A series of monthly articles to celebrate the Year of St. Paul. Each month, Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J., a noted Scripture scholar, will highlight a different aspect of Paul’s writings and times.
Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of monthly articles for the Year of St. Paul, written by Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. The archbishop is a Scripture scholar.
We know there are various kinds of letters people write. There are formal business letters. There are letters to thank Aunt Ellen for the birthday present she sent. And letters kids write home from camp asking about the dog and closing with a plea that mom and dad “send more money.”
In exploring the Apostle Paul in this jubilee year dedicated to him, we begin with Paul’s great synthesis of his missionary theology, the Epistle to the Romans.
We do this in respect for the liturgy which features selections from Romans as the second reading at Sunday Mass from June 1 through Sept. 7 (the ninth to 23rd Sundays in Ordinary Time). Ordinarily Romans would have gone to the 24th Sunday but this year it is replaced by the Triumph of the Cross (Sept. 14) just as earlier Sts. Peter and Paul took the place of the 13th Sunday.
Pope Benedict invites Catholics the world over to celebrate a special jubilee year in honour of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul.
Scholars think Paul was 10 years younger than Jesus, so his birth is placed between AD seven and 10. The Holy Father’s choice is midway between these two. The June 28-29 vigil and solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul serve as anchor points for this special period: from June 28, 2008, to June 29, 2009.
Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of monthly articles for the Year of St. Paul, written by Ottawa Archbishop Terrence Prendergast, S.J. The archbishop is a Scripture scholar.
In exploring the Apostle Paul in this jubilee year dedicated to him, we begin with Paul’s great synthesis of his missionary theology, the Epistle to the Romans.
Pope Benedict invites Catholics the world over to celebrate a special jubilee year in honour of the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of St. Paul. 
