Lectionary Statistics - How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass? (Popquiz!)

catholic-resources.org ^ | Updated on January 2, 2009 | Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

[GonzoII]

THE ROMAN CATHOLIC LECTIONARY WEBSITE
by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

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Lectionary Statistics

How much of the Bible is included in the Lectionary for Mass?
Not as much as you might think, yet far more than was included in the Roman Missal before the Second Vatican Council!

The bishops assembled at Vatican II declared, "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly so that a richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God's word. In this way the more significant part of the Sacred Scriptures will be read to the people over a fixed number of years" (Sacrosanctum Concilium, #51). As the following tables show, the current Lectionary for Mass does indeed offer a "richer fare" of biblical readings during the Eucharistic liturgy than was available before Vatican II. However, since many parts of the Bible (esp. the Old Testament) are still not included in the Lectionary, one must go beyond the readings used at Mass to cover the entire Bible.

The following tables compare the current edition of the Lectionary for Mass (1981 Latin, 1998/2002 USA editions)
with the pre-Vatican II Missale Romanum (substantially unchanged between 1570 and 1969, with a few modifications in 1951)
and the complete New American Bible (see the bottom of this page for a key to the column headings).

Readings from the Old Testament:

Before Vatican II, each Catholic Mass included only two biblical readings, which were normally referred to as "The Epistle" (since the first reading was almost always taken from one of the New Testament letters) and "The Gospel." Readings from the Old Testament were never used on Sundays, but only at the Easter Vigil, the Vigil of Pentecost, the feast of Epiphany and its octave, during Holy Week, and on some weekdays (esp. Ember days, weekdays of Lent, the feasts of some saints, and some votive Masses).

Since Vatican II, Masses on Sundays and major feast days include three biblical readings, the first of which is usually taken from the Old Testament (except during the Easter Season, when the first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles). The OT reading is normally very brief and thematically related to the Gospel reading of the day, so there is no detectable order or semi-continuous pattern from one Sunday to the next. Weekday Masses usually have only two readings, the first of which is taken from either the OT or the NT, according to a two-year weekday cycle.

OT	Name of Book	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Vigils & Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
		# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
1	Genesis	50	1533	100**	6.5 %	138	9.0 %	428	27.9 %
2	Exodus	40	1213	28	2.3 %	112	9.2 %	208	17.1 %
3	Leviticus	27	859	0	0 %	9	1.0 %	42	4.9 %
4	Numbers	36	1289	0	0 %	11	0.9 %	81	6.3 %
5	Deuteronomy	34	959	9	0.9 %	52	5.4 %	106	11.1 %
6	Joshua	24	658	0	0 %	9	1.4 %	42	6.4 %
7	Judges	21	618	0	0 %	0	0 %	51	8.3 %
8	Ruth	4	85	0	0 %	0	0 %	21	24.7 %
9	1 Samuel	31	810	0	0 %	31	3.8 %	148	18.3 %
10	2 Samuel	24	695	0	0 %	19	2.7 %	110	15.8 %
11	1 Kings	22	817	0	0 %	37	4.5 %	166	20.3 %
12	2 Kings	25	719	0	0 %	14	1.9 %	100	13.9 %
13	1 Chronicles	29	943	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
14	2 Chronicles	36	821	0	0 %	8	1.0 %	17	2.1 %
15	Ezra	10	280	0	0 %	0	0 %	21	7.5 %
16	Nehemiah	13	405	0	0 %	8	2.0 %	19	4.7 %
17	Tobit	14	245	0	0 %	0	0 %	71	29.0 %
18	Judith	16	340	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
19	Esther	16	272	0	0 %	0	0 %	7	2.6 %
20	1 Maccabees	16	922	0	0 %	0	0 %	54	5.9 %
21	2 Maccabees	15	556	0	0 %	8	1.4 %	35	6.3 %
22*	Job	42	1068	0	0 %	11	1.0 %	87	8.1 %
24*	Proverbs	31	915	0	0 %	24	2.6 %	47	5.1 %
25	Ecclesiastes	12	222	0	0 %	4	1.8 %	34	15.3 %
26	Song of Solomon	8	117	0	0 %	0	0 %	7	6.0 %
27	Wisdom of Solomon	19	436	0	0 %	42	9.6 %	102	23.4 %
28	Sirach/Ecclesiasticus	51	1372	0	0 %	48	3.5 %	208	15.2 %
29	Isaiah	66	1291	24**	1.9 %	166	12.9 %	322	24.9 %
30	Jeremiah	52	1364	0	0 %	38	2.8 %	162	11.9 %
31	Lamentations	5	154	0	0 %	0	0 %	8	5.2 %
32	Baruch	6	213	30**	14.1 %	27	12.7 %	44	20.7 %
33	Ezekiel	48	1273	14**	1.1 %	48	3.8 %	180	14.1 %
34	Daniel	14	530	24**	4.5 %	5	0.9 %	178	33.6 %
35	Hosea	14	197	16	8.1 %	11	5.6 %	38	19.3 %
36	Joel	4	73	0	0 %	5	6.8 %	27	37.0 %
37	Amos	9	146	0	0 %	13	8.9 %	51	34.9 %
38	Obadiah	1	21	0	0 %	0	0 %	0	0 %
39	Jonah	4	48	10**	20.8 %	6	12.5 %	39	81.3 %
40	Micah	7	105	0	0 %	4	3.8 %	24	22.9 %
41	Nahum	3	47	0	0 %	0	0 %	8	17.0 %
42	Habakkuk	3	56	0	0 %	5	8.9 %	12	21.4 %
43	Zephaniah	3	53	0	0 %	8	15.1 %	13	24.5 %
44	Haggai	2	38	0	0 %	0	0 %	18	47.4 %
45	Zechariah	14	211	0	0 %	5	2.4 %	24	11.4 %
46	Malachi	3	55	0	0 %	6	10.9 %	18	32.7 %

* Note 1: The above table does not include the Psalms, since they are used so often in various ways during the Mass.
** Note 2: The 1951 revision of the Roman Missal reduced the number of OT readings at the Easter Vigil from twelve to four,
and omitted all six OT readings from the Pentecost Vigil, thereby further reducing the total amount of the OT read before Vatican II;
remaining were only 33 verses of Genesis, 28 of Exodus, 9 of Deuteronomy, 12 of Isaiah and 16 of Hosea. For details, see the Roman Missal page.

OT Summary:

OT Section	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Vigils & Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
	# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
Torah/Law	187	5853	137	2.3 %	322	5.5 %	865	14.8 %
Historical Books	316	9186	0	0 %	134	1.5 %	862	9.4 %
Wisdom Books (w/o Psalms)	163	4130	0	0 %	129	3.1 %	485	11.7 %
Four Major Prophets	191	4825	92	1.9 %	284	5.9 %	894	18.5 %
Twelve Minor Prophets	67	1050	26	2.5 %	63	6.0 %	272	25.9 %
OT Total (w/o Psalms)	924	25044	255	1.0 %	932	3.7 %	3378	13.5 %

Note 3: The 1951 revision of the pre-Vatican II Roman Missal (see note 2 above) reduced the total to only
98 verses or 0.39% of the Old Testament (aside from the Psalms) read at Vigils and major feast days.

Readings from the New Testament:

Before Vatican II, the same readings were used each year for the various Masses in the Roman Missal. The first reading was usually from one of Paul's Letters or the Catholic Epistles. The Gospel readings were most often taken from Matthew or John, less frequently from Luke, and only rarely from Mark.

Since Vatican II, much more of the New Testament is included in the Lectionary for Mass. The Acts of the Apostles is used as the first reading on the Sundays and weekdays during the Easter season. The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke are read semi-continuously on the Sundays of Ordinary Time on a three-year cycle, while passages from the Gospel of John are used mostly during the seasons of Lent and Easter and on several major feast days. Excerpts from all other NT books and letters are used as the second reading at Masses on Sundays and major feasts according to a three-year cycle, and/or weekday Masses on a two-year cycle. (Click on any of the previous underlined links for more details.)

NT	Name of Book	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
		# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
1	Matthew	28	1071	373	34.8 %	594	55.5 %	916	85.5 %
2	Mark	16	678	30	3.4 %	414	61.1 %	653	96.3 %
3	Luke	24	1151	188	16.3 %	650	56.5 %	1011	87.8 %
4	John	21	879	256	30.0 %	526	59.8 %	813	92.5 %
5	Acts	28	1007	35	3.5 %	165	16.4 %	492	48.9 %
6	Romans	16	433	69	15.9 %	117	27.0 %	228	52.7 %
7	1 Corinthians	16	437	75	17.2 %	162	37.1 %	244	55.8 %
8	2 Corinthians	13	256	40	15.6 %	48	18.8 %	123	48.0 %
9	Galatians	6	149	45	30.2 %	47	31.5 %	90	60.4 %
10	Ephesians	6	155	57	36.8 %	96	61.9 %	141	91.0 %
11	Philippians	4	104	25	24.0 %	47	45.2 %	73	70.2 %
12	Colossians	4	95	16	16.8 %	35	36.8 %	62	65.3 %
13	1 Thessalonians	5	89	16	18.0 %	39	43.8 %	69	77.5 %
14	2 Thessalonians	3	47	0	0.0 %	17	36.2 %	28	59.6 %
15	1 Timothy	6	113	0	0.0 %	20	17.7 %	51	45.1 %
16	2 Timothy	4	83	0	0.0 %	25	30.1 %	39	47.0 %
17	Titus	3	46	9	19.6 %	8	17.4 %	28	60.9 %
18	Philemon	1	25	0	0.0 %	8	32.0 %	19	76.0 %
19	Hebrews	13	303	17	5.6 %	84	27.7 %	188	62.0 %
20	James	5	108	11	10.2 %	31	28.7 %	99	91.7 %
21	1 Peter	5	105	33	31.4 %	36	34.3 %	57	54.3 %
22	2 Peter	3	61	0	0.0 %	7	11.5 %	15	24.6 %
23	1 John	5	105	13	12.4 %	33	31.4 %	95	100.0 %
24	2 John	1	13	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	6	46.2 %
25	3 John	1	15	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	4	26.7 %
26	Jude	1	25	0	0.0 %	0	0.0 %	6	24.0 %
27	Revelation	22	404	0	0.0 %	38	9.4 %	129	31.9 %

NT Summary:

NT Section	NAB		Pre-Vatican II Missal: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Major Feasts		Current Lectionary: Sundays & Weekdays
	# Chap.	# Vv. Total	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used	Vv. Used	% Used
Gospels (4)	89	3779	848	22.4 %	2184	57.8 %	3393	89.8 %
Acts	28	1007	35	3.5 %	165	16.4 %	492	48.9 %
Pauline Letters (7)	61	1493	270	18.1 %	468	31.3 %	846	56.7 %
Deutero-Paulines (6)	26	539	82	15.2 %	201	37.3 %	349	64.7 %
Hebrews	13	303	17	5.6 %	84	27.6 %	188	62.0 %
Catholic Epistles (7)	21	432	57	13.2 %	107	24.7 %	292	67.6 %
Book of Revelation	22	404	0	0 %	38	9.4 %	129	31.9 %
NT w/o Gospels	171	4178	461	11.0 %	1063	25.4 %	2296	54.9 %
NT Grand Total	260	7957	1309	16.5 %	3247	40.8 %	5689	71.5 %

Key to the Column Headings:

• NAB = New American Bible, used as the basis for chapter and verse numbers in the USA editions of the current Lectionary for Mass
  • # Chap. = total number of chapters in each biblical book (or section of the Bible), in the New American Bible translation
  • # Vv. Total = total number of verses in each biblical book (or section of the Bible), in the New American Bible translation
• Pre-Vatican II Missal = the Missale Romanum of Pope Pius V, nearly identical from 1570 to 1969, with a few changes introduced in 1951.
  • Vigils & Major Feasts = In the pre-Vatican II Missal, OT readings were only used at the Easter Vigil, Pentecost Vigil, Epiphany & its octave, and during Holy Week, but never on any Sundays.
• Current Lectionary = the Ordo Lectionum Missae (2nd Latin edition, 1981), equivalent to the Lectionary for Mass (2nd USA edition, 1998/2002)
  • Sundays & Major Feasts = readings contained in the first half of the Missale Romanum, or Vol. 1 of the current Lectionary for Mass, including all Sundays and Solemnities of the Lord, and a few other major Feasts (those which can replace an ordinary Sunday Mass).
  • Sundays & Weekdays = readings prescribed for all Sundays and weekdays during the various liturgical seasons (but not including the Propers or Commons of the Saints, Votive Masses, Ritual Masses, or Masses for Various Needs and Occasions).
• Vv. Used = number of verses from each biblical book or section used in the Roman Missal or the Lectionary for Mass, respectively.
• % Used = percentage of verses from each biblical book or section used in the Roman Missal or the Lectionary for Mass, respectively.

Main Lectionary Page	1998/2002 USA Edition	1992 Canadian Edition
Links to Other Websites	1970 USA Edition	Roman Missal (Pre-Vatican II)

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[Mr Rogers]

I’m careful.

“It will be readily understood that in some circumstances, when the question is put explicitly for the first time, the faithful have hesitated. It is even natural that the theologians should show more hesitation than the other faithful. More aware of the apparent opposition between the new opinion and the ancient truth, they may legitimately resist, while awaiting fuller light, what may seem to them unreflecting haste or unenlightened piety.”

This is the seed argument...it was there as a seed, unseen or barely noticed, but grew into a tree that made it so obvious it became dogma - “an extraordinary infallible statement published by a pope or an ecumenical council concerning a matter of faith or morals, the belief in which the Catholic Church requires of all Christians” (Wiki)

According to Catholic teaching, I’m required, if Christian, to accept something that was not taught by the Apostles. “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God” - so, how far ahead do you have to get before you cease to be a true church?

[Mr Rogers]

The Catholic Church has pretty much stopped pretending that its tradition is one passed down from the Apostles. That was Cardinal Newman’s contribution:

“I have already spoken on this subject, and from a very different point of view from that which I am taking at present:—

“Prophets or Doctors are the interpreters of the revelation; they unfold and define its mysteries, they illuminate its documents, they harmonize its contents, they apply its promises. Their teaching is a vast system, not to be comprised in a few sentences, not to be embodied in one code or treatise, but consisting of a certain body of Truth, pervading the Church like an atmosphere, irregular in its shape from its very profusion and exuberance; at times separate only in idea from Episcopal Tradition, yet at times melting away into legend and fable; partly written, partly unwritten, partly the interpretation, partly the supplement of Scripture, partly preserved in intellectual expressions, partly latent in the spirit and temper of Christians; poured to and fro in closets and upon the housetops, in liturgies, in controversial works, in obscure fragments, in sermons, in popular prejudices, in local {77} customs. This I call Prophetical Tradition, existing primarily in the bosom of the Church itself, and recorded in such measure as Providence has determined in the writings of eminent men. Keep that which is committed to thy charge, is St. Paul’s injunction to Timothy; and for this reason, because from its vastness and indefiniteness it is especially exposed to corruption, if the Church fails in vigilance. This is that body of teaching which is offered to all Christians even at the present day, though in various forms and measures of truth, in different parts of Christendom, partly being a comment, partly an addition upon the articles of the Creed.” [Note 6]

If this be true, certainly some rule is necessary for arranging and authenticating these various expressions and results of Christian doctrine. No one will maintain that all points of belief are of equal importance. “There are what may be called minor points, which we may hold to be true without imposing them as necessary;” “there are greater truths and lesser truths, points which it is necessary, and points which it is pious to believe.” [Note 7] The simple question is, How are we to discriminate the greater from the less, the true from the false.”

http://www.newmanreader.org/works/development/chapter2.html#section2

[D-fendr]

The Catholic Church has pretty much stopped pretending that its tradition is one passed down from the Apostles.

Au contrair, we disagree.

If you look to Protestantism and what it has lost without Holy Tradition you find the Real Presence, the Holy Eucharist, the Communion of Saints along with, often, accurate Christology.

If you wish to judge the cost and benefit of Holy Tradition, I think these costs in its absence are immeasurable.

[Mr Rogers]

I think your list of what one loses without ‘Sacred Tradition’ is a bit brief, but I thank you for agreeing that they are not found in scripture, unless read in to it.

[D-fendr]

It wasn’t a complete list, though it has immense implications for Christianity. If you add “God” as taught by Calvin, well, quantity is overwhelmed by quality.

The Communion of Saints and the Real Presence are in scripture. They are an example of very important things lost by Protestantism - an example of how scripture alone does not work.

[HarleyD]

We're happy to say that the Scriptures are infallible (and they are) but infallible Scriptures are of little use without an infallible interpreter (the Church).

I would suggest the interpreter has never been infallible as is shown in scripture. Peter, James and others were rebuked by Paul for being led astray. Paul and Barnabas got into an argument and so they parted company for a time. Apollos was teaching a "different" gospel, one that wasn't bad but wasn't quite correct. Paul didn't want anything to do with Mark but had a change of heart.

People are fallible as is illustrated by the different interpretation of the gospel. The Corinthians held some strange pagan beliefs mixed with their Christianity. The Galatians held to a strict form of Judaism and were condemned for it. Even within the early second and third century eastern and western church there arose fundamental doctrinal differences.

People are fallible as well as their interpretation. The only thing that has ever remained constant are the scripture. We trust in God to guide our steps to that true and correct path. He leads us besides still waters-not us.

Where you believe God guides through impersonal committees, I believe God guides us individually. Yet isn't this inconsistent with God appearing before saints, directing them to do miracles that have been recognized by the Church over the centuries? Why wouldn't He just speak through the Church cardinals?

[Melian]

No, dear Alex, it doesn’t hurt. It further refutes the “Catholics don’t read the Bible” because it shows that our Church leaders are encouraging us to read it. Not just encouraging us, but exhorting us. Another myth about Catholics blown: people claim our Church doesn’t want us to know the Bible.
That is another falsehood.

Our Church has studied the Bible more deeply and longer than any other Church. The wealth of that study and knowledge (thousands of years worth!) is ours for the asking. That’s pretty thrilling.

I too, a Catholic, have read all of Leviticus and Numbers several times also. I doubt many Christians read them more than once or twice. Once you’ve read them, you’ve learned what’s important about them in terms of God’s relationship with His Chosen People. There’s no need to read them over and over like other parts of the Bible. Catholic Bibles include them, of course. I said throw them out of the statistics since many Christians rarely read them, Catholic or not.

Catholics have not thrown ANY of the Bible away, unlike some other denominations. Our Bible is complete. This was my point: Catholics probably are studying as much of the Bible as many other Christians. Most Christians focus quite a bit of the their study on the New Testament, and a nominal Catholic will hear 40.8% of the New Testament and 3.7% of the Old Testament just by attending weekly Mass.

My statement stands: Catholics read the Bible and anyone who says otherwise is promoting a falsehood.

I assert that Catholics not only read the Bible, but we have two thousand years of scholarly and saintly study of the Bible at our disposal. We are The beneficiaries of Aquinas, Augustine, and all the Doctors of the Church. All that knowledge of the Bible is available to us— and many of us make use of it daily!

Of course, I understand that some people would rather have the Bible explained to them by Billy Bob who got religion a couple of years ago and is full of zeal. More power to Billy Bob and the people who want to study the Bible using his methods.

But Billy Bob and his followers have no right to criticize Catholics. We love the Bible, Christ, and the Church as much as they do.

[Melian]

“It’s that Meal that’s at the center of it and the main reason we go.”

So right,GonzoII! Christ never told His apostles to spend x amount of time studying scripture, but He did tell them to celebrate that sacrificial meal!

I’m glad Catholics have everything in the proper perspective! The Eucharist is the key.

[marshmallow]

According to Catholic teaching, I’m required, if Christian, to accept something that was not taught by the Apostles.

Yes, that's the mental block isn't it? That this is some form of novelty. You will find nothing in Scripture or in any of the apostolic writings which contradicts the dogma of the Immaculate Conception and you will find significant evidence to support it.

Firstly, the angel's salutation to Mary recorded in Luke's Gospel as "full of grace" is one such example, the term "full of grace" being understood to mean a unique, supernatural state of soul. The writings of Justin, Irenaeus, Cyril of Jerusalem among others of the early Church fathers all developed this theme and it has been addressed by many other saints of the Church down through the centuries.

“Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God” - so, how far ahead do you have to get before you cease to be a true church?

The Catholic Church being built on the Rock, Peter and being the recipient of those promises given to Peter will never cease to be a true Church for it is the Mystical Body of Christ.

As always, these discussions inevitably founder on the issue of authority and the promises Christ made to His Church to keep it free from error.

Those promises do not apply to individuals of course, hence the quote you supplied refers to "anyone". Individuals have and continue to apostatize. The authority of the Church gives it the power to "bind and loose" as Christ promised Peter.

As for "how far ahead do you have to get before you cease to be a true Church", well there is only one true Church. "There is one God, one faith, one baptism" (Ephesians).

Ergo all Churches bar one are in error to some degree.

[marshmallow]

You're right that people are fallible. And the examples which you provide from apostolic times are all perfect examples of this. Quarrels and dissensions were breaking out among the apostles while Christ was still on earth and they continued in the years afterwards, such as the Paul/Barnabas spat etc. Apostasy too, has always been with the Church. No argument there.

However, Scripture was written by these same "fallible men" and yet we say "Scripture is infallible". When Paul, John, Matthew, Peter et al., were writing the works which came to be included in the New Testament, their "fallibility" must have put on hold so to speak, as the Holy Spirit inspired them, right?

We could also say the same thing about the process by which the Canon of Scripture came to be assembled in the early Church, couldn't we? It was all accomplished by "fallible men". Yet we say it's "infallible"

So could we not say that in regard to Scripture, God's providence has allowed fallible men to provide us with an infallible work.

My question therefore is this; why should that gift of "infallibility" extend only to the writing and assembly of Scripture and not to its interpretation and transmission?

[Mr Rogers]

Nothing to contradict it except the verses saying all had sinned...

You also need to study the full of grace passage a bit harder...it means God had given her grace at some point (no idea how long is conveyed) and it still existed at the time the angel spoke. It did NOT in any way suggest she was always without sin, just as the same grammar in the previous verses didn’t indicate she had always been betrothed to Joseph!

The error of Catholics in reading about the church in the NT is to assume ‘church’ refers to the ecclesiastical structure that is the Catholic Church. That is why Thomas More was upset with Tyndale’s better translation of ‘congregation’ - it robbed Rome of authority. That is also why King James ordered it not to be used in the KJV - to protect the Anglican Church, which in turn protected his throne.

However, the NT church had congregations with deacons and elders. The Apostles, by their office, held a unique role over ANY congregation, and also in writing scripture.

Read Exodus 28-29 to see how God ordained the Aaronical Priesthood. Why be so specific about Aaron, and give nothing specific to Peter?

[GonzoII]

www.catholicnewsagency.com

Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time

November 3, 2009

Psalter: Week III

Color: Green

Saints:

• St. Martin de Porres

Daily Readings:

• First Reading: Romans 12:5-16a

   5 So we being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
  6 And having different gifts, according to the grace that is given us, either prophecy, to be used according to the rule of faith;
  7 Or ministry, in ministering; or he that teacheth, in doctrine;
  8 He that exhorteth, in exhorting; he that giveth, with simplicity; he that ruleth, with carefulness; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.
  9 Let love be without dissimulation. Hating that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good.
  10 Loving one another with the charity of brotherhood, with honour preventing one another.
  11 In carefulness not slothful. In spirit fervent. Serving the Lord.
  12 Rejoicing in hope. Patient in tribulation. Instant in prayer.
  13 Communicating to the necessities of the saints. Pursuing hospitality.
  14 Bless them that persecute you: bless, and curse not.
  15 Rejoice with them that rejoice; weep with them that weep.
  16 Being of one mind one towards another. Not minding high things, but consenting to the humble. Be not wise in your own conceits.

• Psalm: Psalms 131:1-3

  1 Lord, my heart is not exalted: nor are my eyes lofty. Neither have I walked in great matters, nor in wonderful things above me.
  2 If I was not humbly minded, but exalted my soul: As a child that is weaned is towards his mother, so reward in my soul.
  3 Let Israel hope in the Lord, from henceforth now and for ever.

• Gospel: Luke 14:15-24

  15 When one of them that sat at table with him, had heard these things, he said to him: Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.
  16 But he said to him: A certain man made a great supper, and invited many. 17 And he sent his servant at the hour of supper to say to them that were invited, that they should come, for now all things are ready.
  18 And they began all at once to make excuse. The first said to him: I have bought a farm, and I must needs go out and see it: I pray thee, hold me excused.
  19 And another said: I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to try them: I pray thee, hold me excused.
  20 And another said: I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
  21 And the servant returning, told these things to his lord. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant: Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the feeble, and the blind, and the lame.
  22 And the servant said: Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
  23 And the Lord said to the servant: Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
  24 But I say unto you, that none of those men that were invited, shall taste of my supper.

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[marshmallow]

You also need to study the full of grace passage a bit harder...it means God had given her grace at some point (no idea how long is conveyed) and it still existed at the time the angel spoke. It did NOT in any way suggest she was always without sin, just as the same grammar in the previous verses didn’t indicate she had always been betrothed to Joseph!

The Church has actually been studying this passage very hard for 2,000 years. There's no need for me to study anything "harder". It's not a personal thing. This is the collective wisdom of saints, Popes, theologians and doctors of the Church. That's why tradition trumps some guy in a suit who's done a "course" on Scripture.

Dismiss it at your peril.

The error of Catholics in reading about the church in the NT is to assume ‘church’ refers to the ecclesiastical structure that is the Catholic Church.

The "church in the NT" is the Catholic Church in its infancy. The term "catholic" was first used by Ignatius of Antioch when referring to the growing church. It goes back a long way.

[HarleyD]

My question therefore is this; why should that gift of "infallibility" extend only to the writing and assembly of Scripture and not to its interpretation and transmission?

The early church fathers viewed the scriptures as being divinely influenced. So much so they sorted the inspired word of God from those writings they deemed was not inspired, giving us the Bible. They knew what was true and what wasn't. The construction of the Bible was simply to do it now before time corrupted the work of God. Not surprisingly, the fathers never included their own works as inspired by God.

It is interesting that if anything in Church history should be considered infallible it would be the creeds of the Church. They draw on scripture but often do not contain scripture, to explain doctrinal positions of the Church. Therefore, if anything would be considered infallible in Church writings, I would think it would be the creeds.

However, some of the very earliest creeds, which were approved by the Church and handed down, seems to have holes in them. For example, the Nicene Creed is often argued between the Catholics and Orthodox about whether the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Son or from the Father and Son. Catholics would have to say that the Nicene Creed is infallible but where does that leave the Orthodox? Is the Church about to say the Orthodox's interpretation is wrong? Are they willing to scrap the Nicene Creed?

If infallibility extends to interpretation in the early church, there is no evidence of it. In fact, quite the contrary. From the writings of the early fathers, in most cases they seem to draw their arguments directly from scripture. Everything else, was always viewed as suspect.

[Dr. Eckleburg]

These RC statistics are nothing to brag about. I don't know a Protestant who hasn't read 100% of the New Testament and most if not all of the Old Testament. Every Protestant I converse with on this forum gives evidence of having read the entire Bible.

Check the charts below, taken from the article itself. By doing "nothing to practice his faith except attending Sunday weekly Mass (and the few Holy Days), in two years' time (after which the reading cycle ends), a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 3.7% of the Old Testament (932 verses), and in three years' time (after which the reading cycle ends) a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 40.8% of the New Testament (3247 verses). That all adds up to a total of 4179 out of 33001 verses mentioned in the chart, i.e. only 12.7% of the entire Bible (excluding Psalms) is heard by a weekly-Mass-attending Catholic...

Check the charts below. By doing "nothing to practice his faith except attending Sunday and Daily Mass (and the few Holy Days), in two years' time (after which the reading cycle ends), a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 13.5% of the Old Testament (3378 verses), and in three years' time (after which the reading cycle ends) a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 71.5% of the New Testament (5689 verses). That all adds up to a total of 9067 out of 33001 verses mentioned in the chart, i.e. only 27.5% of the entire Bible (excluding Psalms) is heard by a daily-Mass-attending Catholic.

Obviously Protestants view Scripture differently than Roman Catholics who are taught they first must learn what Scripture means from the magisterium before reading it themselves.

[Iscool]

a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 3.7% of the Old Testament (932 verses), and in three years' time (after which the reading cycle ends) a Mass-attending Catholic will hear 40.8% of the New Testament (3247 verses). That all adds up to a total of 4179 out of 33001 verses mentioned in the chart, i.e. only 12.7% of the entire Bible (excluding Psalms) is heard by a weekly-Mass-attending Catholic...

It would then take a devout Catholic approx. 21.5 years to make it thru the bible...Not too bad considering...

[Dutchboy88]

It becomes clear that the fixed and reliably constant message of grace from the Scriptures was an unwelcome obstacle the Catholic Church could not tolerate. The manufacture of “Tradition eclipsing Scripture” was inevitable to facilitate morphing as the wind blows at headquarters.

Why would a Catholic argue against homosexuality, abortion or pedophilia? They can only say, “For now...” If Rome adopts these views, they would be compelled to embrace them as the new “living message”. Line up sheeple. Tragic.

[GonzoII]

"Why would a Catholic argue against homosexuality, abortion or pedophilia? They can only say, “For now...” If Rome adopts these views, they would be compelled to embrace them as the new “living message”.

What have you been smoking...!!

[Marysecretary]

Exactly. I get told here all the time that they read the OT and Revelation plus all the rest. NOT.

[Marysecretary]

Amen, Mr. Rogers. Where were your children from?