Reading out the draft of this year's Bible Sunday Message
Msgr James Gnanapragasam (KL), Bro Paul (Melaka-Johor), Msgr Eugene Vaz
Pondering the contents of the Bible Sunday Message
Richard Wong (KK). Msgr William Sabang (Kuching) Archbishop John Ha (President RBC), Msgr James Gnanapragasam (KL), Bro Paul Soh (Melaka-Johor)
Fr Simon Kontou (Sandakan), Fr Andy Lee (Miri) and Fr Alphonsus Tang (Sibu)
Members of the Regional Biblical Commission of Catholic Bishops' Conference of Malaysia Singapore and Brunei will be gathering in Singapore for their 41st Meeting. The venue of the meeting will be at St Francis Xavier Major Seminary in Ponggol.
Comment:
An example of the great interest generated by the Bible among many lay Catholics in the United States. This particular Conference is sponsored by Ascension Press, who produce a good range of catholic Bible Study materials in printed and digital form.
The Bible is a source of inexhaustible riches for Catholics. It informs our faith, inspires our devotions, and guides our way of life. In a word, it provides us with a "roadmap" for living, a roadmap that points us to eternal blessings and joy. Join us for the 2012 National Catholic Bible Conference. Learn from Catholic Bible Study experts how to effectively read Scripture, how to understand it, and how to apply its remarkable wisdom in your daily life. Let Scripture become your "Roadmap for Living."
February 5, 2012. (Romereports.com) Symbols of art, archeology and of course religion are all part of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Most recently there's been more attention on the tomb of St. Paul...and whether or not he's actually buried in it. The story goes back centuries of course, but just a few years ago, a new phase began.
Fr. Prof Scott Brodeur S.I
Pontifical Gregorian University
“Archeologists found remains of human beings in there, through their scientific tests,they were able to determine that it went back to the first century.”
Archeologists drilled a small hole into the sarcophagus. Through a series of carbon 14 tests, the sample revealed traces of elegant purple linen, laminated with pure gold. Most importantly, they also found tiny bone fragments.
For years, St. Paul's original burial site was said to be the Basilica. But, eventually his remains were moved.
Fr. Prof Scott Brodeur S.I
Pontifical Gregorian University
“His remains remained in that place for approximately two centuries, until the middle of the 3rd century, there was a great persecution. So the Christians of that time, took his body. What remained of it, the bones, and transferred it to another sacred place. Once the persecution was over, they moved it back to the original place of burial.”
Vatican officials also said a slab of marble with the words “Paul Apostle Martyr” was found.
So, to learn more about his life before and after his death, the Pontifical Gregorian University organized a forum to introduce a book which translates precisely to “Paul Apostle Martyr,” which deals with the history, art and archeology surrounding St. Paul.
Card. Francesco Monterisi
St. Paul Basilica, Archpriest
“He's truly the symbol for those who try and deepen their Christian beliefs in modern society.”
Over the centuries, people came to venerate his tomb. As a way to honor him, they would leave coins as a symbol of their pilgrimage.
Fr. Prof Scott Brodeur S.I
Pontifical Gregorian University
“So there was great concern, that this was of St. Paul, this was the place and that is the very place we still venerate in the Basilica.”
Eventually in 2009, Benedict XVI said the analysis “seems to confirm the unanimous and uncontested tradition that these are the mortal remains of the Apostle Paul.”
Fr. Prof Scott Brodeur S.I
Pontifical Gregorian University
“So yes, I think it's highly probable that the human remains that we have found in that sarcophagus are that of the Apostle of Paul.”
Since the newest discovery, it's now more accessible for pilgrims to enter below the Basilica and pray directly before the tomb of St. Paul.
January 18, 2012. (Romereports.com) More than fifty percent of world's population can not read or write, leaving them with many disadvantages. It has proved especially difficult for the Catholic Church in their work of Evangelization. However, the group Faith Comes by Hearing is working to offer every person the chance to listen to the Bible recorded in their own language.
The group's founder Jerry Jackson presented the pope with an iPod with an audio bible. They currently offer audio versions of the Bible in over 600 languages.
Jerry Jackson
President, Faith Comes by Hearing “And then we record this, we assemble it in the language of the people, word for word, pure scripture, no comments, nothing in addition but just pure Scripture.”
Their App Biblium.is can be downloaded through mobile devices for free listening of the bible. In one year the app has been downloaded over 7 million times. And to the group's surprise, after English, the most downloaded language was Arabic.
For more remote areas of the world that don't have access to the internet, Faith Comes by Hearing has developed what they call 'The Proclaimer'. A playback device, that can be powered by a solar panel or a hand-powered crank and can operate in temperatures of up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Lori Koch
Manager, Faith Comes by Hearing “It basically is the Bible in audio for the non-literate people of the world. And it's self-contained, the content can't be changed, just like the content of the Bible that you hold in your hand and read can not be changed.”
Father Peter Stravinskas of New Jersey became a fan of their work and got involved when one important version was missing, Latin: The language of the Church.
Fr. Peter Stravinskas
Faith Comes by Hearing
“Vatican II makes it very clear that every Catholic is supposed to be conversant with the sacred liturgy and the Scriptures in the universal language of the Church.”
Faith Comes by Hearing has delivered over 300,000 Proclaimers since 2004. They continue to reach out to new communities and new languages, hoping to expand into 100 new languages in 2012.
February 5, 2012. (Romereports.com) Symbols of art, archeology and of course religion are all part of the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. Most recently there's been more attention on the tomb of St. Paul...and whether or not he's actually buried in it. The story goes back centuries of course, but just a few years ago, a new phase began.