What is a "Bible service"?

[jacobaer]

I am enrolled in my diocesan Lay Leadership Formation program, a two-year program.

During the course on the Sacraments and Liturgy, we were given Sacrosanctum Concilium to read. This is the Vatican II document dealing with reform of the Liturgy.

Here is paragraph 4:

“Bible services should be encouraged, especially on the vigils of the more solemn feasts, on some weekdays in Advent and Lent, and on Sundays and feast days. They are particularly to be commended in places where no priest is available; when this is so, a deacon or some other person authorized by the bishop should preside over the celebration.”

What is a “Bible service”? Has there been any further study or writings on “Bible services”?

Thanks.

Peace,
Gene

 

[John_Lilburne]

The usual name for a “Bible service” today is a “Celebration of the Word of God”.

In the 2007 Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, Pope Benedict encouraged their use in particular circumstances:

“50. … In this regard, I would like to call attention to a pastoral problem frequently encountered nowadays. I am referring to the fact that on certain occasions – for example, wedding Masses, funerals and the like – in addition to practising Catholics there may be others present who have long since ceased to attend Mass or are living in a situation which does not permit them to receive the sacraments. At other times members of other Christian confessions and even other religions may be present. Similar situations can occur in churches that are frequently visited, especially in tourist areas. In these cases, there is a need to find a brief and clear way to remind those present of the meaning of sacramental communion and the conditions required for its reception. Wherever circumstances make it impossible to ensure that the meaning of the Eucharist is duly appreciated, the appropriateness of replacing the celebration of the Mass with a celebration of the word of God should be considered.”

Nearly all the Church’s ceremonies can be celebrated outside of Mass and the liturgical books describe how this can be done. The Ceremonial of Bishops has a detailed description of how the Bishop presides at one. The RCIA liturigcal book encourages the use of them for catechesis. The Book of Blessings has lots of blessings which can be done as part of a Celebration of the Word of God.

The 2001 Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy refers to your quote:
“*Prayerfully Hearing the Word of God *
193. The Council’s call for the “sacred celebration of the word of God” at significant moments throughout the Liturgical Year (footnote 227 Cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium 35, 4.), can easily find useful application in devotional exercises made in honour of the Mother of the Word Incarnate. This corresponds perfectly with the orientation of Christian piety(228) and reflects the conviction that it is already a worthy way to honour the Blessed Virgin Mary, since it involves acting as she did in relation to the Word of God. She lovingly accepted the Word and treasured it in her heart, meditated on it in her mind and spread it with her lips. She faithfully put it into practise and modelled her life on it(229). 194. “Celebrations of the Word, because of their thematic and structural content, offer many elements of worship which are at the same time genuine expressions of devotion and opportunities for a systematic catechesis on the Blessed Virgin Mary. Experience, however, proves that celebrations of the Word should not assume a predominantly intellectual or didactic character. Through hymns, prayers, and participation of the faithful they should allow for simple and familiar expressions of popular piety which speak directly to the hearts of the faithful”(230).”
Footnotes:
(228) Cf. PAUL VI, Apostolic Exhortation Marialis Cultus, 30.
(229) Cf. ibid., 17; Collectio missarum de beata Virginis Mariae, Praenotanda ad lectionarium, 10.
(230) CONGREGATION FOR DIVINE WORSHIP, Circular Letter Guidelines and proposals for the celebration of the Marian Year, 10.

More information on them is available from the book “Documents on the Liturgy 1963-1979”, Liturgical Press, Minnesota, 1982, ISBN 0-8146-1281-4. Look up “celebrations of the word” in the index.

 

[jacobaer]

Hi John,

Thanks for the clarification!

So, if I understand this correctly, a Catholic couple may get married in the Church, but during a "Celebration of the Word of God and NOT during a Mass, for the reasons stated by the Pope.

Also, my understanding of “Bible services” is a service of preaching the Word for an extended period, similar to what is practiced in Protestant churches, i.e., 30 to 45 minutes sermons. And the reason for this being that a 10 minute homily can only convey so much.

And from what SC stated, it sounds like the bishops were encouraging this on a regular, even weekly, basis, even on Sundays during another part of the day when Mass is not celebrated.

There is a parish in my diocese that has a Saturday night preaching service, almost every week. It started as a youth ministry of the diocesan charismatic renewal. It has now grown to includes families and adults. The Bishop has given it his approval and, I understand, hoping that it expands to other parishes. He has even assigned some priests as chaplains. But it is a layperson who does the preaching. (And there is a lot of music an singing.)

Peace,
Gene

 

[John_Lilburne]

Hi John,

Thanks for the clarification!

So, if I understand this correctly, a Catholic couple may get married in the Church, but during a "Celebration of the Word of God and NOT during a Mass, for the reasons stated by the Pope…

They may get married in a Mass OR in a “Celebration of the Word of God”. In deciding which is best, Pope Benedict said that consideration should be given to who will be attending and problems with people going to Communion, who should not.