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worth noting . . .
A RECIPE FOR SAINTHOOD . . . Jesus calls all of us to be saints, to be perfect. But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to union with God. Many Catholics know their high calling, but they are not motivated to strive for it, especially given the temptations that come from the materialistic culture all around us. In this issue Fr. Thomas G. Morrow addresses this problem with some concrete suggestions for lay people on how to grow in holiness. His Plan comes down to the basics: prayer, daily Mass, regular confession, and spiritual reading, especially the Holy Bible and the lives of the saints. If you want to grow in faith and love, our author shows you how.
RAYMOND BROWN’S APPROACH TO THE BIBLE . . . Fr. Raymond Brown’s Birth of the Messiah has been very influential in Catholic circles, especially in seminaries. It is a work of great scholarship, but the author makes assumptions that cast doubt on the historical value of the infancy narratives in the first two chapters of the gospels of Matthew and Luke. This month Fr. Michael E. Giesler offers us a careful analysis of some of the statements of Fr. Brown and finds them not in conformity with Catholic tradition and teaching. If Brown is right, then Catholics have misunderstood Matthew and Luke for over nineteen hundred years.
MARY: MOTHER OF THE REDEEMER . . . Mary’s loftiest title is that she is the Mother of God. She is also the Mother of the Redeemer and was associated with all that Jesus did and suffered for our salvation. Theologians disagree on whether or not the Church should define that she is the “Coredemptrix” of the human race. In the past we have published a few articles arguing in favor. In this issue you will find an article which argues against the title. The article is by Mr. Michael J. Miller who rejects the pro-arguments offered by a major proponent of the title, Professor Mark I. Miravalle. We offer this to help bring light to the subject.
PRAYER AND UNION WITH GOD . . . The purpose of our existence, the reason why God created us is to be united to him in an embrace of everlasting love. That union starts in this life and reaches its perfection in the face to face vision of God in heaven for those who attain salvation. In this issue Carolyn Humphreys, O.C.D.S. a secular Carmelite, offers us some basic but at the same time profound ideas about the nature of prayer and its importance for eternal life. She says that the best way to establish friendship with God is through prayer. Then she spells out the different kinds of prayer according to the saints and the great value of silence.
Back to Homiletic & Pastoral Review Table of Contents February 2001