• SCRIPTURE STUDY
• ADULT CATECHESIS
• ONLINE LEARNING
• DISCUSSION GROUPS
• CREATIVE WORKSHOPS​​​​​​​

GOOD NEWS! 
*.•・♬・˚・REJOICE! ・˚・♬・•.*
As of
01 OCTOBER 2020
 AFF Activities & Meetings
may resume
in a limited capacity
with CoVID-19 safety protocols

(Details to follow shortly)

༶ --— ༶ — ༶-—-- ༶

The new Official YouTube channel of:
St Richard Columbia Falls

(Please Subscribe and click the bell icon
to be notified of livestreams & other new content)
 

 Catholic Online Encyclopedia

 USCCB Bible Commentary

 * AFF SUPPLEMENT
BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP
Hosted & Facilitated by KURT HERTRICH 
___________________

Join us for a stimulating discussion of
REDISCOVER THE SAINTS
25 QUESTIONS THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE
by Matthew Kelly

This is not just another book about the Saints.

Discussion Group meets
every other week

Next Meeting:

To be announced soon! 

༶ --— ༶     ҉ ༶ -—-- ༶
in
The Pearce Center

✧･˚ *｡･ ♛ ･｡* ˚ ･✧

Expand your Discussion Group experience
or Follow along online

with
Daily Short Videos
that will take you through
Matthew Kelly's book.

___________________
Watch a short introductory message
from Matthew Kelly now--

______________
 

Rediscover the Saints

Daily Short Video
series

▹ Just click below ◃
to Register

(its all free!)

AFF: UPCOMING STUDY
 * SCRIPTURE STUDY
ADULT CATECHESIS (CCC)

“Ignorance of the Scriptures
is ignorance of Christ"

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

------- Previously Planned --------

A Note of Explanation

The AFF Scripture Study Program: "SALVATION HISTORY" is temporarily being put "on hold".

Due to it's comprehensive nature, this subject deserves our full attention and uninterrupted study.  Because we are also only in the early phases of the COVID-19 recovery plan ("Phase II" as of this entry), a fair degree of uncertainty still exists as to the continuity of group gatherings. Therefore I have opted to offer "Salvation History" at a later date (2021/2022) when we may study with the relative guarantee of  doing so without interruption.

Please check back for updates. 
Thank you for your understanding..
    -Catherine C. (September 2020 )  

✧･˚ *｡･ ♛ ･｡* ˚ ･✧

Please check back for details

and registration information. 
 

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

 * CREATIVE WORKSHOPS 

TBA

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! —«⍟

 24 April 2020
•••••••
Brand New Release
Top Catholic Author
•••••••

HOPE TO DIE

by Scott Hahn
Emily Stimpson Chapman

Emmaus Road Publishing

A com­pelling and nourishing account of our reasons to hope in the promise of our own bodily resurrection

As Catholics, we believe in the resurrection of the body. We profess it in our creed. We’re taught that to bury and pray for the dead are corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We honor the dead in our Liturgy through the Rite of Christian burial. We do all of this, and more, because when Jesus Christ took on flesh for the salvation of our souls he also bestowed great dignity on our bodies.

In Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body, Scott Hahn explores the significance of death and burial from a Catholic perspective. The promise of the bodily resurrection brings into focus the need for the dignified care of our bodies at the hour of death. Unpacking both Scripture and Catholic teaching, Hope to Die reminds us that we are destined for glorification on the last day.

Our bodies have been made by a God who loves us. Even in death, those bodies point to the mystery of our salvation.

________________

 Hope to Die is a testament to the enduring truth that, in Christ Jesus,
we shall rise again.
__________

Watch author Scott Hahn
discuss his new book in this video
with EWTN's 
Fr. Mitch Pacwa

 ​​​​​​(click on above image to watch video)
​​​​​​​
__________
Product Details:

• Hardcover: 192pp
• Publisher: Emmaus Road Publishing (April 24, 2020)
• Product Dimensions: 5.5" x 8.25"

_GREAT READS          

☆*:..｡.  ☠  .｡.:*☆
MEMENTO MORI:

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 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 

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

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:

f 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:

• Size: 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.4"
• Pages: 1232
• Maps: 8pp. Full color Maps
• Publication date: December 20, 2019

Learn more about this beautiful new Bible:

---

---

Bible In A Year

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.

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

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.
________________________
 

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

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.

 ･ﾟ*:･ﾟ✧･ﾟ･: *✧˚･:*  ♛  *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ                   

  
"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
 
 

"The Emperor of Heaven
the Lord of men and angels
has sent you His epistles for your life's advantage--,
and yet you neglect to read them

Study them
I beg you,
and meditate daily
on the Words of your Creator.

Learn the heart of God in the Word of God,
that you may sigh more eagerly for things eternal,
that your soul may be kindled
with greater longings for heavenly joys."

       -Pope St. Gregory I
  [ Letters 5.46. (EnchBibl 31) ]

 AS OUR NATION HEALS: Catholics & CoVID19

Early Fall 2020           

What a peculiar year 2020 has thus far been! As our Spring and Summer of isolation, distancing, and masked faces
now give way to yet another change of seasons-- we've finally reached a point where we are experiencing
a tangible loosening of virus restrictions.
Effective October 1st  2020,  the various Religious Ed/AFF Groups at St. Richard 
have been granted permission to once again meet in-person. 
Deo Gratias!

   We will of course be obliged to continue to follow established safety protocols
to keep ourselves and each other safe and healthy--
but I have missed you all, and what a joy to meet with one another once again face-to-face!
I will soon be in touch with each regular AFF Study Group Member to fill you in on the plans I've developed
for our Study Group in the immediate future.

As the scriptures tell us in Ecclesiastes 3:1,
there is a right time for everything,
and in everything there is a reason (my paraphrase).

God always has a purpose for us...  even in this time of viral pandemic.            

                                                                                                                                       -Catherine C.  (Sept..2020)                         

—------------ ༶ ------------—

What better blessing than to treat this gift of returning to some semblance of normalcy as a time to
now turn back outward and continue to  GROW in our faith?

  

 Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,
truly present in the Holy Eucharist,
I place my trust in you.

 Let us keep in mind that God is Love and the Sacred Heart of Jesus --present on earth in the Blessed Sacrament-- is the human manifestation of God's Love for all mankind. 

__________________

 

 The Symbolism of the Sacred Heart of Jesus   

The Sacred Heart is among the most familiar and loved of Catholic devotional images.
But its symbolism can also be difficult to comprehend.
Here is a look at the explanation behind some of the features of the Sacred Heart.

 

 The Flames: The Sacred Heart most obviously brings to mind the Passion of Christ on the cross. There is the crown of thorns, the cross, usually atop the heart, and the wound from the spear that pierced His side. But why is the Sacred Heart always shown as if it’s on fire? That certainly did not happen at the crucifixion.

There are three reasons behind this. First, we have to remember that Christ’s self-offering on the cross was the one-time perfect consummation of all the sacrifices of the Old Testament. This necessarily includes burnt offerings, which were the highest form of sacrifices in ancient Israel. 
An early form of such sacrifices was what Abraham set out to do with Isaac, hence the wood he had his son collect beforehand.

Second, Fire is always associated with the essence of divinity in the Old Testament. Think back to the burning bush that spoke to Moses, the cloud of fire that settled on Sinai, and the flames from above that consumed the sacrifice of Elijah. This explanation fits with the gospel account of the crucifixion, in which the piercing of Christ’s side revealed His heart at the same time that the curtain of the temple was torn, unveiling the holy of holies where God was present.

Finally, the image of fire associated with heart represents Christ’s passionate love for us. One 19th-century French devotional card has these words arched above the Sacred Heart—Voilà ce Cœur qui a tant aimé les hommes, which roughly translates to: “Here is the heart that loved men so much.” One traditional exclamation is, “Sacred Heart of Jesus, burning with love of us, inflame our hearts with love of Thee.” We see this actually happen in the gospels, where the disciples on the road to Emmaus realized that their hearts had been “burning” after their encounter with Jesus.


The Rays of Light: Look closer at the image of the Sacred Heart. There is something else framing it besides the flames. They are rays of light. In John 8:12, Christ declares that He is the “light of the world.” In Revelation 21:23, we are told that in the new Jerusalem at the end of times there will be no light from the sun or moon because the Lamb of God—that is, Jesus—will be its source of light. Light, like fire, is a symbol of divinity. Think of the Transfiguration and the blinding light that Paul experienced on the road to Damascus. As the light of the world, Christ is also the one who “enlightens” us, revealing God to us. The Sacred Heart constitutes the climax of divine self-revelation, showing us the depths of God’s love for us.

 The Arrows:. The crown of thorns and the spear make sense. But sometimes the Sacred Heart is also depicted with arrows. Again, that’s not something we find in the gospels. One explanation is that the arrow represents sin. This is reportedly what our Lord Himself said in a private revelation to St. Mary of St. Peter.
 

 The Crown of Thorns: Unlike the arrows, the crown of thorns is reported in the gospels.
But in traditional images it encircles the Sacred Heart, whereas in Scripture the crown was
fixed to Jesus’ head. One traditional account offers this interpretation, describing those who are devoted to it: “They saw the crown transferred from His head to His heart; they felt that its sharp points had always pierced there; they understood that the Passion was the crucifixion of a heart”

In other words, wrapping the crown around the heart emphasizes the fact that Christ felt His wounds to the depths of His heart.

Moreover, after the resurrection, the crown of thorns becomes a crown of victory.  In ancient gladiatorial contests, the victor was crowned. In the Revelation 19:12.
Christ wears “many crowns” and believers who are victorious over sin and Satan will receive the “crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

Finally, according to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the seventeenth French nun who helped start the devotion, the points of the thorns  are the many individual sins of people, pricking the heart of Jesus. As she put it in a letter, recounting the personal vision she had received, “I saw this divine Heart as on a throne of flames, more brilliant than the sun and transparent as crystal.
It had It's adorable wound and was encircled with a crown of thorns, which signified the pricks our sins caused Him.”

  The Cross:  Like the thorns, the cross is both rooted in the gospels but also displayed in a way that does not follow them in every detail. There is almost an inversion of the crucifixion. In the gospels, Christ hung on the cross, His heart correspondingly dwarfed by its beams. But in images of the Sacred Heart, it is now enlarged and the cross has shrunk. Moreover, rather than the heart being nailed to the cross, the cross now seems ‘planted’ in the heart—as St. Margaret Mary Alacoque put it—if to say to us that the entire reality of the crucifixion derives its meaning from and—cannot be understood apart from—the heart of Jesus. As Donnelly wrote, “The Heart [is] … forever supporting the weight of a Cross.” Truly, it is the heart of Jesus that makes the cross meaningful for us today.

--excerpted from Aleteia.org.     

༶┈✧･˚ : *✧･ﾟ:*｡･ﾟﾟ･ ♥ ･ﾟﾟ･｡*:･ﾟ✧*˚ ･✧┈༶

 

        “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
  with thy whole heart,   and with thy whole soul, and with thy whole strength.

               And these words which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart.”  -Deut. 6:4-6 

 

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••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

  CATHOLIC STUDIES: The Liturgical Year 

 The Holy Spirit & PENTECOST: The Birthday
of the Catholic Church

The Greek word Pentecost means "50th Day"
 

Pentecost comes from the Greek word for “fiftieth” (pentecoste). Pentecost is the fiftieth day (Greek, pentecoste hemera) after Easter Sunday.

This name came into use in the late Old Testament period and was inherited by the authors
of the New Testament.

In the Old Testament, it is referred to by several names:

• The feast of weeks
• The feast of harvest
• The day of first-fruits

The Scriptures teaches us about Pentecost in Acts 2: 1–4.1:

"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.
Those who accepted his message were baptized,
and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 

Thus was the beginning of the Catholic  Church and its disciples who would spread the Word of the Lord throughout the world.
Today we celebrate the Pentecost in many ways. Each year, the Pope gives a homily during Mass for Pentecost Sunday.




 

____________________________

 The Holy Spirit: SIGNS & SYMBOLS

During PENTECOST you will see images
of the flame, the wind - breath of God,
      

and the dove-- all symbolize the HOLY SPIRIT.

• Flame: The flame is often representative of the Holy Spirit,    
  based on the Pentecost story in Acts 2:                                 

  "When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” - Acts 2:1-4

• Wind: The Holy Spirit is also represented by wind. The original Hebrew and Greek words for “Spirit” can be translated as “wind.” The wind that appeared on Pentecost (Acts 2:2) was reminiscent of the wind that blew over the waters at the beginning of Creation. (Gen. 1:2)

• Dove: One of the most common symbols of the Holy Spirit comes from the story of Jesus’ baptism, when Jesus saw “the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him.” (Mark 1:10).

         The other three Gospel writers use similar wording to describe the event (see Matt. 3:16; Luke 3:22, and John 1:32).

 

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The color RED is associated with the Holy Spirit. 

The priest wears red vestments on this day. Parishioners are also invited to wear red on this day.
Red decorations as well as celebrations are appropriate, similar to any other birthday.

   How can you celebrate Pentecost with your family? The following four resources offer great ideas for loved ones of all ages:

1. Catholic Culture:  Catholic Activity: Pentecost Activities
2. The Religion Teacher:  Pentecost Activities
3. Pinterest:  Pentecost Crafts
4. Catholic Cuisine:  Menu ideas for Pentecost Sunday

  Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit?
Many older Catholics willl undoubtedly recall the Sign of the Cross being made
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost".
 

Before the Second Vatican Council, the Third Person of the Trinity was referred to in English as the Holy Ghost. The Sign of the Cross was made in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. When priests delivered sermons they made the Sign of the Cross with these words at the beginning and end of their sermons. In current practice, the words Holy Spirit seem to have taken precedence, except in churches where the extraordinary rite of the Mass is exclusively celebrated. When Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI was Holy Father, and celebrated Mass in his native tongue, he used the word Geist (ghost).
Is the current usage a result of the ICEL translations? Has it been decreed by proper liturgical authority, or is it just a linguistic change occurring over a period of time? Are we incorrect in using the term Holy Ghost in private as well as liturgical prayer?
 

The general concensus is that the change reflects the evolution of words.

Both Holy Ghost and Holy Spirit were used to refer to the Third Person of the Trinity well
before the 20th century, although the former ("Holy Ghost") was the most common in biblical and prayer texts.

The word ghost is of Germanic origin and comes from Old English gast, meaning soul, life, breath, good or bad spirit, angel or demon. Christian texts in Old English use gast to translate the Latin Spiritus from where we get Holy Ghost. The more modern sense of a disembodied dead person is first attested in the late 14th century but remained quite rare. In modern English, the word gast sneaked into the word aghast, which means "to be terrified, shocked, or rendered breathless." The related German word Geist, which means both spirit and ghost, has occasionally found its way into English in words such as poltergeist.

Spirit comes to English from Latin through French and also means souls, courage, vigor, breath. The original uses in English are mainly translations from the Vulgate Latin Bible that translate the Greek Pneuma and Hebrew Ruah.

When translating the Bible into English the scholars behind the King James Version (1611) opted to use the term Holy Ghost. This is used 90 times in the KJV, while Holy Spirit occurs seven times. The reason for the choice is not clear, as the words Ghost and Spirit translate the same Greek words.

This use of Holy Ghost had already been made in the Douay-Rheims Catholic translation, first published in 1582 and revised several times. This was the Bible chiefly used by English-speaking Catholics for several centuries.

Practically all recent translations of the Bible, both Protestant and Catholic, have preferred Holy Spirit in most instances. The reason is probably because the meaning of the word ghost has gradually shifted over the last 300 years and now predominantly refers to the vision of the specter of a deceased person or a demonic apparition.

This change in biblical texts was already standard well before it became necessary to translate the liturgical texts into English. Since liturgical and biblical texts are closely related, it was natural to follow the biblical standard in liturgical translation.

All of this probably led translators to the conclusion that the meaning of the word Ghost had been so transformed and stereotyped that continuing to apply it to refer to the Divine Person was more likely to lead to confusion than would the alternative expression Holy Spirit.

Holy Spirit therefore is now universally used in all official texts, and over the last 50 years or so has become common usage. The expression Holy Ghost, however, when properly understood, retains its validity in the context of personal prayer for those who wish to continue using it.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

The Catholic & COVID-19 

The Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary
announces an opportunity for a
PLENARY INDULGENCE
during the current
coronavirus pandemic.

 According to the decree, “the gift of special Indulgences is granted to
 the faithful suffering from COVID-19 disease, commonly known as
 Coronavirus, as well as to health care workers, family members, and all those
 who in any capacity, including through prayer, care for them.”

 A Plenary indulgence removes all temporal punishment due to sin, but one must
 have “a spirit detached from any sin” for it to completely apply.

 The faithful who qualify for a plenary indulgence during the Coronavirus pandemic: 

• Those suffering from the coronavirus illness
• Those ordered to quarantine themselves due to the virus
• Health care workers, family members, and others caring for those with the coronavirus (exposing themselves to contagion)

  Do at least one of the following:

• Unite yourself spiritually through the media in the celebration of the Holy Mass
• Recite the Rosary
• Pious practice of the Way of the Cross (or other forms of devotion)
• Recite the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and “a pious invocation to the Blessed Virgin Mary, offering this trial in a spirit of faith in God and charity towards their brothers and sisters.”

  Also must perform all of the following as soon as possible:
  (considered the three usual conditions for a plenary indulgence)

• Sacramental Confession
• Eucharistic communion
• Pray for the Pope’s intentions

 The faithful not suffering from the Coronavirus
 may also obtain the plenary indulgence: 

 “Implore the Almighty God for the end of the epidemic, relief for those who are afflicted,
 and eternal salvation for those whom the Lord has called to Himself.” 

 In addition to the usual conditions mentioned above for a plenary indulgence,
 do at least one of the following:

• Visit the Blessed Sacrament or go to Eucharistic adoration
• Read the Holy Scriptures for at least half an hour
• Recite Holy Rosary
• Pious exercise of the Way of the Cross
• Recite the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

 Plenary indulgence for those unable to receive Anointing of the Sick: 

The decree adds that “the Church prays for those who find themselves unable to
receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and of the Viaticum, entrusting
each and every one to divine Mercy by virtue of the communion of saints and granting
the faithful a Plenary Indulgence on the point of death, provided that they are duly
disposed and have recited a few prayers during their lifetime (in this case the Church
makes up for the three usual conditions required).
For the attainment of this indulgence the use of the crucifix or the cross is recommended."
(cf. Enchiridion indulgentarum, no. 12)

The present Decree is valid notwithstanding any provision to the contrary.

Given in Rome, from the seat of the Apostolic Penitentiary,
on 19 March 2020. 


May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and of the Church,
Health of the Sick and Help of Christians, our Advocate,
help suffering humanity, saving us from the evil of this pandemic
and obtaining for us every good necessary for our salvation and sanctification.

 

 SAINTS and PANDEMICS

༶ --— ༶     ҉ ༶ -—-- ༶

Yes! There really is a

St. CORONA

     
Corona, at just 16 years of age, gave her life to comfort a fellow Christian. 

------ ♛------
In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic, in the basilica of Anzu (northern Italy),
lie the relics of St. Corona.

The word "Corona" is Latin for Crown.

While not officially declared as such, she is considered a patron saint of pandemics,
specifically the control of the contagion.

༶ --— ༶     ҉ ༶ -—-- ༶

•:*✧･ﾟ･: *✧˚･:*  ♛  *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧*:•

The heart of the Church has never been buildings or even rituals. 

The Church has always been about love.

      Tips to Keep The Lord's Day Holy Without Mass  

  1. Watch a livestream of the Mass. 
       
         Here's the new Official YouTube channel of: 

                   St Richard Columbia Falls

          (Subscribe and click the bell icon to be notified of livestreams & other new content)

  2. Make a spiritual communion: here's a simple prayer you can pray

         with longing in your heart to be united to Jesus.

  3. Read the Sunday readings as a family.

  4. Pray a family Rosary.

  5. Go to a church and pray.

 
 

A Prayer to Blessed Francis Seelos, C.Ss.R.

God of strength,

we cry out to you in this time of doubt and fear as we face the Coronavirus epidemic.

But even during this epidemic, still we praise you O Lord,

for the witness of your servant, Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos,

who ministered to the needs of the sick and suffering

during the yellow fever epidemic in New Orleans.

He overcame his own fear so that he might offer to others your loving care.

Give to us O Lord, his courage.
 

Grant that we may they learn from the example of Father Seelos

and gain comfort from his patient endurance, hope in the midst of suffering

and joy in the practice of the kingdom,

where you Father, Son and Holy Spirit reign for ever and ever. Amen.

Click the image to watch a short video 

Learn more about this humble Redemptorist priest

known for his pleasant, cheerful demeanor

working amidst the difficulties of Detroit and New Orleans.

  Stay Informed on COVID-19/CoronaVirus News

State of Montana Department of Health and Human Services website

_____________________________________

Please visit the Diocese of Helena website for parish updates

___________________________________________      

​​


As the warmth of the sun returns and we celebrate
the arrival of Summer --
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:
parents, spouse, children, brothers and sisters.
I recommend to You especially ( N.) and also those souls
who have been forgotten by their friends and family members.
Admit them soon into eternal happiness. + Amen.

♥  O most merciful Jesus, Lover of souls,

   

 NOW on the
NEW FORMED BookClub

_________________________________________________

     Recent Selection: 

                        Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI & Robert Cardinal Sarah | Ignatius Press

              ​The Catholic Church faces a major crisis and the turmoil in priestly ministry is at the heart of it.

 "The priesthood is going through a dark time",writes Pope Emeritus Benedict and Cardinal Robert Sarah. "Wounded by the revelation of so many scandals, disconcerted by the constant questioning of their consecrated Celia by, many priests are tempted by the thought of giving up and abandoning everything."
 In this book, Pope Emeritus Benedict and Cardinal Robert Sarah give their brother priests and the whole Church a message of hope. They honestly address the spiritual challenges faced by priests today, including struggles of celibacy. They point to deeper conversion to Jesus Christ as the key to faithful and fruitful priestly ministry and church reform.

             Recently discussed title-- 

 Join Fr. Fessio, Joseph Pearce, and Vivian Dudro 

                                                               for a weekly discussion of                

FROM THE DEPTHS OF OUR HEARTS
by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI & Robert Cardinal Sarah
☆☆☆

 Weekly recorded event available TUESDAYS at 11am [Mountain Time] 
 Episode 1 

           FORMED BookClub 

  Weekly Video Discussion

ENROLL Here - FORMED BookClub - FREE Membership                                                                                  For More Information                                                                                                or To Order visit                                                                                                                                                             IGNATIUS PRESS                       ________________________________________________________________

  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

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

 ________________________

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.

 

Watch the TRAILER here

 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