Catholics learning the bible

[mconti21]

I have been a Catholic all my life, recently my sister who has left the church several years ago decided to try to go back, She is attending a Local church that is not Catholic. They are having a bible study and she asked me to attend with her, I have been going, their bible has 66 books ours has an additional 8 books. I have enjoyed the teaching and love the women in the group, but I am a Catholic,

Why are we never taught to read scripture, and ruminate on it, It really is so uplifting and makes me love mass on Sunday!! I can relate to the readings and the gospel!! I would love for the homily to be used to Teach not for daily announcements and updating us on the finances of the church as a whole, I do understand that it is important to stay abreast of the current happenings especially the Cardinals right now who are facing such a large task, but being rich in scripture will help us pray for them and with them.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight

Wow, isn’t that so powerful, just to communicate with God using his words that were recorded for us to refer to when we are unsure of our path!!!

Thank you Lord for all of your guidance that you are sending us at this time, I ask that you care for these men that have such a difucult task,in picking someone to lead your church!!! We trust in you, your word is the lamp for my feet, a light for my path! Amen

I would love to know why we don’t use apologist’s more often, why don’t we learn how rich scripture is??

 

[Edward_H]

I have been a Catholic all my life, recently my sister who has left the church several years ago decided to try to go back, She is attending a Local church that is not Catholic. They are having a bible study and she asked me to attend with her, I have been going, their bible has 66 books ours has an additional 8 books. I have enjoyed the teaching and love the women in the group, but I am a Catholic,

Why are we never taught to read scripture, and ruminate on it, It really is so uplifting and makes me love mass on Sunday!! I can relate to the readings and the gospel!! I would love for the homily to be used to Teach not for daily announcements and updating us on the finances of the church as a whole, I do understand that it is important to stay abreast of the current happenings especially the Cardinals right now who are facing such a large task, but being rich in scripture will help us pray for them and with them.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight

Wow, isn’t that so powerful, just to communicate with God using his words that were recorded for us to refer to when we are unsure of our path!!!

Thank you Lord for all of your guidance that you are sending us at this time, I ask that you care for these men that have such a difucult task,in picking someone to lead your church!!! We trust in you, your word is the lamp for my feet, a light for my path! Amen

I would love to know why we don’t use apologist’s more often, why don’t we learn how rich scripture is??

Some of us read small pieces of the Bible every day. Some of us use friendship as apostolate rather than leading always with the Bible.

 

[ssancho]

Actually, ours has only an additional 7 books.

 

[Razanir]

Actually, ours has only an additional 7 books.

Or rather, since we made the first Biblical canon, their’s has 7 fewer. (Interesting side note: As I recall, Luther actually still valued those books; he just didn’t think they were divinely inspired. It was later reformers who didn’t bother printing them)

 

[Joe_5859]

The Catholic Church has always and repeatedly called all the faithful to read and reflect on Scripture.

This call has not always been communicated very well to all Catholics for lots of different reasons. Sometimes it’s because of poor catechesis. Sometimes it is due to lackluster preaching. And sometimes it is just because Catholics aren’t paying attention to what the Church is trying to teach us.

 

[BrethrenBoy]

Or rather, since we made the first Biblical canon, their’s has 7 fewer. (Interesting side note: As I recall, Luther actually still valued those books; he just didn’t think they were divinely inspired. It was later reformers who didn’t bother printing them)

The apocrypha was included in English Protestant Bibles until the 19th century. They were seen as good for reading, but not equal to scripture. The King James Version includes translations of the apocryphal books; however, they are not included in most modern printings.

 

[latingirl]

Why are we never taught to read scripture, and ruminate on it, It really is so uplifting and makes me love mass on Sunday!! I can relate to the readings and the gospel!! I would love for the homily to be used to Teach not for daily announcements and updating us on the finances of the church as a whole, I do understand that it is important to stay abreast of the current happenings especially the Cardinals right now who are facing such a large task, but being rich in scripture will help us pray for them and with them.

I would love to know why we don’t use apologist’s more often, why don’t we learn how rich scripture is??

Catholics do read Scripture at every Mass we have three readings plus our hymns are loaded with Scripture references. If you are asking why more Catholics don’t study Scripture at home, it’s because they are lazy NOT because they aren’t taught. Our bishop comes to visit our parish twice a year and he’s always telling us “Read the Bible” The former-pope constantly told us to read the Bible. So the statement we aren’t taught is completely false.

There is alot of laziness in people. You will find it in all churches really, even those that have Bible studies. Yes, Catholics are notorious for laziness. many of them have Bibles at home but don’t study them. I can’t explain it in any way besides laziness because every single serious Catholic I know studies the Bible.

Personally, the study of Scripture is what made me a Catholic. Every church I’ve been to offered some kind of Bible study- along with the readings during Mass. If you are upset about your particular parish not having a Bible study, offer to start one or suggest to start one. Please, never ever assume it isn’t officially taught or encouraged, that is what those people in Protestant Churches say and it isn’t true at all. It is a misunderstanding. Please don’t fall for it. The Church offers indulgences for reading Scriptures.

Most people don’t know about apologetics. I leave apologetic material at my church to get people interested.

The reason why Catholics have 7 more books in their Bible is because they use the Canon prescribed by the early Christians and ratified in the Councils of Rome and Carthage. Protestants use the Canon of the pharisees, ratified in 100 AD.But this is horribly inconsistent because if Protestants insist on this Canon, they wouldn’t be using the New Testament. The Catholic Canon is correct and was used by all Christians until Luther protested it.

 

[SMHW]

Why are we never taught to read scripture, and ruminate on it, It really is so uplifting and makes me love mass on Sunday!! I can relate to the readings and the gospel!! I would love for the homily to be used to Teach not for daily announcements and updating us on the finances of the church as a whole, I do understand that it is important to stay abreast of the current happenings especially the Cardinals right now who are facing such a large task, but being rich in scripture will help us pray for them and with them.

I don’t know why some Catholics think they are not encouraged to read and study the Bible. I have been involved in a number of Catholic Bible studies since 1974.

 

[quiet52]

Check these out:

Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
(scroll down on the right side to “Studies”)
www.salvationhistory.com

Bible Study: How to Start a Parish Bible Study
by Steve Ray
catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/Documents/ParishBibleStudy.pdf

Steve Ray’s “Footprints of God” DVD series
(each DVD has four segments. Study questions provided, using Bible and Catechism)
www.steveraysstore.com/dvds/footprints-of-god-dvd-ful-set-bonus.html

 

[mconti21]

Actually, ours has only an additional 7 books.

Thank you I am still learning, like I said as a Catholic growing up I was never taught about my faith in this way, I am egar to learn and have recently been reading the bible (our version!) so forgive me for being misinformed. In all my years of going to church every Sunday I’ve never really understood some of the readings, but like a good book you can’t just read a sentance here and there you need to read the complete book and then you can understand the story!

 

[mconti21]

The Catholic Church has always and repeatedly called all the faithful to read and reflect on Scripture.

This call has not always been communicated very well to all Catholics for lots of different reasons. Sometimes it’s because of poor catechesis. Sometimes it is due to lackluster preaching. And sometimes it is just because Catholics aren’t paying attention to what the Church is trying to teach us.

Yes!!! I would like more Catechesis and Priest’s to preach more and reflect and ruminate on the words God has given us. I now pay attention in church and it means so much more to me!! This is the point I am trying to get across, is that if we are involved in our faith we can discuss it from an informed point of view! Not just repeat prayers at mass, and never understanding the readings and gospel. We need to be taught to rely on our faith!!! Just saying repeat after me at each mass without ever feeding the need for understanding is making our masses" lackluster". Reading the bible has been a feast for my soul that craves more of God! I would love to see our church’s feed that need and grow our congregations!!! What a wonderful way to communicate with each other and God, by sharing in his teachings!!! Bringing us in to his house to learn, not just repeat the same things week after week, year after year.

 

[mconti21]

Catholics do read Scripture at every Mass we have three readings plus our hymns are loaded with Scripture references. If you are asking why more Catholics don’t study Scripture at home, it’s because they are lazy NOT because they aren’t taught. Our bishop comes to visit our parish twice a year and he’s always telling us “Read the Bible” The former-pope constantly told us to read the Bible. So the statement we aren’t taught is completely false.

There is alot of laziness in people. You will find it in all churches really, even those that have Bible studies. Yes, Catholics are notorious for laziness. many of them have Bibles at home but don’t study them. I can’t explain it in any way besides laziness because every single serious Catholic I know studies the Bible.

Personally, the study of Scripture is what made me a Catholic. Every church I’ve been to offered some kind of Bible study- along with the readings during Mass. If you are upset about your particular parish not having a Bible study, offer to start one or suggest to start one. Please, never ever assume it isn’t officially taught or encouraged, that is what those people in Protestant Churches say and it isn’t true at all. It is a misunderstanding. Please don’t fall for it. The Church offers indulgences for reading Scriptures.

Most people don’t know about apologetics. I leave apologetic material at my church to get people interested.

The reason why Catholics have 7 more books in their Bible is because they use the Canon prescribed by the early Christians and ratified in the Councils of Rome and Carthage. Protestants use the Canon of the pharisees, ratified in 100 AD.But this is horribly inconsistent because if Protestants insist on this Canon, they wouldn’t be using the New Testament. The Catholic Canon is correct and was used by all Christians until Luther protested it.

Thank you for even more information, what richness there is here!!! I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings, I don’t think Laziness is the cause for not being informed, I think we do not invite or teach often enough!! We should invite our congregations to read along in thier bibles!!! Bring yours to church if you don’t have one, this will give you a reason to obtain one and a reason to open it!! We have to lead!!! We as Catholics, must teach our sons and daughters though the church that the teachings are not only verbal but written also!!! Using the bible as a book of truths that will inspire us, teach us, it’s like Gods handbook to help us with life here on Earth!! With such a rich resource why don’t we share it more???/

 

[mconti21]

I don’t know why some Catholics think they are not encouraged to read and study the Bible. I have been involved in a number of Catholic Bible studies since 1974.

That is so wonderful, you are truly blessed!!! I have just recently started reading the bible, I was never taught, I went to Catholic School as a child, and have gone to church all my life, now at 50, through a protestant study picked up the Catholic bible and started reading!!! Again I will say that we can encourage each other, but our parishes can also incourage us by asking us to bring our bibles to church! If we are asked we will mostly read along, and once you can get someone to open and start reading, its like a good book you just can’t put it down!! You may read a sentance but, you will be encouraged to read the whole book!!! We have 73? am I correct? How wonderful to read one at a time and be able to talk about it, with your congregation through our priests, during the homily to actually learn… how rich would that knowledge be…?

 

[mconti21]

The apocrypha was included in English Protestant Bibles until the 19th century. They were seen as good for reading, but not equal to scripture. The King James Version includes translations of the apocryphal books; however, they are not included in most modern printings.

Thank you! I would like to lead my sister back to our church, she has been telling me, why do you pray to saints? why not go directly to God? why do we have stautues in church? why do we believe in Baptisim at when young or sacrements? I would llike to know where the answers are for these questions so I can stand firm in my belief and be able to defend our religion.

 

[CalCatholic]

An easy way to read the Bible every day (with the Church) is to pickup a ‘Daily Missal’ which will have the daily readings and Psalms for the whole year in it. Or the cheaper option is to get a copy of the ‘2013 Liturgical and Daily Mass reading Reference’ from LTP ($3.00). It lists all the Mass readings for a calender year and you can look them up in your own Bible. Some Catholic Bibles will also have a list of these reading in the back of the Bible. It is a good practice to read the readings for each Sunday before you go to Mass, that way the reading will be more meaningful when you hear it church. Another practice that I like to do is read the daily (or Sunday) reading and then read a paragraph or more before and after the reading in my Bible to get the context of the reading. Check in your parish bulletin every Sunday to see if your parish has a Bible study!

 

[mconti21]

Check these out:

Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology
(scroll down on the right side to “Studies”)
www.salvationhistory.com

Bible Study: How to Start a Parish Bible Study
by Steve Ray
catholic-convert.com/wp-content/uploads/Documents/ParishBibleStudy.pdf

Steve Ray’s “Footprints of God” DVD series
(each DVD has four segments. Study questions provided, using Bible and Catechism)
www.steveraysstore.com/dvds/footprints-of-god-dvd-ful-set-bonus.html

Thank you so much!! I would love to suggest this I tried to find the DVD Footprints of God but it will not bring it up. I will continue to look at the resources you’ve provided, thank you so much, Please pray that I can make a difference in our parish!! I will try to start a bible study, it will be a great learning experience for me!

 

[Joe_5859]

Yes!!! I would like more Catechesis and Priest’s to preach more and reflect and ruminate on the words God has given us. I now pay attention in church and it means so much more to me!! This is the point I am trying to get across, is that if we are involved in our faith we can discuss it from an informed point of view! Not just repeat prayers at mass, and never understanding the readings and gospel. We need to be taught to rely on our faith!!! Just saying repeat after me at each mass without ever feeding the need for understanding is making our masses" lackluster". Reading the bible has been a feast for my soul that craves more of God! I would love to see our church’s feed that need and grow our congregations!!! What a wonderful way to communicate with each other and God, by sharing in his teachings!!! Bringing us in to his house to learn, not just repeat the same things week after week, year after year.

Maybe you could help get a Bible study group going at your parish.

 

[Razanir]

Thank you! I would like to lead my sister back to our church, she has been telling me, why do you pray to saints? why not go directly to God? why do we have statues in church? why do we believe in Baptism at when young or sacraments? I would like to know where the answers are for these questions so I can stand firm in my belief and be able to defend our religion.

If you’re interested in answering these for her, definitely start threads for them, or even just do a search on the forums. Here’s a few quick answers, though:

My usual defense of prayer to the saints– You ask people on Earth to pray for you. What’s so different about asking someone already in Heaven?

Statues– Statues are not evil, unlike how many Protestant churches interpret the 1st/2nd Commandment (Catholics and Lutherans use a different numbering than most Christian groups). God actually told the Isrealites to make statues on several occasions. Such as the Cherubim on the Arc of the Covenant or the snake statue from Exodus. Also, if you’re against making images of people or things, why do you carry around money? Why do you have pictures of family members? If making any sort of a statue or image is against that commandment, money and family pictures are also sinful.

 

[PJM]

=mconti21;10471637]I have been a Catholic all my life, recently my sister who has left the church several years ago decided to try to go back, She is attending a Local church that is not Catholic. They are having a bible study and she asked me to attend with her, I have been going, their bible has 66 books ours has an additional 8 books. I have enjoyed the teaching and love the women in the group, but I am a Catholic,

Why are we never taught to read scripture, and ruminate on it, It really is so uplifting and makes me love mass on Sunday!! I can relate to the readings and the gospel!! I would love for the homily to be used to Teach not for daily announcements and updating us on the finances of the church as a whole, I do understand that it is important to stay abreast of the current happenings especially the Cardinals right now who are facing such a large task, but being rich in scripture will help us pray for them and with them.

Proverbs 3: 5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight

Wow, isn’t that so powerful, just to communicate with God using his words that were recorded for us to refer to when we are unsure of our path!!!

Thank you Lord for all of your guidance that you are sending us at this time, I ask that you care for these men that have such a difucult task,in picking someone to lead your church!!! We trust in you, your word is the lamp for my feet, a light for my path! Amen

I would love to know why we don’t use apologist’s more often, why don’t we learn how rich scripture is??

Now retired but once in retial management and relocated frquently I have never known of a CC that did not have a Bible Study. [NO DOUBT their are some].

If your does not get with your pastor and start one:thumbsup:

 

[october_baby]

I am trying to get on the committee that decides what taught in our church. My first
suggestion is going to be bible study.