[Salvation]

I’ve taught and been in numerous Bible studies.

Your comments?

Advent series ping!

[Salvation]

For Advent: Why Don’t Catholics Read the Bible? (They Do!)
For Advent: Where in the New Testament are "priests" mentioned?
For Advent: Life Begins in the Womb
For Advent: Inspiring Examples of Aged Faith
For Advent: Celibacy in the First Two Centuries
For Advent: The Importance of Mothers and Fathers
For Advent: The Seven Capital Sins: Lust (Week 1)
For Advent: Are You Man Enough to Take The NFP Challenge
For Advent: The Treasure of Singleness

For Advent: The Synoptic Problem
For Advent: Investigate the Abortion Industry
For Advent: The Virgin Birth
For Advent: Two Canons: Scripture & Tradition
For Advent: SAINT JOSEPH AND LIVING OUT ADVENT
For Advent: How to Advent
For Advent -- 24 Quotes About Purity That Every Young (& Old) Catholic Should Know
For Advent: Five Ways To Stop Worrying TODAY!
For Advent: Answering the New Atheism, Dawkins Dismantled
For Advent: The Sunday Propers: Advent and Penance

[SpirituTuo]

In Catholic schools, it was hit or miss, mostly because of the times, and my particular diocese. I remember in 10th grade we read much of the Old Testament, like Ruth, Esther, and Judges. Of course, around Christmas, we read the Gospel accounts. And somewhere, we read the differing Creation stories. Of course, during Lent we read the accounts of the Passion.

I agree that I am not a chapter and verse guy. I also admit I should know a heck of a lot more. Fortunately, I have a pretty good textual concordance, and the Haydock Bible (which has excellent commentary).

[nascarnation]

Yes I’ve studied various parts of the bible since Catholic high school in the 1960s. When I mention that we typically hear 3 passages each week at Mass, some FReepers tell me it’s not authentic scripture.

[steve86]

No, my Catholic religious education through 8th grade (when I departed) involved few, if any Bible Studies. We probably saw it more as a protestant thing. I don't do it now because 1) I don't understand and can't retain most Scripture (see 3); 2) I am already familiar with significant parts due to mainstream exposure and the Mysteries of the Rosary; 3) In general I don't like stories about people (see 6) and can't retain even common names and kinship relationships from a story -- any story -- for more than 30 seconds if that; 4) If I tried to spend any significant time with it I would get bored and annoyed thereby endangering my faith, just as exposure to the new liturgy does (so I avoid it, too); 5) My faith is very much morality-based, and I intuitively agreed with Catholic positions on moral issues even before being formally taught or reading about them; 6) I am schizoid and the degrees of freedom to change my personality and behavior in line with Biblical recommendations are extremely limited. "People" things don't make sense to us (like Asperger's).

I've noticed that our girls' catechism does include "Bible Study" time now, but only once a month or something. The protestant VBSs they occasionally attend do pile it on, though.

[Jim from C-Town]

I have been in Bible and Cathecism study groups. In High School religion class Junior year we read the entire New Testament AS the class.

[tioga]

I attend Bible studies weekly with a local nun who founded her order. She teaches theology at the local Catholic high school and numerous Bible studies in the area. I don’t like to miss them, but she does make CDs of each class so we can make them up if we miss. She, also, has posted most books of the Bible on line, too.

I, also, use scripture for prayer. Interesting the take the author of this article has to point out that we pray a lot of scripture at each mass. I have been to protestant funeral services that barely mentioned God, let alone scripture. Yet, they criticize Catholics like this? Laughable.

I see scripture quotes around and will often look them up and read the entire chapter, just for context. Only a fool believes this silly rumor that Catholics do not read or know their Bible. Fools repeating rumors. That’s all it is.

[cloudmountain]

I’ve taught and been in numerous Bible studies.
Your comments?
Advent series ping!

Since I've been going to daily Mass for decades, I can say that I've heard the same three-year cycle of Bible readings many, many times and I am always inspired by them.

Jesus' words are manna from heaven.
One of my favorite readings is from Matthew 11:29-30

29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

We had that Gospel recently.

As for YOU, you are always right on the mark, pertinent and crystal clear.

Merry Christmas!

[Grateful2God]

Of course Catholics read the Bible! : )

My grandparents were immigrants: Mom's parents had no formal education, but my Grandfather taught himself to read and write in both his native language and English. My Mom said he used to read aloud to my Grandmother from the Bible. He was a bit scandalized by some of the Old Testament stories, such as the one about Lot and his daughters, but continued with the wise, old-country mentality that some things just happen, and he moved on.

My Grandparents had passed, by the time I came along, but the Bible my Dad gave my Mom for a wedding present was well-used. She would read to me- Samson's was one of the stories, as was that of Joseph and his brothers- in nightly installments.

In 13 years of Catholic school, we never rote-memorized chapter-and-verse: we were taught meanings, and that can be two different things. I've read from several versions of the Catholic Bible (I, too, have a set of Navarre!), including the Ignatius, Jerusalem and of course, the Douay-Rhiems.

I'm older now, and don't always remember as well as I used to, but then there are times when the Word will come to mind, right when I need It most!

If I can cite where a verse is, it's usually because I recall the story or context it is in. That's a big help! The rest came from the practice of my Faith within the Church: I believe what the Magisterium of the Church teaches. That really is a lamp unto one's feet! When in doubt, check with Rome!

[defconw]

Can we place bets on how many posts this thread gets? How many are completely off the subject, etc. :)

I used to go to a Bible study for years back in Indiana. Miss those folks. We had a evening one and a lunch time one. One year we did the DVD one with Scott Hahn. He made my head hurt with all the information but it was really good.

I have gone through Revelation with a priest and a group of others, it was awesome.