Book Review: The Last Days of Jesus by Bill O'Reilly

I recently read The Last Days of Jesus: His Life and Times by Bill O'Reilly. If I were to rate the book using a five-star system, I would give it 3.5 stars. 

What I liked: The easy to read format enriched with informative illustrations, maps, and historical timelines. The author described the culture, regional lifestyles, religious beliefs, and political issues of the time period very well. 

What I didn't like: Though a Catholic, the author didn't use a Catholic translation of the Bible for reference. He said that Jesus died in 36 AD, which is not correct. Mary Magdalene is referred to as a prostitute, which is often alleged but no proof exists that it was indeed the case. The title of the book is not a good choice, as the author covers the entire life of Christ. Much of the story told by the author is shared with a great deal of poetic license, filling in the blanks left by historical texts and Scriptures with a likely story line.

This is a good book for adolescents and up, but should be accompanied by Sacred Scripture and good catechesis.

Book Review: Lectio Bible Study

In recent years, I've been feeling a tug toward Lectio Divina, or "divine reading." I have enjoyed several good group Bible study programs, yet I yearned for something deeper - something that not only educated me, but helped me to quietly listen to what God was telling me. I was excited to have the opportunity to review a copy of Stephen J. Binz's Lectio Divina Bible Study: Learning to Pray in Scripture as part of The Catholic Company's Reviewer Program.

Softcover, 192 pages. $9.95

Mr. Binz combines Sacred Tradition with Church scholarship, approaching complex topics by first using study, then meditation, and finally internalization of the assigned Scripture. The process as it is described may at first sound intimidating, but don't let it discourage you. The process is not only for people who have a theological background or have a rich prayer life. This book will show you than anyone can approach Sacred Scripture from a fresh perspective and be able to hear the voice of God through His Word.

In my opinion, the ideal situation would be to use the book with a group. There is something amazing that happens when you get together with others who share your faith. It can be a beautiful, life-changing experience if you are able to start a group study - even if you can meet with just one other person. No expertise is necessary. The book guides you on how to set up a group and conduct the meetings. Some of us don't have the opportunity to meet with others for various reasons and the book would be excellent for self-study as well.

Perfect gift for yourself during the upcoming Lenten season!

Who started your church?

Thanks to:  Catholics Come Home Blog  and St. Charles Borromeo Church

Both fully Divine and fully Man, Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church.  One can trace the Church quite easily back to her origin nearly two thousand years ago.  When people leave the Church founded by Christ because they don't like something a Church representative said, did, a look given, the lack of charity displayed by so-called Catholics or any other host of excuses -- they are not leaving an organization.  They are leaving Christ.  Guided by the Holy Spirit, and with Christ present in the Sacraments, the Church continues on with imperfect human beings left to run the day to day operations.  Most who have gone before us have honored the Church, many have fallen short.  Just as Moses, St. Peter and Noah were imperfect, God chooses human beings to do His work on earth with His guidance. 

Moses was not a good speaker and lacked confidence in his abilities to lead the chosen people.  St. Peter denied Christ just as Christ said he would.  Noah was found drunk and naked by his sons.  Do any of these men fit the human image of perfection?  No, far from it.  Yet, God chose these people for His reasons to do His work.  What do they have that people who leave the Church do not have?  Faith.  Repentance.  Loyalty.  Love.  Clarity.  Our Biblical fathers did not look about to blame humans who messed things up.  They looked heavenward without hesitation.  They longed to do one thing:  God's will. 

So if you, or someone you know has left the Church Christ founded, who started your church?

Book Review: Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom

My latest book for review provides an in-depth look at the Wisdom Books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, the Song of Solomon, Wisdom and Sirach) in Sacred Scripture. I have participated in a handful of Bible study groups and completed one other on my own. The Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom is unlike others I have used. Typically, while studying the Bible, I am 'armed' with a good Catholic Scripture commentary and the RSV-CE 2nd Edition. The former was completely unnecessary and the latter was the recommended version.

The Come and See series includes a very good commentary as part of the program and it is very simple to follow. I am more used to having Scripture on the top of the page and commentary below with notes attributed to particular verses, so it took a bit of getting used to. The commentary gives very in-depth analysis of the senses used in the particular passages assigned and provides information from the Church Fathers, the Catechism of the Catholic Church and other important Church documents. After reading the assigned Scripture and the commentary, there are questions which follow each section for the reader to answer in spaces provided. I found myself reading the book of Job in a way I never have before, and that is a blessing. I completed the study of Job and am quite anxious to get into Psalms.

The book has some very good suggestions on how to go about beginning a Bible study group on your own. I am certain it would be very helpful to those who do not yet have any Bible study programs available in their parish. There is also a video which you can purchase to accompany your study program. Since I did not buy the video, I cannot speak to whether or not it is an integral part of the program. I can say that in my study, I was sufficiently fed by the book alone. The only thing I missed in the Bible study -- which has nothing to do with the quality of the book -- is that I wished I had studied with others. Having studied Scripture on my own (with the guidance of the Holy Spirit) and in a group, I find it most rewarding with a group.

The Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Wisdom is an excellent tool to help Christians grow in understanding of Sacred Scripture and closer to God.

__________________________________________

Authors: Fr. Jan Liesen, S.S.D; Laurie Watson Manhardt. Softcover, 224 pages. Available at The Catholic Company for $19.95.

Laurie Manhardt holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Detroit and a Ph.D. in Education from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She led an interfaith Bible study for ten years, which convinced her of the need for quality Catholic Bible study resources. “Come and See” Catholic Bible Study is the result.

Fr. Jan Liesen, S.S.D., is librarian and professor of New Testament Exegesis, Biblical Theology, and Hebrew Bible at the Seminaire Rolduc in Kerkrade, Netherlands. He received his doctorate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute of Rome.

Fruit of the Synod

Zenit has published recommendations which were submitted to Benedict XVI at the end of the world Synod of Bishops on the "Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church," held in October at the Vatican.

Highlights I found notable include:

Proposition 16

Lectionary

It is recommended that an examination of the Roman Lectionary be initiated to see if the present selection and ordering of the readings are really adequate to the mission of the Church at this historic moment. Specifically, the relation of the reading of the Old Testament with the evangelical pericope should be reconsidered, so that it does not imply a too restrictive reading of the Old Testament or the exclusion of important passages.

The revision of a Lectionary could be done in dialogue with ecumenical counterparts who use this common Lectionary.

It is desirable that an authoritative examination of the problem of the Lectionary be carried out in the liturgies of Oriental Catholic Churches.

Proposition 5

Holy Spirit and Word of God

The sacred Scriptures, being a gift entrusted by the Holy Spirit to the Church Bride of Christ, have in the Church their own hermeneutical place.

The Spirit himself, who is Author of the sacred Scriptures, is also guide of their correct interpretation in the formation of the "fides Ecclesiae" through time.

The Synod recommended to pastors to remind all those baptized of the role of the Holy Spirit in inspiration (cf. "Dei Verbum," 11), in the interpretation and understanding of the sacred Scriptures (cf. "Dei Verbum," 12).

Consequently, all of us disciples are invited to invoke the Holy Spirit frequently, so that he will lead us to ever more profound knowledge of the Word of God and to the testimony of our faith (cf. John 15:26-27). They remind the faithful that the sacred Scriptures close evoking the common cry of the Spirit and the Bride: "Come Lord Jesus" (cf. Revelation 22:17-20).

Proposition 15

Homiletic updating and "Directory on the Homily"

The homily that updates the proclaimed Word: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:21). It leads to the mystery celebrated, invites to mission and shares the joys and sorrows, the hopes and fears of the faithful, thus disposing the assembly both to the profession of faith (Creed) as well as the universal prayer of the Mass.

There should be a homily in all Masses "cum populo," even during the week. It is necessary that preachers (bishops, priests, deacons) prepare themselves in prayer, so that they preach with conviction and passion. They must ask themselves three questions:

-- What do the proclaimed readings say?

-- What do they say to me?

-- What must I say to the community, taking into account its concrete situation?

The preacher should above all allow himself to be questioned first by the Word of God he proclaims. The homily must be nourished by doctrine and transmit the teaching of the Church to strengthen the faith, call to conversion in the framework of the celebration and prepare for the action of the Eucharistic paschal mystery.

To help the preacher in the ministry of the Word, and in continuity with the teaching of the post-synodal apostolic "Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis" (No. 46), the synodal fathers desire the elaboration of a "Directory on the Homily," which should show, together with the principles of homiletics and of the art of communication, the content of the biblical topics that appear in the lectionaries that are used in the liturgy.

Proposition 14

Word of God and liturgy

The assembly, convoked and gathered by the Spirit to hear the proclamation of the Word of God, is transformed by the same action of the Spirit that is manifested in the celebration.

In fact, there, where the Church is, Lord's Spirit is; and where the Lord's Spirit is, the Church also is (cf. Saint Irenaeus, "Adversus Haereses," III, 24, 1).

The synodal fathers reaffirm that the liturgy is the privileged place in which the Word of God is fully expressed, both in the celebration of the sacraments as above all in the Eucharist, in the Liturgy of the Hours and in the liturgical year. The mystery of salvation narrated in sacred Scripture finds in the liturgy its own place of proclamation, listening and acting.

For this reason, it is imperative that:

-- The book of sacred Scripture, even outside liturgical action, has a visible and honorable place in the church.

-- Silence should be encouraged after the first and second reading and after the homily is finished, as suggested in the General Order of the Roman Missal (cf. No. 56).

-- Celebrations of the Word of God are provided, centered on the Sunday readings.

-- Readings of sacred Scripture be proclaimed from worthy liturgical books, namely the lectionaries and the Gospel, to be treated with the most profound respect for the Word of God they contain.

-- Highlight the role of the servers of the proclamation: readers and cantors.

-- Men and women lectors be adequately formed, so that they can proclaim the Word of God in a clear and comprehensible way. The latter must be invited to study and witness with their life the contents of the Word they read.

-- The Word of God be proclaimed in a clear way, with control of the dynamics of communication.

-- Persons for whom the reception of the Word of God, communicated in the usual way is difficult as well as persons with sight or hearing disabilities not be forgotten.

-- Competent and effective use be made of acoustic instruments.

Moreover, the synodal fathers feel the duty to remind of the grave responsibility of those who preside over the Eucharist so that the texts of sacred Scripture are never substituted by other texts. No text of spirituality or literature can have the value and wealth contained in sacred Scripture, which is the Word of God.

Proposition 22

Word of God and prayerful reading

The synod proposes that all the faithful, including young people, be exhorted to approach the Scriptures through "prayerful" and assiduous "reading" (cf. "Dei Verbum," 25), in such a way that the dialogue with God becomes a daily reality of the people of God.

Therefore, it is important:

-- That the prayerful reading be profoundly related to the example of Mary and the saints in the history of the Church, as those who carried out the reading of the Word according to the Spirit;

-- That it be ensured that pastors, priests and deacons, and in a very special sense future priests, have adequate formation so that, in turn, they can form the people of God in this spiritual dynamic;

-- That the faithful be initiated -- in keeping with the circumstances, categories and cultures -- in the most appropriate method of prayerful reading, personal and/or community ("lectio divina," spiritual exercises in daily life, "Seven Steps" in Africa and in other places, various methods of prayer, sharing in the family and in the grassroots ecclesial communities, etc.);

-- That the practice of prayerful reading be encouraged, using liturgical texts that the Church proposes for the Sunday and daily Eucharistic celebration, to better understand the relation between Word and Eucharist;

-- That care be taken that the prayerful reading of the Scriptures, above all by the community, result in a commitment to charity (cf. Luke 4:18-19).

Conscious of the present widespread diffusion of "lectio divina" and of other similar methods, the synodal fathers see in them a true sign of hope and encourage all ecclesial leaders to multiply their efforts in this sense.

Proposition 23

Catechesis and sacred Scripture

Preferably, catechesis should have its roots in Christian revelation. It should take as model Jesus' pedagogy on the road to Emmaus.

On the road to Emmaus, Jesus opens the heart of the disciples to an understanding of the Scriptures (cf. Luke 24:27). His way of proceeding shows that the catechesis that plunges its roots in Christian revelation implies an explanation of the Scriptures, inviting us also to approach the men of today to transmit to them the Gospel of salvation:

-- With special attention to the youngest children;

-- To those in need of a more profound formation rooted in the Scriptures;

-- To catechumens who must be supported on their path, showing them the plan of God through the reading of sacred Scripture, preparing them to encounter the Lord in the sacraments of Christian initiation, to be committed in the community, and to be missionaries.

The pre-baptismal catechumenate is followed by a post-baptismal mistagogy, a continuing formation in which sacred Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church must hold center place.

Proposition 17

Ministry of the Word and women

The synodal fathers acknowledge and encourage the service of the laity in the transmission of the faith. On this point, women especially have an indispensable role above all in the family and in catechesis. In fact, they are able to awaken interest in the Word, the personal relationship with God, and to communicate the meaning of forgiveness and evangelical sharing.

It is desirable that the ministry of the lector be open also to women, so that the Christian community will recognize their role as heralds of the Word.

Bishops Synod on Word of God

Keep up with the latest news from the Synod at this outstanding and comprehensive site.

ScriptureSynod.com is an outreach program of The Great Adventure Bible Study System. The Great Adventure is a Catholic Bible learning system that makes the complex simple by teaching the story (the narrative) of the Bible.

Jeff Cavins developed The Great Adventure in 1984 as a way to help others get the "big picture" of the Bible. Many people know selected stories, but are perhaps not able to connect them into a full narrative. His answer is to identify the books of the Bible that tell the story from beginning to end. By reading just these 14 "narrative" books, a chronological story emerges and one can then understand where the other books of the Bible fit in relation to the story.

From this grew The Bible Timeline program, which teaches the story in a way that is easy to remember and helps people to continue reading Scripture on their own. Since the creation of The Bible Timeline, The Great Adventure has grown into a remarkable system designed to give the average Catholic a solid foundation for a lifetime of Bible reading.

Are You a Worrier? Jesus Said: Don't Bother

There are two types of personalities: 'the sky is falling!' crowd and then everyone else.

In a season rife with political angst, rapidly evaporating retirement plans and rising grocery bills, we see the worriers more apparent against the American landscape. You know the type. A relative who says, "she must be mad at me because she hasn't called in two days!" or the friend who cannot sleep because she is trying to map out a good seating chart (Uncle Henry and Uncle Tom don't get along) for the upcoming Thanksgiving dinner - two months away.

I am personally blessed with two generations of worriers in my family and despite my attempts to help them do away with the omnipresent sense of pending doom, they continue on in their battle with - with - what exactly is it they are battling, anyway? It is a fact that most of our worries never come to fruition. When one perceived crisis passes, they seem to be comforted by the revelation of yet something else to worry about.

I have yet to see an epitaph read, "She was a great worrier!" or "Mom lost a lot of sleep over the years but the house sure looked great!" Do you notice that most worriers we know are women? And that they lose sleep though they are often plagued with the same problem as their spouse who snores away all night without a care in the world? Perhaps he just thinks that since she is worrying about things, the problem is in good hands.

If the laundry piles up, be thankful you have the family who fills them. If the kids are noisy, know that those sounds will one day be a memory and you would give anything to hear them in your house just one more time. If the 401k value has plummeted, be thankful you have one. Most people do not.

God does provide, you do know that don't you? If the sky is going to fall, do you think your worrying is going to stop it?

Let us look at what Jesus said about worrying. It is found in the Gospel according to St. Matthew 6, just after the Our Father.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?

Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?

Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin.

But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.

If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?

So do not worry and say, 'What are we to eat?' or 'What are we to drink?' or 'What are we to wear?'

All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.

Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

God bless you and when you are tempted to despair, rest in Him. He knows what He is doing.

Calling All Catholics: DUST OFF THAT BIBLE!

Many protestants would think it was a joke to include the words 'Catholic' and 'Bible' in the same sentence. If one can point to something we should learn from our non-Catholic Christian brothers and sisters, it is their love for Sacred Scripture.

Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ --St. Jerome

The above statement can have a cutting edge, especially if you are unfamiliar with Scripture. Sure, we all hear the pericopes as proclaimed at Mass. Some people even repeat the claim that as Catholics, we encounter the entire Bible over a three-year cycle. See this blog entry to clear up that theory. If you don't know Scripture, I dare say St. Jerome is correct. Before you prepare to leave me an angry comment, let me assure you that you are not alone. This is a situation that can be corrected and it can be quite enjoyable. Promise.

If you take this very small step and begin to seriously study the Sacred Scriptures, I promise that your life will change. Please don't take my word for it; see for yourself! There are some outstanding Catholic Bible studies available now on the market. Nearly every single one is something that you can do either on your own or with a group. See this site to get an overview of the various options.

What can you do to get started? Here are my humble suggestions which can fit a variety of parish situations:

• Ask your priest if they are planning to have a Bible Study group in your parish
• If your priest tells you that no Bible Study groups are planned, do your homework. Find a Catholic Bible Study program and meet again with your priest to discuss the possibility of starting a group using the program. Be prepared to volunteer if he says yes!
  
• Go to your local Catholic bookstore and see what they have in stock for Bible Study programs
• Check out the Great Adventure Bible series by Jeff Cavins. Any group of any size can do this study without the assistance of clergy, religious or others trained in Scripture study. Binders with questions, reading assignments and answers plus DVDs or CDs that lead the program are available.
• Choose a Bible that is best for you. Here is an excellent guide to assist you in your choice. Of course, since this is my blog I will recommend my own personal choice to you. I prefer the Ignatius Bible RSV, 2nd Edition - Catholic Edition.
• Invite a friend to undertake the study with you
• Many people ask if the King James Version of the Bible is okay to use for Bible Study. My answer is that it is okay if you are protestant. The protestant Bible has 7 less books and 2 less letters and that is because the protestants removed them during the reformation in the 16th century. If you use a KJV, you will be missing a sizeable portion of Scripture and quite often will be missing the 'big picture' in salvation history.
• I can tell you that without a question in my mind you will learn to love Scripture when you study it with the guidance of the Holy Spirit and a good study program
  
• Just do it!

I also wish to add that if you are already on fire for Scripture, the next step I suggest you take is to purchase the Navarre Bible and Commentary (thank you Lori!). The set is very expensive, but books are available individually. You will never regret owning a Navarre Bible as I can assure you, I refer to mine daily. There is also an Ignatius Bible Study program which has the Scripture, commentary and some questions in the back. This series is similar to the Navarre but is not as in depth.

If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to leave them. Once you get started, you'll be able to tell your protestant friends that "Yes, Catholics do read their Bibles! And they love it too!"

Dominus vobiscum +

Is the NAB the source of the current Lectionary?

That was what I thought until I read this at Adoremus Bulletin. Best answer is: not exactly.

In the United States the Lectionary is based on the New American Bible (NAB). The NAB is published by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), originally in 1970.

The Lectionary was revised in the 1990s, after new translations of the New Testament (1986) and Psalms (1991) appeared. (The revised books of the NAB are known as the RNAB.) The readings for the Propers (saints' days, etc.) were expanded, also.

When the Holy See reviewed the revised text (submitted by the bishops in 1992), it was found that the 1991 translation of the Psalms was so defective that it could not be used even as a "base text" for the Lectionary; and the 1986 New Testament had to be amended (one major problem: so-called "inclusive" language).

Thus the revised Lectionary had to undergo extensive "repairs"; consequently, in the late 1990s, several US bishops and Vatican experts together amended the Lectionary text, to correct the defective translations.

Nearly ten years after it was first submitted to the Holy See, the new two-volume Lectionary appeared in print. The eventual version as approved (subject to review after five years) has been the only edition of the Lectionary permitted for use in the United States since May 19, 2002, when it became mandatory. No other scripture translations are to be used for the US Lectionary. The bishops have now appointed a committee for the first review.

A most unfortunate anomaly in all this is that there is no edition of the Bible at present that corresponds to the Lectionary. All the current editions of the complete NAB contain the Revised 1986 New Testament (unamended) and Revised Psalms (1991) that the Holy See found defective.

This is a complex situation -- and is especially confusing to people who are looking for a reliable Catholic Bible, because imprimaturs (literally ,"let it be printed") were granted to these books by presidents of the USCCB (Cardinal James Hickey [1986] and Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk [1991]) before they were judged defective by the Holy See.

Thus the ironic and anomalous situation wherein the complete NAB scripture text, currently in print and available in various editions, does not "match" the Lectionary text. --Source

Oh dear. Oh my. I prefer my Ignatius Bible (RSV 2nd-Catholic Edition) though I do have a couple of copies of the NAB and had no idea that the issue of the Lectionary was so complex. God bless our Bishops and may they get this sorted out under the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Entire Bible Covered in Three Years?

One of the very common statements I hear over and over again by Catholics is that if you attend every daily Mass plus the Sunday Mass, you will have heard for all intents and purposes, the entire Bible. It is true that the current Lectionary for Mass covers much more Scripture than the Lectionary prior to Vatican II. Let me provide you with some background and statistics comparing pre and post-Vatican II:

• In the Missal Romanum, each Catholic Mass included only two biblical readings, which were normally referred to as "The Epistle" (since the first reading was almost always taken from one of the New Testament letters) and "The Gospel." Readings from the Old Testament were never used on Sundays, but only at the Easter Vigil, the Vigil of Pentecost, the feast of Epiphany and its octave, during Holy Week, and on some weekdays (esp. Ember days, weekdays of Lent, the feasts of some saints, and some votive Masses).

• The bishops assembled at Vatican II declared, "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly so that a richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's word. In this way the more significant part of the Sacred Scriptures will be read to the people over a fixed number of years" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #51). The current Lectionary for Mass does indeed offer a "richer fare" of biblical readings during the Eucharistic liturgy than was available before Vatican II. However, since many parts of the Bible (esp. the Old Testament) are still not included in the Lectionary, one must go beyond the readings used at Mass to cover the entire Bible.
• The current Lectionary uses only 13.5% of the Old Testament over the course of Sundays and weekdays, NOT including the Psalms.
• The current Lectionary uses a more impressive 71.5% of the New Testament including Sundays and weekdays. Still a long way from 100%.
  

Another important thing to understand about the Catholic Liturgy, as with most other churches who have liturgical worship, is that we use 'Pericopes' in the Mass. I have encountered many non-Catholic Christians who are unfamiliar with this and because of this there is a great deal of misunderstanding. The definition of pericope is:

n. pl. pe·ric·o·pes or pe·ric·o·pae

An extract or selection from a book, especially a reading from a Scripture that forms part of a church service.

---

[Late Latin, from Greek, a cutting around, section, from perikoptein, to cut around : peri-, peri- + koptein, to cut.]


And from the USCCB: What's the difference between a Bible and a Lectionary?

A Lectionary is composed of the readings and the responsorial psalm assigned for each Mass of the year (Sundays, weekdays, and special occasions). The readings are divided by the day or the theme (baptism, marriage, vocations, etc.) rather than according to the books of the Bible. Introductions and conclusions have been added to each reading. Not all of the Bible is included in the Lectionary.

Individual readings in the Lectionary are called pericopes, from a Greek word meaning a "section" or "cutting." Because the Mass readings are only portions of a book or chapter, introductory phrases, called incipits, are often added to begin the Lectionary reading, for example, "In those days," "Jesus said to his disciples," etc.

Is the Bible really covered over the course of three years? Nope, not even close. Yet the other 'good news' is that many different Catholic editions of the Bible are available and excellent Catholic Bible study materials are popping up all over. I'll list some that come to mind, and will point you to my favorite editions of the Bible here and here. ;)

Ignatius Catholic Bible Study

The Great Adventure: A Journey Through the Bible (very popular at our parish!)

Salvation History: Online Bible Study led by Scott Hahn

Ignorance of Scripture is Ignorance of Christ --St. Jerome

Which Bible is the best one? It has been said thousands of times: THE ONE YOU READ! (P.S. Just be sure it isn't missing books ;) )

What are you waiting for?

FYI: Where Did the Bible Come From? A moment of apologetics from St. Michael's Media: