What does "cf" mean in relation to a scripture in the missal or missalette?

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Just notice it will say something like for example today the communion antiphon says cf. Ps 68 (67):8-9,20. What exactly does cf. mean? All I could think of is " comes from"?
 
jas84173 said:
Just notice it will say something like for example today the communion antiphon says cf. Ps 68 (67):8-9,20. What exactly does cf. mean? All I could think of is " comes from"?
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Confer, i.e. compare.
 
jas84173 said:
Interesting. So in essence what it means is it isn’t a direct quote from the scripture but just a verse which is comparable to it?
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I would say it’s a paraphrase that should be compared (reference check) to the part of Scripture it is referencing.

For example,

God really loves us so much that He would even send His Son for us to believe in so that we might not perish, but live forever (cf. John 3:16)
 
AugustTherese said:
I would say it’s a paraphrase that should be compared (reference check) to the part of Scripture it is referencing.

For example,

God really loves us so much that He would even send His Son for us to believe in so that we might not perish, but live forever (cf. John 3:16)
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Oh okay got it. Thanks.
 
jas84173 said:
Interesting. So in essence what it means is it isn’t a direct quote from the scripture but just a verse which is comparable to it?
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Yes. And this is an academic abbreviation, used in many scholarly areas, not just scripture.
 
Thanks for posting this thread because I have wondered the same thing for a long time. Now I know. 👍
 
7_Sorrows said:
Thanks for posting this thread because I have wondered the same thing for a long time. Now I know. 👍
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Yah I had wondered too and figured it was something ridiculously easy. Weird I mean I don’t recall it being used in college, maybe just never pickedup on it. Just try to meditate on the antiphons, prayers, readings of Mass beforehand ( They all flow together and the Church puts them together in such a beautiful way with her knowledge of sacred tradition and sacraments. ) So yah I felt kind of dumb asking but then i see you had the same problem. We should feel open about asking anything, no matter how easy it is. I suppose we could just research it too; but something told me I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know so figured I’d start a thread. Thanks for the response though, and your welcome!
 
jas84173 said:
Yah I had wondered too and figured it was something ridiculously easy. Weird I mean I don’t recall it being used in college, maybe just never pickedup on it. Just try to meditate on the antiphons, prayers, readings of Mass beforehand ( They all flow together and the Church puts them together in such a beautiful way with her knowledge of sacred tradition and sacraments. ) So yah I felt kind of dumb asking but then i see you had the same problem. We should feel open about asking anything, no matter how easy it is. I suppose we could just research it too; but something told me I wasn’t the only one who didn’t know so figured I’d start a thread. Thanks for the response though, and your welcome!
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You are welcome! 🙂
 
“cf” means “comes from”

It is a standard editorial note or abbreviation.
 
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