Do You Take Your Bible to Mass?

[TableServant]

OhioBob:

We have people who spend the mass reading the Bulletin. For them the Bible would be an improvement.

You said a mouthful with that one! We considered not putting the bulletins out before Mass (taking them out of the racks after the previous Mass).

I’ve only been tempted once to stop in the middle of my homily and ask if several people are finding the annoucements in the bulletin more edifying and encouraging (I think it was the fact that the person was pointing out the bulletin article to their companion that got to me),

 

[iguana27]

OhioBob:

We have people who spend the mass reading the Bulletin. For them the Bible would be an improvement.

Our parish solves this by handing out the bulliten at the end of Mass.

 

[Maggie]

Would anyone mind if I derailed this thread a bit? You guys are speaking a foreign language, and since you all seem kind, I think you might help me out…

What exactly is the Magnificat and where do you get it and what is in it that you would bring it with you to Mass?

What is a Missal, a Missalette, and how (if it’s what I’m thinking) would you have your own copy?

Sorry… I do the readings on line (at the USCCB website, which has everything for everyday and Sunday, including I think one person asked about the responsorial psalms) but I’m new to the Church and I don’t know these other terms…

 

[Gratias_Grace]

No, of course not!

I try to read the text of the day before I enter mass. That’s because I want to be prepared, so I can have a better understanding when the priest reads the same text from the Church-Bible at mass

In mass I am to adore Christ, not to read in the Bible!!!

In mass I am to LISTEN (to be able to recieve) to the word of God the way the priest explanes it AND to RECIEVE the Word in the HOLY EUCARIST!

God Bless!

G.G.

 

[Sheen]

Hi, Maggie –

Magnificat is a magazine that includes:
“daily Scripture readings, morning & evening prayers, reflections on daily and Sunday Mass readings, a longer article at the end with Old Masters artwork, plus a section including the variety of prayers used at every Mass so you can bring it with you to follow along.” (quoted material taken from a review given the magazine on Amazon.com) It’s a bit pricey, but worth every penny according to those who subscribe.

A missal is a book you can get anywhere they sell Catholic articles. It contains the order of the Mass and the Scripture readings and some brief commentaries. You can get daily and Sunday-only missals.

A missalette is a small paper book that includes the order for the Mass and the readings as well as hymns. The church usually provides these for the parishioners. Our church never has, but most churches do.

On a side note about reading the bulletin during Mass. Our new pastor started having the bulletin distributed after Mass. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who got ridiculously huffy about it. The bulletins are kept in Rubbermaid boxes under the ushers tables now. One Sunday a man was so irrate that he couldn’t get his bulletin before Mass that he pulled out the box and got a bulletin out himself. I didn’t check, but I’ll wager he was reading it before and during Mass. (sigh)

 

[Sheen]

Gratias Grace:

No, of course not!

Of course not???

Again, as if carrying a Bible to church is something not to be countenanced. What, pray tell, is so seriously wrong with reading God’s Word in His sacramental presence prior to Mass?

 

[space_ghost]

I would imagine it would be a distraction… but I have no problem if anyone else would take theirs… i can only wonder why anyone would wish to flip pages when they can listen to the lector and concentrate on the message instead of trying to keep up with where the reading are…

 

[OhioBob]

TableServant:

You said a mouthful with that one! We considered not putting the bulletins out before Mass (taking them out of the racks after the previous Mass).

I’ve only been tempted once to stop in the middle of my homily and ask if several people are finding the annoucements in the bulletin more edifying and encouraging (I think it was the fact that the person was pointing out the bulletin article to their companion that got to me),

We tried to remove them between masses and had a small uprising. I have somewhat mixed feelings about it. Certainly reading the Bulletin during Mass is inappropriate, however, I think that having them out before helps keep people quiet before Mass. While they may not be doing much prayerful preparation, it does help the others that are trying to. If the loud ones don’t have something to read they need to talk to fill the void (sounds a lot like my children! )

I can appreciate your frustration about them reading the Bulletin during the Homily. We have that problem too. Maybe you should print your Homily in the Bulletin. At least then they could be learning something while they read.

Blessings.

 

[MGEISING]

space ghost:

I would imagine it would be a distraction… but I have no problem if anyone else would take theirs… i can only wonder why anyone would wish to flip pages when they can listen to the lector and concentrate on the message instead of trying to keep up with where the reading are…

space ghost

How could it be a distraction? I have the reading bookmarked prior to Mass. I probably turn less pages than people that use the Missilette … After all the readings are done, I put it in my snazzy bible case. I don’t read it during Mass other than when the readings are being read.

So, I am not distracting anyone … I am quiet as a mouse!

Thanks for sharing your (name removed by moderator)ut!

 

[OhioBob]

space ghost:

I would imagine it would be a distraction… but I have no problem if anyone else would take theirs… i can only wonder why anyone would wish to flip pages when they can listen to the lector and concentrate on the message instead of trying to keep up with where the reading are…

I thought we might distribute bulletins during the offertory. You know, make a contribution, get a bulletin… It could help boost revenues. (As you can guess, declining contributions are a problem in our parish too, but that is for another thread).

 

[OhioBob]

space ghost

How could it be a distraction? I have the reading bookmarked prior to Mass. I probably turn less pages than people that use the Missilette … After all the readings are done, I put it in my snazzy bible case. I don’t read it during Mass other than when the readings are being read.

So, I am not distracting anyone … I am quiet as a mouse!

Thanks for sharing your (name removed by moderator)ut!

Where do I get me one of those “snazzy” bible cases anyway? Mine is just black leather and rather boring when you get down to it. (of course I’m kidding…)

 

[OhioBob]

Maggie:

Would anyone mind if I derailed this thread a bit? You guys are speaking a foreign language, and since you all seem kind, I think you might help me out…

What exactly is the Magnificat and where do you get it and what is in it that you would bring it with you to Mass?

What is a Missal, a Missalette, and how (if it’s what I’m thinking) would you have your own copy?

Sorry… I do the readings on line (at the USCCB website, which has everything for everyday and Sunday, including I think one person asked about the responsorial psalms) but I’m new to the Church and I don’t know these other terms…

I thought a “missal” was one of those things we shot at Iraq. Boy, learn something new everyday on these forums!

Thanks Sheen for the explanation. I was a little fuzzy on the “missal vs missalette” thing (although I knew 'ette meant it was smaller). I don’t think we have ever had missals - only missalettes.

I agree about Magnificat. I subscribe and think it is great. I use it more for morning and evening prayers and off-day reading but I do take it to Mass sometimes.

We just went to new OCP jumbo-combo-missal-hymnal-mega-books (which is another subject :banghead: ) and the print is a bit too small for me to read comfortably (I need bifocals but I refuse to admit that I am that old and get them :bigyikes: ). Magnificat has a bit larger and easier to read type.

Magnificat is about $35 a year as I recall. You get monthly issues plus Lenten, Holy Week and Advent special editions. I don’t come near using it to its maximum advantage but I’m working on it. I would recommend it to anybody who was interested.

 

[bfdtex]

diamondback7:

I take my pocket pc to Mass. I keep several things loaded into it for prayer and reflection before and after Mass, including 2 translations of the bible, the daily readings, daily reflections, and Sunday reading commentaries.

For those of you interested-
I get the daily readings at www.mobilegabriel.com , and also use the bible study commentaries on the Sundays and Holy Days in pdf format from here : scborromeo.org/biblestudies.htm

I stand with diamonback7 with this one, in case somebody wants to beat him up for it. In addition to www.mobilegabriael.com , which is basically an electronic misalETTE, there is www.universalis.com which is a electronic breviary complete with Latin Mass, an electronic rosary from www.app-factory.net , Stations of the Cross, the entire CCC, every prayer, song and novena that I love and Saint of the Day. Care must be taken to silence the thing and hold it like a book, lest my brethren think I am playing a video game in church. I would need a briefcase to hold all that it carries. I have even had it blessed. -Tex

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You

 

[OhioBob]

Sheen:

(regarding Gratias’ post) Of course not???

Again, as if carrying a Bible to church is something not to be countenanced. What, pray tell, is so seriously wrong with reading God’s Word in His sacramental presence prior to Mass?

Obviously Gratias doesn’t have a snazzy bible case.

 

[OhioBob]

bfdtex:

I stand with diamonback7 with this one, in case somebody wants to beat him up for it. In addition to www.mobilegabriael.com , which is basically an electronic misalETTE, there is www.universalis.com which is a electronic breviary complete with Latin Mass, an electronic rosary from www.app-factory.net , Stations of the Cross, the entire CCC, every prayer, song and novena that I love and Saint of the Day. Care must be taken to silence the thing and hold it like a book, lest my brethren think I am playing a video game in church. I would need a briefcase to hold all that it carries. I have even had it blessed. -Tex

Hey, thanks for those links. That’s great! I’ve been looking for some things for my IPAQ but all I could find were some NIV and KLV bible versions. I’m not sure that I will take it to Mass (I’d probably lose it) but I will download some goodies for it. Maybe having it blessed is a good idea too. Who is the patron saint of PDA’s anyway?

 

[Sheen]

OhioBob:

Obviously Gratias doesn’t have a snazzy bible case.

Neither do I. I do, however, have an adorable “Bible bag,” as I call it that I picked up at the thrift shop for a buck. Very small, but just big enough for my Bible and commentaries. I’m rather attached to it . . .

 

[tee_eff_em]

Sheen:

On a side note about reading the bulletin during Mass. Our new pastor started having the bulletin distributed after Mass. You wouldn’t believe the number of people who got ridiculously huffy about it. The bulletins are kept in Rubbermaid boxes under the ushers tables now. One Sunday a man was so irrate that he couldn’t get his bulletin before Mass that he pulled out the box and got a bulletin out himself. I didn’t check, but I’ll wager he was reading it before and during Mass. (sigh)

Maybe he was afraid you wouldn't give him one when he ran out right after receiving Communion (How rude!)...?

 

[OhioBob]

Sheen:

Neither do I. I do, however, have an adorable “Bible bag,” as I call it that I picked up at the thrift shop for a buck. Very small, but just big enough for my Bible and commentaries. I’m rather attached to it . . .

I gave my son a bible bag for his birthday when he was about 10. When he opened the box his first words were "look, a lunch box!).

In a manner of speaking, he might not have been too far off, now that I think about it… (you know, food for the soul and all…)

 

[tee_eff_em]

OhioBob:

We just went to new OCP jumbo-combo-missal-hymnal-mega-books (which is another subject :banghead: ) and the print is a bit too small for me to read comfortably (I need bifocals but I refuse to admit that I am that old and get them :bigyikes: ).

We use the WLP/JS Paluch jumbo-combo’s. I think they claim to be the “large print” edition.

But then again, I don’t care too much, because I **love ** the bifocals I was finally prescibed last year. :bounce: I can read again! I can *read * again! I can look up a phone number *without * resorting to using a magnifying glass! :bounce: (Which something I associate with “old people” much more strongly than bifocals)

Come to the bifocal side (just don’t trip on your way over) Resitance is futile.

 

[bfdtex]

OhioBob:

Hey, thanks for those links. That’s great! I’ve been looking for some things for my IPAQ but all I could find were some NIV and KLV bible versions. I’m not sure that I will take it to Mass (I’d probably lose it) but I will download some goodies for it. Maybe having it blessed is a good idea too. Who is the patron saint of PDA’s anyway?

Sure Bob, Don’t mention it. Try www.avantgo.com a free service which automatically downloads updates to those things, also www.download.com is helpful, just enter “Catholic” and you will find the e-rosary (with pictures), Stations and lots of other stuff.

O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fountain of Mercy for us, I trust in You! -St.Faustina