Meg:
God bless you. I’ve read your messages in this thread, and they are very touching.
I am going to go a little bit against the grain with a recommendation. It appears to me that you have not been given a real solid foundation of Catholic teaching in the faith. For example, distinctions between the New Testament and the Old, indulgences, etc. It also apears that you have a genuine hunger for the faith and for growing closer to Our Lord, Jesus Christ.
As others have mentioned, many pre-Vatican II Catholics believed they were discouraged from reading the Bible. That was historically accurate for many people. After Vatican II, in one sense, we’ve almost swung to the opposite extreme where it seems like every Catholic is supposed to be a Bible scholar.
Personally, I see problems with both extremes, with an answer in the middle. Pre-Vatican II Catholics were discouraged from reading the Bible because it is very easy to get horribly incorrect interpretations of the Bible when someone is inexperienced and does not have the tradition of the Church to guide them. That is one of the main dangers of
Sola Scriptura, where you can have differing Protestant groups having views 180 degrees apart on very basic issues like Baptism.
My Recommendation:
Because you are still young in your faith, and learning what Church teachings are, I believe your time would be better spent by reading the
The Catechism of the Catholic Church. Perhaps a page or two each day. When you read the Catechism, virtually every paragraph has footnotes to it. Many of those footnotes are Bible verses. At that point, read the Bible verses that go with the Catechism paragraph.
This approach has several advantages to someone young in their faith.
- *]You get proper Catholic teaching on what the Church really believes.
*]You can understand how Church teaching really is consistent with the Bible.
]You get exposed to the Bible in a way that is least likely to lead you astray. With verses that have various possible interpretations, reading them within the context of the Catechism helps you to understand how the Church interprets the verses.
I posted an online link to the Catechism, but it is such an important book that I suggest you get a physical copy. I see from your messages that buying one could be a problem. I have two practical suggestions.
- ]Go to your priest and ask if he can give you one. If your parish is financially capable, I cannot believe that he would not procure one for you.
*]Ask your local Knights of Columbus council if they would be willing to donate a Catechism and a Catholic Bible. You can call your parish to see if you have a local council. Or, call other nearby parishes. Or, you can call headquarters at (203) 752-4000, or email info@kofc.org, to find a local council. KofC councils are virtually everywhere.
As a Brother Knight, I am quite confident in stating that any young woman (or man) who sincerely asked for these materials, and explained they could not buy the books for themselves, would have them donated immediately. I would send you the books myself, but I do not want to place a young woman at risk by encouraging her to reveal any personal information over the Internet.
I will pray for you, and good luck in starting college. God be with.
). Try the US Council of Catholic Bishops site. The Catechism is available online there as well.
44 days until freedom at Niagara University
around at my church, not my parents)on one of the little bookshelves they have…its like tan-grey color right? with a little lion or orange figure on the binder…is that the right one?