Keynote Address at Catholic Bible Conference

"God's Word Has the Power to Change Hearts and History"

DENVER, Colorado, JULY 2, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Here is an address by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver presented June 26 at the National Catholic Bible Conference in his archdiocese.

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In his book A New Song for the Lord, Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Ratzinger) shared the following reflection, "The fact that God's words, something that God has said and is saying to us, are accessible in the world is truly the most exciting news I can imagine at all. [But] we are too dulled through everyday use to grasp the awesomeness of this statement." (Benedict XVI, A New Song for the Lord, 169).

Many things make the news. From the stock market to the sports field, many of us eagerly follow the daily headlines. But too few of us think of God's Word as exciting or newsworthy enough to be sought out every day. And therefore too many of us miss the most newsworthy event in life - the experience of God, the creator of the universe, speaking to us through His Word. But it is exactly the Word of God that is so needed for renewal, in our personal lives and in the culture around us. Read the whole article here.....

The conference included 26 addresses, including: "The Secrets of St. Paul's Spirituality of the Cross" by Tim Gray, "St. Paul and Evangelization: His Motives and His Message" by Peter Williamson, "St. Paul and the Mystery of the Resurrection" by Brant Pitre, and "How Love Acts" by Jeff Cavins. Recordings of these talks are being offered on the conference Web page.