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The CTIS Library is located on the First level of St. Francis Xavier Seminary, next to the Multi-Purpose Hall, and is open to the public. Students are automatically enrolled as members of the library for the duration of their respective programmes. Download the library regulations here.

The CTIS Library is open from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm on weekdays.
The library is closed on all Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.

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The Mystery of Mary

Paul Haffner

In the eighth century when Saint John of Damascus was speaking of Mary most holy he said, 'Today the salvation of the world begins.' The Blessed Virgin Mary stands at the heart of the Christian tradition. She holds a unique place in the Church's theology, doctrine and devotion, commensurate with her unique position in human history as the Mother of God. Generations of Christians continue to call Mary blessed and from time immemorial, the Church has understood Mary as an inherent part of the faith and appropriately honors her in the sacred liturgy. Catholic faith knows Mary to be the humble virgin who had the privilege of being the Mother of God. Mary's complete adherence to grace led the Second Vatican Council to remember that she 'cooperated through free faith and obedience in human salvation' that caused Wisdom's plan to be a sign of hope. In this book, Rev. Dr. Paul Haffner offers a clear and structured overview of theology and doctrine concerning Mary set in a historical perspective. He outlines the basic scheme of what constitutes Mariology set in the context of other forms of theological enquiry. Working through the contribution of Holy Scripture he proceeds to examine each of the fundamental doctrines that the Church teaches about Our Lady. From the Immaculate Conception to Mary's continuing Motherhood in the Church, the reader will find here a sure and steady guide, faithful to tradition. The author offers a realistic perspective, not reducing the concrete aspects of Mary's gifts and privileges to mere symbols on the one hand, and not confusing doctrine and devotionalism on the other. 'The Mystery of Mary', with a foreword by Dom Duarte, Duke of Braganza, is published to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the definition by Pope Blessed Pius IX of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady.Paul Haffner, a priest of the diocese of Portsmouth (England), obtained his first degree in physics at Oxford University. He went on to philosophical and theological studies in Rome, and received his doctorate from the Pontifical Gregorian University. At present, he is lecturer in systematic and dogmatic theology in Rome at the Pontifical Gregorian University, the Pontifical Lateran University, and the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum. His publications with Gracewing (UK) include 'The Mystery of Creation, The Sacramental Mystery' and 'The Mystery of Reason' (all are also published in Italian by Vatican Press). Published by Liturgy Training Publications.

Featured Books

Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar (Third Edition)

William D. Mounce

Clear, understandable and carefully organised Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar by William D. Mounce is the standard textbook for beginning Greek language students in colleges and seminaries. It offers a clear, understandable, integrated approach to learning New Testament Greek. This edition is updated throughout based on feedback from professors, students, self-learners, and homeschoolers, making it even more effective for today’s students. As well, improvements have been made based on recent developments in scholarship.

The key to the effectiveness of Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar in helping students learn is in how it introduces them to the language. Students learn about the features of the Greek language in a logical order, with each lesson building upon the one before it. Unnecessary obstacles that discourage students and hinder progress are removed, such as rote memorisation of endless verbal paradigms. Instead students receive encouragement along the way to assure them they are making the necessary progress. As well, detailed discussions are included at key junctures to help students grasp important concepts.

By the time students have worked their way through Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar they will have learned:

The Greek Alphabet
Vocabulary for words occurring 50 times or more in the Greek New Testament
The Greek noun system
The Greek verbal system, including indicative and non indicative verbs, and participles

A robust suite of learning aids is available for purchase to be used alongside the textbook to help students excel in their studies. These include a workbook, video lectures for each chapter featuring the author, flashcards keyed to vocabulary in each chapter, a laminated quick study sheet with key concepts, and audio of the vocabulary for each chapter to aid in acquisition.

Believing in the Resurrection

Gerard O'Colllin S.J.

Father Gerald O'Collins SJ, a Jesuit biblical scholar from Australia who taught for many years at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, presents an excellent case for gospel accuracy on the resurrection. He starts out by reviewing the latest books on the resurrection and then proceeds to build a case -- frequently referring back to the other authors when necessary -- that Jesus physically rose from the dead as the gospels say. He finally discusses how this event impacts the Christian faith.

This book reminds me a lot of a 2008 Ignatius Press DVD called "Did Jesus Really Rise From the Dead?" Like that documentary, this book critiques the various alternate theories (i.e. the "stolen body" and "spiritual resurrection" claims) to explain the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Both the film and O'Collins refer to Anglican scholar NT Wright's book on the resurrection as an excellent source in comparison to much pseudo-academic hokum like "The Passover Plot." A key insight for me in both the video and book is the unanimous consensus that the biblical word used for "resurrection" always and everywhere referred to a physical body. Most of the other insights are along these lines, supporting the fact that the Biblical text is a reliable witness to the traditional Christian account of Christ's resurrection.

Although Fr. O'Collins is a biblical scholar, he is clearly writing this Paulist Press paperback for a popular audience. While summarizing the latest academic and non-academic scholarship examining the resurrection, he writes in a non-technical style that is accessible for any reader. It's not flowery or populist prose, but it communicates very plainly the basic authenticity of the gospels in their claim of a bodily resurrection.

Even if one prefers to deconstruct Biblical texts and challenge them, it's impossible to ignore the central fact of the resurrection accounts: They all agree about what happened to Jesus and they were most emphatically not doctored on this point by later editors. In other words, Jesus Christ physically rose from the dead, and there's no evidence in the text itself to suggest otherwise, as the traditional explanation of these passages is also the most plausible of all the explanations for what happened to him. This was indeed the claim of the earliest Christians: They saw him risen.

This book by a moderately progressive Roman Catholic scripture scholar makes an important contribution to veracity of the traditional Biblical accounts of Christ's resurrection. For all those inclined to doubt the historicity of the resurrection, or to seek alternate explanations out of a reaction against the Church, this slender paperback may be particularly helpful. One cannot ignore the persuasive facts and evidence given by Fr. O'Collins and others to support the gospel claim. This book is probably the most accessible treatment I've seen on this subject for laypeople, being ideally suited for a retreat or personal reflection.

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