Catechism Learn-by-heart

Instructions [ Hide ]

Learning is work. There are multiple ways to study. Different study strategies will work differently for each student. Serious students should try all of them several (6-7) times to see how they work when done well. For the best learning, every student will likely need to use more than one strategy and switch between them. Here are some tips relating to studying vocabulary. You can adapt them for memorizing texts.

1. Use multiple senses: read, speak, and hear the material aloud. Then, write your version with a pencil into your notebook and notice how that feels. Then, read your own definition aloud as you study. (combine with the next two strategies)
2. Use your brain: condense the definitions into a form that makes sense to you. Identify key words for every definition. Think of synonyms that you would use. (combine with the other strategies)
3. Use your body: say your definition and act it out with an expressiveness that fits the meaning.
4. Use your friends and family: Ask someone to quiz you using spaced repetition for a set amount of time, from your notes. (Example: for 10 minutes, all questions get repeated, but the quicker and more accurate your answer, the longer the interval until that question comes back. Questions you get wrong are repeated sooner.)
5. Use basic technology: Show all definitions and hide all the terms on this page. Try to remember each term before you show it (by clicking the definition) to check your answer. Then, show all terms and hide the definitions on the page. Only show a definition (by clicking the term) after you have made your best effort to remember your own version of it.
6. Use tools: Make a stack of index cards with terms on one side and your definitions on the other. When reviewing, don't check the opposite side until you've made your best effort to remember. Sort them into three stacks: Easy, Hard, and Failed. Then re-sort the Failed cards and work through the Hard cards until they are all Easy.
7. Use advanced technology: On the web (Example: SuperNotes with free signup or with subscription.) or on an app (Example: Anki), create a stack of virtual cards and let the software quiz you. It will use spaced repetition automatically.
8. Use brute force memorization: Copy a term and definition from this page. Then navigate to Catechesis Contents > Memorization Tool and paste it into the box, then follow the instructions on that page. (Caution: this works quickly for memorizing texts, but must be repeated a few times after a break for long-term recall. It is less effective than the other strategies for understanding what you memorize.)

Study Steps

1. When the catechist (teacher) assigns a lesson by number for the following week, a deadline is also given for memorization in that lesson.
2. In the class notebook, the student makes a note of the deadline and the parts to be memorized from this schedule.
3. Using the Enchiridion (provided in booklet form), the student studies the memorization at home and in study hall, using the methods described in the instructions above.
4. A few minutes are provided in each class for reciting memory work. Students may quietly recite parts of the catechism to the teacher at those times, getting them checked off. Study and practice come before reciting, not while reciting.
5. After the deadline day, no more recitations will be allowed on that lesson. There is no make-up for absences. Students who will miss classes in a lesson must finish recitation on the days they will be present.
6. A score for that lesson's memorization is entered for the student in proportion to the completion of the lesson's parts as listed here. There is no partial credit for any of the parts listed here.

Lesson Schedule

Important note: The assignments in this schedule include all parts of the Enchiridion under the heading given: primary and secondary texts, questions and answers.

1. • The First Commandment
   • The Second Commandment
   • The Third Commandment
2. • The Fourth Commandment
   • The Fifth Commandment
   • The Sixth Commandment
   • The Seventh Commandment
   • The Eighth Commandment
3. • The Ninth Commandment
   • The Tenth Commandment
   • The Conclusion
4. The First Article up to "this body and life"
5. The First Article
6. The Second Article up to "and that He is my Lord"
7. The Second Article up to "from the power of the devil"
8. The Second Article up to "with His innocent suffering and death"
9. The Second Article
10. The Third Article up to "kept me in the true faith"
11. The Third Article up to "with Jesus Christ in the one true faith"
12. The Third Article
13. • The Introduction
    • The First Petition
    • The Second Petition
14. • The Third Petition
    • The Fourth Petition
    • The Fifth Petition
15. • The Sixth Petition
    • The Seventh Petition
    • The Conclusion
16. • The Nature of Baptism
    • The Blessings of Baptism
17. The Power of Baptism
18. The Meaning of Baptism
19. What is Confession?
20. • What sins should we confess?
    • Which are these?
21. • What is the Office of the Keys?
    • Where is this written?
22. The Nature of the Sacrament of the Altar
23. • The Benefit of the Sacrament of the Altar
    • The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar
24. The Proper Reception of the Sacrament of the Altar