The statement from the Vatican indicating that the Roman Catholic Church now desires the faithful to read and study the Bible as the Word of God is quite amazing but also very deceiving. There is good reason to be suspect.

 

If this were to actually occur, millions of Roman Catholics would have to leave the Roman Catholic Church because of the contradictions they would face as a result of seeing the light of God's Word exposing the errors of Roman Catholicism. It is apparent, even from statements made in the article (Bishops Hope to Bring More People to Read Scripture) that the Roman Catholic leadership does not actually mean what it appears to say with regard to studying the Word of God and believing what the Word of God states.

 

As well as the bishops calling for "lectio divina" (a meaningless repetition of a verse or portion of the Bible), this proposed emphasis on the Word of God would have one major theme in mind. According to the article:

 

"The synod will attempt to show the unity between the bread of the Word and of the Eucharist, between the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist, which are so united between themselves to the point of forming only one table of the bread of life," he continued, mentioning that the last synod focused on the Eucharist.

 

Understand The Times will continue to warn concerned Christians about the coming ecumenical union with Rome that will embrace an unbiblical "Mary-centered" theology and the idea that the sacrament of the Eucharist and Eucharistic adoration draw the lost to the "true Jesus". This clever deception to deceive the world will be accompanied by "lying signs and wonders" that will be very difficult to resist.

 

Remember the words of Jesus: "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect. Behold, I have told you before. Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not (Matthew 24: 24-26).

 

 

According to the instrumentum laboris, one of the objectives of the synod is "to bring about a deep love for sacred Scripture, so that 'the faithful, by having greater access' to the Bible, might come to know the unity between the bread of the word and the Body of Christ so as to fully nourish the Christian life."

In particular, "lectio divina" will be promoted, that is, meditation on the word of God "adapted to different circumstances," Archbishop Eterovic added. "It seems vital to rediscover the bond between the word of God and the liturgy, which has its highest point in the celebration of holy Mass."

The secretary-general gave an example: According to recent research, "only 38% of Italian practicing Catholics have read a passage of the Bible in the past 12 months."

"More than 50% of those consulted in Italy and other countries believe that sacred Scripture is difficult to understand," the archbishop recounted. "Evidently, people need to be introduced and guided in an ecclesial understanding of the Bible."

"The synod will attempt to show the unity between the bread of the Word and of the Eucharist, between the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist, which are so united between themselves to the point of forming only one table of the bread of life," he continued, mentioning that the last synod focused on the Eucharist.

In fact, Archbishop Eterovic announced, the synodal assembly will have two important points of reference: the previous Synod on the Eucharist and the Pauline Year, which begins at the end of this month.