The Mass is the expression the Catechism of the Catholic Church uses to teach that though the Mass has changed in many ways, the fundamental elements have “stayed the same” from ancient times “until our own day” (CCC 1345).

But what about the changes that happened after Vatican II (1962-65)? What about the “new order” (Latin Novus Ordo) of Mass promulgated in 1970 by Pope Saint Paul VI in the new Roman Missal? Why did the Church change “the Latin Mass”? In this in-depth study, Dr. Brant Pitre will answer common questions about Vatican II and the Novus Ordo by going back to Scripture, tradition, and the Magisterium. In particular, the class will explore topics such as:

• How We Got the Novus Ordo
• The Popes Who Changed the Mass
• The Popes Who Changed the Mass
• The Jewish Roots of Church Architecture
• Latin and Vernacular Languages
• Facing East and Facing the People
• The New Lectionary
• The New Offertory
• Eucharistic Prayers I, II, III, and IV
• The Sign of Peace
• Communion in the Hand and on the Tongue
• Gregorian Chant and Instrumental Music
• The Future of the Roman Rite

In addition, the course will show how parts of the Order of Mass — the Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rites — are rooted in Scripture, tradition, and the writings of Popes, Saints, and Doctors of the Church. Particular emphasis will be placed on unveiling the mystical meaning of the rites and prayers. So, if you’ve ever wondered — Why did the Church change the Mass after Vatican II? And is it still the same Mass? — then this study is for you. As we will see, when the new Roman Missal is explained in light of Scripture and tradition, we will understand what Pope Benedict XVI meant when he referred to “the spiritual richness and theological depth” of this Missal. We will also see how the Novus Ordo is rooted in the living tradition of “all ages” — ancient, medieval, and modern — right up to our own day.

The Mass is the expression the Catechism of the Catholic Church uses to teach that though the Mass has changed in many ways, the fundamental elements have “stayed the same” from ancient times “until our own day” (CCC 1345).

But what about the changes that happened after Vatican II (1962-65)? What about the “new order” (Latin Novus Ordo) of Mass promulgated in 1970 by Pope Saint Paul VI in the new Roman Missal? Why did the Church change “the Latin Mass”? In this in-depth study, Dr. Brant Pitre will answer common questions about Vatican II and the Novus Ordo by going back to Scripture, tradition, and the Magisterium. In particular, the class will explore topics such as:

• How We Got the Novus Ordo
• The Popes Who Changed the Mass
• The Popes Who Changed the Mass
• The Jewish Roots of Church Architecture
• Latin and Vernacular Languages
• Facing East and Facing the People
• The New Lectionary
• The New Offertory
• Eucharistic Prayers I, II, III, and IV
• The Sign of Peace
• Communion in the Hand and on the Tongue
• Gregorian Chant and Instrumental Music
• The Future of the Roman Rite

In addition, the course will show how parts of the Order of Mass — the Introductory Rites, Liturgy of the Word, Liturgy of the Eucharist, and Concluding Rites — are rooted in Scripture, tradition, and the writings of Popes, Saints, and Doctors of the Church. Particular emphasis will be placed on unveiling the mystical meaning of the rites and prayers. So, if you’ve ever wondered — Why did the Church change the Mass after Vatican II? And is it still the same Mass? — then this study is for you. As we will see, when the new Roman Missal is explained in light of Scripture and tradition, we will understand what Pope Benedict XVI meant when he referred to “the spiritual richness and theological depth” of this Missal. We will also see how the Novus Ordo is rooted in the living tradition of “all ages” — ancient, medieval, and modern — right up to our own day.

From Fireside Tales on YouTube.

Nov 18, 2013, Lumen Christi Institute

John Welch, O.Carm. is a Catholic priest of the Carmelite Order and currently serves as supervisor of the eastern region of the province of the Most Pure Heart of Mary. He holds the chair of Carmelite Studies at the Washington Theological Union and is past president of the Carmelite Institute. He is the author of numerous articles and books, including Spiritual Pilgrims: Carl Jung and Teresa of Avila (Paulist, 1982) and When Gods Die: An Introduction to John of the Cross (Paulist, 1990) both of which received National Catholic Book Awards. His most recent book is The Carmelite Way: An Ancient Path for Today’s Pilgrim (Paulist, 1996).

July 22, 2013, Lumen Christi Institute

On his way to Rome, Ignatius of Antioch urges the Christians there not to interfere with his impending martyrdom: ‘hinder me not from living, do not wish me to die, allow me to receive the light, when I will have arrived here, I will be a human being’! In this lecture, Fr John Behr explores how the Gospel of John alludes back to Genesis to show that Christ is the true human being, inviting us also to become human.

This event was cosponsored by the Theology and Ethics Workshop, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the University of Chicago, and St. Makarios the Great Orthodox Mission

Lumen Christi Institute, February 13, 2020, University Club of Chicago

In Walker Percy’s novel, Love in the Ruins, the narrator, a wealthy and successful denizen of American suburbia, admits that “everyone is happy, but our hearts broke with happiness.” In this lecture, Dr. Jennifer Frey will discuss what Percy's novel can teach us about the pursuit of happiness in contemporary American life, and why the novel’s biting satire is relevant to our contemporary political and religious moment.

The National Endowment for the Humanities sponsored a speech by author Walker Percy.

In this new Bible study, Dr. Pitre answers these and other questions by going back to the Bible and ancient tradition to shed light on the little-known Jewish roots of this beloved holiday. In this presentation, you will learn about:

• The Birth of “the Christ”—how Jesus was not the first “Christ,” and why keeping the “Christ” in Christmas is so important
• The Sign of the Manger—why Jesus is laid in a manger, and what it reveals about the mystery of his identity
• The Mystery of the Magi—who the Magi were and how they knew to follow the star to the newborn Jewish king
• The Star of Bethlehem—what ancient Christian tradition reveals about the kind of star that led the Magi to Jesus
• The Significance of December 25th—the real reason Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th
• The Fulfillment of Hannukah—how the birth of Jesus fulfills the Jewish winter festival of "Lights"

Like so many other aspects of the Catholic faith, if you want to understand the true meaning of Christmas, you not only have to go back to the Bible, you have to go back to the Old Testament and ancient Jewish tradition. If you‘d like to deepen your understanding and celebration of this beloved season, then this Bible study is for you.

It is no accident, they argue, that the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries have witnessed a revolution in new human capacities. Daily we hear and read about supernormal athletic feats; clairvoyant perception; lives transformed by meditative practices; healing through prayer-and we ourselves experience these things.

The authors contend that thousands of years of human striving have delivered us to this very moment, in which each act of self-development is creating a new stage in planetary evolution—and the emergence of a human species possessed of vastly expanded potential.

In this series, Dr. Brant Pitre takes the popular figure of Saint Joseph and open up the mysteries of his hidden identity, his relationship with Mary, and his role as the earthly foster-father of Jesus. In it, you will learn about:

• How Joseph was the Hidden King of the Jews
• Why Joseph was a threat to the Fake King Herod
• Why Herod Murdered his own Wife, three Sons, and the Infants in Bethlehem
• Why Joseph Accepted of Mary’s Jewish Vow of Virginity
• How Joseph Hid the Virgin Birth from Satan
• Joseph’s Relation to the “Brothers” of Jesus
• Apocryphal Legend of the Elderly Joseph
• The Biblical Age of Saint Joseph
• The Persecution of Joseph’s Family
• How Joseph is the earthly Shadow of Jesus’ heavenly Father

Many books on Saint Joseph focus on apocryphal legends and private revelations. In this Bible Study, Dr. Pitre focuses on what we can learn about Saint Joseph from the Bible, ancient Jewish and Roman history, and the living Tradition of the Church. As you will discover, although Joseph is silent in pages of the New Testament, when looked at through ancient Jewish eyes, he stands with Jesus and Mary at the very center of salvation history.

So, if you already have a devotion to Joseph, or if you would like to deepen your relationship with him, or if you just want to understand what the Bible really teaches about the man who was closest to Jesus, then this Bible Study is for you.

In this talk, Dr. Mary Healy breaks open the letters of St. Paul to explain the heart beat of Paul’s spirituality, and shows how we can apply his insights to our own lives. In this presentation you will learn about:

• What happened to Paul at his famous conversion on the road to Damascus
• Why Paul’s spirituality is for us today
• What it means to know the power of Christ’s resurrection
• What other “powers” can dominate our lives and leave us feeling helpless, hopeless, anxious, burdened or condemned
• How we can walk in the freedom, peace and joy of the children of God
• Four simple steps to grow in knowledge of Jesus and of the power of his resurrection

Through biblical insights and many practical examples, Dr. Healy shows how Paul’s letters are a source of wisdom and inspiration for our spiritual lives today.

• Some common sins of the tongue that we may not even be aware of
• How we can put into practice the biblical teaching on taming the tongue
• A great biblical example of using the tongue for loving confrontation
• The amazing power of praise

Using practical examples, Dr. Healy shows how we can apply these scriptural insights to our own lives and gain authority over our use of the tongue.

These are some of the hardest questions people ask about the Bible, but they aren’t new. The ancient rabbis and Church Fathers wrestled with them millennia ago. In this powerful talk, Dr. Bergsma marshals all the resources of Christian theology and contemporary scholarship to address:

• Why do some biblical heroes seem to “get away with” some atrocious actions?
• Why are certain biblical stories so unedifying?
• Why do some laws of Moses permit unjust actions, and have harsh penalties?
• Why did God command Israel to put the Canaanites to death?

Dr. Bergsma is convinced that only by grappling with the hard questions face-to-face do we come to a deeper understanding of the nature of God and of the reality he created.

Produced by Uvula Audio.

• Did Jesus really choose Peter as the “rock” upon which He would build His Church?
• Why did Peter receive a title normally reserved for God?
• Did the Apostles have successors?
• What do the Patriarchs, monarchies, and the Sanhedrin tell us about the Papacy?
• Where does the bible speak about universal and particular jurisdiction?
• What is the biblical rationale behind Papal Infallibility? And many more…

Join Gary Michuta as he explores Peter and the papacy in this information packed series.

• What are the key proof texts that Protestants use to establish “Sola Scriptura” and why these texts either fail to prove the case or actually support the Catholic Church's teaching on Sacred Tradition
• Why the Beroeans in Acts 17:11 weren't practicing Sola Scriptura and why Christians cannot follow their example
• Where Scripture teaches that Sacred Tradition is the norm for understanding what the Scripture truly means
• How one can know whether Sacred Tradition accurately reflects what Christ and His inspired Apostles handed on to the Church
• and many more…

Join noted author and speaker Gary Michuta as he explains why it is necessary for all Christians to hold Sacred Tradition, both written and unwritten, and how Catholics can share these ideas with their Protestant friends, family members, and neighbors.

In this transformative Bible study, Dr. Pitre takes you on a journey into the heart of mercy in Sacred Scripture. In four riveting presentations, you will learn about:

• How the God of the Old Testament is a God of “Mercy”

• How Jesus fulfilled the ancient Jewish feast of the Jubilee Year

• The Deeper meaning of the Blood and Water from the Side of Jesus Crucified

• What Jesus really meant when he said “Be merciful as your Father is merciful” and “Judge not lest you be judged” (Luke 7:36-37)

• The Parables of Mercy: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son

• Indulgences and the Jubilee Year of Mercy Explained: understanding the “Holy Doors”

• The location of the Lost Ark and how Mary is the “Mercy Seat” of the New Covenant

Mercy is at the heart of the Gospel any year, but Pope Francis has put it at the very center of the Year of Mercy. Yet many Catholics are not quite sure why Pope Francis called for a “Year of Mercy” or how to obtain the special Jubilee Year of Mercy Indulgence. If you’ve ever wanted to understand and receive the astounding mercy of God, or if you know a ‘prodigal’ son or daughter who really needs to hear Jesus’ message of mercy, then this Bible study is for you.

In Why We Confess, Dr. Brant Pitre gives an eye-opening Bible study on the origins and meaning of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, commonly known as “Confession.” In this two-part Bible Study, you will learn about:

• The Fall of Adam and Eve and the First “Confession”
• Confession of Sins to a Priest in the Old Testament
• John's Baptism of Repentance and Confession of Sins
• The link between Jesus’ Miraculous Healings and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• The Parable of the Prodigal Son
• When Jesus Gave the Apostles the Power to Absolve and Retain Sins
• The Practice of Confession in the Early Church

Many of us know Catholics who haven’t been to Confession in years, even decades. Maybe you are one of them. Whoever you are — if you’ve ever wondered about the biblical roots of this sacrament, then Why We Confess is the Bible Study for you.

As you’ll discover, Jesus was (quite literally) dying to institute the sacrament of Confession as an essential part of God’s plan for “reconciling the world to himself” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

In this eye-opening presentation, Dr. Pitre shines the light of the Old Testament on Mary, the mother of Jesus. He shows how three ancient Jewish images help us to understand Catholic beliefs about Mary:

1. The New Eve: If Jesus is the new Adam, then who is the New Eve? What are the implications of Mary’s identity as the New Eve for the dogma of the Immaculate Conception?

2. The New Ark of the Covenant: If Jesus is the new Manna from heaven, then where is the New Ark? Dr. Pitre shows how Jewish beliefs about the lost Ark of the Covenant give profound revelations into who Mary is and her bodily Assumption into heaven.

3. The New Queen Mother: If Jesus is the new Davidic King, then who is the new Queen? In the Old Testament, the Queen wasn’t the king’s wife, but his mother. Dr. Pitre shows how Mary’s identity as “Queen Mother” (Hebrew gebirah) is the key for unlocking Catholic devotion to her, and the difference between honoring Mary and worshiping God.

If you are looking to understand the biblical roots of Catholic beliefs about Mary, the Mother of God, then look no further: Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary is the perfect presentation for yourself or a friend or family member who wants to understand what the Bible really teaches about the Virgin from Nazareth.

Do the Dead Sea Scrolls contain lost books of the Bible? Do they mention Jesus and the disciples? Do they really predict the end of the world within the next decade?

Outrageous claims circulate about the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Catholics would do well to learn something about them.

Dr. Bergsma explains the Dead Sea Scrolls for those who may have had little or no previous exposure to them, emphasizing the aspects of the Scrolls that are most relevant to Catholic Christians. Learn why, when properly understood, the Scrolls enrich Catholic faith and shed light on the Scriptures.

In this important series, Dr. Brant Pitre takes you on a scriptural tour of topics such as:

The Shape of Worship: Who determines how we worship? God or us?
The Meaning of Sacrifice: Why did God demand animal sacrifice in the Old Testament? What was the meaning of blood sacrifice? Does it play any role in Christian worship today?
The Tabernacle of Moses: What did worship look like in the Old Testament? How does it parallel the Mass today?
The Book of Revelation: What does worship look like in Heaven? How does Revelation reveal the Mass?
The Jewish Passover: What was Passover worship like at the time of Jesus? Why was it so important, and how does it parallel Catholic worship today?
The Last Supper and the Death of Christ: Why did Jesus choose to die during the Passover? How did his death fulfill the Jewish sacrifices in the Temple?
The Biblical Roots of the Mass: How does the Bible unlock the mysteries behind the words and actions in the Mass?

Many Catholics know what to do at Mass, but not why we do it. And many non-Catholics are confused by the rituals and words of the Mass. Some even think that most of the Mass is just 'made up'--a tradition of men. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you've ever wondered about whether or not the Mass is biblical, then look no further: Why We Worship is the perfect resource for parishes, RCIA programs, Bible studies--for anyone who wants to understand the Bible really says about the mystery and meaning of worship.

Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition — so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.

See Books That Matter: The City of God at The Great Courses.

Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition — so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.

See Books That Matter: The City of God at The Great Courses.

Augustine of Hippo’s magnum opus The City of God is one of the greatest works of the Western intellectual tradition — so powerful, in fact, that one could argue all of Christian theology has been a series of footnotes to Augustine. Written during the transition from antiquity to the rise of Christianity, it is one of the key texts in defining our ethical framework into the 21st century. Yet even serious readers can be intimidated by a book that spans over 1,000 pages.

See Books That Matter: The City of God at The Great Courses.

St. Justin Martyr stands as a perennial witness to the power and wisdom of Jesus Christ (1 Cor 1:24) and His Church. A philosopher searching for the true way to live, he studied all the claims to truth around him and then embraced the Christian gospel. His synthesis of faith and reason laid the foundation for a European intellectual culture from which we still benefit today. In this lecture, Dr. Kenneth Howell talks about:

Handout. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

Most people know that Jesus celebrated the Last Supper on Holy Thursday, died on Good Friday, and lay dead in the tomb on Holy Saturday. But what about the other days of Holy Week? What did Jesus choose to say and do on the last seven days of his life?

In these riveting presentations, Dr. Brant Pitre takes his knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity and uses it to unveil the mysteries of the most sacred and solemn week of the entire year: “Holy Week.” In these two presentations, you will discover:

1. Palm Sunday – Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on a donkey?
2-3. Holy Monday-Tuesday – Why did Jesus curse the fig tree on holy Monday?
4. Spy Wednesday – What is the hidden meaning to Judas' betrayal of Jesus? And why is this day called "Spy Wednesday"?
5. Holy Thursday – How exactly did the disciples prepare the Passover for Jesus?
6. Good Friday – What is the meaning of the blood and water that flowed from Jesus' side?
7. Holy Saturday – Why did Jesus rest in the tomb? Where did Jesus' soul go on Holy Saturday?
8. Easter Sunday – Why did Jesus rise on the “first day of the week”?

If you're looking to get more out of the season of Lent this year and to truly enter into the mystery of Holy Week with Jesus, then this Bible study is for you.

In this Advent Bible study and retreat, Dr. Brant Pitre takes you on a scriptural journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem by looking at Jesus through the eyes of the person closest to him: the Virgin Mary. In it, you will learn about:

The Annunciation: What would the announcement of the birth of Christ to Mary by Gabriel have meant in its original Jewish context? How would Mary have understood his words?

The Visitation: What do the words of Elizabeth to Mary reveal about the ancient Jewish prophecies of the lost Ark of the Covenant? What light do they shed on the way Catholics pray to Mary?

The Nativity: What would the “good news” have meant to Jews and pagans in the first-century? How does the mystery of Christ’s birth foreshadow his death on the Cross and the Eucharist?

Epiphany: Who were the Magi? How did Jesus fulfill pagan prophecies of the future King of the World? And what does the presence of the Wise men at Bethlehem reveal about Mary’s true identity?

With each session, Dr. Pitre will help you to see the mysteries of Advent and Christmas through the eyes of Mary and with the mind of the Church. Above all, you will learn what Luke means when he says that “Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart” (Luke 2:19).

So, if you’re tired of rushing through Advent each year, and you’d like to enter more deeply into the Christmas season, then do yourself a favor: Go on ‘retreat’ this Advent with Mary, and let her help you prepare your heart and mind to celebrate the great feast of the Incarnation.

The philosophical theory of nominalism, which denies the existence of universal natures, results in a denial of an objectively ordered world. In this lecture, Dr. Cuddeback exposes the errors of nominalism and shows why the classical realist position is so important today.

Institute of Catholic Culture

“A great sign appeared in the sky, a women clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and on her head a crown of twelve stars.”
– Revelation 12:1

“Let the honoured festival of today, O Lord, bring us continued aid; on which the Holy Mother of God underwent temporal death, yet could not be holden by the bonds of death because she bore incarnate of herself Thy Son our Lord. Who liveth and reigneth with You, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.”
– Collect from the Dominican and Sarum rite

Institute of Catholic Culture

Handout. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians is his great letter of exhortation to spiritual and moral maturity. Join Fr. Sebastian Carnazzo as he mines the riches of St. Paul and points us to the glory of Christ.

Handout. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

The word Trinity does not occur in the Bible, but we encounter this term very early in Christian history. In this webinar, we explore the biblical roots of the Trinity and follow its development from the first century to the Council of Nicaea (325 AD). After watching how this foundational doctrine developed over time, we conclude by peering deeply into the inner life of the Holy Trinity.

Session 1: The Biblical Roots of the Trinity
The OT background: Gen 1:26; Deut 6:4
The NT groundwork: Mt 28:18-20; 2 Cor 13:13; Mt 3:13-17; John 1:1-18; John 17:1-5; John 14:25-28; John 15: 26-27; John 16:4-11.

Session 2: The Trinity in the Fathers of the Second Century
The Didache, Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle of Diognetus, The Martyrdom of Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Tertullian, Adversus Praxeas, Clement of Alexandria

Session 3: The Trinity in the Fathers of the Third Century
Irenaeus of Lyons, Cyprian of Carthage, The Novatian Controversy, Novatian on the Trinity

Session 4: Nicea and its Aftermath
Arius and Arianism, Homoousia and Homoiousia, Athanasius’ Defense, The Trinity and the Mystical Life, Modern Adaptations and Applications

Handout. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

“When once men recognize, both in private and in public life, that Christ is King, society will at last receive the great blessings of real liberty, well-ordered discipline, peace and harmony. …Moreover, the annual and universal celebration of the feast of the Kingship of Christ will draw attention to the evils which anticlericalism has brought upon society in drawing men away from Christ, and will also do much to remedy them. While nations insult the beloved name of our Redeemer by suppressing all mention of it in their conferences and parliaments, we must all the more loudly proclaim his kingly dignity and power, all the more universally affirm his rights.”
– Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas 19, 25

Discussion questions. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

The roots of the Eucharist are deep in the tree of Judaism. Fr. Hezekias Carnazzo explores numerous typologies of the Holy Eucharist in the Old Testament. The better we see the “shadows” in Scripture, the more we’ll appreciate the reality in the Gospels — and in the Church.

Discussion questions. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

The Protoevangelium of James is one of the most under-appreciated documents of the primitive Church. Written in the second century, it tells us much about the doctrine, devotion, and apologetic concerns of the Church in the time immediately after the death of the Apostles.

Written Resources. More at Institute of Catholic Culture

In Judaism, Satan is the prosecutor.

The Ten Days of Repentance are the holy of holies of Jewish time. They begin this Wednesday evening with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and culminate 10 days later with Yom Kippur, our Day of Atonement. At no other time do I feel so close to God, and I suspect the same is true for most Jews.

These days constitute a courtroom drama like no other. The judge is God himself, and we are on trial for our lives. It begins on Rosh Hashanah, with the sounding of the shofar, the ram’s horn, announcing that the court is in session. The Book of Life, in which our fate will be inscribed, now lies open. As we say in prayer, “On Rosh Hashanah it is written, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed, who will live and who will die.” At home, we eat an apple dipped in honey as a symbol of our hope for a sweet new year.

On Yom Kippur, the atmosphere reaches a peak of intensity in a day of fasting and prayer. Repeatedly we confess our sins, whole alphabetical litanies of them, including ones we probably had neither the time nor the imagination to commit. We throw ourselves on the mercy of the court, which is to say, on God himself. Write us, we say, in the Book of Life.

And at the end of a long and wrenching day, we finish as we began 10 days earlier, with the sound of the ram’s horn—this time not with tears and fears but with cautious yet confident hope. We have admitted the worst about ourselves and survived.

http://rabbisacks.org/confusing-satan/
http://rabbisacks.org/challenge-jewish-repentance/

Held near Benedictine Clear Creek Abbey in eastern Oklahoma, June 2016
www.theideaofavillage.com

Session 1 — Rod Dreher
“The Benedict Option”

Session 2 — Dr. Ralph C. Wood
“Literature and Culture”
The Miserific and Beatific Vision in Walker Percy’s Love in the Ruins: A Literary Challenge to Advocates of the Benedict Option

Session 3 — Father Abbot Anderson
“The Monk’s View of the Village”

Session 4 — Dr. John Nieto
“Art and Nature in the Village”

UIOGD = Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Dei
(Latin: so that in all things God may be glorified)

Christians and non-Christians everywhere have heard of the phrase, “Jesus loves you.” But what does that really mean? Why does John the Baptist refer to Jesus as “the bridegroom,” when he was never married? And why does Saint Paul refer to the Church as Jesus’ “bride” and the crucifixion as his wedding day?

In this stunning course, Dr. Brant Pitre applies his knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity to the very heart of the Gospel: the love of Christ. In this set, you will plunge into the mystery of the love of God. Just some of the topics covered are:

• The Mystery of the Crucifixion: Why did God choose to save us through the Cross? What was crucifixion like at the time of Jesus? And how can Jesus compare such a brutal form of execution to his wedding day?
• The Song of Solomon: What are we to make of this mysterious love poem hidden in the middle of the Bible? How did ancient rabbis interpret the Song? Who is the Bridegroom and who is the Bride?
• The New Bridegroom: In the Old Testament, how was Adam the first bridegroom? How is the passion and death of Jesus like an ancient Jewish wedding?
• The New Bride: In the Old Testament, how was Eve the first bride? Where is the Bride of Christ “hidden” in the Gospels? What does the Bible reveal about her in the Book of Revelation?
• The Nuptial Mysteries: How are Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Priesthood, and Holy Virginity mysteries of the love of Christ the Bridegroom for his Bride?

If you‘ve ever wanted to learn more about what it really means to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Bridegroom—then this is the Bible study for you!

Christians and non-Christians everywhere have heard of the phrase, “Jesus loves you.” But what does that really mean? Why does John the Baptist refer to Jesus as “the bridegroom,” when he was never married? And why does Saint Paul refer to the Church as Jesus’ “bride” and the crucifixion as his wedding day?

In this stunning course, Dr. Brant Pitre applies his knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity to the very heart of the Gospel: the love of Christ. In this set, you will plunge into the mystery of the love of God. Just some of the topics covered are:

• The Mystery of the Crucifixion: Why did God choose to save us through the Cross? What was crucifixion like at the time of Jesus? And how can Jesus compare such a brutal form of execution to his wedding day?
• The Song of Solomon: What are we to make of this mysterious love poem hidden in the middle of the Bible? How did ancient rabbis interpret the Song? Who is the Bridegroom and who is the Bride?
• The New Bridegroom: In the Old Testament, how was Adam the first bridegroom? How is the passion and death of Jesus like an ancient Jewish wedding?
• The New Bride: In the Old Testament, how was Eve the first bride? Where is the Bride of Christ “hidden” in the Gospels? What does the Bible reveal about her in the Book of Revelation?
• The Nuptial Mysteries: How are Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Priesthood, and Holy Virginity mysteries of the love of Christ the Bridegroom for his Bride?

If you‘ve ever wanted to learn more about what it really means to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Bridegroom—then this is the Bible study for you!

Christians and non-Christians everywhere have heard of the phrase, “Jesus loves you.” But what does that really mean? Why does John the Baptist refer to Jesus as “the bridegroom,” when he was never married? And why does Saint Paul refer to the Church as Jesus’ “bride” and the crucifixion as his wedding day?

In this stunning course, Dr. Brant Pitre applies his knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity to the very heart of the Gospel: the love of Christ. In this set, you will plunge into the mystery of the love of God. Just some of the topics covered are:

• The Mystery of the Crucifixion: Why did God choose to save us through the Cross? What was crucifixion like at the time of Jesus? And how can Jesus compare such a brutal form of execution to his wedding day?
• The Song of Solomon: What are we to make of this mysterious love poem hidden in the middle of the Bible? How did ancient rabbis interpret the Song? Who is the Bridegroom and who is the Bride?
• The New Bridegroom: In the Old Testament, how was Adam the first bridegroom? How is the passion and death of Jesus like an ancient Jewish wedding?
• The New Bride: In the Old Testament, how was Eve the first bride? Where is the Bride of Christ “hidden” in the Gospels? What does the Bible reveal about her in the Book of Revelation?
• The Nuptial Mysteries: How are Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Priesthood, and Holy Virginity mysteries of the love of Christ the Bridegroom for his Bride?

If you‘ve ever wanted to learn more about what it really means to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Bridegroom—then this is the Bible study for you!

Christians and non-Christians everywhere have heard of the phrase, “Jesus loves you.” But what does that really mean? Why does John the Baptist refer to Jesus as “the bridegroom,” when he was never married? And why does Saint Paul refer to the Church as Jesus’ “bride” and the crucifixion as his wedding day?

In this stunning course, Dr. Brant Pitre applies his knowledge of the Jewish roots of Christianity to the very heart of the Gospel: the love of Christ. In this set, you will plunge into the mystery of the love of God. Just some of the topics covered are:

• The Mystery of the Crucifixion: Why did God choose to save us through the Cross? What was crucifixion like at the time of Jesus? And how can Jesus compare such a brutal form of execution to his wedding day?
• The Song of Solomon: What are we to make of this mysterious love poem hidden in the middle of the Bible? How did ancient rabbis interpret the Song? Who is the Bridegroom and who is the Bride?
• The New Bridegroom: In the Old Testament, how was Adam the first bridegroom? How is the passion and death of Jesus like an ancient Jewish wedding?
• The New Bride: In the Old Testament, how was Eve the first bride? Where is the Bride of Christ “hidden” in the Gospels? What does the Bible reveal about her in the Book of Revelation?
• The Nuptial Mysteries: How are Baptism, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Priesthood, and Holy Virginity mysteries of the love of Christ the Bridegroom for his Bride?

If you‘ve ever wanted to learn more about what it really means to have a “personal relationship” with Jesus Christ as Lord, Savior, and Bridegroom—then this is the Bible study for you!

Seven letters in the New Testament—1 and 2 Peter, James, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude—have been referred to since ancient times as the “seven Catholic epistles.” They give us an essential window into the life and teaching of the three men whom St. Paul referred as the “pillars” of the first-century Church: Peter, James, and John (Galatians 2:9). They also contain the one tiny epistle attributed to the famous St. Jude, patron of lost causes.

And yet these seven books of the New Testament are some of the most neglected and controversial writings in the Bible. Indeed, many modern scholars consider all of these letters to be forgeries. Moreover, the theology of these letters is also controversial. In this amazingly in-depth Bible study, Dr. Pitre takes you step-by-step through the seven Catholic epistles, answering questions such as:

· How the Catholic epistles were written to Jewish Christians
· Did the apostles write the seven Catholic epistles? Are they really forgeries?
· Who was James “the brother of Jesus”? What did ancient Christians believe about whether Mary had other children?
· What did Peter teach about the priesthood of the laity and the mystery of “divinization”?
· Can 2 Peter be reconciled with the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura?
· What does James teach about faith and works?
· What does 1 John teach about the Antichrist and mortal sin?
· Why does Jude quote the lost book of Enoch?

As we will see, far from being unimportant, the seven Catholic Epistles give us essential New Testament teaching on the identity of Jesus’ so-called “brothers,” faith and works, justification, sins of the tongue, anointing of the sick, the priesthood of the laity, Jesus’ descent into Hell, redemptive suffering, divinization, the debate over sola scriptura, the end of the world, the new creation, the distinction between mortal and venial sin, the Antichrist, the existence of Hell, and a host of other topics.

Although these seven letters are short, they are packed with inspired teaching that is essential for the Christian life. If you’ve wanted know more about the very first Jewish Christians, then this is the Bible study for you.

Seven letters in the New Testament—1 and 2 Peter, James, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude—have been referred to since ancient times as the “seven Catholic epistles.” They give us an essential window into the life and teaching of the three men whom St. Paul referred as the “pillars” of the first-century Church: Peter, James, and John (Galatians 2:9). They also contain the one tiny epistle attributed to the famous St. Jude, patron of lost causes.

And yet these seven books of the New Testament are some of the most neglected and controversial writings in the Bible. Indeed, many modern scholars consider all of these letters to be forgeries. Moreover, the theology of these letters is also controversial. In this amazingly in-depth Bible study, Dr. Pitre takes you step-by-step through the seven Catholic epistles, answering questions such as:

· How the Catholic epistles were written to Jewish Christians
· Did the apostles write the seven Catholic epistles? Are they really forgeries?
· Who was James “the brother of Jesus”? What did ancient Christians believe about whether Mary had other children?
· What did Peter teach about the priesthood of the laity and the mystery of “divinization”?
· Can 2 Peter be reconciled with the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura?
· What does James teach about faith and works?
· What does 1 John teach about the Antichrist and mortal sin?
· Why does Jude quote the lost book of Enoch?

As we will see, far from being unimportant, the seven Catholic Epistles give us essential New Testament teaching on the identity of Jesus’ so-called “brothers,” faith and works, justification, sins of the tongue, anointing of the sick, the priesthood of the laity, Jesus’ descent into Hell, redemptive suffering, divinization, the debate over sola scriptura, the end of the world, the new creation, the distinction between mortal and venial sin, the Antichrist, the existence of Hell, and a host of other topics.

Although these seven letters are short, they are packed with inspired teaching that is essential for the Christian life. If you’ve wanted know more about the very first Jewish Christians, then this is the Bible study for you.

Seven letters in the New Testament—1 and 2 Peter, James, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude—have been referred to since ancient times as the “seven Catholic epistles.” They give us an essential window into the life and teaching of the three men whom St. Paul referred as the “pillars” of the first-century Church: Peter, James, and John (Galatians 2:9). They also contain the one tiny epistle attributed to the famous St. Jude, patron of lost causes.

And yet these seven books of the New Testament are some of the most neglected and controversial writings in the Bible. Indeed, many modern scholars consider all of these letters to be forgeries. Moreover, the theology of these letters is also controversial. In this amazingly in-depth Bible study, Dr. Pitre takes you step-by-step through the seven Catholic epistles, answering questions such as:

· How the Catholic epistles were written to Jewish Christians
· Did the apostles write the seven Catholic epistles? Are they really forgeries?
· Who was James “the brother of Jesus”? What did ancient Christians believe about whether Mary had other children?
· What did Peter teach about the priesthood of the laity and the mystery of “divinization”?
· Can 2 Peter be reconciled with the Protestant doctrine of sola scriptura?
· What does James teach about faith and works?
· What does 1 John teach about the Antichrist and mortal sin?
· Why does Jude quote the lost book of Enoch?

As we will see, far from being unimportant, the seven Catholic Epistles give us essential New Testament teaching on the identity of Jesus’ so-called “brothers,” faith and works, justification, sins of the tongue, anointing of the sick, the priesthood of the laity, Jesus’ descent into Hell, redemptive suffering, divinization, the debate over sola scriptura, the end of the world, the new creation, the distinction between mortal and venial sin, the Antichrist, the existence of Hell, and a host of other topics.

Although these seven letters are short, they are packed with inspired teaching that is essential for the Christian life. If you’ve wanted know more about the very first Jewish Christians, then this is the Bible study for you.

"Men had turned from the contemplation of God above, and were looking for Him in the opposite direction, down among created things and things of sense. The Savior of us all, the Word of God, in His great love took to Himself a body and moved as Man among men, meeting their senses, so to speak, half way. He became Himself an object for the senses, so that those who were seeking God in sensible things might apprehend the Father through the works which He, the Word of God, did in the body."
- St. Athanasius, "On the Incarnation"

from Institute of Catholic Culture

“In the fullness of time, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.”
- Galatians 4:4-5

from Institute of Catholic Culture

"But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent his Son, made of a woman, made under the law: that he might redeem them who were under the law: that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because you are sons, God hath sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying: 'Abba, Father.' Therefore now he is not a servant, but a son. And if a son, an heir also through God."
- Galatians 4:4-7

from Institute of Catholic Culture

In this two-talk series, Dr. Bergsma delves into the concept and words for mercy in the Old and New Testaments, showing that "mercy" in the Bible is a much richer reality than we realized. Along the way, we discover the close connections between mercy, the Psalms, the Mass, the Eucharist, and almsgiving. Biblical mercy always draws us closer into the family of God!

2 – Come Follow Me
This second of three presentations deals with our attitude in following Jesus Christ: are we followers or just consumers? We look especially at Mark 8 and see how even the Apostles had a consumer mentality, until they surrendered in faith.

3 – Making History
God comes to us in the midst of our shame, and not in spite of it.

• Why the issue of faith and works needs to be settled before any other subject is discussed
• How the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura (Bible alone) affects the way Protestants interpret the Bible
• How the Protestant understanding of “Scripture interprets Scripture” renders solid Catholic proof texts (e.g., James 2:24) ineffective
• Why many Protestants seem to both affirm and deny the necessity of good works in conversations
• What are “trump verses” and how do these verses affect the way most Protestants understand the Bible?
• Does St. Paul really condemn good works?
• Was practicing the Old Testament ceremonial law a good work? Why did this ceremonial law contradict faith?
• Does the Bible teach that a true believer can never lose his salvation?

Michuta provides solid answers to these and other questions in this detailed and fascinating course in Catholic apologetics.

This in-depth study answers such objections as:

• “I don’t need to go to Mass. I can just pray at home.”
• “Christ died once for all never to be repeated, yet the Mass re-sacrifices Christ over and over again.”
• “Christ’s death on the Cross is the only Christian sacrifice. Christ did it all. There’s no need for Christians to offer any other sacrifice to God.”
• “We can restrict the ‘freedom of religion’ down to ‘freedom of worship’ without impinging upon the beliefs of Catholics.”
• and much more…

Gary Michuta shows how gaining a better understanding of sacrifice illuminates not only the meaning of the Last Supper and the Mass but also several Old Testament passages that may not at first glance even seem to be sacrificial. This recording will not just illuminate the mind to what the sacrifice of the Mass is, but move the heart to enter into the liturgy of the Mass more devoutly, given our responsibility to offer sacrifice as part of the “priesthood of all believers.”

Far from being a study locked in antiquity, this engaging series will open up new vistas of spirituality and worship for today’s Catholic believer. Open your Bible to Hebrews and join Dr. Steven Smith on the winding road that leads to “So Great a Cloud of Witnesses.”

But what about those other sins — the ones that people everywhere, including some Christians, don‘t seem to take too seriously? What about the sins of the tongue? Why does the letter of James say that “the tongue is a fire,” a “restless evil, full of deadly poison” and “set on fire by hell” (James 3:6-7)? How can we avoid sinning with our lips?

In this Bible study, Dr. Brant Pitre focuses our attention on what the letter of James has to teach about the often-overlooked sins of the tongue. In it, he covers:

• What are the sins of the tongue? Sure, lying is a sin. But what about slander? Coarse jokes? Swearing? False witness?
• Why does James say that the tongue is so powerful that “not many” Christians should become teachers?
• What exactly is a “lie”? How does lying “do violence” to another person?
• Why does James refer to the tongue as “a world of evil”? Is it really that bad?
• Why does the Catechism teach that even rash judgment, detraction, and calumny are sins?
• How does James say believers should speak? What kind of words should come out of our mouths?

If you‘ve ever struggled with sins of the tongue — and who hasn‘t? — then you need to hear this powerful and important presentation. For too long many Christians have treated sins of the tongue as if they weren‘t a big deal. And if you‘ve ever wanted to know what Scripture teaches about what kind of speech should come out of the mouth of a disciple of Jesus, then this is the Bible study for you.

That’s the sort of book popular author, pastor, and blogger Kevin DeYoung has aimed to write. Addressing the issues of our day—questions related to the reliability, authority, and readability of the Bible—DeYoung tackles these head on, but without complex terminology or a long list of footnotes. Taking God at His Word serves as a comprehensive and comprehensible introduction to a classic, orthodox doctrine of Scripture for the average man or woman in the pew, helping Christians across the globe gain confidence that the Bible really is knowable, necessary, and enough.

Originally posted on YouTube

The philosopher and Catholic social innovator Jean Vanier is a teacher of the wisdom of tenderness. The L'Arche movement, which he founded, centers around people with mental disabilities and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this month. We experience how Jean Vanier brings the most paradoxical religious teachings to life: that there’s power in humility, strength in weakness, and light in the darkness of human existence.

1 - Young David – A Male Cinderella
2 - Who Killed Goliath? Who Won the Battle?
3 - David and Michal – No Love Story
4 - The Death of Saul: One Death, Five Reports

Hershdorfer Kantrowitz Brettler Lecture Series, 2016

How does Moses’ introductory chapter, in which he is depicted both as a helpless infant and as a fiery young man, explain why he is chosen to lead the people out of Egypt?

2015

Mrs. Taragin evaluates the nature of Yirmiyahu's (Jeremiah) mission in the context of other prophets and the setting of the Jewish communities in his time. Mrs. Taragin explains the purpose of the question that God asks Yirmiyahu three times over the course of the book - "what do you see" - as a test to see whether or not he grasps the full meaning of his nevuah (prophecy).

(Navi = prophet)

2015

Dr. Ziegler examines the poetic structure of Megilat Eicha and examines how the content of the book is brought out by the way in which it was written. Dr. Ziegler analyzes the meter, tone, point of view, and more in order to arrive at the central themes of each perek.

(Eicha = Alas!)

2015

1 - A love story or the holy of holies?
2 - Paradise regained: The return to Gan Eden
3 - “Let nature be your teacher”: Animals, plants and seasons
4 - Patterns of Jewish history: Exile and redemption

2014

Hershdorfer Kantrowitz Brettler Lecture Series, 2013

Focuses on Judges 13, the parents of Samson, Manoah and his wife.

"And Manoah arose and went after his wife…" (Jdg 13:11)

¹ Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree of the garden’?” ² And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; ³ but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” ⁴ But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. ⁵ For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ⁶ So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate. ⁷ Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.

⁸ And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. ⁹ But the LORD God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹0 And he said, “I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” ¹¹ He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” ¹² The man said, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” ¹³ Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I ate.”

²0 The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living. ²¹ And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins, and clothed them.

²² Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever”— ²³ therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken. ²⁴ He drove out the man; and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

see Judges 13-16

Judges 11 (RSVCE)

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a harlot. Gilead was the father of Jephthah. ² And Gilead’s wife also bore him sons; and when his wife’s sons grew up, they thrust Jephthah out, and said to him, “You shall not inherit in our father’s house; for you are the son of another woman.” ³ Then Jephthah fled from his brothers, and dwelt in the land of Tob; and worthless fellows collected round Jephthah, and went raiding with him.

⁴ After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel. ⁵ And when the Ammonites made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah from the land of Tob; ⁶ and they said to Jephthah, “Come and be our leader, that we may fight with the Ammonites.” ⁷ But Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “Did you not hate me, and drive me out of my father’s house? Why have you come to me now when you are in trouble?” ⁸ And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “That is why we have turned to you now, that you may go with us and fight with the Ammonites, and be our head over all the inhabitants of Gilead.” ⁹ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, “If you bring me home again to fight with the Ammonites, and the LORD gives them over to me, I will be your head.” ¹0 And the elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The LORD will be witness between us; we will surely do as you say.” ¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him head and leader over them; and Jephthah spoke all his words before the LORD at Mizpah.

¹² Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the Ammonites and said, “What have you against me, that you have come to me to fight against my land?” ¹³ And the king of the Ammonites answered the messengers of Jephthah, “Because Israel on coming from Egypt took away my land, from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably.” ¹⁴ And Jephthah sent messengers again to the king of the Ammonites ¹⁵ and said to him, “Thus says Jephthah: Israel did not take away the land of Moab or the land of the Ammonites, ¹⁶ but when they came up from Egypt, Israel went through the wilderness to the Red Sea and came to Kadesh. ¹⁷ Israel then sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, ‘Let us pass, we pray, through your land’; but the king of Edom would not listen. And they sent also to the king of Moab, but he would not consent. So Israel remained at Kadesh. ¹⁸ Then they journeyed through the wilderness, and went around the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and arrived on the east side of the land of Moab, and camped on the other side of the Arnon; but they did not enter the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was the boundary of Moab. ¹⁹ Israel then sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites, king of Heshbon; and Israel said to him, ‘Let us pass, we pray, through your land to our country.’ ²0 But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory; so Sihon gathered all his people together, and encamped at Jahaz, and fought with Israel. ²¹ And the LORD, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they defeated them; so Israel took possession of all the land of the Amorites, who inhabited that country. ²² And they took possession of all the territory of the Amorites from the Arnon to the Jabbok and from the wilderness to the Jordan. ²³ So then the LORD, the God of Israel, dispossessed the Amorites from before his people Israel; and are you to take possession of them? ²⁴ Will you not possess what Chemosh your god gives you to possess? And all that the LORD our God has dispossessed before us, we will possess. ²⁵ Now are you any better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever go to war with them? ²⁶ While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are on the banks of the Arnon, three hundred years, why did you not recover them within that time? ²⁷ I therefore have not sinned against you, and you do me wrong by making war on me; the LORD, the Judge, decide this day between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon.” ²⁸ But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message of Jephthah which he sent to him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed on to Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed on to the Ammonites. ³0 And Jephthah made a vow to the LORD, and said, “If thou wilt give the Ammonites into my hand, ³¹ then whoever comes forth from the doors of my house to meet me, when I return victorious from the Ammonites, shall be the LORD’s, and I will offer him up for a burnt offering.” ³² So Jephthah crossed over to the Ammonites to fight against them; and the LORD gave them into his hand. ³³ And he smote them from Aroer to the neighborhood of Minnith, twenty cities, and as far as Abel-keramim, with a very great slaughter. So the Ammonites were subdued before the people of Israel.

³⁴ Then Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah; and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances; she was his only child; beside her he had neither son nor daughter. ³⁵ And when he saw her, he rent his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! you have brought me very low, and you have become the cause of great trouble to me; for I have opened my mouth to the LORD, and I cannot take back my vow.” ³⁶ And she said to him, “My father, if you have opened your mouth to the LORD, do to me according to what has gone forth from your mouth, now that the LORD has avenged you on your enemies, on the Ammonites.” ³⁷ And she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me; let me alone two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains, and bewail my virginity, I and my companions.” ³⁸ And he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she departed, she and her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. ³⁹ And at the end of two months, she returned to her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had made. She had never known a man. And it became a custom in Israel ⁴0 that the daughters of Israel went year by year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in the year.

As Dr. Pitre will show, the full belief of the Catholic Church about Life after Death actually goes beyond the traditional “Four Last Things”—Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell—to include the mysteries of Purgatory, the Resurrection, and the New Creation. After listening to this Bible study, you will never see the final line of the Creed in the same way. If you’re going to die—like we all are—and you’ve ever wondered what’s next, then this Bible study is for you.

Dec 17: O Sapientia
O Wisdom that comes out of the mouth of the Most High, that reaches from one end to another, and orders all things mightily and sweetly, come to teach us the way of prudence.

Dec 18: O Adonai
O Adonai, and Ruler of the house of Israel, Who didst appear unto Moses in the burning bush, and gave him the law in Sinai, come to redeem us with an outstretched arm!

Dec 19: O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse, which stands for a sign over the people, at Whom the kings shall shut their mouths, Whom the Gentiles shall seek, come to deliver us, do not tarry.

Dec 20: O Clavis David
O Key of David, and Scepter of the house of Israel, that opens and no man shuts, and shuts and no man opens, come to liberate the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness.

Dec 21: O Oriens
O Morning Star, Brightness of the everlasting light, and Sun of justice, come to give light to those sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Dec 22: O Rex Gentium
O King of the Gentiles, and desire of them, Cornerstone, that makes of two one, come to save man, whom Thou hast made out of the dust of the earth!

Dec 23: O Emmanuel
O Emmanuel, our King and our Law-giver, Longing of the Gentiles, and their Savior, come to save us, O Lord our God!

The first letters of the Latin words in reverse order spell Ero Cras, which translates into "Tomorrow, I will be [there]".

MARY IN GOD'S PERFECT PLAN OF REDEMPTION - Session 1

MARY: QUEEN MOTHER OF THE MESSIAH KING - Session 2

MARY: JOYFUL BIRTH / SORROWFUL MOTHER - Session 3

MARY: THE WOMAN CLOTHED WITH THE SUN - Session 4

* How Revelation 12 provides biblical proofs for Mary's bodily Assumption, her heavenly queenship, her sinless impeccability, and her place as Mother of all Christians.
* Why objections against the Marian interpretation of Revelation 12 ultimately fail.

In this Bible study, Dr. Brant Pitre takes you on a biblical tour of the Mass, using Sacred Scripture and ancient Jewish tradition to show you the biblical roots of the various parts of the Catholic Mass. Along the way, you’ll learn such things as:

* How Mass tells us that we are entering into the “Tabernacle” of Moses in order to meet God
* Where the “Sign of the Cross” can be found in the Old Testament
* Why the two blind men cried out, “Lord, Have Mercy” (Kyrie Eleison) and what should be going on inside of us when we cry out with them
* Where the “Glory to God in the highest” (the Gloria) comes from in the Bible, and why we sing it during some seasons (Ordinary Time), but not during others (Advent)
* Why we stand for the Gospel reading, and where the practice of biblical homilies can be found in Scripture
* Where the “Holy, Holy, Holy” (the Sanctus) comes from in the Bible
* And much more…

According to Pope Benedict XVI, in order for Christians to actively and fruitfully participate in the Mass, they must understand “the meaning of the signs contained in the rites” (Sacrament of Charity, 64). In this revealing presentation, Dr. Brant Pitre heeds Pope Benedict’s call by explaining the biblical meanings of the Mass’s most significant moments, so that you can enter more fully into this most sacred of Mysteries.

In answering these questions, Dr. Pitre uses the Old and New Testaments to show how Jesus was not just the Messiah, but the New Adam, the Perfect Man, who came into the world to redeem it from Original Sin and the Fall. Along the way, he focuses on such fascinating topics as:

* How does the Crucifixion show us what it really means to be a husband?
* What was Man like in his original state before the Fall?
* What were the Three Temptations that led to the fall of Adam and Eve?
* What specific effects did the Fall have on human nature?
* What is the “Threefold Lust” and how does it affect us now?
* How did the Three Temptations of Christ undo the effects of the Fall?
* How is Jesus the New Adam?
* What are the Biblical roots of Lent?
* What kind of Man is Jesus calling me to be?

By looking at the perfect Man, Jesus the New Adam, these talks are sure to deepen any man’s love for Christ and his desire to be the man of God that Christ is calling him to be.

Following the main presentation, Lighthouse has provided a bonus from the talk Purgatory: Holy Fire by Dr. Scott Hahn. This bonus is part of the 6-CD set by Dr. Hahn titled "Answering Common Objections."

Following the presentation, Lighthouse Catholic Youth has provided a bonus segment from Fr. Mike that explains the topics of "Infant Baptism" and "No Salvation Outside the Church".