Scott Hahn

Here's a brief overview of what Scott talked about:

He talked about his conversion story in detail... how his questions and study as a Presbyterian seminarian(?) and minister lead him to a greater understanding of the truth about Christianity... he talked about St. John Chrystostom, Augustin, and other Church fathers broke open scripture for the first time in a way he had never experienced... in a way that made sense like no protestant theology could. He compared Moses and Jesus' stories, from infancy to the desert, where Israel failed, but Jesus succeeded... he made the point that Jesus quoted Moses' chastisements of the Jewish people when they failed (in Deut)...

He also talked about how Jesus and Moses both chose 12 to rule and 70 to govern.

"the new testament is concealed in the old, the old is revealed in the new" -St. Augustin

How the Transfiguration had a parallel with Mt. Sinai... how the exodus of old Israel (Moses'), was going to be fulfilled by Jesus after the Passover (Easter)

12 baskets of food collected after the loaves of fish represented ample provisions for the 12 tribes...

Passover was one of the greatest Jewish Feast days...
with 3 important parts:
1. Slaughter the lamb
2. Sprinkle the lamb's Blood
3. EAT THE LAMB

Jesus fulfilled the old testament Passover by instituting the Eucharist...

He talked about how his first job after Presb. Seminary was to be Pastor at Trinity Presb. near D.C... and his first series of sermons was on the Gospel of John... as he went the congregation Raved but he was several weeks a head and he hit a stumbling block ... That's right... JOHN 6... and he realised that Jesus was absolutely LITERAL in his statements... (he even tried to look at the original languages and Church fathers all of whom SAID THE SAME THING... that it WAS TRULY FLESH AND TRULY BODY)

(the NIV translation: of John 6)
⁵³Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

He then promptly realised he COULDN'T preach this because he would get fired, and he just had a new child and new wife he had to support... so he one day announced he would end his series on John after chapter 5. (He went on to Hebrews and other books...)

He noted that there is only ONE time that the phrase "Born again" occurs, but 4 times "You must eat my body and drink my flesh" occurs.

John 6 occurred EXACTLY one year prior to the new Passover... the institution of the Eucharist, and the paschal mystery.

When the 100's and thousands leave him, he asks the 12 if they will leave too... and peter replies
(NAB: JN 6:68-69)
Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

Peter doesn't say he understands, only that 'we trust and believe you, because we know who you are, (not because we understand)' and Scott suggested that they probably didn't understand, they simply had faith that Jesus was of God and would not lie.

"the unanimous testimony of the early church fathers was that the Eucharist was the goal of all things" --Scott

After his series on John the Presbyterian Seminary offered him a Job... to teach John... he was able to go deeply into the scripture and then he asked several questions of the class... about the upper room where Christ instituted the Eucharist. "When did Passover end?" John Apserolini at the back of the class answered "Passover didn't end in the upper room but at Calgary" "When did it begin?" John answered "in the upper room"... John then told Scott that he had learned the answers to his questions from the Baltimore Catechism... (John was a former Catholic)... Scott was in disbelief that Catholics would teach this... and started Scott on his path to investigate Catholicism to see if we still taught what the Church Fathers taught (John later called Scott in 98-99 and told him that "it took me a bit longer than you, but I've come back" regarding his return to the Church)

After the year, he was later approached by the Chairman of Board of the Seminary, (Scott thought he was going to be fired for teaching "Catholic" ideas) over dinner, and was offered the job of DEAN (at 26.5 yrs old) of the seminary... he felt he had to turn it down, because he was having a crisis of faith... (he didn't know where God was calling him... to stay Presb.. or become... Episcopal...!). He quit his jobs and took an administrative job at his alma mater... to free up time to really investigate where god was calling... eventually he went to Marquette to complete his Ph.D., and he gave his wife a commitment that if he was called into the church, he would not become a catholic for at least 5 years (it was 1985)... over time and with study he began to really appreciate Mary (the assumption and immaculate conception made sense to him) and worse... he began to understand the great honor the Church fathers had for the bishop of Rome... and the obedience they gave him... he began to understand the Pope.

Then one day he stumbled into a catholic mass... and heard something he never expected... the bible being read! not once, not twice but 3 direct passages ON A WEEK DAY! He then noticed the parallels of the mass with the book of Revelations... and how it made more sense than the Rapture, Pre trib, post trib, pre mil, post mil, a mil, theologies of the protestants. He for the first time understood the saints... Rev... how the martyrs in heaven pray and god answers their prayers.

After going a few times of going to mass and taking notes he approached a local priest (and the current bishop of Lincoln Nebraska...;-) ) He read a book from Fr. Pius Parsh (or parch) about the parallels between the mass and Revelations... he talked to the priest about what would be needed to convert... the year long RCIA and..? the Priest said, "You could teach RCIA" so you wouldn't need to go through it... all you need to do is tell me you are ready and I'll accept you into the church... "how soon?" "in two weeks at Easter vigil."

He then got released from his commitment from his wife (after she got upset and prayed about it, she quickly felt God's will in it). but she asked to be there at the mass (her first). She was overwhelmed by the mass, and hurt that she couldn't receive communion with him...

She then started to study the faith (with no obligation) and fought it a lot... until ash Wednesday when she called Scott telling him that it was a wonderful day (Scott was a bit perplexed)... and how she wanted to give up something for lent (Scott was listening)... she wanted to give up... give up her fight and join the Church, where God was calling her.... She was accepted in the church in 1990, when Scott was supposed to be according to their agreement...

And that's the first talk... I'll write down notes from the second talk later... (sacraments)