Scope & Sequence

CREdO SERiES ELECtivE iii:

Responding to the
Call of Jesus Christ
[Framework Elective D: Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ]
Note: The following is a provisional Scope and Sequence for
Elective 3 in the Credo series, Responding to the Call of Jesus Christ.

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COURSE Overview
The purpose of this course is to help
students to understand the vocations
of life: how Christ calls us to live. In this
course, students learn how all vocations
are similar and how they differ. The
course is structured around married life,
single life, priestly life, and consecrated
life. Students learn what it means to live
life for the benefit of others and the value
in considering a vocation in service to the
Christian community.
Chapter 1
The Universal Call to Holiness of Life
Content Summary:
What do all people most long for? /
God: source of our human longing
/ The covenant: the greatest love
relationship of all time / The choice
to respond is ours / A life of intimate
communion, or love, with God / God
calls every person to holiness of life /
The vocation to be an image of God /
Jesus Christ, “God–with–us”/ Becoming
like God: an impossible dream? / Grace:
a helping hand toward holiness / God’s
grace is everywhere / The principle of
sacramentality / The way of Jesus, the
way of God / Making a gift of ourselves
/ A vocation of your own / One’s
vocation is far more than a career /
Example of Jesuit Volunteer Corps.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:26-27;
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Leviticus 19:8
New Testament: Matthew 5:1-11 and
48, 6:19-24, 13:31-32, 22:36-40, 28:20;
Mark 12:28-34; Luke 10:25-28; John 14:6
and 25-26, 15:9-19; 1 Corinthians 12:4-
11; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 2:4-11;
Colossians 1:15 and 17; 2 Timothy 6:19;
Titus 3:6; 2 Peter 1:4; 1 John 4:7-12, 166
and 19
1
Key Catechism Sources:
27, 459, 460
Faith Word: vocation
Learn by Heart: 1 John 4:12
Learn by Example: Jesuit
Volunteer Corps.
Chapter 2
A Variety of Gifts, but the Same Spirit
Content Summary:
All of us must make big decisions
/ Discerning God’s will for us / The
Ignation Discernment / The laity: the
married life and the single life / called
to be lights in the world / There are a
variety of vocations / Discerning one’s
personal vocation / The vocation of
the lay faithful / The married life / The
committed single life / Living out the
lay vocation / Lay ecclesial ministries
/ Lay ecclesial movements / Falling in
love with God / Committed to God /
The Priestly life / The consecrated life,
or the religious life / It takes more than
one to make a successful team / Each
person’s vocation is personal but not
private / Example of Frank Duff.
Scripture References:
old testament: 1 Samuel 3:1-4:1
New Testament: Matthew 3:9,
5:13-16, 6:25-34, 8-20, 10:29-31;
Luke 9:58, 10:25-28; John 17:21; Acts
of the Apostles 6:1-7; Romans 5:5,
12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 11-13,
27-37; Galatians 5:12; Philippians 2:8;
Colossians 1:24
Faith Words: discernment; states
of life
Learn by Heart: 1 Corinthians
12:4-5
Learn by Example: Frank Duff,
Servant of God
Chapter 3
The Christian Life: An Unselfish Gift to
God and Others
Content Summary:
To serve or to be served? that is the
question / To serve is to be fully human
/ service—A source of true freedom
/ Choose your master wisely / The
new freedom to love / The sacraments
at the service of communion / The
parable of the long spoon / The
path to freedom and joy / Jesus
Christ: the sacrament of God / The
Church: the universal sacrament of
salvation / Sacraments at the service
of communion / undying love / “In
sickness and in health” / Marriage:
vocation to a life of self-sacrificing
love and service / Ordained to serve
/ Servants to all / Jesus: model of
humility and service / Forms of priestly
service—teaching, sanctifying and
guiding / Example of Maisie Ward and
Frank Sheed.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:26-27, 12:2
New Testament: Matthew 6:19-21,
28:20; Mark 10:45, 42-45; Luke 4:16-
21, 16:13; John 13:6-9, 35-36; Romans
6:16-18, 20-23; 1 Corinthians 13:4-7;
Galatians 5:1, 13b-14
Key Catechism Sources: 774,
1745
Faith Words: freedom; Sacraments
at the Service of Communion
Learn by Heart: Galatians 5:13b-
14
Learn by Example: Maisie Ward
and Frank Sheed
2
Chapter 4
The Biblical Theachings on Marriage: A
Lifelong Covenant of Love
Content Summary:
A closer look at marriage / Human
beings: united from the strait / God is
the author of marriage / Marriage in
the Old Testament / Not your typical
wedding day / Marriage—a sign of
God’s creative, saving and sanctifying
love / Adam and Eve / Abraham and
Sarah / Solomon / Tobias and Sarah
/ Marriage in the New Testament /
Jesus saves the day / Married love: an
expression of God’s love / The wedding
at Cana / The marriage of Mary and
Joseph / Let no one separate what God
has joined together / Jesus’ love for his
Church, the model for marriage / The
human body: A sacred gift from the
creator / It’s only instinct! or is it? / Our
bodies glorious destiny / Temples of
the Holy Spirit / Theology of the body
/ married forever / Example of Saints
Isidore and Maria Torribia.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:26-30,
2:46-9, 15 and 18-30, 3:1-24 and 20,
12:1-9, 17:15-16, 18:1-33; Leviticus 19:18;
Deuteronomy 6:4-5; 1 Kings 3:1-15, 11:1-
15; Tobit 6:10-18, 8:1-8
New Testament: Matthew 1:18-25,
11:29-30, 19:3-6, 8 and 11; Mark 8:34;
Luke 2:40 and 52; John 1:14, 2:1-11;
Ephesians 5:25, 28-33; 1 Corinthians
3:16, 6:15 and 19-20, 12:27, 15:20;
1 Timothy 3:16
Key Catechism Sources: 472,
1614, 1615, 1660
Faith Words: Marriage; Theology
of the Body
Learn by Heart: Matthew 19:6
Learn by Example: St. Isidore of
Seville and St. Maria Torribia
Chapter 5
Blessings and Challenges of Christian
Married Life
Content Summary:
Putting others first / A lifelong
covenant of love / The heart of
the marriage covenant / Signs of
Christ’s saving love in marriage /
Total self-giving love / Gos blesses
the world through marriage / Source
of true freedom and joy / A boost
to interpersonal relationships /
Respect for the dignity of all people /
A wellspring of blessings for church
and society / The gift of parenthood
/ The blessing of creating new life
/ Responsible parenting / Agape:
The foundation and dynamic of life
/ Challenges to Christian Marriage
and family life / When the romance
wears off / Real marital love is much
more than romance / Challenges to
committed love / Same-sex marriages
/ Fullness of life and true joy / Justice
and respect for all / Example of St.
Gianna Beretta Molla.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Genesis 1:28, 2:18 and
24
New Testament: Luke 1:74-75, 2:52;
Ephesians 5:21-6:4; 1 Corinthians 13:1-
8a; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Thessalonians
4:1-8; 1 Peter 3:1-7; 1 John 4:11-12, 16-18;
Revelation 19:9
Key Catechism Sources: 239,
1653, 1657, 2204, 2357
Faith Word: free unions
Learn by Heart: 1 John 4:11
Learn by Example: St Gianna
Beretta Molla
3
Chapter 6
Celebrating the Sacrament of Marriage
Content Summary:
The big day—The beginning of
a journey / A community affair /
Celebration of the rite of marriage
/ Elements of the marriage rite /
The questions / The consent and
exchange of promises / The blessing
and exchange of rings / Nuptial
blessing / Solemn blessing / Looking
for direction / Marriage involving
different faith traditions / Dealing with
differences / Permission to marry /
Ongoing community support / Good
preparation is key / More than a special
day / Remote preparation / Proximate
preparation / Preparing for adulthood
and married and family life / Preparing
for conjugal love and sexual intimacy /
Immediate preparation for marriage /
A not uncommon experience / Pre-
Cana marriage preparation / Planning
the size of one’s family / Natural Family
Planning / Artificial contraception /
Last but not least preparing for the
celebration / Example of Blessed Paul
VI.
Scripture References:
old Testament: Genesis 2:18-24; Tobit
7:9-10 and 11-15; Sons of Songs 2:8-10,
14, 16a; 8:6-7a
New Testament: Matthew 5:1-16, 7:21
and 24-29, 19:3-6, 22:35-40; Mark
10:6-9; John 2:1-11, 15:9-16, 17:20-26;
Romans 8:31b-35 and 37-39, 12:1-2 and
9-18, 15:1b-3a, 5-7 and 13; Colossians
3:12-17; Hebrews 13:1-4a and 5-6b;
1 Peter 3:1-9; 1 John 3:18-24, 4:7-12;
Revelation 19:1, 5-9a
Key Catechism Sources: 1535,
1634
Faith Words: mixed marriage;
disparity of cult
Learn by Heart: Words from St.
John XXIII
Learn by Example: Blessed Pope
Paul VI
Chapter 7
Christian Marriage in Today’s World
Content Summary:
What challenges does a Christian
marriage face today? / What new?
What next? / When the wedding
day is over / The graces of marriage
/ A vocation to the everyday / The
Sacramental graces of matrimony
/ An irresistible moment / Forever
transformed in unselfish love / The
grace to love as Christ loves / The grace
to sanctify / The grace to parent / The
grace to witness / Saving the day /
Challenges to marriage and family life
/ Challenges from within / Divorce,
annulment and remarriage / A short-
term contract / Guidance for marital
difficulties / The indissolubility of
marriage / Separation and civil divorce
/ declaration of nullity, or annulment
/ Catholics who remarry without a
declaration of nullity / Example of St.
Philip Howard.
Scripture References:
New Testament: Matthew 5:14-
16, 19:1-9; Mark 10:1-12; Acts of the
Apostles 11:14, 16:31, 18:8; Romans
15:2-6
Key Catechism Sources: 1639,
1655, 1656, 2383
Faith Words: annulment, divorce
Learn by Heart: Statement from
‘Pastoral Constitution on the Church in
the Modern World’, no. 48
Learn by Example: St. Philip
Howard
4
Chapter 8
The Christian Single Life
Content Summary:
The changing face of marriage / The
Christian single life / Jesus: a model
for living as a Christian single person
/ Love of another sort / God-centered
love / The shape of the Christian single
life / The ultimate sacrifice / The value
of the single life / Chastity and celibacy
or virginity / The witness of the single
life / Serving the church through
the single life / A source for joy and
fullness of life / Challenges to living the
single life / Flying high, falling short
/ What do you live for? / Developing
personal identity / Relationships: The
longing for intimacy / Meaningful
work: In the service of our vocation /
Striving for holiness and wholeness
of life / Discerning one’s vocation to
the committed single life / Example of
Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati.
Scripture References:
New Testament: Matthew 9:11-12,
10:37-40 and 42, 12:48b-50, 19:11-12;
Mark 1:14-15; Luke 4:14-21, 18:29-30;
John 13:34-35, 19:25b-27; 1 Corinthians
7:32-35, 13:4-8a, 13; Philippians 2:1-13;
1 John 4:7-16
Faith Words: committed single
life, single life
Learn by Heart: Luke 18:29-30
Learn by Example: Blessed Pier
Giorgio Frassati
Chapter 9
Ordained to Serve the Communion of
the Church
Content Summary:
What makes a good and effective
leader? / Leadership in action / Jesus
chooses his Church’s first leaders /
Jesus institutes the sacrament of Holy
Orders / Servant leadership—no easy
calling / A church in need of servant
leaders / Marian House soup kitchen
/ Heal the wounds! Warm the hearts!
/ Church as sacrament of God’s reign
/ Women and men served the early
church / Functions of ministry in the
church / A growing church in need of
servant leaders / Deacons as ministers
of God’s compassion and justice /
We’re all in this together / The origin
of the order of deacons / Laying on
of hands / Qualities of a deacon /
Transitional and permanent deacons:
ordained to serve / ministers of justice
/ ministers of compassion / The duties
of deacons: worship, word and works /
Rite of Ordination of a deacon / Effects
of the sacrament / Proclaiming the
Gospel always and with joy / Example
of St. Ephrem.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: Isaiah 42:1-7, 49:1-6,
50:4-11, 52:13-53:12
New Testament: Matthew 23:1-12,
25:31-46, 28:16-20; Mark 1:16-20, 6:7-
13, 10:41-45, 15:40-41; Luke 6:12-16,
22:24-30; John 11:1-44, 13:1-16; Acts
1:12-14, 2:1-4 and 14-36, 6:1-7, 16:14-
15; Romans 12:3-8; Ephesians 6:21;
Philippians 1:1; Colossians 4:7;
1 Timothy 3:8-10 and 12-13, 4:11-16
Key Catechism Sources: 1549,
1570, 1585
5
Faith WorDs: Holy Orders;
deacons; laying on of hands
Learn by Heart: Mark 9:35
Learn by Example: St. Ephrem
Chapter 10
The Ministry of Bishops and Priests
Content Summary:
A closer look at Holy Thursday /
Bishops shepherd the flock of Christ
/ Bishops successors of the Apostles /
Habemus Papam / Origin of the order
of bishops / The office and duties of a
bishop / The college of bishops / The
selection of a priest to the order of
bishops / consecration, or ordination,
of bishops / A journey towards
priestly ordination / co-workers with
bishops / nurturing priestly vocations
/ preparing for ordination / Rite of
ordination of priests / The effects
of the sacrament / The priestly life /
Washing of the feet / Holiness of life /
Diocesan priests and religious institute
priests / Ministers of the word and
sacraments / Embracing the priestly
promises / The evangelical counsels
/ Healing the wounds of the world /
Example of Terence Cardinal Cooke.
Scripture References:
New Testament: Matthew 22:1-14,
25:1-3; Mark 2:19, 10:42-45; Luke 10:2,
22:19; John 3:29, 10:1-18 and 14-15,
13:1-17, 21:15-19; Acts of the Apostles
6:7, 11:1-18, 12:24; 1 Corinthians 6:15-17;
2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 3:1-7; 2
Timothy 3:10-12 and 14; Hebews 4:14,
5:10, 6:20, 13:15; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation
1:6, 5:9-10
Key Catechism Sources: 611,
893, 894, 1548, 1550, 1557, 1581, 1585,
1595
Faith WorDs: bishop; college of
bishops; priest
Learn by Heart: Mark 10:43, 45
Learn by Example: Terence
Cardinal Cooke
Chapter 11
The Consecrated Life
Content Summary:
From rags to riches / Fully alive and
free—surrendering one’s life to God
/ Detachment / The evangelical
counsels / Forms of the consecrated
life / Learning Jesus’ friend Mary /
The consecrated life / A sign of the
mystery of redemption / The eremitical
life: the vocation of the hermit /
The contemplative way of life / The
monastic and apostolic religious life
/ Going on retreat / Monastic life /
Monastries as centters of Christian life
/ Moving outside the monastery walls /
Societies of apostolic life / Witnessing
to the love of God / Consecrated
virgins / Consecrated widows / Secular
institutes / The universal call to the
Gospel Life / Example of the Virgin
Mary.
Scripture References:
New Testament: Matthew 4:1-11, 5:48,
6:24b, 19:16-22 and 27; Luke 1:26-38,
7:11-17, 10:38-42, 12:13-29 and 31, 18:24-
25; Philippians 2:5; Colossians 3:1-4;
1 Timothy 5:3, 5, 9-10 and 16;
Revelation 14:4
Key Catechism Sources: 915,
920, 921, 926, 932, 1030, 2547, 2709
Faith Words: Consecrated life,
evangelical counsels
Learn by Heart: Matthew 19:21
Learn by Example: Blessed Virgin
Mary
6
Chapter 12
Lay Ecclesial Ministry
Content Summary:
Serving through leading / Lay leaders
serving the chosen people of God /
Lay leaders of the new people of God
/ Serving all people in the name of
Christ / The Church, the sacrament
of Christ’s action / Addressing the
needs of the times / Led by the spirit
of Christ / Lay pastoral leadership /
Called and gifted to serve / Emergence
of lay ecclesial ministries / The
sacramental foundation of lay ecclesial
ministry / Service to the Church /
Collaborators and co-workers with
the hierarchy / Lay ecclesial ministers
and lay volunteers / Discerning a call
to lay ecclesial ministry / Envisioning
your future / Example of the National
Association for Lay Ministry.
Learn by Example: The National
Association of Lay Ministry.
Scripture References:
Old Testament: 1 Samuel 3:2-10;
Jeremiah 8:8
New Testament: Matthew 7:29, 9:3
and 35-38, 12:38, 21:15, 28:16-20; Mark
2:16, 3:22, 11:27; Luke 6:7, 10:2, 11:53;
John 1:38 and 49, 3:2, 6:25 and 51; Acts
of the Apostles 7:54-58, 11:19-21, 18:26,
Romans 16:1-16; 1 Corinthians 9:16,
12:1-31; Ephesians 4:12; Philippians 4:3;
1 Peter 3:15
Key Catechism Sources: 898-
899, 900, 1118
Faith Word: lay ecclesial ministry,
lay ecclesial ministers
Learn by Heart: Matthew 9:37-38
Learn by Example: The National
Association for Lay Ministry (NALM)
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