Catholics must know Bible to live Christian lives, Pope says

WordofGod · Oct 7, 2008

Michie said:
CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -

Continued- [URL="http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/viewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=1597"]http://www.nzcatholic.org.nz/viewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=1597[/URL]

Amen to that sister. If his words abide in you and you abide in him you can ask what you will and it shall be done unto you.

Rhamiel · Oct 7, 2008

Ravanonthecross

If you met me; you'd know, that I'm no where near as 'firey' in real-life as on the 'net. I've got a heart; I tend to over-do the whole Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus thing, as Trads see it as its been interpreted Traditionally Pre-VII. I struggle like the next guy; it's just that I HAVE to be Bastion of Catholicism, for my family and friends' sake; for what other example of a loving Catholic guy could I give other than my own heart and soul out there in real life?! I'm not perfect; but if I cannot even live like a pious Catholic for their sake: What good am I?!---none, if I do not try at least to be faithful to Christ.

lol, in real life, I am far more sarcastic and flipant then I am online lol, but I never really got the hang of putting my humor into text form, so I am more serious online, I always try to be polite though...
and i am derailing another thread sorry lol

Michie · Oct 7, 2008

VATICAN CITY (CNS) --

Reading Scripture well requires the ability to listen, something that is increasingly difficult in today's self-absorbed world, a Philippine bishop told the Synod of Bishops on the Bible.

The short speech by Bishop Luis Tagle of Imus Oct. 7 was one of few synod interventions to draw applause, ending with a call for the church to "listen the way God listens" and become a voice for the poor and suffering.

Bishop Tagle was one of 23 bishops who took the floor on the first day of individual speeches limited to five minutes each.

He said the church can best help people learn to read Scripture by teaching them how to listen in faith, opening their hearts to God's word and allowing it to transform them and their actions. The church should offer "formation in holistic listening," he said.

The bishop said the modern world offers ample evidence of the tragic lack of listening, including family conflicts, generational gaps and violence.

"People are trapped in a milieu of monologues, inattentiveness, noise, intolerance and self-absorption. The church can provide a milieu of dialogue, respect, mutuality and self-transcendence," he said.

He told the synod that it was important to remember that God not only speaks in Scripture, but listens as well -- "especially to the just, widows, orphans, persecuted and the poor who have no voice."

"The church must learn to listen the way God listens and must lend its voice to the voiceless," he said to a ripple of applause in the synod hall.

Several bishops spoke about the need for better preaching about Scripture. Australian Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra-Goulburn suggested the preparation of a general homiletic directory to ensure a more solid and systematic preparation for preachers in seminaries and formation houses.

He pointed out that the Second Vatican Council called for a renewal of preaching, with a shift from the sermon as an exposition of Catholic doctrine and devotion to the homily as an explanation and application of Scripture.

Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo of Manila, Philippines, suggested a number of guidelines to help Catholics read and interpret the Bible. Among other things, he suggested that there be more interaction among biblical scholars and pastoral workers.

"We need to approach the Bible with a spirit of humility; it enables us to value the interpretation of the Bible by the poor," he said.

His words were echoed by Bishop Benjamin Ramaroson of Farafangana, Madagascar, who said that although most of the faithful in his country cannot read or write they have a strong sense of the sacred and understand the Bible's symbolic language. Biblical passages often deal with the poor and suffering, and Bishop Ramaroson said his people's thoughtful comments on the readings might surprise many experts.

Archbishop Pierre-Marie Carre of Albi, France, was one of several bishops who spoke about the value of "lectio divina," or prayerful daily reading of Scripture. He said it's been encouraged in his country, but that the church needs to better promote the idea in a simple way.

An Eastern-rite prelate, Romanian Bishop Florentin Crihalmeanu of Cluj-Gherla, said the Eastern churches' traditional use of icons may be useful for such daily individual reading, especially when it involves children.

Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg, Manitoba, metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, called for careful preparation for the Scripture readings during liturgies. The celebrant who reads the Gospel should master the language and proclaim the text with warmth and care, he said.

"It cannot be done mechanically or carelessly," he said.

U.S. Father Glen Lewandowski, master general of the Crosiers, said the eucharistic prayer, where the Bible story of the Last Supper is echoed, is one liturgical area in need of improvement.

He said too often the celebrant recites the prayer with "evident lack of evangelical joy." The eucharistic prayer, he said, "is often rushed, mumbled, uttered without accent or spirit and even faint and unheard."

Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest said sensational publications today, such as the apocryphal "Gospel of Judas," risk causing confusion among the faithful and even some priests. The greatest risk is that many people have no idea how to distinguish between credible and noncredible sources about the life of Christ, he said.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805089.htm

Carolyn H · Oct 7, 2008

Rhamiel said:
TLF
the Holy Father was talking to the Bishops of Uruguay, not the US or UK or France, but one of those nations that probably has a lot of its adult population who can not read. Also notice how he calls on the priests and Bishops to help them learn to read the Bible.
This is an ideal, I am sure the Holy Father knows we will not get 100% literacy in the Church, but it is something to work for, just as there will always be hunger and poverty but we work agianst them and try to lesson their hold on the world. Now we are being called to treat illiteracy like we treat these other old foes of mankind

AMEN!!! For centuries Missionaries have translated the bible into the languages of the people group they worked with, and then taught them to read. This is very do-able.

I read my bible, pray and sing spiritual songs when I feel like I am not as close to my Lord as I would like to be!

Michie · Oct 8, 2008

VATICAN CITY (CNS) --

The Catholic Church wants people to know and love the word of God -- the Bible -- so that they will come to know and love the Word of God -- Jesus Christ.

While the world Synod of Bishops is focusing on ways to educate Catholics in the importance of reading, understanding and praying with the Bible, several participants addressing the synod Oct. 6-7 insisted that people understand that for Christians the Word of God is Jesus.

"When asked what 'the word of God' is, many believers respond, 'the Bible.' The response is not wrong, but it is incomplete," said Italian Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, rector of Rome's Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Because the word of God is more than the Bible, he told the synod Oct. 7, Christianity is not so much a "religion of the book" as a "religion of the Word," who is Jesus.

Brazilian Bishop Filippo Santoro of Petropolis said it is through reading and hearing the written word that Christians can come into contact with Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, introducing the synod's work Oct. 6, said, "to begin, we must start from the mystery of a God who speaks, a God who is himself the Word and gives himself to be known by humanity in many ways."

Through creation, through his covenant with the Israelites, through the prophets and the Scriptures, God reveals himself, said the cardinal, the synod's recording secretary. His revelation becomes complete in Jesus Christ.

The Bible contains the essential account of how God has spoken to humanity, he said.

"Thanks to the Bible, humanity knows it has been called by God; the Spirit helps humanity listen and welcome the word of God, thus becoming the 'ecclesia' (church), the community assembled by the Word," Cardinal Ouellet said.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805104.htm

thereselittleflower · Oct 9, 2008

Michie said:
VATICAN CITY (CNS) --

The Catholic Church wants people to know and love the word of God -- the Bible -- so that they will come to know and love the Word of God -- Jesus Christ.

While the world Synod of Bishops is focusing on ways to educate Catholics in the importance of reading, understanding and praying with the Bible, several participants addressing the synod Oct. 6-7 insisted that people understand that for Christians the Word of God is Jesus.

"When asked what 'the word of God' is, many believers respond, 'the Bible.' The response is not wrong, but it is incomplete," said Italian Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, rector of Rome's Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Because the word of God is more than the Bible, he told the synod Oct. 7, Christianity is not so much a "religion of the book" as a "religion of the Word," who is Jesus.

Brazilian Bishop Filippo Santoro of Petropolis said it is through reading and hearing the written word that Christians can come into contact with Jesus, the Word made flesh.

Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, introducing the synod's work Oct. 6, said, "to begin, we must start from the mystery of a God who speaks, a God who is himself the Word and gives himself to be known by humanity in many ways."

Through creation, through his covenant with the Israelites, through the prophets and the Scriptures, God reveals himself, said the cardinal, the synod's recording secretary. His revelation becomes complete in Jesus Christ.

The Bible contains the essential account of how God has spoken to humanity, he said.

"Thanks to the Bible, humanity knows it has been called by God; the Spirit helps humanity listen and welcome the word of God, thus becoming the 'ecclesia' (church), the community assembled by the Word," Cardinal Ouellet said.

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0805104.htm

"When asked what 'the word of God' is, many believers respond, 'the Bible.' The response is not wrong, but it is incomplete," said Italian Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, rector of Rome's Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life.

Because the word of God is more than the Bible, he told the synod Oct. 7, Christianity is not so much a "religion of the book" as a "religion of the Word," who is Jesus.

It is important that the words of our Pope be not understood in a way that makes Catholicism a "religion of the book".

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Islam is a "religion of the book"
Fundamentalist Protestantism is a group of denominations that are "of the Book"

We need to get more Catholics to read the Bible, but not in a vacuum, we have to make sure they have a proper understanding of the sacrements and the role of the Church

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

thereselittleflower said:
Paternalistic? Acting out of fear? I don't think so. LOL Why are we being falsely accused like this in the Catholic forum?

And what about those who can't read, or don't have access to the bile? Are they prevented from being christinas?

Where does Christ command the rank and file laity to read the scripture?

Is Christ the scripture?

It is possible to turn the scripture into an idol. . . . . .

The word of God is not found only within the pages of the bible.

The fullness of the word of God to us is found in the teachings of the Church. .

I yi yi yi yi yi yi! :doh:

That is one whacky dacky statement. maybe I should burn my Bible then because it might be an idol. Oy!

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

thereselittleflower said:
That is exactly what I have been saying the Holy Father has done..

EXACTLY the other point i was making. Thank you for stating it again.

HEAR the word and KEEP it - - the scriptures tell us how can man be saved unless he HEAR the gospel (not read) and how shall he HEAR unless one PREACHES (again, not read).

The elitest mentality I fear is held by some reminds me of the same elitest mentality the Early Church had to deal with from the Judaizers. We must always be on our guard that we are not drawn into such ways of thinking.

NOT read His word?! Catholic's what are you saying? If you only knew how this thinking comes across to those outside your Church. It reads like blasphemy.

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

namericanboy said:
kisstheson said:

Holy cow! I'll pretend I never read this.

"the words I speak uno you are spirit and life." John 6:63
"Heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away." Matther 24:35
"You (Jesus) have the message of eternal life." John 6:68
"If you make My word your home you will be My disciples. You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free." John 7:31
"Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth!" John 17:17

Are you sure that reading the words of Jesus doesn't bring us closer to Him?
[/quote

Amen Sis..Preach it..

Click to expand...

Thanks!

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Kisstheson

I yi yi yi yi yi yi! That is one whacky dacky statement. maybe I should burn my Bible then because it might be an idol. Oy

the Bible is a good thing, it is a wonderful gift from God, who loves us and gives us good things, but it is sometimes the good things that we have to becareful of. The sun is a good thing, God placed it in the heavens to light our days and warm the earth, ancient man used the the length of the day and the placement of the sun to keep time and tell the advance of the seasons, but many pagans worshiped the sun, this does not make the sun bad, but when anything takes the place in your heart that is reserved for God, if you worship ANYTHING other then God then that is the evil of idoletry.
No one is saying burn the bible, no one is saying do not read the Bible. It is just a concern that some people might treat the Bible like an Idol

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

thereselittleflower said:
That is exactly what I have been saying the Holy Father has done..

EXACTLY the other point i was making. Thank you for stating it again.

HEAR the word and KEEP it - - the scriptures tell us how can man be saved unless he HEAR the gospel (not read) and how shall he HEAR unless one PREACHES (again, not read).

The elitest mentality I fear is held by some reminds me of the same elitest mentality the Early Church had to deal with from the Judaizers. We must always be on our guard that we are not drawn into such ways of thinking.

So those who read the word are elitest? have you never heard of the bereans? "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Therefore many of them believed; also of honorable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few." (Acts 17:11-12).

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Kisstheson

NOT read His word?! Catholic's what are you saying? If you only knew how this thinking comes across to those outside your Church. It reads like blasphemy.

TLF seems really worried, and I am a little worried, that some people will get it in their minds that if a person can not read the Bible, then they are not a real Christian. We are trying to point out that in the History of the Church, most Christians could not read. Even today there are lots of Christians who can not read. Catholicism is not an elitest faith, if you can not read you can still be a good Catholic.

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

Rhamiel said:
Kisstheson

the Bible is a good thing, it is a wonderful gift from God, who loves us and gives us good things, but it is sometimes the good things that we have to becareful of. The sun is a good thing, God placed it in the heavens to light our days and warm the earth, ancient man used the the length of the day and the placement of the sun to keep time and tell the advance of the seasons, but many pagans worshiped the sun, this does not make the sun bad, but when anything takes the place in your heart that is reserved for God, if you worship ANYTHING other then God then that is the evil of idoletry.
No one is saying burn the bible, no one is saying do not read the Bible. It is just a concern that some people might treat the Bible like an Idol

His word is to be cherished. no one should be encouraging people not to read the bible. (SOME ARE encouraging just that.) frankly the whole discussion makes me angry. man... how can anyone call themself christian and talk like that? Catholic or not..is disheartening. Never heard such a thing in all my life. :doh:

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Kisstheson

So those who read the word are elitest?

I love your zeal for our Lord and for the scriptures that were written while the writers hearts were on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit.
But you seem to be missing our point,
can you be a good christian and not know how to read?
being able to read does not make someone an elitest, but saying that someone is more holy then someone else because the first person has been blessed with a formal education, well that does someone an elitest

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

Rhamiel said:
Kisstheson
TLF seems really worried, and I am a little worried, that some people will get it in their minds that if a person can not read the Bible, then they are not a real Christian. We are trying to point out that in the History of the Church, most Christians could not read. Even today there are lots of Christians who can not read. Catholicism is not an elitest faith, if you can not read you can still be a good Catholic.

Of course if you can't read the Bible you are still a good Catholic. absolutely! Jesus loves and cherishes every soul, even the least if His brethren. But to discourage people form reading the gospels is not from His heart. come on...

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Kisstheson

His word is to be cherished. no one should be encouraging people not to read the bible. (SOME ARE encouraging just that.) frankly the whole discussion makes me angry. man... how can anyone call themself christian and talk like that? Catholic or not..is disheartening. Never heard such a thing in all my life

I am sorry you are getting upset, you are one of the most peacful people I know in CF, if you would like to PM me some of your concerns that would be fine, I am ok with posting on this thread but if it is bothering you we can talk via PM, I do not see anybody here saying that people should not read the Bible, TLF is pointing out that not everyone can read the bible. And that historically more emphasis was on hearing the gospel then reading the gospel, she does not want to see that legacy dragged through the mud.

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

kisstheson

Of course if you can't read the Bible you are still a good Catholic. absolutely! Jesus loves and cherishes every soul, even the least if His brethren. But to discourage people form reading the gospels is not from His heart. come on...

can you show where anyone has said that others should not read the Bible?

kisstheson · Oct 9, 2008

Rhamiel said:
Kisstheson
I love your zeal for our Lord and for the scriptures that were written while the writers hearts were on fire with the power of the Holy Spirit.
But you seem to be missing our point,
can you be a good christian and not know how to read?
being able to read does not make someone an elitest, but saying that someone is more holy then someone else because the first person has been blessed with a formal education, well that does someone an elitest

Whose saying that they are more holy because they read the Bible? i'm not. Who said you can't be a good christian and not know how to read? that's ridiculous. This is christ's words we are talking about.

"Thy words are most precious, sweeter than honey from the honey comb." psalm 119

discouraging catholic's from reading the word? y'all should read psalm 119 today and then have a discussion about it.

Rhamiel · Oct 9, 2008

Kisstheson

Whose saying that they are more holy because they read the Bible? i'm not. Who said you can't be a good christian and not know how to read?

Oh No, I did not mean to make it sound like I was accusing you of that, but there are people out there who say things like that

Catholics must know Bible to live Christian lives, Pope says

True LOVE never Fails and Casts out fear.

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