Reconstructed Volume

“He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers--all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.”

Epistle to the Colossians 1.13-20

SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!!

November 13-15, 2008
2008 Principals Forum
Scottsdale, AZ

THE PAULINE YEAR: June 28, 2008-June 28, 2009

Benedict XVI has proclaimed a jubilee year of St. Paul from June 28, 2008, to the same date in 2009, marking the 2,000th anniversary of the apostle's birth.

An information bulletin about the year said the Church in Turkey is preparing “with spirit and a special determination they derive from feeling 'one' with the apostle born in Tarsus.”

According to Bishop Luigi Padovese, apostolic vicar of Anatolia, Turkey: “St. Paul can be considered the apostle of Christian identity, in an era like today when any type of religion can be embraced, in a moment in which the many paths toward God are ranked on the same level.”

The Turkish episcopal conference, formed by seven bishops, three of the Latin rite, two Armenians, one Syrian Catholic and one Chaldean, is considering the program for the celebrations. The bishops already planned a letter to the faithful of the various rites as well as a pilgrimage to Rome.

The conference has established contact with Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and with the Syrian Orthodox and Armenian Gregorian metropolitan archbishops, in order to organize common ecumenical initiatives dedicated to St. Paul, as Benedict XVI has suggested. “The bimillennium will serve also to call the attention of the Church to the Christian minority communities in Turkey, making them aware of the situation,” added Bishop Padovese.

One of the first goals for Catholics is to obtain permission from the Turkish authorities in Tarsus to make a permanent place for Christian worship to accommodate the pilgrims who will arrive from around the world.

Today, there is only one church-museum, and it lacks a cross. To use the building for liturgy, previous permission must be obtained and payment must be given to the civil authorities. “I asked Prime Minister Erdogan that access to the building, the only Christian place in the city which has not been transformed into a mosque, may be permitted not only to Catholics, but also to all Christians; or that the Christians might be able to acquire land to build a church,” Bishop Padovese said. “In Tarsus the museum-church is not needed, but a church where faithful and pilgrims can feel at home and pray.”

“The authorities of Tarsus,” he added, “have mixed sentiments: They are aware of the importance of the city for Christians; they are proud to be fellow citizens with a first-rate person. But at the same time, they show perplexity and discomfort when it comes to handling a situation implying religious tourism with special demands.”

Account courtesy of Zenit, available at: http://www.zenit.org/article-21433?l=english.

For Further Reading and Viewing

Paul: Contending for the Faith (DVD), Stephen Ray (Ignatius Press, 2004)
Paul of Tarsus, Joseph Holzner (Scepter Publishers, 2002)
The Apostle Paul: An Introduction to His Writings and His Teachings, by Marion L. Soards (Paulist Press, 1986)
Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church, Pope Benedict XVI (Ignatius Press, 2007)

PAULINE SITES

Thessalonika

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess. 5.16-18)

“But we must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the first fruits for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. For this purpose he called you through our proclamation of the good news, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thess. 2.13-14)

“For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel that was proclaimed by me is not of human origin; for I did not receive it from a human source, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1.11-12)

Philippi

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2.5-11)

Colossae

“He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross. And you who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him-- provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.” (Colossians 1.17-23)

Ephesus

“ This is the reason that I Paul am a prisoner for Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles-- for surely you have already heard of the commission of God's grace that was given me for you, and how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I wrote above in a few words, a reading of which will enable you to perceive my understanding of the mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3.1-4).

Corinth

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.’ 26For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes” (1 Cor. 11.23-26).

“For you know the generous act of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8.9)

Rome

“But now, apart from law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed, and is attested by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to show his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. By what law? By that of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.” (Romans 1.21-28)