How much of the Bible is read at Mass? (Not much?)

[Jon_S_1]

According to the stats on this website (by a Jesuit priest), 13.5% of the OT and 71.5% of the NT are read over the two-year Sunday/weekday cycle, and only 3.7% of the OT and 40.8% of the NT over the three-year Sunday/Feast cycle.

Is this accurate?

This was sent to me by my girlfriend after a fairly fumbling discussion about how much of the Bible is typically read by Catholics. I asserted that most, if not all, is covered during Mass (although I did add the caveat that I could be wrong as I hadn’t ever really researched it). Then the above link appeared in my Inbox this morning. It appears that I was wrong, and I don’t think she’s very impressed. Of course, Bible study is basically what they do at her church’s services and they are really very good about exhorting the congregation to read the Bible (even just giving Bibles to people who don’t have one).

Now I have all sorts of questions myself: How are the readings determined? Why isn’t the entire Bible covered? Why are some books totally left out of the reading cycles?

Any insight?

These numbers sound accurate to me. There is a myth circulating that if you go to mass everyday over 3 years you will hear the whole bible read. It’s just not true. You will hear most of the New Testament, a bit of the Old Testament and almost all of the psalms.

This is still far far more scripture then is read in Modt protestant church. Why? Because the Catholic Church has daily readings.

It’s far more than was ever read in my evangelical church. And over 3 years there was a lot of recycling of verses in my protestant church.

But this shouldn’t be a contest if we read more in church and you don’t. We may read more, but a lot of Protestants are better at figuring out and diving into real life application. We need to improve in that area.

In addition to that there are things like the LOTH and bible studies at parishes etc… The myth that catholics don’t read the bible is just an absurdity and should be treated as such.

 

[GrowingFaith]

Are we just going to ignore the irony in Protestents wondering why we don’t read the entire Bible in Mass? Three pages, nobody has mentioned that one book is a bit thinner than the other?

 

[johnnyc176]

Are we just going to ignore the irony in Protestents wondering why we don’t read the entire Bible in Mass? Three pages, nobody has mentioned that one book is a bit thinner than the other?

Well we got a little off track there but now that you mention it…

 

[Mike_Dye]

While not every word of scripture is covered in the cycle of readings the major themes are covered well. If the readings at the daily and Sunday Mass were all that you were ever exposed to, you would have a good understanding of salvation history and of the teachings of Jesus.

 

[Memaw]

It would be more accurate to state that you would have heard the whole cycle of the Lectionary read in those three years (and you would need to attend Sundays as well.)

But even those who attend Daily Mass are seeing the tip of the iceberg. As OraLabora pointed out helpfully at the beginning of this thread, the Liturgy of the Hours is where the rubber hits the road in Catholic liturgy. Plus, this is something that can be done in private recitation, rather than getting yourself to Mass on time every morning (mine’s at 8am, and I’m not a morning person!)

Moreover, if you participate in the Office of Readings, you get good homilies and other tracts from extra-Scriptural sources such as the ECFs, Popes, Saints, and Vatican II. So anyone who’s serious about incorporating Scripture into liturgy will always take LOTH into account, because the Mass is only (the more important) part of the picture.

Sunday Mass is a given, (naturally). I do the Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in the Magnificat also. I think I will take Fr.'s word for it. I don’t mind at all getting up for morning Mass. Our Mass is at 7 am. You can’t receive Holy Communion while sleeping. God Bless, Memaw

 

[Elizium23]

Sunday Mass is a given, (naturally). I do the Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer in the Magnificat also. I think I will take Fr.'s word for it. I don’t mind at all getting up for morning Mass. Our Mass is at 7 am. You can’t receive Holy Communion while sleeping. God Bless, Memaw

I am not sure what you mean here. To take Father’s statement at face value is provably false, you will not hear 100% of the Bible no matter how long you attend Mass.

While I take your point about Holy Communion, the thread topic is percentage of the Bible. Magnificat presents an abbreviated digest which is not a substitute for the full LOTH. And I can call up a podcast of the latter in my pajamas, without boarding a bus, and without having to invite a priest over. For a ratio of convenience to percentage of Scripture read, you can’t beat that.

 

[ProVobis]

According to the stats on this website (by a Jesuit priest), 13.5% of the OT and 71.5% of the NT are read over the two-year Sunday/weekday cycle, and only 3.7% of the OT and 40.8% of the NT over the three-year Sunday/Feast cycle.

Is this accurate?

Could be. I know there are many days where a shortened reading is offered. Or there are options for one reading vs another so you won’t necessarily hear all of them.

 

[Memaw]

I am not sure what you mean here. To take Father’s statement at face value is provably false, you will not hear 100% of the Bible no matter how long you attend Mass.

While I take your point about Holy Communion, the thread topic is percentage of the Bible. Magnificat presents an abbreviated digest which is not a substitute for the full LOTH. And I can call up a podcast of the latter in my pajamas, without boarding a bus, and without having to invite a priest over. For a ratio of convenience to percentage of Scripture read, you can’t beat that.

I think your making more of this than necessary. I never said it was 100% nor did I ever say the Magnificat was a substitute for the Full LOTH. So your welcome to stay in your pajamas, without boarding a bus, without having to invite a priest over, it may be convenient, but nothing will beat the Mass. God Bless, Memaw