So... Who's memorizing Scripture?

[mathematoons]

I memorize Scripture because Scripture itself says to take “the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)” (Ephesians 6:17). I cannot always have access to a Bible, and I have been in situations where I needed God’s Word but did not have the presence of mind to read the Bible. Therefore the only way to have this “double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12) with me at all times is to memorize. This is how Jesus fought temptation (Matthew 4, Luke 4).

I have memorized Philippians, a few Psalms and New Testament passages, and many isolated verses; I’m working on the Sermon on the Mount right now. I try to memorize at least 6 verses a week (one a day except Sunday); that will lead to over 300 verses a year. At that rate, a person could memorize the Sermon on the Mount in 4 months, Psalm 118 (119 for those who don’t use Douay-Rheims) in 6 months, Ecclesiastes in 8 months, Hebrews in a year, Romans or 1 Corinthians in 16 months, or the Gospel of Mark in 2 years.

Does anyone else here memorize Scripture? What have you memorized? What methods have helped you?

 

[GEddie]

Trying to…fighting procrastination…

ICXC NIKA

 

[Dorothy]

I memorize Scripture because Scripture itself says to take “the sword of the Spirit (which is the word of God)” (Ephesians 6:17). I cannot always have access to a Bible, and I have been in situations where I needed God’s Word but did not have the presence of mind to read the Bible. Therefore the only way to have this “double-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12) with me at all times is to memorize. This is how Jesus fought temptation (Matthew 4, Luke 4).

I have memorized Philippians, a few Psalms and New Testament passages, and many isolated verses; I’m working on the Sermon on the Mount right now. I try to memorize at least 6 verses a week (one a day except Sunday); that will lead to over 300 verses a year. At that rate, a person could memorize the Sermon on the Mount in 4 months, Psalm 118 (119 for those who don’t use Douay-Rheims) in 6 months, Ecclesiastes in 8 months, Hebrews in a year, Romans or 1 Corinthians in 16 months, or the Gospel of Mark in 2 years.

Does anyone else here memorize Scripture? What have you memorized? What methods have helped you?

I don’t memorize Scripture, but I have learned about Lectio Divina and want to become better at it.
It definitely brings the Word of God into your heart, and one hears it as the Lord speaking to us right now!

At my age memorization is not the way to go.

 

[InNomineDomini]

It definitely brings the Word of God into your heart, and one hears it as the Lord speaking to us right now!

I believe that St. Therese of Lisieux would simply read the Bible straight through. Then, if a particular verse really jumped out at her, if it was something that really gave her light in her current situation, she would memorize said passage as a sort of personal insight from God. In this manner, Scripture would be a wonderful source of consolation for the Saint; and, of course, her writings are full of the wisdom she acquired through her Bible “study”.

I would personally be more fond of that particular type of approach, rather than memorizing lengthy passages or even entire books, especially if done almost arbitrarily. The latter sort of strikes me as being unnecessary, and perhaps more of a natural endeavor than something I’d truly be doing to grow in grace.

 

[Dorothy]

I believe that St. Therese of Lisieux would simply read the Bible straight through. Then, if a particular verse really jumped out at her, if it was something that really gave her light in her current situation, she would memorize said passage as a sort of personal insight from God. In this manner, Scripture would be a wonderful source of consolation for the Saint; and, of course, her writings are full of the wisdom she acquired through her Bible “study”.

I would personally be more fond of that particular type of approach, rather than memorizing lengthy passages or even entire books, especially if done almost arbitrarily. The latter sort of strikes me as being unnecessary, and perhaps more of a natural endeavor than something I’d truly be doing to grow in grace.

I very much agree about the memorizing, but since we are all different personalities perhaps that works for some.

I like what you wrote about St. Therese, she is one of my favorites.

 

[InNomineDomini]

I like what you wrote about St. Therese, she is one of my favorites.

Mine too.

I’m pretty sure I heard that tidbit about St. Therese from Bishop Sheen.

 

[SuS33]

:clapping:

You are doing great. I want to memorize it as well. But I’m lazy. I have to pray for the grace I need to do it. How many times have I felt that I needed a verse that I knew what it talked about but couldn’t remimber it? I always wish then that I would’ve memorized it. Howevere I find memorizing the chapter abd verse numbers are harder for me than the actual words.

 

[Della]

Well, I find the more I pray the Scriptures the more I remember them, especially praying the Psalms daily in Morning and Evening Prayer–the Liturgy of the Hours. The more I read and pray the more I remember.

I’ve also found that when answering questions on CAF, passages will come to me that will help the person understand some point or other. If I need the reference I use: quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/, which I find very helpful for finding the verse/passage I need.

 

[Dorothy]

Mine too.

I’m pretty sure I heard that tidbit about St. Therese from Bishop Sheen.

Thank you for that site. Bishop Sheen is a favorite of mine also …I learned a lot from his TV programs and his books. I am praying for his canonization.

(and now I won’t derail the thread anymore!)

 

[pianistclare]

Retaining the verses in your heart and mind is more important that being able to recite or memorize them.
I’d rather have a student really understand a passage than recite it for me.
I never “got” that about some denominations.
I realize some people are really into it, although it’s not my style. In the course of teaching, there are many that you naturally retain.

 

[mathematoons]

I believe that St. Therese of Lisieux would simply read the Bible straight through. Then, if a particular verse really jumped out at her, if it was something that really gave her light in her current situation, she would memorize said passage as a sort of personal insight from God. In this manner, Scripture would be a wonderful source of consolation for the Saint; and, of course, her writings are full of the wisdom she acquired through her Bible “study”.

Yes, that was a great thing, which is why I do this too.

I would personally be more fond of that particular type of approach, rather than memorizing lengthy passages or even entire books, especially if done almost arbitrarily. The latter sort of strikes me as being unnecessary, and perhaps more of a natural endeavor than something I’d truly be doing to grow in grace.

Many saints memorized long passages of Scripture. St. Anthony of Padua and St. Lawrence of Brindisi memorized the whole Bible. No one is required to do this, but I find it helpful.

Besides, since I have Philippians stored in my mind, I can “read” it whenever I want, using it for any purpose for which I would use a physical Bible.

 

[mathematoons]

:clapping:

You are doing great. I want to memorize it as well. But I’m lazy. I have to pray for the grace I need to do it. How many times have I felt that I needed a verse that I knew what it talked about but couldn’t remimber it? I always wish then that I would’ve memorized it. Howevere I find memorizing the chapter abd verse numbers are harder for me than the actual words.

What I have found is that the key to memorization is repetition. How many songs do we know by heart? How many movie lines? How did we learn them? By repetition. I have found that this foundation needs to be laid down before trying rote memorization, and that one does not work without the other.

So if you want to memorize the Sermon on the Mount, for example, you might read it every day for 50 days (that’s only 15 minutes a day), and then try memorizing a few verses each day.

For the chapter and verse numbers, I memorize them as part of the verse. “5:3: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 

[drforjc]

Well, I find the more I pray the Scriptures the more I remember them, especially praying the Psalms daily in Morning and Evening Prayer–the Liturgy of the Hours. The more I read and pray the more I remember.

I’ve also found that when answering questions on CAF, passages will come to me that will help the person understand some point or other. If I need the reference I use: quod.lib.umich.edu/r/rsv/, which I find very helpful for finding the verse/passage I need.

I’ve noticed the same since praying LOTH. Psalm verses just leap into my head quite frequently.

 

[SuS33]

Yes repetition is the key I’ve memorized Psalm 130 (or 129 depending on your bible) cuz I pray it everyday for the souls in purgatory. However not the verse numbers

 

[mathematoons]

One thing that can help memorization is the Scriptural Rosary, where you say a Bible verse (or two) before each Hail Mary. Usually this is done with the passages describing the mysteries. For example, the Annunciation:

"And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee, called Nazareth. Hail Mary…

"To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. Hail Mary…

“And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. Hail Mary…” Etc.

But this could be done with any passage or set of isolated verses; I find this helpful in fixing the verses in my memory. During this time, I think about how each verse might relate to the mystery on which I am meditating. For example, I might use Matthew 5 (48 verses) for the Glorious Mysteries.

The Resurrection:

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain, and when he was set down, his disciples came unto him. Hail Mary…

"And opening his mouth, he taught them, saying: Hail Mary…

“Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Hail Mary…”

Etc.

I think about how the Resurrection shows the Beatitudes in Jesus and the disciples.

The Ascension (Matthew 5:11-20 is really good for this):

"Blessed are ye when they shall revile you, and persecute you, and speak all that is evil against you, untruly, for my sake: Hail Mary…

“Be glad and rejoice, for your reward is very great in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets that were before you. Hail Mary…”

Etc.

For the last two verses, I might pick an appropriate two-verse passage, such as Philippians 2:8-9.

If your passage is short, you can repeat it throughout the Scriptural Rosary (if it’s 5 verses, you repeat it 10 times). You could even say the same verse before every Hail Mary; if so, you will recite it 50 times per Rosary. Many could memorize one verse a day in this way.

 

[mathematoons]

Yes repetition is the key I’ve memorized Psalm 130 (or 129 depending on your bible) cuz I pray it everyday for the souls in purgatory. However not the verse numbers

That’s great! I should memorize that psalm and pray it for the souls in Purgatory as you do.

 

[mathematoons]

Somehow, I thought this thread would get more of a response. It’s a shame. Memorizing Scripture isn’t just for Protestants, they copied the idea from us!