Catholics and the Bible
“In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, ‘but as what it really is, the word of God.’ ‘In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them.’" Catechism of the Catholic Church, 104
The Church encourages Catholics to read and meditate on the Sacred Scriptures as a foundational element of prayer. All Sacred Scripture is inspired by God and contains what God wants us to hear. Studying Scripture does more than enhance an individual's understanding of the Bible; it allows people to share their interpretations and viewpoints.
People also are able to relate their insights and have the opportunity to learn about how the Spirit is alive in today's world. Being involved with a Catholic scripture study helps bring God's word to life.
There is also a vital connection between Scripture and the Eucharist. The Scriptures are an important aspect of our lives of worship and faith as Catholics.
It is important to note that there are many different translations of the Bible. The two most popular Catholic Bibles are the New American Bible and the New Jerusalem Bible. After the Protestant Reformation, the Protestants removed seven books from the bible that never left Catholic translations. These books are Judith, Tobit, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach, and Baruch. The Catholic version of the Bible also includes longer versions of the books of Daniel and Esther.
