Pope
Francis writes preface to youth Bible
(Vatican
Radio) Pope Francis has written a preface to a new volume of the Bible for
young people, the inspiration for which came from Thomas Söding, professor of
New Testament studies at Bochum university. As a father of three, Mr
Söding felt it was necessary to provide a more appealing approach to the
Bible for young readers.
The
Holy Father begins his preface saying that his old, tatty, well-thumbed Bible
is his “priceless treasure”. “I would not give it away for the world”. He said
he did he did not wish for a new €1000 version: “I love my old Bible… which has
shared my joy and has been soaked with my tears”.
He
speaks about how more Christians are being persecuted nowadays than ever before
because they wear a crucifix or they have a Bible. He goes on to mention
Mahatma Gandhi who once said “A text has been given to you Christians, a text
that has the dynamic power to make human civilization explode into a million
pieces, to turn the world upside down and to bring peace to a planet torn apart
by war. However, you merely regard it as a work of literature, nothing more”.
The
Pope says “you hold in your hands something truly divine: a book of fire, a
book in which God speaks”. He reiterates Gandhi saying, “the Bible was not
written to be put on a bookshelf; it was written to be read every day”.
He
warns his young readers “Read carefully. Do not skim-read the Bible, as you
would a comic strip! The word of God cannot be skim-read! Ask yourselves ‘What
is the Bible telling my heart? What is God telling me through these words?’”
Pope
Francis concludes explaining how he reads his Bible, like a son sitting near
his father. He adds that he prays sitting because it hurts him to kneel down…
He
finishes saying “Do you want to make me happy? Read the Bible".
The
new edition includes reproductions of pieces of holy art, along with
introductions to each book and quotations of saints, Popes and important
religious figures.
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