God Still Speaks: Reading the Bible with Catholic Eyes
As a Protestant, I often made it my goal to read through the entire Bible in a year. I had a checklist in the back of my Bible and took it very seriously. I believed that God’s Word was a “lamp to light my feet” and the primary way God spoke to me. If I had questions about life or wanted to grow spiritually, I turned to Scripture.
Now, as a Catholic, I understand even more deeply what the Bible truly is: not just a book of inspiration or guidance, but the living Word of God, spoken through His Church and preserved by the Holy Spirit. Through the Scriptures, the Lord Jesus Christ is not just remembered—He is present and speaking.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that “in the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets His children with great love and speaks with them” (CCC 104). That means every time we open the Bible with faith, we are truly encountering God Himself.
So yes, we Catholics must read the Bible. But we must read it in the way the Church teaches—with reverence, faith, and prayer.
Scripture and the Life of the Church
The Catholic Church is deeply scriptural. The Mass is filled with the Word of God. The Liturgy of the Hours, which sanctifies the hours of the day, is woven with Psalms and readings. The Church’s prayers, doctrines, and devotions are drawn directly from the Bible.
St. Jerome said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” That is as true for Catholic homeschooling mothers as it is for bishops and theologians. If we want to know Christ and teach our children to know Him, we must become familiar with His voice in Scripture.
But the Bible must be read with the Church. It is not a private book. The Catechism reminds us that “the Church does not derive her certainty about all revealed truths from the holy Scriptures alone. Both Scripture and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal sentiments of devotion and reverence” (CCC 82).
Reading the Bible as a Catholic means reading with the mind of the Church—accepting her guidance, embracing her interpretations, and submitting to her teaching authority.
What Is Lectio Divina?
The Church offers us a particular way to read Scripture called Lectio Divina, which means “divine reading.” This ancient practice is a method of prayerful reading that allows Scripture to speak directly to the heart. It isn’t about analysis or study, but about relationship—meeting Christ in His Word.
Lectio Divina has four traditional steps:
- Lectio – Read the passage slowly and carefully.
- Meditatio – Meditate on the words. What stands out? What is God saying?
- Oratio – Speak to God about what you’ve heard.
- Contemplatio – Rest in God’s presence. Listen and be still.
Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the faithful to return to this practice. He said that when it is “faithfully practiced, Lectio Divina will bring to the Church a new spiritual springtime.”
It is a powerful habit, especially for busy Catholic mothers who long to stay rooted in the Word but feel overwhelmed by life.
The Bible Is a Living Word, Not a Checklist
When I read the Bible as a Protestant, I often felt pressure to “get through” the daily reading. Some days I forgot what I had just read because I was so focused on finishing.
Lectio Divina slows us down. It helps us savor the Word rather than conquer it. It forms us gently, like water softening stone. And most importantly, it teaches us to listen.
Jesus says in John’s Gospel, “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Lectio Divina is how we hear His voice.
St. Augustine often spoke of the need to let Scripture “wound” us—to pierce our hearts and lead us to change. That only happens when we listen slowly and attentively.
Begin with the Mass Readings
One of the most fruitful places to begin reading the Bible as a Catholic is with the daily readings from Mass. The Church gives us a rich lectionary cycle that walks us through the life of Christ, the teachings of the Apostles, and the wisdom of the Old Testament throughout the liturgical year.
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal tells us that the readings at Mass are meant to help the faithful become “familiar with the whole of Sacred Scripture.” They are carefully chosen to nourish the faithful.
That means the readings are not random. They are Spirit-led. They are meant for us. As mothers, reading them beforehand prepares our hearts. Reading them afterward helps the Word take deeper root.
The CLAA’s Daily Scripture Course
For Catholic homeschooling mothers, beginning a practice of daily Scripture reading can feel daunting. We are often pulled in many directions—diapers, lessons, dishes, teens, toddlers, and everything in between.
That’s why I recommend the Daily Scripture course offered by the Classical Liberal Arts Academy. It offers simple, faithful guidance for reading the Bible every day in light of the Church’s wisdom.
This course loosely follows the Church’s lectionary cycle, making it a natural companion to the Mass and the Divine Office. It’s not just an academic reading plan, but a way to pray through the Bible with the Church.
How to Begin: A Simple Routine
If you want to begin reading Scripture in this way, here’s a simple approach:
- Begin with the sign of the Cross and ask the Holy Spirit to help you.
- Read the Gospel reading for the day. Don’t rush. Let it unfold.
- Use the Lectio Divina steps: read, meditate, pray, rest.
- Ask, “Lord, what are You saying to me today?”
- Write one sentence in a notebook or journal to carry with you.
- End with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Even ten minutes a day can change your soul. It will also nourish your homeschool and your children, because as your heart is filled, you will speak differently, teach differently, and love differently.
The Bible in the Life of the Mother
St. Thomas Aquinas says that “the greater the charity burning in the soul, the more abundantly does it overflow into action.” Reading Scripture builds that charity. It reminds us why we are doing what we’re doing.
Homeschooling can become mechanical. Homemaking can become draining. But when we read the Word of God each day, our work is renewed from within. We remember that our vocation is not just a job—it is a mission.
And our children see it, too. They see the Bible open on the table. They hear God’s Word in our voices. They learn from our example more than from our instruction.
Scripture and the Saints
The saints lived by Scripture. St. Teresa of Avila encouraged her sisters to read Scripture daily. She said, “All troubles of the Church come from a lack of knowledge of Scripture.”
St. Catherine of Siena, though unlettered, listened carefully to Scripture and carried it deep in her heart. It shaped her boldness and her wisdom.
St. Augustine’s conversion came when he heard the Word of God and obeyed. He wrote, “Your word pierced my heart, and I fell in love with you.”
These saints remind us that the Bible is not only for scholars or priests—it is for mothers, workers, widows, children. It is for you.
A Word of Encouragement
Dear mothers, you do not need to be perfect readers, theologians, or mystics. You only need to be willing. The Lord will meet you where you are.
If you’ve never read the Bible regularly before, start today. If you used to read and have fallen away, begin again. The Word of God is alive, and it is never too late to begin listening.
The Church is here to help. The saints are praying for you. The Holy Spirit is within you.
Take up your Bible—not to finish a checklist, but to hear your Savior. He is speaking. He has something to say to you today.
Open your ears. Open your heart. Let Him in.
Mrs. Dania C. Michael, O.P.
Homeschool Support
Classical Liberal Arts Academy
Notes
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 104, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1A.HTM
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 82, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P1A.HTM
- Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2348–2350, https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P85.HTM
- St. Jerome, as quoted in Dei Verbum, https://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651118_dei-verbum_en.html
- Pope Benedict XVI on Lectio Divina, https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2005/september/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20050916_cesena.html
- St. Augustine, Confessions, https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/110109.htm
- Summa Theologica, I-II, Q.28, https://www.newadvent.org/summa/2028.htm
- General Instruction of the Roman Missal, https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/ccdds/documents/rc_con_ccdds_doc_20030317_ordinamento-messale_en.html
