Catholic Review of: Catholicism & Scripture

Prompted by a coworker who told me that he wished that he knew his Catholic faith better, I asked a number of my coworkers if they wanted to start a weekly study group. Six people agreed, and we decided to meet weekly during our lunch hour. I was thrilled by the enthusiasm of the group, but was at a loss as to where to find the right book for the group. It needed to be solidly orthodox, accessible (most people in the group had no education beyond high school), and include questions that would prompt good discussion.

I purchased seven copies of Catholicism and Society: Marriage, Family, and Social Issues based on a description in a catalog. It was an auspicious purchase. We all benefited greatly from the study. Since that study group eight years ago, I have been a fan of the Catholicism series. So, I was pleased to learn that C.R. Publications had released the fifth volume in the series, Catholicism and Scripture.

There are many reasons that Catholicism and Scripture is a valuable high school or small group catechetical text. Here are a few:

The first two chapters set the groundwork for the more detailed study that follows. Chapter one is in a question-and-answer format. It addresses questions such as: "What do we mean by divine inspiration?" "What do we mean by inerrancy?" and "What are the senses of Scripture?" The answers to these questions are vital for all that follows.

The second chapter, "The Big Picture," provides an overall view of salvation history from Adam to Christ. Again, this gives the student a perspective through which to view the various books of the Bible.

Each subsequent chapter begins with a story to capture the reader’s interest and imagination and to lead into the Scriptures.

The authors make liberal use of Church documents, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Dei Verbum, and Divino Afflante Spiritu. This places scriptural knowledge firmly within the Church’s tradition.

The authors discuss Church teachings on the sacraments, morality, prayer, virtue, and doctrine through the exploration of particular biblical texts. For example, purgatory is discussed within the context of 2 Maccabees. Also, God’s providence is illustrated through the story of Joseph and his brothers and the move to Egypt in a time of famine.

While most of the chapters are theme or period-driven—creation, the patriarchs, the kingdom, the prophets, etc.—the book also contains chapters that focus on individuals: angels, villains, and heroes and heroines. This approach reinforces the Church’s understanding that history is not random. God certainly has a plan, and the decisions of individuals can move that plan forward.

The example of biblical characters challenges us in responding to God. The study of Elijah is illustrative, as the authors write, "There is much we can learn from Elijah: his faithfulness and perseverance in carrying out the Lord’s wishes, even at the risk of his life, and his intimacy with God as demonstrated by the Lord coming to him in a gentle breeze. . . . Are we able to hear God whispering to us today, surrounded [by] . . . loud music, noisy television programs, and frantic videos?"

Certainly this method of teaching truth through examples is a sound one and helps the student better remember the message. The authors use other solid catechetical approaches as well. One, which I particularly appreciate, is their approach to exploring the New Testament through an examination of the mysteries of the Rosary. This not only provides a framework for study, but also fruitful material to incorporate into prayer. Further, this method sends the subtle message that Scripture study is not merely an intellectual exercise, but a means of drawing closer to God and conforming life to His will.

The scriptural lessons also point to real life application. The authors help the reader make this connection. For example, they write concerning the story of the patriarch Jacob in Genesis 28, "The symbolism of the stairway, sometimes called Jacob’s Ladder, was that his mission was to serve as God’s link between heaven and earth. We by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation are also supposed to . . . [help] others by our words and actions to ascend the stairway to heaven."

There are many other beneficial study tools provided by the authors: a list of "words to remember" at the end of each lesson, black and white illustrations, a glossary, index, bibliography, and various Catholic prayers.

Finally, both the text and the leader’s manual are very affordable (the text retails at $12.95 and theleader’s guide at $4.95). And for the high school student or member of a study group, the price is indeed small in relationship to the value of the lessons. IEWS

- Regis J. Flaherty  (from Lay Witness magazine. www.cuf.org)

You can purchase this title here.