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March 7, 2019They’re complimentary, but one is superior
When studying the Bible, you gather important information regarding our Catholic faith. When you pray with the Bible – lectio divina – you are growing in your personal relationship with God. The first is useful. The second is essential. Both complement each other.
In paragraph 86 of Pope Benedict XVI’s “Apostolic Exhortation Verbum Domini,” this is some of what he says about the prayerful reading of sacred Scripture and “lectio divina:”
“The Synod frequently insisted on the need for a prayerful approach to the sacred text as a fundamental element in the spiritual life of every believer, in the various ministries and states in life, with particular reference to lectio divina. The word of God is at the basis of all authentic Christian spirituality. The synod fathers thus took up the words of the Dogmatic Constitution Dei Verbum: ‘Let the faithful go gladly to the sacred text itself, whether in the sacred liturgy, which is full of the divine words, or in devout reading, or in such suitable exercises and various other helps that, with the approval and guidance of the pastors of the Church, are happily spreading everywhere in our day. Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of sacred Scripture.’
“The council thus sought to reappropriate the great patristic tradition that had always recommended approaching the Scripture in dialogue with God. As Saint Augustine puts it: ‘Your prayer is the word you speak to God. When you read the Bible, God speaks to you; when you pray, you speak to God.” Origen, one of the great masters of this way of reading the Bible, maintains that understanding Scripture demands, even more than study, closeness to Christ and prayer. Origen was convinced, in fact, that the best way to know God is through love, and that there can be no authentic scientia Christi apart from growth in his love.’”
Study of the sacred word of God is connected to our growth in Christ and as fuel for our good works of service and various forms of ministry. Pope Pius XII gave us the following words of wisdom about 75 years ago in his encyclical “Divino Afflante Spiritu” that promoted biblical studies and celebrated the Feast of Saint Jerome.
“Whosoever considers the immense labors undertaken by Catholic exegetes during almost 2,000 years, so that the word of God, imparted to men through the sacred letters, might daily be more deeply and fully understood and more intensely loved, will easily be convinced that it is the serious duty of the faithful, and especially of priests, to make free and holy use of this treasure, accumulated throughout so many centuries by the greatest intellects. For the sacred books were not given by God to men to satisfy their curiosity or to provide them with material for study and research, but, as the Apostle observes, in order that these divine oracles might ‘instruct us to salvation, by the faith which is in Christ Jesus" and "that the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work.’”
Yes, the gift of sacred Scripture is an opportunity to grow in faith, but above all, an opportunity to grow in love.
