Merry Christmas

St. Thomas Aquinas tells us that JOY is the noblest human act. Have a very joyful holiday, and don't forget to continue the festivities through the entire Octave of Christmas (at least!).

Magi Text Gives Another View of the Christmas Story

The Bible tells us very little about the magi, those mysterious visitors “from the east” who come to Jerusalem looking for the child whose star they observed “at its rising” in the Gospel of Matthew 2:1-12. After meeting with King Herod the magi follow the star to Bethlehem. There, upon seeing the baby Jesus and his mother Mary, the magi worship him, presenting their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Then they return to their own lands, never to be heard from again.

Questions about the background and personalities of the "wise men" (NOT kings) have fired the imaginations of Christians for over two millennia. Many have shaped new narratives to answer the fundamental question, “Who were the magi?” My favorite, written by Henry Van Dyke in 1895, is called The Other Wise Man.

But much earlier someone—whose identity remains unknown—wrote an apocryphal account of the traditional Christmas story that is attributed to the magi themselves. The Revelation of the Magi has been recently translated into English by Brent Landau, professor of religious studies at the University of Oklahoma, and is preserved in an eighth-century manuscript held in the Vatican Library.

The staff of the Biblical Archaeology Society describes the writing in this way:

"In the Revelation of the Magi, there are not just three magi, as often depicted in early Christian art (actually, Matthew does not tell us how many there were), nor are they Babylonian astrologers.... Rather  ... the magi (defined in this text as those who “pray in silence”) are a group—numbering as few as 12 and as many as several score—of monk-like mystics from a far-off, mythical land called Shir.... They are descendants of Seth, the righteous third son of Adam and the guardians of an age-old prophecy that a star of indescribable brightness would someday appear 'heralding the birth of God in human form.'

"When the long-prophesied star finally appears, the star is not simply sighted at its rising, as described in Matthew, but rather descends to earth, ultimately transforming into a luminous 'star-child' who instructs the magi to travel to Bethlehem to witness its birth in human form. The star then guides the magi along their journey, miraculously clearing their path of all obstacles and providing them with unlimited stamina and provisions. Finally, inside a cave on the outskirts of Bethlehem, the star reappears to the magi as a luminous human child—the Christ child—and commissions them to become witnesses to Christ in the lands of the east."

To find out more about The Revelation of the Magi, click here.

Course Instructor Change: Year 2

Congratulations to Fr. Aidan Donahue for his appointment as pastor at St. Mary Parish in Milford, CT beginning January 9, 2012. Fr. Donahue has taught in the Biblical School since its beginnings and promises to continue as part of our faculty for the foreseeable future. (Thanks be to God!)

His relocation to the southern part of the Archdiocese does, however, change Fr. Donahue’s availability to teach in certain northern locations. So beginning in January, Fr. Donahue will no longer be teaching the Year 2 class in Bloomfield on Wednesday nights. He will, however, continue teaching the Year 2 class in Cheshire on Monday nights.

We are pleased to announce that Deacon Robert Pallotti will take over for Fr. Donahue in Bloomfield. Dr. Pallotti joined the regular Biblical School faculty this year and will become the permanent instructor for the Year 2 class on Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Bloomfield.

Biblical School Schedule

Biblical School students will enjoy an extended Christmas break this year. Classes will reconvene (God willing and the creek don't rise!) in the new year during the week of January 9-13, 2012. For details, check your CBS academic-year calendar or go to www.orehartford.org and click on “Calendar” at the top of the page. (Feel free to contact Jill Costa for step-by-step instructions for accessing the CBS online calendar.)

O Antiphons: Prayers for December 17-23

For more information to help you pray the O Antiphons this year, click on the image above, or cut and paste this URL into your web browser: http://www.rc.net/wcc/antiphon.htm.

HCBS Grads Living and Leading in God’s Word

Ms. Kathi Bonner, Class of 2011
Director of Religious Education
Saint Catherine of Siena Parish
West Simsbury, CT

We all know that the Sunday readings each week give us a "snapshot" of Holy Scripture. Week to week, these passages of God's Word come together to create a kind of mosaic of Scripture, drawing us more deeply into relationship with God's Word Become Flesh, Jesus the Christ our Savior.

This Advent, some parishioners of St. Catherine of Siena Parish have been enjoying an even wider view. Under the guidance of Kathy Bonner, their parish catechetical leader, these adult learners have been exploring more deeply the rich Lectionary readings proclaimed each Sunday of the season.

Kathi holds the Certificate in Advanced Biblical Studies, awarded by Archbishop Mansell through the Office of Religious Education and St. Thomas Seminary. Her four years of study have provided the skills and knowledge needed to place the Sunday readings into conversation with the scriptural books of which they are a part and with the Bible as a whole.

"The adults who come to gather each Wednesday are so enthusiastic and open to learning," Kathi tells us. "I just love it!  It gives me renewed purpose."

Hundreds of graduates and students of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School are involved in ongoing ministries in their faith communities throughout Connecticut and even around the world. If you are, or someone you know is, a CBS graduate who helps others to encounter God's Living Word, we want to hear about it! Send a descriptive paragraph to BJ at cbs@orehartford.org.

December News in Faith Formation

What's happening in the Biblical School, adult spirituality, catechist enrichment, youth ministry? It's all here in the December 2011 newsletter, ORE Connections. Click here to explore what's happening this month in faith formation in the Archdiocese of Hartford.

Discerning the Presence of God (Part Two)

Knowing how to act in a morally challenging situation can be confusing. Even the holy writers of the books of Scripture sometimes offer conflicting advice about how the people of their times should act in a given historical situation.

Daniel in Lion's Den

The Book of Daniel, on the one hand, advises believers not to take action against persecutions of the Emperor Antiochus IV but rather to trust completely in the power of God to deliver the faithful from their oppressors. The Books of  First Maccabees and Judith, on the other hand, encourage believers in this same thorny situation to take action--even violent action when necessary--against their persecutors. And the Book of Esther suggests a kind of "middle course" between these teachings.

Which advice is "right"?

The Old Testament teaches that what is "right" in any situation becomes known by the wise through discernment of God's presence and God's call within the situation itself. And it teaches that wisdom and discernment come only through living a life in right relationship (covenant) with God. This right relationship includes abiding in a deep love for and respect for Creator and all creation (and not just the community of faith). It is only if we come to know God intimately, seeking out God's presence in our every moment, that we will come to understand what God is requiring of us within our every moment.

Of course, moral behavior is expected and taught emphatically in the Old Testament. Morally evil actions are never considered "good," in the Bible, though they may sometimes be justified.

But there are loads of times when we are required to choose between more than one morally good course of action. Right now, should I be writing this blog post or clearing off my messy desk? Both are morally good things to do. I have to decide, moment by moment, "What is the most loving action for me to take?" (My desk can wait...again!)

St. Ignatius of Loyola taught his followers in the Society of Jesus many important principles for helping discern what God is requiring of us from day to day. But that's food for another post!

Discerning the Presence of God (Part One)

This winter, advanced students in the Biblical School are studying the post-exilic period of the Old Testament. We've been talking about how different biblical books show faithful Jews as responding in a variety of ways to the Hellenization ("Greek-izing") of Judaism in this time period.

"The Book of Jonah" observed one student, "Recognizes the value of all human life, Jew and Gentile alike, while other books, like Tobit, encourage Jews to remain as separate from foreign cultures as possible. Why is that? Doesn't the Bible teach us God's will?"

The Bible shows us human beings in communities of faith seeking to discern God's presence in their lives. God's presence, according to the Old Testament covenant, is found in right relationship with God and others. (Right relationship is translated in English Bibles, misleadingly, as "fear of the Lord.")

That is, the Old Testament urges us to know better our Creator and ourselves if we are to live in right relationship (covenant), and that the sign of this right relationship is "awe and respect" (translated misleadingly in English Bibles as "fear of the Lord.") before God.


In biblical times, the choice between holding fast to one's faith sometimes meant separating the community from what were seen as harmful influences in the dominant cultures (like Persian, Greek and Roman cultures). At other times believers were called to a "3 R" approach:

• recognizing God's presence in the dominant culture,
• reaching out to share the faith community's wisdom with these others, and  
• realizing what wisdom might be found in the other, new perspective.

And it's possible that, at the very same time and place, what is the best course of action (the best act of love) for one group or individual might not be the best course of action for another.


In the Old Testament, even apparently "conflicting" teachings (like those in Jonah and Tobit) are all considered sacred and inspired by the Holy Spirit. It is up to the faithful, with the guidance of the Church, to discern the meaning of each and how to live the Word of God day by day.

(And, of course, the Biblical School is designed to help you in the process!)