Using a 1956 Missal for reading scripture

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Hey everyone!!

I posted here not too long ago, that i have a 1956/1957 St. Joseph Daily Missal, and thank you for telling me i can use it at the EF MASS. Now, my question is, since the Church reads the Bible in a year (im right arent i?) in the readings at Mass, can i not just use my Missal for reading scriptures as well? I would porefer it as such, so i wouldnt have to lug an additional Bible around, plus it has the Douay- Rheims version of the scriptures in it correct?? (which is my favortite translation, its so traditional and beautiful), plus as a bonus, i would have the Prayers of HOLY MASS in it as well, a two in one!! so can i use the Missal to read my scriptures, as long as i read the readings for the Daily Mass, according to the day?? would it count as reading the Bible? and would i be able to read the Bible in one year then, if i read the readings from the Missal? I would prefer this, but if i cant, well, it looks like i will have to lug an extra Bible around as well. ( i dont know why, but im not good at reading scriptures from the Scriptures) I love the Scriptures, but, i dont know why, for some reason, i have trouble sitting down and actually reading them from the Bible, so can i use the Daily Missal as both my Bible and Missal?? (be able to read the whole bible from the Missal??) sorry for the long question!!
 
Just one thing: in the OF Mass cycles of readings, if you go to Mass every day, you will hear readings from all the books in the Bible over a **three **year period. It’s not every single verse of the Bible, however.

In the OF cycle of readings, because there were fewer readings per Mass and only a one year cycle, you won’t hear as much of the Bible but you will be more familiar with each selection.

I am not sure what you mean by “count”. Are you asking about the indulgenced reading of Scripture?
 
mymamamary said:
Hey everyone!!

I posted here not too long ago, that i have a 1956/1957 St. Joseph Daily Missal, and thank you for telling me i can use it at the EF MASS. Now, my question is, since the Church reads the Bible in a year (im right arent i?) in the readings at Mass, can i not just use my Missal for reading scriptures as well? I would porefer it as such, so i wouldnt have to lug an additional Bible around, plus it has the Douay- Rheims version of the scriptures in it correct?? (which is my favortite translation, its so traditional and beautiful), plus as a bonus, i would have the Prayers of HOLY MASS in it as well, a two in one!! so can i use the Missal to read my scriptures, as long as i read the readings for the Daily Mass, according to the day?? would it count as reading the Bible? and would i be able to read the Bible in one year then, if i read the readings from the Missal?
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Unfortunately no; the Missal, especially the pre-Vatican II Missal, contains surprisingly little of the Bible. This site will give you a good sense of just how little, but by way of example I can point out that even something as fundamental as the Beatitudes won’t be found in your Missal. And as for the Old Testament, fuhgeddaboutit. Nope, you will have to lug around a real Bible!
 
Corki said:
Just one thing: in the OF Mass cycles of readings, if you go to Mass every day, you will hear readings from all the books in the Bible over a **three **year period. It’s not every single verse of the Bible, however.
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No, even in the modern lectionary, 1 Chronicles, Judith, and Obadiah are never read from at all.
 
I also can’t sit and read the Bible regularly for any length of time, it’s hard for me.

Instead I pray the Divine Office (1960, the last pre-Vatican II version, which matches feasts and readings with my 1962 missal) because it has the structure I need to do it everyday and it organized psalms and other passages into little devotional or instructional segments that help me. Plus, I feel more sure that I’m reading scripture with the mind of the Church since the Holy Father organized it that way. Give it a try. You can get a cheap layman’s version on lulu.com.
 
What comes highly recommended from our Pope is Lectio Divina which the daily readings are perfect for. I am trying to start up again, I have found a great book on it by a Lay Spiritual theology teacher, Jean Khoury, which I think is really good.

I think it is a good plan to follow the daily readings, whether doing Lectio Divina or reading. The daily readings don’t cover all the Bible though, there is still a place for Bible studies.

There is no reason to lug about your Bible when the readings are in the Missal. Have you got a smartphone? Just download a kindle app and get an online Bible for when out and about.
 
mymamamary said:
Hey everyone!!

I posted here not too long ago, that i have a 1956/1957 St. Joseph Daily Missal, and thank you for telling me i can use it at the EF MASS. Now, my question is, since the Church reads the Bible in a year (im right arent i?) in the readings at Mass, can i not just use my Missal for reading scriptures as well? I would porefer it as such, so i wouldnt have to lug an additional Bible around, plus it has the Douay- Rheims version of the scriptures in it correct?? (which is my favortite translation, its so traditional and beautiful), plus as a bonus, i would have the Prayers of HOLY MASS in it as well, a two in one!! so can i use the Missal to read my scriptures, as long as i read the readings for the Daily Mass, according to the day?? would it count as reading the Bible? and would i be able to read the Bible in one year then, if i read the readings from the Missal? I would prefer this, but if i cant, well, it looks like i will have to lug an extra Bible around as well. ( i dont know why, but im not good at reading scriptures from the Scriptures) I love the Scriptures, but, i dont know why, for some reason, i have trouble sitting down and actually reading them from the Bible, so can i use the Daily Missal as both my Bible and Missal?? (be able to read the whole bible from the Missal??) sorry for the long question!!
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Read the Bible in addition to your other readings.
 
TrueLight said:
Read the Bible in addition to your other readings.
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The Bible tells a story. TrueLight is exactly correct here.

Reading a chapter here, an passage there, random books or collections of verses is better than nothing, and following the daily readings will help you understand how to apply the scriptures in our daily lives, but the Bible was meant to be understood as a whole, and no part of it is seperate from any other part of it.

No one should have the expectation of coming to a full understanding what the Bible is about, what it is that God is trying to tell us, by skipping all over the place. The Bible was mean to be read, studied, and meditated upon as a whole. That’s why every Catholic should be in some kind of Bible study and why it should be a part of our daily lives as followers of Jesus.

Why anyone would not want to try their utmost to understand God’s written communication to man is beyond me. For me, carrying a Bible is not a chore, it is not something that I lug around, but something that I cherish for what it is - God’s written communication to mankind, and to me personally.

-Tim-
 
mymamamary said:
plus as a bonus, i would have the Prayers of HOLY MASS in it as well, a two in one!! so can i use the Missal to read my scriptures, as long as i read the readings for the Daily Mass, according to the day?? would it count as reading the Bible?
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I don’t see why not. But do know many of the EF propers (such as collects, etc.) are not part of the Bible. OTOH some of the ordinary prayers (“Judica Me, Deus”, “Lavabo,” “Asperges Me,” etc.) are part of the Bible.
 
It’s all good, especiall if you can’t afford the new Bible or can’t find a good one. But I would think any Christian should want the complete Catholic version of the Bible. The Mass readings are a good selection of the Bible obviously, but there is so much more there is not room for at Mass.
 
TimothyH said:
The Bible tells a story. TrueLight is exactly correct here.

Reading a chapter here, an passage there, random books or collections of verses is better than nothing, and following the daily readings will help you understand how to apply the scriptures in our daily lives, but the Bible was meant to be understood as a whole, and no part of it is seperate from any other part of it.

No one should have the expectation of coming to a full understanding what the Bible is about, what it is that God is trying to tell us, by skipping all over the place. The Bible was mean to be read, studied, and meditated upon as a whole. That’s why every Catholic should be in some kind of Bible study and why it should be a part of our daily lives as followers of Jesus.

Why anyone would not want to try their utmost to understand God’s written communication to man is beyond me. For me, carrying a Bible is not a chore, it is not something that I lug around, but something that I cherish for what it is - God’s written communication to mankind, and to me personally.

-Tim-
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I think you are underestimating the Liturgy of the Word describing it as “a chapter here, a passage there, random books or collection of verses.” It seems to work through many of the books quite systematically largely.

Mymamamary I gather is a teenager and I think he does want to understand God’s written communication, but he feels somewhat overwhelmed by the Bible, whereas the Missal feels more manageable with the daily readings.

And I think it’s a little unkind to insinuate he cherishes the Word of God less than you because he finds carrying it in addition to his Missal cumbersome, and used a turn of phrase not to your liking.
 
i am a teen, in fact i am feel called to the Priesthood and Religious life. I LOVE Scriptures! especially the words spoken by our LORD, sometimes, they can move one to tears when meditated on, or at least, sometimes the sheer power of HIS WORDS overpower my being and i expierence being lost in GOD. In fact, its not the bible that scares me, but the fact that my douay rheims bible is a 1960 or 1950s bible. It is beautiful, but old, and i want the Douay Rheims in a newer version. I know that they are out there, but i personally cant afford one, and i have asked my parents, but, for some reason, maybe money, maybe forgetfulness or maybe a comnbitnation of both havent responded yet. I guess i got some more polite nagging to do, (i love to splurge on Sacramentals, especially Rosaries!!, so perhaps this also might be a dterretn to them?)

any help??

and yes, i would enjoy having the Bible and MASS together, as i can read one, pray the other and vice versa!!
 
and please dont aruge, i didnt mean LUG in the sense that its a burden, but i carry a prayer pack. I have a ton of prayer material in the pack, chaplets, prayerbooks, holy cards, etc., and they take up so much space, how could i more effectively organize my prayer material as i am in a state of always organizing for my prayerbooks!! it gets so annoying sometimes!!!
 
or at least a Catholic bible. Is the new american Bible any good? any orthodox?i have two copies…but i dont know if they are any good?
 
TimothyH said:
The Bible tells a story. TrueLight is exactly correct here.

Reading a chapter here, an passage there, random books or collections of verses is better than nothing, and following the daily readings will help you understand how to apply the scriptures in our daily lives, but the Bible was meant to be understood as a whole, and no part of it is seperate from any other part of it.

No one should have the expectation of coming to a full understanding what the Bible is about, what it is that God is trying to tell us, by skipping all over the place. The Bible was mean to be read, studied, and meditated upon as a whole. That’s why every Catholic should be in some kind of Bible study and why it should be a part of our daily lives as followers of Jesus.

Why anyone would not want to try their utmost to understand God’s written communication to man is beyond me. For me, carrying a Bible is not a chore, it is not something that I lug around, but something that I cherish for what it is - God’s written communication to mankind, and to me personally.

-Tim-
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I think every Catholic should love and believe Sacred Scripture, but I think intense study, such as a regular Bible study, is a devotion that is meant for some and not for others. I’m happy to remember the Bible stories I hear at Mass and the psalm I read in my breviary.

OP, if you think deep study is for you, check ebay for inexpensive, little Bibles. I got palm-sized Douay Rheims Bible for about $20 on etsy.
 
asd72 said:
I think you are underestimating the Liturgy of the Word describing it as “a chapter here, a passage there, random books or collection of verses.” It seems to work through many of the books quite systematically largely.

Mymamamary I gather is a teenager and I think he does want to understand God’s written communication, but he feels somewhat overwhelmed by the Bible, whereas the Missal feels more manageable with the daily readings.

And I think it’s a little unkind to insinuate he cherishes the Word of God less than you because he finds carrying it in addition to his Missal cumbersome, and used a turn of phrase not to your liking.
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The OP can send me a PM and I’ll buy him a Bible. NAB, RSV-2CE, whatever he wants. I’ll do this because I know that the Bible tells a story and a plan - for humanity and for you and me personally.

I love the Mass readings. I am a reader for Mass. But we cannot completely understand the story, we cannot fully understand God’s plan, by following the Mass readings. That’s not an insult to anyone who wants to follow the Mass readings, but a statement of fact. It’s like reading the Harry Potter books by skipping all over the place - you can learn a lot about Harry and his comrades, but it is very difficult to pick up the narrative thread. We can learn a lot about Jesus and the disciples and the other characters in the Bible by following the Mass readings, but it will be very difficult to find the storyline.

The narrative, storytelling books of the Bible include Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Joshua, Judges, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, Ezra, Nehemiah, 1 Maccabees, the Gospels and Acts.

The other books of the Bible are supplemental to the story - they explain the story and add to the story but they are not part of the narrative thread which runs through the Bible.

Leviticus for example, is a training manual - the first half for priests and the second half for the laity. The book of Job is 22nd book in the Bible, but chronologically, it fits into the Bible at the book of Genesis. Job is supplemental to Genesis, but you would never know that by listening to Job or Genesis from the Mass readings. People ask what Revelation is about all the time. It is almost incomprehensible to most people. But the Book of Revelation is at the end of the Bible for a reason, because God assumes that the reader has read and understood everything in the story which came before the book of Revelation. Who the prophets are, where each prophet operated (North, South, or outside of Israel), what the exile was all about, who Judas Maccabeus was, who was in power at the time and why he led a revolt against them, and why the Protestants don’t have his two books in the Bible, and how they fit into God’s plan for our salvation - none of this is discernable from the Mass readings.

I’m not minimizing the Mass readings. I’m simply putting them in their proper place. You won’t understand the Bible as a whole if all you do is listen to the Mass readings. You won’t understand the storyline or God’s amazing plan.

The Bible is easier to understand than most people think. I’ll buy Mymamamary a Bible and send him another book I have, “The Bible Compass”, which describes how Catholics read the Bible if he wants. I’ve sent him a PM.

-Tim-
 
Considering that the readings for Mass in the US come from the NAB, regardless of what people on the internet think, I would say that it is perfectly acceptable.
I have always used the NAB for private reading & devotion, originally I used the one that was published in 1970 (I think). I bought the revised edition when it came out a few years ago, and I love it!!

FWIW, I am not a fan of the DR version for devotioal reading/Lectio Divina- I do not like the archaic lanquage, it is distracting to me.
mymamamary said:
or at least a Catholic bible. Is the new american Bible any good? any orthodox?i have two copies…but i dont know if they are any good?
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TimothyH said:
The Bible tells a story. TrueLight is exactly correct here.

Reading a chapter here, an passage there, random books or collections of verses is better than nothing, and following the daily readings will help you understand how to apply the scriptures in our daily lives, but the Bible was meant to be understood as a whole, and no part of it is seperate from any other part of it.

No one should have the expectation of coming to a full understanding what the Bible is about, what it is that God is trying to tell us, by skipping all over the place. The Bible was mean to be read, studied, and meditated upon as a whole. That’s why every Catholic should be in some kind of Bible study and why it should be a part of our daily lives as followers of Jesus.

Why anyone would not want to try their utmost to understand God’s written communication to man is beyond me. For me, carrying a Bible is not a chore, it is not something that I lug around, but something that I cherish for what it is - God’s written communication to mankind, and to me personally.

-Tim-
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👍

This is one subject we definitely see eye to eye on.
 
Rich_C said:
I think every Catholic should love and believe Sacred Scripture, but I think intense study, such as a regular Bible study, is a devotion that is meant for some and not for others. I’m happy to remember the Bible stories I hear at Mass and the psalm I read in my breviary.

OP, if you think deep study is for you, check ebay for inexpensive, little Bibles. I got palm-sized Douay Rheims Bible for about $20 on etsy.
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Reading the Bible does not have to mean “intense” Bible study at all.
I’m happy to remember the Bible stories I hear at Mass and the psalm I read in my breviary.
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Oh, but there is so much more than that.
 
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