catholic family faith

How to Buy a Bible

If you go to a bookstore, you may be amazed at the number of different kinds of Bibles on the shelves.  One of the most common questions I hear from people at church is, "What kind of Bible should I get?"

As a Catholic, I think it's important to point out that there is a difference between Catholic and Protestant Bibles.  Catholic Bibles include more books than Protestant Bibles.  The "Catholic" books of the Old Testament are Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach (also called Ecclesiasticus), Baruch, 1 Macabees, 2 Macabees, parts of Esther, and parts of Daniel. 

I typically suggest that Catholics purchase the New American Bible.  This is the translation used in the Lectionary (the Mass readings.)  On March 9, 2011, the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) was released.  This version includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament and the 1986 edition of the New Testament.  (For more on the NABRE, go to http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/nabre.shtml.)

A good version for Catholic Bible studies is the Catholic Study Bible: New American Bible, edited by Donald Senior, which includes a book-by-book Reading Guide, references and background information, a 15-page glossary of special terms, Bible maps, and a Lectionary guide with Sunday and weekday Mass readings references.

There are, however, a number of different translations of Bibles.  sometimes reading different translations of a passage allow the reader/prayer different perspectives.  For example, look at the differences of Psalm 139 from the New American Bible and the New International Version.

Lord, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar.  My travels and my rest you mark; with all my ways you are familiar.  Even before a word is on my tongue, Lord, you know it all.  Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is beyond me, far too lofty for me to reach.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NAB)

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.  You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.  You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.  Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.  You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.  (Psalm 139:1-6, NIV)

The primary meaning is the same in both translations, but the words may evoke images that are slightly different.  "My travels and my rest you mark..." compared to "You discern my going out and my lying down."  And "Behind and before you encircle me and rest your hand upon me," compared to "You hem in behind and before, and lay your hand upon me."

Open That Bible!

When was the last time you cracked the binding of your family Bible?  I have to admit that our family Bible doesn't get opened much anymore.  Oh, my personal Bible is opened every day, but since my daughters graduated from high school, my family hasn't read the Scriptures together.  (We hear them at Sunday Mass, but we're often at different Masses.)

My own experience makes me wonder about how many other families read the Bible on a regular basis.  Here is my challenge for your family/household:  Crack open your Bible at least weekly.  Whether it's your big family Bible (you know, the one you and your husband received at your wedding or the one you received when your first child was baptized), your personal Bible, or even if you have to go out and buy a new Bible, put it on your kitchen table and open it up at least once a week.  (I'll do a separate posting on suggestions for purchasing Bibles.)

Here are some tips for reading the Scriptures together as a family:

• Don't let your fear of not knowing what's what keep you from opening your Bible.  Start with the Table of Contents; there you will find a listing of the books of the Old Testament and the New Testament.  Together count the number of books of the Old Testament, then the number of books of the New Testament.  Notice the breakout of the books of the Old Testament:  The Pentateuch, the Historical Books, the Wisdom Books, the Prophetic Books.  Look at the breakout of the books of the New Teevelation.stament:  The Gospels, Acts of the Apostles, the New Testament Letters or Epistles, the Catholic letters (if you have a Catholic Bible), the Book of Revelation.
• Decide what to read.  You have choices!  You can simply open your Bible and begin reading where your eye lands first.  You can begin with a specific book; what book are you curious about?  You can follow along with the Church's Lectionary, the Sunday or daily readings.  (Click on the USCCB Readings and Psalms for the Month icon on the left menu.) 
• A word about chapter and verse notations...Bible passages are noted with the name of the book, the number of the chapter, and the number of the verse(s).  For example, if you see something like "Mt 13:1-23," the "Mt" is the initials for the book (in this case, Matthew), the "13" before the colon is the chapter number, and the "1-23" is the verses of the passage; so you would open your Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 13, verses 1-23.  (If you are unsure about the initials of the book noted, Google the passage or go to www.biblegateway.com and search the initials to find the book it is referencing.)
• Read the passage reflectively.  Read the passage through slowly one time.  Let family members just listen to the words and sit quietly with them for a moment.  Then read the passage slowly again.  Invite family members to speak one word or phrase that stood out for them; just the word or phrase.  Read the passage slowly a third time.  Invite family members to dialogue about what they hear from this passage.  This is a process of Lectio Divina, Divine Reading.  It is a wonderful way to hear what God is speaking to you through the passage.

Remember that there is no wrong way to read the Bible!  No matter what you read or how you read it, if you just read a passage and reflect on it, you will be hearing God's Word. 

This week, begin making time at least one time per week to read your Bible.  I promise you that it will unite your family with one another and with God.

If you have Bible reading practices that have worked with your family, share your thoughts in "Comments."

 

The Sacred Heart of Jesus & The Immaculate Heart of Mary

Yesterday, July 1, was the Solemn Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Today, July 2, is the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.  Two feasts celebrating tremendous LOVE.

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is celebrated 19 days after Pentecost.  The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary falls on the Saturday following the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus had been practiced as a private devotion since the Middle Ages, especially among the Benedictines, Cistercians, Franciscans, Dominicans and Carthusians.  In the 17th century, Margaret Mary Alacoque claimed to have had visions of Jesus Christ.  Through her visions, Saint Margaret Mary promoted the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The Church, in its typical sceptical fashion, did not immediately embrace the revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  It wasn't until Pope Leo XIII at the end of the 19th century that the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was officially instituted in the Church.

In his encyclical Annum Sacrum (http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/leo_xiii/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_25051899_annum-sacrum_en.html), Pope Leo XIII decreed that the entire human race be consecrated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11, 1899.  Pope Pius X decreed that this consecration of the human race be renewed each year.   Pope Leo XIII also established that June be the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and encouraged the entire Church to practice the devotion of the Nine First Fridays.  Since that time, Catholics around the world have gone to daily Mass on the First Fridays of the month.

It doesn't happen often that the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus falls on July 1st.  This occurs only when Easter is the latest that it can be, at the end of April, which did happen in 2011.

Even though yesterday, July 1, was the offical Solemnity of the Sacred Heart, I would suggest that individuals and households pray the Litany to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Download Litany_SacredHeartofJesus.pdf (58.7K)

The devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary refers to the interior life of Mary, her joys, sorrows, and virtues, and her devoted love of God and complete self-giving to her son, Jesus.  Devotion to Mary's heart and her example of selfless love have been practiced since the first century Church.  The alliance of the devotions of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus officially began in the 17th century with Saint Jean Eudes, prior to the visions of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque.

For more on the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacred_Heart and http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07163a.htm

For more on the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, visit

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immaculate_Heart_of_Mary and http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07168a.htm