Wednesday, February 27, 2013

CBS Students Living and Leading in God's Word

Exceptional gratitude is what I hear when I listen to Sr. Doretta D'Albero, ASCJ talk about her ministry. Hers is the kind of gratitude which recognizes that when we give of ourselves, Christ multiplies our gift beyond measure, so that we receive back far more than we could ever hope to give.

Sr. Doretta, a religious of the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, will be graduating from the Catholic Biblical School on June 23, 2013 with a Certificate in Advanced Biblical Studies. She serves the community of New Haven as an accredited Board of Immigration Appeals representative at Apostle Immigrant Services (AIS), a non-profit immigration agency in Fair Haven, where they serve mostly low income immigrants. The agency is sponsored by the Apostles of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and is operated by two nuns, one of whom is a lawyer.

In addition to immigrants who come to AIS for services such as obtaining Green Cards and citizenship, AIS also obtains deferred action and work authorization for many young people who dream to pursue higher education and use their talents in the work place. In the past year, they have seen a great number of refugees and persons seeking asylum.

Sr. Doretta talks openly about how she is moved by the stories of courage and hope that she hears in the course of her work. "How often," she points out, "While watching the news, have I wished to do something for suffering peoples halfway around the world. Now they walk into my office, asking for help with the intricacies of the legal and immigration system, and I gratefully oblige. It really brings home the biblical exhortation to welcome the stranger and care for their needs."

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.
 (MT 25:35-36, New American Bible Revised Edition)


Monday, February 25, 2013

A Weekly Bible Study

2nd  Sunday of Lent
Luke 9:28-36

“This is my chosen Son.  Listen to him.” 

Listen to him, for only in this moment of glory, this anticipation of the resurrection, will his passion and death begin to make any sense.

Peter, James and John are taken to the mountain with Jesus to experience a divine encounter. As Jesus communes deeply with his Father, his appearance radiates the glory of his divinity. It is more than just a reflection of sunlight, as was the radiant face of Moses on Mt. Sinai. But Jesus' radiance signifies even more than Moses' radiant. Jesus, one with the Father, is “light from light, true God from true God.” The Church Fathers tell us that the apostles were brought fully alert by the intensity of the light. Certainly this moment of divine revelation was also  an awakening of the heart.

Listen to him for he is the very revelation of God, God's Word made human.


Moses and Elijah appear.  They represent the ancient Law and the Prophets. Luke suggests that they speak with Jesus of the new exodus--a new moment of passing through chaos into freedom--to be accomplished by Jesus in Jerusalem. Peter is so filled with reverence that he wants to erect three tents to memorialize this important moment of revelation.

“Moses and Elijah were privileged to receive God’s Revelation and now they are conversing with the One who IS God’s Revelation."*

It is a Trinitarian manifestation of God (theophany), reminiscent of the Baptism of Jesus.  In the midst of the cloud (Spirit) the apostles fall silent upon hearing God’s voice. We, too, can only fall silent in humble adoration before this awesome mystery.  Only in deep communion with the Father can we begin to understand this moment of glory fully realized beyond the cross.

*Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth, Vol. I, © 2007

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal. 

Friday, February 22, 2013

Bible Blog Readership

Did you know that our blog is read by people living all over the world?
The audience chart (above) reflects this week's readers, who live in places as far distant as Germany and Malaysia! Whoever you are, we are delighted to know that you find our humble posts noteworthy, and we keep you in prayer. If you want to comment (constructively), feel free to email us.

CSS Deadline Reminder

March 1 is the last day to register for Fr. Frank Matera's talk, "The Sermon on the Mount: The Perfect Measure of the Christian Life" on Sunday afternoon, March 10.

Details and a registration form can be found online by clicking here.

Volunteers are needed to help us with registration at 12:45 and to sell books at the break. If you can assist in this way, please email Jill or BJ asap, or call us at (860) 243-9465.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Biblical Mnemonics

So, we all know the five books of the Pentateuch (Torah) as:
General Electric Lights Never Dim (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy)

(What do you mean, you never heard of it?!)

And now Sr. Maria Louise, CBS 100 student, just sent me a wonderful mnemonic for the 12 sons of Jacob: Rousing songs lead Jewish zealots in dance. God awards new jelly beans.

(Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Joseph, Benjamin) Fantastic Sr. Maria!

And do you know the poem to help you remember the Pauline corpus?

Rom - Cor - Cor
Gal - Eph - Phi (fee)
Col - Thess - Thess
Tim - Tim - Ti (tee)
Phi - He (hee)

(Romans - 1 Corinthians - 2 Corinthians
Galations - Ephesians - Phillipians
Colossians - 1 Thessalonians - 2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy - 2 Timothy - Titus
Hebrews - Philemon)

Yeah, we know they're probably not all written by Paul. But we do call them the "Pauline corpus" because they all (well, Hebrews maybe not so much) have some affiliation with St. Paul.

Monday, February 18, 2013

A Prayer for CBS Students

The faculty and staff of the Hartford Catholic Biblical School and St. Thomas Certificate in Biblical Studies program are praying for our students this week as they prepare to undertake Unit 2 Exams. We ask that the guidance of God's Holy Spirit will inspire them so that the "memory exercise" is not just an academic exercise but draws them more deeply into the heart of God's Word.

Ms. BJ Daly Horell, Chair and Coordinator
Dr. Thomas Casey, Instructor, Graduate Programs
Fr. Aidan Donahue, Instructor, CBS 300
Ms. Amy Ekeh, Instructor, CBS 200
Ms. Marcia Franko, Instructor, CBS 100
Dr. Donald Gray, Instructor, CBS 200
Dr. Joan Kelly, Instructor, CBS 100
Fr. Honore Kombo, Instructor, CBS 100
Deacon Dr. Bob Pallotti, Instructor, CBS 300
Sr. Jewel Renna, CND, Instructor, CBS 100 and 300

Unit One Study Aide for CBS 100

Students in Year One of the Biblical School may be interested in reviewing the new Study Aide posted on the "CBS Study Aides" page of the ORE website. Click here to get to the correct page, then click on the title: CBS 100 Unit 2 Exam Review to open a Powerpoint slideshow of maps and quizzes to test your knowledge of Genesis and Deuteronomy.

Open the document, and the slides will appear immediately. You can view all slides simply by scrolling through them.

OR: To test yourself (so that only the questions appear until you've clicked through all the questions), you can open the document, then click on the tab "Slide Show" located at the top of the screen. When the viewing menu appears, click "From the beginning" at the far left side of the menu. This will start the slide show. You can then click "enter" to progress through the slideshow.

(You must have the Microsoft program "Powerpoint" installed on your computer to run this program.)

A Weekly Bible Study

February 17, 2013
51st Sunday of Lent
Deuteronomy 26:4-10   Lk 4:1-13
When it comes to God’s goodness to us we often have short memories.  The Book of Deuteronomy  is all about remembering. The book remembers the Israelites’ 40 years of journeying in the desert, focusing on God’s covenant love and protection of the people. But did you know that it was written about 600 years after the actual events? Those earliest listeners to the text also needed reminding their ancient history and about God's loving mercy.

When it comes to God’s goodness to us we often have short memories.  The Book of Deuteronomy  is all about remembering. The book remembers the Israelites’ 40 years of journeying in the desert, focusing on God’s covenant love and protection of the people. But did you know that it was written about 600 years after the actual events? Those earliest listeners to the text also needed reminding their ancient history and about God's loving mercy.

The writing of Deuteronomy was completed during the Babylonian Exile, a time in which the Israelites had no land and no temple, when they lived under foreign rule. The author of Deuteronomy wanted to remind the people that, in spite of all their hardships and infidelities, they were still God's chosen people. This book was to serve as a perpetual reminder of God’s ongoing redeeming love of Israel and Israel’s call to covenant fidelity.

Deuteronomy is filled with “memorial” language: "Remember that you were a slave in Egypt… Remember how the Lord your God directed your journeying in the wilderness… Remember how the Lord your God fulfilled the covenant he made with your ancestors.”

Jesus draws from the Book of Deuteronomy as he confronts temptation in today’s Gospel. In his encounter with Satan, Jesus’ three responses will point not only to the rich remembrance of his Father’s redeeming love for Israel, but to remind Christians of the very power of those Sacred Words have to establish Jesus' authority.

God does not want us ever to forget his love. We have another perpetual reminder of God’s covenant fidelity and our redemption. Our celebration of the Eucharist, filled with memorial language, offers us a participation in the very act of God’s redeeming love, a love poured out by the supreme sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.

As we begin our Lenten journey, mindful of that redeeming love, let us enter more deeply into God's Holy Word and the Eucharist to remember that God has loved us from all eternity.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.

Friday, February 15, 2013

"Like" Us on Facebook

If you use Facebook, you can now find us there as Hartford Catholic Biblical School! See you in cyberspace.

CBS "For Credit"—From Licensure to Accreditation



After three years of offering the St. Thomas Seminary Certificate in Biblical Studies for undergraduate credit, we now are required to report to the Connecticut Office of Higher Education to make the program a permanent part of the St. Thomas Seminary offerings. Please keep us in prayer as we take the final steps toward full accreditation.

Books for Purchase at Celebration!

Fr. Matera is planning to bring copies of his new book, Sermon on the Mount: The Perfect Measure of the Christian Life to sell and sign at our Celebration of Sacred Scripture on March 10 (for details see post dated January 11). Please make checks out to Fr. Frank Matera.

Also: CBS students will be able to purchase next year's workbooks at the Celebration. Please make checks out to "ORE."

You might want to bring your checkbook, as we will only have a limited amount of cash available for making change!

Thursday, February 14, 2013

CBS Students Living and Leading in God's Word

Kimberly Petrillo, Parish Nurse

St. Ann's Shrine, Waterbury
What is a parish nurse? A parish nurse promotes health for the whole person. Parish nurses act as health educators, personal health counselors, health advocates. We practice nursing on an independent level and help people to integrate faith and wellness. A parish nurse attempts to meet the health care needs of all people, encompassing the need of physical, emotional and spiritual well being.

Kim has been a parish nurse for several years and has touched many lives. She was recently invited by Fr. Jeremiah Murasso into ministry as a parish nurse in Blessed Sacrament Parish and St. Ann's Shrine in Waterbury. She is a blessing from God, going forth with courage to touch many souls in need of healing.

Monday, February 11, 2013

Three CBS Classes Cancelled Monday and Tuesday

The following classes are CANCELLED this week:
Monday 7:00-9:00 pm, CBS 200 (Year 2) Bloomfield at St. Thomas Seminary
Monday, 7:00-9:00 pm, CBS 300 (Adv. Year) Cheshire at Epiphany Parish
Tuesday, 10-noon, CBS 200 (Year 2) Hamden at Caritas Christi Center

This will require adding a meeting for each of these classes on February 25 and 26, during the designated "snow make-up week." Next week's classes (Feb 18 or 19) will include a review for the test, and the unit test will take place the following week (Feb 25 or 26).

Updates will be posted for Tuesday night and following, as the time draws closer. Stay safe and warm!

A Weekly Bible Study

February 10, 2013
5th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Isaiah 6:1-8, 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, Luke 5:1-11

Three giants among biblical characters appear in today’s readings: Isaiah, Paul and Peter. In our hearing of the Word each weekend we have come to know of their leadership and valiant efforts to spread the kingdom of God. 

How did each respond to the divine invitations to serve God’s people? And how do we?

Isaiah responds to his call in the midst of a “theophany” (experience of the divine presence).  It is in this presence that Isaiah realizes his sinfulness.  His “yes” to the Lord in spite of his unworthiness bespeaks deep trust as well as recognition of God’s merciful love.  

Paul refers to himself as “abnormal,” one who violently opposed the early Christian movement.  Yet God, in his divine wisdom, selects Paul to become a spokesman for the faith and a major influence in Christian theology. 

Peter encounters the Lord in the midst of his everyday activity of fishing.  Jesus invites him, along with his coworkers, to become fishers of men.  Peter’s reaction, like that of Isaiah, is recognition of his sinfulness. In spite of this, he follows Jesus.

Three men, all seemingly unworthy, unprepared for their tasks, acknowledge in deepest humility the invitation the Lord gives. They do not shrink from their calling, but embrace it, knowing that it is their trust in God that will carry them in their ministry and in the face of adversity.

We, too, in our inadequacy are invited by a loving and merciful God to continue His work on earth. Our humble acknowledgement of trust will carry us along as we walk by faith and embrace the unique mission God has given us.

The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.


Wednesday, February 6, 2013

What is a myth?

An artist imagines the Tower of Babel

Some of the stories in the "Pre-History" section (chapters 1-11) of Genesis are usually described as "myth." So one of the assignments in the first year of the Catholic Biblical School (our CBS 100) is to write a myth explaining the origins of some contemporary reality. Occasionally students will ask me, "What makes a story a myth?" While defining a whole literary genre can be tricky, here are some definitions and notes to help clarify the matter.

Eerdman's Dictionary of the Bible:
A myth is "a story ... that conveys the fundamental structure of knowledge upon which the ideologies and customs of a particular culture rest."

Well, that's clear as mud! Here's what may be a more "user-friendly" definition:

"Myths are symbolic tales of the distant past (often primordial times) that concern cosmogony and cosmology (the origin and nature of the universe), may be connected to belief systems or rituals, and may serve to direct social action and values." (Taken from the website of Dr. Mary Magoulick, folklorist and Professor of English & Interdisciplinary Studies at Georgia College)

Now, here's the real problem with defining stories in the Bible as myths. In ordinary language, when we say something is a "myth," we often mean that it is untrue! But let's be very clear: When biblical scholars talk about myth, they're are NOT denying the truth contained in Holy Scripture.

Another expert in folklore, Dr. Gregory Schrempp, Professor of Folklore at Indiana University, describes the issue this way:

"'Myth' refers to colorful stories that tell about the origins of humans and the cosmos. Attitudes towards myth vary greatly. Some regard it as a source of spiritual growth, while others see only falsehood. Some see in myth the distinct character of particular cultures, while others see universal patterns. Some regard myth as 'contemporary' and 'alive,' while others think of it as 'ancient' and/or 'dead.'"

The myths that are part of the Book of Genesis are definitely stories, and the biblical text makes no claim that they are factual stories. Most Catholic biblical experts believe them to be fictional. However, the Church nonetheless absolutely insists that these stories ARE filled with truth!

The problem isn't in the Bible, but in our contemporary ways of thinking about truth and falsehood. But ancient writers had no problem using this kind of fictional literature (mythical stories) to teach enduring truths that they felt could not be contained in the medium of nonfictional or historical literature. Contrary to the way people think in our culture, fact and truth are just not always the same thing. The ancient writers and teachers understood this, and God works "incarnationally" through the customs and expectations of the human writers of Scripture.

It was precisely with this kind of issue in mind that Pope Pius XII insisted, as far back as 1943, that the kinds of writing found in the Bible be taken into account when interpreting biblical passages. "Let the interpreter then, with all care and without neglecting any light derived from recent research, endeavor to determine the ... forms of expression he [the sacred writer] employed...." (Divino afflante spiritu, 33-34).



CBS Recommends—"Do You Understand What I Have Done for You?"

Jesus’ Death in the Last Supper Narratives
St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish, Hartford
Saturday, February 16 from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and
Sunday, February 17 from 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Although the Last Supper narratives are usually read for the information that they provide about the church’s eucharistic practice, the evangelists used these scenes in each of their Gospels primarily to explain the meaning of Jesus’ death. During this weekend workshop, we will read the accounts of the Last Supper in each of the four Gospels to understand how each account interprets the significance of Jesus’ death and how they open a window onto Christian discipleship and spirituality today.

Presenter: Mr. Paul Sansone
Suggested Offering: $15.00; please bring your own bag lunch for Saturday.

For more information or to register, call the parish at 860-756-4034.

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School but is an authorized make-up for certain requirements towards archdiocesan and seminary certificates in biblical studies. Only contact BJ about this program if you wish to request it as a make-up for your missed requirements.


Monday, February 4, 2013

A Weekly Bible Study

February 3, 2013
4th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Luke 4:21-30

“Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The passage from Luke that we hear today is a continuation of last Sunday’s reading. The story takes place early in Jesus’ public ministry. He has just read from the scroll containing the words of the prophet Isaiah, a prophecy about the comfort and hope the Messiah would bring. The people are “amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.”  As the people begin to understand the ancient prophecies, they listen ever more intently.

Suddenly, there is a strange turn of events. The crowd is angered by what they hear, intent at driving him from town. But what was it they heard?  What caused the people to be filled with such fury?

Drawing from the Hebrew Scriptures, Jesus cites two examples of God’s mercy extending to all people, not only the Jews. For the chosen people of Israel who believed they were especially privileged – and should be the sole beneficiaries of God’s protection – this was an outrage! Jesus clearly predicts that all people are welcome in the kingdom of God. Disappointed, the people walk away.

What do we choose to hear – or not to hear – as Jesus speaks to us in the Gospels?  When do we turn and walk away?

“If you believe what you like in the Gospel, and reject what you don't like, it is not the Gospel you believe, but yourself.”  St. Augustine of Hippo


The author, Ms. Barbara Gawle, leads Bible studies at her parish, Incarnation Church of Wethersfield, CT. She is a CBS graduate and the 2012 recipient of the Biblical School's highest award, The Lawrence Boadt Memorial Medal.