Reading the Bible should be a spiritual experience and not simply reading another piece of literature. The Catechism of the Catholic Church says this plainly: “prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles” (CCC 2653).
To help facilitate this, here is a prayer that was often printed at the beginning of every Catholic Bible.
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A PRAYER BEFORE THE READING OF ANY PART OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES
Come, O Holy Spirit, fill the hearts and minds of your faithful servants and inflame them with the fire of your Divine love.
LET US PRAY
O God who by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit did instruct the hearts of your faithful servants grant us in the same Spirit to discern what is right and enjoy his comfort for ever. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns one God with you and the same Spirit world without end. Amen.
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Before reading the Bible, pray this prayer of St. John Chrysostom
