If your parish offered a Bible study, which book of the Holy Bible would you most like to study first?
Old Testament,Book of Amos…
Acts of Apostles is an amazing book!
The Gospel of John would be where I would like to start!
The gospel of John side by side with Genesis.
I too say the Gospel of John and the Book of Acts, followed by The Didache (which is not part of the Bible, but a good follow-up to understand how some in the early Church worshiped, taught, and struggled with.
Ecclesiastes changed my life when I read it as a kid. I think it’s beautiful and ingenious and I’ve read it closely several times. It makes me feel so calm. I’d love to study that one with other people
@CanadianPriest Sorry for leaving a message that is not directly related to your topic here. I was wondering if you might be able to guide me with some of my questions regarding Catholic seminaries, if that would be possible. I am a researcher studying Catholic seminaries, primarily out of personal interest. I would like to better understand the current processes of education and formation in Catholic seminaries. I am posting my questions here and would be very grateful if you could help me. I apologize if my questions are many, but I am truly eager to learn the answers.
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Currently, are both minor/introductory seminaries and major/advanced seminaries active in countries such as Italy, the UK, and the United States?
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What is the difference between the two? Can someone receive training only at a minor/introductory seminary? If so, what degree do they ultimately receive, and what rank or position do they attain within the Catholic Church?
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Can someone enter a major/advanced seminary directly, or must they first study at a minor/introductory seminary?
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For someone entering a major/advanced seminary, what degree do they ultimately receive, and what rank or position do they attain in the Catholic Church?
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In my research, I have noticed that a seminary student (whether in a minor/introductory seminary or a major/advanced seminary) must also pursue studies at a pontifical or ecclesiastical university and obtain an official degree from these institutions. Is this correct? If a student does not do this, would they be prevented from being appointed to any position in the Church?
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In the current educational system of the Catholic seminary, is there any priest, deacon, or bishop who does not hold an official university degree, and whose rank or position is solely the result of seminary training?
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If all priests, deacons, and bishops must have pontifical or ecclesiastical university education and obtain an official degree from these institutions in order to hold their title and rank, what then is the purpose of the seminary? Why does the seminary (whether minor/introductory or major/advanced) exist at all?
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In other words, my question is: what is the independent function of the seminary itself? What academic degrees does it confer to seminarians? What rank or position does it grant them? And are these degrees and ranks recognized? That is, are they accepted in pontifical and ecclesiastical universities, as well as in state or secular universities?
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If someone wishes to attain Church ranks—including deacon, lector, priest, bishop, or cardinal—must they necessarily study in a seminary, or can they achieve these positions without attending one? For example, is it possible to never enter a seminary and only study at pontifical/ecclesiastical universities and still reach these ranks?