The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-07-18
MAY CATHOLICS READ THE
BIBLE?

DlDGEs
Catholics are often puzzled what to
reply to the ever repeated charge that
their Church forbids them to read the
Word of God. ut is so absurd, and it
is so false" That is what most
Catholics will be prompted to answer.
And perhaps the mischievous SANDER
deserves no more. Still it is good and
serviceable to remember some facts
that prove how baseless this charge
is. Bishop John S. Vaughan has re-
minded us of some of them in letter
to the Universe" Catholics are not
only allowed to read the Bible, but
they are strongly urged to do so.
1t is a well-known fact that one of
the most important efforts made by
Leo XIII during his long reign was to
promote greater love and esteem of
the Holy Scriptures. Not only did he
urge upon ecclesiastical students and
professors the need of a profounder
and more critical and exhaustive
study of the Hebrew and Greek texts,
OuI AAO 1AOO oIAOhSAy liz
Inspired Volume to the devout use and
attentive consideration of the faithful
in general.
In earnest and loving words he eX-
horted his 25O.0OO,OO0 of spiritual chill
dren, scattered throughout every land,
to familiarize themselves more and
more with the Written Word of God.
In fact, so anxious was he that his adj
vice should be laid to heart that he
granted to everyone who should spend
one quarter of an hour in reading or
meditating on the inspired page spe-
cial indulgence.
In his whole attitude towards the
Holy Book the Holy Father was, after
all, only initiating the greatest of the
saints. Listen, for example, to ST.
Basil: There should be assiduous and
constant reading and meditating6 on
| the Holy Scriptures, in order to bring
out and to impress upon the mind the
majesty of the hidden truths therein
contained" ITO read the Holy Scrip
tures," says st. Augustine, sis to OBJ
tain no slight knowledge of divine be-
attitude. In the Scriptures, as in a
mirror, man can see himself, and
what he is, and whittier he is going
Regular reading of the Scriptures elu.
| cidates all things, it instils fear OF
hell, and lifts up to the heart of the
devout reader to heavenly joys. He
who desires to be ever in the company
of God ought to pray and read without
ceasing, for when we pray we speak
to God, and when we read (the Bible)
God speaks to u.s.
st. Anthony of the Desert was wont
to say that "the Gospel is letter from
God Himself sent to us from Heaven, y
and st. Charles Borromeo had such a
respect for it that he was accustomed
| to read it bareheaded and on his
knees; while some of the saints, such
as St. Cecilia, for instance, used to
carry copy of the Gospel in their
bosoms and never allow anything but
death to part it from them.
Pope Plus VII, in rescript to the
Bishops of England, April 1S, 1920
bids them encourage their subjects to
read the Holy Scriptures, because
nothing can be more useful, nothing
more consoling, nothing more animal
ing, or encouraging. They serve
continues the Sovereign Pontiff, ito
confirm the Faith, to raise up Hope,
and to infiame the Charity of the true
Christian"
With these and similar words from
the lips of Pontiffs and of Saints ring
ing in our ears it is somewhat difficult
to have patience with the old silly
charge that Catholics may not read
! the Bible.