Quick tip for Lent

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Hey all, I’m wanting to pick up spiritual reading for my “add some” Lenten resolution. I’ve never been a bible reader, and would like to become one, sooo I’m thinking about picking up the psalms and the new testament. How much of each would you all suggest? I’ve never religiously read the bible, so if there’s anyone who does, what’s your schedule? I’ll be planning on doing x amount on a daily basis after morning mass, again it’s another new thing for me, been a weekly mass guy for a lifetime, but never daily, I’m hoping it will focus my life better and maintain a proper state of grace. I want this Lent to be a boot camp for extended good habits.

So a summary: How much reading would you suggest? Like how many chapters/psalms a day is challenging and engaging, but not difficult? Would you think the psalms and new testament worthwhile to start with for a first timer or no? What would you suggest?

Thanks for any advice!
 
Orate said:
Hey all, I’m wanting to pick up spiritual reading for my “add some” Lenten resolution. I’ve never been a bible reader, and would like to become one, sooo I’m thinking about picking up the psalms and the new testament. How much of each would you all suggest? I’ve never religiously read the bible, so if there’s anyone who does, what’s your schedule? I’ll be planning on doing x amount on a daily basis after morning mass, again it’s another new thing for me, been a weekly mass guy for a lifetime, but never daily, I’m hoping it will focus my life better and maintain a proper state of grace. I want this Lent to be a boot camp for extended good habits.

So a summary: How much reading would you suggest? Like how many chapters/psalms a day is challenging and engaging, but not difficult? Would you think the psalms and new testament worthwhile to start with for a first timer or no? What would you suggest?

Thanks for any advice!
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I would suggest first the Gospel of Luke, then Acts.

Rather than limit your Old Testament reading to Psalms, consider reading Ruth and Tobit; they are wonderful stories and Ruth has a very nice zinger in the last verse!
 
For the Psalms, try reading two a day:

Day 1: Ps 1 & 2
Day 2: Ps 2 & 3
Day 3: Ps. 3 & 4 etc

By overlapping in this way you’ll retain more. This assumes that you’ve already read all of the N.T. though. If not, I’d start there, with the Gospels then the Epistles.

If you’ve read all the N.T. and Pss then I’d recommend Exodus for Lent. Read three paragraphs each day. The second day begin with the third para you read the first day and then read two more.

Read aloud/ under your breath. Write down what strikes you. Repeat your reading at least twice. Meditate on what you have read. Pray. Be silent, in the presence of the Word beyond words. Less is definitely more when it comes to praying with Scripture:

valyermo.com/ld-art.html

Our Lord bless you.
 
i read somewhere that in just about every three years if you went to mass everyday you would end up hearing just about all of the bible. most of the bible (OT) is borng to me, i know it shouldn’t, so what’s good for me is to read and meditate on the daily mass readings. i figure if i do that everyday for the rest of my life, which God willing i hope is a while, it will sink in.
 
Get a bible that you don’t mind highlighting, underlining and making notes in.

Rather than a number of chapters/verses, etc, I would recommend a set time of say 30 minutes or if your ambitious, 30 minutes 2 x a day.

Finally, before you open the Word, I strongly suggest a few minutes of silent prayer, asking God to open your eyes, your ears, and your heart so that you can be transformed the the Word you are about to receive.

I cannot attest to being as faithful to any of the above as I would like, but when I am, I know the benefits are huge.

I hope it helps. Take what does and leave the rest.
 
yep. i forgot that.
put yourself in the presence of God.
ask him to inspire your heart.
read slowly and meditate.
if something strikes you pray and ask God if he is trying to teach you something.
after you read pray that you may imitate what you have read.
stuff like that works with me.
 
Sometimes when reading sacred scripture, I’ll come to a certain part that I dwell on. It may be a paragraph, or only one or two verses. When that happens, I stay there for a while and forget about the actual amount I was hoping to get read that day; because when we receive a grace like that we are actually “praying” the scriptures.

If you’re going to try and read daily, I would bet you’re going to discover moments like this. If you do, you’d probably want to go with them and not be too concerned with the quota intended for that particular day.

God Bless

(and thanks for the reminder 👍 …I need to read more scripture too and the time is now)
 
Luke is my favorite gospel and favorite author…He is chatty and sort of a fly on the wall…He kind of tells the sort of things I like to read about

I wish he had written more
 
The story goes that you can get through the Bible in one year if you read 3 Chapters per day. I got through it in 9 months by reading 5 Chapters per day and cross referencing the foot notes.

I read 2 OT Chapters; and 1 Psalm, 1 Gospel, and 1 other NT Chapter per day. Later I moved from the NT to the Prophets and Wisdom books as the NT and Psalms ran out. At the end, I was reading 5 Chapters in Maccabees.
 
Well my on and off habit for years has been to read the daily Mass readings every morning. But the past few weeks I’ve started doing the Read the Bible and the Catechism in a Year. Only I’m skipping the Catechism part for now. The Scripture reading is so great, I never thought I’d get so much out of it. You start with Genesis, Psalms and Matthew and read a little bit every day, slowly working your way through the entire Bible.

It’s brilliant, the way they set that up. This was recommended to me by two people I really respect so I thought I’d try it, and it’s awesome! 👍 I usually do the readings in the morning when it’s quiet and dark and I’m alone, before the craziness of the day starts.

Click that link I posted above, or if anyone wants a hard copy of the brochure I’d be happy to make a copy and send it to you. Just PM me. 🙂
 
Since I’ve read the NT a number of times ( but the OT only once a number of years ago), I’ve just finished reading the Pentateuch, Ruth and Tobit (and, no, I didn’t read this thread before I did). Now, the Psalms and Proverbs for Lent. Then, in the Easter season Wisdom,…🤷
I think I’ll read another book I have on St. Therese, too. (I read alot and I’m also a writer, which calls for even more reading.)
 
ronyu02 said:
I’ve seen this statement pop up every now and then; it must be some sort of a Catholic urban legend. 😉
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You won’t find anything from the Book of Obadiah in the Mass readings. And very little from a few of the other OT prophets.
 
ac_claire said:
You won’t find anything from the Book of Obadiah in the Mass readings. And very little from a few of the other OT prophets.
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Also, I might be wrong, but I don’t think the whole book of Numbers is in the N.O. lectionary either. That’s what made me doubt in the first place.

Anyway, going back on topic, I also resolved on reading the whole Bible for Lent. I don’t really have a definite pace, I just make sure I cover at least 2 chapters per day. I don’t think I’ll finish it by Easter, but it’s a start.
 
Last year I read the NT during lent by reading 1-2 hours a day. Was really a blessing. I’m well into it this year again. REally helps to just get away for that time and read. I didn’t think I could spare that time from my schedule, but you can.
 
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