This page contains resources that help us to read the Bible with an authentically Catholic understanding. The Bible was written by Catholics and for Catholics and so we must draw on the teaching of the Church Fathers and the Saints when trying to understand the Sacred Scriptures; always remembering that there are two sources of Divine Revelation- Scripture and Tradition. In addition to the daily Mass readings we should make some effort to read scripture so as to grow in our knowledge of Our Lord’s life and his words. The more that scripture is in our hearts and minds, the more often it will be on our lips. We will also find that the Holy Ghost brings certain passages back to our minds at just the right time. This is a beautiful way in which God speaks to us and makes His Word relevant to us in our every day life.
The importance of reading the Holy Scriptures
Three papal encyclicals on the importance of reading the Holy Scriptures.
Providentissimus Deus- Pope Leo XIII
Spiritus Paraclitus- Pope Benedict XV- Referring to St Jerome
Divino Afflante Spiritu- Pope Pius XII
Douay-Rheims Translation
The best translation is the Douay-Rheims because it is a direct translation from that of St Jerome himself. It also avoids those deliberate mis-translations of the heretics.
Click here for the Douay-Rheims Translation of the Bible
Biblical Interpretation
Haydock Biblical Commentary- A verse by verse commentary
“An indulgence of 300 days for reading the Holy Gospels is granted to all the Faithful who read these Holy Scriptures for at least a quarter of an hour, with reverence due to the Divine Word and as spiritual reading…. A Plenary indulgence under the usual conditions is granted once a month for the daily reading.”
Pope Leo XIII. December, 1898, Preces et Pia Opera, 045. (Enchiridion Indulgentiarium,694).