http://www.americanbible.org/

I could not find the Biblia Polyglotta available. Does anyone know where I can get this?

And, I would like to add that Cardinal Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros was also a Franciscan.

I missed this earlier. I don’t like a lot of the decisions that Cardinal Sean has been making as well, some are indeed heartbreaking and unfathomable, but please don’t leave the church. The Mass is the summit of our faith, and your son’s.

In all honestly, Cardinal O’Malley, you’re looking very smug in that photo.

I feel your pain. I, too, am disappointed in this church, but please don’t leave. Come to worship and give thanks for all that is good. The sacraments are such a beautiful gift. It’s the evil one at work, trying to wear you down. We need to pray for our priests.

I will keep you in my prayers.

God love you!

Last evening at Cathedral of the Holy Cross parish council meeting I raised the question of our participation in the US Bishops post card campaign asking President Obama not to sign the “Freedom of Choice Act.” I was told that preparations had not been made for start of the campaign on January 24-25. This is a startling disappointment and embarrassment to those of us who have worked so hard to gain minimal recognition under law for the unborn, the rights of parents, and the victims of abortion-child and mother. FOCA will strip away all such protections and force religious organizations and medical professionals to participate in this holocaust.

Among President Obama’s first acts as president was to nullify the “Mexico City Policy” or Hyde Amendment. He fulfilled his campaign promise to restore taxpayer funding of abortion by providers such as Planned Parenthood to promote and provide international abortion services. Quickly thereafter, Senator John Kerry endorsed this “women’s health program”, disparaging the policy as a “Gag Rule.” http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/01/obama_reportedl_2.html

Senators Kerry and Kennedy, both profess to be Catholics, yet have been virtually 100% advocates of the abortion license, including taxpayer funding of abortion, and opposing even commonsense restrictions on its gruesome practice. Senator Kennedy will soon be called to an accounting before Almighty God for his actions. Will he be sent to this accounting after having received a Catholic funeral and burial, most likely presided over by you, or one of your bishops? The deafening silence and feeble challenges to Catholic politicians who openly advocate for abortion, embryonic stem cell research, gay marriage by the Catholic hierarchy is scandalous. The Church has been marginalized by its failure to act and become beholden to insurance companies and lawyers, rather than the Gospel.

Gerry Zeller
Boston

I wanted to let you know, that it has been 9 days since it was announced that Our Lady of Lourdes would attempt to be closed by your order of Capuchins. I have actually been physically ill over this for 9 days. I come from a long line of Catholic school graduates (mother,father,husband,brother,me etc). My son is in his second year at this beautiful school. It made my parents and me so happy when he comes home and says things like “a dove is two things, a bird and the holy spirit”, it sounds wonderful coming from a five year old who has also learned to read at the hand of his great teachers. It is going to break my heart to not send him to Catholic school anymore. However, I grew up in JP and I know a lot of pain that has been dispensed by the Catholic churches here. I was under the impression we were moving on but it seems like children are still paying. This is the last iron fist I can handle. I will have to tell my husband’s parents in Ireland that we are not Catholics anymore if this school closes and that is going to break their hearts since both sides of my family have always been so faithful. My wonderful Aunt is a nun in New Jersey and she is already aware of the path my husband and I are going to take. My husband always takes my sons to the 10am mass at OLOL on Sunday (I go a day earlier because of my job). He refused to go this past Sunday. I truly hope you find it in your heart to change your plans, a person can only take so much.

This was another great blog. What a busy week you had. I appreciate all that you do and so does everyone else at St.Paul School. I ecspecially liked the part about the Biblia Polygotta, it was very interesting. I can’t wait until your next blog!
Caroline Sullivan

I greatly enjoyed reading your blog this week. I especially liked learning a brief history of the polyglot Bible. The page displayed of the original polyglot Bible looked interesting. It must be great to own your own copy. Also, I hope you have a good time during your stay in Mexico City. I can’t wait for your next blog!

- Gabriella

Until you next blog!!

Clara King
St. Paul School Student
Hingham Ma.

I am a student of Saint Paul School in Hingham, Massachusetts. I thought, after reading, your blog it was once again a very interesting and well done blog! The Biblia Polygotta looked very interesting! Well, I’ll be looking forward to your next blog.

~Marissa~

Another wonderful entry.

Father Cantalamessa and you have a remarkable resemblance.

I wonder if he and you appeared together and if so did people do a double-take?

I know I would if I saw the two of you next to each other.

Even though I was baptized by a pedophile priest who has since been killed in prison – I stayed.

When classmates of my siblings committed suicide later in life because of the abuse they suffered at the hands of the clergy – I stayed

When I lost my mother at a young age before she could witness my graduation from college – I stayed

When my home parish with its school was closed – I stayed

I prayed and understood my calling to serve my community. That God would guide me through this turmoil. When I saw your picture in the newspaper surrounded by children, I thought finally the living Gospel was among us. And when on your blog there was a picture of a student giving you a high-five during the procession of Mass, you accepted that gesture with as much enthusiasm as the child offering it. This along with the Campaign for Catholic Schools, I thought finally there is Hope.

And when I got to know some of your fellow Capuchin friars, I believed there would be a restoration of faith for so many still hurting. That God’s presence through the message of St. Francis would bring people to a greater understanding; that together as brothers & sisters in Christ, we would find a way. That we would fulfill a mission to children and families – that we would preach the value of a Catholic education to those in our pews and preach the value of returning to the Eucharist to families in our parochial schools.

Yet I find myself stunned & heartbroken. Heartbroken for believing in You and your Brothers, heartbroken for being witness to their failure. Instead of seizing the calling and opportunity God has placed before them, they turned away from it. Closing is failure when other options, real solutions exist. When the Apostles tried to keep the children from Jesus because they decided amongst themselves that Jesus was too busy & too tired, Jesus’ reaction was the exact opposite. He said let the children come to me – much like your pictures. And that is when I realized why I am so heartbroken, why the pain is so severe I feel it physically that it brings me to tears – for I know that it is because Jesus weeps with me.

I feel in my heart that God will guide me but know that my church cannot. While I am just one person who may not matter to you or your brothers, I know that when I am brought to my eternal resting place, which could be 50 years from now or tomorrow, that I will have mattered to God.