During the month of September, the Church invites us to know the Word of God more deeply through a meditated and prayed reading, applying it to our daily lives.
Newsroom (September 1, 2021, 2:30, Gaudium Press) During the month of September, the Catholic Church in Brazil celebrates the month of the Bible. During this period, the Church invites us to know the Word of God more deeply through a meditative and prayerful reading, applying it to our daily lives.
The origin of the month of the Bible in Brazil
The month of the Bible is a specific event of the Church in Brazil. It began with Bible Sunday, which started with the 1st National Bible Week, in 1947. Already in 1971, the Archdiocese of Belo Horizonte (MG), on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, began to celebrate the Month of the Bible. Five years later, in 1976, the celebration was taken over by the Brazilian Bishops’ Conference (CNBB), which extended it nationwide.
Why do we celebrate the month of the Bible in September?
September was chosen as the month of the Bible because on September 30 the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jerome, known for having translated the Bible into Latin, the famous ‘Vulgate’ (which means ‘popular’). His work has become a reference in Bible translations to this day. The originals of the Holy Scriptures are in three languages Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
What is the objective of the month of the Bible?
Among the objectives in dedicating the month of September to the Bible are: to contribute to the development of the various forms of the presence of the Sacred Scriptures in the evangelizing action of the Church in Brazil; to create biblical subsidies in various forms of communication; and to facilitate a creative and transforming dialogue between the Word, the person, and the communities.
Pope Francis and the Bible
On several occasions, Pope Francis has advised the faithful to carry the pocket Gospel with them and read it whenever possible. “Today one can read the Gospel also with many technological instruments. One can bring the entire Bible with him on a cell phone, on a tablet. The important thing is to read the Word of God, with all means, and to welcome it with an open heart. And then the good seed bears fruit!”, explained the Holy Father.
The role of the Bible in the life of every Catholic
Stressing the role of the Bible in the life of every Catholic, the Pontiff stated that “the Bible is not to be put on a stand, but to be at hand, to read it often, every day, either individually or together, husband and wife, parents and children, perhaps at night, especially on Sunday.” (EPC)
Compiled by Sarah Gangl
