Over the last three days, we have discussed the great mystery of out faith, the Blessed Trinity. Here's a re-cap of your notes thus far:

- Christians believe that the One God is made up of three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is called the Trinity (three-in-one God).
Each "person" has as a distinct function.
- The Father is the creator of all things.
-Jesus Christ, his only son, is the redeemer or savior of all people.
- The Holy Spirit is the sanctifier of the world and everyone in it. The Spirit blesses everyone and everything and makes them holy.
- All three persons work together. At the creation of the world, Jesus Christ was the living word spoken by God the Father; the Holy Spirit moved across the face of the waters and brought life into the world.

For tomorrow's classwork: Remember I will be at a technology workshop, so please behave for the sub! Five Beadel Bucks to everyone who responds to this post by 7:30 in the morning, stating that you understand the assignment. I wanted to explain what your assignment entailed, but we ran out of time, so here it goes:

Each student in 5th-8th grade student will submit a drawing representing one of the Red Ribbon week slogans that are used each day.  The top three for the grade (not class) will be recognized at the mass on Nov. 1.  The winning drawings will be displayed on a bulletin board and will receive $20 Beadel Bucks!

Please make a poster (no larger than a white computer sheet) illustrating being drug free by using one of this week's slogans. Don't go for the obvious. Be very symbolic (like you were for last night's assignment). Incorporate the title on your poster. THIS IS CLASSWORK for tomorrow. Do not bring this in as homework. It is due on Thursday.

Here are the slogans:

Monday, October 25:  “Go Green! Don’t let drugs pollute your life!” 
Tuesday, October 26:  “Being drug free is no sweat.” 
Wednesday, October 27:  “Band against drugs
Thursday, October 28:  “Viva la vida drug free!” 
Friday, October 29:  “Drugs are spooky” ; “Shake off peer pressure at the Halloween dance”  

Bring your markers and creative minds to class tomorrow.

Miss you!

Today in class, we discussed the grave need to come together as a student body and as Catholics in times of strife. Below is an update from Brother Angelo from the Archidiocese of Miami. Let us continue to pray for Monica and her family as she will have to make some life changes.

Dear Friends in Christ,

 You have all heard the sad news concerning the event that occurred at Archbishop McCarthy High School yesterday afternoon. A seventeen year old senior lost her leg as the result of a car accident. Unfortunately, the doctors were not able to save her leg. A second student was also struck by the car, but was released from the hospital with minor injuries. We are grateful to administration and staff at the school who did a remarkable job of keeping order and calm at that critical time.

 The Department of Schools wishes to thank you all for your support through prayers and offers of assistance. Counselors from many of our schools and Catholic Charities were available to assist the students and staff when they arrived at school today. During a special prayer service in the gym, a silent student body heard their Principal, Mr. Richard Jean, speak about the need to come together in prayer during such difficult times. He told the students that their love and support for Monica will be a great help to her in her recovery.

 Please continue to keep the injured students and all at Archbishop McCarthy High School in your prayers.

 Sincerely,

 Br. Angelo

Study all vocabulary words, but pay attention to page 310 in your books. Know the 5 books of the Bile (from the Pentateuch), and the different sections within each testament (historical books, etc.) Know the definition of each section. For example, the Gospels are part of the New Testament and they are stories about Jesus' life and teachings. Study all highlighted material and written notes. Good luck!

Since I wrote "Friday" on yesterday's blog, it's only fair to keep it on Friday. The test for Chapter 2 will not be Thursday.

Homework: Comment to yesterday's post. Get started on your Tradition Crest (due Thursday).

Today's class, although a bit repetitive, focused on how the Bible writers wrote in expressions and words of their era. Using symbolism and storytelling techniques such as figurative language, the Bible is not meant to be taken literally, like a science book. 

Check out the video below. First you will see an image, followed by bible quotes that reflect it. There are many bible verses, so it would make sense to pause the video to read them. See how the symbolism takes effect, yet it doesn't tarnish the TRUTH in the Bible!

Comment on your favorite one. You will see a few of these on Friday's test! Be able to interpret them.

These past few days we have been learning how the Old and New Testaments came to be. We learned that both the Old and New Testaments had similar ways of developing:

Religious experience--->oral stories passed on ---> inspired writing---> Scripture studied in the synagogues/ church.

Remember that although humans physically wrote the Bible, God is the true author. God used humans as instruments to get his message of truth to the world. God knows that we comprehend things in a human way, so God communicates in ways we can understand.

We also learned that the Bible has 73 books and that each Testament is divided into sections (you can find these on page 310). The Old Testament was written in Hebrew, while the New Testament was written in Greek! Saint Jerome translated both Testaments into Latin, which was the common language of the Church during the 5th century. It wasn't until the 1300's that the Bible was translated into English.


HW- Study your notes and Look up this verse and be prepared to interpret it and discuss it tomorrow:
2 Peter 1:20-21.

We have been discussing Scripture and Tradition a lot over the last few days. We learned that both need to exist and be in practice in order for us to fully uncover God's truth and revelation. Remember that Scripture "is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit" (Catechism of the Catholic Church). Tradition "comes from the apostles and hands on what they received from Jesus' teaching and example and what they learned from the Holy Spirit."

Remember that the first generation of Christians did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition.

Documents from the Church tell us that Tradition began when "the Apostles who, by their oral preaching, by example, and by observances handed on what they had received from the lips of Christ, from living with Him, and from what He did, or what they had learned through the prompting of the Holy Spirit." 

These Apostles and other disciples who were under the inspiration of the same Holy Spirit applied the message of salvation to writing.

Check out the two videos below. Notice the pieces from Scripture which discuss Tradition. You may need this for your assignment, so it's wise to pause along the way after viewing it the first time in full.

Download your assignment below. You can print it out and fill it in, or complete it on the computer. This is due Tuesday. I also attached a PDF in case you don't have Word or in case it comes out distorted.