How much time reading the bible?

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Montie_Claunch

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This might sound odd but, I was wondering. How much time should a good catholic spend reading the bible (or the CCC)? This question crossed my mind when I was pondering about good works and the such and if it wouldn’t take away doing good works. But, I thought it best that one shouldn’t neglect either of the two in question. What do you all suggest. Thank you and God bless.
 
Hi,

I devote alot of my time to looking up Scriptures for people
who ask me alot of questions, as well, I try to read it as
much as possible. 🙂 I love reading the Holy Scriptures!
I can never read enough of God’s word! 🙂
 
I haven’t read the bible in months. Also, I didn’t used to have a CCC. Lots of Catholics I know have never read it.

This question is like asking, how much time should you spend praying the rosary? It’s perfectly ok to never pray the rosary - your devotions are your choice (except for going to mass, eucharist and reconciliation… there might be a few others which are requirements too). Neither reading the bible nor the CCC has a minimum requirement.

If you think that reading the bible is a good devotion for you, then do as much reading as you feel comfortable doing. Even if you don’t read it, you won’t be starved of the scriptures, because they read them at mass, which you have to go to once a week anyway.
 
Montie Claunch:
This might sound odd but, I was wondering. How much time should a good catholic spend reading the bible (or the CCC)? This question crossed my mind when I was pondering about good works and the such and if it wouldn’t take away doing good works. But, I thought it best that one shouldn’t neglect either of the two in question. What do you all suggest. Thank you and God bless.
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One hour a day in prayer, including scripture reading, would be a good minimum tithe of our time for the Lord. The ideal way is with the daily lectionary readings. When I read today’s gospel, for instance, I will “fill in the blanks” and read what lectionary skipped between yesterday and today.That is not really necessary, just my habit. If you are fortunate enough to be able to attend daily Mass, a brief time before or after Mass with the readings is an easy way to get into the habit. If not, 20 minutes with the readings is a good way to put yourself in communion with the Mass celebrated around the world.

If you are just beginning the discipline of lectio divina, a slow reading of a short passage of scripture followed by meditation and prayer, about 20 minutes is a good starting time but do not be obsessive about it.

If you use morning and evening prayer with the LOTH or one of the other devotional guides like Magnificat, the psalms, canticles and short scripture are also immersing you in the Word of God. Spend a bit of time afterward with any verse or word in the psalms etc. that especially struck you or stays with you.

If you do not dedicate time to prayer and scripture every day, you definitely will not have time for good works.
 
I agree with Puzzleannie that you should spend time daily in prayer and scripture reading. God offers us eternity so surely we can spare an hour or so a day for him.

By the way Flopfoot, I agree its not mandatory to pray the Rosary but I would not say its perfectly okay not to do it. The Rosary is powerful and I would highly recommend it. I pray all 20 decades every day but when I started I only prayed 5 decades. I felt compelled to do more and more. It is certainly not boring talking to the mother of Jesus every day. I find it uplifting.
 
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Flopfoot:
I haven’t read the bible in months. Also, I didn’t used to have a CCC. Lots of Catholics I know have never read it.

This question is like asking, how much time should you spend praying the rosary? It’s perfectly ok to never pray the rosary - your devotions are your choice (except for going to mass, eucharist and reconciliation… there might be a few others which are requirements too). Neither reading the bible nor the CCC has a minimum requirement.

If you think that reading the bible is a good devotion for you, then do as much reading as you feel comfortable doing. Even if you don’t read it, you won’t be starved of the scriptures, because they read them at mass, which you have to go to once a week anyway.
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Hi Flopfoot;

As far as I know, its not perfectly okay to never pray the Rosary.
 
It is fine to never pray the Rosary - what’s not fine is to not have a respect for Mary and to never think of the life of Christ.

As to the Bible - the best way to sort out how much you can/should be doing of any type of prayer/devotion is to get a good spiritual director who can help you sort through that amazing WEALTH of devotions and prayers that the Church offers to us. Get someone who knows you, your basic schedule and responsibilities and your spiritual background.

One last thing, whatever devotions you decide to do, the most important thing is to be consistent, so start small and work up.
 
Montie, one great way to approach Scripture is through the daily Mass readings. The handy publication *Magnificat – *which contains all the readings, the Mass, a short order for morning and evening prayer, lives of some pretty remarkable saints, and wonderful daily meditations – is a terrific way to enter into a well supported devotional life. I spend about 15-20 minutes every evening pondering the Mass readings for the next day. I find that when I miss this little exercise, I feel somewhat detached from the Liturgy . . .

Magnificat is expensive, but you get a slim (about 3/8" thick) volume of about 400 pages every month. It’s a gold mine. And, no: they don’t pay me to say that.
 
Montie Claunch:
This might sound odd but, I was wondering. How much time should a good catholic spend reading the bible (or the CCC)? This question crossed my mind when I was pondering about good works and the such and if it wouldn’t take away doing good works. But, I thought it best that one shouldn’t neglect either of the two in question. What do you all suggest. Thank you and God bless.
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As others have already posted, I recommend reading and meditating on the readings of the day. I spend at least 15 minutes on this and sometimes it takes me to other reference in the Scriptures, in short, I let the Holy Spirit lead.
 
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mercygate:
Montie, one great way to approach Scripture is through the daily Mass readings. The handy publication *Magnificat – *which contains all the readings, the Mass, a short order for morning and evening prayer, lives of some pretty remarkable saints, and wonderful daily meditations – is a terrific way to enter into a well supported devotional life. I spend about 15-20 minutes every evening pondering the Mass readings for the next day. I find that when I miss this little exercise, I feel somewhat detached from the Liturgy . . .

Magnificat is expensive, but you get a slim (about 3/8" thick) volume of about 400 pages every month. It’s a gold mine. And, no: they don’t pay me to say that.
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Daily Mass readings can be good – especially when you realize they follow a pattern. The readings (not the other things in the magnificat afa I know) are also available online. Here is today’s, whatever day it is at the bishop’s web site when you click it.

Alan
 
When I was on a “haitus” from the Church, I started listening to Protestants and got to where I could look up things on certain topics.

Then once for Lent, I decided I’d start with one Gospel (I used John) and read at least one chapter a day. It was so fascinating I read three or four chapters usually. What I found is that reading it like that was totally different experience than reading excerpts on a topic. It seemed like I was going through emotional ups and downs right with the followers of Christ. It was like they kept trying to “figure it out” but every time they had, Christ verbally “slapped them down” and they had to give up yet another concept. It was wonderful.

Since then I read mostly NT, but some old – especially the wisdom books. Also, I have an audio recording of the NT (alas the NIV and not the Catholic version) that during a particularly troubled time in my life I just let play 24/7 for weeks, so it was always on as background or foreground, depending on whether I was paying attention at the time, looping around to start again every 17 hours.

That’s what really astounded me most at first. It only takes 17 hours to read the entire New Testament out loud. I would have expected it to take much more than that. 🤓

Alan
 
I go through phases. I read the first two books of the Old Testament, then stopped for a while and started praying a Rosary every night. Now I’m spending more time reading up on some Church history (a book called “Four Witness” about the ECF.)

One thing that’s fun is before I start a Rosary, I’ll look over some of the NT passages that the mystery I’ll be praying are based on. It helps me stay focused on the prayer and keep it in context.

This is what is so wonderful about being Catholic. We have SO MANY options when how we pray.
 
From the front of one of my copies of the Bible:

Partial Indulgence. Enchiridion Indulgentiarum, 1968 edition nos. 62 & 50

A partial indulgence is granted to the faithful who use Sacred Scripture for spiritual reading with the veneration due the word of God. A plenary indulgence is granted if the reading continues for at least one half hour.

So, I think the ‘at least one half hour’ daily is a good goal for a faithful Catholic.
 
To prepare for my bible studies I read several times a week. We are also read parts of the bible at every mass. I say the daily rosary and read the bible scriptures that inspire each mystery. I do some additional religious readings that will include bible excerpts. I think that all of these things help me and I would do good to do even more.
 
I’m a new convert from somewhere between mainline Protestantism and Fundamentalism.

Are you aware that we lose people to the Fundamentalists because we don’t know the Bible? They can set up a net of verses, bing bing bing, that seem to teach something - and we can’t refute it, because we don’t know the Bible!

For instance, did you know that Jesus told the disciples, “Call no man father”? Yup, He did, and if you don’t know where to find it (Mt 23:9), you’re left with your mouth hanging open and nothing to say when someone accuses you of disobeying Jesus by calling your priest “Father.”

Please, read the Bible. Study it. Read the CCC, and look up all the verses that are quoted, so you can read them in context.

A plea from the heart of someone who chose Catholicism because of what she teaches!

By the way, I don’t recommend starting at Genesis and reading your way through. If Leviticus don’t getcha, then Numbers will. Dry, dry, dry. (I actually got pretty familiar with Genesis and Exodus; I read them so many times, trying to do it that way!

See if your parish has a study guide that groups the books in an organized fashion. There are the historical books, and the wisdom books, etc. If I wasn’t groggy from decongestants I could tell you better.

This seems to be a good course: thebibletimeline.com/About/

By the way, every Bible I own, except my brand-new one, falls open to 1 Cor 13. If you read anything, read that.
 
Montie Claunch:
How much time should a good catholic spend reading the bible (or the CCC)?
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Please don’t substitute one for the other. We evangelize better by knowing scripture than the Catechism- “Bible only” Christians couldn’t care less what the Catechism says- they just might listen to you if you can find some common ground with them (through what you do have in common) though. Also, the Bible teaches you things the Catechism does not- and it is more prayerful- the Catechism is more instructional.

Now, to answer the original question: Spiritual reading is very important and this includes knowing the Word of God in the Bible, and knowing the teachings of the Church- by reading the Catechism. Catholics should spend as much time as they can reading the Bible, the Catechism, and other spiritual readings by reputable authors (Saints, etc.). To grow in a relationship, you have to get to know someone- and since God doesn’t speak to you like other people do, you have to read His Word (the Bible) and you have to read about his interactions with those who were especially close to Him on earth- and are now with him in Heaven.
 
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Flopfoot:
It’s perfectly ok to never pray the rosary - your devotions are your choice (except for going to mass, eucharist and reconciliation… there might be a few others which are requirements too).
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Mass, the Eucharist, and Reconciliation are NOT devotions. They are sacraments. Big difference.

Not praying the Rosary is not a sin. It is, however, a missed opportunity. I would advise that you not miss it! 😃
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Flopfoot:
Neither reading the bible nor the CCC has a minimum requirement. If you think that reading the bible is a good devotion for you, then do as much reading as you feel comfortable doing. Even if you don’t read it, you won’t be starved of the scriptures, because they read them at mass, which you have to go to once a week anyway.
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Once a week! Good grief, man!

“Man does not live by bread alone, but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Why would you not want to saturate your soul in the word of God?
 
I don’t know how productive a set amount of time for Bible reading is. I suppose there are some who benefit from fixed routines and for them this approach works well.

For myself, for devotinal reading, I try to read enough that I have something to chew on for a while, but not read so much that some of it gets lost.

For the CCC, which I’m reading now, I find a similar approach, small bits so I can digest them, most effective. As Mark Twain said, “Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.”
 
I humbly recommend you visit my Catholic Bible Study web-page, linked below. It is usually updated every Wednesday for the following Sunday’s readings, though this week my webmaster (my DW) is behind schedule. I hope to have it updated later in the day. If you e-mail me, I can send it to you directly.
 
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puzzleannie:
If you use morning and evening prayer with the LOTH or one of the other devotional guides like Magnificat,
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I’ve heard a lot of people on these forums mention Magnificat magazine. Is the MP and EP in there the same as the one in LOTH?
 
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