Assuming this number is accurate, I don't believe it has anything to do with comprehension of Scripture. You don't mean to imply that attending Mass is the prescribed way to learn Scripture? Do YOU?
Attending Mass is, if nothing else, a default way to hear Scripture. People should obviously study it on their own. But if they do not, or if they can not (think: illiteracy now and through the ages) by attending Mass they will be exposed to the teachings and stories of Scripture. As for comprehension, it is the duty of the celebrating priest to "open up" the Scriptures of the day by explaining their relevance to the audience.
The point that was being made was that a person who does not read the Bible on their own will, over a period of years, hear most of the New Testament and large hunks of the Old (thematically related, even) just by attending services. What readings to sermonize about is not left to the whim of the individual pastor. In any given independent Church there is no similar guarantee.
SD
No, but it's a heck of a lot better than the pastor picking one or two verses to expand on over 45min. The third year we attended our local bible church I turned to my wife and said "you know, I don't think I've ever heard him read from one of the Gospels?". Lot's of time in Roman's hearing Paul's idea of what Christ said, but not alot of time actually reading what Christ said.
At least you can't get out of mass without hearing several paragraphs from an epistle, a Gospel, and and OT verse. We can argue about whether your average priest ever does anything with the verse, but at least you hear it.
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Prescribed by whom?