Regarding Dei Verbum

[missadeangelis]

JMJ

I was reviewing the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, and encountered a part that I need some help in understanding. Paragraph 21, the beginning of Chapter VI, reads as follows:

“21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body.”

Does this statement place divine Scripture on the same level as the Blessed Sacrament? It has always been my understanding that the Blessed Sacrament is worshipped and adored as the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ truly and substantially, so I’m struggling with the idea of Scripture being on par with the Holy Eucharist.

Is the intention to say the inspired contents and truths within the Scriptures are venerated in an abstract manner only when they are invoked or proclaimed? I recently heard of a seminary chapel that had a sanctuary lamp for the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle and a separate red lamp on the opposite side of the room where the book containing the sacred Scripture was on display. I had never heard of such a thing before so when I read this in Dei Verbum I thought I best seek advice.

Secondly, when it says “receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life” isn’t the holy Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass offered to God first and foremost by and for the faithful and the Church (the manner in which the Blessed Sacrament, the Bread of Life, is “received”) and then distributed to the faithful as the transubstantiated Body and Blood of Christ? I just want to make sure I properly understand the document. Thank you and God Bless.

mda

 

[Sirach2]

We have the beautiful words of Jesus that elevate the sacred Words of God, “Man does not live on Bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” Mt. 4:4

Scripture, God’s Word, is fed to our spirits just as importantly as the Living Bread of the Eucharist. As Peter exclaimed, “Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life!”

The two are not equal, but both Word and Eucharist are venerated, each in their own manner.

 

[Dorothy]

“receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life”

I understand that to mean that the priest, who has just consecrated the bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, receives the Lord, and then offers to the faithful the bread of life.

 

[Nita]

We have the beautiful words of Jesus that elevate the sacred Words of God, “Man does not live on Bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” Mt. 4:4

…

“Bread” in the above quote is not capitalized and is not a reference to the Eucharist but to ordinary food eaten to satisfy physical hunger. Mt. 4:2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 4:3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

 

[Sirach2]

Thanks, Nita. I really do understand the context in which Jesus made the statement, but I understood it spiritually from a wonderful insight I obtained from prayer a long while ago. Some receive the Eucharist at Mass and act as though they never heard God’s word by the way they live outside the Church walls.

Some of our Protestant brethren who truly LIVE their faith based on the words of scripture, as they understand it, are in a better place than many of us who think that our sacraments are a be-all, end-all, without having further obligations to live the Word. Remember this scripture? “If anyone loves Me, they will keep My Word, and My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our abode in him.” (Jn. 14:21) What qualifies us to receive the indwelling of the Trinity? Keeping the Word, as well as receiving the sacramental help of Eucharist to do so.

I don’t want to nitpick this, so you are free to consider my post unimportant, irrelevant, or erroneous. Your decision.

 

[Nita]

“21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body.”

“receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life”

I understand that to mean that the priest, who has just consecrated the bread and wine into the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, receives the Lord, and then offers to the faithful the bread of life.

It does mean that in regards to offering the bread of life from the “table of Christ’s body”. But the sentence also speaks of the “table of God’s word”, and in the context of the document, this is a reference to the divine Scriptures.

However, I don’t think the sentence is meant to be understood as saying the 2 are equal, or on the same level. Any teaching is to be understood in a manner that does not contradict other Church teachings. Helpful in this instance are paragraphs 9 & 10 from Vatican II’s Constitution on the Divine Liturgy. (Section 9., Chapter I)
9. The different Modes of Christ’s Presence
In order that they should achieve a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist, the faithful should be instructed in the principal ways in which the Lord is present to his Church in liturgical celebrations.

Her is always present in a body of the faithful gathered in his name (cf. Mt. 18:20). He is present, too, in his Word, for it is he who speaks when the Scriptures are read in the Church.

In the sacrifice of the Eucharist he is present both in the person of the minister, “the same now offering through the ministry of the priest who formerly offered himself on the cross, and above all under the species of the Eucharist. For in this sacrament Christ is present in a unique way, whole and entire, God and man, substantially and permanently. This presence of Christ under the species "is called ‘real’ not in an exclusive sense, as if the other kinds of presence were not real, but par excellence.”

1. The Connection Between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist…

 

[Nita]

It does mean that in regards to offering the bread of life from the “table of Christ’s body”. But the sentence also speaks of the “table of God’s word”, and in the context of the document, this is a reference to the divine Scriptures.

However, I don’t think the sentence is meant to be understood as saying the 2 are equal, or on the same level. Any teaching is to be understood in a manner that does not contradict other Church teachings. Helpful in this instance are paragraphs 9 & 10 from Vatican II’s Constitution on the Divine Liturgy. (Section 9., Chapter I)
9. The different Modes of Christ’s Presence
In order that they should achieve a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist, the faithful should be instructed in the principal ways in which the Lord is present to his Church in liturgical celebrations.

Her is always present in a body of the faithful gathered in his name (cf. Mt. 18:20). He is present, too, in his Word, for it is he who speaks when the Scriptures are read in the Church.

In the sacrifice of the Eucharist he is present both in the person of the minister, "the same now offering through the ministry of the priest who formerly offered himself on the cross, and **above all **under the species of the Eucharist. For in this sacrament Christ is present in a unique way, whole and entire, God and man, substantially and permanently. This presence of Christ under the species “is called ‘real’ not in an exclusive sense, as if the other kinds of presence were not real, but par excellence.”

1. The Connection Between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist…

I’ve been searching for a link to the above, but have not yet found one. It is not part of the Council document titled Sacramentum Concilium – but in my Austin Flannery, O.P. Volume 1 of the Vatican Council documents, it’s given under the general category of Sacred Liturgy. It’s titled “Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery” (S.C.R., Eucharisticum Mysterium, 25 May, 1967).

I have to leave now so won’t be able to do anymore searching till later. Sorry; I always like to provide links to any quotes I give.

 

[Verbum]

Hi Miss,

Before the Council, the idea was widespread among Catholics that the “real” mass began at the Offertory. You had to be there at the Offertory for the mass to “count”.The passage you quote emphasizes the fact that both the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist are essential to the nourishment of our souls. This should inspire us with great respect for the Holy Sciptures and encourage us to make their reading part of our daily life. How do you see this ?

Verbum

 

[Dorothy]

It does mean that in regards to offering the bread of life from the “table of Christ’s body”. But the sentence also speaks of the “table of God’s word”, and in the context of the document, this is a reference to the divine Scriptures.

However, I don’t think the sentence is meant to be understood as saying the 2 are equal, or on the same level. Any teaching is to be understood in a manner that does not contradict other Church teachings. Helpful in this instance are paragraphs 9 & 10 from Vatican II’s Constitution on the Divine Liturgy. (Section 9., Chapter I)
9. The different Modes of Christ’s Presence
In order that they should achieve a deeper understanding of the mystery of the Eucharist, the faithful should be instructed in the principal ways in which the Lord is present to his Church in liturgical celebrations.

Her is always present in a body of the faithful gathered in his name (cf. Mt. 18:20). He is present, too, in his Word, for it is he who speaks when the Scriptures are read in the Church.

In the sacrifice of the Eucharist he is present both in the person of the minister, "the same now offering through the ministry of the priest who formerly offered himself on the cross, and **above all **under the species of the Eucharist. For in this sacrament Christ is present in a unique way, whole and entire, God and man, substantially and permanently. This presence of Christ under the species “is called ‘real’ not in an exclusive sense, as if the other kinds of presence were not real, but par excellence.”

1. The Connection Between the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist…

Thank you for clarifying Nita!

 

[TimothyH]

JMJ

I was reviewing the Vatican II Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, and encountered a part that I need some help in understanding. Paragraph 21, the beginning of Chapter VI, reads as follows:

“21. The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the body of the Lord, since especially in the sacred liturgy, she unceasingly receives and offers to the faithful the bread of life from the table both of God’s word and of Christ’s body.”

Sacred scripture is living and active. It is not just a collection of words about God in a nice leather binding, but the living word of God has power. God is the source of its power. God acts through His living word.

Further along in paragrahp 21 is the following:

For in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life.

Scripture isn’t everything. Scripture isn’t the only thing. But for Christians who have faith, scripture has the power to convert, to direct, to give life and light to the Church and individual Christians, and to sanctify. This power is most efficacious when scripture is encountered within the framework of the Church.

-Tim-

 

[Sirach2]

Nice post, Tim. Thank you.

 

[Nita]

I’ve been searching for a link to the above, but have not yet found one. It is not part of the Council document titled Sacramentum Concilium – but in my Austin Flannery, O.P. Volume 1 of the Vatican Council documents, it’s given under the general category of Sacred Liturgy. It’s titled “Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic Mystery” (S.C.R., Eucharisticum Mysterium, 25 May, 1967).

I have to leave now so won’t be able to do anymore searching till later. Sorry; I always like to provide links to any quotes I give.

Here are a couple of sites that contain the document. It was put out by the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
ewtn.com/library/curia/cdweuch.htm
catholicliturgy.com/index.cfm/FuseAction/documentText/Index/2/SubIndex/11/ContentIndex/340/Start/338

Just scroll down to 9. and 10.

 

[Sirach2]

“Bread” in the above quote is not capitalized and is not a reference to the Eucharist but to ordinary food eaten to satisfy physical hunger.
Mt. 4:2 And he fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterward he was hungry. 4:3 And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” 4:4 But he answered, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.”

I just remembered another context that gave me the insight I mentioned earlier. Deuteronomy Chapter 8:1-3, references keeping the commandments, and being fed “manna” which foreshadowed the Eucharist.
Be careful to observe this whole commandment that I enjoin on you today, that you may live and increase, and may enter in and possess the land which the LORD promised on oath to your ancestors. Remember how for these forty years the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the wilderness, so as to test you by affliction, to know what was in your heart: to keep his commandments, or not.

He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your ancestors, so you might know that "it is not by bread alone that people live, but by all that comes forth from the mouth of the L****ORD."

 

[Sirach2]

A bit off topic, OP, but I wanted to let you know how much I loved the Mass of the Angels whenever our parish used it, especially at Christmas time. (Missadeangelis)