THE HOLY BIBLE THE HERITAGE OF CATHOLIC FAMILY LIFE The Catholic Biblical Association of America In the Bible, declares His Holiness Pope Pius XII, "are laid open the fountains of Divine Guidance without which both peoples and their rulers can never arrive at, never establish, peace in the state and unity in the heart.” Ever since the Bible was brought into being by the Church, the Church has expressed the desire that it be made "abundantly accessible to the flock of Jesus Christ.” (Pope Leo XIII) ^ This booklet aims to point out afresh for Catholics what the Bible is and how it came to be. It takes up the questions raised by geological findings and evolution. It traces the Church’s role in preserv- ing Sacred Scripture and tells how the laity is re- discovering it today. In the final pages appear readings for Lent from theHoly Gospels, theActs of the Apostles and the Epistles, and the Psalms. oil)a!tat : Louis F. Hartman, C. Ss. R. Censor Deputatus imprimatur : ^ Patrick A. O’Boyle January 8, 1952 Archbishop of Washington The Catholic Biblical Association of America The Catholic University of America, Washington 17, D. C. An Open Book j\ few years ago a devout Catholic woman presented a friend with the family Bible which had lain upon her parlor table for sixty years. When he opened it he was startled to find as the frontispiece a picture of coarse-look- ing monks dancing around a pile of burning Bibles. The pious family had been treasuring a version published by a Bible society with scant love of the Church, because in sixty years no one had opened it! Much knowledge, much in- spiration and much grace is lost to all of us because of a similarly closed Book. The spirit of the Bible is found at all times in the history of the Church. It pervades the very atmosphere of the Catholic home by the presence of the crucifix, the recita- tion of the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Rosary and the Angelus. In Catholic theology the Bible and sacred tradi- tion are considered as the two sources of revealed truth. THREE The Church makes frequent use of the Bible in her official prayers. The Mass Book, the Breviary and all the liturgical books are compiled almost verbally from the Hcly Bible . . . the Bible is the official prayer book for our Sacrifice, our Sacraments and our Supplications. The Bible has also been an inspiration at all times for all the arts. The most famous masterpieces of the pictorial arts represent biblical scenes. Themes taken from the Bible have inspired some of the greatest music ever written. From the pages of the Bible poetry and prose have derived some of their noblest themes and grandest imagery. Never Withheld from the Faithful The Church has never withheld the sacred volume from her children. After the Sacraments, which are the unfail- ing instruments of divine grace and the authentic means of holiness or its increase, prayer and spiritual reading, espe- cially of Holy Scripture, are the most effective means for approaching God, and for preserving and increasing our union with Him. In reading the Bible, everyone should bear in mind this principle: Unless the context clearly limits the bearing or sense of a text or a saying to a particular person or situation we should take the words of the inspired writers—above all, the words of Our Lord—as addressed to ourselves indi- vidually. Thus we shall find that the New Testament in particular will have a special meaning and value for us, be- cause it speaks to us directly of Christ and no longer in type FOUR or prophecy as in the Old Testament. At the same time, we shall find that Jesus Christ is also broadcasting to us and that His words are reaching our ears and stirring our hearts through the centuries, because we are tuned in to receive His message and are deriving spiritual profit from His words. Thus, we shall find that reading the Bible in the spirit of faith will effect enduring spiritual values in our souls, and will minister to many of our needs in these trou- blesome times, giving us inspiration, courage and hope. IV the Bible Qrew The Bible is the greatest book in the world. The word Bible means simply the book. God is the Author. From time to time during a period of about 1 ,400 years. He inspired men whom He chose to write the different smaller books which compose it. Those writ- ten before the birth of Christ are called The Old Testament; those after His birth. The New Testament. The word testament, which means will or in- heritance, indicates that these are God’s legacy to us. The New Testament contains the four Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, twenty-one Epistles or Letters, and the great book of the Apocalypse. The Gospels, which mean O FIVE good tidings, are four short records of the life and teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ. Three of them parallel one an- other quite closely and are called synoptic. The fourth, the Gospel of Saint John, was written last and includes much that was omitted in the earlier accounts. All of them were written within sixty-five years after the death and resur- rection of Christ and are His earliest and original biogra- phies. They are also a summary of His teachings and His instructions to us. His will, which He wishes us to cherish and fulfill. The Acts of the Apostles was written at about the same time as the Gospels. It records the work of the Apostles during the first thirty years after Christ’s ascension, espe- cially that of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In that time they established and organized His Church in all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. Apostles Wrote Many Letters During their travels, the Apostles and their companions wrote numerous letters to their Christian communities and their friends. These are filled with the inspiration of their zeal to do what Christ had asked them to do, that is, to preach His Gospel over all the world. Twenty-one of these Epistles or Letters are included in His Testament to us. Christ wished us to know something of the end of the world, of His return to it, and of heaven. He entrusted this knowledge in a vision to Saint John and commanded him to record it in a book. This book, called the Apocalypse, was written about 96 a.d. and concludes our New Testament. SIX Monks Copied the Bible There can be no doubt that the world must thank the Catholic Church for the Bible—if only to account for the 1,500 years which elapsed before the first of the Reformers appeared on the scene. Who spanned the gulf? We ask that the monks who copied for centuries, work- ing from dawn until dark, day in and day out — we ask that these anonymous servants of God be given their due. But for them we would have no Bible. With the invention of printing during the middle of the fifteenth century the Bible ran through edition after edi- tion—124 altogether in the first fifty years. Between 1452 and 1522 (when Luther began his twelve-year translation) there were fourteen complete editions of the Bible in High German at Augsburg, Basle, Strassburg, and Nuremberg; five in Low German at Cologne, Delf, Halberstadt, and Lue- beck. During this interval there were 156 Latin, six Hebrew, eleven Italian, ten French, one Flemish, one Limousine, one Russian, and two Bohemian editions. All of these were spon- sored and approved by the Catholic Church. Thus the Church insists on her own version for Catholic use. SEVEN !The Bible and Science when a Catholic opens the Bible at the very first page he often thinks of the "conflict” between the Bible and "Science.” Here is a chapter that presents formidable diffi- culties. Ever since Galileo it has been the object of learned discussion. Moses describes God creating the universe in six days. But science has proved that our earth broke off from the sun millions of years ago. The gradual cooling and hardening of this earth, the formation of continents and seas, the invasion of the glaciers, form an epic narrative of staggering time-proportions. Only in quite recent times did this earth bring forth the animals and vegetation of today, these having evolved gradually from different forms. Can the six days of which Moses speaks be these long periods described by geologists? Certainly they are not. Moses knew nothing of modern science ; his picture of the universe is quite naive, no further advanced, in fact, that that of the people among whom he lived three thousand years ago. But no human mind has ever surpassed him in the ultimate explanation which he gives of the universe in his first words: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...” (Gen. 1:1). The full realization of this truth has made saints. And Moses wants us to realize it fully, to ponder it in detail. That is why he goes on to list everything in the universe, as he knew it, and insist that it all sprang from a mere word of God. His time-limits, however, are not to be taken literally. EIGHT The Bible and Evolution The second story of Genesis, with its detailed description of the creation of Adam and Eve, may awaken in the mind of the Catholic reader still more bitter controversy. Here is the problem of evolution! Can evolution be found de- scribed in the narrative? Certainly not! Can it be recon- ciled with the teaching of this chapter? Yes, if it is that form of evolution which recognizes the action of God both at the beginning and throughout the evolutionary process. Is evolution a fact? We shall never find the answer to this in the Bible. What we shall find in this second chapter is a lesson in humility. What are we? Like the beasts around us, we are mere earth, to which death once more reduces us. This bit of earth, however, is the object of God’s special action, which raises it above the rest of creation. The first chapter said simply that God created man in His own "image and likeness” ( 1 : 26 ). The second chapter expresses the same truth by means of a picture: God breathes into man the breath of His own life. NINE Bible Discussion Qroups Shortly after ascending the Chair of Peter, Pope Pius XII wrote: "The needs of our age demand that the laity too should be able to give assistance to the clergy; and that not on a small and grudging scale; they should equip them- selves ... by reading, by discussion, by circles that meet for study.” Since then tens of thousands of the laity have been learn- ing every year of the power and the majesty of the God- Man who changed the face of the earth. By reading and discussing the New Testament in Confraternity discussion groups they discover the personality of Christ, see Him es- tablish His Church and vest in it authority in all matters of faith and morals. By reading and discussion they discover the Christian’s obligation to live by the truths of the Gospel, become convinced that grace is a free gift of God, working in man’s soul, however, only when man’s soul works with grace. The laity are leaders as well as learners in these informal groups. At meetings, which are usually held in homes, mem- bers in turn read aloud a brief passage from the text while the others follow silently. Then discussion is developed by carefully prepared questions, which encourage members to re-tell in their own words what they have read. In the beginning expression is limited and halting. Eventually all acquire a religious vocabulary and discuss the matter with the ease that accompanies an act performed instinctively. TEN Husbands and Wives Meet Together Our bishops have encouraged and directed organize^ effort on the part of the laity to meet in circles to read and discuss the doctrine of Christ and His Church; to discipline their lives by this doctrine; to equip themselves to spread it wherever they go. Men, women and youth from every walk of life are forming circles or clubs of from six to ten members to steep themselves in Christ’s doctrine. Husbands and wives meet together; non-Catholic parties of mixed marriages join their groups. Young men and women form clubs separately and jointly. Out-of-school and college youth assemble in homes, clubrooms or wherever they can conveniently come together. Informally and cooperatively the members of each small group read and discuss the Gos- pel truths. Catholic students in secular high schools, under the guidance of an adult leader, relate and dramatize the Savior’s deeds and miracles. ELEVEN Daily Lenten Readings from the Holy Gospels FIRST WEEK Text Weds. Jn. 1:1-18 Thurs. Lk. 1 : 5-25 Fri. Lk. 1:26-38 Sat. Lk. 1:39-56 SECOND WEEK Sun. Lk. 1:57-80 Mon. Lk.>2:l-21 Tues. Mt. 2:1-23 Weds. Lk. 2:41-52 Thurs. Mk. 1:1-13 Fri. Jn. 1:3 5-51 Sat. Jn. 2:1-12 THIRD WEEK Sun. Jn. 2:13-25 Mon. Jn. 3:1-21 Tues. Jn. 3:22-36 Weds. Mk. 2:1-28 Thurs. Mk. 3:1-19 Fri. Mt. 5:1-20 Sat. Mt. 6:1-18 FOURTH WEEK Sun. Lk. 7:1-17 Mon. Lk. 7:18-3 5 Tues. Lk. 7:36-50 Weds. Mk. 3:20-3 5 Thurs. Mt. 13:1-23 Fri. Mt. 13:24-52 Sat. Lk. 4:16-30 Subject The Prologue Announcing the Baptist Announcing the Savior The Visitation Birth of Baptist Birth of Jesus The Magi, etc. Jesus in the temple John the Baptist First disciples Marriage at Cana Temple cleansed Nicodemus The Baptist speaks Conflict with Pharisees Further conflict Sermon on the Mount The same continued Centurion’s servant John the Baptist The sinful woman Blasphemy of the Scribes The Sower Other parables Jesus at Nazareth FIFTH WEEK Text Sun. Mt. 14:1-12 Mon. Jn. 6:1-21 Tues. Jn. 6:22-47 Weds. Jn. 6:48-70 Thurs. Mk. 7:24-37 Fri. Mt. 16:13-28 Sat. Mk. 9:1-12 SIXTH WEEK Sun. Mk. 9:32-49 Mon. Jn. 8:12-30 Tues. Jn. 10:1-18 Weds. Lk. 15:11-32 Thurs. Mt. 19:16-30 Fri. Jn. 11:1-44 Sat. Jn: 12:1-11 Subject Death of the Baptist Jesus feeds five thousand Jesus on the Eucharist Jesus on the Eucharist Chanaanite woman Peter’s profession of faith Transfiguration Against various vices Light of the world Good Shepherd Prodigal Son Danger of riches Lazarus At Bethany SEVENTH WEEK Sun. Mt. 21:1-11 Mon. Mt. 22:34-46 Tues. Mk. 13:1-13 Weds. Jn. 12:20-50 Thurs. Mk. 14:12-25 Fri. Mk. 15:20-47 Sat. Mk. 16:1-18 Palm Sunday The Son of David Destruction of Jerusalem and of the world Jesus’ last words to the people Last Supper Crucifixion and death of Jesus The Resurrection EASTER SUNDAY Jn. 2 1 : 1 -2 5 Appearance of Jesus TWELVE Daily Lenten Readings from the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles FIRST WEEK Text Weds. Acts 1:1-11 Thurs. Acts 1:15-26 Fri. Acts 2:1-18 Sat. Acts 2:22-36 SECOND WEEK Sun. Acts 2:37-47 Mon. Acts 3:1-11 Tues. Acts 3:12-26 Weds. Acts 4:1-12 Thurs. Acts 5:1-16 Fri. Acts 5:17-33 Sat. Acts 5:34-42 TfflRD WEEK Sun. Acts 6:1-15 Mon. Acts 7:54-8:3 Tues. Acts 8:4-17 Weds. Acts 8:26-40 Thurs. Acts 9:1-19 Fri. Acts 9:31-43 Sat. Acts 11:1-18 FOURTH WEEK Sun. Acts 12:1-17 Mon. Acts 13:1-12 Tues. Acts 14:7-17 Weds. Acts 15:1-12 Thurs. Acts 16:11-18 Fri. Phil. 1:12-30 Sat. Acts 17:1-9 Subject The Ascension Election of Matthias Descent of Holy Spirit Peter’s first sermon Results of Peter’s sermon Peter’s first miracle Peter explains the miracle Apostles arrested Ananias’ hypocrisy Apostles arrested Defense of apostles The deacons Stephen’s martyrdom Faith in Samaria The Ethiopian Conversion of Paul Peter visits the churches Gentiles received into the Church Peter’s life threatened Paul goes on mission Paul at Lystra Decision on the Mosaic Law Paul at Philippi Paul to the Philippians Paul at Thessalonica FIFTH WEEK Text Sun. iThes. 2:1-12 Mon. Acts 18:1-17 Tues. 1 Cor. 1:17-2:5 Weds. Acts 19:1-12 Thurs. Eph. 5:21-6:4 Fri. Acts 20:17-38 Sat. Acts 21:27-40 Sun. Acts 22:1-21 Mon. Acts 23:1-11 Tues. Acts 23:12-21 Weds. Acts 23:22-3 5 Thurs. Acts 24:1-21 Fri. Acts 25:1-12 Sat. Acts 2 5:13-27 SEVENTH WEEK Sun. Acts 26:1-18 Mon. Acts 26:19-32 Tues. Acts 27:1-13 Weds. Acts 27:14-26 Thurs. Acts 28:1-16 Fri. Col. 1:15-23 Sat. Philem. 1-25 EASTER SUNDAY Col. 3:1-10 Subject Paul to the Thessalonians Paul at Corinth Paul to the Corinthians Paul at Ephesus Paul to the Ephesians Paul’s farewell to the Ephesians Paul arrested Paul’s address Paul before the court Plot against Paul Paul in prison Paul before the governor Paul before Festus Paul before Agrippa (Holy Week) Paul’s defense Paul’s defense Departure for Rome Storm at sea Malta and Rome Christ, God and Savior Paul’s plea for a slave Mystical death and resurrection SIXTH WEEK (Passion Week) THIRTEEN Daily Lenten Readings from the Psalms FIRST WEEK Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Psalms 6, 31, 50, 142 13, 3 5, 38, 89 37, 101 3,4, 10, 55, 56 Subject Prayers of the Repentant Sinner The Misery and Brevity of Life Cries of the Distressed Penitent Unshaken Confidence in God SECOND WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 90, 107, 120, 124, 145 14,25, 100, 111, 127, 140 1,48,72 36, 74, 126 29,40, 112, 114, 115 5,24, 85 106, 137 Safe in God*s Care Innocence of Life The Folly of a Wicked Life The Fate of Sinners and of the Just God’s Mercy Towards the Afflicted Prayers for Divine Help and Guidance God, the Savior in the Hour of Need THIRD WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 32, 33, 66 118, 1-56 118, 57-120 118, 121-176, 18B 34, 52, 82 16,9 15, 19, 60, 131 Praise of God’s Power and Goodness Zeal for God’s Holy Law Love of God’s Holy Will Devotion Towards the Divine Law The Overthrow of God’s Enemies Prayer in Time of Persecution Prayers for the Lord’s Anointed FOURTH WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 103, 148, 150 8, 18A, 28, 92, 138 79, 84, 125, 143 11, 51, 108, 119 64, 65, 134 54, 69, 70 105, 123 The Glory of the Almighty Creator God’s Majesty and Power Prayers for the Restoration of God’s Peo The Evil of Malicious Tongues Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness to Isr* Prayers in Time for Sorrow The Lord’s Mercy to Israel FIFTH WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 91, 102, no, 116 77 77,43, 128 104, 149 39, 95, 144 58, 63, 139, 141 17 Grateful Praise of God’s Goodness Lessons from Israel’s History God’s Love for His People The Lord, the Protector of Israel Grateful Hymns of Praise to God Prayers for Deliverance from Wicked F( Thanksgiving for Help and Victory FOURTEEN SIXTH WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2, 20,44, 109 46, 71,96, 98 7, 57, 81,93 49, 80,94 41,42,62, 83, 86 12,68, 129 67, 13 5 Christ, the Triumphant King The Lord, The King of Justice Pleas for True Justice The Sacrifice Pleasing to God Longings for God’s Holy Dwelling Lamentations of the Suffering Redeemer The Lord’s Triumphant Procession to Sion SEVENTH WEEK Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 23, 99, 117, 133 47, 78, 121, 132, 136 45, 59, 73, 75 88 22, 26, 53, 61, 122, 130 21,87 27, 30, 76 Solemn Entry into the Temple Love for the Holy City God’s Care of Sion God’s Promises to David Trust in God’s Love The Sufferings and Abandonment of Christ Anticipated Thanksgiving for Salvation EASTER SUNDAY Sunday 97, 113, 146, 147 Grateful Praise for the Redemption FIFTEEN i_,et also the minds of the faithful he nour- ished with the same food that they may draw from thence the knowledge and love of Qod and the progress in perfection and the happiness of their own individual souls." POPE PIUS XII In the use of all or any part of this booklet for the purpose of furthering the reading of the Bible, no permission or acknowledgment is necessary.