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Email a FriendI have battled depression for a long time. When feeling really low one time, I read Tobit as a chart at the front of my Bible listed it for reading during anxious and depressed times. The book brought me peace, reminded me that we all face dark times, and showed me what to do when feeling that way. Not to do anything drastic, but to pray for peace and surrender myself to God’s providence. Hope this helps others.
The Bible As Pleasure Reading
reading suggestions from BXVI
Posted by Rebecca Teti in Faith on Tuesday, August 09, 2011 12:00 PM
The Pope, who is still at Castel Gandalfo, his vacation digs, gave a general audience to crowds there last week.
He suggested we learn to enjoy reading the Bible.
each of us needs time and space for meditation, reflection and calm ... Thank God it’s so! In fact, this requirement tells us that we are not made only for work but also to think, reflect, or simply to follow a story with our minds and hearts, a story that we can connect with, in a sense ‘get lost’ in to then find ourselves enriched.”
He went on to say the Bible is very rich in content we can “get lost in” if we let it be instead of limiting ourselves to particular texts we hear in the liturgy. The Gospels, he points out, are actually meant to be read at a sitting, as complete stories.
And there are wonderful books of the Bible that are little known to many Christians: Tobit, on marriage and family; Esther, on the power of prayer; and Ruth, on Divine Providence. They’re quick reads, he said, and suggested keep a Bible nearby during vacation and break times for refreshment and enjoyment.
To own a Bible is like owning a little library, he said. Don’t you like that image?
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