Meeting Jesus in the Sacraments

(© 2010) The Subcommittee on the Catechism, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has found that this catechetical high school text is in conformity with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and fulfills the requirements of Core Course V of the Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework for the Development of Catechetical Materials for Young People of High School Age.

Meeting Jesus in the Sacraments reveals the sacraments as the definitive way that Jesus remains present to the Church and the world today. The text explores concrete ways for students to understand the sacraments, participate in their rites, and benefit from their graces.

The text is organized around the traditional definition of sacrament from the Catechism of the Catholic Church--an efficacious sign of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us by the work of the Holy Spirit. This definition is clarified by organizing the chapters around four dimensions of the sacrament: memorial, celebration, communion, and transformation.

Through regular placement of "For Reflection" panels and assignments that focus on deeper research, developing a personal and communal prayer life, and active transformation of self and society, this text allows students to come to know Jesus through participation in the sacraments and the grace of their effects. Selections from Catholic blogs and profiles of saints offer a practical application of the sacrament to teenagers.

Each chapter includes several special features:

• Panel activities that help the students foster total learning in hands (service), hearts (prayer), and mind (academic challenges).
• Review questions for each main section.
• Several Journal Assignments for deeper thought and reflection.
• Key vocabulary terms set off in margin panels.
• A Learn by Doing project for each chapter that provides a longer-term assignment.
• A Called to Prayer feature offering text from a prayer relevant to the chapter theme.