* SCRIPTURE STUDY  

Recently completed:
"The Book of Revelation"

Thank you Participants and Facilitators
“Amen! Come Lord Jesus!”
Rev. 22:20
**************************

UPCOMING • FALL 2019
Our next
AFF Scripture
Group Study Program
will be from

The OLD TESTAMENT 

Study Groups will begin
SEPTEMBER 2019 ​​​​​​

Please check back for details
and registration information. 
Everyone Welcome!

ℹ️
Questions about our programs?
Please contact:
Catherine Cetera
AFF Program Director
 - or -
Colleen Konopatzke
Office Manager
(406) 892.5142.

 * CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 

     TBA (Fall/Winter 2019)

  * CCC | ADULT CATECHESIS   EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS

 ​     TBA (Fall/Winter 2019)

SUGGESTIONS FOR
PERSONAL INTERIM SCRIPTURE STUDY

______________
”The study of the Sacred Scriptures must be a door opened to every believer.”  
—Pope Francis
Apostolic Exhortation Evangeli Gaudium 175
November 24, 2013
 

 OLD TESTAMENT Bible Study  Preparation

from SCOTT HAHN & The St. Paul Center
An Eight Lesson Course on: FEASTS OF FAITH

When God became man what became of the feasts of His people, the Israelites? What became of the Passover, Pentecost, the Day of Atonement, the Feast of the Tabernacles, the Lord’s Day, and other special days in the Jewish calendar? Did they lose all significance and meaning after the coming of Christ? Or, like the Old Covenant itself, were they fulfilled in the New?

Join Dr. Scott Hahn and St. Paul Center fellows Dr. Brant Pitre and Dr. Michael Barber, as they tackle those questions and more in FEASTS OF FAITH: The Old Testament Feasts and Their Fulfillment in Christ.

Over the course of this study, speakers will trace the evolution and fulfillment of the ancient Jewish Holy Days, exploring the many ways the life and liturgy of the Catholic Church are connected to the life and liturgy of the ancient Israelites. They’ll also help Catholics understand more clearly the Jewish roots of the daily practices of our faith.

 

In honour of 

  FATHER's DAY

LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH

an online BIBLE STUDY
compliments
of SCOTT HAHN
and THE ST. PAUL CENTER

LISTENING TO THE FATHERS TODAY 

Our individual identities are shaped by and linked to our parents and the stories of our families. As a Church, our identity is linked to and shaped by our fathers and mothers in the faith, the earliest Christians. What do those early Christians have to say that contemporary Church? How is our understanding of liturgy shaped by what Jesus’ followers in the first centuries believed and practiced? Have the changes in the Eucharist brought us closer to the ancient church or separated us from our roots?

These are some of the questions Mike Aquilina, St. Paul Center’s Executive Vice President, Carl Sommer and Rod Bennett, will address in this five part series as they examine the faith, and particularly the liturgy, from the vantage point of the early Christians. Tackle those questions and more in

LESSONS FROM THE EARLY CHURCH

USCCB COMMENTARY:

The Apocalypse
or
Book of Revelation 
 

This online commentary from the USCCB takes
the reader on a return-journey through the
Book of Revelation. 
Although a somewhat lengthy read, this commentary provides a general overview, as well as detailed, informative material.

While Group Study of this book was recently completed, further reading and study of this commentary on the individual level can only yield new insights to aid one’s comprehension of this most mesmerizing, mystifying, yet transformative Scripture book.

Clicking the next chapter links enables one to move through the entire Book of Revelation chapter-by-chapter, which is highly recommended.

Due to the depth and complexity of this particular book of Scripture, repeated reading/study, meditation, and prayer are the keys to assimilating its mysteries, and ultimately it's life-lessons.
 

REMINDER: As you read, it would be well to pay particular attention to the various types you will encounter. Recall what you've learned regarding typology-- the foreshadowing & prefigurement in the Old/New Testaments-- and of their fulfillment. 

What is the importance of the ongoing study of typology? 

As St. Augustine said:
"The Old Testament
is the New concealed,
but the New Testament
is the Old revealed."
 (Catechizing of the Uninstructed, 4:8.
Questions on the Heptateuch; citation: CCC 129)

___________________
Recommended
for Further Reading 

Any good Catholic Bible Commentary will prove invaluable in your understanding of The Book of Revelation. Here are but a few suggestions:

POPULAR  
* REVELATION: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (CCSS)
by Peter S. Williamson

* The Navarre Bible: Revelation
by University of Navarre Faculty

* REVELATION: New Collegeville Bible Commentary Series
by Catherine Ann Cory

 ACADEMIC 
* THE. APOCALYPSE OF ST. JOHN Haydock Catholic Bible Commentary
by Rev.George Leo Haydock 
(Written in the older turn-of-the century English vernacular.)

* Book of REVELATION: a Shorter Commentary
by G.K. Beale 
(Although considered a "Protestant" work, based on his comprehensive 1300+ page 
New International Greek Testament Commentary, this title has received endorsements from many Catholic Bible scholars including popular author Scott Hahn, PhD. It is nonetheless a hefty volume  both in weight and content, and in no way a popular, "light" read.)


NB: While some may find the cost of Bible commentaries prohibitive, especially those of the Academic level, the majority of these titles are approximately that of a comparable trade paperback.. 

GOOD READS & RESOURCES 
TO ASSIST ADULTS
AS WE CONTINUE TO GROW IN OUR FAITH. 

__________________

To purchase books online: rather than to provide  innumerable links for books featured on this page, please conduct your own search using Title, Author, and/or Publisher for your preferred online retailer's website.
If you require assistance please contact us. 
 

Pre-Release Write-up
FORTHCOMING TITLE

 RELEASE DATE 
28 June 2019

 How To Pray Like Mary

Mary has been called the “mother of listening.” She didn’t just hear the Word; she pondered it in light of her own relationships and circumstances and then let it transform her. 

Sonja Corbitt is a best-selling author and one of the most dynamic and compelling new voices in the Church today. After years of Bible study, she recognized that the “mother of listening” was providing a model of prayer that has the power to revolutionize your life of prayer.

Starting with Mary’s response to the Annunciation, Sonja will show you how to pray with Scripture under the guidance of the Blessed Mother. You will learn a powerful practice for daily prayer as Mary models it: L–listen, O–observe, V–verbalize, E–entrust. Sonja draws from vivid biblical texts to show you the key to loving Scripture and deepening your relationship with God.

In How to Pray Like Mary, you will:

Develop a daily habit of life-changing prayer.

• Learn how to tell the difference between God's voice and your own thoughts in prayer.

• Understand Mary as the mother of the Church and a model for individual Christians … and why this is so important.

• Rediscover the power in the early Church’s method of Scripture-based prayer. 

• Discover how to hear the voice of God in Scripture, and so that reading Scripture becomes a joyful encounter with the one who loves you.

• Find peace and direction every day as you turn to God’s Word and discover him working in your heart and your life.

• Most importantly: You will know how to respond to God when you do hear him, just like the Blessed Mother!

Publisher: Ascension Press
Trade Paperback / Approx. 150 pages
Publisher's Price: $14.95

_________________

Based on the book... 

 Take the PRAYER PERSONALITY TEMPERAMENT QUIZ on this page 

Watch author SONJA CORBITT explain principles from her forthcoming book (scheduled for release: 28 Jun 2019)

JUST PUBLISHED

Father Raftis' 

BOOK-OF-THE-MONTH
Selection
------- +++ -------
​​​​​​#1 on Amazon

New Release Christian Books

The Sacred That Surrounds Us: How Everything In A Catholic Church Points To Heaven


by Andrea Zachman | Ascension Press

You'll never see a Catholic Church the same way... 

Did you know that everything about the confessional in a Catholic Church, even its size, was designed in a highly specific way by St. Charles Borromeo to answer objections to the sacrament by the Reformation? Did you know there is both a theological and a practical reason why the credence table is placed where it is?

Each item in a Catholic church is there to point to a larger truth.

Every sacred vessel and item is packed with symbolism and meaning, aimed at making each visit to a Catholic church a powerful reminder of God s presence and the truths of our Faith.

The Sacred That Surrounds Us helps reveal Catholic churches as shrines of devotion. Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are made tangible with this book, which explains with clarity the symbolism and history behind the sacred items we see in every Catholic church.

In ancient and medieval times, the faithful knew the meaning of all the sacred items in a church. Today s Catholics can now re-discover the sacred that surrounds them in church.

In modern churches, it can be difficult to realize the immense religious and cultural heritage we as Catholics are heirs to. It can be difficult to enter into the mysteries we are partaking in during the mass.

But every Catholic church, from the small, modern parish to the ancient basilica, has similar sacred objects and vessels.

The Sacred That Surrounds Us helps Catholics make every visit to a Catholic church a pilgrimage of faith.

In The Sacred That Surrounds Us, Catholics read:

• At least one historical fact about the sacred item or church feature being discussed. It answers the question, why is this here? When in Church history did we start using this, and why? 

• At least one symbolic reality about the sacred item or church feature. It answers the question, what deeper reality is this pointing towards? What insight can we gain by meditating on this item?

• A beautiful, high-resolution picture of the item or feature being discussed. A quote from the Church Fathers about this item, or a relevant quote from the Bible

 * Publisher: Ascension Press :   
 * Publication Date: March 2019
 * Book Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6"
 * Length: 125pp. Trade Paperback 

"I found this attractive, slender volume to be a good quick reference source.  As anticipated, it's not as thorough or detailed as other lengthier books dealing with the same subject matter. Nonetheless, I can easily recommend it. The authour writes in a friendly, almost conversational style which makes the book easy to read and the information very digestible. Well illustrated.Comfortable print size".     -CC 

__________________________
"The seed is the
Word of the Lord."
    -Luke 8:11
_________________________

NEW BIBLES !

from
OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

CATHOLIC NOTETAKING BIBLE

NAB (New American Bible)

------- + -------
 

"Perfect for Scripture Study
Note-taking"
     -CC

About this Bible

The Church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful … to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ,’ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures.” —Catechism of the Catholic Church, 133

Dive into the Word of God with this stunning Bible. The wide margins give you room to take notes, journal, record prayers, or even doodle, allowing you to dig deeply into the meaning of passages and their impact on your faith. This Bible will become a cherished keepsake as you revisit your notes and highlights from previous years, seeing how Scripture continues to shape you as you invite the Word to take root more firmly in your heart.

Perfect as a gift for confirmation, RCIA, graduation, and weddings — or for yourself.

Product Details:
Cover: Dark Grey Vegan Leather
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor

I 

______________________
Also by OUR SUNDAY VISITOR
& Blessed Is She 

CATHOLIC JOURNALING BIBLE

The BIBLE WE ALL HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR!

The first of its kind
for Catholic women interested in BIBLE JOURNALING-ILLUMINATION


Discover a beautiful, personal way to engage with Scripture through journaling, taking notes, recording prayers, doodling, drawing, creative expression. 

The first ever, full Catholic Journaling Bible (NABRE) includes wide margins with lines.
It's elegant design includes hand-lettered quotes and space for personal reflection.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION (AFF)  .        

THE catechetical mission of the Church is for the faithful of all ages to grow in both human and Christian maturity, enriching the whole of life with the leaven of the Gospel. Every disciple of the Lord Jesus shares in this mission.  To do their part, adult Catholics must be mature in faith and well equipped to share the Gospel.

The Adult Faith Formation (AFF) ministry serves to engage the particular needs and interests of adults in our community.
It will, over the course of time, offer a comprehensive, systematic presentation and exploration of the core elements of Catholic faith and practice.
To achieve this, the AFF ministry incorporates all the faith dimensions of an adult’s life including the experience of family life, relationships, public service, and concern for the common good. It does so in a way that is accessible to adults and relates to their life experiences— integrating actual life experience, and the diverse learning styles of adults; through the study of Scripture, and the teaching of the Church's traditions.

Adult Faith Formation is an ongoing process.

AFF employs prayer, liturgy, group Scripture study, catechetical-based programs, creative workshops, and fellowship to deepen one’s relationship with God, and to nurture ourselves and one another. 

“My child, do not forget my teachings,
and let your heart keep my commandments.
For they shall add to thee length of days, and years of life, and peace.”
  -Proverbs 3:1-2



 

FRANCISCAN?   Ignatian?

Augustine?             THOMISTIC?

_______________________________         

       

WHAT IS YOUR PRAYER PERSONALITY TEMPERAMENT TYPE??

Do the centuries of liturgical tradition bring you comfort? Does change make you feel ill-at-ease?
Is the structure afforded by rules & regulations a stabilizing force for you... or do you find them too restrictive, preferring a more free-spirited approach? 

Take this fun, free 5-minute QUIZ and discover which prayer temperament type you are (Franciscan, Ignatian, Augustinian, or Thomistic).

Upon learning your results, watch the accompanying  free video after the quiz for a deeper dive into your temperament along with some tips to improve the way you pray!


Based on the forthcoming NEW BOOK How To Pray Like Mary (Ascension Press) by best-selling authour & video series narrator SONJA CORBITT.  

    See The LIBRARY section on this page for more details and a pre-release write-up.

 Pope Francis is harnessing the power of technology to connect people and encourage prayer.

Earlier this year, before a crowd in St. Peter’s Square, the pope officially launched his newest app, Click To Pray, on a tablet. He jokingly asked the priest who held the tablet if he’d set up the app correctly. 

“Internet and social media are a resource of our time: an opportunity to stay in touch with others, to share values and projects, and to express the desire to make a community,” Pope Francis said. “The network can also help us to pray in community, to pray together. . .I especially invite you young people to download the Click To Pray app, continuing to pray the rosary for peace with me, especially during the World Youth Day in Panama.” 

The app is part of Pope Francis’ Worldwide Prayer Network, and it hopes to connect thousands of people throughout the world. 
After users create a profile, they can access their account and propose prayer intentions to pray for yourself or for other intentions. 
Then, users set a time to start their prayer in the morning. Users also select another moment during the day to receive an invitation to prayer, and a final moment in the evening to reflect on a daily review.
“The app invites you to pray together for his intentions which address current challenges facing humanity and the mission of the Church,” the app’s website reads. “Because ‘every day is different,’ the app offers you a prayer 365 days a year to help you discover each day how God calls you to live. Join us as we pray together with the Pope, united with the Heart of Christ, thousands of us throughout the world now form a truly global prayer network.”
 

Click to Pray is available for Android and Apple users.

Pope Francis has his own official profile on the app. 

 Visit 
     
 

     K

In 382AD, during the time of Pope Damascus I, the Council of Rome took place. It was one of the councils at which the Catholic Church agreed upon the canonicity of the books of the Bible. 
But how well do you know the actual content of the Scriptures? 


Take this quiz and find out! 

Didn’t do as well as you’d like?
Sign-up and participate in our next Scripture Study program offering. 
 

 USCCB APPROVED Translations of the SACRED SCRIPTURES
 for  Private Use and Study by Catholics 

1983 - Present

The 1983 Code of Canon Law entrusts to the Apostolic See and the episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church (c. 825, §1).  Prior to 1983, Scriptural translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary within a diocese.   

What follows is a complete list of the translations of the Sacred Scriptures that have received the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1983.      


•    Books of the New Testament, Alba House
•    Contemporary English Version - New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society
•    Contemporary English Version - Book of Psalms, American Bible Society
•    Contemporary English Version - Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society
•    The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version), G.I.A. Publications
•    New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
•    New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches 
•    The Psalms, Alba House
•    The Psalms (New International Version) - St. Joseph Catholic Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Company
•    The Psalms - St. Joseph New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Company
•    Revised Psalms of the New American Bible (1991)
•    So You May Believe, A Translation of the Four Gospels, Alba House
•    Translation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society



Don't see your particular Bible listed?


In addition to the translations listed above, any translation of the Sacred Scriptures that has received proper ecclesiastical approval ‒ namely, by the Apostolic See, a local ordinary prior to 1983, or an episcopal conference following 1983 ‒ may be used by the Catholic faithful for private prayer and study.  



A few examples of the most popular, widely-used translations:

• Douay-Rheims (1582/1609/1899)
• RSV-2CE (2005)  Revised Standard Version-Second Catholic Edition
• NABRE (2011)  New American Bible, Revised Edition
• Today's English Version (1992) (This is the Catholic edition of the popular Good News Bible ---considered more a paraphrase than a true translation.)
• The Jerusalem Bible (1966)*
• CCD (1941) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine - New Testament  

• The New Jerusalem Bible (1990) A revision of The Jerusalem Bible directly from the original languages. It contains **inclusive language, similar to that rejected in the Revised NAB (NABRE) by the Holy See for use in the liturgy.

** Inclusive Language: A simplified definition of gender-inclusive language is that of a translation which seeks to avoid masculine-specific terminology when the original authour referred to members of both sexes.



 ** Inclusive Language

Learn more about the topic of language-inclusivity, the practical principles, and the canonical responsibility involved in approving translations, in the following document from 
Pastoral Letters and Statements of the United States Catholic Bishops, volume vi: 1989-1997 (Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1998), pp. 207-214. [Approved by the NCCB]

Criteria for the Evaluation of Inclusive Language Translations of Scriptural Texts Proposed for Liturgical Use
http://www.bible-researcher.com/nccb.criteria.html

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

Catholic vs. Protestant Bibles: whats the difference?

Bible translations developed for use by Catholics are "complete" Bibles.

In other words, these Bibles contain the entire canonical text as identified by Pope Damasus I, the Synod of Rome (382), the local Councils of Hippo (393), and Carthage (397). It is the complete canon contained in St. Jerome's Latin Vulgate translation (420), and as decreed infallibly by the Ecumenical Council of Trent (1570).


This canonical text contains the same 27 New Testament books which Protestant versions contain, but Catholic Bibles have 46 Old Testament books, instead of only the 39 found in Protestant versions. (See OT Books Comparison Chart below)

These 7 books, and parts of 2 others, are called Deuterocanonical (2nd canon) by Catholics,
and The Apocrypha (false writings) by Protestants. These books were eliminated from Protestant versions at the time of the Reformation (16th century).

The Deuterocanonical Scriptures are Tobias (Tobit), Judith, Baruch,
Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), Wisdom, 1st and 2nd Maccabees, portions of Esther and of Daniel.


 

_______________________________


 

    OLD TESTAMENT Books Comparison Chart _____________________
 

_______________________________

It is preferable that any Bible you choose have an imprimatur notice on the back of the title page. The imprimatur/nihil obstat indicates that the book is free from errors in Catholic doctrine.





Source:  USCCB  

Explore the St. Paul Center's Journey Through Scripture
Bible Study Program

 NOW on       

  
The Bible and the Virgin Mary 12-part series
 

Journey Through Scripture is the St. Paul Center's Bible study program designed to help ordinary Catholics grow in their knowledge of the Scriptures while deepening their understanding of the riches of our faith.  Disgtinctively Catholic, Journey Through Scripture reads the Bible from the heart of the Church, engaging both the OLD and NEW Testaments and how they work together.
Its grounded in history, yet actively engages topics faced by today's Catholic. More than just an ordinary Bible study, it's Biblical catechesis.

The Bible and the Virgin Mary is a dynamic twelve-part video series that beautifully explains the Catholic truths about Our Lady, showing how she has been a part of God's plan ito bring salvation to the world since the beginning of time.  In addition to explanation of dogma, answers to common objections, and demonstration of Mary's presence is the OLD and NEW Testaments, the study discusses Church-approved Marian apparitions that play an important role in Catholic Tradiition
Its sure to help Catholics and noon-Catholics alike grow in an understanding and appreciation of the Mother of God.



 

"Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I always may be holy. Amen."

                                                                                   -St. Augustine