Education
Formation of Christian Chastitylessons - Grade 5
Lesson Plan 2
Theme: God Made Us To Know The Truth
Objectives:
- Students will know that Jesus wants us to know Him and follow the truth.
- Students will have a greater understanding of how we can live out the truth through the virtue of chastity.
- Students will demonstrate an appreciation for how our bodies are an expression of the truth of our dignity as adopted sons and daughters of God.
St. Gianna Beretta Molla:
St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a devoted, pious, and loving wife, mother, and doctor who lived in Italy. In 1962, while she was pregnant with her fourth child, a doctor discovered that Gianna had cancer. The doctor recommended abortion, but Gianna refused. Shortly after giving birth she died from complications. As a result of her heroic sacrifice, St. Gianna is considered a patron saint of the pro-life movement.
Prayer:
Dear Saint Gianna,
You showed the power of a mother's love. You sacrificed your own life, so that your baby daughter might live. Please intercede for us and all our unborn brothers and sisters. We ask that all children will be spared the violent killing of abortion, and that each child will be respected and protected, the way that you cherished your own children. Amen.
Review:
The last class we learned what truth is, that Jesus embodies truth and is truth, and how we can know the truth. We also learned that we can live out the truth by going to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, going to the Sacrament of Penance frequently, praying every day, and following the commandments. Finally we learned that everyone has dignity because we are all made in God's image and likeness and that we are His sons and daughters. Today we will learn about what our conscience is and how we can correctly form our conscience in the truth. We will also focus on the truth that everyone has dignity because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Because of this we must respect every human being and work to protect the life of every person from conception until natural death.
Quotation from Sacred Scripture:
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. (Psalm 139:15)
Quotation from the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person-- among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life. (CCC 2270)
Key Concepts Reading:
The proper formation of conscience respect for human life.
God gives each of us a conscience, which is His inner voice that inspires us to do good and avoid evil (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1795). Our conscience helps us to avoid the near occasions of sin, which are the persons, places, and things, which easily lead to sin. But we need to do our part to form our consciences correctly. We can do this by listening to God's word, through prayer, by going to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, by frequently going to Confession, by following the teachings of the Church, and by obeying our parents.
The first and most important way in which we demonstrate respect for ourselves and others is by upholding the right to life. Every human being is a gift from God to be cherished from conception to natural death. Abortion is the deliberate killing of an unborn baby and is therefore a grave sin.
We have a duty to care for the sick and the suffering. We must never kill a sick or suffering person in the name of compassion. To do so is euthanasia, which is a grave violation of the 5th commandment. Again, all persons have the right to life—from conception until natural death. We must pray for those who harm themselves and kill other people through abortion and euthanasia, or through supporting abortion and euthanasia. Note: All biological concepts/questions are to be covered at home by the parent(s) of the child.
Discussion Questions:
- What can I do to show my respect for human life? Answers might include: pray for an
end to abortion and euthanasia; practice the corporal and spiritual works of mercy; speak up
for life when you come across someone advocating a stance which is contrary to the right to
life. - In what ways can you show how much you value other people—especially younger
children? Answers might include: helping younger students with their homework;
collecting food, clothing, and toys for needy families; performing acts of kindness for
younger brothers and sisters or other students.
Suggested Activities:
Have students say a Rosary or decade of the Rosary for an end to abortion and in reparation for the sins of abortion. If it is possible in your class to say it in front of the Blessed Sacrament in a church or chapel that is even better.
Homework:
Students are to bring in baby pictures from home. The teacher could display them under the quotation: "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you." -Jeremiah 1: 5
Summary:
Our conscience is our guide for helping us to determine what's right and wrong. But in order to form our consciences correctly, we need to listen to God's word, pray, go to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, go to Confession regularly (once per month is a good practice here), follow the teachings of the Church, and obey our parents.
Every human being is a gift from God whose life is to be treasured. Abortion is a grave sin, because it involves the deliberate killing of an unborn child.
We have an obligation to care for the sick and the suffering. The 5th Commandment forbids murder, including the killing of those who are ill or have physical or mental disabilities. We must pray for those who have died because of the sins of abortion and euthanasia and for those who have committed these sins. We must pray for the protection of the right to life of every single human being, since every human person is made in the image of God.
Prayer:
Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the unborn, pray for us!