Bible on the floor question

[Bezant]

I am mostly a reader (lurker) here in the CAF,and I have loved CAF for years! Here is my question, and I really hope I don’t offend anyone with my ignorance- Is it wrong to ever place a Bible on the floor? My husband is going through the RCIA at our local parish, which is lead by one of our Deacons. The Deacon’s wife is very vocal when someone places a Bible on the floor, scolding them in front of the class and even threatening to kick them out of RCIA! I have never seen anyone treat the Bible disrespectfully. The offense usually occurs when someone tucks their Bible under their chair on the floor during the class- we have no tables and sit in chairs arrranged in a tight circle.

I will add that we LOVE the Bible. I have many happy memories throughout my lifetime of casually reading the Bible on the floor! Youth groups and summer camps when I was a child, and now as a mommy reading to/ with my kids as we sit/ lay on the floor. I always was comfortable with the Bible, and want my kids to be comfortable too- not irreverant, but comfortable.

I thank you,in advance, for your feedback!

As things were done in my family, it would be disrespectful to place a Bible on the floor, and I was taught that if one dropped it, one should kiss it. I feel rather uncomfortable even when a Bible is handled like an ordinary book. OTOH, I don’t think the sort of reaction from the deacon’s wife was really necessary.

 

[paperwight66]

I understand the piety and in some respect she’s right, we shouldn’t position the Bible on the floor as she demonstrates a sort of carelessness for the Word of God. However the way she corrects it is too harsh, a gentle reminder would suffice.

I thought the reported reaction was extraordinary. I reminded me of a friend who teaches in a school where there are a lot of Muslims, and she has to be careful never to put any other book on top of the Koran when she is tidying the bookshelves.I’m sure they’d have some rule about not putting the Koran on the floor, as well. Sudden thought - could the deacon’s wife have been a convert from Islam?

I have to say, whenever we have more than one priest concelebrating in our parish, they put their personal missals on the floor beside their chairs (as they are not able to use a vacant chair as a table as when they are alone) and surely that is worse, as missals contain not only the word of God but also the Mass prayers?

 

[Cathryn]

I teach RCIA and believe that it is perfectly alright to have one’s bible on the floor if that is convenient. Some put it there even to protect it from coffee spills on the desks. The important things is to have a bible, to read the bible, and to love the bible as the word of God. As my priest tells my RCIA class, feel free to write in it and make notes. I suspect this would upset the deacon’s wife.

 

[mandajane]

I don’t have a bedside table, so my bible lives on the floor by my bed, with my rosary and whatever fiction book I’m reading at the time, too. Am I now going to have to confess that I’ve had my bible within 6" of a copy of Lord of the Rings?

Sorry to make light of the situation. It just seems a silly thing for the Deacon’s wife to get bent out of shape over.

 

[Bob_Crowley]

I am mostly a reader (lurker) here in the CAF,and I have loved CAF for years! Here is my question, and I really hope I don’t offend anyone with my ignorance- Is it wrong to ever place a Bible on the floor? My husband is going through the RCIA at our local parish, which is lead by one of our Deacons. The Deacon’s wife is very vocal when someone places a Bible on the floor, scolding them in front of the class and even threatening to kick them out of RCIA! I have never seen anyone treat the Bible disrespectfully. The offense usually occurs when someone tucks their Bible under their chair on the floor during the class- we have no tables and sit in chairs arrranged in a tight circle.

I will add that we LOVE the Bible. I have many happy memories throughout my lifetime of casually reading the Bible on the floor! Youth groups and summer camps when I was a child, and now as a mommy reading to/ with my kids as we sit/ lay on the floor. I always was comfortable with the Bible, and want my kids to be comfortable too- not irreverant, but comfortable.

I thank you,in advance, for your feedback!

Personally, if she did it to me, I’d tell her to get lost, and that she **no authority whatsoever **to kick anybody out of RCIA.

 

[familyof4]

Personally, if she did it to me, I’d tell her to get lost, and that she **no authority whatsoever **to kick anybody out of RCIA.

I’m thinking that the deacon’s wife should probably not be involved in RCIA. She seems to think that her position as the wife of a deacon somehow elevates her status in parish life.

Our deacon and his wife are actually members of a different parish-- he is quite involved in our parish obviously, but his wife is involved in their home parish. This reduces the type of officious behavior the wife described in the OP is guilty of.

I hate to admit it, but I fall asleep reading quite often, so my personal daily bible is pretty dog-eared from being caught up in the comforters! Same with my CCC and whatever other books I’m reading. The book is just that, a book. The words contained therein are what is sacred.

 

[BGR_15]

It’s funny this topic should come up. I’m laying on my futon right now with my bible open on the floor, reading it, and wondering the same thing.

 

[ForHisNamesSake]

I believe it is all in the intent of the action, whether the chid placed it there because there was no room on the table, whether it was absent mindedly done, or in contempt of the lesson being taught…only God knows. (perhaps her over-reaction was due to this, or just her love of all things holy?)

But, despite this I am sure God was teaching the teacher a lesson too. Does loving a book containing the word of God (which she should hold in her being) come before that which He loves most?
>>some people have nowhere to keep their Bible, but on a floor. I’m sure her devotion is sincere just a little misguided…the Lord sent the child to correct it i’m sure.

Mostly I think He wants you to keep His words in your HEART above all else!

 

[PJM]

=GreatFaith;5803753]I am mostly a reader (lurker) here in the CAF,and I have loved CAF for years! Here is my question, and I really hope I don’t offend anyone with my ignorance- Is it wrong to ever place a Bible on the floor? My husband is going through the RCIA at our local parish, which is lead by one of our Deacons. The Deacon’s wife is very vocal when someone places a Bible on the floor, scolding them in front of the class and even threatening to kick them out of RCIA! I have never seen anyone treat the Bible disrespectfully. The offense usually occurs when someone tucks their Bible under their chair on the floor during the class- we have no tables and sit in chairs arrranged in a tight circle.

I will add that we LOVE the Bible. I have many happy memories throughout my lifetime of casually reading the Bible on the floor! Youth groups and summer camps when I was a child, and now as a mommy reading to/ with my kids as we sit/ lay on the floor. I always was comfortable with the Bible, and want my kids to be comfortable too- not irreverant, but comfortable.

I thank you,in advance, for your feedback!

I’d have a talk with youir pastor!

Be specific
Have a example
be chairitable
BUT DO IT!

The only issue I can see with placing a bible on the florr is if there is a clear intent of disrespect intended. There are certaily BETTER places than the floor; but that is NOT the issue at hand.

Welcome Home!

God Bless,
Pat

 

[paperwight66]

I believe it is all in the intent of the action, whether the chid placed it there because there was no room on the table, whether it was absent mindedly done, or in contempt of the lesson being taught…only God knows. (perhaps her over-reaction was due to this, or just her love of all things holy?)

But, despite this I am sure God was teaching the teacher a lesson too. Does loving a book containing the word of God (which she should hold in her being) come before that which He loves most?
>>some people have nowhere to keep their Bible, but on a floor. I’m sure her devotion is sincere just a little misguided…the Lord sent the child to correct it i’m sure.

Mostly I think He wants you to keep His words in your HEART above all else!

The thing is, though, it wasn’t a child the deacon’s wife was reprimanding but an adult, and one in RCIA to boot - in other words, one who might have had a real struggle to decide to come to RCIA, or had to come at the end of a long hard day working, and who ought to have been encouraged.

Of course I believe that a child should be spoken to in a civilised way as well, but the fact it was to an adult, possibly an undecided adult - incomprehensible. One can only hope that the Deacon spoke to his wife afterwards to put her right - what a shame he didn’t do it at the time, though.

 

[ForHisNamesSake]

Well this adds a whole new light on the scenario, there are many ways to interpret this on hindsight but the fact of the matter is both were wrong. The woman for her outburst, and the man for his blatant disregard/respect. (as she was vocal prior - he was well informed)
I am a firm believer that if you desire respect you have to give it first. This appears like a battle of wills between the two. The woman wants respect from the class whom she is educating and the man (acting like a child) is deliberatly/absent mindedly disregarding her authority to teach. And if this fella has a problem with authority, this may be news flash to him - Catholism is not right for him at the moment!

Respect for authority is high on the list, her approach may have been reactive and a tad uncharitable, but justified it may have been. Bear in mind I am observing this on hindsight from the perspective of another observer, without seeing first hand the situation, I can only give you this possibility. From the sounds of it, it sounds like the man has alot of growing before he could conform to a Catholic life regardless of this woman, or not.

And the woman needs a little more prayer and reflection.

At the end of the day - only God knows the reason “paths” cross, and what he teaches and instructs to each, whether through chastisment, direction, or comfort is in His more than capable hands.

 

[PJM]

=paperwight66;8950348]The thing is, though, it wasn’t a child the deacon’s wife was reprimanding but an adult, and one in RCIA to boot - in other words, one who might have had a real struggle to decide to come to RCIA, or had to come at the end of a long hard day working, and who ought to have been encouraged.

Of course I believe that a child should be spoken to in a civilised way as well, but the fact it was to an adult, possibly an undecided adult - incomprehensible. One can only hope that the Deacon spoke to his wife afterwards to put her right - what a shame he didn’t do it at the time, though.

My friend;

what is taking place here is SATAN placing roadblocks in your path to finding CHRIST One true faith and ONLY Church.

When we look for trouble its not hard to find.

Was it right? NO!

Is it worthy of NOT finding Christ and His truth:shrug:

Naw!

God Bless,
Pat/ PJM