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Additional approaches to bible study
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Thanks for this post! I'm going to check these out on kindle!
Along these same lines; the Catholic Commentary on the Bible by Fr. George Haydock is available on Kindle for around a dollar. While Fr. Haydock does comment on the Douay-Rheims version of the Bible he also includes commentary from over 200 other biblical scholars dating back to the fourth through eighteenth centuries. Copies of the Haydock version of the Bible are still available in hard copy but they sell for upwards of $100. Having the commentaries available so inexpensively on Kindle is a wonderful way to enhance the reading and study of the Douay-Rheims.Fr. Haydock’s brother, Thomas, published the first version of the DR with his brother’s notes between 1811 and 1814. These bibles were printed on large folio sheets and sold a few pages at a time so that average (poor) Catholic families could afford to build up a complete bible over time.
I am sure that the Haydock brothers are happy to see what we can get on Kindle today.
Good to know this is available on kindle. I have a Douay Rheims Bible but I really need the Haydock commentary.
Wasn't sure where to put this, but at church this morning they announced lectio divina was being held at 7 am on Monday mornings in one of the classrooms. I had to look it up; I'd never heard of this before, but I think I'll go. Maybe a good way to center myself on the right things and prepare for the week.
Lectio divina is also used in the Ignatian spiritual exercises.
From the brief description on Wikipedia, it sounds like a good practice. I'm looking forward to it!
Lectio Divina is being included in more and more high school religion texts/programs. I am glad to see it. I have never been as much a fan of group lectio, the ways it has been modified for use in a group setting. But I greatly appreciate the more traditional individual way of doing it. I have a Benedictine background and it is a process used by Benedict.
Irene wrote: "Lectio Divina is being included in more and more high school religion texts/programs. I am glad to see it. I have never been as much a fan of group lectio, the ways it has been modified for use in ..."I actually liked it in the group form myself Irene. I can see why you prefer to practice it alone though since really it was mostly quiet meditation and prayer, but there were several good things for me about the group setting.
I generally find praying quietly in a group to be a powerful experience; it is easier for me to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit that way, I don't know why.
Also, rather than thinking about how long I have left for each segment as I fear I would on my own, I can lose myself in prayer/meditation and be alerted to the next step by the bell. I can't shorten anything on a busy day since the schedule is set by others, and the hard start time helps me to be diligent, to wake on time to actually do it. Diligence in prayer is not one of my natural strengths.
I also felt encouraged by the other participants, a kind of encouragement in fellowship. It had the added benefit of letting me get to know some active church members a little better before & afterwards.
I'm really glad the church has it in this form for me, and I'll definitely go back next Monday!
It sounds as if you did the traditional steps of Lectio individually but in a space with others and with a bell to designate the move to the next phase? When I have participated in group lectio, it was quite modified with participants sharing a word, than a thought, than a prayer with the group after each reading of the text aloud.
Irene wrote: "It sounds as if you did the traditional steps of Lectio individually but in a space with others and with a bell to designate the move to the next phase? When I have participated in group lectio, it..."Irene, I think the one I attended was somewhere inbetween. We did:
spoken opening prayer together
read bible passage
silent reflection/prayer followed by bell
read bible passage again
silent reflection/prayer followed by bell
brief sharing of thoughts about passage
read bible passage again
silent reflection/prayer followed by bell
read bible passage again
silent reflection/prayer followed by bell
sharing of prayer requests
spoken closing prayer together
The schedule called out for the prayer requests to come earlier, but that's the order we followed. I'm hoping that after I get used to the discipline of this procedure in the Monday group, I can do it by myself other days of the week as well. It was a good way to start the day I think.
I wonder if there is a book I can buy with a series of bible passages arranged in an order fruitful for individual Lectio Divina practice? Does anyone know? I have read all the gospels the traditional way; so I think that would suit my reflection better than just going in order.
Greg, here is a resource I am quite familiar with, at least the one in Colorado...Contemplative Outreach:
http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/...
Colorado:
http://www.contemplativeoutreach-co.org/
I have practiced Centering Prayer on and off, for years. Lectio Divina has some similarities, but also quite different, but all stems from a Benedictine tradition...lots of good info here....
When I used the Google, a few Lectio Divina apps popped up for what it's worth...I have not checked them out, but often I find that apps help me keep a schedule better.
One app I use frequntly is the Mindfulness Bell...you can set it however you want timewise and it has many different options for chimes, bells, gongs, etc. I have a few set ones for a 10 minute quickie meditation, an 18 minute one and a full 20 minute one. I find the sounds really help me to center and clear my mind...
Susie wrote: "Greg, here is a resource I am quite familiar with, at least the one in Colorado...Contemplative Outreach:
http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/...
Colorado:
http://..."
Thanks so much Susie - wonderful!! I'll check these out when I get home tonight.
I loved Lectio Divina in part because I think I'm often too intellectual with my Bible reading and need to leave myself more open for the Holy Spirit to reach me, to learn better how to still myself enough to listen.
I'm excited to explore more about the Benedictine tradition that you and Irene mentioned! Thanks, both of you!
Greg, you might also be interested in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens offers free classes which will begin around mid August. I attended the classes a few years ago and Father Ed Broom does a great job in teaching the classes. They have classes during the week and also on saturdays and sundays. Here is the link for information:http://spcomv.com/
Susan Margaret wrote: "Greg, you might also be interested in the spiritual exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. St. Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens offers free classes which will begin around mid August. I attened the c..."Thanks Susan! I'll definitely look into signing up!
I love the idea of offering something like lectio at a parish early in the morning before people have to be at work. I wonder if people would attend if we offered something in that time slot.
Irene wrote: "I love the idea of offering something like lectio at a parish early in the morning before people have to be at work. I wonder if people would attend if we offered something in that time slot."There were only 7 people there at the lectio at St Matthew's, but I agree completely - so glad they have it!
Irene wrote: "I would gladly hold it for 7 people":)
Just my opinion but as long as we adhere to what the Roman Catholic Church teaches I think whatever approach works for you to bring you closer to God and our faith is good. So many good ideas in this thread.
Totally agree. I love hearing what works for others because it can open me up to new spiritual disciplines that can help me grow.
Since there has been some recent conversations and interest about various approaches to reading/studying the Bible, I was wondering if this group has any interest in reading some books of the Bible together? There is no reason we could not treat individual books from the Bible like other group reads by nominating several, voting and so on.
Please let me know your thoughts, ideas and level of interest in any of this...if there is enough interest we can work out the details and move forward together...
I realize many of us are already involved in some form of reading/studying the Bible and this would be in no way meant to replace or supplant those endeavors, only to expand and enhance our knowledge and understanding...
As an aside, after some research, I just purchased the The New American Bible, Revised Edition: Fireside Personal Study Bible for my Kindle.
I decided on this particular one because 1) the footnotes, cross references and Table of Contents are easy to switch back and forth to with one simple click, 2) I like the NABRE version, and 3) price... $7.99...is 1/2 to 1/3 of the cost of the other versions I was looking at...
I would definitely be interested. Thank you Susie!
Me too Susie - I probably have a different Bible translation than most of you, but I'd be glad to join. I have an NIV Bible and an RSRV Bible and probably a King James somewhere. I don't have any of the newer Catholic translations.
I am already heavily involved in studying scripture from several different angles, and I really don't see how I could fit in more time. I already spend 2.5 to 3.5 hours a day in Bible study. I do have to make time for other of life's necessities.
I would be interested as well. I have an NAB and have been going to a weekly men's bible study group now for about five years. It's a small group and we spend a lot of time in discussion so there's still much of the bible we haven't formally studied. We've probably made our way through half of the books of the bible at this point with a heavier emphasis on the New testament.
Thanks for the comments so far...I have been checking in to see what you all have to say...I think most of us are probably reading the Bible in some capacity, from random reading of verses, the daily readings, etc to focused, comprehensive, study and research.
Jeffrey, whether you would join in or not with the reading, you would always be welcome to join the conversation around it, as would anyone!
I have read very few of the books in the Bible from start to finish at one time, so my intent is to become more comfortable and familiar with the Scriptures overall, to see where the Spirit takes me and reflect on and deepen my relationship with God. I am also interested in deepening my understanding of the historical context of the times.
Greg, I don't think which Bible is an issue other than if we were to decide to read a book from the Apocrypha, the 7(?) books found in Catholic bibles. There are many free apps though, where you can find those editions... :)
Susie, I would be interested in joining as well. I've been focused on reading one book of the Bible each month this year and would love to do so with a group.
Kristen wrote: "Susie, I would be interested in joining as well. I've been focused on reading one book of the Bible each month this year and would love to do so with a group."That's great Kristen!
I have not been reading the Bible enough this year. A couple years ago, I read through all of the Old Testament in order (with the exception of Jeremiah and half of Isaiah). I've read through the Gospels many times and Acts once, but to be honest I have an irrational fear of Paul. Of course I hear Paul's letters in church all the time, but I haven't read the letters in any concerted way on my own.
Susie wrote: "Greg, I don't think which Bible is an issue other than if we were to decide to read a book from the Apocrypha, the 7(?) books found in Catholic bibles. There are many free apps though, where you can find those editions... :) .."Great! :)
Susie,Just an FYI for you. This is a Catholic group and Catholics do not refer to the 7 books that were removed from the Protestant Bible as Apocrypha. These seven books are referred to properly as deuterocanonical which means "second canon." Here is the entry from the Catholic Bible Dictionary by Scott Hahn.
DEUTEROCANONICAL Those books (and parts of books) of the Old Testament whose inclusion in the Catholic canon was disputed at one time: Judith, Tobit, Sirach, Wisdom, 1 and 2 Maccabees, and Baruch; also Dan 3:24–90 and chapters 13 and 14 and Esth 10:4–16 and chapter 24. The term “deuterocanonical” (from the Greek for “second canon”) was first used by the Dominican Sixtus of Siena (d. 1569). Books regarded as canonical with little or no debate were called “protocanonical” (from the Greek for “first canon”).
The Catholic Church accepts both the protocanonical and deuterocanonical books as divinely inspired and canonical and treats them with the same reverence. The Orthodox churches also accept them, along with additional works found in ancient codices of the Greek Septuagint: 1 Esdras (or 3 Ezra), the Prayer of Manasseh, 3 Maccabees, and Psalm 151, which are not accepted in the Catholic canon. Rabbinic Judaism and the founders of Protestantism rejected the deuterocanonical books; some Protestant Bibles print them in a separate section called “Apocrypha.”
The deuterocanonical books were accepted by the Church from the earliest times, and their inclusion in the Canon of Scripture was given formal definition at the Council of Trent on April 8, 1546, in the dogmatic decree De Canonicis Scripturis. The Council Fathers declared the Vulgate to be the authentic Latin version of the Bible and promulgated the list of the books accepted as entirely canonical. The Canon of the Bible, including the deuterocanonical books, consisted of the forty-six books of the Old Testament and twenty-seven books of the New Testament.
In addition to the OT deuterocanonical books, parts of the NT have also been subject to dispute at times: the Epistle to the Hebrews, the Epistle of James, the Epistle of Jude, 2 Peter; 2 and 3 John, Revelation, and Mark 16:9–20; also Luke 22:43 and John 5:4, 7:53; 8:1–11. Sometimes these sections of the NT are also described as “deuterocanonical,” but most modern Christians accept them as Scripture.
Hahn, Scott, ed. Catholic Bible Dictionary 2009 : 213–214. Print.
Thank you Jeffrey for posting the info about the deuterocanonical books!
Yes, Jeffery...thanks for that info...I must admit I have never heard the term 'deuterocanonical' before and I learned other things from your post as well...Full disclosure...I am not, nor do I pretend to be well versed in all the correct terminology around most teachings of the Church, and no disrespect is intended when I might do so.
No disrespect was taken! When I hear people refer to the deuterocanonical books as Apocrypha, I usually assume that they are Protestants. In that case, I like to try to gently correct them on the Catholic teachings about the books. It just seems more correct to say deuterocanonical than Apocryphal.
I would be open to a discussion of a biblical book. However, I would want to go into such a discussion with the understanding that I am not a biblical literalist. I have found that this can cause some tension with those who do approach the Bible more literally. If this would be a problem, I would back out.
My intent is/was more of a 'just reading together' and sharing what strikes us as we reflect on what we've read. I do not see this as a deep dive into studying any book of the Bible, and certainly not from any particular approach other than what moves us when we read it and that we would choose to share...
Does that make sense?
Kristin...what book are you currently reading? Did you start at the beginning? Trying to get ideas... :)
I'm not prepared to commit to start at the beginning, for fear I might get bogged down and abandon it all together.
I'm happy there is interest in doing this, but still pondering ways to set it up that we can all feel comfortable with, and at the same time not too complicated and/or structured...
Thanks for all the input so far... :)
I think that's a great approach Susie.I've read many of the books of the bible start to finish and this year I have just been selecting books at random that I haven't read before. One goal I have this year is to read the Gospel books in order start to finish. That may be one idea if that strikes some interest.
Below I have posted a link to an article titled "Ways of Reading the Bible" written by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D. The article contains many other links to helpful sites for Bible reading. http://catholic-resources.org/Bible/R...
Thanks for the resources Susan Margaret...some are new to me...I appreciate all the positive feedback about my idea, but after much thought and some recent events in my life, I have decided I can't pursue this any further with the group at this time, and do it the justice it would deserve.
I know most of us are involved in some type of bible study and am happy that will continue...
My apologies to all that showed interest in joining in...
His commentaries are unique, to me at least, because of when they were written, Fr. Lapide lived between 1567 to 1637. He was professor of Sacred Scripture at Louvain 1596 to 1616 and then was called to Rome in 1616 to teach. We must remember that he was teaching at the seminary level and that during many of these years priests sent to Great Briton would be martyred if they were apprehended.
Viewing these commentaries offers today’s reader a window into what these young priests were being taught. These young priests knew full well that assignment to England was beyond dangerous and yet they went. The commentaries represent some of the thoughts these young Jesuit’s took with them on their missionary journey.
We can have them and reflect upon them as we study the Bible.