I think you’re missing the whole point: we don’t care about having a “functional knowledge” of Scripture. A “functional knowledge” of Scripture is NOT the focus of Catholicism.
You are obsessed with memorizing the Bible and think the holier you are the more you can throw out quotations, chapter and verse. It’s not that Catholics cannot do that, we have our Bible thumper types. We are just as free to read the Bible as you and MANY do read it daily. Why do you doubt we read Scripture as much as you?
And it’s a 3 year cycle not 2 to that throws all your statistics into question anyway. Your pre-Vatican II statement is also incorrect, as the Mass was basically the same, including several readings.
And we have a formula so the Bible comes together logically, not just the whim of a pastor with a “divinity” degree to decide the theme of the day.
I have in front of me 3 Catholic Missals from the 1950’s and 60’s. They are crammed with Scripture readings. You are simply quoting anti-Catholic information you picked up somewhere. Are you really interested in Catholic literature and approach to the Bible or do you just want to win an argument? Because it is so much more in-depth and evolved than the Protestant approach you really need to actually READ a MASS MISSAL.
You read a Catholic Missal from pre-Vatican 2, maybe you can get in the Library, and not only will you have all the pertinent readings, you find prayers that uplift your soul and bring tears to your eyes.
Do you suppose you would even HAVE A BIBLE IF NOT FOR THE CATHOLIC MONKS preserving them and copying them in monasteries for centuries while everything else was destroyed? If you love your Bible, you are indebted for sure to the Catholic Church.
So you presume to read/know my heart/mind? But i am not obsessed with memorizing, though i wish i had done more, and you should want to also, as i am sure the Lord and His disciples did. It is and will be useful when do not have one to read. But neither do i think that itself makes one holy, but hiding it in your heart is a part of such. (Ps. 119)
It’s not that Catholics cannot do that, we have our Bible thumper types. We are just as free to read the Bible as you and MANY do read it daily. Why do you doubt we read Scripture as much as you?
For most of your history you were not allowed to as a lay person (hit the link). Rome does change. As for why i doubt they do read it much, comparatively speaking with evangelical types, the reason is that i was a Catholic, and became born again while yet going to Roman Catholic services weekly, and served as a lector and CCD teacher, and know the difference, while every survey i have read confirms that Roman Catholics and like institutionalized Prots marginalize it, and many Catholics themselves affirm they do not need to read the Bible.
.I have in front of me 3 Catholic Missals from the 1950’s and 60’s. They are crammed with Scripture readings. You are simply quoting anti-Catholic information you picked up somewhere.
I picked it from the Roman Catholic link and source provided, http://catholic-resources.org/Lectionary/Statistics.htm . Take it up with them. I think a Roman Catholic first posted it on FR, http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2375781/posts
If you love your Bible, you are indebted for sure to the Catholic Church.
Without getting into arguing that, i am indebted to the Jews for most of it, and to King James for my favorite version, none of which renders them infallible interpreters of it.
Discuss the issues all you want, but do not make it personal.
Just wow...... What an indictment of Catholicism.
You are obsessed with memorizing the Bible
And that's a problem for what reason?
Psalm 1:1-3 1Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 119:11 11I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Do you suppose you would even HAVE A BIBLE IF NOT FOR THE CATHOLIC MONKS preserving them and copying them in monasteries for centuries while everything else was destroyed? If you love your Bible, you are indebted for sure to the Catholic Church.
We can thank the Jews for the entire OT. And can you say *Dead Sea Scrolls*?
And you know for sure that the only copies of the NT were kept by monks..... how?