:-)
Posted on 08/08/2011 8:37:22 AM PDT by ConservativeStLouisGuy
Pope Benedict XVI has urged Catholics to read the Bible while on vacation, particularly the lesser known books of sacred scripture.
"This seems to be a good thing to do on the holidays: take a book of the Bible, so you have some relaxation and, at the same time, enter into the great expanse of the Word of God and deepen our contact with the Eternal," said the Pope in his Wednesday General Audience address at his holiday residence of Castle Gandolfo, 15 miles south of Rome, Aug. 3.
Pope Benedict noted how "each of us needs time and space for meditation, reflection and calm" adding "thank God it's so!" He said this tells us that "we are not made only for work but also to think, reflect, or simply to follow a story with our minds and hearts." Hence many books are read "mostly for escapism."
The Pope, however, challenged pilgrims to attempt some slightly "more challenging" reading.
"Why not discover some books of the Bible, which are normally unknown? Or of which we have maybe heard some passages during the liturgy, but we never read in its entirety? In fact, many Christians have never read the Bible, and have a very limited and superficial knowledge of it."
The Pope even gave those gathered in the small hilltop town's Liberty Square suggestions as to which books of the Bible to read reminding them that "the Bible - as the name implies - is a collection of books, a small 'library,' born over a millennium."
From the Old Testament he suggested some of the shorter books which "can be read through in one hour." These include, he said, the Book of Tobit "a story that contains a very high sense of family and marriage", the Book of Esther "in which the Jewish Queen, with faith and prayer, save her people from extermination" and the Book of Ruth, "a foreigner who knows God and experiences His providence."
He also emphasized the worth of "more challenging" Old Testament books which the Pope deemed to be "authentic masterpieces."
"The Book of Job, which tackles the great problem of innocent suffering, Ecclesiastes for its disconcerting modernity which questions the meaning of life and the world, the Song of Songs, a beautiful poem symbolic of human love."
Turning to the New Testament the Pope reminded pilgrims of "the beauty of reading one Gospel straight through" as well as the merits of other books such as the Acts of the Apostles.
In conclusion he suggested that pilgrims keep a Bible "on hand during the summer or during breaks."
"In doing so they can become moments of relaxation, as well as cultural enrichment, even nourishment of the spirit, capable of fostering knowledge of God and dialogue with God - prayer."
Today's brief address continues Pope Benedict's theme of prayer which he has been developing during his Wednesday audiences since earlier this year.
The Pope then imparted his apostolic blessing before descending from the balcony of his papal apartment to personally meet and greet the sick in the town square below.
Yep! But not while in the driver’s seat on the Interstate!!
Hmmm ... that could get the driver (and his passengers) an expedited audience with the Author ...
Sure! Get the Bible on CD. Although it is rather difficult to concentrate on driving AND a speaker on CD.
Don't read it while driving.
Please don't read it while driving.
Rather long but (SPOILER ALERT) the good guys win in the end.
Let’s see...Nahum, Habakkuk, Philemon, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude. That’s seven whole books of the Bible. Read those and then pat yourself on the back. If you want to feel even more virtuous, read Ruth too.
That’s Funny!!! Rolling on Floor!!!
Tell that to William Tyndale.....
Since English language Bibles were available long before Tyndale his problems obviously had nothing to do with the act of publishing a Bible in English. He was a heretic.
Tyndale was tried for heresy three years BEFORE he published his translation. He was run out of England by that not-so-Catholic King Henry VIII and was ultimately sentenced and executed by the secular German Holy Roman Emperor, not the Church. Not because his Bible was in English, but because of the heretical content of his writings and positions posed a political threat for undermining their claim of ruling by Divine Right.
Yes. That sounds about right.
Why? Nothing prevented Tyndale from reading the scriptures. It’s a shame he chose heresy.
I am an Evangelical, and I approve of the Pope’s message! :-)
That is a very cool bumper sticker. Is it your design?
Yes...I am very encouraged that my Catholic Brothers and Sisters have a leader now who is bringing his flock back into a more conservative, moral, and traditional way of thinking.
BTW, I have a Chow Dog.
If I had a bumper sticker that said:
“I LOVE MY CHOW”,
IT WOULD HAVE A DOUBLE MEANING! HAHAHA
Yes. The more liberal mainstream protestant denominations are exactly that. “Inclusive” to the point of banality and “shades of grey” as you say.
But that is not where I am. In terms of moral and social issues, Conservative Evangelicals have more in common with Traditional Catholicism than with the current liberal Protestant establishment.
Actually, I don’t even consider myself a “Protestant” at all. More like what CS Lewis would call a “Mere Christian”. :-)
FReegards, FRiend!
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