Posted on 09/01/2017 1:40:56 PM PDT by NYer
The first part of the Catholic Mass is known as the Liturgy of the Word. It consists of the congregation listening to the word of God. The word “liturgy” means the rites and ceremonies of the Mass. During the Mass, trained parishioners called lectors read aloud two Scripture passages to the congregation; typically one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. In between the readings, a psalm is sung or read. The readings are all found in the Bible, but the lectors read from a book known as the lectionary. This book contains Scripture, psalm and Gospel readings assigned for each day of the Church year. After the lectors complete their readings, a deacon or a priest (only an ordained minister) reads the Gospel.
On Sundays, the deacon or priest doesn’t use the lectionary but another book called the Book of Gospels, which is the book you see being carried during the opening procession of Sunday Mass; it is the same book the deacon or priest carries from the altar to the ambo and from which the Gospel is read. Neither the Scriptures nor the Gospel is randomly selected; they are set on a three-year schedule in a very regulated and assigned order (see sidebar). There are a total of four readings on Sunday and three during the weekday Masses.
The Scriptures always have been at the heart of Catholic teaching. On any given Sunday in every Roman Catholic parish around the world, the identical Scriptures, psalm and Gospel are read. This universal practice, this sign of oneness, is often a surprise to those inquiring about the Faith. The first reading on Sunday is most always from the Old Testament and tied to the theme of the Gospel for that day. The second reading is typically from the epistles of the New Testament. During the week, the one Scripture reading is from the Old Testament and, like Sundays, is connected to the Gospel.
In most every Catholic parish, instead of Bibles in the pews there are books known as Mass books (or missals) that contain not only the Sunday Mass readings but the prayers and sequence of the Mass. Weekly parish bulletins contain a list of daily readings for the forthcoming week so parishioners can use their Bible at home and prepare in advance.
The absence of Bibles in the pews goes back to an early period in the Church when Catholics, other than the clergy, were not encouraged to read the Scriptures because the Church was concerned that the ordinary person would not understand or would misinterpret God’s word. Additionally, especially in the Middle Ages, heretical movements against the Church resulted in erroneous and corrupt interpretations.
Until the 15th-century invention of the printing press, there were few copies of the Scriptures. Monks often manually hand-copied the Scriptures — a process that took years to complete. Consequently, each parish was fortunate if it had one handwritten copy, and that copy was secured in the church. Even if other copies were available, many parishioners couldn’t read anyway. Thus, the Scriptures were proclaimed verbally and then explained by the bishop or priest.
This situation changed somewhat with the invention of the printing press as more Bibles became available. Catholics, those who could do so, were encouraged to read the holy Scriptures, but they were cautioned to read only the Catholic version of the Bible, as there were many other versions with interpretations other than Catholic.
Today the Church hierarchy exhorts us to read and study the word of God. However, the Church remains concerned over the proper interpretation of the Scriptures and considers the magisterium — the teaching authority of the Church — the pope and bishops, as the one true teaching authority. If individual Catholics were encouraged to reach their own private conclusions on God’s word, there would be thousands of different interpretations and even splinter groups, each with their own set of conclusions — not unlike other churches today. The unity of our Church would be greatly impacted.
Once it was suggested to a Protestant that he read the wonderful story about Susanna found in Chapter 13 of Daniel. He said he didn’t know the story, but he would read it. The next day he said he was confused because there was no Chapter 13 in Daniel; further, he couldn’t find the story anywhere in the Bible. Well, Chapter 13 is in the Catholic Old Testament but not in the Protestant version. Catholics use a Bible that is different from that used by Protestants and, in fact, there have been occasions when the Catholic Church has been accused of adding books to the Bible. That is not the case.
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| How is the Lectionary Arranged? |
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The Lectionary is arranged in two cycles, one for Sundays one for weekdays. The Sunday cycle is divided into three years, labeled A, B and C — [2015 was Year B, 2016 was Year C, 2017 is Year A]. ... In Year A, we read mostly from the Gospel of Matthew. In Year B, we read the Gospel of Mark and Chapter 6 of the Gospel of John. In Year C, we read the Gospel of Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season in all three years. The first reading, usually from the Old Testament, reflects important themes from the Gospel reading. The second reading is usually from one of the epistles, a letter written to an early church community. These letters are read semi-continuously. Each Sunday, we pick up close to where we left off the Sunday before, though some passages are never read. The weekday cycle is divided into two years, Year I and Year II. Year I is read in odd-numbered years (2015, 2017, etc.) and Year II is used in even-numbered years (2014, 2016, etc.) The Gospels for both years are the same. During the year, the Gospels are read semi-continuously, beginning with Mark, then moving on to Matthew and Luke. The Gospel of John is read during the Easter season. For Advent, Christmas and Lent, readings are chosen that are appropriate to the season. The first reading on weekdays may be taken from the Old or the New Testament. Typically, a single book is read semi-continuously (i.e., some passages are not read) until it is finished and then a new book is started.”
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Yes, provided it doesn't contradict what the Church has already said. I have all sorts of goofy personal "understandings" about the Bible. But they are just that. If I were one of you I'd go off and form my own church on the basis of these "understandings"....it'd be just as ridiculous and irrelevant as all the other fake churches.
If you have "goofy personal understandings" why do you even read the Scriptures?
As the RCC hasn't provided an authoritative rendering on every verse in the Bible....what do you rely upon for accuracy?
I agree....it’s not quantity so much as it is quality.
I was not claiming that you hear the entire Bible in any church, but was refuting any inference that this is the case in Catholicism, which I have seen asserted by Catholics, and the article may be understood as claiming ("The first reading on weekdays may be taken from the Old or the New Testament. Typically, a single book is read semi-continuously (i.e., some passages are not read) until it is finished and then a new book is started) ”which was apparently the reason boatbums said,
I wonder how many Catholics know that during Mass they are not hearing the entire Bible over those three-year cycles? Quite a bit is NEVER covered.
That's exactly what happened to me bro. Now, I have assurance of salvation. If others don't, that is their problem. 👍😊🇵🇭
So true
I don’t believe the Catholic would become a Protestant by asking for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirt, God the Son and God the Father.
Excellent!
No, but they may become a Christian.
I agree. But are we bound to accept a person's word on whether they were so "enlightened", versus being seduced into heresy by the devil? Because that's where it all falls apart.
“I don’t believe the Catholic would become a Protestant by asking for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirt, God the Son and God the Father.”
I can’t say it always happens, but it graciously happened to me.
Though I must edit your statement for accuracy.
“I don’t believe the Catholic would become a CHRISTIAN by asking for the enlightenment of the Holy Spirt, God the Son and God the Father.”
I do this because I didn’t “Become a Protestant” dear salvation.
I came to Christ for salvation, was born into His Body & Bride, sealed by His Spirit, placed in the heavenlies, given eternal life and assurance of salvation, given the life of Christ, declared righteous because His righteousness was imputed to me, and was given access to the Father.
After that, what would worldly rituals, attempted self-righteousness, and a hamster wheel of guilt and works add to HIS AMAZING FREE GIFT??
Further, why would I care about Roman vs. non-Roman? I have Him.
And anyway what the heck are the Wessex Gospels....if the Catholic Church was so anti-translation?
If you actually studied the medieval period, you would realize why translation wasn't a huge priority for centuries:
a) Books cost as a much as a house
b) most of the laity was illiterate
c) people who learned to read, learned LATIN
d) there weren't even standard languages yet, there were collections of different English/Italian/French dialects. Does your church publish a Bible in Appalachian? In Brooklynese?
For centuries there were dozens of languages used in the Catholic Church. Latin, Greek, Glagolitic, Slavonic, Malayalam, Arabic, Aramaic, Coptic, Ge'ez, Mohawk, Algonquin. And now of course there are many, many more. There is ZERO objection to the vernacular in principle, if it is done right.
Even under Arundel's super-tough measures against the vernacular in 1408, even THAT legislation allowed approved translations to be read and circulated, as you yourself admitted.
Your list of excuses as to why the Bible wasn’t more available is an indictment against the RCC.
MAybe THAT is where JS came up with a Heavenly Mother for the Heavenly Father to create all those Spirit Babies just waiting for a human body to inhabit!
I must confess.
I’ve NEVER heard 1 Kings 16:11 expounded on at MY chosen church!
Nice work.
However, the facts won’t make any difference to someone who doesn’t want to believe them.
Where is the official, Catholic aChurch approved, verse by verse commentary of the Bible interpreting it for Catholics?
And who is going to interpret the interpretation?
Exactly......
I would agree. The problem with heresies is that there are "minor" heresies and BIG "major" ones. There are certain truths that all believers hold that bond us together in Christ. There are others that make us simply ineffective in understanding scripture, prayer, doctrine, etc. Some heresies are easy to spot. Many are not. Where the dividing line is, is difficult to say at times.
One can only be true to what is written in scripture after prayerful consideration and be ready to give an accounting based upon our limited understanding to grasp truth. But we would be remiss if we did not try to point out truths that we have learned just as Paul pointed out to James, Peter, etc. heretical errors they were sliding into with the Judaizers. One would hope that the giver would have a loving attitude and the receiver would have an open heart.
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