“Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect”
What is the most popular book in the world but also the most oppressed in many countries? The Bible.
Yes, there’s no need to fact check or deny it. The Bible is still the No.1 best-selling book in the world.
Unfortunately, the Bible is not well-read by many Catholics. In 2009, less than half of Catholics read the bible. Meanwhile, a 2016 study shows a 77% of Catholics who want to read it. 70% read it once a week in a PEW Survey from 2023.
The bible is important because the Mass is built around sacred scripture from the entrance hymn to recessional and every part of Mass in between.
Thoughts from early Church Fathers
St. Jerome reminds that “Ignorance of scripture is an ignorance of God.” When we forget to read his word, God is never a part of our daily convictions.
Like St. Jerome, many church fathers offer stern wake up calls on the importance of reading the bible more often.
St. Athanasius tells us, “"Scripture is of all things most sufficient for us." and "These books are the fountains of salvation, so that he who thirsts may be satisfied with the oracles contained in them,"
St. Augustine wrote, ““The Scriptures were written in such a way that as the reader advances, he will learn more fully and more correctly how to understand them.”
While attending Mass recently, a young family sat in front of me and my wife. Of course, adoring young children during Mass isn’t sin. Sadly, instead of the parents helping them focus on Mass, they had with them secular materials like marvel comics with them.
The most important thing we can all do now is to teach our children about the importance of God’s word. Thankfully, there are bibles geared towards a younger audience.
Read the bible. It will change your life. It will strengthen your spiritual life. God is waiting to speak to you through his divine words.