Catholics Must Know the Word!

Source: Catholic News

The Catholic Church wants people to know and love the word of God -- the Bible -- so that they will come to know and love the Word of God -- Jesus Christ. While the world Synod of Bishops is focusing on ways to educate Catholics in the importance of reading, understanding and praying with the Bible, several participants addressing the synod Oct. 6-7 insisted that people understand that for Christians the Word of God is Jesus." When asked what 'the word of God' is, many believers respond, 'the Bible.' The response is not wrong, but it is incomplete," said Italian Archbishop Salvatore Fisichella, rector of Rome's Pontifical Lateran University and president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Because the word of God is more than the Bible, he told the synod Oct. 7, Christianity is not so much a "religion of the book" as a "religion of the Word," who is Jesus.

Brazilian Bishop Filippo Santoro of Petropolis said it is through reading and hearing the written word that Christians can come into contact with Jesus, the Word made flesh. Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Quebec, introducing the synod's work Oct. 6, said, "to begin, we must start from the mystery of a God who speaks, a God who is himself the Word and gives himself to be known by humanity in many ways." Through creation, through his covenant with the Israelites, through the prophets and the Scriptures, God reveals himself, said the cardinal, the synod's recording secretary. His revelation becomes complete in Jesus Christ. The Bible contains the essential account of how God has spoken to humanity, he said." Thanks to the Bible, humanity knows it has been called by God; the Spirit helps humanity listen and welcome the word of God, thus becoming the 'ecclesia' (church), the community assembled by the Word," Cardinal Ouellet said.

And I say Amen! Also, I still believe that the best Catholic understanding of the Word comes from the Vatican II document Dei Verbum. It is well worth reading and meditating on often.

My Favorite Edition of the NAB (Currently Available)

Let me just clear up that I don't typically use the NAB, but I do appreciate that the folks at Fireside are doing something to help make the NAB more usable and attractive. I actually own a 1987 edition of the St. Joseph's New American Bible, which includes the original Old Testament (with original Psalms) and the revised New Testament. I use that most often when referring to the NAB.

ESV with Apocrypha (Deuterocanonicals)

Over at Bible Design Blog, J. Mark Bertrand discovered that the new ESV with Apocrypha has a full listing at the OUP website. I am certainly happy that the ESV is coming out with an edition that could be utilized by both Catholics and Orthodox, but I am still unsure if I am going to give it a look. Why add another Bible translation to the mix when I am already trying to narrow down the ones I already have to use as a daily Bible? Perhaps I could use some convincing! :)

Here are the details, thus far:

The English Standard Version Bible captures as far as possible the precise wording of the original biblical text and the personal style of each Bible writer, while taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages. The ESV thus provides an accurate rendering of the original texts that is in readable, high quality English prose and poetry. This Bible has been growing in popularity among students in biblical studies, mainline Christian scholars and clergy, and Evangelical Christians of all denominations.

Along with that growth comes the need for the books of the Apocrypha to be included in ESV Bibles, both for denominations that use those books in liturgical readings and for students who need them for historical purposes. More Evangelicals are also beginning to be interested in the Apocrypha, even though they don't consider it God's Word. The English Standard Version Bible with the Apocrypha , for which the Apocrypha has been commissioned by Oxford University Press, employs the same methods and guidelines used by the original translators of the ESV, to produce for the first time an ESV Apocrypha. This will be the only ESV with Apocrypha available anywhere, and it includes all of the books and parts of books in the Protestant Apocrypha, the Catholic Old Testament, and the Old Testament as used in Orthodox Christian churches. It will have a lovely pre-printed case binding, and will include a full-color map section, a table of weights and measures used in the Bible, and many other attractive features.

The English Standard Version Bible with Apocrypha is certain to become the preferred Bible in more conservative divinity schools and seminaries, where the Apocrypha is studied from an academic perspective. And it answers the need of conservative Christians in general for a more literal version of these books.

Choose.....choose wisely!

I have been debating this question in my mind recently, so I wanted to propose it to you.

What is better to have for a day-to-day/multi-purpose Bible: 1) one that has a superior translation; or 2) one that may not be as good of a translation, but contains such things as a quality binding/cover, study helps, cross-references, maps, and concordance?



I know that this might seem a bit trivial for my Protestant brothers and sisters, since most Protestant translations come in multiple editions so that if you like a particular translation, there is probably an edition that fits you well out there too. However, in the Catholic Bible publishing world, the options are not as expansive. (I am sure I will post on this issue again at a later time.) So what do you think?

But before you comment on this question, let me make a few additional points that might help in gauging where I am coming from:

1) The four translations that I have in mind here are the RSV, NRSV, NJB, and NAB. I like using the NAB the least, while I consider the RSV and NRSV each to have their positive and negative points. (I will be continuing my RSV vs. NRSV comparison in a week or so.) The NJB is still attractive in many ways, particularly due to all its reference material.

2) My background is that I do full-time campus/young adult ministry, while working on a graduate degree in Sacred Theology from a local seminary.

3) Personally, I like to carry around a Bible that is of standard/medium size.

US Archbishop at Synod

If you are interested in hearing an insider view from Rome, Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington DC is writing frequently of his experiences in Rome. You can read his updates at Americancatholic.org. Archbishop Wuerl is probably one of the best teaching Bishops in the American Church. One of his best books is The Teachings of Christ, which is a catechism written for adults. It is quite good!

Weeklong Scripture Reading Marathon in Rome

Since this past weekend marked the beginning of the Bishop's Synod on the Holy Scriptures, the Pope has asked that the entire Scriptures be proclaimed from beginning to end. I think that is pretty exciting! If you are interested in checking out a live feed, you can goto the Italy's RAI TV live web feed of the event. The event is taking place in Rome at the Basilica of Sante Croce in Jerusalem. As of this moment, they were at Deuteronomy 23.

And any event that has Roberto Benigni reading Genesis 5 and 6 is certainly must see (hear) tv! You can check that out here. For more info on the Synod, you can check out this friendly site set up by Jeff Cavins.

All Wait in Great Expectation for........

Get this widget!

Well, maybe not that much!

Today, October 4th, is the Feast of St. Francis, truly one of the greatest followers of Christ. I bring him up because one of his most well-known prayers, Canticle of the Creatures, is the first page of the new HarperCollins Green Bible. While St. Francis was certainly one who loved God's creation, he was more than just the guy who liked to play with birds. In particular, he loving preached the Gospel in word and deed, was devoted to the Church, and lived a life in deep solidarity with the poor. He also preached to the Sultan of Egypt in 1219. He was a remarkable man!

The Green Bible looks to capitalize on the whole "Go Green" fad that is currently popular. I don't necessarily see anything wrong with that, but I still wonder why they did not include the Deuterocanonical books, which St. Francis would have heard or read. Included, as well, is an essay from the late, great Pope John Paul II. I would imagine that there are many Catholic environmentalists who would appreciate a Catholic edition.