• SCRIPTURE STUDY
• ADULT CATECHESIS
• ONLINE LEARNING
• DISCUSSION GROUPS
• CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
• PODCAST: 406CatholicNW                                                    

*.•・♬・˚・REJOICE!・˚・♬・•.*
⁜
DEO GRATIAS!

PLEASE REMEMBER Fr. RAFTIS
In your prayers DAILY

༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

Coming Soon

2023

NEW BOOKS
LENT RESOURCES

༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

LIVE-STREAMED
MASS
(most)
SUNDAYS
10:00am

On the new Official
YouTube channel of:

St Richard Columbia Falls

Click to visit the channel

OoSCRIPTURE STUDY
ADULT CATECHESIS (CCC)

“Ignorance of the Scriptures
is ignorance of Christ"

 -- St. Jerome       

(Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 133)

AFF: UPCOMING STUDY

NEW STUDY!
COMING soon
The HOLY ANGELS

 Facilitator: Catherine C.
Please check back for Registration Details

NEW PODCAST SERIES!
[coming soon]

406 Catholic NW
hosted by Catherine Cetera

 presents

Foundations of Our Faith:
"THE SCRIPTURAL ROSARY"

✧･˚ *｡･ ♛ ･｡* ˚ ･✧

Please check back for details
and programming information.

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

BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP

Hosted by KURT HERTRICH
 

TBA 

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 
TBA

 Catholic Online Encyclopedia

 USCCB Bible Commentary

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
 

Catholic Faith Formation
 Bible Study Preparation
______________  

 

* Based on the 
DIDACHE SERIES
textbook by
James Socias & Scott Hahn

[Publisher: Midwest Theological Forum. $55]

TYPOLOGY?

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. 
 

⍟»— JUST PUBLISHED! —«⍟

•••••••
New Release
•••••••

Crown Of The Virgin: An Ancient Meditation On Mary's
Beauty, Virtue, And Sanctity

by Fr. Robert Nixon, OSB

TAN Books Publishing

A powerful, imaginative and lyrical set of meditations on the Immaculate Mother of God, reflecting on her splendor, beauty and sanctity. 

This publication is the first translation into English of a Latin work, entitled Libellus de Corona Virginis, or “The Little Book on the Crown of the Virgin.” Traditionally, it has been ascribed to St. Ildephonsus of Toledo, a great monk, abbot and bishop of the 7th century. St. Ildephonsus contributed powerfully to the dissemination of the doctrine of the Perpetual Virginity of Our Lady in Western Europe, and to the popularization of fervent Marian devotion in Spain. In this beautiful, moving and ornate literary portrait, the author imaginatively and lyrically fashions a magnificent crown for the Blessed Virgin Mary, decorated with twelve radiant jewels, six brilliant stars and six fragrant flower blossoms. Each of these is interpreted as representing a particular aspect of the beauty, beneficence, virtue or sanctity of the Blessed Virgin. 

A perfect companion for guiding daily devotion to the Mother of Mercy and the Queen of Heaven, each chapter reveals a new and scintillating glimpse into the glories of Mary, sure to inspire the heart of the reader with ever more ardent devotion to the Mother of God, the vessel of all graces and the paradigm and perfection of every virtue. As a guide to meditation and a catalyst for prayer, the Crown of the Virgin is an illuminating mirror of the beauty and splendor of the one who is herself the refulgent and immaculate image of her Divine Son.

________________
 

---

AFF STUDY GROUP:
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

His Angels at Our Side:
Understanding Their Power in Our Souls
and the World

by Fr. John Horgan

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS

}}}}}}}}]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]][[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[{{{{

In these pages, Fr. Horgan unveils the surprising role
of the angels in our lives — and what you must do to gain their help. You’ll learn how to imitate the angels
in prayer and how they offer you the enlightenment
and the encouragement God so desperately wants to give you. By praying with the angels, you will be strengthened for what lies ahead, better able to
discern and do the Lord’s will in all your actions.

You’ll also learn:

• Why the Church teaches that the angels were created at the time of creation.
• The responsibilities of the angels at every Mass.
• The key difference between spirits and angels.
• Seven habits you must develop to grow closer to God through His angels.
• The difference between Archangel Gabriel’s apparitions to Mary and Zechariah.
• How St. Joseph can expose you to the inspirations of the angels.
• The difference in the way humans and angels think.
• How you can imitate the warrior nature of the angels.
• The three ways you must respond to your angel’s guardianship.
• The five roles that every angel takes in their service for the Lord.
• The surprising ways in which angelic warfare is carried out.

• Publisher:  Sophia Institute Press
• Tradepaper & eBook

• 304pp
 

}}}}}}}}]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]]][[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[[{{{

---

_GREAT READS          

☆*:..｡.  ☠  .｡.:*☆
MEMENTO MORI:

Not just for LENT!

Watch an interview
with Sr. Aletheia here:

Memento Mori--
Latin for
"remember you will die"

-- refers to the practice of prayer and meditation on one's inevitable death and the afterlife.

_____________________

⍟ A prayer book to help you to meditate on your death and all the Last Things in order to live for heaven.
 

""A good death depends on a good life."
-- St. Robert Bellarmine

ENCOURAGED BY SCRIPTURE and the SAINTS, this ancient tradition can help you to manage the chaos of this world, grow closer to GOD, and focus on HEAVEN. 

Memento mori--Latin for "remember you will die"--refers to the practice of meditation on one's inevitable death and the afterlife. Encouraged by Scripture and the saints, this ancient tradition can help you to manage the chaos of this world, grow closer to God, and focus on heaven. 

Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP is a religious sister at the forefront of the movement to revive this practice in the Church. She has written several resources to help people to incorporate memento mori into their daily lives.
 

Her Memento Mori: A Lenten Devotional and the Memnto Mori Journal have
touched thousands of lives.    

Now she has compiled and written a beautiful year-round, general prayer book to help people to meditate on death and the afterlife, traditionally called "the Last Things," in order to prepare for heaven. 

Meditation on the Last Things is not a dark, depressing practice..."

Meditation on the Last Things--death, judgment, hell, and heaven--is not a dark and depressing practice. Rather, the practice is hopeful and lifechanging. It helps people to take stock of their lives, grow closer to God, and to live with renewed purpose and fervor.
May this practice open your heart to the work God wants to do in you and through you before your last day on earth, whenever that day might be. 

May God find us prepared!
 

☆*:..｡.  ☠  .｡.:*☆

Features & Benefits::

*  Prayer book written and compiled by a trusted religious sister 

* Includes the section Death: Prayers to Live and Die Well with prayers to Jesus, the Way of the Cross, prayers to live each day well, prayers for a good death, prayers for the dying, Marian prayers for assistance in life and death
*  Includes the section Judgment: Prayers to Prepare to Meet Jesus with penitential prayers, guide to the sacrament of penance and reconciliation, the Memento Mori Daily Examen, prayers for the dead
*  Includes the section Hell: Prayers to Combat the Powers of Darkness with formula for renewal of baptismal promises, Eucharistic prayers, the Rosary, spiritual warfare prayers
*  Includes the section Heaven: Prayers for Union with God with prayers of longing for heaven, prayers of praise to God, Marian prayers
*  Includes a selection of prayers in both Latin and English
*  Contains an explanation of indulgences

⍟ Prayer book has a nihil obstat and imprimatur

The practice of memento mori
is "hopeful and lifechanging.
It helps people to take stock of their lives, grow closer to God, and to live with renewed purpose and fervor."

☆*:..｡.  ☠  .｡.:*☆

About the Author

Sr. Theresa Aletheia Noble, FSP
has a skull on her desk as a memento mori, a reminder of her inevitable death. The ancient tradition of remembering death--encouraged by Scripture, early Church Fathers, and many saints--has changed her life and led to greater union with God.

You can learn more about her
and get free
memento mori wallpapers
for your phone and computers at
https://pursuedbytruth.com/

☆*:..｡.  ☠  .｡.:*☆
 

• Publisher: Pauline Books and Media (November 2, 2019)
• Imitation Leather: 384 pages
• Silver gilt page-edges
• Binding: Sewn 
• Product Dimensions: 4.7 x 0.7 x 6.4"

Learn more
about
Memento Mori: Prayers
On The Last Things

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.”
—Psalm 90:12

 

------- +++ -------  
The perennial favourite

​​​​THE BIBLE
IS A
CATHOLIC BOOK

Jimmy Akin | Ignatius Press

We are the original "Bible Christians" 

In The Bible Is a Catholic Book, Jimmy shows how the Bible cannot exist apart from the Church. In its origins and its formulation, in the truths it contains, in its careful preservation over the centuries and in the prayerful study and elucidation of its mysteries.

"Scripture is inseparable from Catholicism".

Scripture is inseparable from Catholicism. This is fitting, since both come from God for our salvation.

If you’re a Catholic who sometimes gets intimidated by the Bible (especially scriptural challenges from Protestants), The Bible Is a Catholic Book will help you better understand and take pride in this gift that God gave the world through the Church.

We are the original “Bible Christians”!

And even non-Catholics will appreciate the clear and charitable way that Jimmy explains how the early Church gave us the Bible—and how the Church to this day reveres and obeys it.

* Publisher: Ignatius Press :   
 * Publication Date: September 2019
 * Binding: Trade Paperback
 * Length: 181 pp.  

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

BIBLES: New & Noteworthy 

⍟»— NEW! NEW! NEW! —«⍟
NEW & RECENTLY PUBLISHED
________________________

⁜ The Illustrated
Catholic Bible ⁜

CATHOLIC BIBLE PRESS
NRSV
------- +++ -------

This gorgeous, one-of-a-kind Bible from Catholic Bible Press contains over 500 illustrations from a Bible printed by 16th-century Venetians, who specialized in exquisite woodcuts.

Experience the Scriptures in an exciting way with this gorgeous, one-of-a-kind
printed in the elegant and exclusive Catholic Comfort Print^® this volume will freshly inspire you and inform your faith.

Each art rendering in this devotional Bible is linked to a passage of Scripture to guide your reflection.

Printed in the popular and trusted New Revised Standard Version, this Bible contains the complete Catholic canon printed on single-column pages for easy reading.

About the NRSV: Renowned for its balance of scholarship and readability, the NRSV is a trustworthy translation appropriate for personal spiritual formation and in the academy. This Catholic Edition of the NRSV bears the imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church and is approved for private use and study by the Catholic faithful.

Features include:

• Complete Catholic Bible with the official imprimatur of the Roman Catholic Church
• Anglicized text
• The only illustrated Catholic Bible for adults using exquisite 513 antique illustrations from a 16^th-century Venetian Bible
• Devotional Bible for Catholic readers that uses art renderings; each image is linked to a passage of Scripture to guide the reader in reflecting on the passage
• High-quality Bible paper for improved readability
• Gilded page edging
• Two satin ribbon markers so you can easily navigate and keep track of where you were reading
• Durable Smyth-sewn binding lays flat in your hand or on your desk
• Exclusive 9.5-point Catholic Comfort Print^®typeface created specifically for Catholic Bible Press by 2K/DENMARK type foundry

Catholic Bible Press is a subsidiary
of HarperCollins Christian Publishing

⁜ The Divine Mercy Bible ⁜

ASCENSION PRESS
RSV-2CE

 

Anyone who “responds with a sincere heart: ‘Jesus, I trust in You!’  will find comfort in all his anxieties and fears.”
“There is nothing that man needs more than Divine Mercy
—that love which is benevolent,
which is compassionate, which raises man above his weakness to the infinite heights of the holiness of God.”

— St. John Paul II
Shrine of Divine Mercy in Krakow, Poland

⁜

What Catholics may not realize
is that the revelation of
Divine Mercy
is interwoven into the Bible.
⁜

The Divine Mercy Catholic Bible clearly shows
the astounding revelation of
Divine Mercy amidst the
timeless truths of Sacred Scripture.

____________

Unique features include:

• Revised Standard Version–Second Catholic Edition

 

• Images of Divine Mercy saints and shrines, including St. Faustina, St. John Paul II, and The National Shrine of the Divine Mercy

• 175 Mercy Moment callouts to show God’s mercy through the Bible

• 19 Divine Mercy articles to dive deeper into understanding Divine Mercy

• Words of Jesus in red to distinguish the words of our Savior

• 16 full-color maps to explore the ancient lands of the Bible

• Alpha Cowhide cover for durability and long-time protection

• 2 ribbon markers to keep your place

Reading this Bible will help transform your mind, heart, and soul as you discover the overwhelming love God has for you.
____________

Learn more in this video review:
The Divine Mercy Bible

⁜ The Augustine Bible ⁜

IGNATIUS PRESS ESV-CE
Printed in Italy

The Augustine Bible features a beautiful foil-stamped slipcase and a durable matte cover to ensure that you can use and treasure this Bible for years to come.
Printed in Italy, The Augustine Bible features the English Standard Version® Catholic Edition (ESV-CE) translation, which some consider to be the best available English translation of the Bible.

------- +++ -------
How is the ESV-CE
translation different?

Augustine Institute professor,
Dr. Mark Giszczak explains:

"If you have ever read the King James Bible
or its twentieth century update,
the Revised Standard Version,
the ESV will sound familiar.
As an intentional update of the RSV,
the ESV removes the archaic-sounding words and phrases, while trying to improve on the translation and changing
about 60,000 words in all."

It is close enough to the RSV
to sound familiar,
but different enough to feel fresh.

Product Description:
​​• Dimen.:9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4"
• Pages: 1232
• Maps: 8ppFull colour
• Pub. Date: Dec 20, 2019
 

Special Features:

◊ Smyth sewn with foil stamping under anti-scuff matte lamination.
◊ Encased in a rigid Wibalin® slipcase with foil stamping.

Augustine Institute RSV-2CE

  Ascension Press RSV-2CE

From Jeff Cavins, author of the
Great Adventure Bible series.
Very recently published and currently the #1-Best-selling Catholic Bible.
------------------------

Featured in the
BIBLE IN A YEAR
podcast

--------------------------

Don't just read the words of the Bible ... understand them.

The Great Adventure Catholic Bible makes the complexity of reading the Bible simple.

The narrative approach in this Bible gives the big picture of salvation history and shows how everything ties together. This is the only Bible that incorporates The Great Adventure's color-coded Bible Timeline learning system, a system that has made The Great Adventure Bible study resources the most popular and influential in the English speaking world. The color-coded tools make it easy to read and easy to remember.

• Color-coding for easy reference. Uses the popular Bible Timeline system that's used by hundreds of thousands of Catholics to learn the Bible

• Articles to help you understand the overarching story and important covenants that tie the entire Bible together

• Key event callouts to help  you quickly identify important points in the Bible that ordinarily take readers a long time to find and categorize in their head

• Detailed charts giving a visual overview of important characters, key events, maps, major covenants, and historical context

• Newly Designed Full-Color Maps to help visualize Bible story locations

• Two satin ribbon markers

• Words of Christ in red letter.

Product Description:
​​​​​• Dark Blue Vegan Leather
• Dimen.: 6.9 x 2 x 9.9"
• Weight: 2.75 lbs.
________________________

The Bible In a Year
podcast is based on this Bible
--- and it is the Bible Fr. Mike will be reading from for the podcast each day!

(This is also the Bible I’ll be using for the forthcoming AFF Study of "Salvation History".)   -CC

----- • -----
Ascension recently developed a Bible with the Bible Timeline system built in: The Great Adventure Catholic Bible.

This Bible has been so helpful to Catholics hoping to learn to understand Scripture that it is the best-selling, and top-rated, Catholic Bible on Amazon.

More Information at
Ascension Press

____________________________________
____________________________________

⁜ LITTLE ROCK CATHOLIC
STUDY BIBLE ⁜

L Liturgical Press. *NABRE

Open the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible and feel at home with the Word of God. Through accessibly written information and engaging visuals that highlight and clarify significant areas of Scripture, readers will easily gain an understanding of these ancient texts that can be carried into today's world. Using the authorized translation in the New American Bible Revised Edition, this lasting volume is ideal for both personal use and group Bible study.

The valuable information in the Little Rock Catholic Study Bible is offered in small notes and inserts that accompany the Bible texts as well as in expanded essays, articles, and graphics. Key symbols help readers quickly identify the type of information they need, such as explanations, definitions, dates, character and author profiles, archaeological insights, personal prayer starters, and insights connecting Scripture and its use in today's church. Colorful maps, timelines, photographs, and charts further enhance the study experience. Longer articles are dedicated to explaining study Bible fundamentals, the Catholic Church's use of the Bible, and the people and places of the biblical world.

General Editor: Catherine Upchurch (retired 2018) serves as the director of Little Rock Scripture Study. Her work in adult faith formation involves writing, editing, lecturing, leading retreats and days of reflection. She is the editor of A Year of Sundays and an associate editor of The Bible Today, a journal of biblical spirituality.

*NABRE, the official translation of The Church, the version read during Mass.

Product Description:
•Binding: Paper, Hardcover/Clothbound, or Deluxe Vegan Leather w/gold gilt edges.
•Pages: 2668
•Dimen.: 6.6x2.5x9.2"
•Weight: 3.2 lbs.

________________________
Review by CC:
This is the most comprehensive complete  Catholic Study Bible I’ve seen currently in-print.
Vast footnotes, articles, individual book introductions, historical and biographical studies, Vatican documents, numerous charts, tables, maps, and so much more. Purchase the sturdy hardcover or deluxe bound versions, and you’ll have a true study Bible for life.  -CC

_______________________________

Little Rock Scripture Study Bible
sample page

For more information
and to view more sample pages
visit
LITURGICAL PRESS

____________________________________
____________________________________

OUR SUNDAY VISITOR

⁜ CATHOLIC NOTETAKING BIBLE ⁜

NABRE
(New American Bible Revised Edition)

"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.

Product Details:
Cover: Dark Grey Vegan Leather
Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
Pages: 2096

______________________
Also by OUR SUNDAY VISITOR
& Blessed Is She 

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

⁜ THE CATHOLIC
JOURNALING BIBLE ⁜

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.

  Hardcover-Clothbound
   Pages: 1669
   Dimensions: 6.9" x 1.9" x 9"

DISCLAIMER: Please note that all products, instructional materials, and data links presented here are for informational purposes only.
No endorsements are given or implied by the webpage author, the parish of St. Richard (Columbia Falls. MT), or the Diocese of Helena.
Please utilize these resources wisely and accept all responsibility for their use.

"The act of faith is born from the love that desires
an an ever-increasing knowledge of the Lord Jesus,
living in the Church,
and for this reason initiating believers
into the Christian life means introducing them
to the living encounter with Him."       

- (The New Directory of Catechesis. 2020. para.4).                   

.

༻༻ ⁜   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

 

⁜ A brief catechism on  ALTAR RAILS

________________________༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶ — ༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

“The altar rail is still a marker of the place where heaven and earth meet…”
 

“The Altar Rail is still a marker of the place where
Heaven and earth meet…”

⁜ Altar rails are returning and for all the right reasons. ⁜

Altar rails have recently seen a resurgence in popularity.

They’re making a comeback and with their return so is reverence.

It is increasingly common as of late to see the installation of rails as an integral
component of church architecture and liturgical reform.
All over the country, in a diversity of dioceses, the rail has returned.

--------------------------------------

• Weren't altar rails to be removed post-Vatican II?

It should be noted that there has never been a decree requiring the removal of altar rails
(also known as communion rails) following the Second Vatican Council.
However, in the post-Vatican II years, many in the Church aggressively sought to
remove that which was considered “traditional” and sacred; facilitating the hasty removal
of the ornate high altars, exquisite Catholic statuary, and of course, altar rails. 

“There is nothing in Vatican II or post-conciliar documents which mandate their removal,”
said Denis McNamara, author of Catholic Church Architecture and the Spirit of the Liturgy (Hillenbrand Books, 2009) and assistant director and professor at the Liturgical Institute of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, Ill.

McNamara has addressed the theological significance of rails in this July 2011 interview with the National Catholic Register:

“The Church of Rome never said to remove the altar rails.”, adds Cardinal Francis Arinze, former prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments.
 Z

༶༶༶༶༶༶༶

• Altar rails are contributing to the restoration of the sacred and the recovery of reverence within the Holy Mass. 

The occasional person may see the rails as ‘fences’ which may set up division between
priest and people. But this is not the case, nor their intended purpose.

Theologically there is a significant meaning in the distinction between nave and sanctuary. Just as there is a distinct difference in the roles of ordained and laity.
The altar rail may be seen as the architectural manifestation defining the distinction of these roles, just as they serve to give a clear designation as to what the sanctuary* is.
*The word ‘sanctuary’ comes from the word ‘holy,’ which means ‘set apart’, ‘sanctified’. 

• The sanctuary is set apart from the rest of the church because it reinforces our understanding of what holiness is.
• The sanctuary is symbolically the head of the church and represents Christ as the head.

Here at St. Richard church, also the seat of the Kalispell Deanery, the altar rail installation was originally intended to  accommodate the Extraordinary Form Mass, but it’s use will include all masses, including the Novus Ordo (Ordinary) form.

༶༶༶༶༶༶༶

• Altar rails encourage kneeling and in turn deeper adoration.

It’s part of our tradition as Catholics for centuries to receive Holy Communion on the knees. 
Kneeling is also a beautiful form of devotion to our blessed Lord and encourages adoration.

While Communicants are given the option to kneel or stand, and to receive on the tongue or in the hand, many may choose to kneel to receive Communion. For the Roman Catholic to receive the Eucharist while standing and in the hand is an indult, a special permission
granted by the Holy See, because the ordinary way by Church law is still to receive while kneeling and on the tongue.
(The indult was granted at the request of the American bishops.)
 

• The People's Altar: a place for adoration and comfort

Liturgical architecture expert McNamara states that he has found
that some church architecture books consider the rail the “people’s altar”.

The altar rail is an invitation for people-- individually or as a family,
to come close to the sanctuary
to kneel and pray in adoration before the tabernacle,
a statue of Our Lady or images of saints.

Fr. Markey, of St. Mary Church, Norwich, CN. notes that worship is enhanced for adults as well as children: “Little children like to kneel and pray there while their mom and dad receive Holy Communion."
 

༶༶༶༶༶༶༶
“When we gather at the altar rails,
we symbolically gather at the altar.”
༶༶༶༶༶༶༶

It is fitting to conclude with the words of our pope emeritus, Benedict XVI, when he was still Cardinal Ratzinger, Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Ratzinger noted that, “the practice of kneeling for Holy Communion has in its favor a centuries-old tradition, and it is a particularly expressive sign of adoration, completely appropriate in light of the
true, real and substantial presence of Our Lord Jesus Christ under the consecrated species.”

Additionally, in his seminal work “The Spirit of the Liturgy” Cardinal Ratzinger noted that,
“The man who learns to believe learns also to kneel, and a faith or a liturgy no longer familiar with kneeling would be sick at the core.”
In recent years, however, there has been a slow yet steady healing occurring within the liturgy. 
 

As Catholics we are blessed to experience the return of the altar rail to our parish.

༶༶༶༶༶༶༶

“Thetar ra is still a marker of the place where heaven and earth meet…”Click on Click on the photo below to see documentation of how one Virginia parish
brought back altar rails and the restoration process!

Sacred Space Recommended Reading:

            •  How to Read Churches: A Crash Course in Ecclesiatical Architecture:
      A crash course in Christian architecture
      By: Dr. Denis R. McNamara                   

           • Catholic Church Architcture and The Spirit of Liturgy
        By: Dr Denis R. McNamara || Foreward by Scott Hahn      


          • In Tiers of Glory: The Organic Development of Catholic Church
         Architecture Through The Ages. 
         By: Michael S. Rose

             •  Ugly As Sin:  Why They Changed Our Churches from Sacred Places to Meeting Spaces
              and How We Can Change Them Back Again
               By: Michael S. Rose

༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶ — ༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

•••••••••••••••••••••  

  ⍟»—> COMING SOON <—«⍟

A new Bible-in-a-Year reading program
More newly published Bibles
New booksCCCO  •. 

•••••••••••••••••••••  

#1 CHART-TOPPING PODCAST!  •••••••

The Bible in a Year (with Fr. Mike Schmitz) is the most popular
religious podcast in America,

 Over half a million Catholics are currently listening.  It's changing lives.

The #1 Chart-topping Podcast from
Ascension Catholic Faith Formation

 •  THE BIBLE IN A YEAR  •

Fr. Mike Schmitz

In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible
in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way.

Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible* Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins.
For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episode that will help you understand the context of each reading.

*The Great Adventure Bible: for more info, see this page, left column below.- CC     

With this podcast, you won’t just read the Bible in a year … you’ll finally understand how all the pieces of the Bible fit together to tell an amazing story that continues in your life today!

 

Listen and Read the ENTIRE Bible

Feel more confident about your understanding of Scripture.
 

Experience the transformative power of God’s Word in your daily life
Start seeing the world through the lens of Scripture

                  Each 20-25 minute episode includes:

•  Two to three scripture readings       •  A reflection from Fr. Mike Schmitz 

•  A guided prayer to help you hear God’s voice in his Word

The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised. 

_________________________________________________________

The Official BIBLE IN A YEAR Reading Plan   

This reading plan follows The Bible Timeline® Learning System
developed by Jeff Cavins.
 

It identifies the 14 narrative books that tell the “big picture” story of salvation history.

 Once you understand these 14 central books, everything else in the Bible will fall into context. 

Fr. Mike follows this Bible Timeline progression throughout the podcast.

You’ll get to see how all 73 books of the Bible fit into this one central narrative thread!

Everything is outlined in the reading plan.      

༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

 How to Use the Reading Plan:

This reading plan covers the entire Catholic Bible in 365 days.

Each episode, Fr. Mike Schmitz will read 2-3 Scripture passages that coincide with
the 12 periods of The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, denoted by the colours*
on the left side of the reading plan.
*(If you print this Reading Plan, remember to do so in COLOUR!)

 Readings in bold refer to the 14 narrative books of the Bible.
The Psalms and Proverbs are spread out throughout the year to provide additional opportunity for prayer,
reflection, and practical wisdom.
The Psalms in italics have a particular connection to that day’s other readings..

_________________________________

  VIEW and DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY NOW

The Official 365 Day Reading Plan for
The Bible in a Year

                                                                                                                                  [ Click for .PDF  download ]      

                                                                   ...THEN BEGIN LISTENING BELOW!

_________________________________________________________

  LISTEN NOW!

The BIBLE IN A YEAR Podcast with Fr.Mike Schmitz 

You may begin at anytime. Past episodes are available.

___________________________________________________________

"Do not try to please everybody.
Try to please God, the angels, and the saints – they are your public."

- St. John Vianney.                       

CURRENT EVENTS: Bringing awareness of 

A MOST DEVILISH PROBLEM! 

2022 has opened with disturbing news
of the very visible presence of the evil one.

  YOUR PRAYERS ARE NEEDED!

        

• SatanCON 2022 

In February 2022, the Satanic Temple hosted
the first annual “SatanCON” (like ComicCON, but evil).

The three-day event took place

in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the Diocese of Phoenix.

Catholic apologist, author, and retired LAPD officer Jesse Romero organized a prayer rally

to protest the Satanic Temple's ‘Black Mass’ and their intent to consecrate the city to Satan.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

You can pray the ROSARY in your own homes as a Catholic prayer protest,
as well as to engage in fasting and prayer. 

 ⁜ 
For more information including detailed recommendations on preparing yourselves to most effectively participate in "prayer protest", as well as maps, and other detailed info regarding the event, please click here to visit AZ Rise Up Faithful.

__________ ⁜ __________

• Satan Clubs in Schools                    

Many have claimed that schools are unsafe for children due to Covid.
But there’s something much more terrifying
lurking in the halls
of one school...
Recently, a Satan club – sponsored by  the Satanic Temple – held its first meeting 
at an elementary school in Illinois!

This is not an isolated incident however, Satanists are taking up cultural space all across America, like in the Illinois state house where they successfully put up a statue of baby Satan.

As per Catholic podcast host and author Taylor Marshall, “We’re seeing infiltration. And we’ve seen those on the left, Antifa, satanists, all kinds of communist agitators – there’s a strategic element here. They wanna take over public civil space.”

Marshall said these groups essentially act “kind of like street gangs. They put their graffiti here and there to say, ‘This is our territory.’ This is what they’re doing in our cultural space and especially in civic centers to show, ‘This is our power. This is our place.'" Marshall said the Satanic Temple isn’t really a religion, but is using it as a cover to gain access to public property.

What is the Catholic response?
Marshall concluded, "If you’re a Christian, if you really believe in God.
If you believe the words of Christ, you should be making an impact in the world.
We should be the ones taking up space.”

__________ ⁜ __________

Introducing...

The POCKET GUIDE Series from Ascension Press

•••••••••••••••

 The Pocket Guide to Adoration 
 equips Catholics with the tools they need to improve the way they pray and cultivate
 a deeper relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist.

Drawing from the wisdom of the Church and the writings from spiritual masters like St. Teresa of Avila and Fulton Sheen, Fr. Josh Johnson has produced an evergreen resource that Catholics will want to take
with them every time they go to Adoration.

This pocket guide includes: 

• Stories of Eucharistic miracles 
• Lectio divina prompts and reflections 
• Inspiration from the saints
• Litanies and devotionals, including the Litany of Trust by Sr. Faustina Maria Pia of the Sisters of Life.

Its small size makes it easy to carry, fit into a purse or handbag, or hand out at your parish.
It has a beautiful Alpha Cowhide cover that will last for years. 

Catholics who struggle to stay focused in prayer, who struggle to be consistent in their relationship with Jesus, who don’t know what to do in Adoration, or who simply need encouragement and inspiration to get there,
will deeply appreciate this tiny but mighty book.

 This essential pocket guide by Fr. Josh Johnson teaches Catholics:

• How to remain fixed on the face of Jesus during adoration.
• What to do with the distractions that will inevitably come in prayer.
• How to discern with the Holy Spirit the invitation from Jesus to rest during

• How to overcome spiritual dryness.
• How to pray with the Sacred Scriptures.
• How to pray with the mysteries of the Rosary during Adoration.
• How to pray with the lives of the saints.
• How to discern practical, concrete actions to take after Adoration.

The Pocket Guide to the Rosary
helps Catholics deepen their prayer life and improve their ability to pray what
St. Padre Pio called “the weapon of our times”—the Rosary.  

To learn more click on the title or cover-image of the individual book.
Concise video overviews by the author/editors are also provided..

_______________________________

 HOLY HOUR | ADORATION and "The 5W Method of Prayer"

While kneeling is the most devout and appropriate posture during Adoration,
periodic changes of our position is preferable -- it helps us to keep our focus 
on God, not on ourselves. View this video to learn precisely why.

Watch as Fr. Josh helps you go deeper in prayer.

   

Download your complimentary copy

of "The 5W Prayer Method" here.

Excerpted from Chapter 7 of Fr. Josh Johnson’s new book--

________________________

SOPHIA INSTITUTE PRESS
The "MEDITATIONS ON..." series

•••••••••••••••

  Meditations On Mary - now available in English!

Spiritual meditation is the surest way to grow in holiness, and Our Lady is truly an example of perfection.
This combination makes Meditations on Mary a spiritual powerhouse that will lift your soul to God and help you
along the path to heaven.

Meditations on Mary features twenty-four of the most powerful and moving meditations written by 17th Century Bishop Jacques-Benigne Bossuet —considered to be one of the best homilists in the history of the Church. Author of Meditations for Lent and Meditations for Advent, Bishop Bossuet has been admired for his piety and eloquence for over three hundred years.

Now his meditations on Our Lady are available to you in English — for the very first time!

In these pages, Bishop Bossuet takes you on a stunning pilgrimage through the principal mysteries of Our Lady’s life. He masterfully blends what he’s learned from Sacred Scripture with the spiritual traditions rooted in the heart of the Church, and illuminates it with his own theological reflections.

He’ll bring you to a deeper understanding of Our Lady's compassion,
her suffering during Christ’s Passion, and the loneliness she felt after his Ascension to heaven.

Mary teaches us how to let God direct our steps, how to remain humble in commanding and obeying, and how to seek holiness through our daily work. She shows us how to pray with humility and perseverance, to advance in perfection, and, by doing all
these things, to conform ourselves to the holy will of God. Each short meditation is worthy of your contemplation, because
each contains a lesson directly from the Blessed Mother to sinners like you and me.
 

 Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704) was a French bishop and theologian,
renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most
brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist.

•••••••••••••••

*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅* ❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*

    Gems of Wisdom: Mother Angelica

"Lord Jesus, hold my temper in Your Hand, so I may not give it to others."                                                                                                                                           - Mother Angelica

*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅* ❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*❀⑅*

Please visit the Diocese of Helena website for parish updates

___________________________________________      

 ⁜​​

Let us remember
those who have gone before us. 
Let us give thanks for their lives,
and offer prayers for our departed loved ones,
for those who were our benefactors--
and especially for those poor souls in Purgatory
who have no one else to pray for them.
 
_______________________________________________

 Prayers for The Faithful Departed

 

♥  I pray especially for those to whom I owe a debt of gratitude and love:

♥  O most merciful Jesus, Lover of souls,

I pray Thee, by the agony of Thy most Sacred Heart
and by the sorrows of Thine Immaculate Mother,
cleanse in Thine Own Blood the sinners of the whole world
who are now in their agony and who are to die this day. + Amen.

  ⁜

Light your Virtual Prayer Candle

'When Jesus spoke to the people again, he said: I am the light of the world; anyone who follows me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the light of life.' (John 8:12)
The light of the candle, then, reminds us of this reality and how we should follow that light
by stepping out of the darkness of sin and into the 'light of life.'

Your free Virtual Prayer Candle will serve as a symbol of your sincere and prayerful intentions.
Our prayer community will join you in prayer, multiplying the voices in petition with you.
Your candle can be shared with family, friends, and neighbors if you wish. 

These free Virtual Prayer Candles
are perfect for loved ones, as memorials,
and for those who are in need of prayer.

  TAKE A QUIZ: Test your Catholic knowledge

[Click on the pictured icons to take the Quiz]
___________________________

1. QUIZ: Which Catholic Devotion Best Fits Your Personality? 
 

2. QUIZ: Can You Identify These Liturgical Objects?

 

3. QUIZ: Which Book of the Bible Are You?

 

4. QUIZ: What Era of the Church Should You Be Living In?
Do you long more for the High Medieval Period of St. Francis of Assisi or the great battles against Arianism with the Church Fathers?

   #1 The BIBLE

   #2 The Imitation of Christ
          by Thomas à Kempis, CRSA

The Imitation of Christ, which first appeared in the late fifteenth century, has without exaggeration been called the most widely read work of devotion ever written. It encourages us to live a life devoid of worldly vanities and, in the words of St. Paul, to put on Christ, that is, to imitate Christ, in order to find peace and fulfillment.

Written by a German monk for his fellow clergy CRSA  (Canonici Regulares Ordinis or Canon Regulars), The Imitation of Christ has appeared in nearly two thousand editions and translations since it was first set in then-newly-invented movable type. Making its message out of hundreds of passages from Scripture, it succeeds in creating a powerful and attractive picture of the spiritual life for readers of any age or era.         

 

The Imitation Of Christ 
PENGUIN RANDOM HOUSE BOOKS

with
Questions and Topics for Discussion

"

" Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; 
 let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and jealousy. 
But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. " 

- St. Paul
ROMANS 13:12-14 (RSV)
 

---

Learn more about Thomas à Kempis

_______________________________________________

ENROLL Here - FORMED BookClub - FREE Membership                                 ________________________________________________________________

Our Story: A Basic Introduction to the Bible for Catholics

9 Episodes

In a series of 5-minute video segments, get the Bible's big picture, along with
 a uniquely Catholic approach to the Scriptures.

There is a complimentary User’s Guide for those individuals using Our Story at home.

click to access Our Story 9-part series
 

  Now on    

            The Old Testament                                        The Catholic Approach

                         • Pentateuch  • Historical Books                          • The Mass  • Doctrines
                             • Wisdom Books & Prophets                                      • Our Story

                               ​​​​​​The New Testament                                 
•Gospels​​​​     •Epistles
•Acts of The Apostles
________________________

 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.

___

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.

 

WHY are PROTESTANT BIBLES smaller?

Watch this concise video
as respected apologist Trent Horn explains
what the deuteurocanonical books are
and offers solid reasons for why they are part of the Bible.  

from Catholic Answers on   
   
 

Bible Reading: Keypoints to remember

• The Bible is not written chronologically.
• It’s a library, not a single book.
• The books are ordered by type of book (historical, prophets, poetry, wisdom…)
• Everyone needs to be taught how to read the Bible

• The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) is the key to understanding how the Bible fits in and the Bible is the key to understanding the Church
• The CCC has 4 Pillars:

• The Creed condenses the Bible, it comes first because the others all spring from it

• Begin with a short prayer asking the Holy Spirit to aid your understanding 
• Focus on the overarching storyline 
• Underline the key pivotal points
• Read to get to know God – not to “conquer” the Bible
• Read it over and over to really understand it, the same way the Church does each liturgical year.

⁜

"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

________________________________________________________

Listen to the Newest Contemporary

*.• •̩̩͙♬•̩̩͙・˚・CATHOLIC MUSIC・˚・ •̩̩͙♬•̩̩͙・•.*

WEB PLAYER
________________________________________________________

 

  Photo: Beverly Dewell

   
 ⁜⁜⁜