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Christian Initiation and Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Evidence from the First Eight Centuries
Kilian McDonnell OSB and George T. Montague
Up to now the teaching on baptism in the Holy Spirit has been based on a few scriptural texts, whose interpretation was disputed. This doubt cast its shadow on those who promote baptism in the Holy Spirit.
Now new evidence has been found in early post-biblical authors (Tertullian, Hilary of Poitiers, Cyril of Jerusalem, John Chrysostom, Philoxenus, and the Syrians) which demonstrates that what is called baptism in the Holy Spirit was integral to Christian initiation (baptism, confirmation, Eucharist). Because it was part of initiation into the Church, it was not a matter of private piety, but of public worship. Therefore it was and remains normative.
This is an intriguing ground-breaking study of value to RCIA teams, pastors, theology teachers and students, and Church offices.
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Fanning the Flame : What Does Baptism in the Holy Spirit Have to Do with Christian Initiation?
Kilian McDonnell OSB and George T. Montague
"The Heart of the Church Consultation of theologians and pastoral leaders met May 6-11, 1990 in Techny, Illinois, to examine the pastoral implications of the evidence from the early post-biblical authors that baptism in the the Holy Spirit is integral to Christian initiation and is normative."
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"Working the Earth of the Heart" : the Messalian Controversy in History, Texts, and Language to A.D. 431
Columba Stewart OSB
This study provides a complete reassessment of the Messalian controversy of the fourth and fifth centuries AD. The Messalians were an ascetic group, their name (of Syriac derivation) meaning `praying people'. Their extraordinary claims and graphic spiritual vocabulary were considered heretical by the early Christian Church and were condemned at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Dr. Stewart reconstructs the history of the controversy from its beginnings, carefully avoiding all previous suppositions and flawed methodologies. He considers in depth the spiritual vocabulary which lies at the root of the controversy and which can also be found in the Greek pseudo-Macarian writings. He proves that the pseudo-Macarian vocabulary can be traced to a Syriac milieu and demonstrates this by comparisons with such early Syriac texts as the writings of Ephrem, Aphrahat, and especially the anonymous Liber graduum. In this light, the claims of the Messalians are shown to result from the influence upon Greek Christian culture of an equally orthodox tradition, the Semitic Syriac culture of the Christian East. Christian writers of both cultures were determined to show others a way to 'work the earth of the heart', an image favoured by pseudo-Macarius for its evocation of the patient labour of asceticism. The controversy was thus not indeed a question of heresy, but of misperceived differences of culture and of spiritual idiom.
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A Sense of Place II: The Benedictines of Collegeville
Colman J. Barry OSB
A collection of 31 personal essays by alumni and friends of St. John's Abbey and University.
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Theology of Priesthood and Seminary Formation: Issues of Assembly II
Daniel K. Finn, Zeni Fox, John O'Malley, and Robert Schwartz
Contents:
Introduction, by Rev. Robert J. Wister; Ordained Ministry: Sign of Leadership and Unity in the Great Sacrament of the Church, by Rev. Robert Schwartz; A Response, by Rev. Robert Schreiter, CPPS; A Response, by Msgr. George H. Niederauer; Diocesan and Religious Models of Formation – Historical Perspectives, by Rev. John O’Malley, SJ; Preparing for Collaborative Ministry, by Dr. Zeni Fox; A Response, by Rev. John E. Linnan, CSV; Response, by Rev. Robert J. Cook; Theological Scholarship: Freedom and Responsibility in the Seminary Setting, by Dr. Daniel Finn; A Response, by Rev. Frederick M. Jelly, OP; A Response, by Rev. Thomas D. McGonigle, OP.
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Open the Windows : The Popes and Charismatic Renewal
Kilian McDonnell OSB
Open the Windows contains the popes' public statements of pastoral direction, counsel and encouragement to the charismatic renewal in the Catholic Church. The editor, Fr. Kilian McDonnell, osb, is a consultor to the Vatican Secretariat for Promoting Christian Unity and the founder of the Institute for Ecumenical and Cultural Research. His introductory essay documents the presence of the charismatic gifts in the early church's rites of initiation.
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A Sense of Place: Saint John's of Collegeville
Colman J. Barry OSB and Robert L. Spaeth
A collection of personal essays by alumni and friends of St. John's Abbey and University.
Contributors: Robert M. Anderson, Andre Chaveton, Joan Chittister, William Cofell, Leon F. Cook, Esther de Waal, David Durenberger, C. Jack Eichorst, Albert A. Eisele, John Tracy Ellis, Carmela Virgillo Franklin, Robert M. Gavin, David Gibson, Penny Gill, Andrew Greeley, Benedict Haeg, Jon Hassler, A.A. Heckman, Robert W. Hovda, Fred Hughes, Bob Jensen, Eugene J.McCarthy, Roger J. Nierengarten, James O'Gara, Albert C. Outler, Jaroslav Pelikan, Betty Wahl Powers, john R. Roach, John E. Simonett, George A. Sinner, Anthony Ugolnik. -
Theology of the Land
Bernard F. Evans and Gregory D. Cusack
“Theology of the Land” is an ongoing study of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference and the Virgil Michel Ecumenical Chair in Rural Social Ministries (St. John’s University, Collegeville, Minnesota). This volume contains the papers presented at a 1985 conference on this subject.
Authors and topics: Leonard Weber, “Land Use Ethics: The Social Responsibility of Ownership”; Walter Bruggemann, “Land: Fertility and Justice”; C. Dean Freudenberger, “Implications of a New Land Ethic”; John Hart, “Land, Theology, and the Future”; Richard Cartwright Austin, “Rights for Life: Rebuilding Human Relationships with Land.” -
Q: The Sayings of Jesus
Ivan Havener OSB and Polag Athanasius OSB
Includes selections from the Gospels in the Revised Standard version according to the arrangement in Polag, A. Fragmenta Q., 1982.
For over a century, biblical scholars have agreed that parts of the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) are picked up from a previous source—a lost gospel, which is popularly called Q (from the German word Quelle which means source).The Q-hypothesis rests on very solid grounds and most scholars accept it. This book tells us all about it. It also discusses some unresolved questions (such as: Was Q written in Aramaic or Greek?).
The reconstruction of Q, the lost gospel, is a challenging and formidable task. Using various critical literary methods, leading scholars have undertaken the work, and the reconstruction work of the German scholar Athanasius Polag is a major achievement. The author has enhanced and clarified his book by translating Polag’s reconstruction of Q.
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Living Bread, Saving Cup : Readings on the Eucharist
R. Kevin Seasoltz OSB
The articles on Eucharistic liturgy given here are reprinted from the pages of Worship magazine. This expanded edition of the 1982 printing includes three additional essays: Justice and the Eucharist" by R. Kevin Seasoltz, O.S.B.; "Stipends and Eucharistic Praxis" by M. Francis Mannion; and "Stipends in the New Code of Canon Law" by John M. Huels, O.S.M.
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Toward a Christian Economic Ethic: Stewardship and Social Power
Prentiss L. Pemberton and Daniel K. Finn
This book is a call to twentieth-century Christians to marshal a new kind of power, to move against special-interest organizations, to build counter-structures, and to effectively challenge the unjust social structures that are the very root of the United States economy.
This book presents an overview of the history of economic ethics in the Judeo-Christian tradition, offers a straightforward explanation and critique of modern economic theory, relates social justice to economic efficiency, applies the Christian economic ethic to contemporary problems, and demonstrates how we can actually empower this ethic in our society. -
The King's Partners in Bracton
Michael Blecker OSB
Examines Bracton's De legibus et consuetudinibus Angliae ("On the Laws and Customs of England"): One of the most famous parts of De legibus, previously considered a later addition or gloss, is the subject of this study. This study hopes to suggest a possible interpretation of the addicio, particularly its most enigmatic phrase: ((Qui socium habet, habet magistrum)).
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First Thessalonians, Philippians, Philemon, Second Thessalonians, Colossians, Ephesians
Ivan Havener OSB
Vol. 8 of the Collegeville Bible Commentary
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Early Monastic Rules : The Rules of the Fathers and the Regula Orientalis
Ivan Havener OSB, Carmela Vircillo Franklin, and J. Alcuin Francis OSB
Contents:
Rule of the Holy Fathers Serapion, Macarius, Paphnutius, and another Macarius --
The Second Rule of the fathers --
The Rule of Macarius --
The Third Rule of the Fathers--
Regula orientalis. -
The Continuing Quest for God: Monastic Spirituality in Tradition and Transition
William Skudlarek OSB
Papers presented at the Institute on the Origins and Contemporary Expressions of Monastic Spirituality sponsored by St. John's Abbey and School of Theology, Collegeville, Minn., and the Convent of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, Minn., and held at St. John's from June 22 to July 4, 1980.
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From Freedom to Formula: The Evolution of the Eucharistic Prayer from Oral Improvisation to Written Texts
Allan R. Bouley OSB
From the book's Introduction:
"In any case, it seemed to be an opportune time to attempt a systematic historical study of the movement from free to formal prayer at the Eucharist during its formative centuries. That is the purpose of this book." -
The Word in Worship : Preaching in a Liturgical Context
William Skudlarek OSB
Scripture, says William Skudlarek, should be the foundation of all worship. Closely examining both the Roman Catholic and Protestant lectionaries, he stresses that the best preaching and liturgical expression are biblically centered. A balanced presentation of these two, with scripture as their common element, results in the most vital and meaningful of worship experiences. Dr. Skudlarek ably reveals how the lectionary is flexible so that a pastor can preach from it year-round, yet stay relevant to the day's issues. He also demonstrates the close relation of preaching to the sacraments, while paying special attention to preaching the Eucharist. He then does the same for baptisms, weddings, and funerals. This is a volume that both Protestants and Roman Catholics will find highly useful.
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Presence, Power, Praise : Documents on the Charismatic Renewal
Kilian McDonnell OSB
3 volumes: Volume I--Continental, National, and Regional Documents; Numbers 1 to 37, 1960-1974. Volume II--Continental, National, and Regional Documents; Numbers 38 to 80, 1975-1979. Volume III--International Documents; Numbers 1 to 11, 1973-1980.
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New Liturgy, New Laws
R. Kevin Seasoltz OSB
From the book's Introduction:
"In order that the official documents of liturgical renewal might be situated in their proper theological and historical context, and consequently be more accurately interpreted, the following pages seek to provide an overview of significant theological and historical developments in the liturgy during the years that immediately preceded, spanned, and followed the Second Vatican Council." -
Runways to God: The Psalms as Prayer
Paschal Botz OSB
The author's purpose here is to serve the reader with something pertinent to prayer, as it rises from each Psalm. The pattern of this commentary is simple. First, each Psalm is presented in its Old Testament framework of origin, literal meaning, and purpose, with a minimum of space given to its classification and the interesting points that fill other commentaries. Second, the commentary interprets this literal reality (including the difficult parts of the Psalms) in the light of Christ and the New Testament. The entire Old Testament prepares for Him and His Kingdom. Therefore to seek the fulfillment sense is not a minimum law (applicable to a few verses), but a maximum one (Cardinal Newman). The Psalms are forward-looking; they speak about Christ. The search for this final sense of the Psalms has occupied the Church in every generation; it must engage our best efforts in comparing one spiritual world with another, with the help of God, who is Author of both. [From the Preface]
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Charismatic Renewal and Ecumenism
Kilian McDonnell OSB
This present document is directed to those in positions of pastoral leadership in the church. It seeks to clarify the main theological issues which determine ecumenical attitudes and actions. Mainly its purpose is to indicate what norms should guide ecumenism at the local level, and therefore it is pastoral in character. [from the book's Acknowledgements section]
Contents:
Acknowledgments; Astonishment and Evangelization; Churchless Christianity and the Vaporization of the Church; Communion: The Self-Understanding of the Church; Conciliar and Roman Ecumenical Norms; The Ecumenical Point of Contact; Pastoral Suggestions; Epilogue; Notes -
Charismatic Renewal and the Churches
Kilian McDonnell OSB
The major portion of the book is a review of the psychological research on Pentecostals and charismatics. The research is in large part a study of people who speak or pray in tongues. I also study the reaction of the churches from the psychological perspective. The other chapters in the book, that on the theological understanding of charism as a human experience, that on social theory as applied to the Pentecostal-charismatic movement, have as their function making understandable the dilemma of the churches as they were confronted with the phenomenon in their midst. [adapted from the Introduction]
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The Holy Spirit and Power : The Catholic Charismatic Renewal
Kilian McDonnell OSB
In a theological sense [the charismatic renewal movement] touches what is central to the gospel and to the mystery of the Church. The renewal raises substantive theological issues. The present volume of essays is an attempt to clarify some of these issues at the level of serious theological reflection but in a language which is nontechnical. [from the Preface]
Contents:
Preface; The Person of the Holy Spirit; Baptism in the Holy Spirit in the New Testament; The Holy Spirit and Christian Initiation; Baptism in the Holy Spirit: Pastoral Implications; The Charismatic Renewal as Experience; The Ecclesiological Context of the Charismatic Renewal; Liturgy and Charisms; Ecumenical Problems and Possibilities -
The Baptism in the Holy Spirit as an Ecumenical Problem : Two Essays Relating the Baptism in the Holy Spirit to Sacramental Life
Kilian McDonnell OSB and Arnold Bittinger
Includes Arnold Bittlinger's "Baptized in Water and Spirit: Aspects of Christian Initiation" and Kilian McDonnell's "Baptism in the Holy Spirit as an Ecumenical Problem."
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Catholic Pentecostalism : Problems in Evaluation
Kilian McDonnell OSB
"The author bases his observations [of Catholic Pentecostalism] on four years of research.[...]The method used in research was that of participatory observation. Therefore the conclusions are based not only on printed documents, which in Pentecostalism are often misleading, but on extensive field research.[...] The chief concern here is to show why an objective evaluation of Pentecostalism within Catholicism is difficult."