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mattd327
Guest
I’ve been reading the Bible everyday for the past 3 years and I’ve grown tired of it. I ordered a Catholic prayer book that I want to read from instead. Will God punish me for not reading the Bible?
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ClearWater
Guest
I doubt it. Take a break.
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Katherine438
Guest
There’s nothing wrong in reading from a prayer book … the nuns read from Christian Prayer every day.
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redbaron162
Guest
Why would he? I wouldn’t say don’t read the bible anymore, but there is nothing wrong with taking a break to read some other good literature as well.
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johnnyc176
Guest
Of course not. Getting a Catholic prayer book is a good idea. Also you can read about Catholic Church history, the lives of the saints or books about our Blessed Mother.
Another idea is to read Catholic commentary on Scripture like this…
agapebiblestudy.com/Sunday_Readings/Sunday_Readings.php?Sunday_Doc=Ordinary_Time/Ordinary_Time_27_c
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MaryT777
Guest
I agree with taking a break and reading something else for a while. I admire the commitment you’ve had to reading so often in the past!~
God Bless,
Mary.
God Bless,
Mary.
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1Lord1Faith
Guest
Your obligation is to form your conscience. There is no obligation to read. Reading is only one way to do it.
The God of love will not condemn you for taking a break from reading.
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truetofaith
Guest
You’re probably reading too much at one time…if something puzzles you during the day, then look up a verse or two that will answer your question.
A few minutes should be manageable.
BTW- it’s not a sin to skip a few days…many Catholics I know, don’t even have a Bible.
That’s questionable!
A few minutes should be manageable.
BTW- it’s not a sin to skip a few days…many Catholics I know, don’t even have a Bible.
That’s questionable!
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Beryllos
Guest
The commandment is to love God. Prayer is an excellent way to express and increase your love. Peace be with you.
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christofirst
Guest
There’s nothing wrong with taking a break from reading the Bible. You might hopefully return to it later refreshed and ready for more. One thing you might try is to read a Scripture commentary. There are a lot of them out there (I usually check the reviews and endorsements to make sure a particular author is trustworthy). An example: some years ago I read “St. John’s Gospel; A Bible Study Guide and Commentary” by Steve Ray (Stephen K. Ray). I know that sometimes when I read or hear a passage of Scripture I can find myself thinking, “Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that a thousand times before. I know what it means already.” A good commentary can open new levels of understanding, and give fresh meaning to God’s Word.
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Della
Guest
You need not answer any of these questions here, but you may want to consider them: Have you been reading the Bible with real understanding? Have you been trying to read too much at a time? Do you know the history of the texts you are reading? Do you understand how the Church understands the various books and passages of the OT and NT?
Reading without true comprehension is tiresome. And trying to “get something” out of reading, if you have little to no knowledge of the texts you are reading, leads to being tired of it, as well. We can get into a rut, thinking we’re gotten everything from the texts we can–and in a sense that’s true–we’ve gotten all we can discern, but not all that we could discern with the help of commentaries and a fuller understanding of things such as Christology, etc.
You may want to practice Lectio Divina–an ancient way of reading and praying Scripture. The Google search may help you decide which type of spirituality appeals to you if you wish to practice it.
God will not punish you for not reading the Bible. Having said that, though, all our liturgies and devotions are rooted in the Bible and Sacred Tradition. If you don’t have a good understanding of either prayer books will become as tiresome as reading the Bible.
Prayer is always good, and no one needs to understand very much to pray, but knowing what our prayers are based in certainly helps. Also, we must cultivate love of God to pray effectively–and knowledge of Christ and of his word, the Bible within Sacred Tradition, will help us do that. The Bible is a help to our faith, not the end all and be all of it. Having a good knowledge of what it means to our faith is essential for those of us with enough intelligence to be bored without it.
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Pilgrim0211
Guest
Try reading “The Imitation of Christ”
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JimR-OCDS
Guest
Learn to pray with the Bible, instead of just reading it.
Learn how to do Lectio Divina or The Liturgy of the Hours.
Jim
Learn how to do Lectio Divina or The Liturgy of the Hours.
Jim
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mattd327
Guest
Thanks for all the responses. God bless!
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Rosebud77
Guest
An old farmer once asked me if I had read the Bible right through. One of his farmer friends had and he was in awe. I replied yes but that there was no virtue in reading it; it was LIVING it that mattered.
I have Bibles everywhere and have given many away. The words I need from it are written deep in my heart and come to me when they are needed, to assure, to teach, to hold,.
Especially the words of Jesus.They come to life in our lives. as He means them to.
I have Bibles everywhere and have given many away. The words I need from it are written deep in my heart and come to me when they are needed, to assure, to teach, to hold,.
Especially the words of Jesus.They come to life in our lives. as He means them to.
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Rosebud77
Guest
re Catholics not having Bibles…
When I was very new here ,I prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet and a neighbour used to come to me every Friday to pray it.
They had been told to read the Bible so I gave her some small readings to help her do that. One was from Psalms and she came back to tell me the psalms were not in her Bible. All she had was a huge family bible and she had no idea where the psalms were. so she went home knowing, and with a smaller more amenable Bible,
When I was very new here ,I prayed the Divine Mercy chaplet and a neighbour used to come to me every Friday to pray it.
They had been told to read the Bible so I gave her some small readings to help her do that. One was from Psalms and she came back to tell me the psalms were not in her Bible. All she had was a huge family bible and she had no idea where the psalms were. so she went home knowing, and with a smaller more amenable Bible,
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truetofaith
Guest
Most Bibles have an index and you can find whatever section you need. I found it very important to read the Bible, because there are always distractions when the readings are proclaimed at Mass from crying kids or poor diction from the lector.
I don’t like the modern translation of verses I memorized as a child. They sound completely different.
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