Prayer Service Honoring the Apostle to the Apostles

The Mercy Center, Lyons Chapel
Sunday, July 22, 7:00 p.m.

Mercy Center at Madison
167 Neck Rd., Madison, Connecticut 06443
203-245-0401

All are welcome for this prayer service to celebrate the life of St. Mary Magdala, the first witness to the Resurrection, on her feast day. 

"Bible Trivia for 100, Alex"

Summer Series 2012 has arrived. Twice weekly trivia questions will appear, with answers posted within the week. Keep score with your friends. Remember to state your answer in the form of a question : ) Good luck, contestants!


Jeopardy (Basic): This book in the Hebrew Bible describes Israel's 40 years in the desert. 


Double Jeopardy (Advanced): Three words that complete the Bible verse found at John 3:16: ""For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who _______ ___ ____ might not perish but might have eternal life."

All Bible verses are taken from the New American Bible Revised Edition.

At the end of the summer, email BJ (click on the envelope icon at the bottom of the post) with your tally of correct answers. Top scores will be posted here in September. 

"Teach Them to Pray" the Cardinal Urges

In conversation with Sean Cardinal O'Malley last month, a colleague and I expressed how deeply we are troubled by experiences of bitter division among Catholics. Even more distressing is how unkind some Christians can be when they speak to one another. Usually these are people who are deeply devoted to Christ--but who have differing visions of how Christ's gospel ought to be lived in daily life, both in terms of spiritual practice and (especially) in matters of government and church policy.

I share the cardinal's response with you because I think it is profound, getting to the very heart of Christian love and community. He said, "Teach them to pray."

The Catholic Biblical School model keeps prayer at its center. We pray in many ways, including celebrating mass together on Scripture Days (formerly known as "Prayer Days") and at the beginning of each class. Students are taught the art of Lectio Divino, are regularly invited to lead prayer, and are encouraged to pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance as they work on their weekly Scripture lessons.

Come join us in prayer and study, so that our studies and our lives can become more deeply united with Christ, who is God's Word made flesh. For more information, contact us at cbs@orehartford.org.

Marriage in the Bible

"When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven." (Mark 12:25)

After my mother died in January, Dad told me that he was bothered by this saying from the synoptic gospels. He and Mom lived for 61 years as one flesh, carrying in their very bones the conviction expressed in Genesis that they were no longer two but one. Now that his wife had been returned to the Father, his sense of loss would be even greater if he could not look forward to being reunited with her in heaven.

I hope I helped him, when I expressed my belief that since God is love, the love of my parents could only be made perfect in God; if that love were changed, somehow it would be made even more whole and complete than the beautiful Sacrament they embodied during their life together.

Since my father died last week, I've thought about this even more. In a letter written to Mom a few months before they married in 1950, Dad writes of his conviction that Mom would be God's instrument of grace for the salvation of his soul. And for the 49 years I knew them, it seemed clear to me that his devotion to Mom was surpassed only by his devotion to God.

I thank God for the graces I've received through the lives of my parents, Jim and Eileen Daly. And I thank my friends and family for the outpouring of love and prayers on our behalf.