Posted on 12/12/2012 1:23:46 PM PST by Alex Murphy
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Urging Catholics to “pick up the Bible” and read it during the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI said the Scriptures recount the story of God’s love for humanity and the steps he took throughout history to save all men and women.
“That which enlightens and gives full meaning to the history of the world and of the human person began to shine in the grotto of Bethlehem. It is the mystery we soon will contemplate at Christmas: our salvation in Jesus Christ,” the pope said Dec. 12 during his weekly general audience.
A 100-member delegation from the Mexican state of Michoacan was among the 4,500 visitors and pilgrims at the audience; artists and craftspeople in the state created the Nativity scene already decorating the stage of the audience hall. With the audience being held on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Michoacan delegates and others waved banners with the famous image.
Also present were cardinals, bishops, priests and laypeople from North, South and Central America who were celebrating the Guadalupe feast day during in a Vatican congress marking the 15th anniversary of the Synod of Bishops for America.
Pope Benedict said the word “advent,” which means “coming” or “presence,” in ancient times was used to refer to the official visit of the king or emperor to a certain province.
“For us Christians, Advent indicates a wonderful and moving reality: God himself has crossed the threshold of heaven,” the pope said. With the birth of Christ, “he is the king who came down to visit this poor province, which is earth, and gave us the gift of his visit, assuming our flesh, becoming human like us.”
From the creation of the world to Noah and the flood, from the call of Abraham to the giving of the law on Mount Sinai, the Bible is the story of how God repeatedly has acted in history to demonstrate his presence, his love for humanity and his desire to save all men and women, Pope Benedict said.
“Advent calls us to recall the history of his presence and always remember that God did not cut himself off from the world, he isn’t absent and he does not abandon us,” but “he comes to meet us in the different ways, which we must learn to discern,” the pope said.
“And we, with our faith, hope and charity, are called each day to recognize and give witness to his presence in a world that is often superficial and distracted,” he said.
The role of Christians today, he said, is to make sure that “the light that lit up the manger in Bethlehem” shines through their lives.
You wrote:
“My statement is entirely accurate.”
No, it is completely inaccurate.
“The Catholic church doesn’t encourage its members to study the Bible.”
Yes, it does: the pope just did - hence, this very thread disproves your claim. Did that even occur to you? The CCC encourages it. The indulgence attached to daily study of scripture does.
“As long as you’re a good Catholic and know the names of the saints, make the sign of the cross, pray the rosary, give your money and attend church every week etc...”
Your ignorance is incredible.
“You’re not going to convince me otherwise.”
Those who deliberately choose to be ignorant rarely are convinced no matter how the facts stand against them.
Catechism of the Catholic Church:
133 The Church “forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful... to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.
The simple fact is an ignorant person who only cares about being ignorant wouldn’t know that there are afforts around the world to encourage Catholics to read the Bible: Example: http://berem.svetopismo.si/
Oh my, well if the RCC encourages Catholics to read the Bible, why haven’t they?
Probably because then they’d realize all the flaws in their own doctrine when put to the test of scripture.
You wrote:
“Oh my, well if the RCC encourages Catholics to read the Bible, why haven’t they?”
Why don’t Protestants read the Bible? Most of the Protestants I’ve met are incredibly ignorant about the Bible. At least two former Protestant ministers I’ve met have complained to me about how Biblically ignorant Protestants are. The simple answer is some Catholics read the Bible. Some don’t. Some Protestants read the Bible. Some don’t. Catholics here at FR tend to read the Bible quite often. As always people do not always do what they are encouraged to do - no matter how beneficial it is for them.
Just last night I and a friend (who is a former Protestant pastor) were discussing a Bible class we want at a parish in the near future. We know dozens will attend. Should be hundreds, but we’ll happily take the dozens if they are the ones who show up. We’re going to study the Song of Songs. I just finished another Bible class at another parish this past Tuesday night. That same parish will have a 7 week long course on the Gospels in the spring, and a short 7 week course on the Old Testament next year (along with classes on the letters of St. Paul and a 3 week course on Acts of the Apostles). What I really want - and will get eventually - is a 4 year course where every single verse of the Bible is gone over in class. I’m the one who will have to find the funding, get the approval, publish the plan, etc. It will happen.
The funniest Catholic Bible class story I was ever involved with was when a friend of mine was teaching a Bible study class at a very liberal parish. She was really struggling to get people to show up. I told her I would show up the last night (I could at least give her moral support). When I arrived I was surprised to see there were exactly three students - all Protestants - including a Protestant minister. They loved the class and came away with a much greater appreciation of the Catholic faith and Catholic teachings on the Bible (which the Protestant minister went on to use). For that reason alone it was still worth it.
“Probably because then they’d realize all the flaws in their own doctrine when put to the test of scripture.”
No. There are no flaws to realize. And if that were the case, then that would have to explain why millions of Protestants don’t read the Bible either.
Ok. consider it mere anecdote, then, that my Catholic Bible study has met for 5 years, read and pondered various books of the actual Bible, and this year we are reading the Wisdom Literature.
Also, at our parish there are and have been ongoing studies of Genesis, the Gospels, etc. This weekend is our Advent Gospel Narrative retreat.
Every week in the bulletin the recommended Bible readings for the week are listed. Not sure how many people read them, but the fact that they are there means doing it is welcome, not discouraged.
Thank you, sir, and I heartily concur: Everyone should read the Bible. All 73 books of it. ;'}
Seriously ....
Even IF it's a 100% uninspired work of fiction, totally apocryphal, Tobit is a wonderful love story ... well worth the time spent to read it.
Even IF it's pure man-made uninspired history, I Maccabees is a whacking good political/military historical novel ... well worth the time spent to read it.
As for the books we all agree on ... daily Scripture reading will always be profitable.
This is “newsworthy” only to the incredibly obtuse.
133 The Church "forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful... to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.112
You're entitled to your own ignorant opinion but not your own facts, madame.
Written by St. Jerome in the 4th century.
Why don't you post something that constitutes official church teaching (rather than hearsay or innuendo) -- from any era -- to back up this charge?
Martin Luther, toward the end of his life, admitted that people knew the Scriptures better under the Popes than they did after Catholicism was removed from the scene.
But it's fine bait.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.