Romans 10:17: So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ.
Mark 16:20: And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.
Mark 16:15: And he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation.”
There is nothing here about a book-religion or any kind of bible-alone church. Rather, we see what the Catholic Church has done for two thousand years. She preaches the Good News.
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Hi Fr Joe: A devout Catholic friend of mine wants to bring her dog with her when she attends Adoration for our night vigil. I feel really bad about the thought of a dog being present when Jesus is exposed on the altar. Am I right to feel like this? What is Catholic teaching about this? I cannot find anything in the Catechism. Thank you in advance for your reply.
The expression, “book religion” refers to those religions which almost seem as if they worship a book. Protestant Christianity is sometimes regarded as such, as is Mormonism and Islam. However, Catholicism emphasizes not the book or the BIBLE but the preaching and teaching and ministering CHURCH. The Bible did not come down to us ready-made out of the sky in King James English. The Church was proclaiming the Gospel before we had a complete Bible. Members of the Church, inspired by God, composed the writings of the New Testament. It was the Catholic Church which assembled and agreed upon a biblical canon.
Fundamentalist Protestant Schema
1. God
2. Bible
3. Church
Catholic Schema
1. God
2. Church
3. Bible
Although over-simplified, see how the order is different? It has serious consequences about self-understanding.