Catholics and the Bible:Update

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I try to do the daily readings for Mass as my primary devotion. I like the idea of reading on my own the same things that are being read in different churches all around the world.

I mainly use the NAB since that is the translation used for our Masses. I also own a copy of the NJB and from my Protestant days I have the NIV.

ChadS
 
I have only one bible, the Douay-Rheims. During Lent, I’m reading it daily, but I’m enjoying it so much now that I may continue with it after Easter. I’m a Catholic convert, and was reading the bible even before I converted. My brother, who converted before me, gave me one.
 
I read daily. It is the first thing I do when I get up in the morning, and the last thing I do before going to sleep. I start my day early, around 4am, as it is the only true quiet time I have.

Translation wise, I prefer the Douay Rheims and the RSV-CE. I read through both regularly, and pretty much rotate, and look things up from one to the other when I have questions.

I also own maybe 6 bibles, including the NAB, which is rarely used.

My reading goes straight through from Genesis for the OT, and I have a reading plan\order I follow for the NT, that keeps me going between the Gospels, letters and such in an order that I find I benefit from the most.
 
Church_Militant said:
Back in 2008 I created a very interesting poll on Catholics reading their Bibles. I think it’s time to update that information, so here goes…
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Church,

Could you give us the link to the old poll and results?

Peace,
Phil
 
I read daily, at least from the Magnificat, and typically more than that. I own several Bibles, including RSV-CE (my primary reading Bible), NAB, RSV-2CE, Douay-Rheims, Confraternity, and several non-Catholic translations.

EDIT: and I frequently bring a Bible to Mass!
 
I read the bible about 2-3 hours per week, plus I read the daily readings a few times per week.

I own about 4 bibles:

NIV x2
RSV-CE
Good News Bible

I’m a convert (soon to be anyway), I believed there was a God but wasn’t sure about Jesus and really had the wrong idea about the Catholic Church. I didn’t go to church as an adult but went to a Luthern Church sometimes with my best friend’s family when I was growing up. So, I’m converting from a pseudo Christian-Lutheran background I guess. :confused:

I can semi quote verses. I can many times tell you the general meaning (though not exact words) of a verse and tell you what book it’s from and sometimes the Chapter but not often the verse.

A lot to learn I guess. 😊
 
mcrow said:
I read the bible about 2-3 hours per week, plus I read the daily readings a few times per week.

I own about 4 bibles:

NIV x2
RSV-CE
Good News Bible

I’m a convert (soon to be anyway), I believed there was a God but wasn’t sure about Jesus and really had the wrong idea about the Catholic Church. I didn’t go to church as an adult but went to a Luthern Church sometimes with my best friend’s family when I was growing up. So, I’m converting from a pseudo Christian-Lutheran background I guess. :confused:

I can semi quote verses. I can many times tell you the general meaning (though not exact words) of a verse and tell you what book it’s from and sometimes the Chapter but not often the verse.

A lot to learn I guess. 😊
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Don’t we all my friend…don’t we all.
 
I read the Douay Rheims bible before bed every night. I only got into that routine about 4 months ago and I love it. Excellent translation.
 
Ok here is my household’s list

RSV-CE what we use for our family readings.
RSV-CE: Electronic version
Douay-Rheims
NAB
Schokel-Mateos: Spanish translation
Good News
Navarre Bible/Commentaries
NIV
NKJV
KJV - Electronic

We read the bible in preparation for Easter and Christmas in the form of a Jesse tree with a daily reading assigned. Also, for home school assignments or lessons that we share as a family or in preparation of a feast day.

God Bless
 
These stats are terrific!

I’m glad to see that so many of us own, read, and carry Bibles to church.

Question:

How many of you know that there are indulgences attached to reading the Bible?

Just one more excellent motivation to spend time reading it. (and a good point for those who have been misled to believe that the church does not want us to read it.)

Can I receive a plenary indulgence for reading the Bible?
 
Church_Militant said:
These stats are terrific!

I’m glad to see that so many of us own, read, and carry Bibles to church.

Question:

How many of you know that there are indulgences attached to reading the Bible?

Just one more excellent motivation to spend time reading it. (and a good point for those who have been misled to believe that the church does not want us to read it.)

Can I receive a plenary indulgence for reading the Bible?
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I’ve quoted the text of the indulgence to non-Catholics who persist in spreading the myth that we’re officially discouraged from reading the Bible.

And if we were, what would this passage from Dei Verbum mean?

“22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful … But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them.”

Or this one, from paragraph 24?

“For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired really are the word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology.”

Or this?

“26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books “the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified” (2 Thess. 3:1) and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which “lasts forever” (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25).”

Yeah… That’s what I gather from those passages… That the Church discourages us from reading the Bible :rolleyes:
 
I own 7 Bibles (as in including the OT and NT), and I own three New Testaments. The list is as follows:


  1. *]4 NRSVs (3 Catholic, 1 Protestant)
    *]1 NIrV
    *]1 NAB St. Joseph Edition
    *]1 Revised KJV
    *]1 RSV-2CE Study New Testament
    *]1 NIV New Testament
    *]1 Gideon New Testament
 
djrakowski said:
I’ve quoted the text of the indulgence to non-Catholics who persist in spreading the myth that we’re officially discouraged from reading the Bible.

And if we were, what would this passage from Dei Verbum mean?

“22. Easy access to Sacred Scripture should be provided for all the Christian faithful … But since the word of God should be accessible at all times, the Church by her authority and with maternal concern sees to it that suitable and correct translations are made into different languages, especially from the original texts of the sacred books. And should the opportunity arise and the Church authorities approve, if these translations are produced in cooperation with the separated brethren as well, all Christians will be able to use them.”

Or this one, from paragraph 24?

“For the Sacred Scriptures contain the word of God and since they are inspired really are the word of God; and so the study of the sacred page is, as it were, the soul of sacred theology.”

Or this?

“26. In this way, therefore, through the reading and study of the sacred books “the word of God may spread rapidly and be glorified” (2 Thess. 3:1) and the treasure of revelation, entrusted to the Church, may more and more fill the hearts of men. Just as the life of the Church is strengthened through more frequent celebration of the Eucharistic mystery, similar we may hope for a new stimulus for the life of the Spirit from a growing reverence for the word of God, which “lasts forever” (Is. 40:8; see 1 Peter 1:23-25).”

Yeah… That’s what I gather from those passages… That the Church discourages us from reading the Bible :rolleyes:
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Thanks Dan!

I’m gonna steal this and use it shamelessly. 😃
 
I think I had 12 bibles total at last count. Technically, I read the bible several times daily, as I am on CAF and frequently pull up verses from online bibles for posts. My daily bible is an Ignatius RSV-2CE, but I have an 1800s KJV, at least two NASBs, several NABs, a New Jerusalem Bible, several pocket NT/Psalms books and will soon have a Douay-Rheims.
 
Michael_Francis said:
Thanks Dan!

I’m gonna steal this and use it shamelessly. 😃
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At your service, Mr. Moderator Dude! 😃

Dei Verbum is included in most (if not all) of my Catholic Bibles, either as a prologue or an appendix. Thus, none of us have the excuse that we’ve never been told that it’s a good idea to spend time reading the Scriptures!
 
Good evening dear fellow Catholics!

I am new here, joined the Forum just yesterday and find this thread a fantastic place to start. Reading Scripture is such a wonderful thing to do, though sadly I’ve missed it out rather often lately. Gladly, the facebook group “Catholic Church” offers daily Mass Readings, so even when I do not have enough time to study thoroughly I can at least enjoy the day’s Readings.

Because I’m German I do not own any English translations (purchasing a Douay-Rheims is a bit of a struggle over here).
Currently, I have two versions of the Einheitsübersetzung (Unity Translation), one being the catechumen’s edition, the other is the 2006 re-edit with an artistically painted hard cover that my parish priest presented me after Confirmation. 🙂 The Unity Translation is the only translation officially approved by the Catholic Church in the German language area. Its language is very solemn, comparable to Martin Luther’s in poetic quality, albeit a bit more in line with common German.
Another translation I have on my shelf is the Gute Nachricht (Good News). My edition is rather large physically and contains some works by German painter Joerg Immendorff. Very beautifully done. The language is very close to everday German, so it is very easy to understand, but not exactly solemn and not suitable for studying. Personally, I do not like the Gute Nachricht because the language is in no way close to how I pray or talk about God.
Then, I own three Luther translations, all of them rather old, from around 1900 or so to the 1930s, which means that they are printed in the Fraktur font (vacationers to Germany may know it from a couple of breweries, restaurants etc.). The Fraktur together with Luther’s phenomenal way of using the language make it a very enjoyable read. Sadly, it isn’t as accurate as the Unity Translation (directly from the original texts) because he only had Greek and Latin texts at his disposal.

I hope I can get hold of a Douay-Rheims to be able to participate in discussing quotes with the community here.

Have a great week and God bless!
 
MeanAffe said:
Good evening dear fellow Catholics!

I am new here, joined the Forum just yesterday and find this thread a fantastic place to start. Reading Scripture is such a wonderful thing to do, though sadly I’ve missed it out rather often lately. Gladly, the facebook group “Catholic Church” offers daily Mass Readings, so even when I do not have enough time to study thoroughly I can at least enjoy the day’s Readings.

Because I’m German I do not own any English translations (purchasing a Douay-Rheims is a bit of a struggle over here).
Currently, I have two versions of the Einheitsübersetzung (Unity Translation), one being the catechumen’s edition, the other is the 2006 re-edit with an artistically painted hard cover that my parish priest presented me after Confirmation. 🙂 The Unity Translation is the only translation officially approved by the Catholic Church in the German language area. Its language is very solemn, comparable to Martin Luther’s in poetic quality, albeit a bit more in line with common German.
Another translation I have on my shelf is the Gute Nachricht (Good News). My edition is rather large physically and contains some works by German painter Joerg Immendorff. Very beautifully done. The language is very close to everday German, so it is very easy to understand, but not exactly solemn and not suitable for studying. Personally, I do not like the Gute Nachricht because the language is in no way close to how I pray or talk about God.
Then, I own three Luther translations, all of them rather old, from around 1900 or so to the 1930s, which means that they are printed in the Fraktur font (vacationers to Germany may know it from a couple of breweries, restaurants etc.). The Fraktur together with Luther’s phenomenal way of using the language make it a very enjoyable read. Sadly, it isn’t as accurate as the Unity Translation (directly from the original texts) because he only had Greek and Latin texts at his disposal.

I hope I can get hold of a Douay-Rheims to be able to participate in discussing quotes with the community here.

Have a great week and God bless!
Click to expand...
Wilkommen! I think you will like it here!
 
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