In 2017 I introduced a concept that has transformed the way I teach in religious education: Lectio Divina Lesson Planning. The idea is pretty simple: apply the prayer process of Lectio Divina to everything we teaching catechesis. The process really caught on and many others benefited from the approach, so I expanded the ideas into…
The Religion Teacher Blog
Saint Ignatius of Loyola Worksheet
Saint Ignatius of Loyola is one of the most important saints of the Catholic Church. He was the founder of the Society of Jesus and played an important role in the development of Catholic spirituality in recent centuries with his Spiritual Exercises. Here you will find a short biography of his life and reflection questions…
The Five Forms of Prayer Video & Worksheet
Introduce your students to the Catechism of the Catholic Church‘s five forms of prayer with this video: How do we pray? When many people hear the word “prayer,” they think about us asking God for help, but that is only one way to pray. The Catechism of the Catholic Church divides prayer into five forms: petition, intercession,…
A Beatitudes Prayer
This prayer turns the Beatitudes into petitions to God. Ask the Lord for his blessing by praying this Beatitudes prayer together. A Beatitudes Prayer Dear Lord, Make me poor in spirit, so I can receive the kingdom of heaven. When I mourn, help me find comfort. Make me meek, so that I may inherit the…
Saint Peter and Saint Paul Worksheets
The Apostles Peter and Paul were two of the most important saints in the early Church. Jesus appointed Saint Peter as the rock upon which he would build the Church. Peter went on to lead the early Church after Jesus ascended into heaven and moved to Rome to become the first pope. Saint Paul was…
Jesus Calms the Storm Lesson Plan & Activities
Reading the story of Jesus calming the storm on the Sea of Galilee can be a powerful way to strengthen our faith. Introduce your students to this story and help them replace any fears they have with a greater faith in Jesus Christ with this short lesson and collection of activities. Jesus Calming the Storm…
Activities for the Sacred Heart of Jesus & Immaculate Heart of Mary
Devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary have become quite popular with the Catholic Church. Your students will probably be familiar with the images from churches and even popular culture. Beyond the images, they can benefit from an understanding and practice of a devotion to the Sacred and Immaculate…
The Parable of the Mustard Seed Lesson Plan & Activities
The Parable of the Mustard Seed is one of the shortest yet most popular parables in the Gospels. This is the Parable of the Mustard Seed according to Matthew: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but…
Visitation Lesson Plan, Worksheet, & Activities
The Visitation is the story of Mary’s visit to her cousin Elizabeth in the Gospel of Luke. Mary and Elizabeth were both pregnant. When Elizabeth saw Mary, the infant (John the Baptist) leapt in her womb. Two familiar Catholic prayers have been inspired by this story. First, in the Hail Mary, we echo the words…
The Memorare Prayer: Meaning, Activities, and Worksheets
The Memorare is a traditional Catholic prayer asking the Virgin Mary for her intercession to her son Jesus Christ. This collection of activities offers a brief introduction to the meaning of the Memorare and a few ways you can teach it to kids. The Memorare Prayer Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was…
