SEPTEMBER 27, 2016

Ten Ways to Fall In Love With the

Bible
FR. ED BROOM, OMV
http://catholicexchange.com/10-ways-fall-love-bible

At the end of September, the very last day, the Church always celebrates
the memory of Saint Jerome. Born a saint, he was not: he had a fiery and
explosive temper that brought him many enemies, fierce and long temptations
against chastity that he battled with prayer and prolonged fasting, and long
prayer vigilsthis was Saint Jerome.
Despite his temperamental defects and frequent assaults from the enemy,
Jerome had a keen intellect, a love for study, but especially a love for the Bible,
the Word of God.

The Church owes a huge debt of gratitude to Saint Jerome especially for his
great love for the Word of God and his work in studying it. However, most
important is that Saint Jerome, after many years, finished translating the Bible
from Greek into the Latinwhich we call the Vulgate and from the Latin
Vulgate the Bible would eventually be translated into our own languages
English, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, etc. All thanks to the
strenuous work of Saint Jerome.

The Second Vatican Council published four famous Dogmatic Constitutions,

the pillars of the Church in the Modern world: Sacrosanctum
Concilium, Gaudium Spes, Lumen Gentium and Dei Verbum. In the later, Dei
Verbum, which deals with Divine Revelation and the Word of God, Saint
Jerome, is cited. This has become one of the key citations in this document
and a key for appreciating the importance of the Bible, the Word of God. Here
it is: Ignorance of Sacred Scripture is ignorance of Christ.
How true! If we do not read the Bible, especially the Gospels, then we cannot
know who Jesus is; then we cannot really love Him; then consequently it will
be hard to follow Him as His friend and disciple. With this being said, let us
offer our Lord homage, love and respect for His Word the Bible, by carrying
out and implementing at least some of the following.

1. Purchase A Catholic Bible. There are many Bibles, but you should try to
purchase a good Catholic Bible. A suggestion: The Navarre Bible or the
Jerusalem Bible are two Bibles with excellent translations. Check them out
and buy one of them; maybe buy two!
2. Give A Catholic Bible Away. Weddings, Birthday parties, anniversaries,
Confirmations, family gatheringswhy not give a Bible, the Word of God?
What could be better?
3. Blessings. Take the Bible to the priest and let the priest, who represents
Jesus, to bless it. This will be your friend and companion the rest of your life.
Your Light, your shield, your Rockgood names for the Word of God.
4. Reverence and Respect. Enthrone your Bible in a special place. Never treat
it irreverently. This means, never throw it, place it on the floor, or place a beer
mug on top of it. Remember! This is the Word of God and should be respected
with the greatest of reverence.
5. Read and Meditate. The Bible is not a Christmas decoration or a collectors
item, or a souvenir. Quite the contrary: the Bible is meant to be read,
meditated, day and night. Remember Psalm 1: Happy those who do not
follow the counsel of the wicked, nor go the way of sinners, nor sit in the
company of scoffers. Rather, the law of the Lord is their joy; Gods law
(Bible, Word of God my own interpretation) they study day and
night. (Psalm 1: 1-2). May we cherish reading and meditating on the Word of
God day and night!
6. Memorize Key Verses. Jesus is our example! Fasting for forty days and
nights, the devil tempts Jesus. The first of the temptations of the devil was to
turn stones into bread. Jesus responded with these words: It is written: One
does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the
mouth of God. (Mt. 4:4).
7. Defend Your Faith With the Word of God. Saint Paul says that the Word of
God is like a two-edged sword separating bone from marrow. Obviously, Saint
Paul means that the Word of God, the Bible, is powerful and should be used
for spiritual warfare to fight the enemies of the truth- Satan and his minions
and those who promote lies. Read Saint Thomas Aquinas and the Summa
Theologica and how this great saint defended doctrine relying heavily on the
Word of God.
For more wisdom, pick up Fr Brooms latest book: From Humdrum to Holy.

8. Holy Mass and the Word of God. Attend Daily Massthe greatest prayer
underneath the heavens! The Dogmatic Constitution, Sacrosanctum
Conciliumwhich explains the Mass and the Liturgy, states that there are two
tables that nourish us at Mass: the table of the Word of God and the Table of
the Body of the Lordnamely, the Eucharist. Go for this double nourishment
indeed a heavenly banquet!
9. Spiritual Exercises and the Word of God. When you have the chance, try
to make the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. This might be the
retreat lasting a month, or eight days, or a weekend, or what is common today,
retreat in daily life which can last from six months up to a year, done with an
able Director. The bulk of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius of Loyola is
the meditation or the contemplation of the Word of God. Try it! You will never
regret it!
10. Mary and the Word of God. Finally in your growing pursuit of love for the
Word of God never forget to turn to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Mary carried the
Word made flesh within her sacred womb for nine months. But the New
Testament teaches us that Mary meditated upon the Word of God in her
Immaculate Heart. After the Shepherds came to visit her Infant Child, the
Evangelist points to a key activity of Mary: And Mary kept all these things,
reflecting on them in her heart. (Lk. 2:19). May Our Lady encourage us to do
the sameto daily meditate upon the Word of God in our hearts by reading
the Bible, praying over the Bible, assimilating the Bible and like Mary living
out the Word of God!
Tagged as: Best of Week, bible, books, Mary, Mass, reading, St. Jerome
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By Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
Father Ed Broom is an Oblate of the Virgin Mary and the author of From
Humdrum to Holy, which offers more words of wisdom for how to become a
saint today. He blogs regularly at Fr. Broom's Blog.