Our Ultimate End Is Heaven

Our Ultimate End Is Heaven

Our Ultimate End Is Heaven LESSON OVERVIEW Overview This lesson introduces the ideas of who Connection to the we are and what we are. The fact that we are made in the image and likeness Catechism of God calls for us to do certain things. ӹ CCC 355 We are called to self-discovery, and we ӹ CCC 1950-1960 look to our Creator to discover who we ӹ CCC 1730-1733 are. Students will learn that we have ӹ CCC 1747 free will, and that there are laws that ӹ CCC 1748 govern heaven, the universe, the earth and the human person. In learning these things, we can discover our true ends and Essential Questions purposes in beatitude. ӹ If we are created in God’s image, then how should we conduct ourselves? ӹ What is law? Grade Levels ӹ How does the world’s MS HS definition of “freedom” differ from the Church’s understanding? Which is Time right? Three fifty-minute classes ӹ What did Jesus mean when He said “the truth will set Note: This lesson is designed as a unit, and you free”? includes three parts: Day I: The Imago Dei [HS]; Day II: What Is Law? [HS]; and Day III: What Is Freedom? [MS, HS] BIBLICAL TOUCHSTONES God created mankind in his image, in the image If you remain in my word, you will truly be my of God he created them; male and female he disciples and you will know the truth and the created them. truth will set you free. GENESIS 1:27 JOHN 8:31-32 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 1 The Creation of Adam BY MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI (C. 1511) Michelangelo Buonarroti, “The Creation of Adam.” Circa 1511. Fresco. Sistine Chapel, Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. DIGITAL IMAGES AVAILABLE AT WWW.SOPHIAINSTITUTEFORTEACHERS.ORG Sacred Art and the Beatitudes Our Ultimate End Is Heaven The Creation of Adam, by Michelangelo Buonarroti (c. 1511) 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. Whom do you see in this fresco, and what appears to be happening? 2. What do you notice about the colors the artist chose? How does the light look? Where is it coming from? 3. What are some feelings that this painting inspires in you? 4. How does Adam’s posture differ from the Father’s? 5. Why do you think Michelangelo painted the Father’s hand and Adam’s hand almost, but not quite, touching? 6. Who do you think are the figures with the Father? Why do you think so? 7. Read Genesis 1:26-27. How does this painting enhance your understanding of these verses? 8. Some physicians have suggested that the shape behind God the Father resembles the outline of a human brain. If this is true, why might Michelangelo have painted it that way? 9. How does this painting depict the ultimate end for which we are created? © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 3 Day One Lesson Plan HS The Imago Dei Materials Background/Homework 15 minutes ӹ Holy Bible Read aloud the Background Essay as students follow ӹ Catechism of the Catholic along. Students should reflect on the conversation Church questions. ӹ A musical instrument and a recorded piece of music for that instrument Warm-Up 10 minutes ӹ Background Essay: Our A. The fact/value distinction is an is/ought Ultimate End Is Heaven connection. Discuss with students how a thing can be known by science or reason. By fact of ӹ Essential Vocabulary that understanding, we are called to act in a ӹ Handout A: The Is/Ought way concerning that thing. The example in the Connection Background Essay is that when we see a man is ӹ Handout B: Plato on the hungry, we ought to feed him. Three Parts of the Soul ӹ Handout C: St. Gregory B. Distribute Handout A: The Is/Ought Connection. the Great, On the Making On the worksheet, students should derive an “ought of Man, Part V to do” statement from each stated fact. C. Discuss variations in answers. If there are wildly varying ideas, try to reason out why we wouldn’t have similar response. Activity 30 Minutes A. Discuss the following question: What is the nature of being human? B. Pass out Handout B: Plato on the Three Parts of the Soul. Examine the Greek Philosopher Plato’s tri- partite soul comprising the belly, head, and heart. Observe how Plato’s theory of the tripartite is a little trinity. Discuss the similarities between the two conceptions and graphics. Lead them into the idea that man is made in the image and likeness of God. 4 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS C. Discuss the following question: What does it mean to be made in the image and likeness of God? D. Have students open their Bibles and turn to the first chapter of Genesis and read 1:27. Read and discuss the nature of man being made in the image and likeness of God. Conclude that God created humans and therefore humans are creatures of God. Discuss also that it is in our intellect and will, not in our physical features, that we are made in the image of God. E. St. Gregory explains a little bit about what it means to be in the image and likeness of God. The two faculties of the Soul — the intellect and the will — are the proper way to understand this sacred image. Read and discuss Handout C: St. Gregory the Great, On the Making of Man, Part V in class. F. Make a point of clarification: by way of analogy to the artist and color, St. Gregory demonstrates that God’s artistry and color are not of the physical realm, but that of the intellect and will by way of the Logos and Love, of word and mind, of act and free will. Wrap up 10 minutes Recall the is/ought connection. What something is tells us what we ought to do. So, the facts are that God created us. We are made in His image and likeness in terms of our intellect and will. Therefore we must discover the rules God has made for us because he made us and he who makes a thing makes the laws that govern that thing. Wrap up by developing a thesis to explain what the fact of our created status means we ought to do. Make the following chart on the board. What we ought to do in Fact response to this fact We are made in the Image and This means we ought to….. likeness of God © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 5 Day Two Lesson Plan HS What Is Law? Materials Warm-Up 10 minutes ӹ Holy Bible A. What is a law? Write on the board: St. Thomas ӹ Catechism of the Catholic Aquinas says a “law is a rule and measure of acts, Church whereby man is induced to act or is restrained from acting.” ӹ Handout D: The Four Laws B. Discuss the concept of laws as rules that impel us to act or to restrain from acting. C. Are there different kinds of laws? Answer: Yes, eternal law, divine law, natural law and human law. Activity 30 Minutes A. Write the following statement on the board and explain that this is what Aquinas says of human law: “A law is an ordinance of reason promulgated by the proper authority for the common good.” Dissect every word of this statement by Thomas Aquinas and quickly define each key word so that by mental eyes and hooks the students can see how these words are connected to point to a deeper understanding of the notion of a law. Use the Essential Vocabulary resource if needed. B. The Four Laws 1. Pass out Handout D: The Four Laws. If possible, project it onto the board using an overhead projector or a touchscreen. 2. Use the chart to define and make distinctions between the four kinds of laws as St. Thomas Aquinas explicates them. 6 © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 3. Draw students into a discussion about the relationship of the laws and notice that the human law is the only law that can be at variance with the perfect harmony of eternal, divine and natural. 4. Conclude that St. Thomas Aquinas points out that when human law is not in accord with the law written on our hearts, we have a responsibility not to follow it, as in the case of legalized abortion. That abortion is legal does not mean it is good. Wrap up 10 minutes Discuss other such laws that may not be in accord with natural law. Try to determine whether or not we are free to obey the different types of laws. © SOPHIA INSTITUTE FOR TEACHERS 7 MS HS Day Three Lesson Plan What Is Freedom? Materials Background/Homework 15 minutes ӹ Holy Bible Have students write a brief reflection paper on the ӹ Catechism of the Catholic questions: What is Freedom? What does it mean to be Church free? Christ said “the truth will set you free.” What did He mean by that? ӹ Handout E: Jesus Christ’s Lesson on Freedom ӹ St. Thomas Aquinas, 5 minutes Summa Theologica, Warm-Up Question 90 — On The A. Freedom is a very misunderstood concept today. Essence of Law (optional) Point out that there are at least two different understandings of freedom: that of the world and that of the Church.

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