'Heritage' is a term with a definite meaning: what is inherited, from people in the past. But its meaning, though clear, is very broad. It can mean material wealth or privileges, ideas, buildings, history and more - anything we have not created or acquired by ourselves, from scratch.

Exploring Our Christian Heritage: We are the Body of Christ

We have a Christian heritage, a shared history that is similar to a family history.

Jesus is the True Vine, and Head of the Body of Christ

In your human family, you have grandparents and aunts and distant relatives.

Just as you are all members of a human family, you are also members of a Christian family.

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In the Church you have relations through faith. Together we are the Body of Christ.

children lighting Easter candles

St Andrew’s Cathedral, Glasgow

We pray when we turn our hearts and minds to God.

We can bring all the secrets of our hearts to God.

There is nothing in ourlives that we cannot bring to God in our prayer.

When we pray we are joiningWith the Community of Faith,The Body of Christ.

The saints are our relatives through Faith. Together we are the Body of Christ.We can ask for their help and advice, just as you can ask older, wiser relatives for help and advice. We call this intercession.

Why do we pray for the Holy Souls in November?

We say prayers, not only for those whom we knew and loved, but also for the "poor souls".

It is a great kindness to pray for the "poor souls" who may have no one else, no families, no children or grand-children to pray for them. This is an act of love that we can perform for them.

We remember all those who have died marked with the sign of faith.

We pray that they are at peace in the light and Love of God.

God our Father,Creator of all the living,

we entrust to Your gentle care all those we love who have gone before us;

and have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again.Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.

Studying the Saints:

The Communion of Saints

For homework, research the life of one of the Saints.Gather details that you can use in a mini drama in class.

In this way, we can teach each other about how the example of the Saints can helpus to draw closer to God.

The Body of Christ, the Church is made up of all the faithful, living and dead.

This is one of Sciaf’s Projects in Africa. How is this helping the Body of Christ ?

“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day.Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”- Proverb

Sciaf tries to help peopleTo become independent.

How does this build upthe Body of Christ ?

Discuss in a group of four and report back your thoughts and ideas to the class.

Come to me all who labour and are heavy burdened and I will give you rest. - Matthew 11:28-30

As members of the Body of Christ, we should help our brothers and sisters who are overburdened. How can we help ?

If someone asks you to walk one mile with them, go with them two miles. Matthew 5: 41

How can we be companions to fellow members of the Body ofChrist ? Look up the story of the journey to Emmaus in the Bible. In what ways does this story speak to us today ?

The Road to Emmaus

Two of the disciples, not of the twelve, were travelling to Emmaus. All their hopes for the arrival of God’s Kingdom were utterly dashed by Jesus’ death and their own lives were at risk for being his followers.

A stranger joined them as talked over their troubles. They did not recognise the stranger as Jesus. The stranger patiently taught the disciples from scripture as they walked along.

As the stranger broke bread with them, they recognised Him as the Risen Jesus.The disciples rushed back to Jerusalem to tell the others. Their hearts burned within them.

Christ has no body now on earth, but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which is to look out Christ’s compassion to the world.

Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good,and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

St Teresa of Avila

In Pairs, discuss what St Teresa means by this. List five ways In which we as Catholic Christians can show Christ’s Compassion to the world.

Record your ideas on post-its. We will place them on the RE walland compare notes with the rest of the class.

As the Body of Christ, we are connected to people all over the world.

Go to the website using

.

In pairs make a PowerPoint presentation giving examples of how young people can work to support members of the Body of Christ in other countries. Make 8 slides including text and pictures.

We will be choosing an advent charity activity for our class.Keep this in mind when you are doing your research andkeep notes of any good ideas on post - its !

We can turn tothe lives of

the saints and learn by their

example.

Today we will be learning about

St MargaretOf Scotland.

St Margaret of Scotland

Queen and Saint

St Margaret is one of the

Company of Saints

Our Faith teaches us that all members of the church,

in heaven or on earth, are inCommunion with each other,

as the Body of Christ.

In November, we pray especially for the Holy Souls, those who have died marked

with the sign of faith.

The saints arelike our older relatives in the Faith.

We can ask themfor advice and support.

After the Teacher in Role drama we will

pray to St Margaret of Scotland.

Dona nobis pacem pacemDona nobis pacem

Dona nobis pacemDona nobis pacem

Dona nobis nobis pacemDona nobis pacem

be self aware, develop and communicate their own beliefs and view of the world

live as independently as they can assess risk and take informed decisions

achieve success in different areas of activity think creatively and independently

learn independently and as part of a group make reasoned evaluations

link and apply different kinds of learning in new situations

understand different beliefs and cultures make informed decisions and choices

evaluate environmental, scientific and technological issues take the initiative and lead

apply critical thinking to new contexts develop informed,ethical views of complex issues

solve problems create and develop ideas

solve problemsAppendix 1

Nothing is more practical than finding God, that is, than falling in love in a quite absolute way. 

What you are in love with, what seizes your imagination, will affect everything. 

It will decide what will get you out of bed inthe morning, what you will do with your evenings,How you will spend your weekends, what you read, who you know, what breaks your heart and what amazes youwith joy and gratitude.

Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.

- Pedro Arrupe SJ

We learn to love by spending time with people, we learn to love God through prayer !