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January 17, 2016Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608
Email: [email protected] ! Website: www.CorpusChristiParish.com
TELEPHONE NUMBERS
Parish Office: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 • Fax 380-0325Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 • Fax 380-0325Full-Day Care: 342-2424 • Fax 343-3119Youth Ministry: 342-1852 • Fax 342-6313
PASTORAL STAFF
Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., PastorRev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate PastorDeacon Arthur W. Robbins, DeaconSr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation ChaplainMrs. Joan T. McMullen, School PrincipalMrs. Diane M. Stoyka, Parish Catechetical LeaderMrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, R.C.I.A. CoordinatorMr. Peter J. Stoyka, Youth Ministry DirectorMr. C. Clinton Doolittle, Music DirectorMr. David F. Walker, Gym Manager
TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH
Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms areavailable in the church vestibule and parish office.
COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES
For rental information and kitchen services, please callthe parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420.
SUNDAY MASSES
Vigil: 5:30 p.m. SaturdayMorning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.
WEEKDAY MASSES
6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday
SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularlyafter the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses.
BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK
Please call the parish office (342-1852) or informationand scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick.
ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.)
Please see published schedule for specific dates andtimes, or call the parish office (342-1852).
SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K–12, Sundaysduring school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs.
SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8.Child Care for 6-week-old infants to 2-year olds,Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Please callthe school office, 342-5474, ext. 1 for information.
SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Catholic Charities AppealPlease
Use the pledge card you receive in the mail
1. If you are a registered parishioner you will be receiving a letterfrom Archbishop Rodi regarding this year’s 85th Annual CatholicCharities Appeal. Enclosed in the letter will be a personalizedpledge card and a return envelope.
2. Please check the accuracy of the information on the pledge cardyou receive, and, to make a pledge, just mark your intended pledgeon the card. You can return the card by way of the collection atMass or by bringing it to the parish office, or mailing it in the returnenvelope which will be enclosed in the archbishop’s letter.
3. If you did not receive the archbishop’s letter and the pledgecard, pledge envelopes will be available in the pews next weekend.
The Annual Catholic Charities Appeal sustains over 30 Catholicministries across our archdiocese. Please pray for the successof the appeal, and join in this great work of loving service.
See the video!Click the link below to see the video and the brochure.
http://www.mobilearchdiocese.org/giving/charities.cfm
This Sunday3rd Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass
During the school year (Sept. to May), we have an extra SundayMass the 3rd Sunday of each month. High School students serve.
No 6:30 a.m. Mass on Monday, Jan. 18Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Parish offices will be closed.
ADULT RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.)
Presented by Fr. James F. Zoghby
Continuing education for Catholic and other adults who would like to learn more aboutand/or join the Catholic Church. Meetings arein the Adult Ed. Room in the Community
Center, Wednesdays, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Wednesdays, Jan. 20: LITURGY: The prayer life of the Church: Thedifference between liturgy (Mass, Sacraments, Official Prayer [Liturgyof the Hours]) and popular devotions (rosary, stations of the cross,novenas, etc.); a historical overview of the development of both theliturgy and popular devotions. Apparitions. Religious articles, aids toprayer and contemplation. Last Rites and the Sacrament of the Sick. Communion in the hand or on the tongue? Changes in the Mass. Holy water, making the sign of the cross, genuflecting. What’sdifferent about Confession today? Communal reconciliation services.
Wednesdays, Jan. 27 & Feb. 3: MORALITY: Living the Christianlife. Making moral decisions. Conscience & Church teaching. Marriage Annulments. Controversies. Information on moral issues inCatholic publications. Spiritual growth of the Church and its members.
Starting Wednesday, Feb. 17: The overview series of 6classes will run through March 23, including Introduction, Bible,Church, Liturgy, Morality, Concluding Session.
We extend a special welcome
to all who wish to join
The Catholic ChurchWe also extend a special Welcome Home to Catholicswho have been away from the Church because ofsacramental marital status or any other reason.
Call, Email or ComeCall 342-1852 and leave your name & phone number.
Email [email protected].
Come to our class Wednesday, Jan. 6, 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. in
the Adult Education Room of the Corpus Christi Community Center.
Receive Emails from the ParishPlease send your email to [email protected].
SUNDAY SCHOOLClasses: 10:05-10:55 a.m. in the school buildings. Sunday Schoolparticipants at the 9 a.m. Mass are dismissed with the final blessing
Info: [email protected] or 342-5474, ext. 7.
CORPUS CHRISTI SCHOOLDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday: Monday, Jan 18. No ClassesMarch for Life: Thursday, Jan. 22, at 2:30 p.m. on the field.
Op e n Ho u s eSunday, Feb. 21, 2016, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
SACS-accredited for Grades 3K through 8.
Child Care for 6-week-old infants to 2-year olds,
Tours of our school are available by request.Info: 342-5474, ext. 1 or [email protected]
Be Prepared Apologetics SeriesPresented by Patrick J. Arensberg
Director or the Archdiocesan Office of Religious Education
Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7-8 p.m. Topic: “When did Catholics make up purgatory and indulgences?”Corpus Christi Community Ctr., Conference Room (2nd Floor)
This series is open to any interested adult in the archdiocese.
Info: http://mobilefaithformation.org/be-prepared-dates.
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA JANUARY 17, 2016
Year-Round Baby Showerfor 2B Choices for Women Crisis Pregnancy Center
Diapers of all sizes, especially sizes 3, 4 and 5 are needed. Alsobaby wipes, shampoo, wash, powder, oil and bottles. Please no foodor formula. Please place items in designated box in the vestibule.
Society of St. Vincent de Paul“Discover true joy by serving the poor in our community.”
Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations put in the designated places
in the vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society.“In-Need” Drop Box at the SVDP table in the vestibule. Info will beheld in strict confidence and an SVDP member will contact you.Join the Society of St. Vincent de Paul by attending a meeting.Meetings: 1st & 3rd Wed., 6:30 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2nd Flr.)
To obtain assistance, call 432-5173 and leave name & phone no.
Widowed Persons’ Support GroupFor information call parishioner Glen Porter at 666-8977.
Corpus Christi ChoirChoir Practice: Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:15 p.m. in Room 4 (2nd floorof community center). Info: Clint Doolittle, 377-8675.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUSK of C Meeting: 2nd Tues., Jan. 12, 7 p.m., the Parish House
Contact: Grand Knight, Cosmo Comiskey, 508-0547.
Men of St. JosephTuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room
Also Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. in the Parish HouseAll men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion.
Info: Damian Bell, 639-2522 or 367-4486 or [email protected] Evening Info: Walter Bracewell, 599-1650 or [email protected]
Women of MaryWednesdays, 7 to 8 p.m. Room 3 (2nd Floor, Community Center)All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion.
Info: Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 753-4872.
Sunday Morning Bible StudyMeetings resume today, Jan. 3.
8:45 a.m. breakfast; 9:30 a.m. study. Info: Ken Crowley, 423-6921.
Tuesday Women’s Bible Study9:45 to 11:15 a.m. in Room 3 (2nd Floor of the Community Center)
Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 553-7882.
Tuesday Night Bible StudyTuesdays at 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Parish House
(except on 2nd Tuesday of the month, meet in the school library)Info: Dave Burchette, 367-6660.
Thursday Women’s Bible StudyThursdays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m.
in the Conference Room (2nd Floor of the Community Center)Info: Joanne Donaghey 554-6753 [email protected].
Catholic Social Services Special Announcement CSS will host over 35 seminarians from St. John Vianney Seminarylate January, providing free services (painting, siding, caulking,patching, window/door repairs, yard clean-up) with skilled constructionsupervisors. To schedule an assessment or for further info, pleasecontact, John P. Wilson, at Catholic Social Services, 251-895-8417.
Wednesday Night Dinner5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall
$9.00 for Adults ! $4.00 for Children (Age 12 & under)
Jan. 20: Roast Pork Loin w/Gravy, Grilled Rosemary Chicken Breast,Wild Rice, Buttered Baby Carrots, Italian Green Beans, Garden Salad,Dinner Rolls, Banana Pudding. Iced Tea, Lemonade, Coffee.Kids Meal: Chicken Tenders & Fries
Must RSVP no later than TUESDAY EVENINGReturn an RSVP Card, or call 342-1852 or email
Pack 29 Cub ScoutsJan. 18: Pinewood Derby Build Workshop, courtyard 12 noon-2 pmJan. 24: Pack Meeting, – 12:30n-2:30 Community Center.To Join Cub Scouts or for info: Contact Walter Bracewell 599-1650 or John Carter 422-8116 or visit ccspack29.scoutlander.com
AA — Alanon — OA — CODAAA: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Cougar Den.
Alanon: Sun., 7 p.m., and Wed., 7 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.OA: Sat., 9 a.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.
CODA: Tues., 6:45 p.m., Arts & Sciences Bldg.
The Women’s ClubTomorrow Night at 6 p.m. the Corpus Christi Women's Club willmeet at Island Wing Company & Grill. Please bring a bottle of spirits,OR/and any Mardi Gras-themed item for our raffle basket. All ladiesare welcomed! Contact info: Brittany Comiskey. 508-0526.
Gulf Coast’s Got Sisters! RetreatJanuary 29-30
Pray and share with Sisters from different religious communities in theMobile area as you discern your vocation. This weekend is a greatopportunity to be a part of community life, while asking questionsabout discernment and getting answers in real time. For single women18-40. Sponsored by Sisters of the Mobile Archdiocese. For moreinfo: Sr. Theresa Sullivan, D.C., at [email protected] or812-963-7556. Visit http://called2.be/GCGSJan16 to register.
40 Days for LifeYou are invited to the 40 Days for Life of Mobile, Spring 2016Campaign, “Cast the Vision” Dinner at Original Oyster House onthe Causeway, at 6:30pm, Thursday, Jan. 21. Dinner will be BuffetStyle at a nominal cost in the Middle Bay Banquet Room. Come learnhow you and your church or organization can be a part of 1.) Endingabortion in Mobile and 2.) Spreading the good news of the manypeople and places in Mobile that provide the help to those in crisispregnancies. If you plan to attend, RSVP by Tuesday, Jan. 19, toMae and Chris Rehm, [email protected] or at 251-554-2032.
CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA JANUARY 17, 2016
Jr. High Youth Group4:00 p.m. 3rd Sunday Gathering, followed by 5:30 p.m. Mass: ThisSunday, come enjoy some pizza and fellowship, as well as get to findout what events/service opportunities are coming up. After ourgathering, all youth and their families are invited to our 5:30 youthMass. Each month our youth Mass keeps growing with more people.I couldn't be more excited. Keep inviting your friends and family!Saturday, Jan. 23, 6:00-9:00 p.m. — Youth Night! Come get toknow everyone in the youth group, and enjoy some games, snacksand a movie on the big screen! Upstairs in the community center. Allyouth and their friends are invited!Thursday, Jan. 28 — Another Service opportunity! We will bepacking backpacks with food with the backpack ministry. Thebackpack ministry gives local children and their families a little extrafood to those who need it. What we will do is pack various food itemsin backpacks and then they are distributed to the children. This is agreat service opportunity to serve your local community. I need asmany people who are willing to spare an hour of their time. Location:Corpus Christi School. We will meet in the courtyard outside thecougar den at 5:30 pm. It will take no more that 45 minutes to an hourto pack all the backpacks.Friday, Feb. 5 — Adoration in the chapel! The youth group is givena special time from 5-6pm to adore Christ. All youth and their familiesare invited. Hope to see everyone there!Like to be added to the email list? Just email Peter Stoyka [email protected]
High School Youth Ministry5:30 p.m. 3rd Sunday Mass & Gathering: Don't forget that thisSunday is the 3rd Sunday of the month so we will be having our youthMass and Gathering starting at 5:30! If you would like to participate indoing a reading or altar serving, please email me. Thank you to thosewho have been actively participating each month. You all areawesome! After Mass, we will be having our Gathering upstairs in thecommunity center. Come enjoy some fellowship and pizza, as well asgoing over important events/service opportunities that are coming up!
ACYC — The Archdiocesan Catholic Youth Conference will beheld at the Perdido Beach Resort in Orange Beach, Alabama, Feb.26-28. Conference Registration Fee is $145 per youth participant,and it includes 5 meals (Friday late night pizza party, Saturdaybreakfast, lunch & dinner and Sunday breakfast), t-shirt and allConference supplies and activities. Each hotel room is $109, whichcan accommodate four teens. The hotel cost would be divided byeveryone in the room. I will have informational packets at the youthgathering to be taken home. However, all information can be found atwww.archmobyouth.org. If you are interested in attending, please letme know. We will register as a group, and I will need to turn in allregistration forms and book the hotel rooms by Feb. 5. To offset someof the costs to students, we will be having a "yard sale" towards theend of the month. We will be collecting donations from parishionersand students, and then selling items after each Mass the weekend ofJanuary 31. info: Peter Stoyka at [email protected].
High School Confirmation SchedulesInfo: Diane Stoyka, [email protected] or 342-5474, ext. 7.
Class of 2018: Sat., Jan. 30, 2016: Confirmation Retreat,Visitation Monastery, 10:00-4:30, Lessons 2,3 & 4.Sun., Aug. 2016: Spirit Day 11:00-3:00, Lesson 8.
Class of 2019: Sunday Feb. 21, 2016: Spirit Day, Lessons 5 & 7.
BAPTIZED IN CHRISTLuke Stephen Smith
(son of Jon Claude Smith & Stephanie Theresa Zito Smith)
REST IN PEACEFrank William “Billy” McKibbin
Around the Archdiocese: Providence Hospital
Fundraisers in Providence Hospital Lobby: Jan. 21 & 22, 8 a.m. to4 p.m. Nikki Leah’s (Little girls and children's clothing). Feb. 18 & 19, 8a.m. to 4 p.m.. Melon Hattie – Glass Etching & Vinyl Design.Personalized gifts & decor. “Discernment Retreat with Pope Francis”for single women 17-35 who are discerning the consecrated religious lifeor who would like to learn more about it. The words of Pope Francis willguide us during these days of reflection as we conclude the Year ofConsecrated Life. Dates: Feb. 5 at 6pm to Feb. 7 at 2pm. There is nocharge. Little Sisters of the Poor, 1655 McGill Ave., Mobile AL 36604.Register by Feb. 3 at [email protected] or (251) 591-3700. CHRISTUS Theological Institute: Thursday, Jan. 28, at 7 p.m.,“Love’s Labor: The Strange Way Love Pursues Its Goal.” Presented byDr. Matthew Baugh, SJ in the Gautrelet Room (Lucey AdministrationCenter. Use Dauphin St. entrance. Info: 380-4660 or [email protected].
FIRST COLLECTION TODAY: Tithing Offerings.SECOND COLLECTION TODAY: Corpus Christi Building Fund.
RETIRED RELIGIOUS COLLECTION FINAL: $4,443.00DEC. 31ST BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $9,162.64DEC 31ST TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $25,049.00JAN. 10TH BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2,262.88JAN. 10TH TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $20,790.60
Thank You and God Bless YouGod bless all who tithe and contribute to support God's work here,and those who make a special bequest in their will for Corpus ChristiChurch. For info, or to transfer shares of stock to Corpus ChristiChurch, contact your stockbroker, or call Selena Hemphill at MorganStanley at 470-1084 or 800-624-7814.
To set up Online Giving: Please go to
www.CorpusChristiParish.com; click “Church”; then clickthe green Online Giving icon on the left side of thechurch’s homepage. Follow the instructions to eithermake a one-time contribution, or set up a recurring
withdrawal, from a checking, saving or credit card account to tithingor building fund, school annual fund or other special collection. Forassistance, call 800-348-2886, ext 4, or the parish office, 342-1852.
Offering EnvelopesIf you wish to use Offering Envelopes, just notify the parish office (342-1852). An initial set will be sent toyou right away, and then, every two months, you willreceive a two-month’s supply of envelopes.
Reports of ContributionsAnnual reports of contributions for 2015 will be mailed thisweek. Reports of Contributions as well as detailed / itemizedreports can always be obtained by contacting the parish officeat 342-1852 or [email protected]. Detailed /itemized reports show each individual amount given, with date, checknumber or “EFT” or “Cash” or “Stock.”
“One cannot take individual biblical quotes orpassages and say each one is literally true...”In May, 2011, a commission of biblical scholars met at the Vatican to continue discussionabout “Inspiration and Truth in the Bible.” Pope Benedict XVI sent some comments tothe Commission. In his message, the Pope said clearer explanations about the Catholic position on thedivine inspiration and truth of the Bible were important because some people seem totreat the Scriptures simply as literature, while others believe that each line was dictatedby the Holy Spirit and is literally true. Neither position is Catholic, the pope said. While Catholic believe the Bible is inspired by the Holy Spirit and that it is true, “onecannot take individual biblical quotes or passages and say each one is literally true.” “It is possible to understand the sacred Scriptures as the word of God only by looking atthe Bible as a whole, a totality in which the individual elements enlighten each other and open the way tounderstanding. It is not possible to apply the criterion of inspiration or of absolute truth in a mechanical way,extrapolating a single phrase or expression.” Catholic News Service
The Book of Revelation is one of the most
misunderstood and abused books of the Bible. It is easilymisunderstood because it is filled with symbolism whose meaningis often lost on today’s audience. It is abused because some peopletake advantage of the mysterious symbols in the book and assigntheir own meanings to them in order to frighten others into thinkingthat the end of the world is near. So, why is the Book of
Revelation written in such a strange and unique style? It’s actually a form of literature called apocalyptic literaturewhich deals, not with a catastrophic event (as the word apocalypse is understood today) but with a revelation intendedto provide encouragement and hope for people who are suffering through trials and tribulations.
In the Old Testament, the Book of Daniel is an example of apocalyptic literature. When the Book of Revelation waswritten (around the year 100 AD), the early Christian Church was suffering many persecutions. For many, it seemedas though the “end” was near and, for some, it indeed was. The Book of Revelation was written to speak to thisstruggle and to offer hope in the midst of what seemed like a lost cause. Some of the symbolism in the Book ofRevelation is indeed a coded language so as to protect Christians who practiced their faith illegally in the RomanEmpire. For example, it is believed that the numbers 666 are a code or symbol to represent the Emperor Nero whowas seen as the epitome of evil to Christians.
In essence, the Book of Revelation tells the story of the eternal struggle between good and evil – a struggle in whichevil often seems to have the upper hand. In every age, this seems to be true from time to time. Like the earlyChristians, we are in need of hope in the face of seemingly desperate situations when all hope seems lost. Despite themany frightening images in the Book of Revelation, the story climaxes in the ultimate triumph of good. The Book ofRevelation does not predict anything for the future except for one event: the glorious victory of Jesus Christ at the endof the world. The overall message of Revelation is: Be patient and persevere. God will bring everything out all right.We do a great disservice to the Bible when we try to make it a series of predictions for our own times.
Pope Benedict XVI said in 2006 that The Book ofRevelation (also called the Apocalypse) has cometo be mistakenly identified with the idea of an“imminent catastrophe” about to befall theworld. Instead, the pope said that the images ofRevelation should be understood in the context ofthe dramatic suffering and persecution of theChristians in the first century.
In 2012, Pope Benedict said that Jesus “does notdescribe the end of the world, and when he usesapocalyptic images, he is not predicting thefuture. On the contrary, he wants to stop hisdisciples of every age from being curious overdates and forecasts, and wants to give them thekey to the right road to walk today and tomorrowso as to enter into eternal life.”
Creationism And Intelligent Design The term creationism does not simply reflect the belief that the world and all that is in it has a Creator. It is used
with a much more narrow and precise meaning. It describes the belief that the creation by God occurred literally asdescribed in the Book of Genesis. The details of Genesis, moreover, are understood to be scientific statements aboutthe beginnings of all things. The most common view would affirm that the world is thus only between 6,000 and10,000 years old, and that plant, animal and human species were created pretty much as we know them today. Intelligent design is a form of creationism developed by a group of American creationists who argue that intelligentdesign is a scientific theory that should be studied in science classes alongside (and in opposition to) that of evolution. Intelligent design, however, is not so much a scientific position but more a philosophical-religious argument. In allof the major court challenges to creationism, Roman Catholic scholars – biblical specialists, theologians and scientists– have been witnesses against creationism and the fundamentalist understanding of intelligent design.
+ When reading Sacred Scripture, it is important to realize that the Bible is a collection of many different types of
books with different literary forms: There are historical accounts, poetry, theological treatises, letters, and some storiesthat were written to bring out an important teaching — like the parables which Jesus often used in his teaching. TheSecond Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation explained that, in reading the Bible,attention must be paid to literary forms; truth is differently presented and expressed in the various types of historicalwriting, in prophetical and poetical texts and in other forms of literary expression. The first chapters of the Book of Genesis present two very different creation stories, except for the centrality ofGod’s creative activity. If both creation stories are taken literally, they contradict each other with regard to the orderof creation: In the first creation story God creates male and female after creating everything else; in the second creationstory God creates the man, then all the animals, which the man names, and then the woman. The insistence on readingthe details of either or both of the creation stories literally also leads to the theological theory of creationism, whichclaims evolution is completely incompatible with the doctrine of divine creation. The Catholic Church, however,recognizes that the divinely-inspired creation stories in Genesis are not incompatible with evolution. The creations stories are not attempts to tell us how things happened. They are entirely unscientific and unhistorical. But their meaning is profoundly true: There is only one God who made all things, not many gods. Creation comesby the all-powerful and peaceful word of the one God; not by a warfare among gods and goddesses. Creation is good;it is not just the garbage of that warfare. In the first creation story is a constant refrain: “God saw that it was good...God saw that it was good... God saw that it was very good.” The first creation story borrows heavily from pagancreation myths, but gives them a profoundly different meaning. Church documents dating back to 1950 acknowledge the plausibility of evolution while still insisting on theimmediate creation of the human soul by God. Catholic theology understands that while God is the cause and energyof creation, God exercises that role through the evolutionary process. Catholic theology has, therefore, distanced itselffrom creationism while at the same time rejecting a highly materialistic understanding of evolution.
The Bible Is Not A Science Book! As long ago as 1893, in his encyclical Providentissimus Deo, Pope Leo XIII said that natural or scientific matters
in Scripture were subject to error and that Scripture often makes use of figurative language and is not meant to teachscience. Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical, declared: “The sacred writers did not seek to penetrate the secrets of nature,but rather described and dealt with things in more or less figurative language, in terms commonly used at the time.” St. Augustine (354-430) and St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274) taught that the writers of Sacred Scripture in no waymeant to teach a system of astronomy. St. Augustine wrote that: “One does not read in the Gospel that the Lord said,‘I will send you the Spirit who will teach you about the course of the sun and moon.’ For he willed to make peopleChristians, not mathematicians.” The Bible is at the same time divine and human. It is truly God’s Word, and when we read it prayerfully weexperience its power to bring us into contact with the Lord. Yet it is also human. The human authors show a woefulignorance of science and history, because God uses as authors human beings with all their limitations. The author of the first of the two creation stories in the book of Genesis knew nothing of what modern science hasdiscovered about the solar system. To that writer, the earth was a flat disk, and the sky a solid dome, like a bowl turnedupside down over a saucer. Above the bowl was a great ocean. The dome, or “firmament,” had windows which theLord could open at will to allow some of the water stored above to come down in the form of rain. God did not free the inspired author from the scientific ignorance shared with the people of that time. God simplyused those scientifically-inaccurate ideas to get across his own message: that he had created everything that exists. SoGenesis tells us that God created the firmament, and the Psalms tell us that he opens the windows when he chooses tosend rain. The person of faith, as he or she reads, must sort out the human from the divine in the Bible. When we read, for example, that the sun “rises” and “sets”, we know that reflects the “science” of the people livingin biblical times. We know that the rising and setting of the sun is an illusion produced by the earth’s rotation. In 1633, the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei was judged by the Church’s Inquisition to have violated a Church edictagainst espousing the controversial Copernican view that the sun, not the earth, was the center of the universe. (Weknow now, of course, that the Solar System is not the center of the universe!) For the last nine years of his life, Galileolived under house arrest. In issuing a formal apology for the trial of Galileo, Pope John Paul II stated in 1992: “The error of the theologiansof the time, when they maintained the centrality of the Earth, was to think that our understanding of the physicalworld’s structure was, in some way, imposed by the literal sense of Sacred Scripture....” The pope said that the Churchnow accepts Galileo’s contention that the Bible does not contain specific scientific truths, but speaks metaphoricallyabout such events as the creation or the movement of the sun. As Galileo put it: “The intention of the Holy Spirit is to teach how to go to heaven, and not how the heavens go.”
