September was chosen as the month of the Bible. Do you know why? It’s because on 30 September, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of St. Jerome, known for having translated the Bible into Latin, the famous ‘Vulgate’ (which means ‘popular’).
The work of Saint Jerome has become a reference in Bible translations to this day. The originals of the Holy Scriptures are in three languages Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
The Objective of the Month of the Bible
Among the objectives in dedicating the month of September to the Bible are: to contribute to the development of the various forms of the presence of the Sacred Scriptures in the evangelizing action of the Church; to create biblical subsidies in various forms of communication; and to facilitate a creative and transforming dialogue between the Word, the person, and the communities.
On several occasions, Pope Francis has advised the faithful to carry the pocket Gospel with them and read it whenever possible. “Today one can read the Gospel also with many technological instruments. One can bring the entire Bible with him on a cell phone, or on a tablet. The important thing is to read the Word of God, with all means, and to welcome it with an open heart. And then the good seed bears fruit!”, explained the Holy Father.
The Role of the Bible in the Life of Every Catholic
Stressing the role of the Bible in the life of every Catholic, the Pontiff stated that “the Bible is not to be put on a stand, but to be at hand, to read it often, every day, either individually or together, husband and wife, parents and children, perhaps at night, especially on Sunday.”