http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/ en spcenter@salvationhistory.com Copyright 2013 2013-05-22T14:02:45+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/most_rev._jose_gomez_2013_baccalaureate_mass_homily http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/most_rev._jose_gomez_2013_baccalaureate_mass_homily#When:13:02:45Z St. Paul Center: - Most Reverend José H. Gomez, archbishop of Los Angeles and narrator of the St. Paul Center’s Spanish translation of the Sunday Bible Reflections Al Partir el Pan, delivers his homily at Franciscan University of Steubenville’s 2013 Baccalaureate Mass. Archbishop Gomez was awarded an honorary doctorate of Christian Letters by the University. 2013-05-22T13:02:45+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/a_mighty_wind_scott_hahn_reflects_on_pentecost http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/a_mighty_wind_scott_hahn_reflects_on_pentecost#When:13:27:53Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 2:1-11 Psalm 104:1,24,29-31,34 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13 John 20:19-23 The giving of the Spirit to the new people of God crowns the mighty acts of the Father in salvation history. The Jewish feast of Pentecost called all devout Jews to Jerusalem to celebrate their birth as God’s chosen people, in the covenant Law given to Moses at Sinai (see Leviticus 23:15-21; Deuteronomy 16:9-11). In today’s First Reading the mysteries prefigured in that feast are fulfilled in the pouring out of the Spirit on Mary and the Apostles (see Acts 1:14). The Spirit seals the new law and … 2013-05-17T13:27:53+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/hearing_the_call_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_ascension_of_the_lord http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/hearing_the_call_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_ascension_of_the_lord#When:13:01:10Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 1:1-11 Psalm 47:2-3. 6-9 Hebrews 9:24-28; 10:19-23 Luke 24:46-53 In today’s first reading, St. Luke gives the surprising news that there is more of the story to be told. The story did not end with the empty tomb, or with Jesus’ appearances to the Apostles over the course of forty days. Jesus’ saving work will have a liturgical consummation. He is the great high priest, and he has still to ascend to the heavenly Jerusalem, there to celebrate the feast in the true Holy of Holies. The truth of this feast shines forth from the Letter … 2013-05-08T13:01:10+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/council_of_jerusalem_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_6th_sunday_of_easter http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/council_of_jerusalem_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_6th_sunday_of_easter#When:18:07:36Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 15:1-2, 22-29 Psalm 67:2-3, 5-6, 8 Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23 John 14:23-29 The first Church council, the Council of Jerusalem we hear about in today’s First Reading, decided the shape of the Church as we know it. Some Jewish Christians had wanted Gentile converts to be circumcised and obey all the complex ritual and purity laws of the Jews. The council called this a heresy, again showing us that the Church in the divine plan is meant to be a worldwide family of God, no longer a covenant with just one nation. Today’s Liturgy gives us a … 2013-05-03T18:07:36+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/pope_benedicts_wednesday_audience_on_philip_the_apostle http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/pope_benedicts_wednesday_audience_on_philip_the_apostle#When:13:04:51Z St. Paul Center: - GENERAL AUDIENCE Saint Peter’s Square Wednesday, 6 September 2006 Dear Brothers and Sisters, While we continue to outline the features of the various Apostles, as we have been doing for several weeks, today we meet Philip. He always comes fifth in the lists of the Twelve (cf. Mt 10: 3; Mk 3: 18; Lk 6: 14; Acts 1: 13); hence, he is definitely among the first. Although Philip was of Jewish origin, his name is Greek, like that of Andrew, and this is a small sign of cultural openness that must not be underestimated. The information we … 2013-05-03T13:04:51+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/st._athanasius http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/st._athanasius#When:12:51:57Z Mike Aquilina: - “Athanasius was undoubtedly one of the most important and revered early Church Fathers. But this great Saint was above all the impassioned theologian of the Incarnation of the Logos, the Word of God who - as the Prologue of the fourth Gospel says - “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1: 14).” ~ Pope Benedict XVI 2013-05-02T12:51:57+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/may_memories http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/may_memories#When:12:44:49Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - If you were raised Catholic, the month of May probably evokes vivid memories of May crownings, Marian processions, and other seasonal devotions. I’m a little jealous, but not too much. The Mays of my childhood come back to me as memories of daydreaming. It’s almost summer, and there I am, wondering what I’ll do with my vacation: the months of warm-weather mornings stretching ahead till the next school year. Nowadays my Mays are Marian, like yours, but they still have a touch of wistfulness to them. Summer brings a change in routine. After all these years, I’m … 2013-05-01T12:44:49+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/new_for_all_ages_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_easter http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/new_for_all_ages_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_easter#When:16:13:32Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 14:21-27 Psalm 145:8-13 Revelation 21:1-5 John 13:31-35 By God’s goodness and compassion, the doors of His kingdom have been opened to all who have faith, Jew or Gentile. That’s the good news Paul and Barnabas proclaim in today’s First Reading. With the coming of the Church - the new Jerusalem John sees in today’s Second Reading - God is “making all things new.” In His Church, the “old order” of death is passing away and God for all time is making His dwelling with the human race, so that all peoples “will be His people and … 2013-04-26T16:13:32+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/grow_in_your_knowledge_of_scripture http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/grow_in_your_knowledge_of_scripture#When:15:00:47Z St. Paul Center: - Journey Through Scripture is… 2013-04-23T15:00:47+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/shepherd_and_the_lamb_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_4th_sunday_of_easter http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/shepherd_and_the_lamb_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_4th_sunday_of_easter#When:12:47:41Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 13:14, 43-52 Psalm 100:1-3, 5
 Revelation 7:9,14-17 
 John 10:27-30
 Israel’s mission - to be God’s instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth (see Isaiah 49:6) - is fulfilled in the Church. By the “Word of God” that Paul and Barnabas preach in today’s First Reading, a new covenant people is being born, a people who glorify the God of Israel as the Father of them all. The Church for all generations remains faithful to the grace of God given to the Apostles, continues their saving work. Through the Church, the peoples of every … 2013-04-19T12:47:41+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/fire_of_love_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_3rd_sunday_of_easter http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/fire_of_love_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_3rd_sunday_of_easter#When:13:26:06Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 5:27-32,40-41 Psalm 30:2,4-6,11-13 Revelation 5:11-14 John 21:1-19 There are two places in Scripture where the curious detail of a “charcoal fire” is mentioned. One is in today’s Gospel, where the Apostles return from fishing to find bread and fish warming on the fire. The other is in the scene in the High Priest’s courtyard on Holy Thursday, where Peter and some guards and slaves warm themselves while Jesus is being interrogated inside (see John 18:18). At the first fire, Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, as Jesus had predicted (see John 13:38; 18:15-18, 25-27). Today’s charcoal … 2013-04-12T13:26:06+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/all_things_new http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/all_things_new#When:15:00:11Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - “He who sat upon the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new” (Revelation 21:5). And so He has! We enter Easter season with new life won for us through the sacraments. The sacraments are as old as the Gospel, yet they are, like the Gospel, ever new. We enter the season with a new pope. We celebrate now because we have witnessed, with our own eyes, how the Holy Spirit always renews the Church in vigor. Led by Pope Francis, we enter the season amid a New Evangelization. Prepared by Venerable Paul VI, announced by Blessed … 2013-04-08T15:00:11+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/breath_of_new_life_scott_hahn_reflects_on_divine_mercy_sunday http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/breath_of_new_life_scott_hahn_reflects_on_divine_mercy_sunday#When:12:56:44Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 5:12-16 Psalm 118:2-4,13-15, 22-24 Revelation 1:9-13,17-19 John 20:19-31 The prophet Daniel in a vision saw “One like the Son of Man” receive everlasting kingship (see Daniel 7:9-14). John is taken to heaven in today’s Second Reading where He sees Daniel’s prophecy fulfilled in Jesus, who appears as “One like a Son of Man.” Jesus is clad in the robe of a High Priest (see Exodus 28:4; Wisdom 18:24) and wearing the gold sash of a King (see 1 Maccabees 10:89). He has been exalted by the right hand of the Lord, as we sing in today’s … 2013-04-05T12:56:44+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/historical_questions_about_the_resurrection_of_jesus_special_easter_post_an http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/historical_questions_about_the_resurrection_of_jesus_special_easter_post_an#When:12:12:04Z Dr. Michael Barber: - St. Paul makes it clear that Resurrection is an essential aspect of Christian faith. He states, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Cor 15:16–19). The importance of this feast is also reiterated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: Beginning with the Easter Triduum as its source of light, the new age of … 2013-04-02T12:12:04+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/they_saw_and_believed_scott_hahn_reflects_on_easter_sunday http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/they_saw_and_believed_scott_hahn_reflects_on_easter_sunday#When:20:34:09Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Acts 10:34, 37-43 Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23 Colossians 3:1-4 John 20:1-9 Jesus is nowhere visible. Yet today’s Gospel tells us that Peter and John “saw and believed.” What did they see? Burial shrouds lying on the floor of an empty tomb. Maybe that convinced them that He hadn’t been carted off by grave robbers, who usually stole the expensive burial linens and left the corpses behind. But notice the repetition of the word “tomb” - seven times in nine verses. They saw the empty tomb and they believed what He had promised: that God would raise Him … 2013-03-29T20:34:09+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/prepare_for_the_hour http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/prepare_for_the_hour#When:17:55:08Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Prepare your heart to celebrate the Sacred Triduum with “The Hour” an interview with Scott Hahn on the Paschal Mystery. 2013-03-26T17:55:08+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_jewish_roots_of_palm_sunday_and_the_passion http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_jewish_roots_of_palm_sunday_and_the_passion#When:16:13:53Z Dr. Brant Pitre: - On this coming Sunday, the Church will bring us to what may be one of my favorite Masses and my favorite sets of Scripture readings in the entire liturgical year: Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, popularly known simply as ‘Palm Sunday’. With the Palm Sunday readings, the Church ushers us into the climax of the liturgical year in the celebration of Holy Week. This is the last Sunday feast before the beginning of the Triduum, which will climax in the celebration of Easter (Latin Pascha), what the Catechism calls the “feast of feasts” (CCC … 2013-03-22T16:13:53+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/passion_sunday_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_passion_of_the_christ http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/passion_sunday_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_passion_of_the_christ#When:13:07:42Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Isaiah 50:4-7 Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24 Philippians 2:6-11 Luke 22:14-23:56 What is written about Me is coming to fulfillment,” Jesus says in today’s Gospel (see Luke 22:37). Indeed, we have reached the climax of the liturgical year, the highest peak of salvation history, when all that has been anticipated and promised is to be fulfilled. By the close of today’s long Gospel, the work of our redemption will have been accomplished, the new covenant will be written in the blood of His broken body hanging on the cross at the place called the Skull. In His Passion, … 2013-03-22T13:07:42+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/louder_than_words_the_art_of_living_as_a_catholic http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/louder_than_words_the_art_of_living_as_a_catholic#When:14:59:29Z Matthew Leonard: - Why Matthew Leonard wrote Louder Than Words. 2013-03-18T14:59:29+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/something_new_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_lent http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/something_new_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_lent#When:13:44:26Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Isaiah 43:16-21 Psalms 126:1-6 Philippians 3:8-14 John 8:1-11 The Liturgy this Lent has shown us the God of the Exodus. He is a mighty and gracious God, Who out of faithfulness to His covenant has done “great things” for His people, as today’s Psalm puts it. But the “things of long ago,” Isaiah tells us in today’s First Reading, are nothing compared to the “something new” that He will do in the future. Today’s First Reading and Psalm look back to the marvelous deeds of the Exodus. Both see in the Exodus a pattern and prophecy of … 2013-03-15T13:44:26+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/ratzinger_on_scripture_and_revelation http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/ratzinger_on_scripture_and_revelation#When:15:52:47Z Dr. Michael Barber: - “. . . you can have Scripture without having revelation. For revelation always and only becomes a reality where there is faith. The nonbeliever remains under the veil of which Paul speaks in the third chapter of his Second Letter to the Corinthians. He can read Scripture and know what is in it, can even understand at a purely intellectual level, what is meant and how what is said hangs together—and yet he has not shared in the revelation. Rather, revelation has only arrived where, in addition to the material assertions witnessing to it, its inner reality … 2013-03-11T15:52:47+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/found_alive_again_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_4th_sunday_of_lent http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/found_alive_again_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_4th_sunday_of_lent#When:20:11:09Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Joshua 5:9-12 Psalms 34:2-7 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 In today’s First Reading, God forgives “the reproach” of the generations who grumbled against Him after the Exodus. On the threshold of the promised land, Israel can with a clean heart celebrate the Passover, the feast of God’s first-born son (see Joshua 5:6-7; Exodus 4:22; 12:12-13). Reconciliation is also at the heart of the story Jesus tells in today’s Gospel. The story of the prodigal son is the story of Israel and of the human race. But it is also the story of every believer. In Baptism, … 2013-03-07T20:11:09+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_great_witness_of_st._perpetua http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_great_witness_of_st._perpetua#When:04:48:23Z St. Paul Center: - with Mike Aquilina & Matthew Leonard 2013-03-07T04:48:23+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/fruits_of_the_fig_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_3rd_sunday_of_lent http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/fruits_of_the_fig_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_3rd_sunday_of_lent#When:16:35:51Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Exodus 3:1-8,13-15 Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12 Luke 13:1-9 In the Church, we are made children of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - the God who makes known His name and His ways to Moses in today’s First Reading. Mindful of His covenant with Abraham (see Exodus 2:24), God came down to rescue His people from the slave-drivers of Egypt. Faithful to that same covenant (see Luke 1:54-55, 72-73), He sent Jesus to redeem all lives from destruction, as today’s Psalm tells us. Paul says in today’s Epistle that God’s saving deeds … 2013-03-01T16:35:51+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forward_march http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forward_march#When:19:02:57Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Like most Catholics, I woke on the morning of February 11, 2013, to a different sort of alarm. Nothing in my past—indeed, very little in history—had prepared me for what I found in the news that day. To many people, the pope resigning seemed an impossibility, like a square circle. But that wasn’t my particular problem. As a theologian, I knew it could be done. In fact, the conditions had been publicly rehearsed by no less an authority than Benedict XVI in interviews with the media. A pope’s resignation was not my problem. My problem was with … 2013-02-28T19:02:57+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_glory_in_sight_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_2nd_sunday http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/the_glory_in_sight_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_2nd_sunday#When:16:50:03Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18 Psalm 27:1,7-9, 13-14 Philippians 3:17-4:1 Luke 9:28-36 In today’s Gospel, we go up to the mountain with Peter, John and James. There we see Jesus “transfigured,” speaking with Moses and Elijah about His “exodus.” The Greek word “exodus” means “departure.” But the word is chosen deliberately here to stir our remembrance of the Israelites’ flight from Egypt. By His death and resurrection, Jesus will lead a new Exodus - liberating not only Israel but every race and people; not from bondage to Pharaoh, but from slavery to sin and death. He will lead all … 2013-02-22T16:50:03+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forty_days_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_1st_sunday_in_lent http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forty_days_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_1st_sunday_in_lent#When:14:11:33Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Deuteronomy 26:4-10 Psalm 91:1-2,10-15 Romans 10:8-13 Luke 4:1-13 In today’s epic Gospel scene, Jesus relives in His flesh the history of Israel. We’ve already seen that like Israel, Jesus has passed through water, been called God’s beloved Son (see Luke 3:22; Exodus 4:22). Now, as Israel was tested for forty years in the wilderness, Jesus is led into the desert to be tested for forty days and nights (see Exodus 15:25). He faces the temptations put to Israel: Hungry, He’s tempted to grumble against God for food (see Exodus 16:1-13). As Israel quarreled at Massah, He’s tempted … 2013-02-15T14:11:33+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/grande_munus_-_an_encyclical_on_sts._cyril_and_methodius http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/grande_munus_-_an_encyclical_on_sts._cyril_and_methodius#When:14:18:23Z St. Paul Center: - GRANDE MUNUS ENCYCLICAL OF POPE LEO XIII ON SS. CYRIL AND METHODIUS To all the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and Bishops of the Catholic world who enjoy Favor and Communion with the Apostolic See. Venerable Brothers, Greetings and Apostolic Blessing. Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs The great duty of spreading the Christian name was entrusted in a special way to Peter, the head of the apostles, and to his successors. It urges the popes to send messengers of the Gospel to the various peoples of the earth, as the affairs of the merciful God demand. For … 2013-02-14T14:18:23+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forty_days http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/forty_days#When:16:48:07Z St. Paul Center: - This Lent, let us prepare our hearts for the revelation of Mercy that comes to us in the Paschal Mystery. 2013-02-13T16:48:07+00:00 http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/into_the_deep_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_ordinary http://www.salvationhistory.com/blog/into_the_deep_scott_hahn_reflects_on_the_5th_sunday_of_ordinary#When:16:50:26Z Dr. Scott Hahn: - Isaiah 6:1-8 Psalm 138:1-5, 7-8 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Luke 5:1-11 Simon Peter, the fisherman, is the first to be called personally by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel. His calling resembles Isaiah’s commissioning in the First Reading: Confronted with the holiness of the Lord, both Peter and Isaiah are overwhelmed by a sense of their sinfulness and inadequacy. Yet each experiences the Lord’s forgiveness and is sent to preach the good news of His mercy to the world. No one is “fit to be called an apostle,” Paul recognizes in today’s Epistle. But by “the grace of God,” even … 2013-02-08T16:50:26+00:00