Do Catholics read the Bible??

Question

I have been to Catholic masses and I never see anyone with a Bible.....I'm not trying to stir the pot, I really don't know....Do Catholics read the Bible?

Answer 1

YES!

At home, not as part of the mass. (Catholic service)

Just so you know carrying around a bible does not make you a cristian, nor does not carrying around a bible make you not a christian.

Answer 2

Do Catholics Read The Bible

Answer 3

Actually, the Bible is read every day of the year in Masses around the world. There are four (sometimes only 3) readings from the Bible in each Mass. First reading is an Old Testament reading, then a Psalm, then a New Testament reading (not a Gospel reading), and finally a Gospel reading.

The Mass is divided into two main parts, the Liturgy of the Word (when the Bible readings are read), and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the Liturgy of the Eucharist, part of the Last Supper is recited by the priest, Matthew 26:26-28. That is, according to Catholic belief, when the priest consecrates the bread and wine into the Holy Eucharist.

During a period of 3 years, the entire Bible is read in the Mass. Mass is said daily in every country of the world. There is a 3 yr scriptural cycle (I forgot the name of this cycle, if any). If you go to Mass every day for 3 yrs straight, you will have heard the entire Bible, Old Testament and New Testament.

Do Catholics read the Bible? In the Mass, yes, daily. In private, many do. It depends on the person. Before Vatican II, Catholics were not encouraged to read the Bible as much as they are today. Nowadays, yes, Catholics are very much encouraged to read the Bible daily. True! I was a devout Catholic from 1987 to 2000. Bible reading was encouraged very much.

Answer 4

There are four Bible readings in every Sunday Mass. Generally
- An Old Testament reading
- A Psalm
- An Epistle reading
- A Gosple reading

The same readings are read in every Catholic Church around the world. Here is a link to which readings are read: http://www.usccb.org/nab/index.shtml

Almost all of the prayers said by the priest and the congregation are also based on Scripture.

Yes, Catholics are encouraged to read the Bible.

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Contrary to popular belief Catholics were ALWAYS encouraged to read the Bible prior to Vatican II. Before to the printing press books were insanely expensive (a Bible was approximately three years wages) and was not affordable for individual ownership, however it could be accessed at libraries and churches where it was chained to a desk (a stolen Bible or any book would be very profitable to the theif). People who could not read outnumbered the people who could. Therefore not many people would not read one even when it was available.

While venacular Bibles where available as early as the 600s the need for them was minimal as those who did read would know latin. When the printing press was available the Catholic Bible was the first bible to be printed and was somewhat more afforable to those who could read. Venaculars soon followed and with the development of technology and education Catholic Bibles were widely available. My family owns a Polish Bible over 100 years old, so Catholics were reading them.

So what did people use to study scripture? If you go into any gothic cathedral you will see stain glass windows, mosaics, reliefs and paintings of hundreds of biblical scenes. For the common person who could not read this was how they remembered the stories. Mass was sung, and if you can sing nursery ryhme you know how much easier it is to remember than a written passage from a book. Priests read scripture to the people, which is still done today.

Answer 6

Having the bible read to you is good and so are studies but there is no replacing a personal daily relationship with the word of God. You want to know how to operate Ina fallen wold? Read the manual it contains the wisdom of the universe, is powerful, changes hearts, and is free for the taking. Some Catholics do this. Many do not. Same for Protestants. Catholics just have more ritual so paritioners can tend to miss that there is a whole piece missing. IMO anyway. I think we all should focus on Christ and the word that spans all denomination.

Answer 7

Of course it's NOT true! Catholics are encouraged to READ the Bible. The Church teaches that there is a difference between READING the Bible; something the Church wants every Catholic to do and INTERPRETTING the Bible; something only the Church itself has the Authority to do. So, you see, it's personal Interpretation of the Bible the Church doesn't allow individual Catholics to do. Some people mistake this as meaning the Church doesn't want you to 'read' the Bible. No, whoever wrote the comment you quoted doesn't understand Church teaching.

Answer 8

If you had really been to a Catholic mass and stayed awake, you would already know the answer.

The readings and gospel which are read in the first half of mass are excerpts from the Bible. They are read right before the homily, remember? The homily is the boring part where everyone else fell asleep. You should have still been awake for the readings and the gospel.

Answer 9

As a catholic up until the age of 30--and, who was enrolled in a catholic school until the eighth grade no less--I'm embarrassed to say I didn't even know how to read the bible. I grew up in a heavily catholic household, attending church every weekend, doing a trinity based blessing before meals, crucifixes on the walls, holy water to clean rooms, rosary beads and saint tags draped over bed rails, 6 ft Christmas trees and every toy I could ever desire, Easter baskets, the whole nine yards. The extent of my bible reading was once every year, when my mother called me and my siblings individually into the room to read a scripture silently to ourselves on Good Friday at 3pm when the Christ was crucified.

I'm now 37 and I'm relieved to say I have a very broad understanding of the bible thanks to studying with Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 10

I believe that most practicing catholics do read the bible, but it is not necessary. If you go to mass every Sunday for two years most churches will read the majority of the bible to you. The priests read at least two different passages every Sunday. People who are more involved in the church have bible meetings and go to more masses.

Answer 11

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RE:
Do Catholics read the Bible??
I have been to Catholic masses and I never see anyone with a Bible.....I'm not trying to stir the pot, I really don't know....Do Catholics read the Bible?