Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abbreviations Used for the Books of the Bible

General Abbreviations

Catholic Prayers and Devotions

Chapter 1:
God Prepares the Way for His Church in the Old Testament

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to this Chapter

Creation Is Made for Man

We Were Made for Communion with God

God Prepares His People for the Church

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Irenæus of Lyons

The Covenant of Creation

Adam’s Disobedience

A Plan for Restoration

God Calls Abram

Abraham, Our Father in Faith

Abraham’s Obedience

A Blessing for All Nations

Sidebar: Isaac and Christ

God Calls Moses

The Exodus from Egypt

Sidebar: Ten Plagues of Egypt

God’s Covenant with Israel

Israel’s Disobedience

Israel Demands a King

God’s Covenant with David

Sidebar: The Seven Primary Features of the Davidic Covenant

The Reign of Solomon and the Collapse of the Kingdom

Sidebar: Three Additional Features or Secondary Characteristics of the Davidic Covenant

Supplementary Reading

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 2:
Jesus Christ Instituted the Church

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

Part I: God Prepares His People for the Church

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Augustine

The Incarnation

The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God

Sidebar: What Is the Kingdom of God Like?

Sidebar: The Parable of the Sower

Jesus Calls the Twelve Apostles

Salvation Through the Cross

Sidebar: What Does It Mean to Be Saved?

Made Known in the Breaking of the Bread

The Fulfillment of the Old Covenant in the Church

Sidebar: The Covenants of Salvation History

A New and Everlasting Temple

Part II: Names and Images of the Church

Images of the Church

The Mystical Body of Christ

The Bride of Christ

Sidebar: The Church Is a “She”

The Family of God

Sidebar: The Church as the Family of God

The People of God

Sidebar: Worshiping as the New People of God

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Francis of Assisi

The Kingdom of God

Sidebar: Other Images of the Church

Supplementary Reading

Long‑Term Assignment

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 3:
The Story of the Early Church

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

“Go and Make Disciples of All Nations”

The Day of Pentecost

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

St. Peter’s Authority

Sidebar: St. Peter, The Vicar of Christ, the Good Shepherd (Jn 21: 15–17)

Trials and Persecution

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Polycarp

St. Paul, Light for the Gentiles

Sidebar: St. Paul, The Man Chosen for the Conversion of the Gentiles

Preaching to All Nations

St. Philip Baptizes the Ethiopian

The Vision of St. Peter

The Council of Jerusalem

The Meaning of Twelve

Acts of the Apostles

St. James the Greater

St. Bartholomew (Nathanael)

St. James the Lesser

St. Jude (St. Judas)

Called to Be Apostles

“Thy Kingdom Come”

Supplementary Reading

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 4:
The Church as Sacrament of Salvation

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

The Church Is the Sacrament of Salvation

The Mystery of the Church

A Visible and Invisible Society

The Church as the Sacrament of Communion

Sidebar: Pope Benedict XVI on the Meaning of Communion

The Hierarchical Structure of the Church

Sidebar: The Hierarchy of the Church Is Established by Christ

St. Peter and the Papacy

Sidebar: How a Pope Is Elected

Secretariat of State

Pontifical Councils

The Office of Bishop

Sidebar: What Is a Cathedral?

Ecumenical Councils

The Office of Priest

Sidebar: What Is a Parish?

The Office of Deacon

The Teaching Authority of the Church

The Deposit of Faith

Sidebar: What Is Apostolic Tradition?

The Magisterium

The Infallibility of the Magisterium

Sanctifying and Governing Role of the Church

Sidebar: Precepts of the Church

Salvation and the Church

Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations

Supplementary Reading

Long‑Term Assignment

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 5:
The Four Marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

The First Mark: The Church Is One

Unity in the Mystical Body

Sidebar: The Saints: Pope St. Leo the Great

Wounds to Unity

Sidebar: The Four Marks of the Church

Heresies in the Early Church

Arianism (Fourth Century)

Apollinarianism (ca. 360–381)

Nestorianism (ca. 351–ca. 451)

Monophysitism (400s–600s)

The Protestant Reformation

Toward Greater Christian Unity

Sidebar: Contemporary Efforts in Ecumenism and Interfaith Dialogue

The Second Mark: The Church Is Holy

Participation in the Holiness of Christ

The Church Will Receive Her Perfection in the Glory of Heaven

The Third Mark: The Church Is Catholic

Sidebar: The Catholicity of the Church

Sidebar: Why Does the Church Have Different Rites?

The Fourth Mark: The Church Is Apostolic

Supplementary Reading

Study Questions

Practical Exercise

From the Catechism

Chapter 6:
The Church in the Life of the Faithful

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

Part I: The Universal Call to Holiness

Faith Requires a Response

The Church Is the People of God

Common Priesthood of the Faithful

Universal Call to Holiness

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Gianna Beretta Molla

The Liturgy of the Catholic Church

Sidebar: Jesus Christ, the One Mediator Between God and Man

The Liturgical Year

The Seven Sacraments

What Is a Sacrament?

Ex Opere Operato

Why the Sacraments?

The Catechumenate

Baptism of Blood, Baptism of Desire, and Unbaptized Infants

Sidebar: Baptism: The Doorway of the Church

The New Passover

Sidebar: The Mass in the Early Church

“Do This in Memory of Me”

Sidebar: The Eucharist: The Source and Summit of the Church’s Life

Venial and Mortal Sins

Anointing of the Sick

Not Just “Extreme Unction”

Characters of Ecclesial Ministry

“One Flesh”

A Vocation of Service

A Life of Prayer

Types of Prayer

Sacrifice and Self-Denial

Sidebar: The Role of Youth in the Church

Part II: Seeking Holiness in Daily Life

Living Witnesses of Jesus Christ

Sidebar: Evangelizing Truths

Holiness Within One’s State of Life

Holiness in Family Life

Sidebar: St. Paul’s Teachings Concerning the Unmarried

Finding Holiness in Our Work

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Thomas More

The Lay Apostolate

Sidebar: They Will Know You Are My Disciples

Living Our Faith in the Midst of the World

Vocation to the Consecrated Life

Types of Consecrated Life

Supplementary Reading

Long‑Term Assignment

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 7:
The Church as a Communion of Saints

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

The Church as a Communion of Saints

Sidebar: What Is an Indulgence?

What Does It Mean to Be a Saint?

Intercession of the Saints

Intercessory Prayer

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Therese of Lisieux

Veneration of the Saints

The End of History: A New Heaven and a New Earth

St. John’s Vision of the Heavenly Liturgy

The Holy Mass Is a Participation in the Heavenly Liturgy

The Last Things

Particular Judgment

Sidebar: Why Pray for the Dead?

Praying for the Holy Souls

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Michael the Archangel

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

Chapter 8:
Mary, Mother of the Church and Our Mother

Chapter Planning Guide

Chapter Objectives

Keys to This Chapter

Mary in God’s Plan of Salvation

Sidebar: Church Dogmas About Mary

Sidebar: Fiat: The “Yes” of Mary

The Immaculate Conception

Sidebar: The Woman of the Protoevangelium

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Sidebar: The Saints: St. Joseph

The Perpetual Virginity of Mary

Sidebar: Did Jesus Have Brothers and Sisters?

Mary, Mother of the Church

Sidebar: “Behold, Your Mother!”

Mary, Help of Christians

Queen of Heaven

Sidebar: Litany of Loreto

Supplementary Reading

Long‑Term Assignment

Study Questions

Practical Exercises

From the Catechism

STUDENT WORKBOOK

Student Workbook

RESOURCE MATERIALS

Chapter Quizzes

Vocabulary Reviews

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