The Catholic Church is the Servant of the Word of God
Warning: This essay may make you want to read more Scripture!
When I started writing this post, I thought it was going to be short. It didn’t take long for it to hit 3000 words, due to the abundance of excerpts from beautiful Church documents, so here we are, with another very long post for you all to read. The entire post will not be visible in your email, so click on the title to go to your browser and view it in its entirety!
My previous post on the Church led me to the idea of writing a post on Scripture. It’s well known that Catholics do not believe that Scripture is the only infallible rule of faith (this is how I’ve heard some Protestants define Sola Scriptura); we also have the Magisterium. Maybe there’s less understanding of what role Scripture has in the life of the Church, or what the Church teaches about Scripture.
To help me share what the Church teaches about Scripture, I found a couple of new-to-me encyclicals: Divino Afflante Spiritu (On Promoting Biblical Studies) and Providentissimus Deus (on the Study of Holy Scripture). I also reread Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation). Reading these resulted in an increased desire to read Scripture. Fortunately, I read all of these during a retreat, so I could, indeed, read more Scripture. It was beautiful! With that said, I had so many excerpts from these documents that I marked, and I wanted to attempt to bring up that same desire to read Scripture in those of you who read The Gentle Nudge. Reading the documents themselves is always my recommendation, but I know they can be daunting, so I pray that what I share in this post is a close substitute!
Let’s dive in!
Catholics are Encouraged to Read the Bible
“Let also the minds of the faithful be nourished with [Scripture], that they may draw from thence the knowledge and love of God and the progress in perfection and the happiness of their own individual souls.” - Divino Afflante Spiritu (On Promoting Biblical Studies), 60
The Catholic Church has not been silent on the topic of Scripture. While many talk about the Pope or the Magisterium or Catholic Traditions, it must not be forgotten that Sacred Scripture is an equal to sacred tradition. “For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end.”1 “Therefore both sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same sense of loyalty and reverence.”2
Regarding Sacred Scripture, specifically, Pope Leo XIII “exhorted ‘all the children of the Church, especially clerics, to reverence the Holy Scripture, to read it piously and meditate it constantly'; he reminded them ‘that in these pages is to be sought that food, by which the spiritual life is nourished unto perfection’.”3 Pope Pius XII wrote that Priests should “conceive in their hearts the greatest veneration for the Sacred Scripture”4 and that Bishops should “strive to excite and foster among Catholics a greater knowledge of and love for the Sacred Books.”5
Many Catholic exegetes have labored to help “the word of God…be more deeply and fully understood and more intensely loved”, so “it is the serious duty of the faithful, and especially of priests, to make free and holy use of this treasure”.6 Some examples of this are the St. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible, the Word on Fire Bible, and the Bible in a Year Podcast. Scripture has become so full of depth through my reading on Covenant Theology (which I wrote on in this post) and the Jewish roots of our faith (Brant Pitre has written books on this).
Church Fathers have called Scripture ‘an inexhaustible treasury of heavenly doctrine,’ or ‘an overflowing fountain of salvation’.”7 St. Jerome said, “Often read the divine Scriptures; yea, let holy reading be always in thy hand”.8
“For the saving and for the perfection of ourselves and of others there is at hand the very best of help in the Holy Scriptures,…but those only will find it who bring to this divine reading not only docility and attention, but also piety and an innocent life.” - Providentissimus Deus (on the Study of Holy Scripture), 5
The importance of Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church can be seen and heard, especially by going to Mass:
[The Church] has always shown herself solicitous that “the celestial treasure of the Sacred Books, so bountifully bestowed upon man by the Holy Spirit, should not lie neglected.” She has prescribed that a considerable portion of them shall be read and piously reflected upon by all her ministers in the daily office of the sacred psalmody. She has ordered that in Cathedral Churches, in monasteries, and in other convents in which study can conveniently be pursued, they shall be expounded and interpreted by capable men; and she has strictly commanded that her children shall be fed with the saving words of the Gospel at least on Sundays and solemn feasts.9
The above paragraph points out how the Church practices what she preaches. Her words are not empty. One of the precepts of the Church is to attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation, which includes Sundays, so the Church, our good Mother, is requiring us to hear Scripture at least on those days, while encouraging our reading and praying with Scripture outside of Mass. It is important to note that any Catholic not living up to this call is causing scandal. We, the members of the Church, must be good examples to those around us. This doesn't mean we have to be perfect! Even amidst our imperfections, others will be able to see if our faith is a priority.
As the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation states, we must frequently read Scripture to get to know Jesus:
The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the “excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:8). “For ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.” Therefore, they should gladly put themselves in touch with the sacred text itself, whether it be through the liturgy, rich in the divine word, or through devotional reading, or through instructions suitable for the purpose and other aids which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. And let them remember that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that God and man may talk together; for “we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying.”10
If you are looking for a way to pray with Scripture, I recommend Lectio Divina, which I wrote about in this post. This method of praying with Scripture is how I entered into a true relationship with our Lord, and I continue using it loosely11 every single day. Listen to the guidance of the Church, and read Scripture frequently. If you feel intimidated, consider praying with one of the daily readings, listen to the Bible in a Year Podcast, or pick one of the Gospels to slowly work through, choosing small sections to pray with each day (it might take you a year or more if you choose the Gospel of Matthew, but you won’t regret it).
For this section of this post, I’ll end with this encouragement from Pope Pius XII:
This author of salvation, Christ, will men more fully know, more ardently love and faithfully imitate in proportion as they are more assiduously urged to know and meditate the Sacred Letters, especially the New Testament, for, as St. Jerome the Doctor of Stridon says: "To ignore the Scripture is to ignore Christ"; and again: "If there is anything in this life which sustains a wise man and induces him to maintain his serenity amidst the tribulations and adversities of the world, it is in the first place, I consider, the meditation and knowledge of the Scriptures."
There those who are wearied and oppressed by adversities and afflictions will find true consolation and divine strength to suffer and bear with patience; there - that is in the Holy Gospels - Christ, the highest and greatest example of justice, charity and mercy, is present to all; and to the lacerated and trembling human race are laid open the fountains of that divine grace without which both peoples and their rulers can never arrive at, never establish, peace in the state and unity of heart; there in fine will all learn Christ, "Who is the head of all principality and power" and "Who of God is made unto us wisdom and justice and sanctification and redemption."12
Interpretation has Parameters
In a study called The Playground Study, Preschool kids were observed at a playground without a fence and at a fenced-in playground. What they found was that “[o]n playgrounds without fences, the children tended to gather around the teacher, and were reluctant to stray far from their view. On playgrounds that were fenced in, however, they ran all around the entire playground, feeling more free to explore. The researchers concluded that with a boundary, in this case a fence, children felt more at ease to explore the space.”13
When it comes to faith, we need a fence, or boundaries, to give us freedom, since freedom is the ability to do what is right, not the freedom to do whatever we want.14 Due to our fallen human nature, we don’t always know what is right, so, oftentimes, we need to be told.
We could point to the Bible as our “fence”, but even within this, there are parameters to follow regarding Biblical interpretation. “St. Irenaeus long since laid down, that where the charismata15 of God were, there the truth was to be learnt, and that Holy Scripture was safely interpreted by those who had the Apostolic succession.”16 (I wrote on this in my last post, if you want to read more proof of this point.) “The…Fathers…’endeavoured to acquire the understanding of the Holy Scriptures not by their own lights and ideas, but from the writings and authority of the ancients, who in their turn, as we know, received the rule of interpretation in direct line from the Apostles.’”17 It must be noted that “God has delivered the Holy Scriptures to the Church, and that in reading and making use of His Word, [men] must follow the Church as their guide and their teacher.”18
Pope Leo XIII also says…
“in things of faith and morals, belonging to the building up of Christian doctrine, that is to be considered the true sense of Holy Scripture which has been held and is held by our Holy Mother the Church, whose place it is to judge of the true sense and interpretation of the Scriptures; and therefore that it is permitted to no one to interpret Holy Scripture against such sense or also against the unanimous agreement of the Fathers.” By this most wise decree the Church by no means prevents or restrains the pursuit of Biblical science, but rather protects it from error, and largely assists its real progress.19
The Church is not the creator of the truth, but the protector of the truth. We see this at play in the acceptance of contraception by other Christians, while the Catholic Church has protected and upheld that contraception is a grave matter that goes against God’s law. (I wrote on this topic here and here.) Additionally, the Church is firm on her stance against IVF and on the institution of marriage as a permanent covenant. The Church, like the city on the hill, is a visible light to the world, protecting what the Holy Spirit has taught.
“But the task of authentically interpreting the word of God, whether written or handed on, has been entrusted exclusively to the living teaching office of the Church, whose authority is exercised in the name of Jesus Christ. This teaching office is not above the word of God, but serves it, teaching only what has been handed on, listening to it devoutly, guarding it scrupulously and explaining it faithfully in accord with a divine commission and with the help of the Holy Spirit, it draws from this one deposit of faith everything which it presents for belief as divinely revealed.” - Dei Verbum, 10
St. Augustine says the following rule must be followed regarding scriptural interpretation: “not to depart from the literal and obvious sense, except only where reason makes it untenable or necessity requires.”20 This “rule…is the more necessary to adhere strictly in these times, when the thirst for novelty and unrestrained freedom of thought make the danger of error most real and proximate.”21 We need to remember that "“the Sacred Pages, written under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, are of themselves rich in original meaning; endowed with a divine power, they have their own value; adorned with heavenly beauty, they radiate of themselves light and splendor, provided they are so fully and accurately explained by the interpreter, that all the treasures of wisdom and prudence, therein contained are brought to light.”22
“God has delivered the Holy Scriptures to the Church, and that in reading and making use of His Word, they must follow the Church as their guide and their teacher.” - Providentissimus Deus, 14
It is also important to remember that “there are but few texts whose sense has been defined by the authority of the Church…There remain therefore many things, and of the greatest importance, in the discussion and exposition of which the skill and genius of Catholic commentators may and ought to be freely exercised, so that each may contribute his part to the advantage of all, to the continued progress of the sacred doctrine and to the defense and honor of the Church.”23
As I’ve written elsewhere:
The Church has given interpretations of very few Bible verses that Catholics are bound to believe. Even within this, we are not prevented from understanding those same verses in other, non-contrary, ways, meaning that as long as we affirm the primary interpretation, and our other interpretation(s) are in harmony with Church teaching, we aren’t banned from holding the secondary (or tertiary) interpretation.24
We look to the Church for an understanding of Scripture, while also recognizing that it is also something for us to enter into during our own prayer. Important details from the story of salvation are likely to be missed if one rejects the Church Christ established. With that in mind, we must be cautious regarding non-Catholic Biblical studies. “For although the studies of non-Catholics, used with prudence, may sometimes be of use to the Catholic student, he should, nevertheless, bear well in mind-as the Fathers also teach in numerous passages - that the sense of Holy Scripture can nowhere be found incorrupt outside of the Church, and cannot be expected to be found in writers who, being without the true faith, only gnaw the bark of the Sacred Scripture, and never attain its pith.”25 (“Pith” can be understood as the “essence”.)
“And so the apostolic preaching, which is expressed in a special way in the inspired books, was to be preserved by an unending succession of preachers until the end of time. Therefore the Apostles, handing on what they themselves had received, warn the faithful to hold fast to the traditions which they have learned either by word of mouth or by letter (see 2 Thess. 2:15), and to fight in defense of the faith handed on once and for all (see Jude 1:3) Now what was handed on by the Apostles includes everything which contributes toward the holiness of life and increase in faith of the peoples of God; and so the Church, in her teaching, life and worship, perpetuates and hands on to all generations all that she herself is, all that she believes.”26
“[S]eeing that the same God is the author both of the Sacred Books and of the doctrine committed to the Church, it is clearly impossible that any teaching can by legitimate means be extracted from the former, which shall in any respect be at variance with the latter. Hence it follows that all interpretation is foolish and false which either makes the sacred writers disagree one with another, or is opposed to the doctrine of the Church.” - Providentissimus Deus, 14
Submission
The Church asks for our submission, especially during times of confusion, such as when there is a scientific discovery that seems to contradict Scripture.
Nevertheless no one will be surprised, if all difficulties are not yet solved and overcome; but that even today serious problems greatly exercise the minds of Catholic exegetes. We should not lose courage on this account; nor should we forget that in the human sciences the same happens as in the natural world; that is to say, new beginnings grow little by little and fruits are gathered only after many labors. Thus it has happened that certain disputed points, which in the past remained unsolved and in suspense, in our days, with the progress of studies, have found a satisfactory solution. Hence there are grounds for hope that those also will by constant effort be at last made clear, which now seem most complicated and difficult.
And if the wished-for solution be slow in coming or does not satisfy us, since perhaps a successful conclusion may be reserved to posterity, let us not wax impatient thereat, seeing that in us also is rightly verified what the Fathers, and especially Augustine, observed in their time viz: God wished difficulties to be scattered through the Sacred Books inspired by Him, in order that we might be urged to read and scrutinize them more intently, and, experiencing in a salutary manner our own limitations, we might be exercised in due submission of mind. No wonder if of one or other question no solution wholly satisfactory will ever be found, since sometimes we have to do with matters obscure in themselves and too remote from our times and our experience; and since exegesis also, like all other most important sciences, has its secrets, which, impenetrable to our minds, by no efforts whatsoever can be unraveled.27
Take the above encouragement to heart! Lord, increase our faith!
The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation beautifully expounds on the idea of faith:
“The obedience of faith” (Rom. 16:26; see 1:5; 2 Cor 10:5-6) “is to be given to God who reveals, an obedience by which man commits his whole self freely to God, offering the full submission of intellect and will to God who reveals,” and freely assenting to the truth revealed by Him. To make this act of faith, the grace of God and the interior help of the Holy Spirit must precede and assist, moving the heart and turning it to God, opening the eyes of the mind and giving “joy and ease to everyone in assenting to the truth and believing it.” To bring about an ever deeper understanding of revelation the same Holy Spirit constantly brings faith to completion by His gifts.28
Final Thoughts
Catholics hear Scripture at Mass and are encouraged to pray with it outside of Mass.
“[T]here exists a close connection and communication between sacred tradition and Sacred Scripture….For Sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit, while sacred tradition takes the word of God entrusted by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit to the Apostles, and hands it on to their successors in its full purity, so that led by the light of the Spirit of truth, they may in proclaiming it preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known.”29
There are parameters that must be followed when it comes to Biblical interpretation
We must submit to the truths taught by the Word of God
I’ll end with wisdom from Pope Benedict XVI:
[T]he word of God is that word preached by the Apostles in obedience to the command of the Risen Jesus: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). The word of God is thus handed on in the Church’s living Tradition. Finally, the word of God, attested and divinely inspired, is sacred Scripture, the Old and New Testaments. All this helps us to see that, while in the Church we greatly venerate the sacred Scriptures, the Christian faith is not a “religion of the book”: Christianity is the “religion of the word of God”, not of “a written and mute word, but of the incarnate and living Word”. Consequently the Scripture is to be proclaimed, heard, read, received and experienced as the word of God, in the stream of the apostolic Tradition from which it is inseparable.30
“[T]he Christian faith is not a ‘religion of the book’”, friends! Catholicism has truth, goodness, and beauty. I hope this post gave you at least a glimmer of that. Pray for me! I’ll be praying for you.
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Let me know if you made it this far! Thanks for reading! - Jamie
If you want to read more from The Gentle Nudge:
Dei Verbum, 9
Ibid.
Ibid., 19
Ibid., 19
Ibid., 49
Ibid., 5
Ibid., 6
Dei Verbum, 25
Interruptions from littles are common over here, but God still manages to speak to me in the times I give him!
Divino Afflante Spiritu, 57-58
cf. Lord, Teach Us to Pray by Fr. Jeffrey Kirby, page 63
plural form of “charism”, which can be defined as “an extraordinary power (as of healing) given a Christian by the Holy Spirit for the good of the church” (CHARISMATA Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster)
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid.
Ibid., 15
Ibid., 15
Divino Afflante Spiritu, 47
Providentissimus Deus, 20
There’s Something Fishy About the Rock (a post I’ve written on the Papacy)
Providentissimus Deus, 15
Dei Verbum, 8
Divino Afflante Spiritu, 44-45
Dei Verbum, 5
Ibid., 9