Adult / Couple
Pray
The Lord's Prayer
The origin of many familiar prayers is the Bible. From private prayers to those that we pray during the liturgy, many have their roots in Scripture.
The Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father, is found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer, or Our Father, is found in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Amen.
Learn
A Bible overview
As we begin a year-long focus on the Bible, here is a brief article that introduces us to some basic understandings about the Bible. It also provides a refresher about how to look up a Scripture passage.
Meet St. Jerome
The feast of St. Jerome is September 30. St. Jerome was an important Bible scholar in the early Church. He translated the Bible into Latin, and his translation, although imperfect, was used for centuries in the Catholic Church. He also wrote an important commentary on the Bible. Go to Franciscan Media's website to see a short video and article about the life of St. Jerome.
Do
Read the bible
As we focus on the Bible as a parish this year, it seems that a basic place to begin would be to read the Bible. However, it is best to have a plan when one begins to read it. It is important to know that, although it tells the thrilling story of our salvation history, it is not like a novel. It does not have chapters that build one upon the other. It does not have a beginning, middle, and end in the sense that a novel or story would have. If you begin with Genesis and try to read through to Revelation, you will most likely become discouraged.
The Bible is more like a library, with different kinds of literature, written at different times, by various authors. Taken together, these varied books tell the story of God's relationship with us, God's people.
So where to begin? Here are few suggestions:
1. Pick one of the gospels and read it from beginning to end. The gospel of Mark is the shortest. You might decide to read a chapter or two a day.
2. After you've read one gospel, read another. Notice the common stories and the differences in detail.
3. Read the book of Genesis. It is a longer read, but it is packed with lots of action, passion, and dramatic stories. Again, set a goal of a chapter or two a day to pace yourself.
4. If you are a fan of poetry or music, you might try beginning with the Psalms, or at least some of them. They are really lyrics to be sung, and you will see in them hymns of praise and despairing lamentation, along with great hope in God's promises.
As the year unfolds, we will provide you with more tools to approach the Bible, understand what you are reading, and apply it to you life. In the meantime, it is time to begin!
The Bible is more like a library, with different kinds of literature, written at different times, by various authors. Taken together, these varied books tell the story of God's relationship with us, God's people.
So where to begin? Here are few suggestions:
1. Pick one of the gospels and read it from beginning to end. The gospel of Mark is the shortest. You might decide to read a chapter or two a day.
2. After you've read one gospel, read another. Notice the common stories and the differences in detail.
3. Read the book of Genesis. It is a longer read, but it is packed with lots of action, passion, and dramatic stories. Again, set a goal of a chapter or two a day to pace yourself.
4. If you are a fan of poetry or music, you might try beginning with the Psalms, or at least some of them. They are really lyrics to be sung, and you will see in them hymns of praise and despairing lamentation, along with great hope in God's promises.
As the year unfolds, we will provide you with more tools to approach the Bible, understand what you are reading, and apply it to you life. In the meantime, it is time to begin!
