Ad Altare Dei

Ad Altare Dei Youth Religious Emblem for Boy Scouts & Venturers


What: This program helps you to see Jesus Christ as part of your daily life as well as develop a fully Christian way of life in a faith community. The program is based on the seven sacraments. This program was initiated in 1939.

When: The program could take about 6 to 8 months. It was the first religious program of any kind for Boy Scouts.

Who: Before beginning this program the youth must have completed the sixth grade and be registered in a Troop or Crew. The work is done with a trained Religious Emblem Counselor. Contact your leader or Bro. Andrew Kosmowski, SM, for a list of counselors.

Requirements: All steps in this program must be completed before presenting yourself to the Catholic Committee on Scouting Board of Review.

Some of the chapters include:

  1. Sacraments and Sacramentals in our daily lives: The goal of this chapter is to recognize the signs of faith in your daily life, and their importance.
  2. Baptism: The goal of this chapter is to discover how Baptism is the start of your life in Christ, and a covenant union with God.
  3. Confirmation: The goal of this chapter is to discover the role of the Holy Spirit in your daily life.
  4. Eucharist: The goal of this chapter is to explore how the Eucharist unites you with your Christian past, and strengthens you for the present and the future.
  5. Reconciliation: The goal of this chapter is grow in understanding God’s unconditional love through the gift of forgiveness and in the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
  6. Anointing of the Sick: The goal of this chapter is to grow in understanding the Church’s healing ministry to the sick, and the Christian attitude toward suffering and illness.
  7. Holy Orders: The goal of his chapter is to investigate how ordination helps individuals grown in holiness and witness Christ’s love through their ministerial service to the people to God.
  8. Marriage: The goal of this chapter is to investigate how Marriage helps spouses to grow in holiness and to witness Christ’s love, through each other and their family.

When all chapters are completed, please contact the Catholic Committee on Scouting for a calendar of important dates, including Board of Review dates, the Cathedral Ceremony, retreats, etc.

Please complete the application “To Begin Working On” in the very front of your Ad Altare Dei scout manual. Once you are finished with the program, you must attend the diocesan Ad Altare Dei Board of Review and then submit your application “For Review and Presentation” before you are allowed to purchase the award. Except for special circumstances, all Ad Altare Dei awards are presented at the annual Cathedral Awards Ceremony in the spring.