Expressions of our Catholic Faith: Using Literature to Enrich Catechesis

By Laura Thompson

A teacher-to-teacher resource for Catholic school teachers or religious education catechists. This handbook discusses how to use literature to enrich Catholic catechesis. Four books are analyzed--Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux, The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander, and Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way by Pope John Paul II. This resource also This resource also includes a select bibliography and a list of alternative assessments.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Laura Thompson
• Release date: Jun 26, 2011
• ISBN: 9781465723192

Laura Thompson

A writer and freelance journalist, Laura Thompson won the Somerset Maugham award for her first book, The Dogs, and is also the author of the critically acclaimed biography of Nancy Mitford, Life in a Cold Climate. Her most recent book, The Six: The Lives of the Mitford Sisters, was a national bestseller.

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Expressions of our Catholic Faith

Smashwords Edition

Published by Laura Thompson at Smashwords

© June 25, 2011

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Why use Literature?

Efferent Stance vs. Aesthetic Stance

Theological Reflection: The Reading Response

Literature Circles

Advantages of Literature Circles

Roles

Concluding Remarks

Imitation of Christ: Book Talk

Imitation of Christ – Reading Responses and Literature Circles

Autobiography of a Soul: Book Talk

Autobiography of a Soul – Reading Responses and Literature Circles

Reed of God: Book Talk

Reed of God – Journal Entries and Literature Circles

Rise, Let Us Be On Our Way: Book Talk

Rise, Let Us Be On our Way – Reading Responses and Literature Circles

End of Book Project Ideas

Selected Bibliography of Catholic Books for additional Literature Circles

Why use Literature?

Perhaps when you think of literature, you think it can only be used effectively to teach reading and language arts. But literature can enrich any subject area—including Religion. First, there are countless books available from exegesis, biographies, autobiographies and other genre; with this diversity, teachers can find books to match any level of reading abilities in order to engage student interest. Second, nonfiction books can deepen content knowledge and present information in a way the textbook can only address superficially. Finally, new books are published all the time (for instance, Pope Benedict XVI is a prolific writer.) But most importantly additional literature allows students to delve into texts that are written by authoritative Catholics. This resource offers opportunities for personal reflection as well as group sharing in literature circles.

Efferent Stance vs. Aesthetic Stance

Consider the purpose of Catholic literature. For example, by reading St. Therese’s Story of a Soul students step into her experience as a Carmelite nun. By using literature, students examine human motives, human problems and consequences of human actions—increasing the opportunity for those aha-moments of self-examination! Students may find religion textbooks boring or repetitious because they usually present facts written almost exclusively in expository format. However, literature can treat topics in-depth and use rich vocabulary and varied writing styles.

Theological Reflection: The Reading Response

The model of theological reflection I will share with you is often called the Whitehead Model. I have slightly adapted it for use here. The model suggests that there are three overall sources which shape our religious experience—Experience (E), Tradition (T) and Culture (C). Experience is the whole of our ideas, feelings, insights, and judgments. Tradition includes Sacred Scripture, the history of the Church, and the teachings of our faith. Culture is so much a part of us that we sometimes forget its influence. Culture includes that influences of our environment—everything from family and friends to mass media. As students reflect on the passages of literature they demonstrate how all these elements come together to shape who they are and how they live.

I used this manual with sixth grade students first, where I modeled the method using four books—Imitation of Christ, Story of a Soul, The Reed of God and Rise, Let Us Be on Our Way. At the end of the year, I collected the workbooks. When students returned to my Religion class in eighth grade, I returned the workbooks. We then conducted Literature Circles in the more organic way.

Literature Circles

In literature circles, small groups of students gather together to discuss a piece of literature in depth. The discussion is guided by