Almost done, just beginning

The Grotto

Just as I thought I was nearly complete with my reading the bible cover to cover, lo and behold, I find out I have the wrong bible..  As a returning Catholic, I have, over the past year or two, been reading a Protestant bible.

A survey of what is different:  Maccabees, Baruch, Ben Sira, Book of Wisdom are new.  Esther and Song of Songs - some differences.

Then there is all the annotation, which seems a distraction from the Word of the Lord.  Then there is the Divine Constitution at the start of the Catholic bible - words from authors about how important reading scripture is, but also, to the Catholic, tradition is important.

Then, which really bugged me when I first opened this Book, after the first cover, the 'indulgences' note.  Well I will just accept that that is a vestige from the Catholic church of old.  I am ready for the Catholic church for to-day, for tomorrow, for the 22nd century!

I am excited to be a returning Catholic at this time, and with a new Pope, and a new Archbishop coming.  This is a time for evangelized Catholics, and I seek to become one!