New Testament studies. The principal events in the life of Our Lord

Front matter

TESTAMENT

KkW S~,

i

Dedication

TO

THE CHILDREN

OF THE

Introduction

In" presenting to the public a manual of New Testament Studies, the author offers to Catholic teachers and parents the results of special work, in a city parish, among the older children who met with him regularly to study the life of our divine Saviour, as told in the Holy Gospels. It was a labor of love, and the results more than repaid the efforts. It was prompted by the encyclical on the study of the Holy Scriptures, in which our Holy Father Leo XIII. encourages clergy and people to a greater love for the word of God, wherein they are to find the image of Christ, which, as he says, " stands out living and breathing, diffusing everywhere around, consolation in trouble, encouragement to virtue, and attraction to the love of God/' Eesponding to such an appeal, and ambitious that our Catholic children should be taught how to study the Gospels, and thus see in the written word of God the beauty of the life of Him who came as a Child to Bethlehem that He might become a Saviour at Calvary, the author was led to establish some method by which, in simple ways, the child might be familiarized with the New Testament, and thus acquire a love for it and make it a food for daily spiritual life.

The higher study of the New Testament has abundant methods at hand in admirable text-books; but the simpler work for young minds has as yet little means for advancement. The system of instruction followed in this manual is catechetical, consisting of memory texts, moral thoughts, questions and answers. It opens with a series

8 INTRODUCTION.

of preliminary lessons upon the Bible proper, its nature and its authority, as an introduction to that part of it known as the New Testament, which is proposed for study. The division into lessons was made for the purpose of class work, in order that, at given times, in schoolinstruction or at moments assigned for such work at home, the child might thus be led, in systematic ways, to regular work.

The success which followed the single efforts in this direction resulted in the publication of the lessons in the form of leaflets, which have drawn forth words of kindest commendation from bishops, priests, and teachers who have introduced them into parochial and Sunday-schools, academies, and even training-schools, as useful methods for children in the study of the New Testament. Many who are now using these studies have been urgent in asking that they be completed and placed in the form of a school manual. It is in response to these demands, and in the hoj)e that in this form they may continue as an aid in our parochial, Sunday-school, and home work, that the author lias consented to have them published.

This manual does not pretend to be a complete study of the life of Christ. It is rather a study of a number of important events in His life from the Annunciation to the Ascension. It aims to avoid the reproach of St. Jerome, who says that " to be ignorant of the Scriptures is not to know Christ.'' The Church needs strong defenders against the irreligion that prevails, and in the breaking up of the sects she must depend upon her intelligent children to lead souls to the truth. In her splendid system of schools she reaches out to satisfy all the demands of mind and heart; she feels that it is necessary, now more than ever, to save the Bible from its enemies, to maintain its integrity, and to preserve it. as the written word of God. So she bids us study the Scriptures, reminding us, with St.

IXTR0DUC1I0X. H

Jerome, that "a man who is well grounded in the testimonies of the Scriptures is the bulwark of the Church."

It is needless to say that it is a most fascinating study. and offers all the attractions of history, geography, and antiquity, in their world-encircling interest, while as literature it combines all that is highest and noblest in human thought.

This manual is but a simple agency in the study of the Tr :ament narrative, but it may lead to other and better text-books; and if it do this, it will meet the wish of the author, who, under the inspiration of the words of our Sovereign Pontiff, sends forth his work to the Catholic schools and homes of our land, trusting that God may bless it sss in the noble field of Christian edncat; :::.

The Auihoe.

F&ist of St. Gregory Xastansen,

HINTS FOR THE CLASS-ROOM.

In this manual, the study of each incident in the life of Christ is introduced by an illustration, after which readings from the Evangelists, referring to the event, are suggested. The lesson is divided into three parts: First, a memory text, taken either from the event under study, or from some discourse of Our Lord. This is to be learned and recited, in order that thus the child may be made familiar with the letter of the Gospel. Second, a reflection drawn from the text or the event will afford the teacher a chance to emphasize some moral lessons. Third, three or four questions explain the subject-matter under discussion. These questions will suggest to the teacher many others, germane to the lesson. There are scattered here and there, throughout the manual, a number of talks on the Bible generally, or upon some matters of Bible customs and facts in Bible geography, and these may go far towards giving to the child clear ideas as to the Bible and its relations to religion.

Every student should have a New Testament, as well as a copy of "New Testament Studies." The references may thus all be verified, and the pupils familiarized with the Sacred Text.

A Bible Dictionary, containing all the proper names used in the studies, will be found at the end of the manual.

Review Exercises, modelled upon the one given on page 99, should be given by the teacher during the year.

Among the many aids that will prove valuable in the study of New Testament history, the following, used by the author in his class-work, maybe mentioned: Maps of Palestine, ancient and modern ; Harris' Charts ; Bible Kindergarten, published by Milton Bradley & Co., Springfield, Mass. ; Smith's "Dictionary of the Bible"; (Jigot's '' Outlines of New Testament History" ; Cambridge Aids: "Life of Christ," by Fonard, Maas, Formby ; Geikie's "Hours with the Bible."

Contents

PAGE

Dedication 5

Introduction 7

Part I. Before Bethlehem

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD.

Lesson XXXT. .

Lesson XXXI I

Lesson XXXIII 40

CONTENTS.

BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST FORETOLD.

PAGE

Lesson XXXV 42

Lesson XXXVI 42

Lesson XXXVII 43

Bible Talks : The Temple at Jerusalem 44

Lesson XXXVIII 43

Lesson XXXIX 44

THE ANNUNCIATION.

Lesson XL 45

Lesson X LI 46

Lesson XLII 47

Lesson XLIII 48

THE VISITATION.

Lesson XLIV 48

Lesson XLV 50

Lesson XLVI 50

Lesson XLV II 51

BIRTH OF ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Lesson XLVI 1 1 52

Lesson XLIX 53

Lesson L 54

Bible Talks : How to Interpret the Bible

Lesson LI 54

Lesson LI 1 55

Part II. The Infancy Of Christ

THE NATIVITY OF CHRIST.

Lesson LITI 58

Lesson LI V 59

Lesson LV GO

Lesson LV1 60

Lesson LVI1 (i 1

THE PRESENTATION.

Lesson LVIII 02

Lesson LIX 63

Lesson LX.

Lesson LX1

64 64

CONTENTS.

THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI.

Lesson LXII 65

Lesson LXIII 67

Lesson LXIV 67

Lesson LXV 68

Bible Talks : How to Interpret the Bible (continued) 69

THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT.

Lesson LX VI 70

Lesson LXVII 71

Lesson LXV1II 72

Lesson LXIX 73

Lesson LXX 73

PAET III.

THE YOUTH OF CHRIST.

THE BOYHOOD OF CHRIST.

Lesson LXXI Lesson LXXII

Lesson LXXIII 77

Lesson LXXIY 78

Bible Talks : Bible Geography 78

JESUS IN THE TEMPLE.

Lesson LXXV .

Lesson LXXVI

80 80

Lesson LXXVII 81

Lesson LXXVIII 82

Bible Talks : Jewish Customs for Youth 83

PREACHING OF JOHN IN THE DESERT.

Lesson LXXIX 84 Lesson LXXXII

Lesson LXXX 85 Lesson LXXXIII ... .

Lesson LXXXI 86

Bible Talks : Nazareth and the Education of the Jews

Part IV. Preparation For Public Life

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS IN THE JORDAN.

Lesson LXXXIV 91

Lesson LXXXV 91

PAGE PAGE

Lesson LXXXVI 92

Lesson LXXXVII 93

THE TEMPTATION OF JESUS.

Lesson LXXXVIII 93 I Lesson XCI 96

Lesson LXXXIX 95 l Lesson XCII 97

Lesson XC 95 |

Bible Talks : Journeys of Jesus , . . 98

REVIEW.

LessonXCIII 99 I Lesson XCV 99

Lesson XCIV 99 | Lesson XCVT 100

Bible Talks : The Bible and Tradition 100