Synod crunch time: amending final proposals

VATICAN CITY — The Synod of Bishops for the Middle East has hit the crunch point. This morning, the 185 voting members were given the first draft of the “propositions” in Arabic, French, English and Italian. The final proposals will be given to Pope Benedict XVI as suggestions for use in his post-synodal apostolic exhortation.  [...]

Archbishop Gregory’s address at synod for Africa

VATICAN CITY — Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory of Atlanta spoke before the Synod of Bishops for Africa Oct. 5. The Vatican released the full text of his remarks today: “I welcome this opportunity to summarize the importance that this Second Synod for Africa holds for the church in the United States of America. We Americans find [...]

An opening on women lectors?

VATICAN CITY — Probably the most newsy — and somewhat unexpected — item in the final propositions of the Synod of Bishops on the Bible was a proposal to allow women to be officially installed in the ministry of lector. The issue was raised in Proposition 17 on “The ministry of the word and women,” and on [...]

After the synod, how will you use your Bible?

Now that the world Synod of Bishops has said that Catholics should each own — and use — a Bible, what ideas can you give for all of us to accomplish that in our busy lives? Just open and fill out the comments form below. (Comments are moderated for spam, etc., but, if you stay [...]

Women in the Bible

Don’t miss our feature, just posted this afternoon on our synod page, on women in the Bible. As the story notes, numerous women from the Old and New Testaments appear in the Bible as inspiring examples of faith and leadership. This was only one piece in a series of stories we offered to our clients [...]

CNS Bible Blog: Ruth, Chapter 2 – Love and integrity

By Uta Sievers Special to Catholic News Service I sat down with the Book of Ruth and started reading Chapter 2. Following what is described as an Ignatian method for reading and praying with the Scriptures, I imagine myself as a character in the story. I am Boaz. The potent one. I know who I [...]

CNS Bible Blog: Ruth, Chapter 1 – Guided by a dream

By Uta Sievers Special to Catholic News Service Today, I sat down with the Book of Ruth and started reading Chapter 1. Using a method for reading and praying with the Scriptures that is attributed to St Ignatius Loyola, I took a step inside the story. I am Ruth. I went with my mother-in-law Naomi [...]

CNS Bible Blog: Judith 12-13 – A woman serving God

By Uta Sievers Special to Catholic News Service Continuing with the Book of Judith, I focused on Chapter 12 and Chapter 13. Using the method of praying with Scripture known as Ignatian contemplation (or Ignatian imagining), I continued to read and pray, imagining myself as Judith. As I step into Holofernes’ tent, all eyes are [...]

Pope Benedict as Bible blogger?

VATICAN CITY — The Synod of Bishops on the Bible heard an unusual suggestion Tuesday morning when a Hong Kong observer asked Pope Benedict to start up his own daily blog on Scripture. Agnes Kam Leng Lam, president of the Catholic Biblical Association of Hong Kong, said people need to experience Scripture in small but [...]

CNS Bible Blog: Judith, Chapter 10 – Hanging on to tradition

By Uta Sievers Special to Catholic News Service Today, I sat down again with the Book of Judith and started reading Chapter 10. Following the method of “Ignatian contemplation” (a way for reading and praying with the Scriptures that has been used by Jesuits since the 16th century), I took a step back inside the [...]