Sunday Feb. 20 Fr. Groschel will teach about how to read the Old Testament on his Live Show on EWTN. I am assuming it is at 6PM Eastern time. I just caught the show from last Sunday this evening, it was very good.

It is very evident that he is regaining his strength and has put on some weight. Looks more like the Fr. Groschel we love so much. Still does't seem to have use of his right arm, but definately a lot stronger. PRAISE BE TO GOD!

Pani Rose

I am making a note to remember this. I appreciate anything he teaches and especially since he is going to present it on the OT...


Blessings,

Thanks,

Mary Jo

Dear Pani,

I was blessed by Father Groechel you know! Of course it was after I chased the car he was in, and stood there stunned while he asked: "Do I know you"?

I was speechless, but someone next to me answered, and he blessed me. Think about it, I was blessed by a Saint. Too bad, I missed the Pope's blessing when I was in Rome. That would have made it two saints.

Zenovia

I don't think there is anymore solid spiritual person than Fr. Benedict. Theologically and spiritually, he is (and has always been) a authentic giant in any circle (Catholic or Orthodox). The Franciscan Friars of the Renewal's Rule was built upon the primitive Rule of St. Francis and St. Teresa's Rule written for the Missionaries of Charity...and is a model for modern religious communities. Thanks be to God for such men and women, who show us that it IS possible to live the Gospel in full!

In Him Who calls us,
+Fr. Gregory

Father Gregory,

Amen!

I have gone to some of his lectures. He is VERY inspirational, and a great asset to the survival of the RC church in this country amidst a sea of modernism and liturgical abuses.

He embraces all Christians of true faith as brethren.

He is particularly welcoming to the Orthodox and knows much about our traditions.

What is funny is that he often talks of having been in the presence of sainted people like Mother Theresa and Archbishop Fulton J.Sheen, and other contemporary churchmen, and how saints are all just passing each other by without even knowing it-- but what I think (and that I KNOW he would never accept), is that he is also one of those destined saints passing the others by!

Atleast, that is my humble hunch!

In Christ,
Alice

Father Groschel is one of my favorite priests on EWTN.
He is a true ecumenist. He always speaks positively about his encounters with Baptists, Jews and people of other faiths. I will pray for his continued recovery and for many more years on EWTN.

I am thankful that Father feels well enough to undertake teaching and speaking again. I know, that his message will be even more challenging and helpful, after the experience of several years of silence. May God give his voice strength!

Hey, I'm watching the encore presentation of Sunday night live with Fr Benedict right now and I've just discovered something very interesting. Even though he says 'dont get hung up on it' (I love Fr Benedict. He's so humble. I love it on his show when he makes mistakes because it shows you how a real Christian responds to such things. On live TV in front of so many people, there is no indication of being perturbed, no sign that his pride has been hurt. Daresay, and I'm not God, that Grace has filled him with such humility that he has no pride. He just admits the fault gently, purely...apologises and goes on...Its so beautiful. God is magnificent, how gracious of him that He could make us good like that ) I heard him say the Russian and Greek deuterocanonical books are fuller than the Latin Church's version. Is that true? And if so is it possible to get that version of the Bible in English? Or alternatively what would be a good Greek language Bible to buy? (The Greek is Koine, right?)

I really appreciated the program which I caught as a repeat on EWTN this morning. I especially appreciated the last part where he says, "Truth is often stranger than fiction."

I appreciated his good advice to not do bible studying all on your own and that we need commentaries, and good sources on how to read the bible. etc. to help. He cautions also to be careful how we study the symbols. Some things which are easily depicted as "merely symbolic" could be real happenings. He used the experience of our recent 9-11 tragedy as an example saying that people could look back on it hundreds of years from now and say it was only a symbol when,in fact, it really happened.

And that if someone reads the bible without seeing how it can change their lives he thinks they are really missing something. Rather than an intellectual approach to the bible he said he would rather hear from an old lady of poor financial means who has spent her life reading the bible and living by it.

As an answer to one of the questions he suggested that we read something out of the Old Testament and something out of the New Testament together every day. "It is important to know that Christ is on every page of the Bible." says Father Groechel.

Good program. I was enlightened and inspired.

In Christ,

Mary Jo

Dear Friends,

I too loved watching Fr. Groeschl!

I particularly admire his gentlemanly and ecumenical manner.

He said, as you will recall, that the Old Testament can also be called the "Jewish Scriptures" and he himself will call them that if he is speaking with Jews or to a Jewish audience (he has MANY Jewish friends).

He even said, "Be sensitive!" when talking to Jews etc.

As for which edition of the Bible to read, he went over them, dismissing to a large extent arguments about which is better or more orthodox, and then said, "Read the Bible!!" (in the spirit of "for Heaven's sake!")

Great man!

Alex

I went to EWTN to find the books he mentioned. Here are the links:

THE EVERYTHING BIBLE BOOK
by Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Kenneth Brighenti. This easy-to-read book simplifies the holy task of reading the Bible! Provides a comprehensive guide to the history, literature, personalities and parables of both Testaments. Also features: the chronology of the books of the Bible; Comparisons of the Gospels; plain English translations of difficult passages; and a book-by-book plan for reading the Bible in a year. Paperback. 289 pages.

THE HOW-TO BOOK OF THE BIBLE
by Karl Schultz. Perhaps you know very little about the Bible; or you know just enough to realize that there's much more to discover. This book is the key to unlocking the treasure of Holy Scripture. Schultz introduces you to the Bible and also helps you to develop a deep, fulfilling and lasting bond with God's Holy Word. Paperback. 352 pages.

Go to page four
https://www.ewtn.com/vcatalogue/index.asp?category=books

Also found this book on the same page...
THE BIBLE AND THE QUR'AN
by Fr. Jacques Jomier. This is a scholarly, yet readable, work that details the profound differences between Christian Scripture and the Islamic sacred texts - differences that are too often glossed over by the mainstream media. Topics addressed include: Islamic teaching on Jesus and Mary, the universal mission of the Muslims and Islamic law in relation to other religions. Paperback. 130 pages.

Dear Pani,

Just a nit-picky thingy . . .

EWTN has a "St Benedict wall Cross" - it is, in fact, a Benedictine Abbot's pectoral crucifix.

Alex

how true! If only we could get more if not most of the Christian community to actually read their Bibles daily! It only takes a few minutes to read a few chapters....

In His Name,
Stephen

Dear Stephen,

I love how Orthodox monastics will read the Gospels through as a prayer service or the Epistles!

I think this is the best, prayerful way to read the Bible "Basic Information Before Leaving Earth!"

Alex