Is it wrong to sell a gift?

[Soon2BeCatholic]

Is it wrong if someone gave you a bible as a gift to sell it? I don’t have a lot of money, and with the money I was going to buy a Missal. I don’t know what to read in the bible, and I was thinking that if I had a Missal, I would pray what the Church prays. My conscious is bothering me, I keep thinking that I shouldn’t sell it, and just save up for what I want.

Also is what I’m looking for called a Missal? A book that has the Mass Readings for that day, maybe a brief catechises and perhaps some prayers?

 

[jmcrae]

Is it wrong if someone gave you a bible as a gift to sell it? I don’t have a lot of money, and with the money I was going to buy a Missal. I don’t know what to read in the bible, and I was thinking that if I had a Missal, I would pray what the Church prays.

Also is what I’m looking for called a Missal? A book that has the Mass Readings for that day, maybe a brief catechises and perhaps some prayers?

Yes, what you’re looking for is a Missal.

Once you have a Missal, though, you might want to start looking up various Bible passages, to see them in context - so, what I would do is hang on to the Bible, and raise the money for a Missal some other way, assuming it’s a good Catholic Bible.

If it’s a Protestant Bible, or if it’s a poor translation, then go ahead and sell it.

 

[Soon2BeCatholic]

Thank you. It’s a very good Catholic bible. Its the CTS New Catholic Bible. It’s the Jerusalem Bible edited, replacing the word ‘Yahweh’ with ‘the LORD’.

 

[jmcrae]

Thank you. It’s a very good Catholic bible. Its the CTS New Catholic Bible. It’s the Jerusalem Bible edited, replacing the word ‘Yahweh’ with ‘the LORD’.

That’s a beautiful gift. I’d hold on to it if I were you, and when you get your Missal, you’ll be able to make good use of it.

 

[PattiDay]

A gift is given without strings, so the recipient may do with it as he or she wishes. If it were a really ugly tie or the wrong size shirt, you’d have no guilt returning it to the stores, or sellin it. The gift of the Bible for a person going through RCIA says to me that the giver wanted to present you with something beautiful and lasting for your journey and for your future as a Catholic.

Are you aware that a new translation of the missal will be introduced in November 2011? Sometimes there are missals that have been left unclaimed at mass. You could ask to borrow one at your parish. Welcome home and God bless.

 

[MtnDwellar]

Bibles and Missals are available online. You may be better off using an online Missal until a newer missal is published.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Is it wrong if someone gave you a bible as a gift to sell it? I don’t have a lot of money, and with the money I was going to buy a Missal. I don’t know what to read in the bible, and I was thinking that if I had a Missal, I would pray what the Church prays. My conscious is bothering me, I keep thinking that I shouldn’t sell it, and just save up for what I want.

Also is what I’m looking for called a Missal? A book that has the Mass Readings for that day, maybe a brief catechises and perhaps some prayers?

I think it would be hurtful to the person who gave you the gift, if they found out you sold it.

Also, the inspiration to give you the Bible, may have been from God and it’s His will that you read it.

You can get the daily readings for the day at various places besides a missal.

Also, as already mentioned, the new translation of the Mass in English is coming out next Advent. If you buy a missal now, it will be obsolete in less than a year.

Save your money and learn Lectio Divina, which will help you to pray using your Bible.

Jim

 

[tobbias88]

Don’t be so scrupulous. It’s a gift. It is yours. You can do whatever you want with it.

For centuries RCs never read the Bible since it was in Latin or Greek. Selling the book is no big deal. Muslims may have this extreme hang-up about the Koran and it being actuallly sacred. I don’t think RCs view the Bible in the same light. Even today lots of RCs have never ever read the Bible.(well only the Sunday bits.)

Of course like most unwanted gifts you can just put it in the top cupboard & forget all about it, if it is causing you distress. Still it might be kinda interesting to read the Catholic version of the Bible from time to time. You know it’s the full works! unlike a Missal.