I got the impression from the others talking (we have only 2 RCIA people, and last night 3 leaders, so we’re somewhat outnumbered) that those in the Catholic Church, particularly those in the church before Vatican II, do not have much interest in the Bible and distrust those who do read it regularly and study it intently.
I don’t know if that’s just the few people from last night, or if that is a normal Catholic stance. I would be very grateful to hear of the experiences of other Catholics - particularly “cradle Catholics” - to get a better understanding of the place of the Bible in the Catholic church.
I have always had a lot of interest in the Bible. As we were preparing for First Holy Communion, I remember my mother getting her Jerusalem Bible out and putting page markers in it for verses she wanted me to learn (maybe the Nun leading the instruction had asked that we learn those passages)
Where our family difffered from those of my Protestant family and friends is that we don’t… ‘worship’ the Bible. The Bible isn’t the end of the road.
I have been taught that there is no problem or situation that is not addressed (at least figuratively) in the Bible. There are examples and reminders in the Bible. From a revival, a priest told us (in jest, but I like it) that Bible stands for 'Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. Our Mass includes readings from the Old Testament and the Gospels, and often other books of the Bible.
Let us not forget that the Bible has not been around as long as the church. We have the church. The church supercedes the Bible.
When we go to Mass, isn’t not to read from the Bible. We do read from the Bible, and we are encouraged to read more when we go home, but that’s not our focus. The focus for Catholics and of the Mass is the Eucharist.
See, even the Bible doesn’t say, ‘Read from the Bible on a regular basis’, but it DOES, say, ‘Eat my Body and drink my Blood’
