The Gift of Scripture
The Bishops of England and Wales, and of Scotland, have prepared a teaching document, The Gift of Scripture, in which the teaching of Dei Verbum, the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation of the Second Vatican Council, and subsequent Church documents are explained. What the Catholic Church has to say about the Holy Scriptures builds on ancient insights as well as utilising modern understandings. This document is offered to Catholics, to other Christians, and to all who value the 'gift of Scripture', so that we may be more richly nourished at 'the table of God's word'.
Publication details
- The Gift of Scripture
published by Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 1-86082-323-8. £3.95 - Bishops' Conference of England and Wales Press Release
- The Gift of Scripture —document
Liturgy Office Resources for The Gift of Scripture
The word of God is in no way less than the Body of Christ; nor should it be received less worthily.
I ask you, brothers or sisters, tell me: which to you seems the greater, the word of God, or the Body of Christ? If you wish to say what is true you will have to answer that the word of God is not less than the Body of Christ.
Therefore just as when the Body of Christ is administered to us, what care do we not use so that nothing of it falls from our hands to the ground, so should we with equal care see that the word of God which is being imparted to us shall not be lost to our soul, while we speak or think of something else.
For he who listens carelessly to the word of God is not less guilty than he who through his own inattention suffers the Body of Christ to fall to the ground.
- Opening the Gift of Scripture (pdf)
material for Deanery Meetings- Leader's notes (pdf)
- Preaching the Word (pdf)
Reflections on preaching drawn from The Gift of Scripture - Celebrating the Word (pdf)
Preparing a liturgy of the word - Praying the Word (pdf)
Lectio Divina and the Sunday Scriptures - Sharing the Word (pdf)
Lectionary based Catechesis
(This is an 8 page A5 booklet so the pdf will need to be copied 'back to back' and folded.) - Proclaiming the Word (pdf)
Guidelines for Ministering the Word at Sunday Mass
(This is an 8 page A5 booklet so the pdf will need to be copied 'back to back' and folded.) - Ministers of the Word (pdf)
Guidelines prepared by the Liturgy Office
Further Liturgy Office Resources
- In Communion with Christ
A preaching resource for Mass - Opportunities and Challenges
The Liturgy of the Word - Ministry Leaflets
- Deacons (pdf)
- Liturgical Preaching and Catechesis (pdf)
- Readers and the Ministry at Mass (pdf)
- Ministry of Reader — Children (pdf)
- Deanery Meetings
- MInistering the Word (pdf)
- Common Responsorial Psalms (pdf)
Other Resources
- Dei Verbum
Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation - Lectionary for Mass
- Sacred Scripture in the Life of the Church
40th Anniversary of Dei Verbum
Rome, September 14–18, 2005 - Pontifical Biblical Commission
- Catholic Biblical Federation
- Fulfilled in your Hearing
The Homily in the Sunday Assembly — a document of the United States Conference of Catholc Bishops - Living and Sharing our Faith — The National Project, published by Matthew James
- Gift of Scripture unwrapped — for Study Groups
- Take and Read — a scripture study resource
