Exploring Holy Matrimony with Sacred Art

UNIT 8, LESSON 2

Learning Goals Connection to the ӹӹ Love is a gift of self. Catechism of the ӹӹ Love takes virtue and grace. Catholic Church ӹӹ Jesus calls us all to love. ӹӹ CCC 1601 ӹӹ Marriage is the natural, human path of ӹӹ CCC 1603 love. ӹӹ CCC 1613 ӹӹ Marriage is the path on which Jesus calls ӹ CCC 1638 many of us to fulfill the call to love. ӹ

Vocabulary ӹӹ Marriage ӹӹ Love

BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES

On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus in my love. If you keep my commandments, you and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. will remain in my love, just as I have kept my When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus Father’s commandments and remain in his love. said to him, “They have no wine.” [And] Jesus said I have told you this so that my joy may be in to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect you and your joy may be complete. This is my me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said commandment: love one another as I love you.” to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” JOHN 15:9-12 JOHN 2:1-5

451 Lesson Plan

Materials ӹӹ The Wedding Feast at Cana ӹӹ Natural and Supernatural

DAY ONE The Wedding Feast at Cana UIUS SCHNORR ON CAROSFE Warm-Up A. Project an image of the The Wedding Feast at Cana (page 227) by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Give students several minutes to quietly view the art before you say or ask anything. Allow them to come up and stand closer to the image to examine details. H B. Once several minutes have passed, ask students:

ӹӹ What do you first notice about this work of art? ӹӹ What do you like about this work of art? ӹӹ How does this work of art make you feel? ӹӹ How do the colors in the work of art draw your eye? ӹӹ Where are these people? Who are the people? e ein east at ana ӹӹ What is happening in this picture? Jesus is The Wedding Feast at Cana, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1819) turning water into wine. iretions Take some time to quietly view and reﬂ ect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates.

onersation estions Activity 1. Who are the fi gures in this painting? 2. Why do you think the artist included so many plants? Put students in small groups and ask them to turn 3. Why is Peter kneeling? 4. What is the signifi cance of the people who are not paying attention to Jesus? to The Wedding Feast at Cana (page 228) by Julius 5. Read the Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana in John 2:1-12. What moment in the Gospel story has the artist captured in this mosaic? How does the painting help you better understand the story of the Wedding at Cana? Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Have them discuss the 6. What is the role of Mary at the Marriage at Cana? questions with each other. During this time, focus 7. What does the account of Jesus’ fi rst miracle at a wedding tell us about His presence in the Sacrament of Matrimony? on keeping students intent on the artwork and the discussion questions, letting their conversations go in unexpected ways.

452 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS LESSON PLAN

Formative Assessment A. Circulate among the groups, listening to their discussions, keeping them on task, and offering insights or clarification where needed.

B. Before moving on to the next activity, have each group write one question they would ask the artist about his painting and turn it in.

DAY TWO Warm-Up A. Project once again an image of The Wedding Feast at Cana by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld and read aloud a few of the most interesting questions offered by the student groups the previous day. Allow students to share their reactions and other personal responses to the art.

B. Take this opportunity to explain the meanings of these words: ӹӹ Christian Marriage: A state of life begun when a baptized man and woman, in the Sacrament of Matrimony, freely and lawfully vow to live united until death, cooperating with God to share their mutual love, help each other attain holiness, and bring forth and educate their children. ӹӹ Love: To offer yourself as a gift to another, and to work for what is good for that person. The best love is selfless and cares for another for that person’s own sake.

Activity A. Give students copies of the art, and have them skim over the questions they discussed the previous day. Then call on groups in turn to share their answers to each of the questions. Conclude the discussion with the question of how the artist probably wanted the people who viewed his painting to feel.

B. Explain to your students that because we have fallen natures, we need the help of God’s grace to be good siblings, good friends, and if we marry, also to be good spouses and parents. C. Divide students into groups and ask different groups to look up The Fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and the qualities of love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8). Ask each group to write or draw examples of Jesus showing these virtues or qualities of love, especially in His first miracle at Cana.

D. Explain to your students that marriage is a covenant that has existed since God made it when He created Adam and Eve. Marriage existed after the fall because it is in our natures. When Jesus came He made it also a Sacrament. E. Explain to your students that now that Jesus has redeemed us and made marriage a Sacrament, it too reflects God’s Divine nature.

Unit 8, lesson 2 453 LESSON PLAN

Formative Assessment atral an ernatral A. Ask students to turn to Natural and

iretions Read carefully paragraph 1603 from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then rewrite each sentence in the correct column, deciding if the statement Supernatural (page 229). Have them work is talking about the natural and human aspects of marriage, the supernatural and divine aspects of marriage, or both. Natural and Human Supernatural and Divine Both individually to rewrite each sentence from “The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. …God himself is the author of marriage.” The vocation to marriage is paragraph 1603 of the Catechism of the Catholic written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many Church in the correct column, identifying if the variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes. These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics. Although the dignity statement is talking about the natural human of this institution is not transparent everywhere with the same clarity, some sense of the greatness of the matrimonial union exists in all cultures. “The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society aspects of marriage, the supernatural and divine is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life.” CCC 1603 aspects of marriage, or both.

B. Review and discuss the answers to Natural and Supernatural when complete.

DAY THREE Warm-Up A. Explain to your students that Jesus teaches us to love. B. Project on the board and have a student stand and read aloud John 15:9 -12:

“As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.”

C. Ask your students the following questions:

ӹӹ What commandment does Jesus give? To love one another as He has loved us.

ӹӹ How do we love as Jesus loved? By keeping His commandments.

ӹӹ What is the reason Jesus gives for this commandment? So that there might be joy in our lives and that our joy may be complete.

D. Next, assign different roles to students from the parable of the Good Samaritan. The seven roles are: the man who fell victim to robbers, two robbers, a priest, a Levite, a Samaritan, and the inn keeper. You can use props and costumes, such as black T-shirts for the robbers, shiny robes for the priest and Levite, and plain robes for the Samaritan and the traveler, and a plain robe or formal button up shirt for the inn keeper, a stick horse, a sack of toy coins, a bottle of water, bandages. Have the students act out the parable, guiding them through their roles while you or another student read the parable aloud from Luke 10:30 -37:

454 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS LESSON PLAN

Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

E. Ask your students the following questions:

ӹӹ Which of the people in this parable were an example of the kind of love that Jesus commands us to have? Why? The Samaritan because even though he belonged to an outcast class of people in Jewish society, he still helped the wounded traveler and gave of himself out of love for his neighbor.

ӹӹ How do you think that love and mercy are connected? If we truly love others, then we will be merciful towards them.

ӹӹ What can we learn about marriage from considering this parable? How should spouses and families treat each other? How can they exemplify the love of Christ in their own relationships? Answers may include that spouses and parents and children all need to be merciful towards each other, even if one of the others in the family have hurt them. Spouses and parents and children all must love each other as Christ loved us.

F. Explain to your students the Good Samaritan gave his time and money and strength to save the dying man. When we are beaten down and dying inside because of sin, Jesus saves us. He gave His whole life to save us from sin. There is no greater love than to give your life for another. Jesus calls each of us to love each other as fully as He loves each of us.

Unit 8, lesson 2 455 456 The Wedding Feast at Cana UIUS SCHNORR ON CAROSFE © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS

H Answer Key 1. Jesus is central, in blue and red. e ein east at ana Mary is to the left

of Jesus, John to The Wedding Feast at Cana, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1819) the right. Peter

is kneeling. The iretions Take some time to quietly view and refl ect on the art. Let yourself be inspired man standing in in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates. red and white is likely an apostle, probably James. onersation estions 1. Who are the fi gures in this painting? The two men kneeling in green 2. Why do you think the artist included so many plants? are servants, and 3. Why is Peter kneeling? the man in yellow 4. What is the signifi cance of the people who are not paying attention to Jesus? is likely the head 5. Read the Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana in John 2:1-12. What moment in the Gospel story has the artist captured in this mosaic? How does the painting help you waiter. The man better understand the story of the Wedding at Cana?

and woman sitting 6. What is the role of Mary at the Marriage at Cana?

in the back right 7. What does the account of Jesus’ ﬁ rst miracle at a wedding tell us about His presence in are the bride and the Sacrament of Matrimony? groom. All the other people are guests. 2. Plants are a symbol of growth and life; the bride and groom are starting a new life together. 3. Peter, as Pope, intercedes for the Church before God, which his kneeling position represents. 4. Many people ignore or are unaware of God and miracles He works. Do you look for how God is working in your life and the lives of the people around you? 5. The moment when Christ turned the water into wine. 6. Mary is the intercessor who asks Jesus to work a miracle at a wedding feast. 7. Just as Jesus was present at the Wedding at Cana, He gives husbands and wives the graces and the strength to live the Sacrament of Matrimony as a Sacrament of love.

Unit 8, lesson 2 457 atral an ernatral

iretions Read carefully paragraph 1603 from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then rewrite each sentence in the correct column, deciding if the statement is talking about the natural and human aspects of marriage, the supernatural and divine aspects of marriage, or both.

“The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws. …God himself is the author of marriage.” The vocation to marriage is written in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator. Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes. These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics. Although the dignity of this institution is not transparent everywhere with the same clarity, some sense of the greatness of the matrimonial union exists in all cultures. “The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life.”

CCC 1603

458 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS Answer Key Natural and Human: The vocation to marriage is written Natural and Human Supernatural and Divine Both in the very nature of man and woman as they came from the hand of the Creator.

These differences should not cause us to forget its common and permanent characteristics.

Although the dignity of this institution is not transparent everywhere with the same clarity, some sense of the greatness of the matrimonial union exists in all cultures.

Supernatural and Divine: The intimate community of life and love which constitutes the married state has been established by the Creator and endowed by him with its own proper laws… God himself is the author of marriage.

Both: Marriage is not a purely human institution despite the many variations it may have undergone through the centuries in different cultures, social structures, and spiritual attitudes.

The well-being of the individual person and of both human and Christian society is closely bound up with the healthy state of conjugal and family life.

Unit 8, lesson 2 459 Notes ______

______

Kunsthalle, Hamburg t 8, Lesson 2 Unit The Wedding Feast at Cana

The Wedding Feast at Cana, by Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld (1819)

Directions: Take some time to quietly view and reflect on the art. Let yourself be inspired in any way that happens naturally. Then think about the questions below, and discuss them with your classmates.

Conversation Questions

1. Who are the figures in this painting?

2. Why do you think the artist included so many plants?

3. Why is Peter kneeling?

4. What is the significance of the people who are not paying attention to Jesus?

5. Read the Gospel story of the Wedding at Cana in John 2:1-12. What moment in the Gospel story has the artist captured in this mosaic? How does the painting help you better understand the story of the Wedding at Cana?

6. What is the role of Mary at the Marriage at Cana?

7. What does the account of Jesus’ first miracle at a wedding tell us about His presence in the Sacrament of Matrimony?

228 Unit 8, Lesson 2 Natural and Supernatural

Directions: Read carefully paragraph 1603 from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Then rewrite each sentence in the correct column, deciding if the statement is talking about the natural and human aspects of marriage, the supernatural and divine aspects of marriage, or both.

CCC 1603

Unit 8, Lesson 2 229 Natural and Human Supernatural and Divine Both

230 Unit 8, Lesson 2