tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15013863987346606822024-03-05T01:00:58.291-05:00MY FLESH IS TRUE FOODThey beheld God, and ate and drank. (Exodus 24:11)Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.comBlogger25125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-17610204709132393692015-07-15T08:48:00.001-04:002015-07-15T08:49:11.499-04:00Daily Examination of Conscience Based on the Ten Commandments<br />
<b>THE FIRST COMMANDMENT:</b> “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me.” <br />
<ul>
<li>Have I performed my duties toward God reluctantly or grudgingly?</li>
<li>Did I neglect my prayer life? Did I recite my usual prayers?</li>
<li>Did I receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal sin or without the necessary preparation?</li>
<li>Did I violate the one-hour Eucharistic fast?</li>
<li>Did I fail to mention some grave sin in my previous confession?</li>
<li>Did I seriously believe in something superstitious or engage in a superstitious practice such as palm reading or fortune-telling?</li>
<li>Did I seriously doubt a matter of faith?</li>
<li>Did I put my faith in danger - without a good reason – by reading a book, pamphlet, or magazine that contains material contrary to Catholic faith or morals?</li>
<li>Did I endanger my faith by joining or attending meetings of organizations opposed to the Catholic faith such as non-Catholic services, Freemasonry, New Age cults or other religions? Did I take part in any of its activities?</li>
<li>Have I committed the sin of sacrilege such as profanation of a sacred person, place or thing?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE SECOND COMMANDMENT:</b> “You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I fail to try my best to fulfill the promises and resolutions that I made to God?</li>
<li>Did I take the name of God in vain? Did I make use of God’s name mockingly, jokingly, angrily, or in any other irreverent manner?</li>
<li>Did I Make use of the Blessed Virgin Mary’s name or another saint’s name mockingly, jokingly, angrily or in any other irreverent manner?</li>
<li>Have I been a sponsor in baptism or participated actively in other ceremonies outside the Catholic Church?</li>
<li>Did I tell a lie under oath?</li>
<li>Did I break public or private vows?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE THIRD COMMANDMENT:</b> “Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I miss Mass on a Sunday or a holy day of obligation?</li>
<li>Did I fail to dress appropriately for Mass?</li>
<li>Have I, without sufficient reason, arrived at Mass so late that I failed to fulfill the Sunday or holy day of obligation?</li>
<li>Did I allow myself to be distracted during Mass, by not paying attention, by looking around out of curiosity, etc?</li>
<li>Did I cause another to be distracted at Mass?</li>
<li>Have I performed any work or business activity that would inhibit the worship due to God, the joy proper to the Lord’s Day, or the appropriate relaxation of mind and the body, on a Sunday or a holy day of obligation?</li>
<li>Did I fail to generously help the church in her necessities to the extent that I am able?</li>
<li>Did I fail to fast or abstain on a day prescribed by the Church?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<b>THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT:</b> “Honor your father and your mother.”<br />
<br />
<b>For parents:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Have I neglected to teach my children their prayers, send then to church or give them a Christian education?</li>
<li>Have I given them a bad example?</li>
<li>Have I neglected to watch over my children, to monitor their companions, the books they read, the movies and TV shows they watch?</li>
<li>Have I failed to see to it that my child made his first confession and first communion?</li>
<li>Have I failed to see to it that my children have received the sacrament of confirmation?</li>
</ul>
<b>For children:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Was I disobedient toward my parents?</li>
<li>Did I neglect to help my parents when my help was needed?</li>
<li>Did I treat my parents with little affection or respect?</li>
<li>Did I react proudly when I was corrected by my parents?</li>
<li>Did I have a disordered desire for independence?</li>
<li>Did I do my chores?</li>
</ul>
<b>For adults with parents:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Have I supported my parents in times of need to the extent that I am able?</li>
<li>Have I ensured that my parents are adequately cared for in terms of food, clothing and shelter?</li>
<li>Have I spoken to my parents respectfully and been tolerant of their shortcomings?</li>
<li>Have I listened to their advice patiently and humbly, with an eye toward learning from their experience?</li>
<li>Have I made an effort to visit my parents and to allow them time to visit with grandchildren?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT: </b>“You shall not kill.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I easily get angry or lose my temper?</li>
<li>Was I envious or jealous of others?</li>
<li>Did I injure or take the life of anyone? </li>
<li>Was I reckless in driving?</li>
<li>Was I reckless in the operation of mechanical equipment, chemicals or other potentially dangerous items?</li>
<li>Was I reckless in the use of firearms? Did I fail to keep firearms secured so that others, including children, could not access them?</li>
<li>Was I an occasion of sin for others by way of conversation; the telling of jokes which are religiously, racially or sexually offensive; dressing; inviting somebody to attend certain shows; lending of harmful books or magazines; helping someone to steal, etc? Did I try to repair the scandal done?</li>
<li>How many persons did I lead to sin? What sins were involved?</li>
<li>Did I neglect my health? </li>
<li>Did I attempt to take my life?</li>
<li>Did I get drunk or use prohibited drugs?</li>
<li>Did I get carried away with gluttony? Did I eat or drink more than a sufficient amount? Did I eat at the wrong times? Did I eat to make myself feel better? Did I demand overly prepared or fancy food instead of being satisfied with simple and plain food? Did I fail to eat with a sense of reverence and thanksgiving, knowing that each earthly meal points to the Heavenly meal of the Eucharist?</li>
<li>Did I participate in any form of physical violence?</li>
<li>Did I consent to or actively take part in direct sterilization such as tubal ligation, vasectomy, etc? Do I realize that this will have a permanent effect on my married life and that I will have to answer to God for its consequences?</li>
<li>Did I consent to, advise someone about, or actively take part in an aboration? Was I aware that the Church punishes with automatic excommunication those who procure and achieve abortion? Do I realize that this is a very grave crime?</li>
<li>Did I cause harm to anyone with my words or actions?</li>
<li>Did I desire revenge or harbor enmity, hatred, or ill feelings when someone offended me?</li>
<li>Did I ask pardon whenever I offended anyone?</li>
<li>Did I insult of offensively tease others?</li>
<li>Did I quarrel with one of my brothers or sisters?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE SIXTH AND NINTH COMMANDMENTS: </b>“You shall not commit adultery” and “You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I willfully entertain impure thoughts?</li>
<li>Did I consent to evil desires against the virtue of purity, even though I may not have carried them out? Were there any circumstances that aggravated the sin: affinity (relationship by marriage), consanguinity (blood relationship), either the married state or the consecration to God of a person involved?</li>
<li>Did I engage in impure conversations? Did I start them?</li>
<li>Did I look for fun in forms of entertainment that placed me in proximate occasion of sin, such as certain dances, movies, shows, or books with immoral content? Did I frequent houses of ill repute or keep bad company?</li>
<li>Did I realize that I might already have been committing a sin by placing myself in a proximate occasion of sin, such as sharing a room with a person I find sexually attractive, or being alone with such a person in circumstances that could lead to sin?</li>
<li>Did I fail to take care of those details of modesty and decency that are the safeguards of purity?</li>
<li>Did I fail, before going to a show or reading a book, to find out its moral implications, so as not to put myself in immediate danger of sinning in order to avoid distorting my conscience?</li>
<li>Did I willfully look at an indecent picture or can an immodest look upon myself or another? Did I willfully desire to commit such a sin?</li>
<li>Did I lead others to sins of impurity or immodesty? What sin?</li>
<li>Did I commit an impure act? By myself, through masturbation (which is objectively a mortal sin)? With someone else? How many times? With someone of the same or opposite sex? Were there any circumstances of relationship (such as affinity) that could have given the sin special gravity? Did this illicit relationship result in pregnancy? Did I do anything to prevent or end that pregnancy?</li>
<li>Do I have friendships that are habitual occasions of sexual sin? Am I prepared to end them?</li>
<li>In courtship, is true love my fundamental reason for wanting to be with the other person? Do I live the constant and cheerful sacrifice of not putting the person I love in danger of sinning? Do I degrade human love by confusing it with selfishness or mere pleasure?</li>
<li>Did I engage in acts such as “petting”, “necking”, passionate kisses or prolonged embraces?</li>
</ul>
<b>For married people:</b><br />
<ul>
<li>Did I, without serous reason, deprive my spouse of the marital right? Did I claim my own rights in a way that showed no concern for my spouse’s state of mind or health? Did I betray conjugal fidelity in desire or in deed?</li>
<li>Did I take “the pill” or use any other artificial birth-control device before or after new life had already been conceived?</li>
<li>Did I, without grave reason, with the intention of avoiding conception, make use of marriage on only those days when offspring would not likely be engendered?</li>
<li>Did I suggest to another person the use of birth-control pills or another artificial method of preventing pregnancy (like condoms)?</li>
<li>Did I have a hand in contributing to the contraceptive mentality by my advice, jokes, or attitudes? </li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE SEVENTH AND TENTH COMMANDMENTS:</b> “You shall not steal” and “You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I steal? How much money or how much was the object worth? Did I give it back or at least have the intention of doing so?</li>
<li>Have I done or caused damage to another person’s property? To what extent?</li>
<li>Did I harm anyone by deception, fraud, or coercion in business contracts or transactions?</li>
<li>Did I unnecessarily spend beyond my means? Do I spend too much money because of vanity or caprice?</li>
<li>Do I give alms according to my capacity?</li>
<li>Was I envious of my neighbor’s goods?</li>
<li>Did I neglect to pay my debts?</li>
<li>Did I knowingly accept stolen goods?</li>
<li>Did I desire to steal?</li>
<li>Did I give in to laziness or love of comfort rather than diligent work or study?</li>
<li>Was I greedy? Do I have an excessively materialistic view of life?</li>
</ul>
<br />
<b>THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT: </b>“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”<br />
<ul>
<li>Did I tell lies? Did I repair any damage that may have resulted as a consequence of this?</li>
<li>Did I unjustly or rashly accuse others?</li>
<li>Did I sin by detraction, that is, by telling the faults of another person without necessity?</li>
<li>Did I sin by calumny, that is, by telling derogatory lies about another person?</li>
<li>Did I engage in gossip, backbiting, or tale-telling?</li>
<li>Did I reveal a secret without due cause?</li>
</ul>
<br />
If you remember other serous sins besides those indicated here, include them also in your confession.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-50271949955530549092015-07-14T12:13:00.002-04:002015-07-14T17:56:34.823-04:00Bears Kill 42 Children: A Cruel God or an Unrepentant Nation?That the Old Testament contains some gruesome stories is undeniable. The story of the 42 children killed by bears is one of the most often cited. <br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>He</b> [Elisha] <b>went up from there to Bethel; and while he was
going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at
him, saying, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" And he turned
around, and when he saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD.
And two she-bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys.
From there he went on to Mount Carmel, and thence he returned to
Sama'ria. </b>(2 Kings 2:23-25)</i></blockquote>
<br />
Many struggle with this type of story in the Bible and rightfully ask how a loving God could sanction the death of 42 innocent children?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Elisha-Eliseus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Elisha-Eliseus.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
First we need to
understand the background and some history. We have to understand who the prophets
Elijah and Elisha were and what their mission was. We have to go back to Solomon and the beginning of the <a href="http://catholicboard.com/utspodcast/chapter-12" target="_blank"><b>divided kingdom</b></a>. <br />
<br />
King Solomon was a great ruler but his wealth and splendor came at a
price - he ruled harshly, levying high taxes and conscripting workers to
build his kingdom. When Solomon died, his son Rehoboam forsook wise
council from the elders. He listened to the young men and promised to
rule even harsher than his father.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young
men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your
yoke; my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with
scorpions."</b> (1 Kings 12:14)</i></blockquote>
<br />
The result was that the
10 northern tribes succeeded. They formed their own nation and set up
not one but two golden calves to worship.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>And they forsook all the commandments of the LORD
their God, and made for themselves molten images of two calves; and they
made an Ashe'rah, and worshiped all the host of heaven, and served
Ba'al. </b>(2 Kings 17:16)</i></blockquote>
<br />
Two calves indicate that they
were twice as bad as the people who worshiped one calf at Mt. Sinai!
One of the calves was set up in the city of Bethel which was a center of
pagan worship. <br />
<br />
The ten northern tribes were known as the nation of <b><i>Israel</i></b>. The two southern tribes of Benjamin and Judah were known as the nation of <b><i>Judah</i></b>.
Judah was by no means a faithful nation - they had their own problems,
but Israel also had many problems and Elijah and his disciple Elisha
after him were sent into the "enemy territory" of the ten northern
tribes of Israel to preach repentance. <br />
<br />
Elisha was a man consecrated to the God of Abraham. He was visible as
such because of his bald head. He was a Nazarite, consecrated to God and
all Nazarites shaved their head at the beginning of their ministry.
Elisha was clearly a man of the God of Abraham and he walked right into
the center of Bethel to preach repentance and do battle with the pagan
gods. The 42 boys who came out knew knew this and that is why they
mocked his bald head. In mocking his baldness they were mocking God. <br />
<br />
That is the background to the story of the bears. God promised that the children of those who worshiped false gods would be devoured by beasts.<br />
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Then if you walk contrary to me, and will not hearken
to me, I will bring more plagues upon you, sevenfold as many as your
sins. And <span style="color: red;">I will let loose the wild beasts among you, which shall rob you of your children</span>, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number, so that your ways shall become desolate</b>. (Leviticus 26:21-22)</i></blockquote>
<br />
This
was part of the covenant. Every covenant contains blessing for
faithfulness and curse for unfaithfulness. Israel had entered into a
covenant with God and was unfaithful to that covenant. The bear which
killed the children was fulfillment of the covenant. <br />
<br />
The people who forsook God knew that that children being killed by wild
beasts was one of the consequences. The event would have been front page
news and should have made the nation of Israel repent. They did not.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim- Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-55162067163475098122015-05-13T17:43:00.002-04:002015-05-16T18:56:18.765-04:00Was Man Vegetarian Before Noah?Always ask yourself two questions when reading scripture; "<b><i>How does this teach me about my own salvation?</i></b>" and "<b><i>How does this point to Christ?</i></b>"<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; and as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.</b> (Genesis 9:3)</i></blockquote>
One of the fundamental attributes of God is that He is a creator. Creation is part of God's nature and the story of Noah is a <i><b>third</b></i> creation story. The narrative isn't about diet but
about restoration of the correct order in God's creation and a hint at
the future eating and drinking of the flesh and blood of Christ. <br />
<br />
The first creation story is Genesis 1. The order in which God creates
things tells us about the right ordering of creation. Plants are first,
then fish and birds, then the beasts. Man is created last. Those created
first serve those created later. Those created later are stewards of
those created earlier. <br />
<br />
The second creation story is Genesis 3. In this creation story God names
man and permits man to name the beasts. This tell us the order God
intended in creation. Those who are named get their identity and purpose
from the one who names them. Those who name something become their
caretakers.<br />
<blockquote>
<b>God names man:</b> God cares for man and man serves God.<br />
<b>Man names the beasts:</b> Man cares for the beasts and the beasts serve man. </blockquote>
It is true that the God neither explicitly prohibited nor allowed consumption of meat prior to Noah and the flood. Arguing whether man had a vegetarian diet prior to the flood however, completely misses the point. The point is <i><b>creation</b></i>, and <i><b>re-creation</b></i>. The story of Noah and the flood is the third creation account. The language
used in this third creation account is almost identical to that used in the first account. <br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>And God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it;</b> (Genesis 1:28)<br />
<br />
<b>And God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. </b>(Genesis 9:1)</i></blockquote>
Man
had become no better than the beasts, and this is why God sent the
flood. In telling man that he may eat the beasts, God is elevating man,
restoring him to a more dignified place in creation and re-ordering man
above the beasts which he had become like. Who eats whom tells us about
the order God intended for his creation. <br />
<br />
Notice that God gives flesh to man but not blood... yet. <br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Only you shall not eat flesh with its life, that is, its blood.</b> (Genesis 9:4)</i></blockquote>
The
complete restoration of man to his proper place - in the image and
likeness of God - would take place later, when man was permitted to
drink the blood of Jesus. <br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have
no life in you; </b>(John 6:53)</i></blockquote>
We eat the flesh and
drink the blood of Jesus so that we might live the life of Jesus. Those
who understood the story of Noah as a creation story would have understood Jesus words as a fulfillment. Christians
today who understand the story of Noah as a creation story properly see the Eucharist as
that very same fulfillment.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." </b>(Revelation 21:5)</i> </blockquote>
<br />
<br />
-Tim- Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-47301658231877016712015-03-05T11:02:00.000-05:002015-03-05T12:04:23.931-05:00Converts and Cradle Catholics: A False Division<div style="text-align: justify;">
The idea of Cradle Catholic vs. Converts is a false division. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
God invites every Christian to become a convert every morning. Every Catholic is called to <b><i>conversion of life</i></b> on a daily basis. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We can't change the past. All we can do is change our mind about what we
did in the past and how we will act in the future. That is the meaning
of <i><b>conversion</b></i>. God invites us to do it moment by moment and that is the
meaning of <b><i>ongoing conversion</i></b>. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was baptized 29 days after birth. Every morning I wake up, fall to my knees and pray, "<i>God, come to my assistance. Lord make haste to help me.</i>"
Then I ask God for the strength to do his will and promise to try my
best cooperate with his grace and do better than I did yesterday. </div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>The search for Gospel simplicity requires continual
examination, that is, the effort "to do the truth", by constantly
returning to the initial gift of the divine call which is at the root of
one's own religious experience. </b><br />
- St. Pope John Paul II, </i><i>Message to Abbot Dom Mauro Meacci on the occasion of the 1500th anniversary </i><i>of the foundation of St Benedict's first monastery at Subiaco, Italy.</i></blockquote>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It goes by many names...
repentance, metanoia, conversio, change... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Every single one of us was born into original sin. Greed, self-loathing, fear and pride all cover the divine image. The divine image is washed clean at baptism so that we can move from the image of God to the likeness of God. God converts every single one of us at Baptism. We are all converts. We are called to conversion after our baptism as much as we are prior. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When we decide to change we
are a covert just as much as the person who is baptized into Christ's
Body at the Easter Vigil. In fact, baptism is the main reason why I go
to the Easter Vigil. It is where all Catholics "<i>return to the initial
gift of the divine call</i>", renew their baptismal promises and commit to ongoing conversion. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
-Tim-
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-2560008117679732702015-02-18T21:28:00.003-05:002015-02-19T14:35:17.530-05:00The Four Pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic ChurchKnowing the basic structure of the Catechism helps us understand the
context of what we are reading. Like the Bible, it helps to know the
context, and so I like to post this from time to time.<br />
<br />
The Catechism is divided into four sections or "Pillars" of our faith.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>Pillar 1</u>: The Profession of Faith</b><br />
<ul>
<li>What we believe </li>
<li>Paragraphs 26 through 1065 </li>
<li>Covers the Nicene Creed line-by-line </li>
<li>St. Augustine said that the creed is God’s plan of salvation in “Tightly wound form”. </li>
<li>The Nicene Creed is at <a href="http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-tea...at-we-believe/">http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-tea...at-we-believe/</a> </li>
<li>The first pillar is based on Scripture. The other three pillars depend on knowing the plan for our salvation as laid out in scripture. Scripture tells us God's plan for our salvation, and the Profession of Faith (creed) is a highly condensed summary of God's plan for our salvation. </li>
</ul>
<b><u>Pillar 2</u>: The Celebration of the Christian Mystery</b> <br />
<ul>
<li>How we worship </li>
<li>Paragraphs 1066 through 1698 </li>
<li>Covers sacraments and liturgy </li>
<li>How we get into the story of salvation. </li>
<li>How we take part in God’s plan through the sacraments </li>
<li>How we fit into God's Kingdom on Earth, his Church. </li>
</ul>
<b><u>Pillar 3</u>: Our Life in Christ </b><br />
<ul>
<li>How we live our lives as Christians </li>
<li>Paragraphs 1691 through 2550 </li>
<li>Moral theology </li>
<li>How we interact with Christians, non-Christians and all of God’s creation. </li>
<li>How we live out God's plan for our salvation and advance his Kingdom on Earth for the salvation of others. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b><u>Pillar 4</u>: Christian Prayer </b><br />
<ul>
<li>How we pray </li>
<li>Paragraphs 2558 through 2865 </li>
<li>Covers the most sublime and most perfect prayer, the "Our Father" line by line. </li>
<li>Prayer is intimate communication with our Creator and the Lover of our Souls. </li>
<li>Prayer ensures the first three pillars. </li>
</ul>
</blockquote>
<br />
Try to be conscious of which of the four pillars you are reading so that you know the context. The four contexts are <i><b>belief</b></i>, <i><b>worship</b></i>, <i><b>behavior</b></i> and <i><b>prayer</b></i>. The Catechism references scripture more than any other work so remember to read the Catechism with Scripture. It helps to have a Bible nearby to reference back the footnotes. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-41904135755171139232015-02-08T18:26:00.003-05:002015-02-09T08:36:33.722-05:00Ritual Edition Roman Missal from Liturgical Training Publications<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV4x3FmgwVAi4ItkxKYxowbgBg23mSGjaUMZ-mLRK2UWcIWssGANbO_Wvc8ykYCADDrOOY4of2SD4X1DNokFKXTsrX8CqDyLapYFEKtHPHoVO6UPQ1WvTmcy0qDeQoqbRPbm2MwiP9IU/s1600/romanmissal25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnV4x3FmgwVAi4ItkxKYxowbgBg23mSGjaUMZ-mLRK2UWcIWssGANbO_Wvc8ykYCADDrOOY4of2SD4X1DNokFKXTsrX8CqDyLapYFEKtHPHoVO6UPQ1WvTmcy0qDeQoqbRPbm2MwiP9IU/s1600/romanmissal25.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
Shown is a Ritual Edition Roman Missal from <b><a href="https://www.ltp.org/" target="_blank">Liturgical Training Publications</a></b>.<br />
<br />
This is obviously not a pew missal but the actual missal that a priest
will use at the altar to pray the Mass. Few get to see the Roman Missal
up close and so I thought I'd share some pictures for those who have
never seen one.<br />
<br />
There are several publishers of chapel edition (smaller) and ritual edition (larger) Roman Missals. This particular Missal was on clearance sale for
a very attractive price. It was suggested that the sale might be an effort by the publisher to clear out the stock of old
Missals which do not <a href="http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/the-mass/order-of-mass/liturgy-of-the-eucharist/saint-joseph-in-the-eucharistic-prayers.cfm" target="_blank"><b>include St. Joseph's name</b></a>
in Eucharistic Prayers II-IV as was recently required by Rome. Most priests with older missals include the name of St. Joseph by
memory or have a reminder note hand-written in the margin and some publishers are including stickers to be placed on the relevant portions of the text. <br />
<br />
This book originally sold for $189 and with or without St. Joseph, $60 is a
bargain and so I present it for your viewing and discussing pleasure. Pictures are clickable with commentary in the captions.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ndG6BkDxeIQCVrbpuqQWduIWTqW1WdVv6FRrZnBXYfpTuONa3409bQ84q5xtHmF_b_Rp9BvdCQNet8_LD86lH5gdjksH30Mo4S5xQhqehBmNiTQ2A8jke-p8MHTJ5Gb5rYK-pqvdy_E/s1600/romanmissal03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ndG6BkDxeIQCVrbpuqQWduIWTqW1WdVv6FRrZnBXYfpTuONa3409bQ84q5xtHmF_b_Rp9BvdCQNet8_LD86lH5gdjksH30Mo4S5xQhqehBmNiTQ2A8jke-p8MHTJ5Gb5rYK-pqvdy_E/s1600/romanmissal03.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cover Page</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx7ilDXQmVc1oGK-HLmU1fCPoZCHgTgpzOoZ3qVd3d8otpMqMptOj8eTTGDXmR8h70XiT8adimZGuse4T0VQShr3MlogzlrC9GE-i-Rphav2jOdBoDd-PFOzrw1JIlRE1zn-PBapnyJo/s1600/romanmissal05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXx7ilDXQmVc1oGK-HLmU1fCPoZCHgTgpzOoZ3qVd3d8otpMqMptOj8eTTGDXmR8h70XiT8adimZGuse4T0VQShr3MlogzlrC9GE-i-Rphav2jOdBoDd-PFOzrw1JIlRE1zn-PBapnyJo/s1600/romanmissal05.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
These are the tabs used by the priest or emcee to
quickly find the appropriate parts of the book - Order of Mass,
Eucharistic Prayers I-IV, Prefaces, Masses for Various Needs, Communion
Rite, Solemn Blessings and so forth. The priest
or emcee does not want to be fumbling with pages so every page for Eucharistic Prayers I-IV
are tabbed, not just the first page.</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwG6AaUeio0dkLO1jEghVua2Cuij-DY2PO1KToYVGQbo0tZKeYtE_8_RhSlY-z6PA5cErtGqVIyWFr9p-CI2roVjv57enhvkySzptJLlM3aNBNyGhetepmPoZRBrkzOgd5cG60QWaf-Q/s1600/romanmissal06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjwG6AaUeio0dkLO1jEghVua2Cuij-DY2PO1KToYVGQbo0tZKeYtE_8_RhSlY-z6PA5cErtGqVIyWFr9p-CI2roVjv57enhvkySzptJLlM3aNBNyGhetepmPoZRBrkzOgd5cG60QWaf-Q/s1600/romanmissal06.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is a typical page for a Sunday showing the opening antiphon,
collect and prayer over the offerings. This particular Sunday, the first
Sunday of Lent, has a <b><i>proper</i></b> preface before the
Eucharistic prayer which is included with chant notation. The word
proper means that something specific is required for that day. Since
this is Lent, the priest has to say that particular Preface prayer and
cannot choose his own.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7huXHQbeTclXzV-vqgOdXdQ46qMwA1TA1HnoVlzy9A5foBzTdCW75khDWPn7b3jU8fVBRHwMz2dcRgydhgdhIzQovzT8PU0KiF2lSpfql4Y_OFr2FDRU5I6PTpOMt9YbZJ8DGYR5R800/s1600/romanmissal08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7huXHQbeTclXzV-vqgOdXdQ46qMwA1TA1HnoVlzy9A5foBzTdCW75khDWPn7b3jU8fVBRHwMz2dcRgydhgdhIzQovzT8PU0KiF2lSpfql4Y_OFr2FDRU5I6PTpOMt9YbZJ8DGYR5R800/s1600/romanmissal08.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is an example of a prefaces to the Eucharistic Prayers which may be used
at the priest's discretion during ordinary time. Each preface has a
theme. This particular preface's theme is "The Mystery of Salvation." </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRnF3lV0DsKMJnWh5y16Oas2IYMeCvXhsoLOrt-e1VMrOeERGliTzs-R9oRopmsDqgtuzkRn1HRF4v-gk5vY1TLCOsog2goZ40u-6mxE-BN8YzSidX9Ss-SvRNnm1j3e44i4dnLzF5Vk/s1600/romanmissal15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVRnF3lV0DsKMJnWh5y16Oas2IYMeCvXhsoLOrt-e1VMrOeERGliTzs-R9oRopmsDqgtuzkRn1HRF4v-gk5vY1TLCOsog2goZ40u-6mxE-BN8YzSidX9Ss-SvRNnm1j3e44i4dnLzF5Vk/s1600/romanmissal15.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Smyth sewn binding and ribbons. This particular
book is brand new and some of the ribbons have yet to be disturbed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHAo9MsPyJxnBymWu-NJcqkghOSuVbQj_BOJBE4GabG4jKUofkzCpPvxB-VoKYiAfLFm_aPd3grfG6GYt67UL0yWGR8Cj4RT5v4wmZcyrkiMQ1I4kOxETN3JI1mzCGguQdUuU_GynhcM/s1600/romanmissal09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHAo9MsPyJxnBymWu-NJcqkghOSuVbQj_BOJBE4GabG4jKUofkzCpPvxB-VoKYiAfLFm_aPd3grfG6GYt67UL0yWGR8Cj4RT5v4wmZcyrkiMQ1I4kOxETN3JI1mzCGguQdUuU_GynhcM/s1600/romanmissal09.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The words of institution for Eucharistic Prayer I. EPI is also called
"The Roman Canon". Holding this book in my hands and reading the actual
words said by the priest takes my breath away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v5hZc4KX8svat5Uozw93-G_GnDRceXvhhpnoG5b0voBvbLuR14bduLf4qs0NhyNVS5ZGsdXH_iOOYEzCyG_fAFRlbyrxDiINEpfu76tJcCy1jl0gvlbAvD7mosdyMeo-VIUE2ZhXMQg/s1600/romanmissal11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v5hZc4KX8svat5Uozw93-G_GnDRceXvhhpnoG5b0voBvbLuR14bduLf4qs0NhyNVS5ZGsdXH_iOOYEzCyG_fAFRlbyrxDiINEpfu76tJcCy1jl0gvlbAvD7mosdyMeo-VIUE2ZhXMQg/s1600/romanmissal11.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Two color artwork before EPII.</span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlKXOKKv5RppWeBnMX7opSshSU82RevwuB7tcWVLQLNJOs-x3-OQY0wIjxGJP-F4m5D7PE49tMJOcTYhIhAxz0evE3NSToTUMgv2RKHkwE-0ljYEV0MV3pYTMqEiy43ukAL6vgax1GA4/s1600/romanmissal12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLlKXOKKv5RppWeBnMX7opSshSU82RevwuB7tcWVLQLNJOs-x3-OQY0wIjxGJP-F4m5D7PE49tMJOcTYhIhAxz0evE3NSToTUMgv2RKHkwE-0ljYEV0MV3pYTMqEiy43ukAL6vgax1GA4/s1600/romanmissal12.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Another look at the tabs.</span><br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtkN1MRDYiipWuH-rhywMciD3FvGnOltCp-Ub6uG3yj4RKK8DiwP93Wkt4WF6Ty2VLTDB_EtRAeOSfaGnWIiWnOujhtPetXa09v6wjiD-r8lAs3ljitzpUKpknViPwoWu_m2N983UbPg/s1600/romanmissal22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtkN1MRDYiipWuH-rhywMciD3FvGnOltCp-Ub6uG3yj4RKK8DiwP93Wkt4WF6Ty2VLTDB_EtRAeOSfaGnWIiWnOujhtPetXa09v6wjiD-r8lAs3ljitzpUKpknViPwoWu_m2N983UbPg/s1600/romanmissal22.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Entrance antiphon, collect, prayers over the offeringas, communion antiphon and prayer after communion for the first Sunday in Advent. </span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiF2wdHGNAN7gQOSL3kz-n1YfEcrKd1PmmFLv1VnFnvQL8h2_yz_XEjILJJf7Qv9Gpdiva5p6Fxtup75NjfD1nvxENiBevPNaE5s6w6TOEcmXXr2G0r1EhIInjCRXD0mtPXpWEAmtA3Hs/s1600/romanmissal17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiF2wdHGNAN7gQOSL3kz-n1YfEcrKd1PmmFLv1VnFnvQL8h2_yz_XEjILJJf7Qv9Gpdiva5p6Fxtup75NjfD1nvxENiBevPNaE5s6w6TOEcmXXr2G0r1EhIInjCRXD0mtPXpWEAmtA3Hs/s1600/romanmissal17.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> A sung Mass is called a <i><b>Missa Cantata</b></i>. Appendix I has chant notation for almost the entire Mass. </span><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKf0bCt_AAYvPewEn3EkLzwqjBZd5dUsA5fv5RClazsur6QaivxTyIZKb3AP_4MPGNzF2GgKmcsmjKLnMUjE9b1MH5pH_v6SpJMZaa6lbXYFkS_nn0CcBppig70IAGvhG0_kOc6-rkqmw/s1600/romanmissal24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKf0bCt_AAYvPewEn3EkLzwqjBZd5dUsA5fv5RClazsur6QaivxTyIZKb3AP_4MPGNzF2GgKmcsmjKLnMUjE9b1MH5pH_v6SpJMZaa6lbXYFkS_nn0CcBppig70IAGvhG0_kOc6-rkqmw/s1600/romanmissal24.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">An idea of the heft and size of this book. Very young altar servers often cannot hold the book for the priest. I have seen the priest grab the book and plop it on the altar server's head!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_822554829"></span><span id="goog_822554830"></span></div>
<br />
That's enough pictures for now and I'm sure I'm dangerously close to
violating copyright laws. It is amazing to hold such a book and ponder
all the Masses that will be prayed with it. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>And the king went up to the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great; and he read in their hearing all the words of the book of the covenant which had been found in the house of the LORD.</b> (2 Kings 23:2)</i></blockquote>
<br />
<br />
-Tim-
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-79927308672127903512015-02-04T08:51:00.001-05:002015-02-04T20:39:04.782-05:00Pre-Lent Contest at Tim's Catholic Bibles BlogI am a fan of Tim's <a href="http://www.catholicbiblesblog.com/"><b>Catholic Bibles</b></a> blog. Tim is a scholar of scripture and lover of all things Bible related. He is running a <a href="http://www.catholicbiblesblog.com/2015/02/pre-lent-contest.html"><b>pre-Lent contest</b></a>, the subject of which is, "What does Lent mean to you?"<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>The number 40 in the Bible often represented a time of testing. Israel wandered in the desert for 40 years, recapitulated in the life of Christ during his 40 days in the wilderness where he was tempted by Satan. Lent to me means a time of testing. Much like Israel, and unlike Christ, I will probably fail along the way. At the end of that number 40 however, is the promised land and the resurrection. At the end of that number 40 is the risen, glorified Jesus who I long for with all my heart. You have to go through the tomb to get to the resurrection. You have to go through 40 days of Lent to get to the tomb. It is the way of the Cross and is the way of the Resurrection. </b></i></blockquote>
<br />
That is what Lent means to me. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-72309426104003841802015-02-03T10:29:00.002-05:002015-02-05T14:40:09.838-05:00Thinline "Go Anywhere" NRSV-CE Bible by Harper Collins<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczYiD4TYOprOW9jJcXBM1ErJ4U7RBA13DhzJNekye_xNC_wpQ-_886UzQWYcEo-XVbO_KbSXesvybNceWDqdm0lEsCjNiwdwgfCpZoSbId_JvPB7PdnC0kMDsVBCJRx0K2Q0Uuu6D950/s1600/nrsv02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgczYiD4TYOprOW9jJcXBM1ErJ4U7RBA13DhzJNekye_xNC_wpQ-_886UzQWYcEo-XVbO_KbSXesvybNceWDqdm0lEsCjNiwdwgfCpZoSbId_JvPB7PdnC0kMDsVBCJRx0K2Q0Uuu6D950/s1600/nrsv02.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shown is the New Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition (NRSV-CE) Thinline "Go Anywhere" Bible by Harper Collins in bonded leather with sewn binding. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWLndnvQajMVVmhItljPc-xx6fVmmOEXQk0Ld4R5LYWLRWU3OLsicyBAKDIJrhl8vyBzS6Fwo3NKDJHfdYygtDxWp5lB9RJu3WsGIrPVQyOIWSaP9l9UFKLRUpdJfyCx-uD3q66ZsP0/s1600/nrsv10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBeWLndnvQajMVVmhItljPc-xx6fVmmOEXQk0Ld4R5LYWLRWU3OLsicyBAKDIJrhl8vyBzS6Fwo3NKDJHfdYygtDxWp5lB9RJu3WsGIrPVQyOIWSaP9l9UFKLRUpdJfyCx-uD3q66ZsP0/s1600/nrsv10.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Catholic Douay-Rheims onlyist's complaints aside, the NRSV continues to be the most widely used Bible in academia. This post is not an in depth analysis of the pros and cons of the translation. Head over to <b><a href="http://forums.catholic.com/">Catholic Answers</a> </b>if you feel compelled to complain. Tim's <b><a href="http://www.catholicbiblesblog.com/">Catholic Bibles</a></b> blog has some excellent scholarly analysis and comparisons of various translations worth reading as does <a href="http://courses.missouristate.edu/markgiven/rel102/bt.htm"><b>Mark D. Given</b></a> from Missouri State University. I prefer a more readable translation and this is about as good as it gets. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbEbcqRttMlEoA6yE1HelHAtDmzq2_80HO_0RD8YsD92D11P7UAI0WDUirgE6vkI3JjN7_WAsr3hsMqITVNPA9IwdyjBWtsKJtgoqYhFkl-VAsvyGrIcQQAnzbSMnC81_lzzYqECtJsY/s1600/nrsv12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWbEbcqRttMlEoA6yE1HelHAtDmzq2_80HO_0RD8YsD92D11P7UAI0WDUirgE6vkI3JjN7_WAsr3hsMqITVNPA9IwdyjBWtsKJtgoqYhFkl-VAsvyGrIcQQAnzbSMnC81_lzzYqECtJsY/s1600/nrsv12.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a>It is always nice when traditionally non-Catholic publishers produce Catholic editions of the Bible. Including the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation and a picture of the Pope doesn't make a Bible Catholic and this includes neither. It does however, have all 73 books and orders them correctly. Also included is a 32 page concordance and several line drawn maps. Footnotes are extremely sparse. This is not a study Bible but meant to be carried and read. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rVwDwinjhLpijuokvDNTzRr7s2D28fUxeyV8XsIxlA8wYyUnquKv7AXDhHMl91MJB3F5Mt-ya4F6DOWVhNPtTe7f3PadmkbDtFDK6l0d3s45y6G6jMKdEKQZO6Wh87lGG0Xl1hWs7Hc/s1600/nrsv06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8rVwDwinjhLpijuokvDNTzRr7s2D28fUxeyV8XsIxlA8wYyUnquKv7AXDhHMl91MJB3F5Mt-ya4F6DOWVhNPtTe7f3PadmkbDtFDK6l0d3s45y6G6jMKdEKQZO6Wh87lGG0Xl1hWs7Hc/s1600/nrsv06.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a>Parchment paper, lack of footnotes and larger than usual height and width (6.5" x 9.5") contribute to this Bible's efficient use of shelf space - less than one inch when stood upright. There is a single brown ribbon and the page edges are more silver than
gold. The bonded leather cover feel less like plastic than some others I have seen and the front cover is completely bare. The choice of modern 9pt sans-serif font surprised me and is very easy on the eyes given the large page size. .<br />
<br />
Harper Collins has produced a very nice package given the price. Very thin and light, NRSV lovers who travel will surely enjoy this Bible. Savvy interwebz shoppers should be able to land it for around $20. The Harper Collins page for this Bible is <a href="http://www.nrsv.net/harper/go-anywhere-bible/go-anywhere-catholic-edition/"><b>here</b></a>. <br />
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-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-62698734640342000742015-01-30T20:05:00.000-05:002015-02-02T00:32:04.702-05:00The Circumlocution of Seeing Your Father's Nakedness<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">What does it mean when Scripture says that Ham saw his father Noah's nakedness? </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father, and told his two brothers outside.</b> (Genesis 9:22) </i></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">In a word, incest. </span></span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>The man who lies with his father's wife has uncovered his father's nakedness; both of them shall be put to death, their blood is upon them.</b> (Leviticus 20:11)</i></span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">Biblical authors often used <i><b>evasive synonyms.</b></i></span></span> <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The author evaded having to write God's name by writing "The Name" instead. The author would not write the actual words for male and female genitalia but would substitute another body part such as thigh, leg or belly. </span></span>The technical term for using an evasive synonym is <span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circumlocution">circumlocution</a></b>.</span></span></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter</b>. (Genesis 24:9)</i></span></span></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The servant actually put his hand on Abraham's testicles. It was a way to swear an oath - another way of saying that if you broke the oath your testicles would be cut off. Thigh is an evasive synonym for testicles. "Seeing your father's nakedness" was an evasive synonym for having sex with his wife. The Bible is full of such curcumlocutions. <br /><br />Noah was going to have sex with his wife but got drunk. Noah's drunkeness gave his son Ham opportunity to defile Noah's wife (Ham's stepmother).<i> </i>Noah could not curse his son Ham because Noah and his three sons had already been blessed by God - you cannot curse what God has already blessed. Noah instead cursed Ham's son Canaan. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">God had sent the flood because the entire world was corrupt. One thing we take away from the story is that Noah and his family were saved through the flood but the whole ordeal really accomplished nothing for mankind. Ham went right back to the sins of his ancestors. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;">The events immediately after the flood are in many ways a new creation story, a third creation story after the first two creation stories in Genesis 1 and Genesis 2-3. Like the first and second creation stories, man fell. Man couldn't do it alone. Israel couldn't do it alone. We couldn't do it on our own. We all need Jesus. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /><br />-Tim-</span></span>Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-56530795936432717242015-01-29T12:43:00.004-05:002015-01-30T21:32:33.041-05:00Sons of the Prophets and Miraculous FeedingThe prophet Elisha was brought food to feed the sons of the prophets. The food is miraculously multiplied and there was some left over.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>A man came from Ba'al-shal'ishah, bringing the man of God bread of
the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain in
his sack. And Eli'sha said, "Give to the men, that they may eat." But his servant said, "How am I to set this before a hundred men?" So
he repeated, "Give them to the men, that they may eat, for thus says the
LORD, `They shall eat and have some left.'" So he set it before them. And they ate, and had some left, according to the word of the LORD.</b>(2 Kings 4:42-44)</i></blockquote>
<br />
The phrase "Sons of the prophets" is significant. This was a guild or
grouping of prophets over which Elisha presided. He erected a common
dwelling for the prophets, presided over meals and dispatched the
prophets to perform errands. Here Elisha feeds them with miraculous
food. <br />
<br />
Several centuries later, Jesus asks for food to feed the Israelites. Again the food is miraculously multiplied and there is much left over.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a
lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into
the villages and buy food for themselves." Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." And he said, "Bring them here to me." Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the
five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and
broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them
to the crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.</b> (Matthew 14:15-20)</i></blockquote>
<br />
One chapter later Jesus does the same thing for the Gentiles, feeding them food and having much left over. What does this all mean to us?<br />
<br />
Matthew is portraying Jesus as the greatest prophet and fulfillment of all prophecy. His miraculous feeding of the Jews makes them "Sons of the prophets." Even more surprising to the ancient Jewish reader was the miraculous feeding of the Gentiles who were now able to lay claim to the same title. We share the title "Sons of the prophets" today. <br />
<br />
Jesus is the new prophet who has erected the Church as a dwelling for himself and for us, presides over our Eucharistic meals and sends us on our missions to bring his message to all the Earth. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-66169741145735242012015-01-28T20:58:00.000-05:002015-01-30T21:32:45.712-05:00The Seven Beatitudes of the Book of RevelationWe are familiar with the nine beatitudes of Mathew's Gospel.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><i>Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <br />Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. <br />Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. <br />Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. <br />Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. <br />Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. <br />Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. <br />Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. <br />Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. </i></b><br />
<i>(Matthew 5:3-11) </i></blockquote>
<br />
How many of us are familiar with the seven beatitudes of John's Book of Revelation?<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>Blessed is he who reads aloud the words of the prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written therein; for the time is near.</b> (Revelation 1:3)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are
the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the
Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow
them!" </b>(Revelation 14:13)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>"Lo, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is he who is awake, keeping his garments that he may not go naked and be seen exposed!"</b> (Revelation 16:15)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are true words of God."</b>(Revelation 19:9)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Blessed and holy is he who shares in the first resurrection! Over such
the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years.</b>(Revelation 20:6)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>And behold, I am coming soon." Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book. </b>(Revelation 22:7)</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i><b>Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to
the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.</b> (Revelation 22:14)</i></blockquote>
<br />
-Tim- Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-9924142076442324662014-06-23T17:26:00.001-04:002015-01-30T21:32:59.030-05:00The Wedding at Cana: Mary Sets Salvation Into MotionMary was given the great privilege of being allowed to set into motion the events leading to the salvation of mankind.<br />
<br />
Her son was reluctant. He asks, "What does this have to do with me?" Mary ignored him, looked at the servants and said, "Do what he tells you." Jesus did it. This is not a helpless peasant girl. This is a proud and fierce Jewish mother. Modern Catholic sensibilities have bought into the Peita mindset.<br />
<br />
I grew up with Jewish friends. Their mothers expected them to do as they were told. The story of the Jewish mother and her seven sons in 2 Maccabees 7 is the model - a Jewish mother encouraging her sons to stay faithful and the sons doing as they are told in the face of horrible torture and death. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>But, leaning close to him, she spoke in their native tongue as follows, deriding the cruel tyrant: "My son, have pity on me. I carried you nine months in my womb, and nursed you for three years, and have reared you and brought you up to this point in your life, and have taken care of you. I beseech you, my child, to look at the heaven and the earth and see everything that is in them, and recognize that God did not make them out of things that existed. Thus also mankind comes into being. <span style="color: red;">Do not fear this butcher, but prove worthy of your brothers. Accept death, so that in God's mercy I may get you back again with your brothers.</span></b> (2 Maccabees 7:27-29)</i></blockquote>
<br />
Ruth, Judith, Esther.... all the strong women of the Bible set events in motion which lead to the salvation of Israel from great harm. This is the great privilege given to Mary, that she was the one who would set Jesus' ministry into motion, knowing full well how it would end for her Son, and that it would lead to the salvation of Israel and of all mankind.<br />
<br />
Look at the strong women of the Bible and you will find Mary in all of them. Ponder the passage above for a moment, for that is the image of Mary at the wedding at Cana. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-18696951450465829142014-06-20T16:13:00.002-04:002015-01-30T21:33:12.351-05:00I Ripped My Pants<br />
<br />
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It happened at Mass last night. <br />
<br />
I have been dealing with an extremely difficult person at work - God’s
way of teaching me to bear with the faults of others, as well as family
issues, etc. Anyway, I was having a hectic day. Thursday nights I am
sacristan for Mass and then altar server for a Novena to St. Jude which
includes Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. I arrived later than I
like and didn’t get to pray. <br />
<br />
Everything went well until Father walked to the ambo during the
penitential rite, pulled out the lighter we keep there, and lit the
altar candles. I had completely forgot to light the candles. <br />
<br />
Father started dressing the altar, turns to me and says, "Tim, will you
get me some purificators?" Yep, I forgot those too. There were none in
the vestry so I had to go all the way to our other vestry by the chapel
to get some and got back in time for the Sanctus, handed them to Father
and then knelt. <br />
<br />
I almost missed ringing the second bell at the consecration. I rang the first bell fine, zoned out and missed the <b><i>second</i></b> bell. Doh!<br />
<br />
And here is the best part…. <br />
<br />
During the benediction, Father exposed the Blessed Sacrament and as
everyone was singing O Salutaris I stood to get the Thurible for Father.
I felt my pants leg get caught on the heel of my shoe as I stood and
felt the seat of my pants let go. RIIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!!! Good thing I was
wearing a cassock and surpice.</div>
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<br />
<br />
So I'm standing there singing O Salutaris with a giant hole in my pants
under my cassock. I'm half horrified at the thought of my pants being
ripped and half trying not to laugh at the thought of the Spongebob
Squarepants "I Ripped My Pants" episode. <br />
<br />
I apologized to Father about the candles and purificators later in the
vestry (still wearing the cassock) and he was most gracious, but I'm sad
now. These were my altar server pants for four years. They were worn
threadbare but had a permanent smell of incense that wouldn't wash out.
There was even a "<b><a href="http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=777856" target="_blank">My Pants Smell Like Incense</a></b>"
thread on Catholic Answers about these pants. My buddy says that I should cut out the worn knees as relics
but something about venerating my pants doesn't seem right. <br />
<br />
Anyway, I'm going to miss those pants. They were like a friend who
shared all the special liturgical moments with me. Black Dockers
martyred for Jesus. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-
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Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-18282239983075335082014-06-19T09:13:00.001-04:002015-02-04T11:46:51.607-05:00And the Word Became Text<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Michael Casey OSCO, author of the definitive work on Lectio Devina titled "Sacred Reading", wrote a paper for the Benedictine Oblates World Congress which took place in Rome during October 2013. In it he describes the heart of Lectio...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div data-canvas-width="605.951744313202" data-font-name="g_font_p0_1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: serif; left: 95.9962px; top: 907.034px; transform-origin: 0% 0% 0px; transform: scale(0.997588, 1);">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We are, perhaps, familiar with the <i><b>hodie</b></i> of the liturgy. Today Christ is born. Today Christ is risen. Today Christ ascends into heaven. In our liturgical celebrations we are not simply commemorating past saving events, but we are actualising them, activating them, making them present and accessible today. We are entering into the process of salvation. The timeless economy of salvation is being realised for our benefit today. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The practice of lectio divina is a prolongation of the reception of the Word proclaimed in liturgy. In a way similar to the liturgy, when we receive God’s Word in lectio, it is as though God were speaking directly to us today. It is not merely an inspiring word from the past that still has the power to touch us, to guide us and to move us to good living. It is God’s unique and empowering Word addressed to us at this moment and in this situation in which we find ourselves. This is more than mere reading; God is at work in us. The Holy Spirit is as active in our reception of the inspired Word as in its original composition. This is why Saint Jerome wrote, “We cannot arrive at an understanding of Scripture without the aid of the Holy Spirit who inspired it.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.benedictine-oblates.org/2013/txt/txt-03-en.pdf"><b>Read More... </b></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">-Tim- </span></span></div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-30873889679533062682014-06-05T10:14:00.001-04:002015-01-30T21:36:33.930-05:00The Number of the Beast666 has to do with emperor worship. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
John wrote Revelation to seven Churches in Asia minor. These were being persecuted because they refused to participate in emperor worship. Emperor worship was a huge problem at the time. The city of Pergamum in Asia Minor was the regional center of emperor worship and it was particularly difficult for the Church there. St. John notes the difficulty they are having in that particular city. </div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>And to the angel of the church in Per'gamum write: `The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword. <span style="color: red;">I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is</span>; you hold fast my name and you did not deny my faith even in the days of An'tipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells."</b> (Revelation 2:12-13)</i></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT956X5E6OJjvJ1TyVpeqejB6X_CQAk3gCREo-PwcDyweeRo9MSW117vXBKuaJAqhp9dgMm4PCLjEi9yKQ9Cn4F5rsf5apT4OukWzA6dlxGxCQmBWr2gmIqn2zj4ZpsFQPApcKxHqJE_w/s1600/trajan.temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT956X5E6OJjvJ1TyVpeqejB6X_CQAk3gCREo-PwcDyweeRo9MSW117vXBKuaJAqhp9dgMm4PCLjEi9yKQ9Cn4F5rsf5apT4OukWzA6dlxGxCQmBWr2gmIqn2zj4ZpsFQPApcKxHqJE_w/s1600/trajan.temple.jpg" /></a></div>
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<i><b>Temple to Emperor Trajan - typical<br />City of Pergamum, Asia Minor</b></i></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Emperor worship was the main problem in the Book of Revelation. Those who did not participate in emperor worship were barred from commerce, shunned from society, arrested and sometimes put to death. Antipas (in the passage above) had been appointed Bishop of Pergamum and was martyred by burning on the altar in one of the temples to the Emperors. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Slaves used to be marked on the forehead or right hand by their owner. A mark or name on the forehead was a sign of ownership. 666 represents the emperor. Some would bear the mark of the emperor while Christians would be marked with the name of Christ on their forehead. </div>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>saying, "Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, till we have <span style="color: red;">sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads</span>."</b> (Revelation 7:3)</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><b>they were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any green growth or any tree, but only those of mankind who have not <span style="color: red;">the seal of God upon their foreheads</span>;</b> (Revelation 9:4)</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><b>Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had <span style="color: red;">his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads</span>.</b> (Revelation 14:1)</i></blockquote>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
ST. Paul calls himself a "slave of Christ" and notes that he had been marked. The mark on the forehead has to do with slavery and ownership. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The passages above are key to the overall meaning of the Book of Revelation. The followers of Christ with the name of God on their forehead are persecuted now. That persecution is temporary however, and if the followers of Christ persevere to the end they will be rewarded. The followers of the emperor will be destroyed in the end. That's the whole point of the Book of Revelation. It is a message of hope for persecuted Churches.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And St. John challenges us to ask ourselves who's name is on our forehead. Is God's name on our forehead? Is Jesus' name on our forehead? What name do we bear on our forehead? Who owns us?</div>
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<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-63260642914641130062014-01-05T21:08:00.002-05:002015-01-30T21:36:42.666-05:00Zippered Thin-Line RSV-CE Bible from Oxford University Press<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford1.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RSV Catholic Edition from Oxford University Press</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shown is the zippered, thin-line RSV Catholic Edition Bible in imitation leather from Oxford University Press. It is listed on <a href="http://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-revised-standard-version-catholic-bible-9780195288537?cc=us&lang=en&"><b>Oxford Press website</b></a> in black at $32.99 but can be found on the internet in both black and burgundy for a little over $20.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is imitation leather but it feels like lambskin and is beautifully stitched. The binding is sewn and it has a zippered closure with miraculous medal zipper pull. I've added two ribbons
to save my place - one red for the Old Testament and one white for the
New Testament. The ribbons had to be cut short so as not to get caught in the zipper. There are very few notes, no maps, no essays and no pretty pictures - very few frills, just the text. It is not a study Bible but designed to be carried with you and read.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
This is an amazingly rugged yet beautiful Bible. I tend to be rough on
things and the zippered closure is a blessing for travel or just
throwing it in the back seat of the car. This one has been used every
day for years, has been dragged up and down the east-coast in backpack, on airplanes, in hotel rooms, and it still looks brand new. I have read this Bible cover to cover three times and am half way through my fourth. </div>
<br />
This is quite simply one of the best values in Catholic Bibles available today. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford2.JPG" height="300" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RSV Catholic Edition from Oxford University Press</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RSV Catholic Edition from Oxford University Press</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_2078167641"></span><span id="goog_2078167642"></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford4.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RSV Catholic Edition from Oxford University Press</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/oxford5.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RSV Catholic Edition from Oxford University Press</td></tr>
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<br />
-Tim-<br />
<br />Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-51501031618138249002014-01-05T20:34:00.001-05:002015-01-30T21:37:05.349-05:00Douay-Rheims Bible by St. Bendict Press<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/drbible2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/drbible2.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douay-Rheims Bible by St. Benedict Press</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
Shown is the Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner New Testament) published by St. Benedict Press. It lists at the <a href="https://books.benedictpress.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/778/keywords/douay/"><b>publisher's website</b></a> for $54.99 but is available on the internet for around $35 + shipping. This paricular copy was purchased from Adoremus Books through the Barnes & Noble marketplace. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is genuine leather and appears to have a glued binding. Modern glued bindings are much better then they used to be but putting prayer cards and other papers inside of any fine book is never recommended. It has a single ribbon in gold/tan and gilded edges. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Subjectively, it just doesn't feel as much
like a fine Bible as I had hoped it would and am left wondering if the <a href="https://books.benedictpress.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/777/keywords/douay/"><b>premium ultra-soft</b></a> version for ten dollars less would not have been a better value. I'm hoping the cover will soften a little with use. Time will tell. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I can already tell that my zippered leather thin-line <a href="http://timhollingworth.blogspot.com/2014/01/zippered-thin-line-rsv-ce-from-oxford.html">RSV-CE from Oxford University Press</a> will remain as my daily reader.
Still, I'm really really looking forward to reading this. I've already
peeked at the first lines of 1 John. John's first letter always moves my
heart and my fear was that it would read archaic and dry. That is
definitely not the case. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
And I've never had a red-letter Bible. Maybe now my Evangelical and Baptist friends will give my Bible some respect. :)</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douay-Rheims Bible by St. Benedict Press</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/drbible6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://timhollingworth.webs.com/img/drbible6.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douay-Rheims Bible by St. Benedict Press</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Douay-Rheims Bible by St. Benedict Press</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-57571350708385449182013-12-24T15:54:00.003-05:002015-02-02T09:02:20.594-05:00Why the Nativity?<br />
Moses longed to see God's glory but God granted that he was not to see his face but only his back. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<i><b>Moses said, "I pray thee, <span style="color: red;">show me thy glory</span>."
</b></i><i><b>And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will
proclaim before you my name `The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I
will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. [20] But," he said, "<span style="color: red;">you cannot see my face; for man shall not see me and live</span></b>. (Exodus 33:18-20)<b></b></i></blockquote>
</div>
Elijah understood that he could not look upon God and live. When God became present in the gentle wind, Elijah hid himself. <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<i><b>And when Eli'jah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave.</b> (1 Kings 19:13)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<br />
Moses
and Elijah were eventually granted their wish - they were allowed God's glory in the person of Jesus on the mount of transfiguration when his face shone like the sun.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<i><b>And he was transfigured before them, and <span style="color: red;">his face shone like the sun</span>, and his garments became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Eli'jah, talking with him.</b> (Matthew 17:2-3)</i></blockquote>
</div>
All
of Israel had longed to see their salvation, longed to behold God's
glory, longed to see God's face. Until Jesus was born, they had only
seen manifestations of God - the burning bush, the cloud during the day
and pillar of fire at night... Man was finally able to behold God's
glory in the person of Jesus, was finally able to see God's face at the
nativity.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; <span style="color: red;">we have beheld his glory</span>, glory as of the only Son from the Father.</b> (John 1:14)</i></blockquote>
God had finally revealed himself fully. Man was finally able to see
God's glory, to touch God, converse with God and eat with God.
John speaks so eloquently about the great gift of seeing God with his
own eyes, about Israel's longing and its fulfillment in Jesus.<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<i><b>That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, <span style="color: red;">which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon</span> and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -- <span style="color: red;">the life was made manifest, and we saw it</span>, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us -- <span style="color: red;">that which we have seen and heard </span>we
proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our
fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.</b> (1 John 1:1-3)</i></blockquote>
</div>
It
was the eternal longing of Israel, to look upon the face of God. Israel
was finally able to do that at the nativity. We get to do that at every
Mass at the elevation when the priest says...<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Behold the Lamb of God...</b></i></blockquote>
We get
to see God's glory at every Mass. It is something Israel longed for. It
is what we celebrate tonight, that man was finally able to behold God
and live. We celebrate that God became visible tonight.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas to all. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-2356806870064984052013-12-22T19:58:00.000-05:002015-01-30T21:52:59.470-05:00Book Review: In the School of the Holy Spirit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd2WwnbPf3mrBOXNCvpPhR5v2EywRahMOXcM6SGspXDWQ3yGnNaIVaNvpNKHup8InodEofOy_ktb1_hveV4TJKnZFJdrlaY1YwHjkemDfpZ-bn5lBIFGTj74K30J7VAZR7ezWWgck4UA/s1600/in.the.school.of.the.holy.spirit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyd2WwnbPf3mrBOXNCvpPhR5v2EywRahMOXcM6SGspXDWQ3yGnNaIVaNvpNKHup8InodEofOy_ktb1_hveV4TJKnZFJdrlaY1YwHjkemDfpZ-bn5lBIFGTj74K30J7VAZR7ezWWgck4UA/s1600/in.the.school.of.the.holy.spirit.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/In_the_School_of_the_Holy_Spirit.html?id=g80rrEGy7EgC"><b>In the School of the Holy Spirit</b></a> by Fr. Jacques Philippe is only 90 pages, small pages at that, but don't let its size fool you. This is a powerful work on a subject easily overlooked.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The author asserts that holiness in our lives is the work of the Holy Spirit and "The task is beyond our power". This might seem obvious to any Christian, but Jacques Philippe goes further, asking two questions of vital importance; how can we foster inspirations of the Holy Spirit and how we can know for sure that the inspiration comes from God (and not from our own mind or from the devil)? The latter is what the Early Desert Fathers called "discernment."</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Several broad precepts are given for fostering divine inspirations, including obedience to small movements of the Spirit as a means to greater and more numerous inspirations.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<b><i>"'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy." (Mt 21:25 NAB)</i></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Knowing that an inspiration comes from God is something that I struggle with and the author's wisdom in this regard makes the book well worth the $9.95 cover price.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote>
<b><b><i>"We should not... take it as a systematic rule for discerning God's will the principal that in any given situation, what he asks of us will always be what is most difficult."</i></b></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The author addresses these questions while recognizing our own individuality and hence, God's way of working with us on a very personal level. The book does not present a formula, but rather a set of guidelines we can use in our daily lives to help us help the Holy Spirit affect our call to holiness.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Summary:</b> The Holy Spirit is our means to holiness. Fostering the Holy Spirit's work in our lives and the ability to discern God's call is the subject of <a href="http://books.google.com/books/about/In_the_School_of_the_Holy_Spirit.html?id=g80rrEGy7EgC"><b>In the School of the Holy Spirit</b></a> by Jacques Philippe. Short, to the point and well worth reading. This is one of my top ten favorite spiritual books of all time.</div>
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<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-22765063346767857402013-12-18T12:25:00.002-05:002015-01-30T21:37:15.490-05:00One MediatorA mediator is one who goes back and forth between two parties getting
them to agree. In Jewish culture and in the Hebrew Scriptures, mediation
has to do with covenants. <br />
<br />
Moses was a mediator for the covenant between God and the Hebrews.<br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Now when all the people perceived the thunderings and
the lightnings and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking,
the people were afraid and trembled; and they stood afar off, and said
to Moses, "<span style="color: red;">You speak to us, and we will hear; but let not God speak to us, lest we die</span>."</b> (Exodus 20:18-19)</i></blockquote>
Moses
mediated the covenant, going up and down the mountain at least five
times, bringing Gods proposal to the people and the people's response to
God. If you look in your Bible, it might even have the heading "Moses
Accepted as Mediator" before this section of Scripture. Don't ever let anyone tell you that there is one mediator between God and man. <br />
<br />
Jesus is the new Moses. Jesus mediates a new covenant. <br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant,</b> (Hebrews 9:15)<br />
<br />
<b>and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant,</b> (Hebrews 12:24)</i></blockquote>
The
old covenant was imperfect, and the man Moses was an imperfect
mediator. Jesus is the perfect mediator between God and man because Jesus
alone <b>is</b> <b>both</b> God and man. <br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, </b>(1 Timothy 2:5)</i></blockquote>
Jesus
is God. Jesus is man. Jesus is therefor the perfect mediator of the new
perfect covenant between God and mankind. His mediation is perfect
because he is both God and man.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim- Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-83053065483127201102012-08-20T18:31:00.004-04:002015-02-02T21:07:47.378-05:00For My Flesh is True Food...God's law forbade the consumption of blood. <br />
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b><i><b>"For <span style="color: red;">the life of every creature is the blood of it</span>; therefore I have said to the people of Israel, You shall not eat the blood of any creature, for <span style="color: red;">the life of every creature is its blood</span>; whoever eats it shall be cut off."</b> (Leviticus 17:14)</i></b></i></blockquote>
<i><b>
</b></i>
If the life of a creature is its blood, then consuming the blood of animals gave you the life of an animal. Those who consumed animal blood were themselves no better than animals, obeying their own passions and living by instinct.<br />
<br />
When we consume the blood of Christ, we consume the life of Christ, because the "Life of every creature is its blood."<br />
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b><i><b>So Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; <span style="color: red;">he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life</span>, and I will raise him up at the last day.</b> (John 6:53:54)</i></b></i></blockquote>
<i><b>
</b></i>
Christ has <b><i>eternal life. </i></b>We eat his flesh and drink his blood so that we can live the life of Christ eternally, not the life of a beast, or of an animal, but the eternal life of God. <br />
<br />
God reserved the consumption of blood until the perfect flesh and the perfect blood came down from heaven to give life to the world. In this the Law of Moses was fulfilled completely.<br />
<br />
<br />
-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-42529465633055250422012-06-10T04:01:00.003-04:002015-01-30T21:37:30.277-05:00Exodus and Transfiguration<div style="text-align: justify;">
St. Luke's account of the Transfiguration is unique in one detail. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i><b>While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory <span style="color: red;">and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem</span>.</b> (Luke 9:29-31)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Many miss it when they read this scripture; Jesus was to <i>accomplish an exodus</i> in Jerusalem. That is what Jesus, Elijah and Moses were conversing about - a second exodus. The exodus Jesus was to accomplish was in many ways similar to, and a fulfillment of the exodus which Moses led, but never completed. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Moses himself never crossed into the promised land, but Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Moses led the people out of slavery and bondage, but they kept slipping into sin and acting like their captors back in Egypt. Jesus however, completes the exodus and gives us a very real way to rid ourselves of sin - baptism, confession and himself in the Eucharist. </div>
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</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
-Tim-</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-73187500319366615462011-01-01T22:24:00.020-05:002015-01-30T21:38:43.823-05:00Spirit and the Real Presence<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the <b><a href="http://www.catholicity.com/cds/hahn.html">story of his conversion</a></b>, former Presbyterian theological virtuoso <a href="http://www.scotthahn.com/"><b>Dr. Scott Hahn</b></a> recounts the first time he attended Mass and saw the Eucharist held aloft by a priest.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i></i></b><br />
<blockquote>
<b><i>My God, it's you! It's really you!!!</i></b></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Christ tells us point blank that the Eucharist is a mystery of faith; that the Eucharist is something our human senses can never perceive and which our human intellect can never fully comprehend. Some non-Catholic Churches seem to ignore Christ's teaching about the supernatural nature of the Eucharist as they go about their regular practice of symbolic communion while members of other non-Catholic Churches misunderstand Jesus' teaching about the mystery of the Eucharist at it's most fundamental (a-hem) level.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.</b> (John 6:63)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
See, Jesus was speaking spiritually. Jesus was only speaking symbolically. It's a memorial.... mere bread. "<b><i>the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit</i></b>" Its the classic denial of the Eucharist. And it is not only dead wrong but is exactly the opposite of what Christ actually said.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus very clearly states that his words (about the Eucharist) are "Spirit and life." The English word <b><i>spirit</i></b> comes from the Latin word <b><i>spiritus</i></b> which literally means <b><i>breath</i></b>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The word "Spirit" appears in 58 books, 288 chapters, 509 verses and a total of 556 times in the <b><a href="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml">New American Bible</a></b>. I've read every one of them. You can read them <b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2u2hbju">here</a></b> if you want, or if you prefer, you can use the Revised Standard Version <b><a href="http://tinyurl.com/2ubaa79">here</a></b>. Nowhere in scripture is the word "Spirit" used as a synonym for the word "Symbolic." </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth, the earth was a formless wasteland, and darkness covered the abyss, while a mighty wind swept over the waters.</b> (Genesis 1:1-2, NAB)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters.</b> (Genesis 1:1-2, RSV)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The New American Bible renders the passage "Mighty Wind" while the Revised Standard Version renders the passage "Spirit of God." Two different translations are given to illustrate the synonymous nature moving air (mighty wind) and the Spirit of God.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>...the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.</b> (Genesis 2:7)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the second creation account, God breathes "The breath of life" into man who becomes "A living being." There is an undeniable causational relationship between the "breath" of the divine being and life in man; God's breath - the blowing of air into man's nostrils - is that which causes man to live. In the very first book of the Bible we see the movement of air, God's breath, his Spirit, the "Might wind" hovering over the waters, not only giving man his very life as it is breathed into his nostrils but being the catalyst for the creation of the entire universe in which man lives. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>Jesus answered, "Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit."</b> (John 3:8)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Jesus compares the nature of wind with the action of the Holy Spirit in man as he converses with Nicodemus the Pharisee. The context of the conversation is the strict requirement that one be "Born of water and spirit" in order to enter heaven. Catholics know this passage as a reference to the beginning of a Christians spiritual life through baptism. Through baptism we are adopted into new life as members of the Body of Christ. If you have the chance to witness a baptism any time soon, please do so, and watch for the part where the priest of deacon breathes on the candidate three times in the shape of a cross.<br />
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they were all in one place together. And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. </b>(Acts 2:1-4)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Yet more wind, this time breathing life into and giving birth to the Church, filling the Church with the Holy Spirit. Need we go on? Oh, just one more...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit." Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained." </b>(John 20:19-23)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Word of God which became flesh literally breathes the Holy Spirit into the Apostles. Note that the gift of the Holy Spirit which is given to the Apostles at this particular time allows them to forgive sins and thereby bring others back to spiritual life (to a state of sanctifying grace).</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><b></b></i><br />
<blockquote>
<i><b>It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.</b> (John 6:63)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Throughout the Bible, the word "Spirit" is used to signify the very breath of God, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual life. And Jesus' words at the end of the Bread of Life discourse are no different. Jesus is not speaking of symbolism and spirituality; he is speaking of new life, a participation in the Body of Christ! <br />
<br />
The argument that John 6:63 renders communion as symbolic collapses under the weight of scriptural evidence - exactly the opposite is in fact the case. Jesus says:</div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
I am the bread of life (twice)</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
I am the living bread that came down from heaven</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
The bread that I will give is my flesh</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me</div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
The one who feeds on me will have life</div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
And then Jesus tells us not that his words are symbolic or spiritual, but that his words are "Spirit and life"; that which breathes a new spiritual life - the very life of God - into his followers!</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
In spite of Christs warning, some of his disciples chose to walk away. Christ's warning is no less clear today. <b>Your flesh is of no avail! </b>Your eyes will see bread. Your tongue will taste wine. Your nose will smell the alcohol. Your intellect cannot grasp what I am about to fully reveal on the night before I am to die for your sins, when I take bread in my sacred hands and break it so that you may always have me present. Your faculties of reason cannot understand the miracle - the turning of bread and wine into my flesh and blood - that will be performed in every nation, from the rising of the sun to its setting, at the hands of my priests until I come again in glory.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
-Tim-</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-82964800307023587672010-12-03T21:47:00.009-05:002015-01-30T21:38:53.563-05:00A Funny Bible Site...The <a href="http://www.biblecollectors.org/"><b>International Society of Bible Collectors</b></a> has a fun page where they document some of the wierder Biblical mistranslations and typographical errors throughout history. <br />
<blockquote>
<b><i>1682 — “Cannibals” Bible. In Deut. 24:3, a KJV Bible reads “if the latter husband ate her” instead of “hate her.”</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b><i>1600s — “Fool” Bible. In a Bible edition printed during the reign of Charles I, Psa. 14:1 reads, “The fool hath said in his heart, there is a God” instead of “no God.” The printers were fined 3000 pounds for this error and all copies were suppressed.</i></b></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<b><i>1795 — “Child killer” Bible. Mark 7:27 reads in the King James Version “Let the children first be killed” instead of “be filled.”</i></b></blockquote>
And my personal favorite...<br />
<blockquote>
<b><i>1638— “Vexing wives” Bible. In a KJV Bible at Num. 25:18 it reads “for they vex you with their wives” instead of “with their wiles.”</i></b></blockquote>
<br />
<b><a href="http://www.biblecollectors.org/articles/curiosities.htm">Read More...</a></b><br />
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-Tim-Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1501386398734660682.post-4444180978146640632010-10-21T22:00:00.032-04:002015-01-30T21:39:21.500-05:00A Weekend of Peace...<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOo4G46OtZBMQ65aiRJ1geRoJcN1r_t30Y8h1MVSkVtIhR7oJEQ-NAiKDs3nFoyMQp0Y_95QMj6b1s8Jsv3-xVzQKKkmv8dJYhTWwd57HUvhTekCJ3witoF1s8PZ4fz5HHZnv3-NQEgQ/s1600/monastery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizOo4G46OtZBMQ65aiRJ1geRoJcN1r_t30Y8h1MVSkVtIhR7oJEQ-NAiKDs3nFoyMQp0Y_95QMj6b1s8Jsv3-xVzQKKkmv8dJYhTWwd57HUvhTekCJ3witoF1s8PZ4fz5HHZnv3-NQEgQ/s320/monastery.jpg" height="256" nx="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had to pull over on the way home. </div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The engine was off before the car even came to a stop. The relative quiet as I swung the car into a parking spot behind a Walgreen drug store was the first moment of peace I had since leaving. </div>
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And then I cried. </div>
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The area around the <a href="http://www.trappist.net/"><b>Monastery of the Holy Spirit</b></a> in Conyer's Georgia, home to 32 Monks of the <b><a href="http://www.ocso.org/">Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance</a></b>, is mostly rural and quite bucolic. After twenty minutes of driving toward Atlanta however, the cacophony of the strip malls and billboards of suburbia got to me. </div>
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First a guy on a sport bike whizzed past me at about twice my speed. Then the rumble of some way too big pickup truck drew my attention. I had tried to change lanes to make a turn but the driver behind me sped up to block me, only to wind up next to me at the red light a hundred yards down the road. The sheer number of signs which vied for my attention was amazing; McDonald's, QT, Autozone, buy one get one free, sale, sale, SALE! The noise from car radios, from traffic, and even from my own car just wouldn't stop. It all seemed to be attacking me, and all without purpose, and it made me feel dirty. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Everything in modern city life is calculated to keep man from entering into himself and thinking about spiritual things. Even with the best of intentions a spiritual man finds himself exhausted and deadened and debased by the constant noise of machines and loudspeakers, the dead air and the glaring lights of offices and shops, the everlasting suggestions of advertising and propaganda. </i></b><b><i>The whole mechanism of modern life is geared for a flight from God and from the spirit into the wilderness of neurosis. Even our monasteries are not free from the smell and clatter of our world.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>(No Man is an Island, Thomas Merton)</i></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I simply hadn't realized how peaceful it was at the monastery - especially in the church - and was deeply saddened at having to leave, so much so that I had to pull over. In the relative silence of my car, the contrast between the beauty and silence of the monastery and the the grotesqueness of the world brought me to tears. I desperately wanted to turn around a go back.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Abby Church is one of the largest poured concrete buildings in the south. Every bit of that concrete was hauled up scaffolding my monks, mixed by monks, and dumped wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, one at a time, by monks. As one would expect in church maintained by a strict monastic community, the only visible signage in the church is the Crucifix hanging over the altar, a few simple wooden crosses on the walls and a hand written sign reading "Alms for the food bank" which stood next to a clay pot near the pews.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The monks observe "Grand silence" from the the end of compline (evening prayer) at about 7:30 PM until after Mass on the following morning. Meals are eaten in silence as well. Brother Michael told us that half of a monk's day was spent in silence and I commented that that half of a monks <b><i>life</i></b> is spent in silence. </div>
<br />
<blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>I said, "I will watch my ways,</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>lest I sin with my tongue;</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>I will put a curb on my mouth."</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i>(Psalm 39)</i></b></div>
</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
The retreat house is decorated almost exclusively with reproductions of some of the greatest pieces of Christian art as well as some original works. There are few signs directing anyone as to what behavior is expected and those that are necessary - such as the ones pointing the way toward the Church - all end with the words, "God bless you." One piece of artwork called to me more than all of the others; eleven apostles stood by Jesus while the twelfth apostle knelt in front of our Lord. Jesus' mouth and eyes were closed in silent prayer while his hands rested on the apostles head. It was clearly the sacrament of holy orders. Paintings of Mary, of Jesus, of children running toward the Lord to sit in his lap told us everything we needed to know. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Brother Michael met with us on Friday night and explained some of the basics of how the monastery operated and what we should expect over the next two days. Lunch is the big meal of the day for the monks and to my surprise, we were to be granted access to a portion of the cloistered area and would be joining the monks for lunch in the refectory (dining room) on both Saturday and Sunday. We toured the library, some common rooms and the refectory itself where Br. Michael pointed out where each of us were to sit. Like the rest of the monastery, the rules were simple... pray first, line up in order of seniority (we were last), sit where we were told and eat as much as you want. </div>
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Oh yea... and don't talk. </div>
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I can honestly say that the food was excellent! With considerable nervousness (on my part at least), we lined up behind the monks immediately after the Saturday mid-day prayer and walked from the Church, through the silent garden and into the refectory. Only those who are on an "Infirm" diet get to eat meat and since Br. Michael had heart surgery the year before, he enjoyed sausages. The rest of the monks and the those of us on the retreat enjoyed scrambled eggs, several vegetable dishes including grilled fresh asparagus, fruits, juices, coffee, tea and all the bread one could eat. Someone read the last chapter of a book about Flannery O'Connor out loud during the meal. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The lunch menu is special on Sundays. Shrimp scampi, pasta, home-made sauce, vegetables, bread, cake and four kinds of ice cream all put me in proximate danger of the sin of gluttony. The brothers listen to music on Sunday in lieu of reading out loud but I really can't say much for the selection - some sort of french monastic chant. I could hear Br. Hugh humming the tune as we stood in line waiting to fill up our plates.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was Br. Hugh whom I was paired with in the choir. To hear the liturgy sung was something that I had wanted to experience for quite a while and God granted my wish in a big way. Not only was I hearing the liturgy sung for the first time, I was actually sitting with the monks in the choir singing it along with them! Br. Hugh turned the pages and pointed to the antiphons and portions of the psalms to be sung, each in their turn. The monks on the right side of the church sing a line of the psalm and then the monks on the left side of the church reply with the next line. Br. Hugh hummed the tune even while it was not his turn. </div>
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It was nerve-racking to be in the choir stalls singing vigils, lauds, mid-day prayers, vespers and compline right next to the monks. The fact that I can't read music made my anxiety even worse. "Just do what the monks do" was Br. Michael's great advice. It wasn't until Sunday that I was able to calm down enough to actually concentrate on the messages in the psalms and canticles - the liturgy itself - rather than worrying about dropping a book or when to stand or sit or if the monks were all looking at me. </div>
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What struck me the most about the brothers was their spirituality. Dogma and doctrine, systematic theology and the biblical basis for Catholic beliefs seemed to be obvious truths, no more to be questioned or debated than is the need to breathe air or the efficacy of gravity. Catholic doctrine, the primacy of the Pope, the authority of the church - in short, all the subjects which this blog takes most seriously seem to be taken for granted by the monks. This monastic community is made up of men who are obviously less concerned with the mechanics of devotion than they are about quietly seeking the face of God. </div>
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The whole experience had a spiritual quality, almost akin to mysticism, which I was really unprepared for. The turning point was when I asked about asceticism and mortification in the context of penance, mentioning <a href="http://www.leaderu.com/cyber/books/imitation/imitation.html"><b>The Imitation of Christ</b></a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_%C3%A0_Kempis"><b>Thomas Kempis</b></a> by name. Father Elias snapped, "Oh, I would never read Thomas Kempis!" and continued,<br />
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<b><i>Do you know that they found scratch marks on the inside of his coffin? He tried to claw his way out... He was buried alive. You can fast if you want to but the process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ is a process of subtraction. Subtraction of greed, of selfishness, self hatred, and gossip. All these cover the divine image. </i></b></div>
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I usually carry a leather-bound and zippered copy of Thomas Kempis' work with me and this day was no exception. I started to reach for this very book, stacked neatly between my journal and a large type edition of Christian Prayer in the seat next to me, but stopped just short. I didn't have the guts to bring it out. </div>
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It's no secret that I'm interested in apologetics. The study of God's word and the teachings of the Church which God created for our salvation thrills me. Finding a forsadowing of the Eucharist in the Old Testament excites me. Observing how the Holy Mother of our Lord in the New Testament was prefigured by the ark of the covenant in the Old Testament gives me great joy. That God himself put that love into me cannot be denied. But I think that God led me to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit to see a side of our faith that I'm not too sure I'm ready to acknowledge, let alone understand. It is a side of our faith which simply contemplates the Truth himself.</div>
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And that is what I really took away from the weekend; the need to find a quiet place and to stop trying to figure it all out, the need to slow down, the need to learn how to meditate, and how we all need to try to get as close as we can to the beatific vision - union with the trinity - as is possible on this side of the grave. <br />
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And Father Elias' words still ring in my ear... <b><i>It is a process of subtraction</i></b>. </div>
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I hope that God continue to bless all the brothers at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, all the monks and nuns in cloistered monasteries and convents throughout the world, and all the active religious, who offer prayers to God on our behalf, knowing that sometimes we are too busy, sometimes too careless, and sometimes too distracted by the "Mechanisms of modern life" to do so for ourselves. </div>
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And I hope that God blesses the men who were on the retreat with me. I pray that they are at peace. </div>
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-Tim-</div>
Timhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14624843397283907934noreply@blogger.com4