The Vine and the Branches is the Fourth Grade textbook in the Our Holy Faith series, devoted to the sacred liturgy and the liturgical year.
This is the Student Textbook for the Fourth Grade.
Building upon the truths of the Faith learned in Third Grade, this volume helps children discover how the Church brings those truths to life through her worship. Beginning with a review of the Apostles' Creed, it introduces the Church as the Mystical Body of Christ and explains how Our Lord continues His work through the Sacraments and the sacred liturgy.
The lessons then lead students through the Church's liturgical year, from Advent and Christmas through Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and the succeeding seasons and feasts. Along the way, children learn the meaning of the Church's ceremonies, prayers, and customs, and how these help them live in closer union with Christ.
Illustrated explanations, review questions, catechism exercises, and practical activities encourage children not only to understand the liturgy, but to participate in it with greater knowledge, reverence, and love.
Part of the Our Holy Faith series of traditional Catholic religion textbooks, The Vine and the Branches is faithfully reprinted from the original 1961 edition, preserving its text, illustrations, and instructional content without modernization or adaptation. Thorough and orthodox in their presentation of Catholic doctrine, these books have served generations of Catholic children and remain valuable resources for families, schools, and homeschoolers today.
Available in economical softcover and durable hardcover editions.
PLEASE NOTE: Textbooks may require additional processing time before shipment.
6" x 9" softcover 318 pages
NOTE: The accompanying Teacher's Manual is available separately. While the student textbook contains the complete course material, the manual provides teaching guidance, sample lesson plans, suggested activities, and evaluations to help parents and teachers present and reinforce the lessons.
Q: Why does Fourth Grade focus on the liturgy instead of continuing the Baltimore Catechism?
A: The Our Holy Faith series deliberately places a year of liturgical study between the two halves of the Revised Baltimore Catechism No. 1. After learning the foundations of Catholic doctrine in Third Grade, children discover how those truths are expressed and lived through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacraments, and the Church's liturgical year. They then return to the Catechism in Fifth Grade with a richer understanding of the Church's worship.
Q: Can this textbook be used for homeschooling without the Teacher's Manual?
A: The student textbook contains the complete course material and can be used independently for homeschooling. The accompanying Teacher's Manual provides additional teaching guidance, sample lesson plans, suggested activities, and answer keys for the end-of-unit tests, making it a valuable resource for parents directing their children's studies.
