Devotions/Devotionals?

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PatienceAndLove

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So…
Chatting with some protestant friends of mine, we got into talking about personal Bible study and the use of “devotionals”.
I mentioned that only “guided reading” I use is the USSCB readings of the day and then I read the day’s homily from my pastor that is posted on The Reason for Our Hope.
One friend asked me if I used a devotional or some other supplement to help me better “personally interpret the Scriptures”, I said no, the interpretation provided by the Church as just fine, thank you very much. And it didn’t go much beyond here (usually never does).

I have been looking into the Scriptural rosary, and I really like it. A lot of good spiritual/Biblical meditation and such.

Anyway ('nuff rambling)- does anyone use a devotional type thing for his/her personal Bible time? Does anyone consider the LOTH a “devotional” of sorts? And, IYHO, what is a “devotional” anyway?
 
the LOTH is the public prayer of the Church so it is more than a devotion, although it is that, of course. I think they mean a little booklet with snippets of scripture and meditations or mini-homilies for a DIY study of the passage.

good Catholic devotionals of that type include Word Among Us, which has the daily readings, order of the Mass, and a one page reflection on the readings, plus several devotional articles on a topic–for June it is sacrament of penance and reconciliation.

the Catholic approach to “self-interpretation” is the ancient monastic prayer with scripture called lectio divina. search on this forum will yield how-to links. Yes it is bona fide Catholic spirituality to read and listen to scripture and apply it to one’s own life and present situation. problem comes when someone hears a personal message in scripture and tries to base a new religion on that understanding.

It is fine if I hear in the reading a call to respond to the poor with whom I come in contact daily, or an answer to a problem in my marriage and apply that message to my life. It is not fine if I conclude my interpretation is the one and only for all time, and the Church is wrong if at anytime she preaches another one.
 
In the Liturgy of the Hours, I think the Office of Readings comes closest to what you are getting at. It includes a longer reading from Scripture (Old or New Testament) and then a second reading from the writings of one of the saints or Church fathers. This second reading often includes commentary or meditation on Scripture.

In Conversation with God by Francis Fernandez is a good set of books that contain very good meditations on the Mass readings for each day of the year. It is a set of seven small (palm-size) books: one for Advent/Christmas, one for Lent/Easter, three for Ordinary Time, and two for special feasts. Each day has a meditation of approximately six pages, broken into three sections (good if you want to spread out your meditation throughout the day). The volumes can be purchased separately or as a boxed set at many bookstores or websites. The publisher’s website is here: scepterpublishers.org/search-exec/ ; type the words In Conversation with God Fernandez in the search box.

Of course, reading someone else’s meditations is no substitute for doing your own: heart-to-heart prayer time with God while reading a short passage from Scripture (lectio divina, as puzzleannie mentioned). But sometimes reading someone else’s meditations is a way to get you started on your own.
 
PatienceAndLove said:
I have been looking into the Scriptural rosary, and I really like it. A lot of good spiritual/Biblical meditation and such.
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I’m just curious. Forgive me. But is there a difference to “the Scriptural Rosary” and the regular Rosary? Because, the regular (or common Rosary) is extremely scriptural, already (filled with Biblical meditations on the lives of Jesus and Mary). Or are they the same thing? Thanks. God bless. 🙂
 
MarieVeronica said:
I’m just curious. Forgive me. But is there a difference to “the Scriptural Rosary” and the regular Rosary? Because, the regular (or common Rosary) is extremely scriptural, already (filled with Biblical meditations on the lives of Jesus and Mary). Or are they the same thing? Thanks. God bless. 🙂
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Yes, the Rosary (if prayed well) is scriptural. But there are little books of Rosary meditations that have scriptural meditations for each Mystery of the Rosary. My favorite one amazon.com/Scriptural-Rosary-English-Christianica/dp/0911346163 has a short Bible verse for every Hail Mary. It helps me stay focused on what is happening in the Mystery.
 
I read the Mass readings of the day in the Magnificat, read the “devotional” for that day and then I go to my Navarre Bible and read the footnotes that correspond with those readings.
 
MarieVeronica said:
I’m just curious. Forgive me. But is there a difference to “the Scriptural Rosary” and the regular Rosary? Because, the regular (or common Rosary) is extremely scriptural, already (filled with Biblical meditations on the lives of Jesus and Mary). Or are they the same thing? Thanks. God bless. 🙂
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they are the same thing except there is a printed guide that actually quotes the scripture related to the mystery, one can either recite a verse or part of a verse before each prayer, or read the passage after announcing the mystery. Or for someone of a non-Catholic background who is still uncomfortable with the Hail Mary, recite a verse or part of a verse for each bead. These are private ways of praying the rosary, in public it is best to use the commonly accepted method wherever you are.
 
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