Changes in Faculty and Staff Rev. Allen B. Moran, O.P., (MDiv, STB ‘06; STL ‘08) was elected prior of the community at St. Gertrude Parish in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rev. Albert Trudel, O.P., is the new registrar of the Pontifical Faculty, replacing Fr. Moran. He was previously Associate Professor of English at Aquinas College in Nashville. Rev. Dominic D. F. Legge, O.P., (MDiv ‘06; STB ‘07; STL ‘08) has joined the PFIC as an instructor in Systematic Theology. He also will be serving as the preaching instructor. He hopes to defend his dissertation on the Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland in the late spring. Mr. Nicholas Kruckenberg is teaching Philosophy as an adjunct in the spring semester. He is currently a Ph.D. candidate at The Catholic University of America. Several members of the faculty have new designations. Rev. Thomas Joseph White, O.P. (STL ‘08), is now an Associate Professor. Rev. John Baptist Ku, O.P. (MDiv ‘98; STL ‘00), and Rev. Andrew Hofer, O.P. (MDiv ‘01; STL ‘02), have been promoted to the rank of Assistant Professor.
Resources for Alumni Note: This issue of the 487 Correspondent debuts an occasional column where a member of the faculty discusses a recent book, or new ideas or developments in their discipline. This is an informal way of keeping our alumni current in various fields. This issue’s column is by Dr. Jody Vaccaro Lewis, Assistant Professor of Sacred Scripture and Patrology. In his 2010 apostolic exhortation Verbum Domini, Pope Benedict XVI builds on the Vatican II document Dei Verbum to call for an authentic Catholic biblical hermeneutics. The Holy Father states that such a hermeneutics demands the faith of the Church, as exemplified by Mary’s fiat, which suggests that the Catholic submits his or her will to God in matters of biblical interpretation. This means, among other things, that one recognizes the divine inspiration and spiritual level of meaning of Scripture and that one’s interpretation accords with the teachings of the Church. Students often ask me to recommend resources on the New Testament that are both scholarly and faithful to the Church’s teachings in these ways. They may want a suggestion for a friend or family member, or perhaps for work in a parish or school, or maybe for someone inquiring into the Catholic teaching on Scripture. With so many books published in biblical studies these days, it can be quite overwhelming, but there is a recent series on the New Testament that would be helpful in these regards. That series is the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture published by Baker Academic Press. The first volumes of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture were published a few years ago with the express intent to provide a resource to anyone working in pastoral ministry and to those seeking to study the New Testament and to integrate it into their daily lives. To this end, the editors seek to respond to the principles set forth in Dei Verbum to interpret Scripture in light of the Tradition, the whole canon of Scripture, and the analogy of faith. Eventually the series will include seventeen volumes, some of which address more than one book of the New Testament, but to date only eight have been published, including volumes on the Gospels of Matthew and Mark and several letters of Paul. The authors include prominent Catholic biblical scholars.
Above: Dominicans, including Most Rev. J. Augustine DiNoia, O.P., (former President and faculty; STB ‘69; STL ‘71) go Christmas caroling in Washington, D.C.’s Columbia Heights neighborhood. Right: Br. Athanasius Murphy, O.P., joins in prayer with a passerby.
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Each volume combines historical and literary analysis of a biblical book with theological reflection. A general introduction addresses the author, date, audience, style, and significance of the book. The text is then divided into passages for individual interpretation. The exegesis is scholarly, yet accessible because it avoids overly technical analysis, deals with the text in English translation, and does not engage in specific critical methodology. Instead, the exegesis seeks to acquaint the reader with the main issues involved in each section and stresses main themes. The volumes also include helpful sidebars that include historical background and teachings from the Church Fathers and the Catechism. With its combination of interpretation and application to spiritual life, the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture will be helpful to those engaged in preaching and catechesis, as well as personal study. There is also a blog at www.catholiccommentaryonsacredscripture. com that includes excerpts from the volumes related to some of the liturgical readings.