Rule 1: The Bible's human authors were not divine stenographers. Everything asserted in Scripture is asserted by the Holy Spirit, but God allowed the human authors of Scripture to incorporate their own words, ideas, and worldviews into the sacred texts.

Rule 2: The Bible's human authors were not writing scientific textbooks. Scripture does not assert a scientific description of the world, so details in the Bible that utilize "the language of appearances" are not erroneous.

Rule 3: The Bible contains many different literary styles. The Bible contains many different genres, some of which communicate true, historical facts through the use of poetic, non-literal language.

My dear parishioners,

I would like to address a critical problem that has arisen in the past two weeks. Two men, who appeared to be homeless, have found their way to our parish. In the past, city, police and our parish have tried to help them. One, indeed, has the financial capacity to help himself. The police have told us that they go around from various places until they have to be removed. This past weekend they were removed from the hospital, for causing issues with the nursing staff. They ended up at St. Magdalen. I contacted social services but they could not provide help since one has adequate income. The other gentlemen refused to give any information.

Just like Christ's foster father, we can draw strength from the Lord if we deny ourselves worldly pleasures Catholics know that 19 March is the Feast of St Joseph. Fewer, perhaps, are aware that the entire month of March is dedicated to the Most Chaste Heart.

That seems a bit odd, doesn't it? March is dominated by the Lenten fast, which is itself a preparation for Eastertide. According to tradition, Our Lord's foster-father didn't live to see his public ministry. In fact, it was necessary that St Joseph pass from this life before Christ could reveal Himself. Only then would Jesus become head of the royal House of David – both God and King by birthright.

With the resurgence in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and Catholic tradition in general, here's a question that has had come up in recent years: are Catholics supposed to avoid chewing the Eucharistic host in their mouth?

Maybe you've heard people say "you shouldn't chew the Eucharist like bubble gum," or claim that it's sacrilege to chew the Eucharist rather than let it dissolve in your mouth.

With the resurgence in the Extraordinary Form of the Mass and Catholic tradition in general, here's a question that has had come up in recent years: are Catholics supposed to avoid chewing the Eucharistic host in their mouth?

Maybe you've heard people say "you shouldn't chew the Eucharist like bubble gum," or claim that it's sacrilege to chew the Eucharist rather than let it dissolve in your mouth.

Yet that vast majority of Catholics do chew the host. What is a faithful Catholic to do?

My dear Parishioners,

Lent is time to take our spiritual life a bit more seriously. We do this by traditional means of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In addition to our daily adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Stations of the Cross on Friday’s at 7:30pm our parish will be hosting a Parish Lenten Mission from Mar 10-18 nightly at 7:00pm.

Fr. John Trigilio — Mount St. Mary Seminary and University and Fr. Fred Miller—St. Andrew Seminary and Seton Hall University will be conducting the Mission. Additional details are in this week's bulletin.

We will be also hosting a University Lecture series on Thursdays in Lent at 7:00pm. It will consist in celebrating Evening Prayer and then a talk by a prominent theologian. I hope you make every effort and attend.

Sincerely,
Fr. Brighenti

The 1985 Extraordinary Synod of Bishops asserted “that the liturgy must favor the sense of the sacred and make it shine forth. It must be permeated by the spirit of reverence, adoration, and the glory of God.” To foster such a spirit, the Church has prescribed certain gestures and actions, especiallytoward the Blessed Sacrament.