AAD Session 7

Requirements Overview

Chapter 5: Penance and Reconciliation

PENANCE & RECONCILIATION: Jesus strengthens us in our weakness as we celebrate His forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 "But if we acknowledge our sins, He who is just can be trusted to forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrong."

Goal: As a Scout, to grow in understanding God's unconditional love through the gift of forgiveness and reconciliation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

A. Life Experience

1. Do the following: a) List some of your closest friends, not necessarily Scouting friends. (The most important relationships in Scouting and life are the friendships that you have developed.) b) Have you ever had a disagreement, argument, or a fight with any of these friends? c) Recall a friendship or relationship that was permanently harmed, injured, hurt, or weakened by an event or dispute. Did you forgive one another? What happened? Why were you unable to redevelop the friendship as before? Were others also affected? d) Recall a friendship or relationship that was temporarily harmed, injured, hurt, or weakened by an event or dispute. What happened? What made it possible for your friendship to redevelop? Were others also affected?
   
   

2. Read one of the following, and discuss with your AAD Group/Counselor.
   
   

   • Read Luke 23:39-43. What were the feelings of the two people with Jesus? How did their reaction to Jesus differ? Did one ask for forgiveness? Were any relationships reconciled? Were any not reconciled? How did Jesus respond?

   • OR Read Luke 15:11-32. What were the feelings and actions of the Father (God)? How did the sons act toward the father and each other? Were any relationships reconciled? Were any relationships not reconciled?

3. While one person can forgive another, it requires two to reconcile (return) a friendship to its former trust. Read John 20:19-23. Here Jesus instructs the apostles to forgive sin (reconcile) in His name. a) What are the necessary steps for the Sacrament of Reconciliation? Discuss with your AAD Group/Counselor. b) Today there are two settings in which we can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Compare and discuss with your AAD Group/Counselor the difference between the two settings.
   
   

B. Activity

1. You will find three code tables in Appendix H. Find which code table works with this message, and use that table to decode the whole message. Place the corresponding letter from the correct code table over each number below.
   
   

2. Discuss the following with your AAD Group/Counselor. a) Why do we need to confess our sins to someone? b) Why do we as Catholics confess our sins to a Priest?
   
   

3. Whatever a person does in life, whether good or bad, is the choice of that person. If a bad choice is made that harms oneself or others, it is a sin. The person is fully responsible for the action and the results of that action. Therefore, restitution and reconciliation must be made for the sin. Complete the table below. (The Sin Of / Possible-Probable Results / Appropriate Penance and Restitution — for Cheating, Harassment of Others, Lying, Skipping School, Shoplifting, Drug Abuse, Premarital Sex.)
   
   

4. In the Lord's Prayer, we pray, "forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who have sinned against us." Jesus said, "If you are offering your gift at the altar, and then remember that your brother has anything against you, leave your gift before the altar and go first to be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Matthew 5:23-24). Sinners who are really sorry for their sins must not only ask for God's forgiveness. Sinners must also show that they are sorry by their actions in seeking to be reconciled with their brothers and sisters.
   
   If you have hurt or made someone angry in your unit, school, or family, show your desire to be reconciled. Is this hard to do? Why? Talk it over with your Counselor. In the space provided, write what you did and how you felt.
   
   

5. Forgiveness is an important part of our daily life. How can you bring a spirit of forgiveness into play in your troop, school, or family activities? Discuss with your AAD Group/Counselor and put this into practice.
   
   

6. Your active participation in Scouting strengthens your Scout Spirit. Scout Spirit is a necessary element to advance in Scouting. How does your active participation in Reconciliation strengthen your Christian spirit? Discuss with your AAD Group/Counselor.
   
   

C. Faith Response

1. Express your ideas of God's forgiveness in one of the following ways, and share with your AAD Group/Counselor: a) Make a collage b) Make a video presentation (video, movie, slides, etc.) c) Make an audio presentation (story telling, music selection, raps, etc.) d) Write a play (puppet, drama, etc.)
   
   

2. Take part in a prayer service. This prayer service should include an examination of conscience, an Act of Contrition, and a symbolic gesture of forgiveness.

Agenda

1. Gathering Attendance

2. Prayer

3. Session 2 Homework

4. Requirements A 1 ,2,3,4(Assign as Homework),5,6

5. break

6. Requirements B 1,2,3,4,5 (Assign as Homework)

7. break

8. Requirement C Plan and Perform prayer service.  Baptismal promises #57 and 58 on page 48 of the youth manual.  Use water candles and prayers from this session.

9. Cleanup, Have the boys make sure everyone is ready to go and the room is neat before dismissal.

10. Prayer Dismissal