What do we believe about Sacred Scripture?

[havemercy]

In what sense do we venerate it? I know the Catechism says that as we venerate the Lord’s body, so too, we venerate the Bible.

Why?

 

[Mannyfit75]

In what sense do we venerate it? I know the Catechism says that as we venerate the Lord’s body, so too, we venerate the Bible.

Why?

Where does it say we have to Venerate the Bible?

 

[Equus_Pallidus]

Where does it say we have to Venerate the Bible?

It doesn’t

 

[havemercy]

It doesn’t

ARTICLE 3
SACRED SCRIPTURE

I.
Christ—The Unique Word of Sacred Scripture
101
In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men."63

102
Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely:64

You recall that one and the same Word of God extends throughout Scripture, that it is one and the same Utterance that resounds in the mouths of all the sacred writers, since he who was in the beginning God with God has no need of separate syllables; for he is not subject to time.65

103
For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord’s Body. She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God’s Word and Christ’s Body.66

What does this mean? It seems a little vague to me, as I’m having difficulty trying to explain it to someone, who said:
A:

Oh man! I usually like the catechism. I think the Catholics are generally a level-headed bunch. Why did you have to burst my bubble and point out that this bloody idolatrous nonsense made it all the way to Vatican II?

I mean, maybe we could lawyer this so it didn’t look like the Word described in John 1:1 is the scripture, but that’s what it sounds like to me. You know, one of those dried flattened toads you see beside the highway has more truth about God in it than the Bible.

I’m not trivializing the Bible either. I’m elevating the toad. And above the dead toad is the living toad. Above the living toad is the living body of any human. Above the body is the soul. Above the soul is the Word who was with God at the beginning. You all need to realize that as magnificent a thing as the Bible is, what is made by God’s own will is higher.

Climb the ladder instead of worshiping the first rung.

And then a gentle and wise fellow said this about his understanding:
B:

My knowledge of modern Catholic theology is inadequate, but let me take a stab at an ancient roman interpretation of the meaning of Scripture, and see if we don’t end up in an agreement of sorts.

Just as the true Word, Jesus Christ, is accessible through the Lord’s Supper, which is the possession and responsibility of the Church, so too is the true Word, Jesus Christ, accessible through the Scripture, which is the possession and responsibility of the Church.

The Scripture deserves reverence and care as one of the means of grace, by which the Word is revealed, though it is not the Word itself.

Thoughts, comments?

 

[JMJ_coder]

Hello,

The reference from the Catechism is to the Vatican II document Dei Verbum. The section cited reads:

1. 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. She has always maintained them, and continues to do so, together with sacred tradition, as the supreme rule of faith, since, as inspired by God and committed once and for all to writing, they impart the word of God Himself without change, and make the voice of the Holy Spirit resound in the words of the prophets and Apostles. Therefore, like the Christian religion itself, all the preaching of the Church must be nourished and regulated by Sacred Scripture. 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. Consequently these words are perfectly applicable to Sacred Scripture: “For the word of God is living and active” (Heb. 4:12) and “it has power to build you up and give you your heritage among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32; see 1 Thess. 2:13).

The entire document can be read online at: vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html

 

[havemercy]

Thanks.

 

[Equus_Pallidus]

What does this mean? It seems a little vague to me, as I’m having difficulty trying to explain it to someone, who said:

And then a gentle and wise fellow said this about his understanding:

Thoughts, comments?

Scripture is God revealed through the Son (The Word). It is truth! If we are without truth we do not live in reality, in fact, we are insane. Why do you think so many things that go on today and throughout history are insane? Because of those who don’t know God. Without the truth you can never become complete.

When I say know God I mean the semitic meaning of “know”, having intimacy with God and not see him as something far off. You have to become part of him and you can only do this through sacred scripture. Is the Bible just a book? No, it is a person the second part of the Trinity Jesus Christ himself. No one can fall in love with words no matter how beautiful they are,

God loves us and wants us to “know” him. So he sent Jesus as a babe who grew up as a man and God himself and gives us the divine revelation. Jesus taught us not only by preaching but by example and it pleased God to reveal himself through him. You can’t love someone unless you know them first, so God sent his only begotten Son.

The single purpose of Jesus was to deliver us from the power of evil. We have to have obedience through faith, you ask what is faith? Faith is the theological belief in the revelation of God.

God revealed himself to those who penned sacred scripture through the Holy Spirit. From God through the Holy Spirit to men. He had them write exactly what he wanted them to write and nothing more. Man then comes to “know” God in the exact reverse, from scripture through the Holy spirit to God. Without the Holy Spirit the Bible is just a dead book.