Ad Altare Dei
Chapter 1: Sacraments and
Sacramentals in Our Daily Lives
Program Goal
As a Scout to Recognize the Signs of
Faith in Your Daily Lives,
and Their Importance
Life Experience
What is the Symbolism of the Scout Sign?
The Three Middle Fingers Standing
Erect Stand for the Three Parts of
the Scout Oath
Duty to God and Country
Duty to Others
Duty to Self
Life Experience
What is the Scout Sign Used For?
The Scout Sign Shows You are a Scout
Give it Each Time You Recite
the Scout Oath and Law
When a Scout or Scouter Raises the Scout
Sign, ALL Scouts Should Make the Sign
Too, and Come to Silent Attention
Life Experience
Explain the Symbolism Behind the
Scout Badge?
Shaped Like an Arrowhead or Trefoil
This is the Basic Shape That is Used by
Scout Organizations All Over the World
1. The three points of the trefoil stand for the three
parts of the Scout Oath.
2. The ‘point’ of the badge points North meaning that a Scout can point the
right way in life as truly as a compass in the field.
3. There are two stars on the badge which stand for truth and knowledge.
4. The Eagle and Shield stand for Freedom and a Scouts readiness to
defend that Freedom.
5. The scroll bearing the Scout motto is turned up as a reminder that a
Scout smiles as he does his duty.
6. The knot represents the Scout slogan: Do a Good Turn Daily.
Life Experience
What is the Meaning of the
Scout Handshake?
Why Did Lord Baden-Powell Establish the
Handshake as a Sign
of Brotherhood Among Scouts?
The Siege of Mafeking Was the Most
Famous British Action in the Second
Boer War. It Took Place in the Town
of Mafeking (now called Mafikeng) in
South Africa over 217 days, from
October 1899 to May 1900,
It Turned Lieutenant-General Robert
Baden-Powell into a National Hero.
He Later Went on to Found the
Scouting Movement.
After the Siege of Mafeking That
Brought Baden‐Powell Fame and
Recognition, He Met With the
Great Zulu Tribal Chieftain Denizulu
When the Chief Recognized Baden‐Powell, He Shook Hands
With Him Not With the Right Hand as is
Our Custom, But With the Left Hand.
This Was an Important Sign for the Zulu
Tribe. It Was a Sign of Trust & Friendship,
Because a Zulu Warrior Carries His Shield
on His Left Arm. To Shake the Left Hand
He Had to Set Aside the Shield, Thus
Leaving Himself Bare and Defenseless.
The TRUE Meaning of the Scout
Handshake is TRUST and FRIENDSHIP
Life Experience
What Are Some Other Signs / Symbols
That Are Commonly Used
in Your Daily Life or Family?
Examples
• Marriage
• The
• Friendship
• Uniforms
Life Experience
Do the Seek and Find and Then Ponder
the Question:
What Do You Think the Signs in
the Seek and Find Are Used For?
Catholicism
Although Many of the Signs Are Used by
Other Christian Faiths as Well They Were
All Originally Developed by Early Catholics
Life Experience
There Are Also Special
“Outward Signs Instituted by Christ”
That Are Called Sacraments
What Does Outward Sign Mean?
What Does Instituted by Christ Mean?
Sacraments
Outward Signs are Signs and Things People do With Extra Effort
(i.e. Doing Things to Show Someone Something)
Instituted by Christ Means That They Originated With Jesus’
Words and Actions, Some Directly and Some Indirectly.
Sacraments for Example are Meant to Help Us Encounter Jesus
Our Risen Lord Through Symbols and Words.
The Church Has Identified Seven Sacraments as Instituted by
Christ Like His Sacred Word Preserved in the Scriptures. The
Sacraments are Continuations of his Attitudes and Sacred
Actions Which Convey His Personal Love for Us.
Activity
Do the Unscramble and
Then Ponder the Question:
What are Some of the Ways Our Faith Has
Been Passed From Christian to Christian
by Tradition and Custom?
Faith Passing
• Parents
• Grandparents
• Teachers
• Priests
• Stained Glass
Windows
• Mass
• Bible
• Books
• Video
• Deacons
• Stations of the
Cross
• REC
Activity
The Mass and the Church are Filled With
Other Signs and Symbols
What are Their Meanings?
Signs / Symbols
Candles
Light or Presence of Christ
Sign of Peace
Gesture of Forgiveness for
Offenses
Holy Water
Baptism Purification
Sign of the Cross
To Do Something in the
Name of God
Sign of the Cross at the Gospel
May the Word of the Lord
be in My Mind, on My Lips,
and in My Heart
• The
Signs / Symbols
Stole
Sign of Holy Orders
Crucifix
Sign of Jesus’ Sacrifice and
our Redemption
Incense
Sign of Our Prayers Rising to
Heaven
Bell
Sign of Calling to Prayer, and
a Sign of Celebration
Statues
Symbols Reminding Us of the
Virtues of a Saint, Christ, or
Mary
• The
Activity
The Sign of the Cross, the Fish,
and the Chi Rho,
are Ancient Signs of our Faith.
Why Were They Originally Used
by the Early Christians?
Early Christianity
To Live as a Christian in the Early Church Meant Taking the Risk
of Losing Your Life at the Hands of Persecutors. Those Who
Were Identified as Being Christian Often Had Their Property
Confiscated. They Were Also Tortured,
Exiled or Put to Death
Life as an Early Christian
Who Did the Persecution?
Persecution Came at the Hands of Non‐Christians
Who May Have Been Civil Leaders, Private Citizens, and
Even Other Family Members
Early Secret Signs
The Early Christians Devised Secret Signs That They
Used to Identify Each Other as Christians. The Fish
and the Cross Were Common Symbols Used and Understood
Another Common Sign Used by the Early Christians and the
Current Church is the Chi Rho . The Greek Letters Chi
(Written ‘X’) and Rho (Written ‘P’) Were the First Two
Letters of Christ's Name.
These Were Not The Only Signs Used
Activity
How Did These Early Signs of our Faith
Relate to Our Use of the
Scout Sign and Handshake?
The Signs are Used for Identification Among Members
It Reminds One of the Commitment to the Group
Faith Response
Think of a Story From a Book or Magazine
What is the Lesson That Can be Learned From the Story?
A Priest Does the Same Thing at Mass
He Uses Scriptures to Draw Lessons From Daily Life
Faith Response
At Mass for the Next Three Sundays – Listen to the
Scriptures Readings and Homilies.
Share With Your Family What You Learned From the
Readings and Homilies and How You Plan to Put This
Into Practice
Please Fill Out Page 9 With Your Answers When Done
Faith Response
Express Your Ideas of What You Have Learned
in This Chapter by Doing ONE of the Following:
 Perform a Skit That You or Your Group Have Created OR
 Make a Video Presentation (Videos, Movies, Slides, Etc) OR
 Make an Audio Presentation (Story Telling, Music Selection,
Raps, Computer Presentations, Etc.
Ongoing Activity
As You Work on the Remaining Chapters
of This Program, Do TWO of the Following:
 Attend a Retreat While Working on the AAD Program OR
 Attend a Day of Recollection While Working on the
AAD Program OR
 Complete the Crossword Puzzle in Appendix A