If asked, Catholics over 18 will claim that they want to be treated
like adults in the church, but few of them act like it. Although they would
vociferously deny it, most Catholics still act like children who come to
Father for instruction and direction. Despite the Second Vatican Council,
the faith of most Catholics is still based on what they learned in grammar
school from the nuns or what they hear in church from Father.
Some analysts would argue that American Catholics are adults because
they are capable of holding views that differ from the magisterium's. According
to the polls, for example, most Catholics do not follow the hierarchy's
teaching on birth control. But since surveys also indicate that most priests
do not believe that artificial birth control is immoral in all cases, there
is little disagreement here between the laity and the local clergy. This
leaves unanswered the question of who is following whom.
One of the clearest indications of the immaturity of the Catholic population
is its continued avoidance of the Bible despite the Second Vatican Council
and the revolution in Scripture scholarship. According to studies by the
Princeton Religion Research Center, 35 percent of Catholics never read
the Bible (another 5 percent cannot recall when they last read the Bible).
This compares unfavorably with Protestants, only 14 percent of whom never
read the Bible. Only 16 percent of American Catholics read the Bible at
least weekly, as compared to 46 percent of Protestants.
It is difficult to understand how a person in this day and age can be
an adult Christian without reading the Bible. The Scriptures are the Word
of God available to every Christian as a source of inspiration, reflection
and prayer. If Christians ignore the Scriptures, they get the Word secondhand
through the church's ministers. This might have been acceptable in an age
of illiterate peasants, but it is inexcusable in a literate age with a
highly educated laity. Nor can the clergy be blamed for this state of affairs.
While it is true that the church discouraged Bible reading during the Reformation
and Counter-Reformation, since Vatican II (or even earlier, since Pius
XII), the church has encouraged Scripture reading by the laity.
Some might argue that Catholics hear the Word of God proclaimed weekly
at the Eucharist and therefore do not need to read the Bible. While hearing
the Word proclaimed in a liturgical setting is very important and grace-filled,
it is not enough. In fact, the liturgical setting can reinforce the childish
tendencies of a Catholic unless precautions are taken. In the typical parish,
the Scripture passages are read (more or less audibly), and they are immediately
followed by Father's homily. No time is usually given for the congregation
to reflect quietly on the readings; rather the Scriptures are immediately
interpreted and explained by the priest. The congregation is told what
it should think about the readings and how it should react to them.
If Catholics want to attend Mass as adults, the first thing they should
do is steal a missalette from the pews of their church. In the privacy
of their homes they can then read the Sunday Scripture readings before
going to Mass. A half hour a week of reading, reflection and prayer over
the Scriptures is really not too much to ask from an adult Catholic. Nor
does this have to be done alone. The Scripture reading, reflection and
prayer could be done in a family setting or with friends.
The Sunday Scripture readings found in the missalette are ideal for
such a prayer and reflection. First, they provide a variety of Scripture
passages over a three-year cycle so that a person will come into contact
with most key passages of the Bible. Second, the Sunday reading will automatically
help the reader keep in rhythm with the liturgical year.
Most importantly, if the reflection on the Sunday reading is done before
going to Sunday Mass, the layperson will be able to enter into a mature
dialogue (silent or vocal) with the homilist. Perhaps the readings said
something entirely different to the homilist than they said to the person
in the congregation. If the lay person reflects on the readings only after
the homily, then his thoughts are apt to the channeled in predetermined
paths. By reflecting on the readings first, the lay person can react to
the homily in a variety of ways: "That's a good idea, I didn't think of
that." "He missed the whole point of the Gospel! " "Boy, is that priest
smart! He thinks just like me."
It is difficult to think of anything more important than reading the
Bible for the development of an adult Christian. The missalette provides
a very easy way of finding the Sunday Scripture readings for meditation
and prayer. Many Catholic bookstores also carry missals or small lectionaries
with the Sunday readings in the three-year cycle. These lectionaries would
be useful for those Catholics mature enough not to do everything Father
says, especially when he tells them to steal a missalette.
By Thomas J. Reese, S.J., senior fellow at the Woodstock Theological Center
America, May 26, 1984
Copyright © 1984 by America Press
All rights reserved
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