To Know Worship & Love Bk 4

Consolidating what has been achieved in the year of the “First Sacraments”, book 4 is written for children aged between 8 and 9. The book opens with catechesis on the Trinity, chapter 1, linked to St Augustine. The work of God in creation is presented in chapter 2, leading to the summit of God’s creation, the human person, chapter 3, We Are God’s Work of Art; the person is body and soul, created in the image of God, the foundation of Christian anthropology. The revelation of God’s love is Jesus Christ, chapter 4, above all in his Paschal Mystery, Lent and Easter, chapters 5 and 6.

The Church is depicted as the parish community in chapter 6, but widened out to present the Universal Church led by the Pope. The Liturgy of the Word in the celebration of Mass is emphasised in chapter 7. This complements chapter 11 and helps children appreciate the Scriptures. The saints as “people of the Spirit” make up chapter 8. Chapter 9, on Our Lady, is introduced by a graphic of the rosary, including the new Luminous Mysteries, authorised by the Servant of God, John Paul II.

“Do this in memory of me”, chapter 11, develops a deeper understanding of the Mass., to reinforce catechesis for the “first Sacraments”. The ways in which Christ is present are set out and the Catholic belief in transubstantiation is presented simply in terms of “change”. Chapter 12, on the sacraments of healing, links forgiveness to healing and reinforces what has been achieved in the previous year. It is assumed that children will have access to the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation when this chapter is used. Chapter 13 introduces vocation to the priesthood in the context of Holy Orders.

Eschatology is always part of Christ’s Good News proclaimed by his Church. Chapter 17 presents God’s promise of eternal life beyond death and children are taught to pray for the dead, an area of catechesis that needs to be developed more today. The final chapter, devoted to Advent and Christmas concludes the book, but would need to be used at an earlier stage in the academic year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Shape of a Chapter

In Books 3 to 6 the chapters are written to help each child “to know, worship and love”. To Remember is doctrinal points taken from the Doctrinal Overview that covers the seven primary/ elementary school levels. This should be learnt by heart. An essay sums up the content of the chapter. This is followed by The Word of God, both in Scripture and in Tradition, according to the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, Dei Verbum 10. Our Prayer is the heart of the chapter. Living the Gospel applies the theme to the daily experiences of children. Did You Know? cultivates cognitive skills and Reflecting Together At Home and At School relates parents as the first teachers in the domestic church to learning at school or CCD class.

Our Prayers, pp. 150-155, builds on the basic Catholic prayers the child should learn by heart, adding more prayers appropriate to the age group.

ISBN: 9781921154348
Title: To Know Worship & Love Bk 4
Format: Paperback