Writing the Good News
The Catholic Passion, 136–138

The Scriptures are the divine speech of God written in human language.

• Luke 1:1–4
• John 20:30–31; 21:25
• Acts 1:1
• 1 Corinthians 11:2, 23–24
• Philippians 4:9
• 2 Thessalonians 2:14–15
• Catechism, nos. 80–82, 96–98

Tradition
St. Papias
St. Jerome

A “God-Breathed” Canon
The Catholic Passion, 138–140

Working throught true human authors, God is the ultimate author of sacred Scripture; because of this, Scripture is free from error.

• 1 Thessalonians 2:13
• 2 Timothy 3:16–17
• Titus 1:9
• 2 Peter 1:19–21; 3:15–16
• Catechism, nos. 104–108, 120

Tradition
Muratorian Canon
St. Cyril of Alexandria

Laudate Dominum omnes gentes
by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (d. 1791)

Psalm 116

O Praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his mercy is confirmed upon us: and the truth of the Lord remaineth for ever.

Questions for Reflection

What does it mean to say that the Bible is free from error?

What does the Bible mean in your life? Should it mean something more? If so, what can you do to improve your reading of God’s Word?

Children of the Witnesses /
The Devil Has Quoted Scripture
The Catholic Passion, 140–145

The Church, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the true interpreter of sacred Scripture.

• 1 Peter 1:19–21
• Acts 8:26–39
• Catechism, nos. 85–87, 109–114, 119, 131–133

Tradition
St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Tertullian
St. Justin
St. Anthony
St. Clement of Alexandria
St. Ambrose
St. Gregory

Lamentations of Jeremiah
by Tomás Luis de Victoria (1548-1611)
Part 1 Part 2 Part 3

Lamentations of Jeremiah
by Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)
Part 1 Part 2

Lamentations of Jeremiah (Biblical book)

“How to Go to Heaven—Not How the Heavens Go”
The Catholic Passion, 148–153

Scripture has both a literal meaning and a spiritual meaning.

• Ezekiel 2:9–10
• Matthew 5:17–19
• 1 Corinthians 10:6, 11
• Hebrews 10:1
• 1 Peter 3:21
• Revelation 5:1
• Catechism, nos. 128–130, 1094–1095

Tradition
Galileo Controversy
Cardinal Cesare Baronius
St. Augustine
St. Gregory of Nyssa

Magnificat * anima mea Dominum,
et exultavit spiritus meus * in Deo salvatore meo,
quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. *
Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes,

quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est,*
et sanctum nomen eius,
et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies *
timentibus eum.

Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, *
dispersit superbos mente cordi sui;
deposuit potentes de sede *
et exaltavit humiles;
esurientes implevit bonis *
et divites dimisit inanes.

Suscepit Israel puerum suum, *
recordatus misericordiae,
sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, *
Abraham et semini eius in saecula.

My soul doth magnify * the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced * in God my Savior.
For He hath regarded the humility of His handmaiden.*
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For He that is mighty hath done great things to me, *
and holy is His Name.
And His Mercy is from generation unto generations *
upon them that fear Him.

He hath shewed might in His arm, *
He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, *
and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, *
and the rich He hath sent empty away.

He hath received Israel, His servant, *
being mindful of His mercy.
As He spoke to our Fathers, *
Abraham and his seed forever.

Reading with the Four Senses
The Catholic Passion, 151–153

There are four “senses” of Scripture—the literal sense and three spiritual senses: the allegorical, the moral, and the anagogical.

• Allegorical sense
  Matthew 12:39–40
  John 6:31–32
  1 Corinthians 1:2
  1 Peter 3:20
  
• Moral sense
  Matthew 19:4–6
  1 Corinthians 10:1–14
  
• Anagogical sense
  Isaiah 25:1–9
  1 Corinthians 15:54
  Revelation 21:1–22:5
  Catechism, nos. 115–118

Tradition
Origen

Questions for Reflection

Why is the Old Testament crucial to the Catholic understanding of Christ’s gospel?  How does the Church read the Old Testament?

What does it mean to say that the Bible is one book written about Christ?

Why did Christ entrust the Scriptures and their interpretation to the Church?

What are the four senses of Scripture? Provide a scriptural example of each of the three spiritual senses.

Psalm 32

Exultate justi, in Domino;
rectos decet collaudatio.
Confitemini Domino in cithara;
in psalterio decem chordarum, psallite illi.
Cantate ei canticum novum;
bene psallite ei in voci feratione.
Quia rectum est verbum Domini,
et omnia opera ejus in fide.
Diligit misericordiam et judicium,
misericordia Domini, plena est terra.
in medio stetit Christus,
dicens: Pax vobis omnibus.

Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous
for the upright is worthy of praise.
Sing praises to the Lord with harp,
with a psalter of ten strings.
Sing to him a new song,
Sing praises to him with a loud voice.
For the word of the Lord is right,
and his works are done in truth.
He loves righteousness and judgement,
the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
"Thou art my Lord and God!"
he cried.