My Favorite Bible 2.0

Back in October 2009, I posted on this blog that my favorite Bible edition was Cambridge's NRSV Reference Bible with the Apocrypha--French morocco leather.  Almost three years later, I feel the same way.  While we have certainly seen some improvement in the quality of Catholic Bibles, none match this edition.  Granted, this is technically not a "Catholic" Bible in the sense that it isn't the NRSV Catholic Edition.  However, it does contain all the Deuterocanonicals and the translation, itself, is the exact same as found in the NRSV-CE. 

The original edition I had received back in 2009 was a used copy purchased from Christianbook.com.  It had been returned for some reason, but was in pretty good shape.  The only real issues were that there was a name imprinted on the cover and some of the pages were worn.  It was still in very good condition and it was purchased at a great price.  I had used this NRSV often over the past three years.  In fact, this was the one that I used for many of the major exams I took during the course of my S.T.B. studies, due to all the cross-references.  During the past year, however, as I have been spending a bit more time with the NABRE, my Cambridge NRSV has seen only occasional use.  Recently, I have felt the need to return to this edition, due to its clear text, copious cross-references, useful glossary, fine maps, and quality binding/premium cover. 

When I began to flip through my original edition, I found that it had gotten wet somehow, thus some of the pages weren't in the best condition.  Also, the fact that someone else's name was on the cover always kind of bugged me.  So, I decided to contact my friend Louis, of Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, to see if he could acquire a new copy of Cambridge's NRSV.  (It also helped that I had a gift card to use!)  He was successful, and I received my new edition, with my own name inscribed on the cover, in the mail on Wednesday.  Expecting an identical, albiet new, edition of the Cambridge NRSV, I was suprised to immediately notice a number of differences between the older and new Cambridge NRSV. 

At first touch, the cover felt different.  While my older edition had a rather stiff morroco leather cover, this newer one, though still morroco leather, was more limp.  It had a more smooth feel to it as well, and when I bent the cover it recovered its shape better.  The next thing I did was to get my older edition and place it next to the newer one.  As you can see from the first photo, the bottom one, which is the newer edition, is clearly thinner than the older one.  The other dimensions of this Bible are the exact same and include the same pages of material.  Next, I decided to open up my new Bible to the first few pages.

Taking a look at the copyright, I noticed that my new edition was a 2006 reprint of the 1997 first edition.  I had no idea that my older edition was the first edition, since I didn't know that it had been reprinted.  (It is not like you see this Bible at local secular or religious bookstores typically.)  In addition, I had never seen anyone else carrying this Bible in order to compare mine to it.  Needless to say, the reality of a second printing of this edition was news to me.  As I have been spending some time comparing the two versions since Wednesday, I am very happy to have purchased the reprinted (2006) edition of this Cambridge NRSV.  In my mind, it is clearly a better product overall.

One other difference that I noticed was that the print, although still the same typset, was noticeably darker than the older one.  It is difficult to tell by my second picture earlier in the post, but it is clearly darker in person.  Again, another positive change from the original printing.

All in all, I am very happy with my new edition of the Cambridge NRSV Reference Bible with the Apocrypha--French morocco leather.  The changes to the first edition, though slight, are much appreciated.  This edition remains my favorite Bible and it fits perfectly with my favorite daily prayer book: The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (1962 edition). 

(I wonder if anyone finds it strange that I am Catholic who prefers the Ordinary Form (Novus Ordo) Mass, prays the 1962 Little Office daily, and uses the NRSV?) 

Again, thanks to Louis (and Mason) at Baker Book House in Grand Rapids for their wonderful customer service!

Retro Review: NRSV Go-Anywhere Bible Catholic Edition

Any one else besides me think this is a pretty sweet and unique Bible?  Crickets.....

I really do appreciate HarperOne's imagination in producing this Bible.  It is, for those of you who are unaware, the NRSV Go-Anywhere Bible Catholic Edition, which was published back in 2007.  It was, for me, the first edition of the NRSV that I actually purchased and read.  Up until that point, I had stayed away from the NRSV due to the perceived inaccuracies of the translation due its use of inclusive language.  (Since then, I have come to greatly appreciate the NRSV and its more than helpful textual notes.)

What is most unique about this particular edition is its dimensions: 8.6 x 6.6 x 1.2 inches.  It is a very slender, portable Bible, but one where the text is not cramped like most compact ones.  Some, like myself, have liked the extra length in this edition, while others have not.  Included with the Sacred text is a helpful concordance, but that is about it.  (The typical issues that plague most of HarperOne's releases, lack of cross-references and too thin paper, is also present in this NRSV.)

However, with that said, the binding is sewn and the Italian Nu-Tone cover is quite soft and has lasted for almost five years with no issues.  Also, unlike the most recent NABRE imitation leather release from HarperOne, this edition does come with a ribbon marker!  All in all, it is certainly a unique Bible, one that will be appreciated by only a handful of people, depending on their taste for strangely shaped Bibles!

I Really Enjoy Listening to This Concert....

Often when I am doing work at a cafe I'll listen to music that is either downloaded on my computer or on Pandora. However, I will often just let this concert play in background while I am working. Call me crazy, but I really like listening to it.

Musically, I find that I tend to like both the older traditional hymns and modern contemporary Christian music. The stuff that is in the middle really doesn't appeal to me, in either a concert or liturgical setting. Perhaps that is because I grew up in a parish that played that type of '70s-'90s Catholic church music all the time.

I tend to be most comfortable in a Novus Ordo Mass, both in the vernacular but especially in Latin. However, I am equally as comfortable in Charismatic prayer groups or at a Third Day concert surrounded by predominantly our Protestant brothers and sisters.  Perhaps that explains why I enjoy the above concert.

St. John the Baptist, Aquinas, and Logos

Good stuff from Logos and its use of the Catena Aurea.  Check it out!  (I have it on my copy of Logos and love it.)

Semi-Regular Weekly Poll

What is your favorite edition of the NAB?

• NAB (1970)
• NAB w/ Revised NT (1986)
• NAB w/ Revised NT and Psalms (1991)
• NABRE (2011)

Freeblogpolls

More polls: smslån nu

Monday with the New Psalms: Psalm 132

Psalm 132

1 A song of ascents.

Remember, O LORD, for David

all his hardships;

2 How he swore an oath to the LORD,

vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:

3 “I will not enter the house where I live,

nor lie on the couch where I sleep;

4 I will give my eyes no sleep,

my eyelids no rest,

5 Till I find a place for the LORD,

a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

6 “We have heard of it in Ephrathah;

we have found it in the fields of Jaar.

7 Let us enter his dwelling;

let us worship at his footstool.”

8 “Arise, LORD, come to your resting place,

you and your mighty ark.

9 Your priests will be clothed with justice;

your devout will shout for joy.”

10 For the sake of David your servant,

do not reject your anointed.

11 The LORD swore an oath to David in truth,

he will never turn back from it:

“Your own offspring I will set upon your throne.

12 If your sons observe my covenant,

and my decrees I shall teach them,

Their sons, in turn,

shall sit forever on your throne.”

13 Yes, the LORD has chosen Zion,

desired it for a dwelling:

14 “This is my resting place forever;

here I will dwell, for I desire it.

15 I will bless Zion with provisions;

its poor I will fill with bread.

16 I will clothe its priests with salvation;

its devout shall shout for joy.

17 There I will make a horn sprout for David;

I will set a lamp for my anointed.

18 His foes I will clothe with shame,

but on him his crown shall shine.”

--NABRE

1 A Song of Ascents.

O LORD, remember David

and all the hardships he endured,

2 the oath he swore to the LORD,

his vow to the Strong One of Jacob.

3 "I will not enter my house,

nor go to the bed where I rest;

4 I will give no sleep to my eyes,

to my eyelids I will give no slumber,

5 till I find a place for the LORD,

a dwelling for the Strong One of Jacob."

6 At Ephrata we heard of it;

we found it in the plains of Yearim.

7 "Let us go to the place of his dwelling;

let us bow down at his footstool."

8 Go up, LORD, to the place of your rest,

you and the ark of your strength.

9 Your priests shall be clothed with justice;

your faithful shall ring out their joy.

10 For the sake of David your servant,

do not reject your anointed.

11 The LORD swore an oath to David;

he will not go back on his word:

"A son, the fruit of your body,

will I set upon your throne.

12 If your sons hold fast to my covenant,

and my laws that I have taught them,

their sons, in turn, shall sit

on your throne from age to age."

13 For the LORD has chosen Sion;

he has desired it for his dwelling:

14 "This is my resting place from age to age;

here have I chosen to dwell.

15 I will greatly bless her produce;

I will; fill her poor with bread.

16 I will clothe her priests with salvation,

and her faithful shall ring out their joy.

17 I will make a stock sprout up for David;

I will prepare a lamp for my anointed.

18 I will cover his enemies with shame,

but on him my crown shall shine."

--Revised Grail Psalms

NABRE Notes:

[Psalm 132] A song for a liturgical ceremony in which the ark, the throne of Israel’s God, was carried in procession to the Temple. The singer asks that David’s care for the proper housing of the ark be regarded with favor (Ps 132:1–5), and tells how it was brought to Jerusalem (Ps 132:6–10). There follows God’s promise of favor to the Davidic dynasty (Ps 132:11–12) and to Zion (Ps 132:13–17). The transfer of the ark to the tent in Jerusalem is described in 2 Sm 6.

[132:2, 132:5] Mighty One of Jacob: one of the titles of Israel’s God, cf. Gn 49:24; Is 49:26; 60:16.

[132:6] Ephrathah: the homeland of David, cf. Ru 4:11. The fields of Jaar: poetic for Kiriath-jearim, a town west of Jerusalem, where the ark remained for several generations, cf. 1 Sm 7:1–2; 2 Sm 6:2; 1 Chr 13:5–6.

[132:17] A horn sprout for David: the image of the horn, a symbol of strength, is combined with that of a “sprout,” a term used for the Davidic descendant (cf. Jer 23:5; 33:15; Zec 3:8; 6:12). Early Christians referred the latter designation to Christ as son of David (Lk 1:69).

Genesis: Literal, Figurative, or a Little Bit of Both?

Bible Giveaway

During my prayer life recently, I have been getting a sense from the Lord that I need to get rid of some of my Bibles.  I seriously have way too many.  So, I would like to offer them to you, my wonderful readers.  Here are the rules:

1) One Bible per person.
2) I will mail to locations only in North America.
3) The first person to email me requesting a particular Bible will get it.  I will let you know, via the comments, as to which Bibles are not available.
4) The Bible is free and I will ship the Bible to you free of charge.  If you desire to send a donation back to me, that is completely up to you.  I will certainly accept it, but that is not a requirement in any way. (See my return address)
5) Contact me directly, via email, if you want one of the Bibles.  Please do not comments in comment box.
6) The Bibles are all in good condition with no writing in them.
7) I will ship out the Bibles starting next week.

The Bibles:
Ignatius RSV-2CE (Bonded Leather)
The Catholic Study Bible NABRE (Hardcover)
Catholic Gift Bible NRSV (Black Imitation Leather)
ABS New American Bible Revised Edition (Hardcover)
Orthodox Study Bible (Imitation Leather)
New Living Translation Catholic Reference Edition (Bonded Leather)
Thomas Nelson RSV New Testament (1946)
The New Testament St.Paul Catholic Edition (Paperback)





Some Reflections on the NABRE Revision News

As we await official word from the USCCB about the sure-to-be lengthy revision process of the NABRE, I wonder where this leaves us for the next ten years?  It is strange that within a week of my posting the poll about what will be the most popular Catholic Bible in 2012, we get this news about the NABRE which will likely take ten years to complete.  Many of you have brought up some good discussion points in the previous post, most notably Biblical Catholic, who reminds us of all the different "hoops" that the translators will have to go through, via the USCCB and Rome, before an approved text, for both Mass and study, can be published.  But hasn't that been the case for the NAB all along? 

When we think back to the origins of the NAB, with the Confraternity edition, it was a long process to get to the final publication of the original NAB in the early 70's.  At that point, parts of the Old Testament portion had been previously translated almost twenty years prior.  Once published, it became clear that the NT needed an overhaul, thus prompting the 1986 Revised NAB NT.  Soon after, there was a push for a revised Psalter, with extensive inclusive language.  The result was that in 1991, with the publication of the '91 Revised Psalms, the NAB was a mishmash of translation philosophies and textual foundations.  (It should be noted that the Confraternity Bible suffered from this as well.)

Now comes 2011 and the publication of the New American Bible Revised Edition, almost twenty years after the process of revising the OT began.  In many ways, this revision remains a marked improvement over the prior edition.  The '91 Revised Psalms were properly re-revised and the OT was made more formal/literal in the same way as the revised NAB NT.  Simply put, the 2011 edition of the NAB was/is the best edition of this translation.  I have spent considerable time over the past year reading through large portions of the NABRE, and with only a few exception, most notably in Genesis, I have come away being very impressed by it.

Now, fast forward barely a year later, and we hear that there will be another revision, the fourth since 1970, which will take "a long time" to complete.  I applaud the Cardinal's desire to have a unified text which will: “provide us one source of language when we speak the Word of God.”  Many people, including myself, have been advocating this very thing. 

Logistically, I wonder how this is actually going to happen.  For instance, what about the Revised Grail Psalms, which were approved for liturgical use only a few years ago?  Is this going to be a NAB w/ Revised Grail Psalms?  Wouldn't it need to be in order to meet the Cardinal's criteria of having one text?  Also, what part will Liturgiam authenticam play in this new translation?  Neo-Vulgate?  Then, of course, is the waiting.  I freely admit that I am a man of Generation X, which makes me very impatient, so waiting "a long time" is not very appealing to me personally. Add to my impatience is seeing Bibles like the ESV, NLT, or NIV updated every couple of years. 

So where does that leave us?  Again, if we look at the current landscape of English language Catholic Bibles, there is quite a bit of movement, although very little certainly as to what is going to get published and when.  The ESV will be the basis for the lectionary in Australia and the UK at some point in the near future.  Will there be an ESV-CE published along side of it?  No clear answer.  The RSV-2CE will remain the lectionary of the Ordinariates, the Antilles, and some parts of Africa.  Ignatius Press continues to minimally promote this translation, even with the ICSB will being completed by 2015, in either one or two volumes.  But where does that leave the future prospect for the RSV-2CE?  Is is possible, particularly with all the lectionary news going around, that the RSV-2CE will remain a fringe translation?  What about the NRSV?  Will it continue to be the basis for the lectionary in Canada?  What role is the NCCUSA playing in all this revision/lectionary news?  It appears that they have begun to protect their product more so than in past years.  Will the NRSV be revised in the coming years? 

So many questions, with very few answers at this point.  Who knows if this blog will even be around when the new NAB is completed. 

News: NABRE New Testament to Be Revised

HT: Reader David

From Catholic News Agency:


The U.S. bishops have announced a plan to revise the New Testament of the New American Bible so a single version can be used for individual prayer, catechesis and liturgy.

“The goal is to produce a single translation,” said Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl of Washington, D.C. on June 14.

As he addressed his brother bishops at the spring meeting of the U.S. bishops’ conference,
Cardinal Wuerl pointed to the central role of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church.

He explained that the bishops’ committees on Divine Worship and Doctrine have both expressed a desire for a single translation, suitable for all pastoral applications, including individual prayer, study and devotional use, along with liturgical proclamation.

The new translation would “provide us one source of language when we speak the Word of God,” he said.

The process of creating the new translation will take “a long time” and will consist of numerous lengthy steps, Cardinal Wuerl acknowledged.

The New Testament translation was last revised in 1986. By way of comparison, the translation portion of revising the New American Bible’s Old Testament began in 1994 and was finished in 2001.

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine will work with the Subcommittee on the Translation of Scripture Texts, to undertake the revision, he said. The group will “look at those texts to see that they are going to be able to be used for proclamation as well as for ordinary use.”

This work will utilize the same principles that guided the recent revision of the Old Testament in the New American Bible, as well as translation norms for Sacred Scripture, he added.

“The Biblical scholars responsible for the revision will be sensitive then to the pastoral, the doctrinal, the liturgical considerations” as they work to produce a draft, which will then be presented “for review and preliminary approval” by the the Scripture translation subcommittee, the cardinal said.

The committees on worship and doctrine will then have an opportunity to review the texts.
Ultimately, the body of bishops “will be asked to approve the completed Biblical text for liturgical use,” so that it can then be submitted to Rome for the Vatican’s “recognitio,” after which the president of the U.S. bishops’ conference can grant it the “imprimatur.”

At that point, Cardinal Wuerl said, the revised translation of the New American Bible “will be able to be used in the lectionary at Mass.”

“So the end product will be one translation that we will all be using,” he explained, and all of the faithful will be “hearing the same words when we refer to specific texts.”

“That translation will be used in the liturgy, it will be used in study, it will be used in personal devotion, it will be used when we’re simply reading the text,” the cardinal said.
He emphasized that although the process will take a long time, it is currently an ideal time to begin, now that “we have all the pieces in place.”

Lots to consider here:
*Of course, this is the death nail to any possibility of the RSV-2CE being used in the American Liturgy.

*"Prophet" Mary Sperry mentioned in one of her question/answer sessions that she thought a decision on revising the NAB NT would be decided this year sometime. 

*I wonder if they will tweak the NABRE OT, particularly with Is. 7:14.

*This seems to answer a lot of peoples wishes to have a Bible that would match the lectionary.  Minus the Revised Grail Psalms I would assume?

*One hopes it won't take too long to do this.  I wonder what "a long time" means. 

*How does this impact publications like the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture and all of the NABRE-keyed study Bibles?

Semi-Regular Weekly Poll

What is your favorite Gospel?

• Matthew
• Mark
• Luke
• John

Acepolls

Mondays with the New Psalms: Psalm 131

Psalm 131

A song of ascents. Of David.

LORD, my heart is not proud;

nor are my eyes haughty.

I do not busy myself with great matters,

with things too sublime for me.

Rather, I have stilled my soul,

Like a weaned child to its mother,

weaned is my soul.

Israel, hope in the LORD,

now and forever.

-NABRE 

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

O LORD, my heart is not proud,

nor haughty my eyes.

I have not gone after things too great,

nor marvels beyond me.

Truly, I have set my soul

in tranquility and silence.

As a weaned child on its mother,

as a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, wait for the LORD,

both now and forever.

-Revised Grail Psalms

NABRE Notes:

[Psalm 131] A song of trust, in which the psalmist gives up self-sufficiency (Ps 131:1), like a babe enjoying the comfort of its mother’s lap (Ps 131:2), thus providing a model for Israel’s faith (Ps 131:3).

Peter Williamson on "The Catholic Next Door"

Dr. Peter Williamson, of Sacred Heart Major Seminary, was recently on "The Catholic Next Door" program on SiriusXM 129 (The Catholic Channel) talking about the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series. You can hear the interview here.

A New Poll for You to Consider

What will be the most popular English language Catholic Bible in 2022?

• NABRE
• RSV-2CE (or CE)
• NRSV
• ESV-CE (speculative)
• Other?

Acepolls

More polls:

Please make sure to comment in the comment box!

Bible Edition Review: HarperOne NABRE Imitation Leather

Back in April, I reviewed the hardcover edition of the HarperOne New American Bible: Revised Edition.  Needless to say, I was impressed with what HarperOne was able to do with the NABRE.  I still contend that the hardcover HarperOne NABRE is the best edition of the NABRE on the market today.  Last week, however, I received the imitation leather edition and found myself to be quite disappointed.  While the content and the page layout is the exact same as the hardcover edition, I was hoping that the binding would be sewn and the cover would be sturdy.  Unfortunately, the imitation leather edition is neither of those two things.  Upon examining this edition, I instantly felt like I had seen something like this before.  Alas, I remembered where!  If any of you own the black imitation leather NRSV Catholic Gift Bible, also by HarperOne, than you know what I am talking about.  While the size and translation of the editions are different, the binding and cover are identical.  In addition, both do not come with a ribbon marker!  The HarperOne NABRE binding is clearly glued and the imitation leather cover doesn't maintain its shape.  I would have much preferred something closer to what is found on the bonded leather, yet sewn NRSV Go-Anywhere editions from HarperOne. 

So, all I can recommend, at this point, is to purchase the hardcover edition, which is sewn, and find yourself a leather Bible cover.  Or perhaps have it rebound in premium leather.

Mondays with the New Psalms: Psalm 130

Psalm 130 (De profundis)


A song of ascents.

Out of the depths I call to you, LORD;

Lord, hear my cry!

May your ears be attentive

to my cry for mercy.

If you, LORD, keep account of sins,

Lord, who can stand?

But with you is forgiveness

and so you are revered.

I wait for the LORD,

my soul waits

and I hope for his word.

My soul looks for the Lord

more than sentinels for daybreak.

More than sentinels for daybreak,

let Israel hope in the LORD,

For with the LORD is mercy,

with him is plenteous redemption,

And he will redeem Israel

from all its sins.

-NABRE

A Song of Ascents.

Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD;

Lord, hear my voice!

O let your ears be attentive

to the sound of my pleadings

If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,

Lord, who could stand?

But with you is found forgiveness,

that you may be revered.

I long for you, O LORD,

my soul longs for his word.

My soul hopes in the Lord

more than watchmen for daybreak.

More than watchmen for daybreak,

let Israel hope for the LORD.

For with the LORD there is mercy,

in him is plentiful redemption.

It is he who will redeem Israel

from all its iniquities.

-Revised Grail Psalms

NABRE Notes:

[Psalm 130] This lament, a Penitential Psalm, is the De profundis used in liturgical prayers for the faithful departed. In deep sorrow the psalmist cries to God (Ps 130:1–2), asking for mercy (Ps 130:3–4). The psalmist’s trust (Ps 130:5–6) becomes a model for the people (Ps 130:7–8).

[130:1] The depths: Sheol here is a metaphor of total misery. Deep anguish makes the psalmist feel “like those descending to the pit” (Ps 143:7).

[130:4] And so you are revered: the experience of God’s mercy leads one to a greater sense of God.

The Canon of Scripture in the Various Traditions

 This is from the primarily evangelical magazine Bible Study Magazine, published by Logos.

 HT: Louis

The Hobbit in One Picture

Since I plan on reading The Hobbit this summer, I found this image, from madbatter at DeviantArt, a nice overview of future reading.  Start at the bottom right.

HT: Brandon

Free E-Book CEB!

From the folks at the CEB:

Starting today -- for two days only -- the full Common English Bible and Common English Bible with Apocrypha will be available for free on your Kindle and Nook. 


 If you haven't had the chance yet, now is the perfect time to find out what makes the Common English Bible so special and share God's Word with your friends and family.


For more info on CEB, you can go here.

Ten Oddest Gifts Given to the Pope

Mondays with the New Psalms: Psalm 129

Psalm 129

A song of ascents.

Viciously have they attacked me from my youth,
let Israel say now.
Viciously have they attacked me from my youth,
yet they have not prevailed against me.

Upon my back the plowers plowed,
as they traced their long furrows.
But the just LORD cut me free
from the ropes of the wicked.

May they recoil in disgrace,
all who hate Zion.
May they be like grass on the rooftops
withered in early growth,

Never to fill the reaper’s hands,
nor the arms of the binders of sheaves,
And with none passing by to call out:
“The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
We bless you in the name of the LORD!”
-NABRE


A Song of Ascents.

"They have pressed me hard from my youth,"
let Israel sing.
"They have pressed me hard from my youth,
but could never overcome me.

The plowmen plowed my back,
drawing long furrows.
Yet the LORD, who is just, has destroyed
the yoke of the wicked."

Let them be shamed and routed,
all those who hate Sion!
Let them be like grass on the roof,
that withers before it flowers.

With that no reaper fills his hands,
no binder of sheaves his arms.
And those passing by will not say,
"The blessing of the LORD be upon you!"
We bless you in the name of the LORD!
-Revised Grail Pslams


NABRE Notes:
[Psalm 129] A Psalm giving thanks for God’s many rescues of Israel over the long course of their history (Ps 129:1–4); the people pray that their oppressors never know the joy of harvest (Ps 129:5–8).


[129:4] The ropes of the wicked: usually understood as the rope for yoking animals to the plow. If it is severed, the plowing (cf. Ps 129:3) comes to a halt.

[129:6] Like grass on the rooftops: after the spring rains, grass would sprout from the coat of mud with which the flat roofs of simple houses were covered, but when the dry summer began there was no moisture in the thin roof-covering to sustain the grass.

[129:8] The blessing of the LORD be upon you: harvesters greeted one another with such blessings, cf. Ru 2:4.

Your Summer Reading Plan

So, what will you be reading this summer?  As the school year comes to a conclusion for me next week, it is about time I start figuring out what my summer reading plan will be for the next two months.  Perhaps this is something that teachers only do, since most of us have some time off in the summer.  I am looking forward to a fairly peaceful and uneventful summer, minus of course the birth of my son sometime in July which increasingly brings both joy and anticipation to my heart as each day passes.

So, below I have compiled a fairly modest list of books that I plan on reading this summer.    I also, of course, do not include Scripture because it is always profitable for reading and praying with in and out of season.  Not quite sure if my list would be considered long or short.  I am certain, however, that the summer months tend to go by faster than I think they will, so perhaps a short list is wise.


True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
(True Devotion to Mary is a book I am currently reading in my men's fellowship group.)

100 Biblical Arguments Against Sola Scriptura by Dave Armstrong
(I am eager to see if this will be helpful in the Catholic Apologetics class I teach.....how could it not?)

What's Wrong with the World by GK Chesterton
(A book the SE Michigan Chesterton Society is currently reading.)

The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
(I am ashamed to say that I have never read this book, but plan to do so before the movie is released in December.)

Converts and Kingdoms by Diane Moczar 
(This book looks intriguing.  I don't have it yet, still waiting for it to be published.)