Just Teach Sheets In Depth October Week 1

In-Depth Track – Just Teach Sheet

October Week 1
Theme: Saints & Holiness
Audience: In-depth learners, catechists, apologists, serious students of theology
Focus: The Communion of Saints and the universal call to holiness. Saints are witnesses of grace, proof of the Church’s truth, and models for Christian life.

Weekly Goal

To study the Catholic doctrine of sainthood and holiness in depth: rooted in Scripture, confirmed in Tradition, witnessed by the Fathers, defined in the Catechism, and defended through apologetics.

What You’ll Need

Bible

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 946–975; 2012–2029)

Writings of the Fathers (esp. Augustine, Cyprian, Chrysostom)

Notebook for study notes

Opening Prayer (Daily)

Almighty God,
You raised up saints in every age as lights for Your Church.
Give me wisdom to study their example,
courage to defend their memory,
and perseverance to walk the same path of holiness.
Amen.

Day 1 – The Communion of Saints

Teaching:
The Church teaches that all the faithful — in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory — form one communion in Christ. Saints are the perfected members of this Body.

�� Hebrews 12:1 – “We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.”
�� CCC 946–948 – “The communion of saints is the Church.”

Fathers:

St. Augustine: “The saints are with us, even when unseen. They walk with us by their prayers.”

St. Cyprian: emphasised unity with martyrs and confessors as proof of the Church’s holiness.

Apologetic Note: Protestants sometimes claim saints are “dead.” But Christ said, “He is not God of the dead, but of the living” (Mk 12:27). Saints live in Christ and intercede for us.

Day 2 – The Universal Call to Holiness

Teaching:
Holiness is not for a spiritual elite. Vatican II reaffirmed: every baptised person is called to be a saint.

�� 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “This is the will of God, your sanctification.”
�� CCC 2013–2014 – “All Christians… are called to the fullness of Christian life and the perfection of charity.”

Fathers:

St. John Chrysostom: “The Christian is not distinguished by miracles, but by holiness of life.”

St. Augustine: taught that sanctity grows through grace and perseverance, not natural strength.

Apologetic Note: The charge that “Catholic sainthood is unreachable” distorts the Gospel. The Church insists holiness is not optional but the very purpose of baptism.

Day 3 – Saints as Models of Holiness

Teaching:
Saints embody the Gospel in their time and culture. Their lives demonstrate that Christ’s grace works in every age.

�� Philippians 3:17 – “Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.”
�� CCC 828 – Saints are raised up by God as models for all the faithful.

Fathers:

St. Jerome read the lives of the saints to inspire his own conversion.

St. Athanasius, Life of St. Antony – shows how Antony’s holiness drew many to faith.

Apologetic Note: Far from being distractions from Christ, saints point directly to Him, showing what His grace achieves in human lives.

 

Day 4 – Saints as Intercessors

Teaching:
The Church honours the saints and asks for their intercession. This practice is rooted in Scripture and Tradition.

�� Revelation 5:8 – The saints in heaven offer the prayers of the holy ones on earth before God.
�� Tobit 12:12 – The angel Raphael presents prayers to God.

�� CCC 956 – “Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness.”

Fathers:

St. Jerome: “If the apostles and martyrs, while still in the body, can pray for others, how much more after their crowns, victories, and triumphs!”

Apologetic Note: Asking saints to pray for us does not compete with Christ’s mediation (1 Tim 2:5). It participates in it, as members of His Body share in His one priesthood.

Day 5 – The Destiny of the Faithful: Sainthood

Teaching:
Heaven is not a “bonus” for a few but the final goal of every Christian life. Sainthood is simply the name for salvation lived to the full.

�� Matthew 5:48 – “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
�� CCC 1023–1029 – The saints enjoy the beatific vision, seeing God face to face.

Fathers:

St. Augustine, City of God: The saints enjoy eternal peace because they cleaved to God in this life.

Apologetic Note: The question is not “Am I called to be a saint?” but “Am I willing to become what God already calls me to be?”

Weekend Wrap-Up – Sainthood in Catholic Life

Saints are part of the communion of the Church.

Every baptised person is called to holiness.

Saints are models, intercessors, and proof of the Church’s truth.

Holiness is not optional but the destiny of every Catholic.

Study Task: Write an apologetic explanation of why Catholics honour saints, including biblical references (Heb 12:1; Rev 5:8), CCC (946–975), and patristic evidence (Ignatius, Jerome, Augustine).

Journal Prompts

“The saint whose life most inspires me is…”

“The greatest obstacle to holiness in my life is…”

“If sainthood is my destiny, one step I will take this week is…”

Apologetics Corner

Objection: “Praying to saints replaces Christ.”
→ Response: No, saints intercede through Christ. Just as we ask friends on earth to pray, we ask our friends in heaven.

Objection: “Holiness is only for spiritual elites.”
→ Response: Scripture commands holiness for all (1 Thess 4:3; Matt 5:48). The Catechism confirms this universal call.

Objection: “Saints distract from Jesus.”
→ Response: Saints are windows, not walls. Their lives magnify Christ’s work, not their own.

Catechism Deep Dive

CCC 946–962 – Communion of Saints

CCC 828 – Saints as models of holiness

CCC 2013–2015 – Universal call to holiness

CCC 956–957 – Saints’ intercession

CCC 1023–1029 – Destiny of saints in heaven

Recommended Fathers & Sources:

Augustine, City of God; Sermons

Jerome, Against Vigilantius (defending veneration of saints)

Cyprian, On the Unity of the Church

Athanasius, Life of Antony