The Bible Hub
The Bible is a sacramental encounter with the Divine. It communicates Divine realities through finite the human language and inspiration of the human author. This makes interpretation of it very critically important that we interpret the text according to the meaning it was meant to convey and not only the connotations and even sometimes denotations we assume given writings have.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says...
Paragraph 101 In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressed in the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men. Read more in subsequent paragraphs.
Catholicism and the Bible
After Jesus ascended, the Apostles were tasked with spreading the faith, not just the concepts and the law, important as they are, but rather the new and everlasting covenant. Out of the wellspring of the Apostolic evangelical efforts, came an oral tradition accompanied by other customs that defined what distinguished the life of a Christian from pagans, etc. All of this is what Holy Mother Church has called "the Deposit of Faith". The Bible was produced/compiled by the Apostles and their successors allowed the Chruch to ensure Christians could encounter Christ at least vicariously by their writings but still in a directly spiritual manner. All of Christian life to truly participate in the fullest possible extent of heaven on earth and what the Apostles meant by it requires not memorization of scripture but the actualization of it into all that is done. The Church has done this in nearly all aspects of sacraments, laws, etc. building and encompassing Sacred Tradition, the Catholic philosophical tradition, Church teaching, etc.
Saints from the very beginning of the post-ascension era have emphasized the importance of knowing and living what Scripture teaches and how instrumental scripture really is in one's relationship with God. Just as a faith-based community, Church teaching, and Church law/ruling, ground those striving for participation in eternity and direct them in sure and concrete ways toward that heavenly goal so also does Sacred Scripture and Sacred Scripture guides the others as well.
St. Augustine of Hippo’s phrase “ever ancient, ever new” describes the renewed interest in praying with Scripture that has re-emerged in today’s Church. Around the country, parish Bible study groups, small Christian communities, and other faith sharers have rediscovered a simple, insightful way to hear and experience the Word of God with one another through an ancient prayer form, lectio divina.
This portion of Vivat Agnus Dei is dedicated to directing viewers to more frequent and meaningful study, knowledge, and assimilation of Sacred Scripture.
Senses of Scripture (CCC 115):
The Literal/Historical Sense is what exactly happened. Follow the rules of sound interpretation.
The Spiritual Sense, interpretation in the light of Christ. “A more profound understanding of events acquired by recognizing their significance in Christ” Example: Jesus says that He will tear the temple down and rebuild it in three days, referring to his own body. (John 2:13-22)
The Moral Sense is how scripture should impact our own way of life. Events reported in scripture should lead us to act justly.
The Analogical Sense points us towards us what’s to come. We can view events in terms of their eternal significance, leading us toward our true homeland: thus, the Church on earth is a sign of the heavenly Jerusalem.
Resources:
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Lectio Divina
The Latin phrase “lectio divina” may be translated as “divine reading.” Lectio divina is a method for praying with the Scriptures. As one reads and invites the Word to become a transforming lens that brings the events of daily living into focus, one can come to live more deeply and find the presence of God more readily in the events of each day. The method of lectio divina follows four steps: lectio (reading), meditatio (meditation), contemplatio (contemplation), and oratio (prayer).
Getting Started
Place – Find a quiet time and place. If possible, make it routine.
Posture – Be relaxed and comfortable, but not conducive to sleep.
Passage – Choose a passage in scripture before you began.
Prayer - Start with a prayer to the Holy Spirit, ask him to lead you in prayer. Each part flows to the next in a natural response from an open heart encountering the word of God i.e. God's revelation. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7
Lectio - Read slowly and stop when a word grabs your attention. What are you reading? {use your eyes, ask]
Meditatio - Use imagination, engage the spiritual senses, and/or just consider the depth of a given passage and if their is another verse of scripture that may seem at odds or brings clarity to the one you read. What is significant? What was given to your mind? {use your mind, given]
Oratio - Pray about the passage and your reflection. What do you feel? What might the people in the passage feel? Is there something you would like to ask God for? What do you seek? {use your heart, seek]
Contemplatio - When you feel moved surrender to the grace. Rest there and return to reading when ready. What have you found? Where is God leading you?{use your mind and heart and find converse with God about the topic brought to your heart, and rest in the silence for a while]
Operatio - actualize what you read, bring what you are given to others, how can you live what you read? ("...welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only", James Chapter 1)
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