THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL
The DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION
on
DIVINE REVELATION (Dei Verbum)
[tr. Flannery, (Collegeville) pp. 754 & 764, modif.]

 

 

 

 

 

 

   
   
 §8.THIS tradition which comes from the Apostles develop[s] [makes progress] in the Church with the help of the Holy Spirit.* For there is a growth in the understanding of the realities and the words which have been handed down. Haec quae est ab Apostolis Traditio sub assistentia Spiritus Sancti in Ecclesia proficit: 12 crescit enim tam rerum quam verborum traditorum perceptio,

*cf. First Vatican Council, Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith, Chap. 4, "On Faith and Reason:"

[Denzinger 1800 (3020]
   
   
THIS happens[:] tum

[1] through the contemplation and study made by believers, who ponder these things in their hearts (cf. Luke, 2:19, 51)

ex contemplatione et studio credentium, qui ea conferunt in corde suo (cf. Lc 2,19 et 51),

[2] through an intimate sense of the spiritual realities which they experience,

tum ex intima spiritualium rerum quam experiuntur intelligentia,

[3] and through the preaching of those who have received through Episcopal succession the sure gift [charism] of truth.

tum ex praeconio eorum qui cum episcopatus successione charisma veritatis certum acceperunt.
For as the centuries succeed one another, the Church constantly advances toward the fullness of divine truth until the words of God reach their complete fulfillment in her. [...] Ecclesia scilicet, volventibus saeculis, ad plenitudinem divinae veritatis iugiter tendit, donec in ipsa consummentur verba Dei.
   
   
§25. [...] ALL clergy [...] must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through constant sacred reading and diligent study, [...] [...] clericos omnes, [...] assidua lectione sacra atque exquisito studio in Scripturis haerere necesse est,
The sacred synod also earnestly and especially urges all the Christian faithful, especially Religious, to learn by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures the “excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:8) “for ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”(Jerome, Comm in Is., Prol.: PL 24, 17)*. Pariter Sancta Synodus christifideles omnes, praesertim sodales religiosos, vehementer peculiariterque exhortatur, ut frequenti divinarum Scripturarum lectione "eminentem scientiam Iesu Christi" (Phil. 3, 8) ediscant. "Ignoratio enim Scripturarum ignoratio Christi est"

* cf. Benedict XV, encyclical “Spiritus Paraclitus:” EB 475-480; Pius XII, encyclical “Divino Afflante Spiritu:” EB 544.

 
Therefore, they should gladly approach the sacred text itself, whether it be through Libenter igitur ad sacrum textum ipsum accedant, sive

[1] the liturgy, rich in the divine word,

per sacram Liturgiam divinis eloquiis confertam,

[2] or through devout reading,

sive per piam lectionem,

[3] or through exercises suitable for the purpose and other aids

sive per institutiones ad id aptas aliaque subsidia,
which, in our time, with approval and active support of the shepherds of the Church, are commendably spread everywhere. quae approbantibus et curantibus Pastoribus Ecclesiae ubique nostro tempore laudabiliter diffunduntur.
   
   
AND let them remember that Meminerint autem

prayer should accompany

orationem concomitari debere

the reading of Sacred Scripture,

Sacrae Scripturae lectionem,

so that there arises a dialogue

ut fiat colloquium

between God and humankind; for

inter Deum et hominem

[1] “we speak to Him when we pray;

...illum alloquimur, cum oramus;

[2] we listen to Him when we read the divine saying.”*

llum audimus, cum divina legimus oracula.” 

*St. Ambrose, De Officiis ministrorum I, 20, 88:

(PL 16,50)
   
   

 


This Webpage was created for a workshop held at Saint Andrew's Abbey, Valyermo, California in 2002....x....  .