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Catechism Memorization

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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 copies the deadline and the parts to be memorized from this schedule.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 are present.
  5. 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

  1. The names of the first 19 books of the New Testament in order: the gospels and Acts, and the epistles of Paul
  2. The names of all the books of the New Testament in order: the gospels and Acts, the epistles of Paul, and the catholic epistles and Revelation.
  3. The Lord's Prayer — The Introduction
  4. The Lord's Prayer — The First Petition through What does this mean?
  5. The Lord's Prayer — The First Petition
  6. The Lord's Prayer — The Second Petition through What does this mean?
  7. The Lord's Prayer — The Second Petition
  8. The Lord's Prayer — The Third Petition through What does this mean?
  9. The Lord's Prayer — The Third Petition
  10. The Lord's Prayer Review — The Introduction through the Third Petition
  11. The Lord's Prayer — The Fourth Petition through What does this mean?
  12. The Lord's Prayer — The Fourth Petition
  13. The Lord's Prayer — The Fifth Petition
  14. The Lord's Prayer — The Sixth Petition
  15. The Lord's Prayer — The Seventh Petition
  16. The Lord's Prayer — The Conclusion
  17. The Lord's Prayer Review — The Fourth Petition through the Conclusion
  18. The Lord's Prayer Review — The Introduction through the Conclusion
  19. Confession — What is Confession?
  20. Confession — What sins should we confess?
  21. Confession — Which are these?
  22. Confession Review — All questions and answers
  23. The Office of the Keys — What is the Office of the Keys?
  24. The Office of the Keys — Where is this written?
  25. The Office of the Keys review — All questions and answers
  26. The Office of the Keys and Confession review — All questions and answers
  27. Table of Duties — Duties of Civil Government, Romans 13:1-2
  28. Table of Duties — Duties of Civil Government, Romans 13:3-4
  29. Table of Duties — Duties of Citizens: Matthew 12:21, Romans 13:5-7
  30. Table of Duties — Duties of Citizens: 1 Timothy 2:1-3
  31. Table of Duties — Duties of Citizens: Titus 3:1
  32. Table of Duties — Duties of Citizens: 1 Peter 2:13-14
  33. Table of Duties Review — Duties of Civil Government and Citizens
  34. Remaining weeks: the catechist will select material from this list for review