CATECHESIS MEETING – GOD'S COVENANT WITH HIS PEOPLE

Planning: See - judge - act method (The meeting was planned using the method
see-judge-act)

Opening Prayer

I saw the affliction of my people who are suffering in Egypt.

Why do people suffer?
Ask them to share about this question and then write it down on a piece of paper.
word that makes people suffer. After that, glue the papers outside the alliance.

JUDGE - Exodus 20, 1-4 Matthew 22:37

After the sharing of the Word of God, speak about the covenant that God made with Moses at
to deliver the ten commandments. God made a covenant of love with the people who walked
wandering, falling, sinning, fighting amongst themselves... (Any coincidence with us, people of
Contemporary God?) God wanted to walk with the people of Israel.

Question about what it means to wear a wedding ring. Fidelity, unity, and ...
commitment, isn't it? From the wedding ring, it's easier for them
understand what it means for God to make a covenant with the people.

It's good to talk about commandments such as:

PATHS TO HAPPINESS: The commandments are paths that will make us happy.
It doesn't mean that we won't have any more problems, that's not it. We will be happy because
God walks by our side, strengthens us, fills our hearts with love so that we can be
capable of loving and forgiving others.

SIGNS THAT INDICATE THE WAY: the commandments are like traffic signs that
they indicate to us which path to follow, which guides our journey. We walk alone,
without direction. The ten commandments guide our path.

IN SUMMARY:
The first three commandments refer to our relationship with God and the
others, to our relationship with others. A cross shows us these two
realities: the arms of the cross: it is the encounter with the other. The top part of the cross: us
connect with God. And in the midst of these two encounters, we also need to meet with
ourselves and take care of ourselves.

The ten commandments can be summed up in two: love God and love your neighbor as yourself.
God loves us. It is a generous measure of love. So, focus your planning on
love of God, of a God who wants to walk with us.
ACT
Question: What is the new perspective from this meeting? What are the changes that
What do we need to do in our lives? What are the small actions to live the commandments?

Go back to the sentences from the beginning of the meeting. We transformed these words that make us
suffer, and many times they distance us from God, in actions that can transform us into
better people and to infect the people we live with:

For example:
Rage - To have more patience
Rancor - Knowing how to forgive

Anxiety - To have hope

Celebrate
Ask: What is our response to God? Do we want to make this covenant with God as well?
Shall we say yes to God?

FINAL PRAYER
 CATECHESIS MEETING - THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF GOD'S LAW
How to explain the commandments: Let's explore some ways to explain to
the children in a way that they can understand and feel interested in fulfilling
the Commandments of God. In the society where we are governed by the laws of men,
it is also important to remember that, as Christians, we must be governed by the laws of
God's commandments, according to the Bible, are a set of instructions that God Himself gave.
Moses to bring them to us. It is important to explain to the children that the laws of
Gods are unbreakable, relying on their explanation, thus you will be
promoting good habits and values, strengthening them and helping them to create a devotion and
love for God.

OPENING PRAYER

The laws that God left us to know if we are following His will and this
we are obeying him, it is the TEN COMMANDMENTS.
The Ten Commandments can be found in the Bible, in chapter 20 of Exodus and in
chapter 5 of Deuteronomy.
What are the Ten Commandments?

Ask to put in order

1°) LOVE GOD ABOVE ALL THINGS
2°) DO NOT TAKE YOUR HOLY NAME IN VAIN
3°) OBSERVE SUNDAYS AND HOLIDAY REST
4°) HONOR FATHER AND MOTHER

5°) DO NOT KILL

6°) NOT SIN AGAINST CHASTITY
7°) DO NOT STEAL
8°) DO NOT RAISE FALSE WITNESS
9°) NOT DESIRING YOUR NEIGHBOR'S WIFE
THOU SHALT NOT COVET THY NEIGHBOR'S GOODS
To love God above all things.
God is one and must be placed above anything or anyone, loved.
how He loves you.” With Him, we have a full and happy life. Thanks to Him, you have a
good family and everything else.

To love God in our neighbor, through our brother. We must resemble Him.
and for that we have to;
To love everyone
To forgive everyone.
To serve everyone
And to exclude no one
God only asks for our love - Read Mt 22:34-40

Do not take your holy name in vain.

The second commandment tells us not to speak the name of God in vain, to explain in a
A delicate way to disrespect God is a very serious sin.
The name of God must always be mentioned with profound respect" remember that
God loves children very much, so they should not treat Him rudely.
Prohibits any improper use of the name of God.
Respect - consequence of love
Swearing using the name of God

03) Keep Sundays and holy days.

The third Commandment of God speaks of sanctifying a day for the Lord, the way most
easy to explain this Commandment to children is by giving an example (this tip is for the
country).
Sunday is a day dedicated to God and to rest from tasks.
Today we should go to church and enjoy family, always keeping in mind the image of God.

Honor your father and mother.

You must honor and respect your parents, in the same way that they respect you and
At this moment you can take advantage of the admiration that children feel
regarding their parents and that they must give back for everything they do for them.

Respect for parents

Obedience
Dialogue
Do not kill.
You should not bring any harm to your neighbor, you must take care of and protect others
as to oneself." It should be emphasized that this damage can be physical, moral, or psychological.

Only God has the right to take life

Abortion
Euthanasia
Suicide
Homicide

Do not sin against chastity.

You should not have intimacy with another person before marriage, because it goes against
the will of God.” Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, therefore we must respect
our body is of the next one.
Correct integration of sexuality in the person
Dating
To remain pure (body and soul)
Superficial relationships among young people

Do not steal.
You should not steal or take anything that is not yours.
what belongs to others is wrong, our goods must be acquired through work,
we can get them honestly or as a gift.
To appropriate what is not yours
Stealing peace

08) Do not bear false witness.

Do not bear false witness or lie, about yourself, about others and about
God.
You cannot lie, God does not like lies.” Jesus Himself said: “I am the
the way, the TRUTH and the life

Kill with the tongue.

Demoralize
Have mercy on your neighbor
When speaking, speak to the right person, ask for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus said: It is not what goes into the mouth that causes harm, but what comes out of the mouth.
09) Do not desire your neighbor's wife.
Respect the commitment of married people. Both spiritually and
sexually.
God will allow you to be happy whenever you have good things in your heart.
feelings". Explain the importance of not giving in to temptations, they are
ruins.
Respect for the commitments made by others
Marriage
The importance of family

10) Do not covet your neighbor's goods.

This Commandment tells us about the envy you feel towards people and for not feeling
able to achieve something for oneself.
envy is bad, you should not want what others have. God always has something good.
for you.” We should not be envious, we can be happy with how much or how
We have little, for those who have God lack nothing in their hearts.

Sermon on the Mount - Mt. 5, 1 - 12

BEING must be above HAVING

FINAL PRAYER
CATECHESIS MEETING - SIN AND FORGIVENESS
Opening Prayer

When Jesus died on the cross, He accomplished salvation. At the moment of His death, the sacrifice
from Christ becomes the source from which the forgiveness of sins will spring, therefore, for everyone
Sin exists forgiveness, only one is unforgivable: it is dying without believing in
God, it is the sin against the Holy Spirit, it is the sin of the person who does not accept love.
of God and his forgiveness.

Is there a greater and lesser sin?

The greatest sin is the mortal or grave sin.

The lesser sin is the venial or slight sin.

To have sin it is necessary:

Serious matter
2) Mindfulness
Full consent

What are the ways to sin?

God is love, mercy. We have the certainty of God's love.
PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON - Lk. 15, 11 - 32

God the Father, in His Mercy, through His human Son Jesus Christ, calls you and
He awaits you to give you the embrace of forgiveness and reconciliation. He wants to heal the wounds of
your story and reintroducing you into His Peace.
To make this happen, we want to help you with this Examination of Conscience.
May the Holy Spirit, with His Light and Strength, help us to respond to the grace of salvation.
that is offered to us. Amen.

GUIDE FOR CONFESSION

Four sins that cry out to Heaven:
1. Voluntary homicide and abortion. (Gn 4, 10)
2. Sexual perversions. (Gen 19:4-9, 1 Cor 6:9-10)
Oppression of the poor. (Ex 22:22-23)
4. Do not pay those who work. (Dt 24:15)

SINS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

I am the Lord your God: Love God above all things.
I sought to love God with all my heart, with all my soul, and with all
my strength (Dt 6:5)? Did I put something or someone above God? I prayed
daily?
I had some involvement with occultism, witchcraft, séance sessions, tarot cards
tarot, New Age crystals, divination or similar? I placed my faith in
horoscopes?
Did I receive communion in a state of mortal sin?
I abused the Sacrament of Penance by lying to the priest or not confessing.
deliberately a mortal sin?
Did I deny a truth of faith out of concern for respecting the opinions of others?
Do I contribute to the material needs of the Church?

2. Do not take Your Holy Name in vain.

Did I use the holy name of the Lord without reverence?
Did I blaspheme against God, the Church, Mary, the saints, or sacred places and things?

3. Keep Sundays and holy days.

I tried to keep Sunday as a day of prayer and rest, avoiding work.
unnecessary?
Did I deliberately arrive late or leave early from mass without a good reason?

Honor your father and mother.

Did I honor and respect my parents?
Did I treat my children with love and respect? I supported and took care of their well-being.
members of my family?
- Did I reject my family duties?

5. Do not kill.
Did I deliberately harm someone? Did I abort or encourage an abortion? Did I try
I have thought seriously about suicide?
Did I abuse drugs or alcohol?
I have led anyone to sin through a bad example or encouragement.
straight?

6. Do not sin against chastity.

For the married: Am I married in the Church? Am I living my marital vows well?
Am I faithful to my spouse in thoughts and actions? I used contraceptives.
artificial or was I sterilized?
For singles: I am involved in sexual activity with anyone of either.
genders?
For everyone: I have seen magazines, videos, or websites on the internet with pornographic content.
Deliberately? Did I masturbate? Did I use impure language or tell jokes?
Impure? Did I dress without modesty and without shame?

7. Do not steal.
Did I steal or accept stolen goods?
Did I deliberately destroy someone else's property? Did I deceive someone who was
in debt?

8. Do not bear false witness.

Did I lie? Did I swear falsely? Did I plagiarize or was I dishonest?
Did I gossip? Did I reveal secrets or confidential information without a good reason? I
I ruined the good name of others by spreading lies or maliciously revealing their secrets.
your faults and sins?

9. Do not desire your neighbor's wife.

Did I allow myself to have sexual thoughts about someone other than my spouse?
I watched shows, plays, photographs, or films that contain impure scenes with the
deliberate intention to be awakened by them?
10. Do not covet others' possessions.
Do I envy others' possessions, abilities, talents, beauty, or success?

You shall love your neighbor as yourself:

Do I love my neighbor? Is there anyone I do not love or have refused to love? I wished for the
someone's unhappiness?
Do I wholeheartedly forgive those who have hurt me? Do I harbor hate or resentment? I pray.
through my enemies?
Did I ridicule or humiliate others?
Do I seek to help others in their needs?
Do I love myself as God loves me? I take care of my physical and emotional health.
spiritual?

Sin against the Beatitudes

Was I poor in spirit, free from attachments? Was I meek and patient? Did I hunger and thirst for
justice?
Was I merciful? Was I clean of heart, pure of thought? I work for peace,
in me, at home, in the group, in the world? I suffer with joy for being pursued because of the
justice, for the sake of Christ?

Sins against the Christian life

Am I a witness of Christ? Am I the salt of the earth and the light of the world? I strive with all my
heart so that Christ may be known and loved by all? I am in communion with the
missionary spirit of the Church? Do I bring my friends to the Lord, or do I let them lead me?
Are we dragging to the world?

Capital Sins
Pride: I was humble in my thinking, I compared myself with others, I tried to draw attention with
my wisdom, my physique, etc? Do I scorn others in my heart? I resented
Through the position or role received? What is the motivation behind my aspirations? I am cautious.
When giving my opinion? I can distinguish what my mission is or I meddle in what is not
Does it concern me? I acknowledge my mistakes and ask for forgiveness.

Greed: Am I attached to material things, to money? Am I not supportive?

- Ira: Are you dealing with crosses, illnesses, relationship problems, work issues, etc? I lose the
Peace, do I manifest bad humor when things don't go as I expect?

Sugar: How more than necessary? I fast at least on Good Friday and on
Ash Wednesday?

Envy: Do I feel envy for others' positions or talents? I do not rejoice when others
better?

Laziness: Did I fall asleep, like the disciples, in the face of what Jesus was asking me? I am
focused on fulfilling my duties? I am quick to serve, even if I don’t have
Will? Rest more than necessary? Do I leave things for later? I help the
Do I always make excuses when others ask me?

Lord, I sincerely repent of all the evil I have done and of the good that
I stopped doing it. By sinning, I offended you, my God and highest good, worthy of being
beloved above all things. I firmly promise, helped by your grace,
do penance and avoid occasions of sin. Lord, have mercy on me,
by the merits of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen!
FINAL PRAYER