High School Religion Level 5 Year 1 Course

Course Description

The student becomes familiar with the Catholic faith through Scripture, the encyclical Deus Caritas Est, formative readings in the faith from the early church (Clement, St. Justin Martyr, St. Irenaeus, St. Athanasius, and St. Augustine, for example), and more modern spiritual books.

Books and Resources

Mater Amabilis participates in affiliate programs with Amazon and Living Book Press.

Readings from Scripture – three times weekly following the schedule of the 365 Day Reading Plan for The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

• Optional resources:
  • The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume I: Days 1-120 [Amaz][Publisher]

Encyclical – Deus Caritas Est, Pope Benedict XVI [Amaz][Vatican]

Religion History Readings – Mater Amabilis Religion Readings Volume 1: The Early Church [Google doc]

• one reading each week
• estimated reading time 20-25 minutes

Spiritual Reading – Choose one of the following books or another one of interest. We encourage spiritual reading to be done during a time of prayer or at adoration.

• The Confessions, St. Augustine [Amaz]
• The Creed in Slow Motion, Knox [Amaz]
• Talking with God, Fenelon [Amaz]

Lesson plans

All readings are narrated, orally or in writing. If the reading load seems heavy on top of other reading in your student’s day, it’s all right to move all religion to a “devotional reading” slot in the day, and to encourage the student to approach it in the spirit of Lectio Divina, asking the Holy Spirit to direct this reading, and writing down what stands out. In other words, this subject may be approached in the spirit of growth in the Christian life, rather than as a purely academic subject, though parents will still want to ask for narrations.

The student is also encouraged to keep a commonplace book, in which to copy out any passages which particularly stand out. The student is also encouraged to commit favorite psalms and other scripture passages to memory.

TERM 1

Week 1
Day 1: Genesis 1-2, Psalm 19 (podcast day 1)
Day 2: Religion Readings Week 1: The Didache
Day 3: Genesis 3-4, Psalm 104 (podcast day 2)
Day 4: Deus Caritas Est Introduction
Day 5: Genesis 5-6, Psalm 136 (podcast day 3)

Week 2
Day 6: Genesis 7-9, Psalm 1 (pod day 4)
Day 7: Religion Readings Week 2: Clement, Letter to Corinthians (First Clement) (Part One)
Day 8: Genesis 10-11, Psalm 2 (pod day 5)
Day 9: Deus Caritas Est articles 2-8
Day 10: Genesis 12-13, Job 1-2, Proverbs 1:1-7 (pod day 6)

Week 3
Day 11: Genesis 14-15, Job 3-4, Proverbs 1:8-19 (day 7)
Day 12: Religion Readings Week 3: Clement, Letter to Corinthians (First Clement) (Part Two)
Day 13: Genesis 16-17, Job 5-6, Proverbs 1:20-33 (day 8)
Day 14: Deus Caritas Est articles 9-11
Day 15: Genesis 18-19, Job 7-8, Proverbs 2:1-5 (day 9)

Week 4
Day 16: Genesis 20-21, Job 9-10, Proverbs 2:6-8 (day 10)
Day 17: Religion Readings Week 4: Clement, Letter to Corinthians (First Clement) (Part Three)
Day 18: Genesis 22-23, Job 11-12, Proverbs 2:9-15 (day 11)
Day 19: Deus Caritas Est articles 12-15
Day 20: Genesis 24, Job 13-14, Proverbs 2:16-19 (day 12)

Week 5
Day 21: Genesis 25-26, Job 15-16, Proverbs 2:20-22 (day 13)
Day 22: Religion Readings Week 5: The Martyrdom of Polycarp
Day 23: Genesis 27-28, Job 17-18, Proverbs 3:1-4 (day 14)
Day 24: Deus Caritas Est articles 16-18
Day 25: Genesis 29-30, Job 19-20, Proverbs 3:5-8 (day 15)

Week 6
Day 26: Genesis 31-32, Job 21-22, Proverbs 3:9-12 (day 16)
Day 27: Religion Readings Week 6: St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans
Day 28: Genesis 33-34, Job 23-24, Proverbs 3:13-18 (day 17)
Day 29: Deus Caritas Est articles 19-25
Day 30: Genesis 35-36, Job 25-26, Proverbs 3:19-24 (day 18)

Week 7
Day 31: Genesis 37, Job 27-28, Proverbs 3:25-27 (day 19)
Day 32: Religion Readings Week 7: St. Justin Martyr, First Apology (Part One)
Day 33: Genesis 38, Job 29-30, Proverbs 3:28-32 (day 20)
Day 34: Deus Caritas Est articles 26-29
Day 35: Genesis 39-40, Job 31-32, Proverbs 3:33-35 (day 21)

Week 8
Day 36: Genesis 41-42, Job 33-34, Proverbs 4:1-9 (day 22)
Day 37: Religion Readings Week 8: St. Justin Martyr, First Apology (Part Two)
Day 38: Genesis 43-44, Job 35-36, Proverbs 4:10-19 (day 23)
Day 39: Deus Caritas Est articles 30-31
Day 40: Genesis 45-46, Job 37-38, Proverbs 4:20-27 (day 24)

Week 9
Day 41: Genesis 47-48, Job 39-40, Psalm 16 (day 25)
Day 42: Religion Readings Week 9: St. Justin Martyr, First Apology (Part Three)
Day 43: Genesis 49-50, Job 41-42, Psalm 17 (day 26)
Day 44: Deus Caritas Est articles 32-39
Day 45: Exodus 1-2, Leviticus 1, Psalm 44 (day 27)

Week 10
Day 46: Exodus 3, Leviticus 2-3, Psalm 45 (day 28)
Day 47: Religion Readings Week 10: St. Justin Martyr, First Apology (Part Four)
Day 48: Exodus 4-5, Leviticus 4, Psalm 46 (day 29)
Day 49:Deus Caritas Est Conclusion
Day 50: Exodus 6-7, Leviticus 5, Psalm 47 (day 30)

Week 11
Day 51: Exodus 8, Leviticus 6, Psalm 48 (day 31)
Day 52: Religion Readings Week 11: Make-up
Day 53: Exodus 9, Leviticus 7, Psalm 49 (day 32)
Day 54: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 55: Exodus 10-11, Leviticus 8, Psalm 50 (day 33)

WEEK 12: DAYS 56-60 MAKE-UP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. Tell what you have learned about the Patriarchs or the Exodus.
2. What most stands out to you in Pope Benedict XVI’s message in Deus Caritas Est?
3. Which Early Church Father would you most like to spend time with, and why?
4. What issues seem most pressing in the life and conversation of the Early Church?
5. Write your favorite Psalm from memory.
6. What have you learned from your spiritual reading this term?

TERM 2

Week 13
Day 61: Exodus 12, Leviticus 9, Psalm 114 (day 34)
Day 62: Religion Readings Week 13: St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Selections) (Part One)
Day 63: Exodus 13-14, Leviticus 10, Psalm 53 (day 35)
Day 64: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 65: Exodus 15-16, Leviticus 11, Psalm 71 (day 36)

Week 14
Day 66: Exodus 17-18, Leviticus 12, Psalm 73 (day 37)
Day 67: Religion Readings Week 14: St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Selections) (Part Two)
Day 68: Exodus 19-20, Leviticus 13, Psalm 74 (day 38)
Day 69: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 70: Exodus 21, Leviticus 14, Psalm 75 (day 39)

Week 15
Day 71: Exodus 22, Leviticus 15, Psalm 76 (day 40)
Day 72: Religion Readings Week 15: St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Selections) (Part Three)
Day 73: Exodus 23, Leviticus 16, Psalm 77 (day 41)
Day 74: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 75: Exodus 24, Leviticus 17-18, Psalm 78 (day 42)

Week 16
Day 76: Exodus 25-26, Leviticus 19, Psalm 79 (day 43)
Day 77: Religion Readings Week 16: St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies (Selections) (Part Four)
Day 78: Exodus 27-28, Leviticus 20, Psalm 119:1-88 (day 44)
Day 79: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 80: Exodus 29, Leviticus 21, Psalm 119:89-176 (day 45)

Week 17
Day 81: Exodus 30-31, Leviticus 22, Psalm 115 (day 46)
Day 82: Religion Readings Week 17: St. Athanasius, Life of St. Anthony (Part One)
Day 83: Exodus 32, Leviticus 23, Psalm 80 (day 47)
Day 84: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 85: Exodus 33-34, Leviticus 24, Psalm 81 (day 48)

Week 18
Day 86: Exodus 35-36, Leviticus 25, Psalm 82 (day 49)
Day 87: Religion Readings Week 18: St. Athanasius, Life of St. Anthony (Part Two)
Day 88: Exodus 37-38, Leviticus 26, Psalm 83 (day 50)
Day 89: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 90: Exodus 39-40, Leviticus 27, Psalm 84 (day 51)

Week 19
Day 91: Numbers 1, Deuteronomy 1, Psalm 85 (day 52)
Day 92: Religion Readings Week 19: 18: St. Athanasius, Life of St. Anthony (Part Three)
Day 93: Numbers 2, Deuteronomy 2, Psalm 87 (day 53)
Day 94: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 95: Numbers 3, Deuteronomy 3, Psalm 88 (day 54)

Week 20
Day 96: Numbers 4, Deuteronomy 4, Psalm 89 (day 55)
Day 97: Religion Readings Week 20: St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation (Selections) (Part One)
Day 98: Numbers 5, Deuteronomy 5, Psalm 90 (day 56)
Day 99: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 100: Numbers 6, Deuteronomy 6, Psalm 91 (day 57)

Week 21
Day 101: Numbers 7, Deuteronomy 7, Psalm 92 (day 58)
Day 102: Religion Readings Week 21: St. Athanasius, On the Incarnation (Selections) (Part Two)
Day 103: Numbers 8-9, Deuteronomy 8, Psalm 93 (day 59)
Day 104: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 105: Numbers 10, Deuteronomy 9, Psalm 10 (day 60)

Week 22
Day 106: Numbers 11, Deuteronomy 10, Psalm 33 (day 61)
Day 107: Religion Readings Week 22: St. Basil, Hexaemeron (Homily 1)
Day 108: Numbers 12-13, Deuteronomy 11, Psalm 94 (day 62)
Day 109: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 110: Numbers 14, Deuteronomy 12, Psalm 95 (day 63)

Week 23
Day 111: Numbers 15, Deuteronomy 13-14, Psalm 96 (day 64)
Day 112: Religion Readings Week 23: Make-up
Day 113: Numbers 16, Deuteronomy 15-16, Psalm 97 (day 65)
Day 114: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 115: Numbers 17, Deuteronomy 17-18, Psalm 98 (day 66)

WEEK 24: MAKE-UP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. Describe some of the laws God gave to the Israelites.
2. Tell what you have learned so far about the Desert Wanderings.
3. What is the benefit of listening to the Bible in a Year podcast or using the Companion book?
4. What have you learned from reading from St. Irenaeus, St. Athanasius, and St. Basil this term?
5. Write another favorite Psalm from memory.
6. What have you learned from your spiritual reading this term?

TERM 3

Week 25
Day 121: Numbers 18, Deuteronomy 19-20, Psalm 99 (day 67)
Day 122: Religion Readings Week 25: St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses (Part One)
Day 123: Numbers 19-20, Deuteronomy 21, Psalm 100 (day 68)
Day 124: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 125: Numbers 21, Deuteronomy 22, Psalm 102 (day 69)

Week 26
Day 126: Numbers 22, Deuteronomy 23, Psalm 105 (day 70)
Day 127: Religion Readings Week 26: St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses (Part Two)
Day 128: Numbers 23, Deuteronomy 24-25, Psalm 106 (day 71)
Day 129: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 130: Numbers 24-25, Deuteronomy 26, Psalm 107 (day 72)

Week 27
Day 131: Numbers 26, Deuteronomy 27, Psalm 111 (day 73)
Day 132: Religion Readings Week 27: St. Gregory of Nyssa, The Life of Moses (Part Three)
Day 133: Numbers 27-28, Deuteronomy 28, Psalm 112 (day 74)
Day 134: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 135: Numbers 29-30, Deuteronomy 29, Psalm 113 (day 75)

Week 28
Day 136: Numbers 31, Deuteronomy 30, Psalm 116 (day 76)
Day 137: Religion Readings Week 28: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Lectures (Part One)
Day 138: Numbers 32, Deuteronomy 31, Psalm 117 (day 77)
Day 139: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 140: Numbers 33, Deuteronomy 32, Psalm 118 (day 78)

Week 29
Day 141: Numbers 34, Deuteronomy 33, Psalm 120 (day 79)
Day 142: Religion Readings Week 29: St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Lectures (Part Two)
Day 143: Numbers 35-36, Deuteronomy 34, Psalm 121 (day 80)
Day 144: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 145: Joshua 1-4, Psalm 123 (day 81)

Week 30
Day 146: Joshua 5-7, Psalm 125 (day 82)
Day 147: Religion Readings Week 30: Tertullian, Selections
Day 148: Joshua 8-9, Psalm 126 (day 83)
Day 149: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 150: Joshua 10-11, Psalm 128 (day 84)

Week 31
Day 151: Joshua 12-14, Psalm 129 (day 85)
Day 152: Religion Readings Week 31: St. Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Selections) (Part One)
Day 153: Joshua 15-18, Psalm 130 (day 86)
Day 154: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 155: Joshua 19-21, Psalm 131 (day 87)

Week 32
Day 156: Joshua 22-24, Psalm 132 (day 88)
Day 157: Religion Readings Week 32: St. Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Selections) (Part Two)
Day 158: Judges 1-3, Ruth 1, Psalm 133 (day 89)
Day 159: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 160: Judges 4-5, Ruth 2, Psalm 134 (day 90)

Week 33
Day 161: Judges 6-8, Ruth 3, Psalm 135 (day 91)
Day 162: Religion Readings Week 33: St. Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Selections) (Part Three)
Day 163: Judges 9-11, Ruth 4, Psalm 137 (day 92)
Day 164: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 165: Judges 12-15, Psalm 148 (day 93)

Week 34
Day 166: Judges 16-18, Psalm 147 (day 94)
Day 167: Religion Readings Week 34: St. Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Selections) (Part Four)
Day 168: Judges 19-21, Psalm 148 (day 95)
Day 169: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 170: 1 Samuel 1-2, Psalm 149 (day 96)

Week 35
Day 171: 1 Samuel 3-5, Psalm 150 (day 97)
Day 172: Religion Readings Week 35: St. Augustine, The Enchiridion on Faith, Hope, and Love (Selections) (Part Five)
Day 173: 1  Samuel 6-8, Psalm 86 (day 98)
Day 174: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 175: Make-up

WEEK 36: MAKE-UP/EXAM WEEK

Examination questions for exam week
To be answered as short in-class essays, taking roughly 30-45 minutes each.
The student will choose four of the questions to answer.

1. Why do you think it was so important for preachers and theologians in the Early Church to preach and write on the Resurrection?
2. Explain how God’s Chosen People in the Old Testament deal with hardship and doubt, but also with faith and trust.
3. Tell what you have learned about the time of the Conquest and Judges.
4. Describe some of the writings of St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Tertullian, or St. Augustine.
5. Tell of your favorite Biblical event you read this year.
6. What have you learned from your spiritual reading this term?