Knowing the bible in a formal set-up, such as in bible courses and seminars,
will help one understand better the Christian faith. Those usually giving
the courses and seminars are often well-informed and well-trained to help
people understand well the bible. These courses are sometimes given in
parishes. For those really intent in studying the bible more in-depth,
courses for audit are offered in many theology schools. However, those
who would want to know the bible in less formal settings, one can always
attend simple courses and seminars given religious organizations in parishes.
Updating one's knowledge of the bible through courses and seminars can
also help us if we are tasked to give a talk on the bible. Once one's
knowledge and information about the bible becomes substantial, we not
only benefit from it in our own life as a Christian, but we can also
help the parish through giving simple and short talks on the Bible.
Bible Sharing
Many Christians can benefit from the bible through bible sharing groups.
Some term these groups as bible circles. There is a method being followed
by a group when they conduct their bible sharing. It depends on the
method they were taught in the parish. Most often, the parish teaches the
creation of these bible sharing groups as part of its mission to form
basic ecclesial communities: groups or communities of families that are
organized so that they learn to meet together once a week and share their
life experiences - how God has been present in their life during the week.
Bible sharing groups can meet and advance in their knowledge of God and
the bible through regular meetings and sharing. When these bible sharing
groups have increased the level of their Christian formation in God's
Word, they will then learn how to organize their group into the more
formal organization of a basic ecclesial community. This basic ecclesial
community is organized so that the members to assign roles to each other
once a week, and the priest is invited to celebrate the Mass in their
community. Much of these programs have already been practiced for years
in Latin America.
Paraliturgical Services
Paraliturgical services are prayer services that have a less solemn liturgical
mood and are not sacramental or proper liturgies. Nevertheless, they
are also very important because they are created for a specific purpose:
usually for a special event or occasion. The
blessing of the dead, which is sometimes delegated by the parish priest
to his communion minister, is a paraliturgical service. In services of
this kind, the reading of the bible is included.
It is easy
to make a paraliturgical service. A basic outline of a general model is
given below:
Singing of an opening song (accompanied often by guitar)
Praying a spontaneous prayer (composed by a member of the group)
Reading a gospel passage
Giving time for some moments of silence
A brief 'homily' or reflection from the prayer leader
Intercessory prayers done by the group, with a response of "Lord,
hear our prayer"
Offering of flowers or a special symbol to represent offering of self
to a statue of the Blessed Mother or an especially made altar for such
purpose.
Singing of hymns while each one processes to make the offering
Spontaneous closing prayer composed by a member of the group
Singing of a hymn to close the paraliturgical service
The Mass
In the Mass, the gospel is proclaimed by the priest, and often, his homily
explains not only the gospel but also the first two readings. The reading
of the gospel can also be done by a deacon. On more solemn occasions, the
deacon even chants or sings the gospel. He too is ordained to proclaim
the gospel and to give a homily on the readings and the gospel.
It is perhaps in the Mass or in the celebration of the Eucharist, where the
bible or the word of God is truly made alive. The gospel for the Mass
usually sets the theme for the Sunday Mass. Everything, from the choice
of songs, to the composition of the prayers of the faithful, and sometimes
when appropriate, even the decorations and artwork placed within the parish,
must be according to the theme of the bible readings.
Theater, Art and Music
People can also benefit from the spirit of the bible from its use by the
theater, in art and in music. Dramatization and theatrical representations of
gospel passages are often done by the youth during special Masses like
the Easter vigil Mass. In the Easter vigil Mass, which contains the
reading of more than 5 readings from the Bible, some parishes accompany
the reading of these bible passages with theatrical actions performed by
the youth of the parish. The same can be said of the artwork that the
youth do for the parish. Artwork are usually done during special times
and liturgical seasons in the Church: Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter.
A lot of artwork can be produced to represent the bible passages that are
often associated with these liturgical seasons. As regards music, it also is
a way of presenting the words of Scripture. Those who have the facility and
talent to compose simple liturgical songs, can get the lyrics of the song
from the passages of the Bible. Others can simply research for music
pieces already being used that are based on passages of the bible.
The availability of many music sheets is already a good source
of knowing the word of God, especially when this refers to the
Psalms, which are chanted and prayed by many.
Popular Religiosity
In the Philippines, there is a popular religious practice called, the
"Pasyon" - meaning, The Passion. It is a practice done often by women
of senior age and always performed in public during Holy Week. What these
people do is that they chant, non-stop, (often extending to a period of two
to three days), all the verses of the bible from the start of the book of
Genesis to the last verse of the book of Revelation. This popular religious
practice was inherited by Filipino Catholics from the Spanish friars who
introduced the custom in the country.
Private Reading
Private reading of the bible must be part of our daily life as a Christian.
Reading the bible helps us to obtain insights and a depth of meaning
we would not have obtained if read or heard in a different setting
or context. Some booklets help in giving a program or schedule in
reading the bible: such as one starting from Genesis and ending in
the book of Revelation. Other programs present a method that base
the reading of the Bible according to themes. A good Catholic practice
would be to read the reading and the gospel for the Mass of the day.
This is possible when we have a personal copy of the daily Missal.
Prayer and Meditation
Perhaps the one that brings a lot of spiritual benefit in the use
of the bible is when we take it with us to prayer, meditation,
and contemplation. A very common practice of using
the bible for prayer is to bring it in visits to a prayer room,
to a chapel, or to the adoration room of the Blessed Sacrament.
With the Bible in hand, one can use the classic method called
"Lectio Divina" - a prayerful reading of scripture which is
done in four steps: reading, meditating, praying, and contemplating.
This method of praying the Bible is a tradition that has been
used since the monastic eras. Find out more about this in
Lectio Divina.
Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera
April 27, 2005
[revised: November 15, 2006]
If you wish to copy contents
and articles from this website,
kindly link it to:
Catholic Internet Mission:
Proclaiming the Gospel Online
Free Contents and Articles for
Republishing Online
http://www.pcentral-online.net
Catholic Internet Mission:Proclaiming the Gospel Online
