WOL 5th Grade - Chapter 18

Chapter 18 Jesus Establishes a Memorial of His Paschal Mystery Prayer Words to Know Leader: Let us proclaim the priesthood of Christ as memorial we pray together, Paschal Mystery transubstantiation Group 1: Jesus, You are the great High Priest forever, Group 2: and You made Your Apostles partakers in Your priesthood. Group 1: As You offer Yourself through Your ordained priests today, Group 2: may we be open to receive the graces of the sacraments they offer us. Amen. We spend a lot of time remembering things of the past like birthdays, special events, and places we have visited. How do you remember or celebrate these people or events? Proclaiming the Good News Jesus, the eternal High Priest, established a memorial of His Paschal Mystery. 215

Lesson 1 Foreshadowing the Eternal High Priest In the Old Testament, God prepared His Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus, the people for the priesthood of Christ and the eternal High Priest. In the Book of Genesis, sacraments. Old Testament priests offered long before the time of Israel’s high priests, sacrifices on behalf of God’s people. These Melchizedek was a king and priest who sacrifices reconciled people with God and offered bread and wine to God as a sacrifice atoned for sins. However, these sacrifices did of thanksgiving on behalf of Abram. Through not bring complete forgiveness of sins for all Catholic priests today, Jesus, the eternal High mankind. Instead, they pointed to the perfect Priest, continues to offer His one perfect sacrifice to come. sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Father on our behalf. The Eucharist is the Body, Blood, Soul, After the Exodus, certain priests were and Divinity of Jesus. chosen to serve as the high priest. The high priest represented the people of Israel before Did You Know? God. The high priest offered specific sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of all the Aaron, the brother of Moses, people. Only the high priest could enter the was the first Levitical high priest. Holy of Holies in the Temple once a year to offer his sacrifice before God. Jesus Christ, the eternal High Priest, fulfills God’s work in the Old Testament as Priest, Prophet, and King. Jesus is the perfect High Priest, who offered the one perfect sacrifice on the Cross—Himself. He perfectly atones for the sins of the entire world. Only through Jesus’ perfect sacrifice can sins be finally forgiven. Because of His Resurrection and Ascension, Jesus continues as our High Priest in Heaven. He makes the sacrifice of Himself present on earth in the Eucharist. 216 Chapter 18

activity Old and New Testament Sacrifices Fill in the chart to show how Melchizedek foreshadowed Christ and the priesthood. Melchizedek Jesus Priest Eternal High Priest Priest and king Priest, Prophet, and King Offered bread In the form of bread , and wine and wine Jesus offers His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Sacrifice of Sacrifice of Eucharist , thanksgiving which means “thanksgiving.” 217

Lesson 2 The Passover throughout your Memorial generations you shall observe it The sacrifices in the Old Testament were as an ordinance fulfilled and perfected by the one perfect for ever” (12:14). sacrifice of Jesus, the eternal High Priest. A memorial is a celebration and proclamation The Passover Feast foreshadowed Jesus’ of God’s saving works, which are remembered one perfect sacrifice. Before God freed the and in a certain way made present to us by Israelites from slavery in Egypt, He gave the power of the Spirit. them instructions to save them from the last plague of the death of the firstborn. He told Every year, the people of Israel sacrificed every household to sacrifice a year-old lamb a lamb and consumed it with unleavened “without blemish” (Exodus 12:5). After they bread and bitter herbs. This memorial meal painted the blood of the lamb on their made God’s saving work at Passover present doorposts, God instructed the people to “eat to them in their memories. It inspired them to the flesh [of the lamb] that night, roasted; with be thankful and to remain obedient to God. unleavened bread and bitter herbs” (12:8). In His instructions, God made the first Passover a memorial. He said, “This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; activity Instructions from God Fill in the blanks to tell the instructions that the Israelite people received from God for the Passover. • Sacrifice a year-old lamb without blemish . . • Paint the blood of the lamb on the doorposts • Eat the flesh of the lamb with unleavened bread and bitter herbs . 218 Chapter 18

WALKING WITH THE SAINTS Saint Faustina Saint Faustina continued to receive visions of Jesus throughout the rest of her life. She began to keep a diary called Divine Mercy in My Soul, which we can read today. In it, we read of one of her most profound visions from 1931. Jesus appeared to Faustina in lToDchiavisitneiesdtMhienercLoiytrihgimuinaaangliea. a white garment. “One hand [was] raised in . . . blessing,” and the other hand slightly parted His garment at His chest. “From beneath the garment . . . there [came] two large rays, one red, the other pale.”1 Jesus told her, “Paint an image according to [what] you see, with the signature: Jesus, I trust in You. I desire that this image be venerated. . . . The soul that will venerate this image will not perish.”2 He later told her that “the pale ray stands for the Water which makes souls righteous. The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls.”3 Faustina wasn’t a painter and had to seek out an artist to paint the image. There were many obstacles to having it painted, but it was finally completed three years later in 1934. It is now known as the Divine Mercy image. 219

Lesson 3 A New Memorial Jesus fulfilled and perfected the Passover. Jesus sent Peter and John to prepare a place for them to celebrate the Passover memorial. “And when the hour came, he sat at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, ‘I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer’” (Luke 22:14–15). “And he took bread, and when he had given thanks he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the chalice after supper, saying, ‘This chalice which is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood’” (22:19–20). At the Last Supper, Jesus established a new memorial. His coming Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension would be the new Passover. These events are known as the Paschal Mystery. The word “paschal” refers to the Passover. The Paschal Mystery refers to Jesus’ new and perfect Passover, when He passed over from death to life. 220 Chapter 18 Christ Instructing Peter and John to Prepare for the Passover, Vincenzo Civerchio

The memorial of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery, Christ’s Passover, fulfilled and perfected the Old Testament Passover memorial. Old Testament Passover New Memorial of Jesus’ Memorial Paschal Mystery Memorial meal Memorial meal Consuming unleavened bread Consuming unleavened bread, which has become the Eucharist Sacrificing and consuming an Jesus is the Lamb of God, who is unblemished lamb without sin Blood of the lamb on the doorposts Blood of the Lamb of God on the Cross Salvation from Egyptians and slavery Salvation from slavery to evil, sin, and death Faith Challenge Jesus gives us the grace we need to become new. Think about one sin in your life. Write about the choices you will make to open yourself to God’s grace to overcome this sin. 221

Lesson 4 The Memorial of Jesus’ “[Jesus] took bread, Paschal Mystery and when he had given thanks he broke it and By commanding His Apostles to “do this in gave it to them, saying, remembrance” of Him (Luke 22:19), Jesus ‘This is my body which established a new memorial. He established is given for you. Do this a memorial of His Paschal Mystery, His new in remembrance of me.’” Passover, in which He passed from death on the Cross to life in the Resurrection. (Luke 22:19) With these words, Jesus was also commanding His followers throughout history to observe this memorial. Jesus instituted the Eucharist as this new memorial, the memorial of His Paschal Mystery. At Mass, we celebrate the Eucharist, and, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes the events of His Paschal Mystery mysteriously present to us: • At the Last Supper, Jesus offered bread and wine, and by His words they became His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. • Jesus then poured out His blood in His Passion and Death on the Cross. • Jesus rose from the dead and won salvation and eternal life for those who believe and follow Him. At Mass, we participate sacramentally in these events and receive their saving effects through grace. The events of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery are made present to us today in the Eucharist through the gift of apostolic succession. Jesus gave His Apostles; their successors, the bishops; and His priests the power to celebrate the memorial of His Paschal Mystery. Through the ministry of the bishops and priests, Christ changes the substance of bread into the substance of His Body, and the substance of wine into the substance of His Blood. This is called transubstantiation. We can be in communion with Jesus, who is really and truly present to us in the Eucharist. 222 Chapter 18

activity “Do This in Memory of Me” Fill in the blanks to show how we participate in the events of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery in the Eucharist. Memorial of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery (the Eucharist) Jesus’ New Passover At the Last Supper, At Mass, through His Jesus offered , priest, Jesus offers bread bread and wine and wine . and by His words they became His Body The priest says the words of Christ, and and Blood. they become Jesus’ Body and Blood. In His Passion and At Mass, Jesus, Death on the Cross, the Lamb of God, Jesus, the Lamb of gives us His Body, God, poured out Blood , His blood as the Soul, and Divinity in the sacrifice of the perfect sacrifice. Eucharist. Through His Death eternal In the Eucharist, we and Resurrection, are strengthened in Jesus won salvation the graces of salvation and eternal by the food of life for us. life . 223

review Chapter 18 Review: Jesus Establishes a Memorial of His Paschal Mystery Fill in the blanks using information from the lessons. Make sure your answers match the lessons. 1. Melchizedek was a priest and king who offered bread and wine as a sacrifice of thanksgiving. 2. A memorial is a celebration and proclamation of God’s saving works, which are remembered and in a certain way made present to us by the power of the Spirit. 3. Jesus’ Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension are known as the Paschal Mystery . 4. The Eucharist is the memorial of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery, where we consume the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God. 5. Through transubstantiation , the substance of the bread and wine is transformed into the substance of Jesus’ Body and Blood in the Eucharist. 6. By participating in Jesus’ Paschal Mystery, we share in His victory over sin and death grace through . Write “T” if the statement is true. Write “F” if it is false. 1. T Melchizedek foreshadowed Jesus, the eternal High Priest. 2. F The Passover was not a memorial until Jesus came. 3. F The only element of the Old Testament Passover memorial that foreshadows Jesus’ new memorial is the unleavened bread. 4. T The memorial of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery fulfilled and perfected the Old Testament memorial. 5. T Through Holy Orders, priests share in the ministry of the Apostles to make Jesus’ Paschal Mystery present to us at Mass. 224 Chapter 18

Enrichment: scripture The Levitical Priesthood Today, any unmarried layman in the Church can be called to the priesthood. That wasn’t the case in the Old Testament. Only the men of the tribe of Levi were priests. Their priesthood is called the Levitical priesthood, originally headed by Moses’ brother, Aaron. By looking at their calling to priesthood recounted in the Book of Numbers, we can better appreciate the dignity of the priesthood today. The Lord said to Aaron, “You and your sons . . . shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar. . . . And behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the people of Israel; they are a gift to you, given to the Lord. . . . I give your priesthood as a gift, and any one else who comes near [the altar or the sanctuary] shall be put to death.” (18:1, 5–7) The Levitical priests had the sole responsibility of offering sacrifices to God to remove the guilt of sin. Only they could “attend to the duties of the sanctuary” (18:5). Anyone else who came near those holy things would “be put to death” (18:7). The Levitical priests had such incredible honor to be the only ones who could be in the sanctuary of the tent without dying! While we won’t die if we approach the church’s sanctuary, we are reminded that priests are set apart in a way that laypeople are not. Ordained priests are the only ones who can offer the one sacrifice of Jesus in the Mass! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Christ acts through His ordained priests to change the bread and wine upon the altar into His Body and Blood. Ultimately, the priesthood is a calling from God. He chooses the men who become priests. God took the Levites “from among the people of Israel” and gave them their priesthood “as a gift” (18:6–7). It’s the same with priests today. Such a calling should be received as an incredible gift of love. Every young man should consider whether God seeks to give him this gift. Since priests are a gift from God, we ought to treat each priest with great respect. Journal Reflection How is God calling you to serve Him? Write your answer on the journal page. Journal pages are available on the parent and student portals. 225

family faith Chapter 18: Jesus Establishes a Memorial of His Paschal Mystery Jesus, the eternal High Priest, established a memorial of His Paschal Mystery. Chapter Summary In the Old Testament, God prepared His people for the priesthood of Christ and the sacraments. The high priests of the Old Testament offered specific sacrifices for the sins of all people. Jesus is the eternal High Priest. He offered Himself as the one perfect sacrifice to atone for the sins of the whole world and to bring about the forgiveness of sins. Jesus fulfilled the sacrifice of Melchizedek and the Passover memorial. He established a new memorial to fulfill the Passover memorial. He established the Eucharist as the memorial of His Paschal Mystery. At Mass, we celebrate the Eucharist and participate in Jesus’ Paschal Mystery, which is made present to us. Eucharist: Source and Summit “As a representation of Christ’s sacrifice of “In the Eucharistic gift of charity the Christian love for the Church, the Eucharist is a fountain family finds the foundation and soul of its of charity.” —Pope Saint John Paul II, Familiaris ‘communion’ and its ‘mission.’” —Pope Saint John Consortio, 57 Paul II, Familiaris Consortio, 57 The Eucharist is the source and summit of the Does your family know its mission? Do you see how Christian life. This means that every activity of our every activity of your family directs you to charity lives, especially within family life, flows from our (love of God and others)? communion with God in the Eucharist and is directed toward communion with God. Your family is called to communion with God. This communion with God is the source of perfect and Pope Saint John Paul II explained that the lasting happiness. From this communion, your family “Eucharist is a fountain of charity.” Charity is the shares in the mission of Christ. This mission begins love of God and love of neighbor. It is the greatest with one another. Parents are sent to bring God’s love virtue and is the measure of holiness. Our charity to their spouse and to their children. Children are sent is nourished and increased through our weekly to bring God’s love to one another and to their parents. (or daily) reception of the Eucharist. Families are sent beyond the walls of the home to the workplace, school, and places of recreation. As a family, consider the importance of weekly participation in the Eucharist at Mass. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation regularly to prepare for a worthy, fruitful reception of Jesus in the Eucharist. For more family faith formation resources, go to the parent portal. 226 Chapter 18