Why don't Catholics bring Bible to Masses

[Singapore_Nick]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

Because Mass isn’t Bible Study. There is more to Mass than reading the Bible. There is more to being a Catholic than just the Bible.

 

[Melchior_1]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

Some Churches put Bibles in the pews. And if you want to read some Scripture, crack open a missal!

 

[Rolltide]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

Isn’t that the whole purpose of the first part of the Mass - The Liturgy of the Word? We have a lectionary with a three year cycle of readings. If one attends Mass every day for three years, they will hear the vast majority (though admittedly not all) of the Bible read aloud. On Sundays, there will be (in general) an Old Testament reading, a Psalm, a New Testament reading, and a Gospel reading (although on special occasions this pattern is different). Then, the priest gives a homily. A homily differs from a sermon in that it must specifically explain and address the readings for that day. The scriptural passages are selected so that they relate to each other. If one needs to follow along, all of the appropriate scripture passages are conveniently organized in the missals.

Now, with all of that said, it’s still important to remember that the MAIN focus of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist… the celebration of the sacrament of Communion. While the readings are indeed a valuable part of the Mass, if one is seeking intensive Bible study, then there are plenty of appropriate opportunities for that outside of Mass.

 

[Benadam]

Opening the bible is alot like going to Mass. I think.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Opening the bible is alot like going to Mass. I think.

Not really. You don’t receive Christ from the Bible the same way you do from the Eucharist.

 

[StarFireKK]

Most of the Catholics at Mass don’t even open the missal unless it is for a specific prayer or the Creed.

I guess we are just auditory learners.

 

[Jim_Dandy]

The Church worldwide doesn’t have missals in the pews. There are no missals in the pews of my Church. We don’t need them.

QUOTE

COUNCIL OF CARTHAGE (III) 397
The Canon of the Sacred Scripture

Can. 36 (or otherwise 47). [It has been decided] that nothing except the Canonical Scriptures should be read in the Church under the name of the Divine Scriptures. But the Canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus . . . END QUOTE

The Scriptures were originally intended to be heard, not read. Faith comes by what is heard . . . Romans 10:17.

Most people couldn’t read until the Industrial Revolution at end of the 18th century. Fifty percent of the world’s population are still illiterate. Twenty percent of the population of the U.S. is functionally illiterate (can’t read above a fifth grade level).

God didn’t make salvation contingent on a book. That idea came from Martin Luther in the 16th century with his novel doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Protestantism coincided with the invention of the printing press.

Jim Dandy

 

[StarFireKK]

The Church worldwide doesn’t have missals in the pews. There are no missals in the pews of my Church. We don’t need them.

QUOTE

COUNCIL OF CARTHAGE (III) 397
The Canon of the Sacred Scripture

Can. 36 (or otherwise 47). [It has been decided] that nothing except the Canonical Scriptures should be read in the Church under the name of the Divine Scriptures. But the Canonical Scriptures are: Genesis, Exodus . . . END QUOTE

The Scriptures were originally intended to be heard, not read. Faith comes by what is heard . . . Romans 10:17.

Most people couldn’t read until the Industrial Revolution at end of the 18th century. Fifty percent of the world’s population are still illiterate. Twenty percent of the population of the U.S. is functionally illiterate (can’t read above a fifth grade level).

God didn’t make salvation contingent on a book. That idea came from Martin Luther in the 16th century with his novel doctrine of Sola Scriptura. Protestantism coincided with the invention of the printing press.

Jim Dandy

I agree with everything you state. But…in the interest of the hearing impaired, it is very nice to have a missal to follow along. Some can’t hear.

 

[DebChris]

Most of the Catholics at Mass don’t even open the missal unless it is for a specific prayer or the Creed.

I guess we are just auditory learners.

At a time when few people could read, St. John of the Cross wrote “the priest reads the Word and we read the priest.” In other words, we hear the Word of God proclaimed when we attend Mass.

The Biblical readings for each Mass are contained in the Missal, in the Proper of the Mass for the particular day. All the other prayers used for a particular Mass are also contained in the daily Missal. There was a time when every Catholic carried his/her own missal to Mass rather than depending on the parish to provide missalettes. Using a missal means that those who wish to follow along can easily find the reading of the day. There is no fumbling for a particular passage as there would be using a Bible.

Mass is not the only time when Catholics are encouraged to pray. We may bring our Bible to prayer or study groups. St. Jerome said ignorance of scripture is ignorance of God. Many of us not only listen to the Word proclaimed at Mass, we read the Bible at home. The Liturgy of the Hours contains the Psalms as well as other Biblical passages arranged according to day and hour. Every one is praying the same passages.

 

[Alix1912]

My husband’s parrish has Bible’s in the pews and Missals too. So does my LCMS Church.

 

[JackQ]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

We have too many kids to hang onto to carry Bibles.

 

[DianaCC]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

That whole Bible-worshiping thing started the moment they rejected Christ’s Lordship over His Body the Church. There is no “Bible Sunday” in any “church” founded by an apostle. Show me a true Catholic who is ignorant of the Bible and I’ll show you a unicorn.

 

[Seatuck]

Every year there is a Sunday dedicated to BIBLE SUNDAY encouraging the faithful to read the bible in their daily life. Why is the church worldwide having missals in the pews instead of Catholics bringing bibles ?

There is scripture all through the Mass. It’s totally based on scripture passages. We hear 3 scripture readings, psalms etc. No reason to have a Bible for that particular form of Worship. Most churches in America at least have missalettes for those who need to read the readings etc. I have mine on my Ipod.

You are correct that every Catholic should be reading the bible in their daily life. This doesn’t mean that we need to carry one any where . We can if we want to . I have mine on my Nook. And my Ipod. I used to keep my paperback copy with me but I am into technology and smaller means these days.

 

[TrueLight]

My Protestant friend went to mass with me last week and I saw him take his Bible out of the car. I said, “You don’t need it.”. He rolled his eyes and I snickered.

Now I understand why we don’t need it. The Bible readings are in the missal and I have a missal.

Furthermore, even if you put Bibles in the pew, by the time your average Catholic found the passage the priest was reading, the reading would be over.

I am tired of people saying “We hear this many readings every day in the liturgy of the word.” Does it stick? No. That’s obvious.

I remember reading in some psychology course years ago, that when you read and hear at the same time, the two reinforce each other and you understand and remember better. At leas for some people.

I really hope most of you are in fact, reading the Bible on your own.

Carefully study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

Psalm 119:97
Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long.

 

[sulkow82]

I remember reading in some psychology course years ago, that when you read and hear at the same time, the two reinforce each other and you understand and remember better. At leas for some people.

I’ll have to remember that. I just got a copy of Raymond Arroyo’s CD package for the Bible. (My favorite Bible is the same translation he used too! )

I really hope most of you are in fact, reading the Bible on your own.

I do read my Bible on my own sometimes. Of course I also sometimes say the LotH on my own.

I also just finished a little while ago a Penance where I had to read the whole Epistle to the Romans. A while ago I had to read all four gospels Passion to the end of that Gospel (over the course of a week). I would love it if more priests would give that kind of Penance.

 

[ProVobis]

Mass is not the only time when Catholics are encouraged to pray. We may bring our Bible to prayer or study groups. St. Jerome said ignorance of scripture is ignorance of God. Many of us not only listen to the Word proclaimed at Mass, we read the Bible at home. The Liturgy of the Hours contains the Psalms as well as other Biblical passages arranged according to day and hour. Every one is praying the same passages.

Good post. And there is nothing prohibiting reading ahead in your Bible or missal (before Mass starts) preparing you for the actual readings at Mass. Especially true if you have a Latin-(or some other language)-English missal. Many need multiple (name removed by moderator)uts to absorb the contents. Spaced repitition, it is called.

I remember reading in some psychology course years ago, that when you read and hear at the same time, the two reinforce each other and you understand and remember better. At leas for some people.

Exactly. It takes a little more effort to do this but it is worth it if you’re serious about absorbing the material.

 

[TrueLight]

I’ll have to remember that. I just got a copy of Raymond Arroyo’s CD package for the Bible. (My favorite Bible is the same translation he used too! )

I do read my Bible on my own sometimes. Of course I also sometimes say the LotH on my own.

I also just finished a little while ago a Penance where I had to read the whole Epistle to the Romans. A while ago I had to read all four gospels Passion to the end of that Gospel (over the course of a week). I would love it if more priests would give that kind of Penance.

Awesome!

And I’m sorry if I came across as a Bible snob, or in any way judgmental in my first post. I just get a little frustrated.

 

[pnewton]

I agree with everything you state. But…in the interest of the hearing impaired, it is very nice to have a missal to follow along. Some can’t hear.

Besides, this isn’t the pre-industrial age or the middle ages. Most people can read in many parts of the world. Thus, we have the Bible in the pews, albeit divided by use in the liturgical calendar for easy access.

FYI - I do think in this day and age that reading the Bible through should be a goal of any Christian, along with reading every encyclical issued to the faithful and at least some of the writings of their favorite saints. It sure beats television.

Oh, and This Rock magazine.

 

[Jim_Roberts]

Because there is no need. The Readings are in your missalette. Othere religions bring their Bibles because they use them for discussion

Please pray for my brothers baby Luca,who is ten months old ,my brother is not very religous and so far there has been no word of having him Baptised.

I think my brother doesnt think about the Church much and i wonder how long he will leave it or if he will ever baptise his baby at all,he is a beautiful baby,please pray that his Parents will do the right thing and bring him to be baptised soon,

i am very much tongue tied when speaking about the Church to my brothers,i am afraid to bring it up.