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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. The believer is free to read as much of the text as the Spirit leads.
For my NT and OT Survey classes we were required to read the respective testaments in a semester. In addition to exams, papers, etc.
ROTFL!
As a certified geezer, I don't always hear so good. But I USUALLY know what's being read after the first few words. I preached on almost the same lectionary for a LONG time. But the NAB, which often paraphrases rather than translates, sometimes throws me for a loop.
I have multiple attitudes about the readings at Mass. One is certainly that its like speed lectio divina. What is God saying to me right now?
Another is like watching the pitch at a ball game. The homilist is the batter. I can't wait to see what he's going to do with it!
It is terrifying how ignorant some people are about the basic stories of Scripture! You know my story and my inclinations: Episcopal altar boy from the age of 7. It was the one thing I was good at as a kid. And I DID listen. And I was a lay reader from the age of 11 ... 58 years ago!
So I had the desire and the opportunity to learn, and to learn to love the Bible. I went off on my Naaman the Syrian rant the other day, and the vice president of our province said that I had a gift.
I don't know about that, but I do know I just LOVE it! It's wonderful! It just frustrates me sometimes. I want to get up and say, “Do you clowns get how AWESOME that reading was?”
At least we tertiaries bump into the Psalms twice a day. And I see how they creep into people's minds. But when I'm Pope tertiaries will have to do Matins as well as Lauds and Vespers. The Bible is so great!
Wait....I think next Thursday is “Luther’s a good Catholic” day. Then he’s a heretic again until needed.
We don’t go by a calendar in the church I attend.
re: the “What Bible” question.
Currently what is common in the Mass is the New American Bible, revised edition. I don’t think it’s very good. It is too often a paraphrase more than a translation.
Personally I use the RSV Catholic Edition. I check the worrisome parts with the Koine and the MT Hebrew. When I win the lottery I’m going to get the LXX.
Bibleworks is a great program.
>>Roman Catholics have been telling everyone else you cannot do that.<<
The above statement is false. But I'm not surprised, coming from you.
ebb, I hate to embarrass you again. Perhaps you should read lurkingsince98's posts on this thread.
I'll ping narses as well.
I bet we can even dig up a similar saying from you.
I think your fellow Catholics will disagree with what you've written on this.
For that matter you're in disagreement with your own denomination.
You may want to review marchondc's post #29.
Bible works is good. I use Logos myself.
I know I'm not a representative Catholic, but FWIW, I don't go to Mass for Bible study. I study on my own time, so to speak.
My parish has several Bible Study groups. But we're unusual.
I became a Catholic in 1994 and Lay Dominican in 2008. I think the Catholic “model” is a lot more “ground up” than even I expected. Lay associations and orders are plenteous. Their members join for prayer, study, and “works of mercy.” So if you want to interact with Scripture both in terms of study and also in terms of “lectio divina”, a prayerful engagement with Scripture, you can knock yourself out. We put it at your feet, but it's between you and God whether you pick it up.
I don't like arguing about it. It seems to go nowhere. But my experience of being Catholic has been one of increasing intimacy with God. The clergy, even when they're dopes, facilitate that. I don't EXPERIENCE the structure as inhibiting. Sometimes it does make me crazy, true. But I find the whole thing helpful, if a tad bizarre sometimes.
Thanks for the tne reference!
Let me remind you of the joke about Vatican II:
“The spirit killeth, but the letter giveth life.”
I think there’s an awful lot to like in the documents of VAT2. But ... well, as someone with aesthetic pretensions, I’ve noted that a lot of Catholics seemed to think that Vat2 required tawdry modern art and music and cast out all that was beautiful.
And I know some older Catholics who seem to think that Vat2 authorized a do your own thing Xtianity without imposing the responsibilities of, you know, prayer, thought, and Scripture study.
Against THAT almost all complaints are and ought to be licit.
The hard core Latin Mass and “it’s been downhill ever since Trent” Catholics DO strike me as vey similar to some Protestants in preferring their notions before the obedience proper to the laity.
The current Pope is ... difficult. So some Catholics are failing the test. Me, I watch and pray.
When the going gets tough, the tough get praying. And when this papcpacy is over, maybe some of the noisiest dissenters will see that there’s a problem with trumpeting docility to JP2 and BenXVI, and then dissing Francis.
...
In the meantime, most of us should be working and praying together.
I am sure there is a reason for that. 🇵🇭😀 I have my own opinion on why, as I am sure you do as well. 👍😂
“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.”
A disturbing thing to read.
Sounds very much like a small group that wants to control the masses.
Thinking people can read Scripture and learn from it.
So let me simply transplant this idiotic argument into a Protestant context:
"It is estimated that a Protestant who only goes to church on Sunday and never opens their Bible at any other time will read only 10% of the OT!"
If you DO the minimum, you GET the minimum.
Golly gee, there's a shocker!!
What about Daily Mass, all the various votive Masses and other ceremonies like Benediction?
What about the pre-Vatican II Holy Week, with its long readings of all the Evangelists' Passion Narratives straight through? What about the Easter Vigil, with 12 readings from Genesis, Exodus, Baruch, Ezechiel, Isaiah, Jonas, Deuteronomy, and Daniel? Ever sat through that one, like I have?
And what about the whole other half of the traditional liturgy: the Divine Office? You know, the one that was mandatory for clerics on pain of sin? Where you read the entire series of Psalms every week? The Office of Matins, with extensive Scriptural readings? And what about the most common extant book from Middle Ages: The Book of Hours, with Psalms, readings, and extracts from the Gospels which was expressly for the laity to read multiple times a day?
And I'll turn it right back around...at your Sunday Meetin', where do YOU ever hear the stories or read the writings of the Church Fathers: Saints Augustine, Chrysostom, Cyprian? When do you ever hear the stories of the Roman martyrs? The great Bishops who met at Nicaea, at Chalcedon? Leo turning back Attila? Perpetua and Felicity?
In our church (Baptist) where I grew up, the Bible on the pulpit table included the books of the Apocrypha. When I would play over there I would read some of it sometimes. Interesting.
Thus it is quite amazing that evangelicals have been the most unified major religious group in core belief s, and the most hated by liberals and conservative Catholics, in contrast to the fruit of Rome, who freely interpret their own church's teaching, yet who counts and treats Ted Kennedy-type RCs as members in life and in death.
Why even here we see different brands of RCs, some condemning the pope, whose office they used to tell us to look to, and even dissenting in part from V2 and modern teachings, while other RCs call them Protestants for so doing,.
Beyond the mostly paper and very limited face of Catholic unity Catholicism exists in sects and schisms, while defining Protestantism the way atheists define "Christian" versus if basic defining distinctives.
Get a bible that is arranged in chronological order!
Gee!
Thanks for all that stuff.
HMMMmmm...
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