Why is there such a disconnect between Catholics and Bible -reading?

[RobbyS]

I don’t know if it’s some conspiracy by Protestants to put catholics down on the internet about how Catholics don’t believe in the Bible and how they don’t consider Bible-reading to be important?

What is going on?

But I can’t help thinking it’s partially true:
Even when speaking to catholics I know, they will tell me about catechism type rules, but they don’t sound spiritual in how they explain it e.g. They don’t mention how it relates to scripture, they just expound it like a rule, and not like a personalized belief. They say something like ‘You’re not supposed to such and such’ and ‘You’re supposed to go to confession’ etc. Like I can’t imagine having a conversation with a catholic about the life of Jesus or his teachings, because I suspect they either don’t believe it or haven’t read about it for themselves.

In part, it is because Priests so seldom give real homilies about the readings of the day. I as a lector will read a text aloud while some will read along from the hymnal. But most priest will ignore that, not try to bring together the readings to drive home the meaning, but go off on some tangent, The best efforts I have heard are from seminarians who do try to explain.

 

[Della]

In part, it is because Priests so seldom give real homilies about the readings of the day. I as a lector will read a text aloud while some will read along from the hymnal. But most priest will ignore that, not try to bring together the readings to drive home the meaning, but go off on some tangent, The best efforts I have heard are from seminarians who do try to explain.

No doubt there are those priests/deacons who don’t preach on the readings or go off on tangents, but I think you may be painting them with too broad a brush, although you have a point. The priest who founded our parish, blessings on his memory (he did more good than anyone will ever know this side of eternity, so don’t get me wrong about him), used to have two main topics: death or cheerfulness. My dh and I would sit in anticipation of his homilies and after his first couple of sentences we’d turn to each other and whisper: “death” or “cheerfulness”. One Easter he had a coffin brought into the nave as “show and tell” kind of help for his homily on the resurrection. That was the topper! LOL! Anyway, the priest who follow him was the social gospel type. No sin, just “wrong choices”, etc. But after him our priests have been very good about preaching from the readings, which we truly appreciate.

 

[fred_conty]

I don’t know if it’s some conspiracy by Protestants to put catholics down on the internet about how Catholics don’t believe in the Bible and how they don’t consider Bible-reading to be important?

What is going on?

But I can’t help thinking it’s partially true:
Even when speaking to catholics I know, they will tell me about catechism type rules, but they don’t sound spiritual in how they explain it e.g. They don’t mention how it relates to scripture, they just expound it like a rule, and not like a personalized belief. They say something like ‘You’re not supposed to such and such’ and ‘You’re supposed to go to confession’ etc. Like I can’t imagine having a conversation with a catholic about the life of Jesus or his teachings, because I suspect they either don’t believe it or haven’t read about it for themselves.

I read quite a while ago, in a catholic article, that the bishops in the U.S. didn’t push bible reading, but rather the catechism. The reason being that there were so many who were not educated. But even so, in each Mass, there are two scriptural readings, and over time, catholics did know some of the bible by just listening to the readings at Mass.
And since the bible wasn’t pushed, the bishops did press for people knowing their catechism.

Today you still don’t hear many sermons on the importance of reading the bible. But the church has encouraged the formation of bible groups. And catholic literature explains the bible more today than ever before. So we have a lot of catching up to do. But we still need to know the churches teaching, especially the catechism, since that is the veil we read thru to understand the bible properly. So we have a double duty, knowledge of both bible and catechism.

And this is the main reason that the catholic faith is taught the same world over. Since we have the leaders’ instruction thru the catechism, we are of the same truth the world over.
The catechism is the guide to understanding the bible. And there is only one official catechism universally in the church.

There is a danger for a catholic to think that the catechism is the only thing they need.
But the word of God lives in the bible today as of old, and all need to feed on this word of life. Not just from an apollegical view, but from nourturing of spiritual life.

The rosary is one form of this. The idea of the rosary is taken from the verse in the bible that says, “…and Mary kept in mind all these things, pondering them in her heart.” Lk 2;19

Just some thoughts.

 

[bmonk]

Some historical perspective: Because of the Protestant stress on Sola Scriptura, and individual reading and interpreting of the Bible, there grew in the Church a mistrust of Bible Study except “for the experts.” By the time of the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, most Catholics did not realize that Bible Study was allowed, much less encouraged.

However, we have reclaimed our Scriptural heritage, with much encouragement of our pastors. Homilies are not to be divorced from the Bible readings of the liturgy. Individual Bible reading and study is encouraged. Many commentaries have been developed to help individuals or groups do their study. The monastic practices of Lectio Divina has been popularized and spread widely.

We also have a liturgy rich in Scriptural passages and images. Daily we recount the Institution Narrative at every single Mass. We have a 2-3 year Lectionary that reads from nearly every book of the Bible, and tries to do justice to each author. We have the Liturgy of the Hours, with even more Psalms and readings.

 

[bmonk]

I’ve already read the bible, why should I read it again? Really, I think prayer is more important because it directs my mind towards worshiping God… The Bible is meant to teach.

…so if I’ve already learned about Jesus, then I think the next step as a Christian is to apply what I’ve learned through prayer and actions.

Yes. But the Bible is so rich, so dense with meaning, that re-reading and re-study helps enrich our understanding, helps remind us of things we tend to forget. And this is one reason the Church has a lectionary–to bring us again and again to the key texts and images, to help us find new insights for our lives.

Would you say, “Why do I need to eat again? I had dinner last night,” or “I had meat loaf and potatoes already?” We eat often because we need nourishment often. Hence the nourishment of the Mass–as well as nourishment of the Word, and of regular daily prayer.

 

[Regina_Love]

I love the Bible! I will discuss anything from the Bible with you anytime! It is the divinely inspired, revealed word of God, so if you say you are a Catholic, you really should read the Book and study it.

But I know what you mean. It makes me very uncomfortable when I try to discuss teachings from the Bible with other Catholics, and they come back at me, not with Scripture, but with a rule from the catechism. This is like substituting the teachings of Christ for the traditions of men, which we are expressly warned not to do. I think a lot of the reasons for many Catholics not being comfortable with the Bible is because traditionally the church did not encourage people to read it or understand it without the direction of a priest or religious. Again, the Bible itself exhorts us to do the opposite.
I find the many discrepancies between what I read in Scripture and what the church teaches to be quite fascinating and a great source of the deepening of my own personal faith in and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

I also love the scriptures! It’s great to read the teachings of God, and further convert my soul to his truth. The Bible, and the Catechism disagree with the bolded statement above. The Catechism is NOT the traditions of men. It is Sacred Tradition! Meaning the Traditions it teaches about were given to us by God! Jesus didn’t just give us the Bible, and say here you go. No! He gave us the Church first! The Church taught Jesus’ wisdom orally, “Oral Tradition”, and lived/practiced the faith, “Sacred Tradition” for 300 years before, she comitted it to writting in the New Testament., “Written Tradition.”

Be careful not to let protestant traditions of man such as Bible alone, or Faith alone creep into your beliefs. The Bible, Sacred Tradition, and the Teaching Magisterium of the Catholic Church are of equal importance my friend.

God taught us that the Catholic Church is the support & foundation of the truth! God said it will endure until the end of time! 1 Tim 3:15

**We are taught frequently in the Bible to stand firm, hold fast, or cling to the Traditons of the Catholic Church which the apostles handed on to us. 1 Cor 11:2 2nd Thess 2:15 ** The Oral Traditions we are “to guard as a rich trust” 2 Tim 1:13 We are “to entrus to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.” 2nd Tim 2:2 This is the TEACHING MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH, which knows the deposit of the faith. that is 4000 years of wisdom!!!

The Bible is ment to be understood within the wisdom of the Catholic faith. “Know this first of all, that there is no prophecy of scripture that is a matter of personal interpretation” 2 Peter 20 and “Speaking of these things as he does in all his letters. In them there are some things hard to understand that the ignorant and unstable distort to their own destruction, just as they do the other scriptures.” 1 John 3:16

Jesus promised the Disciples who were the first Bishops of the Catholic Church, “The Adovocate, the Holy Spirit that the Father will send in my name-He will teach you everything, and remind you of all that * told you.” Jesus promised the Holy Spirit would teach the leaders of the faith! *** The Oral Traditions, Teachings, and Sacred Traditions of the Catholic Church are from God! **** So please do not scoff at their teachings, and belittle them as less than our written Tradition the Bible.**

There is no discrepancy between the Bible & what the Church teaches! 1st the Bible is Catholic teaching, secondly people, in their ignorance, misunderstand the Bible or the teachings of the Church, and mistakenly believe there is a problem where none exists.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Too much to reply to, so I will simply relate my experience on this matter.

I was born and raised a Presbyterian. I am a Catholic Convert.

I married a Cradle Catholic. We raised our children in both churches. We attended either service randomly and the kids went all the religious programs available to each. As young adults, they chose confirmation as Catholics. When they had left home, I had no problem attending Catholic services with my wife.

Let me then state here categorically that NOBODY reads the Bible like Catholics do.

…[omitted for space]

If you have a question about the faith, the Catholic Church has the answer based on scripture. Even the traditions of the church have their basis in scripture. Who would know these things better than the very people who wrote them?

NOBODY reads the Bible like the Catholics.

Michael Hager
Some Thoughts

Michael, thank you for sharing your testimony! May God Bless you and you family

Jose

 

[sirach2v4]

I don’t know if it’s some conspiracy by Protestants to put catholics down on the internet about how Catholics don’t believe in the Bible and how they don’t consider Bible-reading to be important?

What is going on?

But I can’t help thinking it’s partially true:
Even when speaking to catholics I know, they will tell me about catechism type rules, but they don’t sound spiritual in how they explain it e.g. They don’t mention how it relates to scripture, they just expound it like a rule, and not like a personalized belief. They say something like ‘You’re not supposed to such and such’ and ‘You’re supposed to go to confession’ etc. Like I can’t imagine having a conversation with a catholic about the life of Jesus or his teachings, because I suspect they either don’t believe it or haven’t read about it for themselves.

You’re raising several issues.

1. I’ve heard it from local priests that Catholics say they want Bible study, but they don’t support it, with their attendance. So, there is ambivalence towards it.

I think there’s ambivalence because Catholics are “afraid” to read the Bible and make the wrong conclusions from it. And, I’ve seen Bishops who say the same, that people can go wrong reading the Bible on their own. It’s a simple matter of staying withing the bounds of Catholic teaching. Don’t allow yourself to reach a conclusion that disagrees with the Church.

1. From the very beginning, even in the New Testament, the writers of the gospels, and hence, the church, have been interpreting scripture in light of the gospels, themselves. It is natural for the Church to compile a handy reference like the Catechism, to summarize the teachings of the Church.

For example, in Mt’s gospel, he quotes the prophet Isaiah about a virgin shall conceive and bear a child, etc. and Matthew says that this is fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

I can’t do better than to refer you to a book on sacred tradition in the Church, by Msgr George Agius, see here amazon.com/Tradition-Church-George-Agius/dp/0895558211/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363323134&sr=1-1&keywords=tradition+and+the+church

 

[michaelhager]

In part, it is because Priests so seldom give real homilies about the readings of the day. I as a lector will read a text aloud while some will read along from the hymnal. But most priest will ignore that, not try to bring together the readings to drive home the meaning, but go off on some tangent, The best efforts I have heard are from seminarians who do try to explain.

Be careful you don’t sound like someone who says “All Catholics do this!” or “All protestants to that.”

I am blessed to be a part of the largest parish in our state. Sometimes a homily may be directed at a current event and how we as Catholics should respond to it, but MOST of the time Our priests give a lesson about the readings and how they relate to each other and how they relate to us today.

One of our priests attends our weekly men’s Bible Study group and participates in the discussions about what passages mean and how the old testament relates to the new.

As a former Protestant I am thrilled that we are so focused on the bible!

 

[rjmiller]

The bible is not disconnected from the Catholic Church. We are encouraged to read the bible. But there was a time when there was a strong concern that an interpretation could be wrong and emphasis was placed on learning from those qualified in the instruction of the Catholic understanding.

Note: It has been by experience that there have been times when I though there was a difference in a Protestant and Catholic understanding on a subject when in fact we were really saying the same thing in a different way. I remember in school learning that the unforgivable sin was despair. A Protestant I know taught that the unforgivable sin was not believing in God. Isn’t that the same thing? We do have some different beliefs but they are not of the hierarchy of beliefs. Ex: deity of Jesus; the Trinity.

 

[fjoseraj]

We Catholics believe as Christ taught, the Church is His Bride. Protestants do not know the Bible better than Catholics. They usually just have memorizing passages ingrained into their minds. Not that that is a bad thing. Far from it. But reciting passages is not the same thing as knowing them. If a protestant understood Christ and His will, they would become Catholic. Look at Dr. Scott Hahn. The truth of the matter is that the Catholic Church gets all the best protestants, and protestantism gets all the worst Catholics. Think about it.

In my opinion i could say that every protestant may argue that they only know every text of the Bible when they habitually reads and memorize it. We Catholics if so, can contend that when they know every word of it, whether or why they don't follow the lines. For example, they could say every advise of Lord Jesus are to be followed and every one should obey the commandments and rightly need no look at Mary. Then ask them why don't they follow the word of the Lord when at the cross, 'Behold, your mother'. When the Lord had tole that no one should be called as 'Father' why do they call their own physical donor as their 'Father'. Arguments may continue but one should be prepared to face. Whereas you can point out saying that Catholics only do services to humanity what the Lord also intends, but who do people from protestants don't do anything.

 

[kkollwitz]

To paraphrase GKC: Bible-reading has not been tried by Catholics and found wanting; it has been found difficult and left untried.

 

[RobbyS]

Be careful you don’t sound like someone who says “All Catholics do this!” or “All protestants to that.”

I am blessed to be a part of the largest parish in our state. Sometimes a homily may be directed at a current event and how we as Catholics should respond to it, but MOST of the time Our priests give a lesson about the readings and how they relate to each other and how they relate to us today.

One of our priests attends our weekly men’s Bible Study group and participates in the discussions about what passages mean and how the old testament relates to the new.

As a former Protestant I am thrilled that we are so focused on the bible!

I have been in many different parishes during the past forty years, and have been a lector for more than twenty. So I am reporting what I have witnessed. It takes great skill to weave together the different exerpts from Scripture into a narrative, but one can get get good examples from the internet.

 

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[guanophore]

  Why would you seek to be insulted for what other people do?

It was an all encompassing insult. We didn’t have to “seek it out”.

 I’ve been around for a while and for every one Catholic that truly has a relationship with the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. There are 5000 (don't hold me to that number) Catholics that think is good and right to bow to statues (For example).

This is a judgmental statement on your part. You have presumed to know what is in the heart of another by looking at the outside.

 It’s a worry some thing. This doesn’t mean that other than Catholics don’t have their issues, but we are talking about Catholics here. The church the world looks to for the Christian view on issues the world is dealing with. It's not a indictment, its just the way it is.

You are making indictments.

Show me in scripture where it says one should trust the church more then what scripture, or the Lord God says.

The New Testament was written by Catholics, for Catholics. It cannot be properly understood outside of the faith that produced it.

Though needless to say prophecy isn’t private, and edification is for one another, but on the other hand Abraham or Jacob, or Jeremiah or Elijah or Jonah or Job or even Moses for that matter would beg to differ on you comment of “me and Jesus”. Many of the prophets where on their own, other than the Word of the Lord being with them.

All of these prophets were members of a faith community. However, the Church is different. Jesus does not separate Himself from His One Body, the Church. All who are joined to the Head are joined with one another.

I would say that qualifies as “me and Jesus” walk wouldn’t you? Though they did it amongst the Israelites, doesn’t mean they weren’t alone in their walk with the Lord.

Are you justifiying being separated from other members of the Body? ARe you they eye, sayng to the hand, I hve no need of you?

 

[michaelhager]

I have been in many different parishes during the past forty years, and have been a lector for more than twenty. So I am reporting what I have witnessed. It takes great skill to weave together the different exerpts from Scripture into a narrative, but one can get get good examples from the internet.

I beg to differ. It is not difficult at all when you realize that the various readings chosen were done so specifically for the fact that they relate to the season in which they are being read (Advent, Lent, ordinary time,) and to each other in support of the scriptures that they quote and the lesson to be learned. Here are three examples that I compiled for our bible study of the mass readings last year…
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter
I am not a biblical scholar, simply a catholic lay leader. Our priests do a much better job of this than I do every week.

 

[Matt_Guitar_Man]

When talking to so called “Bible only” Christians I alwys have the same problem. I say “what about what Christ said in Lukes Gospel” or “Thats not what Paul said in his letter to the Corrinthians” and they always want to know the exact verse numbers.
As craddel Catholics we seem to absorb scripture especialy the Gospels, we kind of know it and learn it through a sort of osmosses.
From the time I was born I have been going to mass twice weekly for most of my life, and I reminde my “Bible only” friends that If a Catholic attends mass every day he will have the entire Bible read to him every three years.
I find it very frustrating to have someone stand defiant and basicaly say I wont beleive thats in the bible because you dont have the verse numbers at your finger tips and to look smug and say “see I knew it all along Catholics don’t read the Bible”

 

[pete_29]

Why do some Bible believing Christians not believe when Jesus says, “This Is My Body”?

 

[RobbyS]

I beg to differ. It is not difficult at all when you realize that the various readings chosen were done so specifically for the fact that they relate to the season in which they are being read (Advent, Lent, ordinary time,) and to each other in support of the scriptures that they quote and the lesson to be learned. Here are three examples that I compiled for our bible study of the mass readings last year…
Fifth Sunday of Lent
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Fifth Sunday of Easter
I am not a biblical scholar, simply a catholic lay leader. Our priests do a much better job of this than I do every week.

One has to consider one’s “audience,”most of whom are trying to listen to disconnected pieces of Scripture whose connection is anything but self-evident.

 

[Michael_Allen]

I reminde my “Bible only” friends that If a Catholic attends mass every day he will have the entire Bible read to him every three years.

Hi Matt,

You may be unintentionally misleading people - you only read about half the old testament (perhaps less) in weekday/sunday masses. You don’t cover quite all the new testament either - there are gaps of missing verses in the epistles, and even whole chapters are missed from Revelation (chapters, 2,6,8,9,12,13,16,17 and 19 are never read in weekday or sunday mass).

I think another good reason for reading the bible as a whole is you get much more of a sense of the flow of it, and the context of the readings - that can be rather lost in the lectionary as it does rather dot around a lot (especially in the old testament).

God bless +