Catholic Church and the Bible

I was especially drawn to Chapter III of this book entitled a Biblical Theology of the Mass. The chapter looks, in part, at the Jewish roots of the Liturgy. Fr. Stravinskas tells how Jewish children from a Hebrew day school and Catholic Children from a Catholic school would experience each others liturgy. He notes that the Jewish Children, never having seen a Mass, understood parts of it from their own services. The first Christians were Jewish converts and there are still elements of that tradition in the Mass. While the book looks to the Catholic Catechism, Tradition and Scripture to explain the Mass, it is nice to see a book that explores the often overlooked and fascinating aspect of the Jewish roots of the Mass.

Fr. Stravinskas succeeds splendidly in showing that the Catholic church is not, nor has ever been, allergic to the Holy Scriptures. For those who doubt it, please read the book. Nicely organized into sections that deal with various issues, the book concludes with a chapter giving a line-by-line analysis of the Biblical content of the mass followed by a chapter of questions and answers--the format in which Fr. Stravinskas shines.

When I purchased this book, I thought it would focus solely on the history of the Bible and, more particularly, on the Church's role of forming the canon. To my chagrin, this book is quite light on Bible history.However, I don't judge a book on my expectations, however misguided, but on its content. I was very pleased with the work. This book provides a short, yet thorough introduction of the place of Holy Scripture within the Church. Having accomplished that goal in a very readable and understandable style, Stravinskas then provides a brief glimpse of salvation history and how the Old Testament is completed by the New Testament and the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament.The "meat" of this book is in its explanation of the use of scripture during the Mass. Each line of the Mass is supported by reference to a biblical text. In short, Father Stravinskas utterly refutes any argument that the Mass is not "biblical."Father Stravinskas concludes this work with a short appendix in which the Fundamentalist approach to scriptures, man's condition etc. is compared to that of the Catholic. It is hardly a thorough treatment of the subject, but it would not appear to me that either a Fundamentalist or Catholic Christian would dissaprove of the treatment of their respective theologies found in the latter portion of this book.All total, Father Stravinskas' work is a good introduction into the Church's veneration, protection and use of scripture. It is concise, balanced in treatment and would make an excellent resource for Adult or Youth Religious instruction.

Fr. Stravinskas has an intellect like a steel trap. It shows in this book. This book is an excellent outline and introduction to the subject of the Catholic Church and the Bible. Thankfully Fr. Stravinskas does make references to Holy Scripture and the new Catechism of the Catholic Church, along with a few excellent suggestions for further reading, which will be of help to the curious. Not polemical, the work will be useful to both Catholics and non-Catholics who are looking for an introduction to Holy Scripture and the Church which has so carefully preserved and guarded the Word of God for two millenia. If you are not familiar with the history of the Catholic Church and the Bible, or have only been exposed to anti-Catholic propaganda, this is the book for you. Fr. Stravinskas' love of God's Word is evident in his writing.

Want to go to a Bible Church, go to the Catholic Christian Church. Fr. Stravinskas does an excellent job in showing that the Mass is full of Biblical quotes and prayers. He also shows why the Bible is dinstinctively Catholic in its origin.