Copying the Gospels?

[residentcheese]

Hello,

I was reading Gods Fool: the story of St. Francis of Assissi and I was struck that the only book St. Francis would let one of his brothers own was a copy of the Gospels. I was thinking about how I would love to have a copy of just the Gospels, and about how I remember things better that I write down, and I thought about copying the Gospels by hand in a journal for future use.

I have already copied the first chatper of the Gospel of Matthew, and it was a wonderful experience. It forced me to read very slowly, and was a sort of meditation on the birth of Christ.

I have looked all over the internet and found some Protestant blogs about copying the entire Bible, as well as read about some of the history of the monks, but it has been very difficult to figure out what the Catholic view about copying the bible by hand is.

What do you think? Is it okay to do this?

By the way, I decided to use the New American Bible translation.

 

[TimothyH]

I’m positive there is no prohibition against it and think it would be a wonderful spiritual exercise.

Aslo consider 1 John as well.

-Tim-

 

[I_Thirst]

Should be just fine. Sounds like a deep devotional practice. Have you ever looked up info about illuminated manuscripts and illuminated Bibles?

There’s a wonderful tradition of copying down the Bible by hand. How do you think it was accomplished before Gutenberg?

 

[steve53]

The Revised Standard Version is copyrighted.

 

[Mintaka]

Writing out a personal copy of any book falls under fair use, at least under American copyright laws. If the OP were writing out copies to sell to other people (for example, selling calligraphy artwork), or writing out 500 copies to give to friends, that would potentially be a different matter.

 

[Crumpy]

Hello,

I was reading Gods Fool: the story of St. Francis of Assissi and I was struck that the only book St. Francis would let one of his brothers own was a copy of the Gospels. I was thinking about how I would love to have a copy of just the Gospels, and about how I remember things better that I write down, and I thought about copying the Gospels by hand in a journal for future use.

I have already copied the first chatper of the Gospel of Matthew, and it was a wonderful experience. It forced me to read very slowly, and was a sort of meditation on the birth of Christ.

I have looked all over the internet and found some Protestant blogs about copying the entire Bible, as well as read about some of the history of the monks, but it has been very difficult to figure out what the Catholic view about copying the bible by hand is.

What do you think? Is it okay to do this?
.

There is no central authority in Judaism, so whatever you hear about some Jews might be disputed by others. But, I’ve read that a Jew is supposed to make a copy of the Torah once in his lifetime, or pay to have someone else do it. and, when I read this, I assume that it didn’t just mean to copy the Torah onto a notebook, but on scrolls.

Certainly there is no obligation for a Christian to do this, but it does raise an interesting question about our duty to evangelize. I think it’s more efficient to pay for copies of the Bible to be distributed to people who may be unable to afford their own copy.

I walked into one bible study group once and was handed a brand new copy of the Catholic Bible.

 

[residentcheese]

Thank You very much for your responses.

I am copying the gospels into a thick moleskin notebook so that I will be able to use them in the future.

I do not plan on giving the finished book away in an effort of evangelization, though I do expect it will have a deep effect on my mastery of the gospels, which will help any future evangelization efforts on my part.

I am recently engaged, so I do expect my fiance (probably wife by the time I finish) to use the book some when I have finished.

Again, thank you and please pray for me, a sinner.

 

[thistle]

Thank You very much for your responses.

I am copying the gospels into a thick moleskin notebook so that I will be able to use them in the future.

I do not plan on giving the finished book away in an effort of evangelization, though I do expect it will have a deep effect on my mastery of the gospels, which will help any future evangelization efforts on my part.

I am recently engaged, so I do expect my fiance (probably wife by the time I finish) to use the book some when I have finished.

Again, thank you and please pray for me, a sinner.

How do you check for copying errors?

 

[residentcheese]

Because it takes so long to write all the words, I am constantly rereading what I am writing and checking it with the NAB text. It is a worry of mine, so I am trying to take my time with it. I have just started recently and am not very far along.

For instance, I noticed I had written “the” instead of “they” and fixed it. Otherwise I have noticed I spelled a few names wrong in the geanealogy the first time I wrote them down.
I spelled them correctly the second time through.

Do you have any suggestions?

 

[Julia_Mae]

The Revised Standard Version is copyrighted.

It doesn’t matter, as the OP isn’t proposing to sell it or distribute it but to use it for his own spiritual benefit.

Sounds amazing - I hope we get updates.

 

[puzzleannie]

Hello,

I was reading Gods Fool: the story of St. Francis of Assissi and I was struck that the only book St. Francis would let one of his brothers own was a copy of the Gospels. I was thinking about how I would love to have a copy of just the Gospels, and about how I remember things better that I write down, and I thought about copying the Gospels by hand in a journal for future use.

By the way, I decided to use the New American Bible translation.

most monastics and nuns in the age before printing if they did have a personal copy of the gospels or any book of the bible got it by copying their own. Teresa describes how she did this with the books suggested by her confrere John of the Cross. There was an element of monastic obedience also in reading or copying only the book suggested by the abbot or spiritual director.

yes it can be a worthwhile habit and use any approved Catholic translation.

Teresa also describes the habit of having one book where you write only the scripture chapers or verses on which you are currently meditating, for her they were suggested by her spiritual director. Not journalling your own thoughts, simply writing the word, phrase, verse etc. that speaks to you from that selection.

is it necessary, no, but certainly it is acceptable. We do it in some of our adult and teen scripture classes, have participants on a nice piece of parchment-type paper with an ink pen copy a verse or selection using their very best cursive or print writing, so show what the labor of a scribe was in those times.

one Benedictine abbey has just published a version of John’s gospel hand copied and illustrated in the ancient manner by the monks, and I think this is going to be an entire bible when it is finished (may already be out there I have seen pix on the web and it is beautiful, with illuminations etc). I believe it was presented to the Pope and then used to reproduce editions for sale.

 

[I_Thirst]

I assume that it didn’t just mean to copy the Torah onto a notebook, but on scrolls.

Naturally, scrolls would have been the choice. There were no notebooks or even books.

 

[I_Thirst]

Because it takes so long to write all the words, I am constantly rereading what I am writing and checking it with the NAB text. It is a worry of mine, so I am trying to take my time with it. I have just started recently and am not very far along.

For instance, I noticed I had written “the” instead of “they” and fixed it. Otherwise I have noticed I spelled a few names wrong in the geanealogy the first time I wrote them down.
I spelled them correctly the second time through.

Do you have any suggestions?

One proofreading trick is to check the text backwards – last word to first.

 

[residentcheese]

Thank you again.

What is an OP?

“offending person”?

 

[I_Thirst]

Thank you again.

What is an OP?

“offending person”?

Original Poster, which is you.

 

[AnotherVoice]

Hello,

I was reading Gods Fool: the story of St. Francis of Assissi and I was struck that the only book St. Francis would let one of his brothers own was a copy of the Gospels. I was thinking about how I would love to have a copy of just the Gospels, and about how I remember things better that I write down, and I thought about copying the Gospels by hand in a journal for future use.

I have already copied the first chatper of the Gospel of Matthew, and it was a wonderful experience. It forced me to read very slowly, and was a sort of meditation on the birth of Christ.

I have looked all over the internet and found some Protestant blogs about copying the entire Bible, as well as read about some of the history of the monks, but it has been very difficult to figure out what the Catholic view about copying the bible by hand is.

What do you think? Is it okay to do this?

By the way, I decided to use the New American Bible translation.

I think this is a wonderful idea - Good luck with it and thank you for posting.

 

[Julia_Mae]

This thread makes me wonder how much convenient technology has interfered with my Spiritual life?

If I want a piece of Scripture for a forum discussion, a bookmarks takes me in a split second to the NAB online or I just Google a phrase and many sites with the Scripture pop up for me to copy paste into a post about me and what I think.

How does that leave time for the Holy Spirit to speak through Scripture? How many whispers am I missing while cleverly clicking my way through what was once only accessible in scrolls read aloud, or. even at the start of the internet, I had to go through books on my desk to find verses to retype onto the screen?

How come the only thing I seem to contemplate any more is the site to site loading lagtime on my screen? :imsorry:

Good thread.

 

[I_Thirst]

This thread makes me wonder how much convenient technology has interfered with my Spiritual life?

Writing itself is a convenient technology – as are scrolls and books.

If I want a piece of Scripture for a forum discussion, a bookmarks takes me in a split second to the NAB online or I just Google a phrase and many sites with the Scripture pop up for me to copy paste into a post about me and what I think.

People have relied on memory to find the same thing, and there are many who still do. It’s even faster than Google or going to the NAB online.

How many whispers am I missing while cleverly clicking my way through what was once only accessible in scrolls read aloud, or. even at the start of the internet, I had to go through books on my desk to find verses to retype onto the screen?

Compared to the traditional method of quoting the Bible from memory (which can be very fast), the internet can slow you down. You have to turn on your computer (you’ll need electricity, which is another convenient technology), make sure you are connected to the internet, start your browser, access the webpage, properly word your query, and then sort through the answers. Of course these can just be distracting, but so can looking for a book in the library or even looking through a book searching for something.

Don’t you think that the Holy Spirit can whisper to us through the internet or through any convenient technology whatsoever? If I can’t hear the Holy Spirit whisper to me, is convenient technology to be blamed or am I to be blamed?

How does that leave time for the Holy Spirit to speak through Scripture?

The Holy Spirit isn’t bound by time, though I know that I am. I know in my own spiritual life some insights have come in an instant and others have taken decades. The Holy Spirit is always speaking and uses whatever method or convenient technology that is needed. I listen, though I don’t always hear.

How come the only thing I seem to contemplate any more is the site to site loading lagtime on my screen?

Convenient technology isn’t the problem, ya know?

Some thoughts on your thoughts.

 

[bmonk]

As a monk, I find that various ways to slow down and consider the text deeply are essential to proper Lectio Divina. One is writing the text, another is to read it in a second language and translate it, a third is to make the effort to memorize it. Others also work, such as repeating the reading, especially out loud, more than once or twice, reading in a group so that several people can read it out loud, and so on.

You may want to consider the other stages of Lectio: after “reading” a short section, spend some time “meditating” on it, chewing it over, seeing what speaks to you, considering what it says about your life, and so on.

Then “pray” it, responding to what God has spoken to you.

Finally, enter “contemplation” by resting in God.

And, remember that these steps are not always done in a specific order, or to a timetable. Let God direct your lectio.

 

[gspmcc1]

I hope you realize that the Bible was copied over and over again by hand for over a thousand years before moveable type was invented and printing became inexpensive. Also, even the earliest copies in existence today are not the original documents. As you have discovered through your own experience, minor typos can easily happen. It makes me wonder how many such errors have crept into the “accepted” texts and not been corrected.