CBS Recommends—An Imaginative Word

"The flourishing of Christianity depends upon us touching people's imagination. The good news will only come alive in people's minds and hearts if it transforms how we see the world and each other." Timothy Radcliffe, OP

Wisdom House and Fairfield University presents "An Imaginative Word," a retreat that will help you to connect with God's Word in imaginative ways. Friar Timothy Radcliffe will be giving this weekend  retreat at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center in Litchfield, CT on September 23-24, 2011. Commuters are welcome; overnight accommodations are also available.

Cost runs from $30 to $165, depending on what portions of the program you choose to participate in and whether you will be staying overnight at the retreat house.

To get more information go to: www.wisdomhouse.org, call 860-567-3163, or email programs@wisdomhouse.org. To register, go to: http://www.wisdomhouse.org/forms/formTR-9-2324.html

This event is not sponsored by the Catholic Biblical School, but is authorized as a "make-up" for certain missed CBS requirements.

And CBS graduates take note: This is likely to be especially meaningful for you as you continue to grow in devotion to and understanding of the Word of God.

BJ Reports on the Catholic Biblical Association Meeting

Catholic biblical scholars from all over the world come together every year to share research, friendship, and inspiration at the annual meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA).

I've just returned from this amazing gathering of hundreds of deeply committed Catholics (bishops and priests, nuns and lay folks) who have dedicated their lives to the systematic study and teaching of Sacred Scripture. The Word of God was dynamically and palpably present among us as he promised long ago. ("Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I will be among you.") The entire 3-day meeting was a sacramental encounter with Christ present in one another.

YOUR BIBLE ATLAS: Breaking News for CBS Students

The Hammond Atlas of Bible Lands, used for Geography Tasks in all four years of the Catholic Biblical School, is currently out of print.

 

The Good News: Students who already have the Hammond Atlas can continue to use it indefinitely.

The Other Good News: Students who have not yet purchased the Hammond Atlas have two fine options:

1.    You can still purchase a copy of the Hammond Bible Atlas (new or used) online.

2.    You can choose the Oxford Bible Atlas, Fourth Edition, published by Oxford University Press and edited by Adrian Curtis, $24.95 (ISBN 9-780199-56046-2).

The Oxford Bible Atlas has many things to recommend it: Its 27 maps are easy to read, and its map index is extensive and reliable for finding most hard-to-find locations. It also includes beautiful color photographs and over 200 pages of text, providing in-depth info on the geography of the Bible.

The main advantages of the Hammond Atlas are: (1) the CBS student workbooks reference that atlas by page number in the weekly Geography Tasks, (*see note below) and (2) at $9.95 in softcover, it was significantly cheaper than comparable atlases. (Today, in August 2011, it can be ordered from www.amazon.com for $11.99 (used) or $14.91 (new). Remember, though, you’ll have to pay shipping if you purchase it online.)

Oxford Atlas offers more than the Hammond Atlas but is more expensive. It will be selling soon in the Catholic Bookstore at the Archdiocesan Center at St. Thomas Seminary for $24.95. (And don't forget, Biblical School students get 10% off their textbooks at the Catholic Bookstore.)

*Note: BJ has prepared a handout, which will be available at the Year One Scripture Day, with all page numbers in the Oxford Atlas to be used with the Geography Tasks in the Year One workbook.

Apostle Philip's Grave Unearthed?

Hung upside down by his ankles until dead, the St. Philip said to be martyred in Hierapolis ("Holy City") in what is now Turkey may be Jesus' own apostle, listed among the Twelve in all four gospels. Or it may be the deacon named Philip who baptized the Ethiopian eunich in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 8:26-40).

St. Mariamne

Philip's ministry in Asia Minor (Turkey) and Greece is told in the ancient, nonbiblical text known as the Acts of Philip. The story, expanded and embellished over the centuries, tells of a Roman (pagan) proconsul who became enraged at the apostle and his missionary companions, Bartholomew and  Mariamne, when the proconsul's wife, Nicanora, was converted to Christianity and then healed of a terrible illness.The three missionaries were tortured publicly, but only Philip was killed at that time, according to the tale.

Excavators of the church associated with St. Philip's martyrdom have searched fruitlessly there for Philip's burial site. Last month, a team led by Italian professor Francesco D'Andria discovered what may be St. Philip's grave in a smaller church recently discovered on the site.