Religion 9 – Grade 9

Alternative Delivery Mode

Unit 2 – THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Quarter 3 – Module 3: Lesson 9: THE CHALLENGES FACED BY THE CHURCH

Name: ______________________________________________________ Date: __________

Grade and Section: ____________________________________________ Score: _________
TO THE LEARNER:
You are expected to read and understand the lesson/topic in this module and on the textbook given to
you. There are activities included which you must answer and to be submitted at the end of every lesson. All
answer sheets must be compiled and put it inside an envelope. Online class are held at least twice a week.
Borrowed materials (i.e. stories, songs, pictures, etc.) included in this module are owned by their respective
copyright holders.
OBJECTIVES:
Doctrine: To identify the challenges that formed the Church
Morals: To relate the realizations, commitments and practical applications done by the Church to one’s
Personal life as a Christian
Worship: To appreciate the Sacrament of Reconciliation as one’s way towards renewal
KEY UNDERSTANDINGS:
 The Church is continuously renewing itself to be more faithful to God.
 We are all part of the Church and that personal renewal is a key to the renewal of the Church.
 True commitment to the Church means to be reconciled with God whenever we offend Him.
Pre-assessment:
1. What are the challenges faced by the Church?
2. How did the Church leaders resist the enemies of faith?
Values: Spiritual renewal is the process of growth and transformation into the image of God.
Activity 1: Read the story below and answer the questions. The activity sheet can be found on the last page of
this module.
RESIST THE ENEMIES OF FAITH
When the communists took over Catholic Poland, they were determined to take the people from Christ.
In 1976, the communist authorities in Cracow forbade the solemn celebration of the feast of Corpus Cristi. At
the end, Cardinal Wojtyla (the future Pope John Paul II) presided over the mass in front of the Cathedral where
a mammoth crowd had gathered. Sadly, but with forcefulness he said: “The communists wants us to forget God.
They have effaced His name from the newspapers, from schoolbooks and from all sectors of social life. A few
days ago, a little boy went to a class with a little cross around his neck, just as many people in Poland do.
“Remove that thing!” he was ordered, “It is forbidden to wear that in public.” Standing firm, the boy bravely,
“Never!”. He was expelled but he was not sorry for defending his faith.
Cardinal Wojtyla continued, “The police summoned the boy’s mother and informed her of her son’s
provocative action. The mother replied, “I am very proud of my child.”
Just twelve years later, Cardinal Wojtyla became Pope John Paul II. As Pope, he worked for the
downfall of communism in Poland. It was the first domino to fall. Not long after, even the mighty Soviet Union
abandoned communism.
Homiletic and Bibliarasal Pointers
page 22 Efren Rivera, OP 1997
THE STRENGTHENING OF CHURCH’S DOCTRINES
The newly acquired freedom and recognition of Christianity led to the extension of is boundaries and
growth in the number of converts. But as Christianity grew, certain controversies regarding the mysteries of the
Trinity and incarnation of Christ arose within the church. These controversies gave rise to false teachings or
beliefs contrary to the revealed truths of Catholic faith. These false teachings are known as heresies. The
believers in these false teachings became so numerous that the Church convened several ecumenical councils to
take firm position against heresies. Ecumenical Councils are general meetings of the Church in which important
matters of faith and Christian living are discussed. These heresies caused confusion and dissension among
Christians.
The heresies did not die out easily. During the same period, many churchmen noted for their intellectual
gifts and saintly virtues became famous as brilliant defenders of Christian faith. The Church honored them by
conferring on them the title of “Church Father” of “Doctors of the Church”. The Church Fathers spoke of God,
the Blessed Trinity and the Blessed Virgin Mary. They clarified the commandments of God and began to
explain the meaning of the sacraments.
 The Church Fathers laid the foundation on the true doctrine of the Church. The outstanding Church
Fathers were: St. Jerome who translated the bible into Latin; St. Athanasius who fought Arianism and defended
the Holy Trinity; St. Ambrose of Milan who defended Church liberties against Emperor Valentinian II; St. John
Chrysostom who denounced Monophysitism and St. Augustine, the bishop of Hippo who was the greatest of all
Church Fathers and who became the foremost defender of the Church against all heretics. Another Augustine,
St. Augustine of Canterbury, carried out the evangelization of England as envisioned by Pope St. Gregory the
Great. He later became the first Archbishop of England.

Below are better-known heresies and ecumenical councils convened against them. (Zaide, 1985)
HERESY ECUMENICAL COUNCIL and YEAR
st
ARIANISM: it’s founder Arius, taught that Christ 1 Ecumenical Council in Nicea (AD 325) assembled
being a Son of God was not fully divine as God the in Constantinople. It condemned Arianism as a
Father. heresy and adopted the Nicean Creed which confirms
St. Athanasius defended that Christ, the Son of God the divinity of Christ. In AD 381, the 2nd Ecumenical
was as divine as God the Father. Council in Constantinople condemned Arianism.

NESTORIANISM : Its founder, Nestorius, a This doctrine of Nestorius was condemned by the 3rd
patriarch of Constantinople denied the real unity of Ecumenical Council in Ephesus in AD 431.
the divine and human nature in the Divine Person of
Christ. He also taught that Mary was only the mother
of Christ, the human person: hence she was not the
mother of God.

MONOPHYSITISM which claimed that Christ has Pope Leo I denounced Monophysitism. It was the 4th
only one nature, the divine. Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon in AD 451 that
condemned it.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE REFORMATION

Martin Luther expressed dissatisfaction over the way the Church, through the priests was handing out
indulgencies to the people. He did not like that indulgences in exchange for the donations they made to the Church. But by
giving indulgences was not the only issue Luther had with the Church. In the early part of the 1th century. This movement
started by Luther came to be known as Reformation or Protestant movement.
His other issues included the following:
 Justification by faith alone: Luther did not believe in the value of good work. It is only by the grace of God that
a person will be saved. He believed that going to heaven is solely by faith and doing good works does not achieve
anything.
 Scripture alone: Luther believed that the Bible is the sole authority when it comes to instructions in the faith.
Unlike the Catholics who uphold the value of Tradition, he believed that only those truths that are contained in the
Bible can be accepted as truths of faith.
Martin Luther was summoned by the Church and was asked to recant his teachings. When he refused,
he was excommunicated and he broke away from the Church with his followers.
This sad event in the life of the Church was responded to by means of the so-called COUNTER-
REFORMATION. One of the significant actions was the holding of the Council of Trent. This council discussed
the issues raised by Luther and came up with the following declarations:
 in opposition to the teaching of Luther on justification by faith alone, the Church affirmed its teaching that the
good works performed by the faithful contribute t their justification.
 In opposition to sole reliance on the scripture, the Church affirmed its belief that both the Bible and Tradition
express divine revelation.
 The Council also affirmed the doctrine of transubstantiation. It declared that after the consecration, our Lord Jesus
Christ, true God and true man, is truly, really and substantially present in the Eucharist under the appearance of
bread and wine.
 The Council also affirmed the teaching on purgatory, stating categorically that “there is a purgatory and that the
souls there detained are aided by the suffrages of the faithful and chiefly by the Holy sacrifice of the Altar”.

The Christian Church in the West recognized the Supreme authority of the Pope at Rome while the Christian
Church in the East recognizes the Patriarch of Constantinople. The two churches quarreled over ceremonies,
holy days and right so of the clergy.
Note: submit this part of the module

Name: ________________________________________________________ Date:__________________

Grade and Section: ______________________________________________ Score:_________________
Lesson ______ Title: _____________________________________________

Activity 1: Answer the following questions.

1. What was the policy of the communists when they took over Poland?

2. How did Cardinal Wojtyla encourage the people to keep the faith?

3. Why is the story of the little boy inspiring? About his mother?

4. What was the fruit of Cardinal Wojtyla’s efforts for the Church?

5. How do you defend your Catholic faith? Give at least three (3) ways:
1. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________

Activity2: For the following table, fill in the spaces with deeds that you think must be done to show
sincere resolution, apology and amends.

Going home very late

Dishonesty in doing the module

Lying to parents

Laziness in studies

Gossiping against other people

Questions:
1. Why is change important for a sincere resolution, apology and amends?

2. How should we consider change as part of our Christian growth?

3. What are the things we should do to be sincere with the change that we want to happen?
ACTIVITY 3: A dove is a symbol of serenity and peace. Our present world is threatened by racism,
discrimination, regional conflicts, ideological warfare and global war. In the illustrated dove below, write a
short prayer imploring HOLY TRINITY’s graces to grant peace.

ACTIVITY 4: Cut a magazine or newspaper clipping or picture of an event which show how the Church,
particularly the Church in the Philippines, promotes peace and unity among the people. Paste your
clipping/picture below and write a short explanation on how the event promotes peace and unity.