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The fifth and final encounter of the second year of Nothing More Beautiful airs this Saturday.

The theme of this episode is Jesus Christ: Revelation of the Trinity.

The catechesis talk is given by Cardinal Marc Ouellet, the Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada, while the Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus Carl Anderson provides the witness talk.

Cardinal Ouellet’s very rich text uses the beauty of the Cathedral as a guide to discover the beauty of God in Jesus Christ.  He incorporated the portico, the windows, the nave and the tabernacle into his catechesis on the Trinity.  While speaking about the tabernacle, he said:

The Son’s mission was to reveal the Love of the merciful Father and to reconcile the world with him: Christ is the propitiation for the sins of the world. Only a divine Son could take on the sin of the world, expiate it and satisfy all the demands of the love of the New Covenant. The divine Spirit attests to this by raising Christ from the dead, thereby confirming his divine identity and his status as the High Priest and sole Mediator of the New Covenant.

In his talk, Carl Anderson points to Mark’s account of Jesus’ baptism in the Jordan as a revelation of the Trinity:

“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” It is the first time in the Gospel of Mark where Christ is proclaimed. And he is proclaimed by the Father’s love.

So one of the first things we know about Christ is that he is loved by a father, that he comes from this father, and that the father takes joy in him. And the Holy Spirit is there, too, the culminating bond of love.

In this moment, Christ reveals the life of the Trinity: Love, unity, joy.

Catch the broadcast of the final episode for the second year of Nothing More Beautiful on Saturday, June 5th at 9:00pm ET or Tuesday, June 8th at 8:30pm ET.

You can find the text from these talks, and other Nothing More Beautiful resources on the Archdiocese of Edmonton’s website HERE.  The Archdiocese of Edmonton will continue their Nothing More Beautiful series in the fall.  Watch for the third year, focusing on the overall theme of the Beauty of Life in Communion, in late October 2010!

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Matthew Harrison

The latest encounter of Nothing More Beautiful focused on the theme of “Jesus Christ: Crucified and Risen Lord.”

Vancouver’s Archbishop Michael Miller provides the catechesis talk.  Ordained to the priesthood by Pope Paul VI in 1975, he became the Archbishop of Vancouver in January 2009.  In addition to working in Rome in the area of education, he is a specialist on the papacy and modern papal teaching, having published seven books and more than 150 articles.  Following in his area of expertise,  Vancouver’s prelate looked to Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings for his catechesis and drew from his homilies, messages and discourses.

The witness talk is given by Catholic theologian George Weigel.  One of America’s leading public intellectuals, he is a Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center in Washington, D.C., an institute dedicated to applying the Judeo-Christian moral tradition to critical issues of public policy.  He is the author or editor of 20 books, including Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II.  Weigel’s excellent talk not only reflects on his experience as a Catholic, but he also shares other touching witness stories — a German baroness who had a powerful experience at World Youth Day in Paris, a Nashville Dominican who explained her decision to enter religious life, and his daughter, who recently suffered the loss of her husband.  Intermixed with reflections and comments on John Paul II, it’s a talk you don’t want to miss.

Join us on Saturday, April 24th at 9pm ET, or Tuesday, April 27th at 8:30pm ET for Nothing More Beautiful: Jesus Christ — Crucified and Risen Lord.

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Matthew Harrison

Through catechesis and witness talks Nothing More Beautiful is inviting viewers to encounter anew the beauty of Christ.

The latest encounter of this Archdiocese of Edmonton initiative focuses on the theme of Jesus Christ: Lamb of God and Bread of Life.

Bishop Gary Gordon of the Diocese of Whitehorse, Yukon, provides the catechesis talk.  Prior to his appointment in 2006, this spiritual leader of about 8-thousand Catholics, served in many parishes throughout British Columbia.  He has also worked extensively in inter-faith dialogue and prison ministry.

Bishop Gordon framed his engaging and thoughtful reflection in the context of  Covenant and Communion.  Among his many stories, his work in prison ministry provided a touching example of Communion as he explained his experience of working with one inmate who became Catholic.

The witness talk is given by Sister Annata Brockman, SC.  A member of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, Halifax for 60 years, this enthusiastic and busy octogenarian has worked for decades in the Edmonton area as an educator and pastoral associate.  Sister Annata spoke about her close relationship with God from an early age, and revealed this moving encounter with God a few years after she become a nun:

… All I had to do was to close my eyes, and experience God’s loving presence.  … I said, “Only if you want to,” and I repeated it: “Only if you want to, you can take away this awareness of your presence and give this experience to others somewhere in the world who are finding it difficult to cope with their situation” … From that moment this conscious awareness of God’s loving presence within me left me, and I have not experienced it again in these last 50 years. I know that my love for God does not depend on feelings or emotions, but on my decision to love God, and Jesus our Lamb of God, and Bread of Life.

The theme of forgiveness also runs throughout Sister Annata’s touching witness, and she offers us many stories of how God has worked in her life and how He has used her as an instrument to further the Kingdom.

Join us Saturday, February 13th at 9:00 pm ET, or Tuesday, February 16th at 8:30 pm ET for Nothing More Beautiful: Jesus Christ: Lamb of God and Bread of Life, only on Salt + Light Television!

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Matthew Harrison

It’s the second season of Nothing More Beautiful, and through catechesis and witness talks this initiative of the Archdiocese of Edmonton is inviting viewers to encounter anew the beauty of Christ!

The latest encounter of this season focuses on the theme of Jesus Christ: The Way, Truth, and Life.

The basic thing about being a Christian, is that a person has encountered Jesus Christ, and that it shows.

That’s how Toronto’s chief shepherd Archbishop Thomas Collins’ began his catechesis for the evening. Throughout the remainder of his talk, Archbishop Collins expands on the different ways we encounter Jesus, while incorporating what it means to say that Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life:

We need to know truly the one we love, and his teachings. A mere emotional Christianity, devoid of doctrine, and caught up in moral relativism, is a fraud. Our mission has always been what used to be the first answer in the old catechism. Why did God make you? God made me to know, to love, and to serve him. That is it: we need first to know, so that we can love through authentic service.

It was a bit of a homecoming for Archbishop Collins. Many viewers are familiar with Archbishop Collins from his Lectio Divina series on Salt + Light Television, but what some may not realize is that before coming to Toronto, he was the Archbishop of Edmonton for seven and a half years.

The witness talk is given by the Superior General of the Sisters of Life, Mother Agnes Mary Donovan. This New York-based religious community of consecrated women are dedicated to the protection of the sacredness of human life. Mother Agnes Mary discusses the foundation of the Sisters of Life and the graces that they have received in their work — including, appropriately for Advent, a touching story of how the Visitation between Mary and Elizabeth changed the mind of a distressed pregnant woman.

Join us on Saturday, December 19th at 9:00 pm ET, or Tuesday, December 22nd at 8:00 pm ET for Nothing More Beautiful: Jesus Christ: The Way, Truth, and Life, only on Salt + Light Television!

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Matthew Harrison

To order season one of Nothing More Beautiful online visit our webstore HERE or, in Canada, call 1-888-302-7181. The first episode of the second year of Nothing More Beautiful was broadcast in November. Watch for the remaining four episodes of Nothing More Beautiful’s second year in December 2009, and February, April and June 2010.

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Matthew Harrison

I also came to understand that the purpose of prayer was not to change God’s mind, but to change my heart.

Lydia Cristini, an Edmonton teacher, offered this insight as part of her witness talk in the first episode of the second season of Nothing More Beautiful, which premiers Saturday, November 7th. She had been struggling with the death of a friend, and was trying to understand suffering in her life and the lives of her friends. Even in that difficult time — a time of questioning — she still held fast to Christ. Through the course of her talk, the bubbly 31-year old teacher shared with over 1200 faithful, who gathered at St. Joseph’s Basilica in Edmonton, how Jesus Christ has made Himself present in her life: in joyful times, in sad times. She shared her faith filled activities as part of NET Ministries, her involvement in youth ministry, her life as a teacher. She described her life as “ordinary” — and yes it may be in one sense, but it offers us an example that is not uncommon to us, that we can relate to.

As is custom for the first encounter of each year, Archbishop Richard Smith offers the catechesis talk. The chief shepherd of Edmonton frames his talk on the line we cite in the Creed: “for us and for our salvation.” What does it mean to say “the Son of God came from heaven ‘for us’”? And what is meant by “for our salvation”? The Archbishop considers all this in a talk that is well timed for Advent, some three weeks away, and is an excellent way to kick of the second year, which has the overall theme of Encountering Anew the Beauty of Christ.

You can catch Nothing More Beautiful: Jesus Christ — Word of God Made Flesh Saturday November 7th at 9pm ET or Tuesday, November 10th at 8pm ET, only on Salt + Light Television!

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Matthew Harrison

As many of you already know, S+L Radio has been taking a bit of a break this summer and have been digging into our archives to bring you some of the best of S+L programming. We are proud to be able to bring you, for the next three (and final) weeks of the Summer, three selections from Nothing More Beautiful.

Nothing More Beautiful is a series from the Archdiocese of Edmonton with a catechesis and a witness talk that aims to renew the faithful’s relationship with Christ. We begin this week, August 22nd at 10pm ET, with the first of the Nothing More Beautiful sessions withArchbishop Richard Smith of Edmonton and Lea Singh of the Ottawa-based Canadian Organization for Life and Family. The topic is In the Image and Likeness of God.

Next week, September 1st, we continue with Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver and S+L TV Producer Mary Rose Bacani who speak on the topic Our New Life in Jesus Christ.

On the week of September 7, S+L Radio: The Summer Edition concludes with our final selection from Nothing More Beautiful. Bishop John Corriveau of Nelson, BC and Patrick Stewart of the Marian Centre in Edmonton, speak on the topic Towards a Culture of Life.

These Catechesis sessions and witness talks are extremely interesting, insightful and entertaining. Remember you can listen to them at www.saltandlighttv.org/radio or download them for podcasting.

S+L Radio returns with its second season on the week of September 12.

Enjoy the rest of the Summer!

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Pedro Guevara-Mann

Early morning flights and -26 degree Celsius temperatures.

That was my impression of Edmonton after the first session of Nothing More Beautiful (NMB).

It’s funny thinking back to it now, as July temperatures have pushed winter jackets far from my mind. But it was pretty chilly last December when S+L cameraman Wally Tello and I ventured to the City of Champions. The freezing temperatures were quickly melted away though by the warm reception we received from the staff at the Edmonton Archdiocese, and the many lay people and priests who make the NMB project possible. It’s been great getting to know our friends out west, and we look forward to another four years! (the second season of NMB will debut in early November, for information on it and the great speakers you can expect to see, visit the official NMB webpage HERE.)

Each time Wally and I leave Edmonton, we leave not only with fond memories, but a number of tapes with some fantastic material! The catechesis talks have been outstanding, ranging from Archbishop Smith laying the foundation for the encounters; to Sister Prokes touching on the human body and sexuality; to Archbishop Chaput encouraging us to not be ‘half-way’ Christians; to Bishop Corriveau stressing the importance of our role in building a culture of life. The witness talks have been moving as well — Lea Singh turned from a lucrative position as a lawyer in New York to promote the family and life issues; Pembroke, Ontario’s Michael and Therese Ferri shared their profound experience with theology of the body; S+L own’s Mary Rose Bacani’s recalled three major calls from God in her life; and Madonna House’s Patrick Stewarts went from jacuzzis and sports cars to milking cows and humble service to God and his neighbour.

On Friday evenings in July we will be revisiting the first season of Nothing More Beautiful encounters. (Visit our Nothing More Beautiful webpage for programming details.)

We invite you to join us Friday, July 3rd, at 8pm ET, for the first session of NMB, In the Image and Likeness of God, featuring the Archbishop of Edmonton, the Most Reverend Richard Smith, and the Catholic Organization for Life and Family’s Assistant Director, Lea Singh. You can also catch a Saturday, July 4th repeat at midnight & 12:30 pm ET.

Come rediscover the beauty of knowing Christ!

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Matthew Harrison

“The tyranny of the autonomous self. ”

What an interesting phrase to consider.

It’s a phrase from Bishop John Corriveau at the latest edition of Nothing More Beautiful.

As many of you know, Nothing More Beautiful is a five year initiative of the Archdiocese of Edmonton featuring catechesis and witness talks that aim to renew our relationship with Christ.

The head of the diocese of Nelson, British Columbia, Bishop John Corriveau, provides the catechesis. Originally from small-town Ontario, Bishop Corriveau has acted as the worldwide leader of the Franciscan Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. While serving the poor in Toronto, he was appointed by Pope Benedict XVI to shepherd Catholics in the beautiful Okanagan and Kootenay regions of British Columbia. His phrase “the tyranny of the autonomous self” is just one many lines during his talk that will leave you with something to ponder. The Capuchin goes on to discuss how this tyranny creates a society of domination and violence. He uses the example of abortion to explain this point, and further explores what freedom truly is by looking at the relational love between the three persons of the Trinity. Sound pretty heavy? It is, but Bishop Corriveau is a bold and animated speaker, he makes the topic accessible.

The witness talk is given by Patrick Stewart, the director of Marian Centre, a Madonna House apostolate, in Edmonton. Patrick discusses how God continually reached out to him, even after he repeatedly turned away. He had everything he wanted — a “much awarded naval career, a condo, sports car, the beautiful property, a long term relationship” but was left with the sinking feeling that it was “all meaningless.” His witness is powerful, moving, honest, and engaging as he explains why we should all strive to be “third.” He also offers some very important advice:

I encourage, no beg all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends to pray for the lost adult children. I know how important this kind of intercessory prayer is from my own experience.

Tune in, or stream us live online, Saturday, May 30th at 9:30pm ET, Sunday, May 31st at 1:30pm ET, or Wednesday, June 3rd at 8pm ET, for Nothing More Beautiful: Towards a Culture of Life, only on Salt + Light Television!

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Matthew Harrison

This weekend, Salt + Light Television presents the third installment of the Archdiocese of Edmonton’s initiative Nothing More Beautiful.

Exploring the theme of Our New Life in Jesus Christ, the catechesis talk is given by the spiritual leader of Denver, Archbishop Charles Chaput. A member of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, Archbishop Chaput is the second Native American to be ordained to the episcopate in the United States. He’s also a celebrated author – his latest work Render Unto Caesar: Serving the Nation by Living our Catholic Beliefs in Political Life. The witness talk is presented by a familiar face to Salt + Light Television viewers. Producer Mary Rose Bacani reflects on three powerful calls she experienced in life that drew her deeper into her faith and deeper into her relationship with the Lord.

Join us on Saturday, May 9th at 9:30pm ET or Sunday, May 10th at 1:30pm ET, for Nothing More Beautiful: Our New Life in Jesus Christ, and take the opportunity to nourish your relationship with Christ!

For more information on Nothing More Beautiful, visit the Archdiocese of Edmonton’s webpage HERE.

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Matthew Harrison