High School Religion Level 6 Year 1 Course

Course Description

The student becomes familiar with the Catholic faith through Scripture, the encyclical Laudato Si’, formative readings in the faith, and more modern spiritual books. Primary source readings by the saints and prominent religious figures from the Reformation (Martin Luther and John Calvin) and Counter-Reformation (such as St. Robert Bellarmine and St. Teresa of Avila) are an integral part of the course. The student will also consider the events and ramifications of Galileo’s trial.

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 II: Days 121-253 [Amaz][Publisher]
  • The Bible in a Year Companion, Volume III: Days 244-365 [Amaz][Publisher]

Encyclical – Laudato Si’, Pope Francis [Amaz][Vatican]

Religion History Readings – Mater Amabilis Religion Readings Volume 3: The Reformation and Counter-Reformation [Google doc]

• one reading each week
• estimated reading time 30-35 minutes
• You will need this book in addition to the Religion Readings document:
  • The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself, St. Teresa [Amaz][Internet Archive][PDF]

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.

• Seek That Which Is Above, Ratzinger [Amaz]
• The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola [Amaz]
• The Interior Castle, St. Teresa of Avila [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: 2 Kings 18, 2 Chronicles 29, Psalm 141 (podcast day 184)
Day 2: Religion Readings Week 1: Martin Luther, Letter to Pope Leo X
Day 3: 2 Kings 19, 2 Chronicles 30, Psalm 143 (podcast day 185)
Day 4: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 1-16
Day 5: 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 31, Psalm 144 (podcast day 186)

Week 2
Day 6: 2 Kings 21, 2 Chronicles 32, Psalm 145 (podcast day 187)
Day 7: Religion Readings Week 2: Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty (Part One)
Day 8: 2 Kings 22, 2 Chronicles 33, Proverbs 7 (pod day 188)
Day 9: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 17-42
Day 10: 2 Kings 23, 2 Chronicles 34, Proverbs 8:1-21 (pod day 189)

Week 3
Day 11: 2 Kings 24, 2 Chronicles 35, Proverbs 8:22-36 (day 190)
Day 12: Religion Readings Week 3: Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty (Part Two)
Day 13: 2 Kings 25, 2 Chronicles 36, Proverbs 9:1-6 (day 191)
Day 14: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 43-61
Day 15: Isaiah 1-2, Tobit 1-2, Proverbs 9:7-12 (day 192)

Week 4
Day 16: Isaiah 3-4, Tobit 3-4, Proverbs 9:13-18 (day 193)
Day 17: Religion Readings Week 4: Martin Luther, Concerning Christian Liberty (Part Three)
Day 18: Isaiah 5-9, Tobit 5-6, Proverbs 10:1-4 (day 194)
Day 19: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 62-83
Day 20: Isaiah 7-8, Tobit 7-9, Proverbs 10:5-8 (day 195)

Week 5
Day 21: Isaiah 9-10, Tobit 10-12, Proverbs 10:9-12 (day 196)
Day 22: Religion Readings Week 5: Augsburg Confession (Part One)
Day 23: Isaiah 11-13, Tobit 13-14, Proverbs 10:13-16 (day 197)
Day 24: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 84-100
Day 25: Isaiah 14-15, Joel 1-2, Proverbs 10:17-20 (day 198)

Week 6
Day 26: Isaiah 16-17, Joel 3, Proverbs 10:21-24 (day 199)
Day 27: Religion Readings Week 6: Augsburg Confession (Part Two)
Day 28: Isaiah 18-20, Nahum 1-2, Proverbs 10:25-28 (day 200)
Day 29: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 101-114
Day 30: Isaiah 21-22, Nahum 3, Proverbs 10:29-32 (day 201)

Week 7
Day 31: Isaiah 23-24, Habakkuk 1-2, Proverbs 11:1-4 (day 202)
Day 32: Religion Readings Week 7: Augsburg Confession (Part Three)
Day 33: Isaiah 25-27, Habakkuk 3, Proverbs 11:5-8 (day 203)
Day 34: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 115-136
Day 35: Isaiah 28-29, Zephaniah 1-2, Proverbs 11:9-12 (day 204)

Week 8
Day 36: Isaiah 30-31, Zephaniah 3, Proverbs 11:13-16 (day 205)
Day 37: Religion Readings Week 8: Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Selections) (Part One)
Day 38: Isaiah 32-33, Baruch 1-2, Proverbs 11:17-20 (day 206)
Day 39: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 137-146
Day 40: Isaiah 34-36, Baruch 3-4, Proverbs 11:21-24 (day 207)

Week 9
Day 41: Isaiah 37-38, Baruch 5-6, Proverbs 11:25-28 (day 208)
Day 42: Religion Readings Week 9: Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Selections) (Part Two)
Day 43: Isaiah 39-40, Ezekiel 1, Proverbs 11:29-31 (day 209)
Day 44: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 147-162
Day 45: Isaiah 41-42, Ezekiel 2-3, Proverbs 12:1-4 (day 210)

Week 10
Day 46: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 163-181
Day 47: Religion Readings Week 10: Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Selections) (Part Three)
Day 48: Isaiah 43-44, Ezekiel 4-5, Proverbs 12:5-8 (day 211)
Day 49: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 182-201
Day 50: Isaiah 45-46, Ezekiel 6-7, Proverbs 12:9-12 (day 212)

Week 11
Day 51: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 202-221
Day 52: Religion Readings Week 11: Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion (Selections) (Part Four)
Day 53: Isaiah 47-48, Ezekiel 8-9, Proverbs 12:13-16 (day 213)
Day 54: Laudato Si’ paragraphs 222-246
Day 55: Isaiah 49-50, Ezekiel 10-11, Proverbs 12:17-20 (day 214)

WEEK 12: DAYS 56-60 MAKEUP/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 Martin Luther or John Calvin.
2. What are areas of agreement and disagreement between our Catholic faith and that outlined in the Augsburg Confession?
3. Describe the events of the Exile you have read so far this year in the Bible.
4. What is the heart of Pope Francis’s message in Laudato Si’?
5. Tell something you have learned from your Bible reading this term.

TERM 2

Week 13
Day 61: Isaiah 51-52, Ezekiel 12-13, Proverbs 12:21-24 (day 215)
Day 62: Religion Readings Week 13: Council of Trent (Part One)
Day 63: Isaiah 53-54, Ezekiel 14-15, Proverbs 12:25-28 (day 216)
Day 64: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 65: Isaiah 55-56, Ezekiel 16, Proverbs 13:1-4 (day 217)

Week 14
Day 66: Isaiah 57-58, Ezekiel 17-18, Proverbs 13:5-8 (day 218)
Day 67: Religion Readings Week 14: Council of Trent (Part Two)
Day 68: Isaiah 59-60, Ezekiel 19, Proverbs 13:9-12 (day 219)
Day 69: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 70: Isaiah 61-62, Ezekiel 20, Proverbs 13:13-16 (day 220)

Week 15
Day 71: Isaiah 63-64, Ezekiel 21-22, Proverbs 13:17-20 (day 221)
Day 72: Religion Readings Week 15: Council of Trent (Part Three)
Day 73: Isaiah 65, Ezekiel 23-24, Proverbs 13:21-25 (day 222)
Day 74: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 75: Isaiah 66, Ezekiel 25-26, Proverbs 14:1-4 (day 223)

Week 16
Day 76: Jeremiah 1, Ezekiel 27, Proverbs 14:5-8 (day 224)
Day 77: Religion Readings Week 16: Council of Trent (Part Four)
Day 78: Jeremiah 2, Ezekiel 28, Proverbs 14:9-12 (day 225)
Day 79: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 80: Jeremiah 3, Ezekiel 29-30, Proverbs 14:13-16 (day 226)

Week 17
Day 81: Jeremiah 4, Ezekiel 31-32, Proverbs 14:17-20 (day 227)
Day 82: Religion Readings Week 17: Council of Trent (Part Five)
Day 83: Jeremiah 5, Ezekiel 33, Proverbs 14:21-24 (day 228)
Day 84: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 85: Jeremiah 6, Ezekiel 34-35, Proverbs 14:25-28 (day 229)

Week 18
Day 86: Jeremiah 7, Ezekiel 36, Proverbs 14:29-32 (day 230)
Day 87: Religion Readings Week 18: Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
Day 88: Jeremiah 8, Ezekiel 37-38, Proverbs 14:33-35 (day 231)
Day 89: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 90: Jeremiah 9, Ezekiel 39, Proverbs 15:1-4 (day 232)

Week 19
Day 91: Jeremiah 10-11, Ezekiel 40, Proverbs 15:5-8 (day 233)
Day 92: Religion Readings Week 19: St. Ignatius of Loyola, Letters
Day 93: Jeremiah 12-13, Ezekiel 41-42, Proverbs 15:9-12 (day 234)
Day 94: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 95: Jeremiah 14-15, Ezekiel 43-44, Proverbs 15:13-16 (day 235)

Week 20
Day 96: Jeremiah 16-17, Ezekiel 45-46, Proverbs 15:17-20 (day 236)
Day 97: Religion Readings Week 20: St. Thomas More, Selections
Day 98: Jeremiah 18-19, Ezekiel 47-48, Proverbs 15:21-24 (day 237)
Day 99: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 100: Jeremiah 20-21, Daniel 1-2, Proverbs 15:25-28 (day 238)

Week 21
Day 101: Jeremiah 22, Daniel 3, Proverbs 15:29-33 (day 239)
Day 102: Religion Readings Week 21: The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Part One)
Day 103: Jeremiah 23, Daniel 4-5, Proverbs 16:1-4 (day 240)
Day 104: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 105: Jeremiah 24-25, Daniel 6-7, Proverbs 16:5-8 (day 241)

Week 22
Day 106: Jeremiah 26-27, Daniel 8-9, Proverbs 16:9-12 (day 242)
Day 107: Religion Readings Week 22: The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Part Two)
Day 108: Jeremiah 28-29, Daniel 10-11, Proverbs 16:13-16 (day 243)
Day 109: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 110: Jeremiah 30, Daniel 12-13, Proverbs 16:17-20 (day 244)

Week 23
Day 111: Jeremiah 31, Daniel 14, Proverbs 16:21-24 (day 245)
Day 112: Religion Readings Week 23: The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Part Three)
Day 113: Make-up
Day 114: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 115: Make-up

WEEK 24: MAKEUP/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. How did the Catholic Church respond to the Protestants at the Council of Trent?
2. Tell what you have learned about some of the Saints of this period: St. Ignagius of Loyola, St. Thomas More, or St. Teresa of Avila.
3. Tell what you have learned in your Old Testament readings this term.
4. Compare and contrast the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah or some of the ones you have read in your second reading this term.
5. Write some of your favorite Proverbs from memory.

TERM 3

Week 25
Day 121: Jeremiah 32, Judith 1-2, Proverbs 16:25-28 (day 246)
Day 122: Religion Readings Week 25: The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Part Four)
Day 123: Jeremiah 33-34, Judith 3-5, Proverbs 16:29-33 (day 247)
Day 124: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 125: Jeremiah 35-36, Judith 6-7, Proverbs 17:1-4 (day 248)

Week 26
Day 126: Jeremiah 37-38, Judith 8-9, Proverbs 17:5-8 (day 249)
Day 127: Religion Readings Week 26: The Life of Saint Teresa of Avila by Herself (Part Five)
Day 128: Jeremiah 39-40, Judith 10-11, Proverbs 17:9-12 (day 250)
Day 129: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 130: Jeremiah 41-42, Judith 12-14, Proverbs 17:13-16 (day 251)

Week 27
Day 131: Jeremiah 43-44, Judith 15-16, Proverbs 17:17-20 (day 252)
Day 132: Religion Readings Week 27: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part One)
Day 133: Jeremiah 45-46, Lamentations 1, Proverbs 17:21-24 (day 253)
Day 134: Jeremiah 47-48, Lamentations 2, Proverbs 18:1-4 (day 254)
Day 135: Jeremiah 49-50, Lamentations 3, Proverbs 18:5-8 (day 255)

Week 28
Day 136: Jeremiah 51, Lamentations 4-5, Proverbs 18:9-12 (day 256)
Day 137: Religion Readings Week 28: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part Two)
Day 138: Jeremiah 52, Obadiah 1, Proverbs 18:13-16 (day 257)
Day 139: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 140: Matthew 1-4, Proverbs 18:17-20 (day 258)

Week 29
Day 141: Matthew 5-7, Proverbs 18:21-24 (day 259)
Day 142: Religion Readings Week 29: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part Three)
Day 143: Matthew 8-10, Proverbs 19:1-4 (day 260)
Day 144: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 145: Matthew 11-13, Proverbs 19:5-8 (day 261)

Week 30
Day 146: Matthew 14-17, Proverbs 19:9-12 (day 262)
Day 147: Religion Readings Week 30: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part Four)
Day 148: Matthew 18-21, Proverbs 19:13-16 (day 263)
Day 149: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 150: Matthew 22-24, Proverbs 19:17-20 (day 264)

Week 31
Day 151: Matthew 25-29, Proverbs 19:21-24 (day 265)
Day 152: Religion Readings Week 31: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part Five)
Day 153: Matthew 27-28, Proverbs 19:25-29 (day 266)
Day 154: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 155: Ezra 1-2, Haggai 1-2, Proverbs 20:1-3 (day 267)

Week 32
Day 156: Ezra 3-4, Zechariah 1-3, Proverbs 20:4-7 (day 268)
Day 157: Religion Readings Week 32: St. Robert Bellarmine, The Art of Dying Well (Part Six)
Day 158: Ezra 5-6, Zechariah 4-6, Proverbs 20:8-11 (day 269)
Day 159: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 160: Ezra 7-8, Zechariah 7-8, Proverbs 20:12-15 (day 270)

Week 33
Day 161: Ezra 9-10, Zechariah 9-11, Proverbs 20:16-19 (day 271)
Day 162: Religion Readings Week 33: The Galileo Affair (Part One)
Day 163: Nehemiah 1-2, Zechariah 12-13, Proverbs 20:20-22 (day 272)
Day 164: Nehemiah 3, Zechariah 14, Proverbs 20:23-26 (day 273)
Day 165: Nehemiah 4-5, Esther 1-2, Proverbs 20:27-30 (day 274)

Week 34
Day 166: Nehemiah 6-7, Esther 3 and 13, Proverbs 21:1-4 (day 275)
Day 167: Religion Readings Week 34: The Galileo Affair (Part Two)
Day 168: Nehemiah 8, Esther 4 and 14, Proverbs 21:5-8 (day 276)
Day 169: Spiritual reading or make-up
Day 170: Nehemiah 9, Esther 15 and 6-7, Proverbs 21:9-12 (day 277)

Week 35
Day 171: Nehemiah 10, Esther 8 and 16, Proverbs 21:13-16 (day 278)
Day 172: Religion Readings Week 35: The Galileo Affair (Part Three)
Day 173: Nehemiah 11, Esther 9-10, Proverbs 21:17-20 (day 279)
Day 174: Nehemiah 12, Esther 10-12, Proverbs 21:121-24 (day 280)
Day 175: Nehemiah 13, Malachi 1-4, Proverbs 21:25-28 (day 281)

WEEK 36: MAKEUP/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. What does St. Robert Bellarmine advise to anyone who hopes to “die well”?
2. Tell what you have learned about the Galileo affair and the relationship between science and faith.
3. What do you know about the Gospel of Matthew?
4. Tell what you have learned about the Exile and the Return of the Israelites.
5. Write some more of your favorite Proverbs from memory.