Author Interview, Part 2: Dr. Mary Healy and Dr. Peter Williamson

This post is a continuation of the interview with authors Dr. Mary Healy and Dr. Peter Williamson.  Verbum users enjoy special savings on their 7-volume Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture through the month of August!

6. What impact have you seen with your seminary students using this commentary? What effect has it had on homiletics?

MH: Some of the most enthusiastic comments we have received are from seminarians, some of whom had previously only used commentaries designed for scholars that left them rather perplexed or uninspired to preach on particular Scripture passages. Our commentaries have helped them see the richness and spiritual depth of passages they had not paid attention to before.

7. What impact have you seen on lay ministries?

PSW: We’ve especially seen Bible Studies and Bible Study leaders make great use of the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Our series website, www.CatholicScriptureCommentary.com, provides additional resources including Questions for Reflection and Discussion. Many Bible studies use these questions, sometimes adding others of their own.

Q. How has the series been received outside of the Catholic arena? What channels of dialogue being opened up from the quality scholarship of the commentaries?

PSW: I have been very encouraged at the response of Protestant and Orthodox Christians to the series. It helps them to see how much common ground we have in common; that in turn builds trust which enables fruitful conversation regarding the points on which we differ. I was delighted to learn that my niece, who attends Moody Bible Institute, found the series in their library and had some of her professors recommend it as a good Catholic commentary.

8. What is next from the series?

PSW: My volume on Revelation will be published in November or December. Then in January or February our volume on the Gospel of John will be published; it is authored by Fr. Francis Martin and Dr. William Wright.

In 2015 we will publish Dr. Mary Healy’s volume on Hebrews and a volume that covers both James (Kelly Anderson) and 1-3 John (Daniel Keating).

After that we’re looking forward to Romans by Scott Hahn, Galatians by Cardinal Albert Vanhoye and myself, Luke by Fr. Pablo Gadenz and Tim Gray, and 1-2 Thessalonians by Nathan Eubank.