CUF News!

Understanding "Our Father"

Emmaus Road Publishing recently released CUF board chairman Scott Hahn's newest book, Understanding "Our Father": Biblical Reflections on the Lord's Prayer. The book includes reflections on the Lord's Prayer by Scott and four Fathers of the Church: St. Cyprian, St. Cyril of Jerusalem, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine.

The book has received numerous endorsements from bishops, priests, and laity, including Cardinal George of Chicago, Archbishop Chaput of Denver, Archbishop Dolan of Milwaukee, and Bishop Bruskewitz of Lincoln. CUF president emeritus James Likoudis writes, "Against the background of contemporary misunderstandings of God and Christian revelation, it is gratifying to see how a modern Scripture scholar, Dr. Scott Hahn, contributes concise and profound insights into the most familiar prayer in all history, the Lord's Prayer. His meditations, enriched by covenant theology, will inspire souls with greater knowledge and love of God and will stimulate in them a greater zeal to spread Christ's Kingdom, the Church on earth."

CUF advisor Fr. Robert Bradley, S.J., adds, "The indefatigable Dr. Hahn has come up with a miniature masterpiece-miniature in its winsome simplicity, a masterpiece in its insight and depth. It merits a myriad of readers and a miniature doxology."

To order Understanding "Our Father"—for yourself or as a Christmas gift-please call Emmaus Road Publishing at (800) 398-5470.

Bless Her Heart

On Saturday, September 28, the St. John Neumann Chapter, chaired by CUF board member Anne Wilson, hosted its annual fall conference at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary near Philadelphia. This year's conference was devoted to the Immaculate Heart of Mary and attracted an international audience of nearly 300, including priests and seminarians from various dioceses, members of several religious communities, and many lay faithful.

After an opening prayer by CUF episcopal advisor Bishop Joseph F. Martino, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia, conference participants were treated to a series of talks that addressed the Immaculate Heart through the lens of popular saints. The impressive lineup of speakers included Fr. C. John McCloskey III (St. Josemaria Escriva), Janet Haggerty (St. Juan Diego), Fr. Pio Mandato, F.M.H.J. (St. Padre Pio), and Sr. Theresa May, C.N. (Blesseds Francisco and Jacinta. CUF's international office was capably represented by Jeff Ziegler, editor-in-chief of Emmaus Road Publishing, who provided a brief but profound overview of devotion to the Immaculate Heart.

The conference concluded with Vespers and Mass. The novices of the Sisters of Life provided music, and Bishop Martino was principal celebrant and homilist.

Coming Soon?

CUF president Leon Suprenant has been on the move this fall, speaking in 16 cities to various groups and organizations, including seven CUF chapters. His talks have been on a range of topics, from the Eucharist to the scandals, from the Gospel of Life to the laity's role in the Church. He also appeared on several television and radio shows and has met with Church officials as an ambassador of the CUF apostolate.

This coming spring, Leon is planning two speaking tours, one in March (Kentucky and Tennessee) and the other in May (Wisconsin and Minnesota). If you'd like to host Leon during one of these trips or would like Leon to speak to your chapter or organization, call (800) MY-FAITH or email ksands@cuf.org.

New Faces

CUF welcomes Amy Barragree as our newest information services intern. Amy earned degrees in theology and sociology at Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2001. After spending a year in her hometown of Hays, Kansas, she returned to Steubenville this fall to pursue her master's in theology/catechetics. Her responsibilities include helping people who call CUF's toll-free hotline, (800) MY-FAITH, and researching answers to their questions. She says that her experience at CUF will be valuable as she plans for a future in college campus ministry.

In spring 2002, longtime ERP editorial assistant Brian Germann received his master's degree in counseling from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Two months later, he returned with his family to his home state of Georgia to pursue a career in counseling. We wish Brian all the best in his new work.

ERP welcomes Mary Wake as Brian's replacement. Mary hails from central Ohio and received her bachelor's degree from Christendom College. She subsequently worked and studied in Alaska, Ohio, and France. She is now a master's student in philosophy at Franciscan University.

And as this issue goes to print, we are preparing to welcome Mike Sullivan as our new director of communication. Mike will assist with the editing of the January/February 2003 issue of Lay Witness before assuming full editorial responsibility with the March/April issue. Mike received his undergraduate degree from Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts before earning his master's from Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Welcome, Amy, Mary, and Mike!

FAITH FACT Quiz

True or False?
1. No one can approach God here below except by kneeling before the manger at Bethlehem and adoring Him hidden in the weakness of a newborn child.

2. The eternal Son of God became man so that we might become partakers of the divine nature.

3. Jesus Christ truly has a human nature which has been fully absorbed by His divine nature in the Incarnation.

4. Through the Immaculate Conception, Mary consented to become the Mother of the Savior through the power of the Holy Spirit.

5. Since Jesus Christ came to establish a new and everlasting covenant, He did not undergo the Old Testament rite of circumcision.

6. Belief in the true Incarnation of the Son of God is the distinctive sign of Christian faith.

7. Jesus, the firstborn of many brothers (cf. Rom. 8:29), became the Son of God through His adoption by the Eternal Father.

8. Mary virginally conceived Jesus, but His birth was like all other human births.

9. Jesus Christ is truly the Son of God who, without ceasing to be God and Lord, became a man and our brother.

10. In the Advent liturgy, the Church makes present the ancient expectancy of the Savior's first coming while also renewing the faithful's desire for His second coming.


Answers
1. True. Catechism, no. 563.
2. True. Catechism, no 460 (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4).
3. False. In the Incarnation, human nature was assumed, not absorbed, in the Person of the Son of God. Catechism, nos. 470, 481.
4. False. The Immaculate Conception refers to the conception of Mary free from all stain of original sin. Catechism, no. 491.
5. False. Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day in obedient submission to the Law. Catechism, no 527 (cf. Lk. 2:21).
6. True. Catechism, no. 463.
7. False. Jesus Christ is the Son of God by nature and not by adoption. Catechism, no. 465.
8. False. Christ's birth miraculously did not diminish His Mother's virginal integrity. Catechism, nos. 499, 510.
9. True. Catechism, no. 469.
10. True. Catechism, no. 524.

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