need more room.
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Reviewing Martin Luther's Complaint and the Church's Response
Use this handout to take notes from the in-class presentation on article 28, “Luther’s Complaint,” in the student book.
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Dialogue with Others
Excerpts from the address of Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday, April 17, 2008 at the John Paul II center in Washington D.C.
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The Council of Trent
An article about The Council of Trent, excerpted from The Catholic Church: A Brief Popular History, by Cynthia Stewart.
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Characteristics of Apologetics
With your group, read Saint Ignatius of Antioch’s letter to the Romans. Then answer the following questions.
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The Development of the New Testament
Use a separate sheet of paper to answer the following questions. Each group member must turn in an answer sheet.
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Handout: The Precepts of the Church
The Precepts of the Church direct us to participate in the sacramental life of the Church so that we might be nourished for living a moral life. Following are the Precepts of the Church as designated by the Catholic bishops …
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The Precepts of the Church
The Precepts of the Church are rooted in Scripture and Tradition. Do your best to locate Old and New Testament passages (in the Old Law and the New Law) that support each of the following precepts.
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Ritual Postures and Gestures
The different postures and gestures that take place during Mass.
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We'd Like to Know: Possible Questions While Visiting Other Churches
In your visit to a different Christian Church, be prepared to ask the church’s representative some thoughtful questions about what they believe, their mission, and their worship. Here are some questions to start with. You might also think of other …
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Marks of the Church
Write at least two examples of ways that the Church and you model the four Marks of the Church.
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One of Us
Answer the following questions with your group that are related to the questions asked in the song “One of Us”. Your instructor will lead you through Part II. Use the following questions as prompts for taking notes in your notebook.
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Covenant Hope
All of the Scripture passages used in this exercise are taken from the list in your student book (pages 81–82). These Scripture passages concern covenants or promises that provide an image of hope in a future messiah. As you answer …
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Created in God’s Image
You will be guided through this handout, taking notes and answering questions as directed in your class.
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Faith: Some Important Connections
In silence, answer all but the last question by yourself. The last question will be answered in small groups.
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Core Beliefs Practices and Attitudes of the Catholic Faith
Each statement below is a core belief of the Catholic faith. Choose a symbol (“I get it,” “I’m unsure,” or “I don’t get it”) that best reflects your understanding of each belief. Then briefly explain what you might know about …
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Letters in Paul's Day
An article that discusses the format of Paul’s letters and how they are different from letters today.
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The Patriarch Family Tree
A fill in the blank family tree of several generations of people in the Old Testament.
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Measuring Up David and Goliath
A worksheet where students fill in a chart using the story of David and Goliath as well as answering questions.
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All about Aaron
A matching worksheet about items and people that relate to Aaron in the Old Testament.
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Ignatian Discernment of Spirits
An article that breaks down the differences between good and evil spirits.
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Secular Institutes
A worksheet completed in groups about the history, role, and characteristics of secular institutes.
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Inspirations and Charisms Worksheet
A partially independent and partially group completed worksheet for students to fill out about the inspirations and charisms of a particular religious congregation or order.
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What Do Sisters Do?
An article that discusses the roles and responsibilities of religious sisters.
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“To Brother”: A Personal Story
An article written by Br. Armand Alcazar FSC, who discusses his view of his vocation as a verb, “to brother”, or “brothering” in teaching and community life.
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A Conversation about the Future of Priestly Ministry
A worksheet with questions about the future of priestly ministry.
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The Effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders
A worksheet completed in groups about the effects of the Sacrament of Holy Orders from both the book and the student’s personal knowledge.
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Understanding Christ the High Priest
A worksheet to help students understand Christ’s identity as the ultimate High Priest through examining scripture passages.
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Christian Persecutions in the Roman Empire
An article on the persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire.
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Why the Second Vatican Council Really Is That Important
An article on the importance of the Second Vatican Council.
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Events at the Second Vatican Council
An article on the events that took place at the Second Vatican Council.
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The List of Popes
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12272b.htm
A full list of all of the Popes with links to information about each Pope.
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Political and Religious Structure in Jesus' Time
This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It offers an extensive overview of the political and religious structures and influences at work in Jesus' time.
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The Apostles
This article is part of the Living in Christ Series. It discusses the Apostles and followers of Jesus who are known in Scripture, including Peter and Mary Magdalene, among others.
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Canons and Their Development
This article discusses the development of the Old and New Testament Canons and provides charts which compare and contrast different Christian or Jewish canons.
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Who Does the Movie Say Killed Jesus?
Much of the controversy about The Passion of the Christ centers around one question: Who killed Jesus? The Anti-Defamation League feels the movie lays the blame at the feet of the Jews. Mel Gibson, the movie's director, producer and cowriter, …
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Frequently Asked Questions About the Pope
What is the pope? The pope is the bishop of the Church of Rome, Italy. Because of the importance of Rome, Tradition recognizes the pope as the supreme pastor of all Christians. Why is the Church of Rome so important? …
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Until a "lack of discretion" do us part
Ever since the church got involved in the wedding ceremony, relatively late in Christian history, it has stood by its main belief about a marriage. It’s the consent of the couple that binds. SEVENTH IN A 10-PART SERIES ON CHURCH …
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In the Name of the Father
Making the sign of the cross is a gesture that says, in shorthand, that a person is a Catholic. It appears as an icon in popular culture, and as a gesture it is scattered throughout film history, for example: movie …
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Fighting Catholic Amnesia
I was a high school junior before I learned that the Catholic faith was something more than Mass, folk songs and the Bible. Father Corry turned me on to Church history in his religion class. He showed me how our …
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The Church and the Bible: A New Understanding
The Catholic Church's attitude toward biblical study has undergone a sea of change in recent times. A world-renowned Scripture scholar explains why and how. Very often when older Catholics hear at Mass a presentation about the Bible they are puzzled. …
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Saint Jerome: The Perils of a Bible Translator
“WHAT IS THE BEST TRANSLATION OF THE BIBLE?” This is the question that people who teach biblical studies hear more than any other. A bewildering abundance of alternatives is available to those who want to begin reading the Bible. This …
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Six Ways to be Truly Catholic
I always thought that I would have made a great archbishop in Salzburg during the time of Mozart. But instead I'm the archbishop of Milwaukee in the time of rock 'n' roll. That's the way life turns out. We live …
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The Church
Central Characteristics of Roman Catholicism Catholicism is a remarkably rich religion, characterized by a complex tapestry of beliefs, practices, values, rituals, traditions, and more. When viewed “from the outside”—that is, by those who do not share its communal life—Catholicism is …
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Using Literature in Theology Classes
Editor's note: The author of our feature article, Kathleen Hodapp, was one of the participants in last summer's workshop "The Catholic High School As Faith Community," held here in Winona, Minnesota, as well as on the East Coast and the …
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The Quincentenary
As we are all aware, 1992 marks the quincentenary of Christopher Columbus's landing in the West Indies–thus, the "discovery" of America. For religious educators, this anniversary offers an opportunity to examine the injustices done to Native Americans by the colonizers …
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Teaching Church History
In teaching church history, I have used, with some degree of success, the approach of showing links between the events and issues of the past and the concerns the church is facing today and will be facing in the future. …
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Expect Much, Praise Much, Be Present to Them
Course materials, such as the high school religion textbooks and teacher's manuals published by Saint Mary's Press, are a significant ingredient in the education of our young people. But we all know that the most important factor in a student's …
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Curriculum Offerings of Theology Departments
For a couple of years, Saint Mary’s Press sponsored a listserv discussion group online. Discussions on a variety of topics were pursued via e-mail. In this section of the web site, I summarize some of the highlights from these old …
