Preface to “Faith, Revelation, and the Bible”

In this book will be found summaries of critically important documents on Faith and Divine Revelation issued by the Magisterium of the Church since the middle of the nineteenth century, when serious challenges to faith and revelation posed by the development of modern rationalism, skepticism and relativism faced Christ’s Church.

One of the purposes of this effort is to inculcate the use of the supreme guide in biblical studies as laid down by Pope Leo XIII and his successors in order to incite ever more earnestly all those who devote themselves to biblical studies to adhere closely to the Church’s teaching concerning the method of Scripture studies in clerical seminaries.

Because sacred theology is concerned with the defense and the elucidation of the Divine Books of Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Office desires that those whom Divine Grace has called to Holy Orders should display greater diligence and industry in reading, meditating and explaining Scripture, for, as St. Jerome has said, “to be ignorant of Scripture is not to know Christ.”

Relevant document of Popes from Pius IX to the present on this theme are included, along with the dogmatic constitutions on faith and revelation promulgated by Vatican Council I and Vatican Council II. The great creeds formulated by early ecumenical Councils have not been included inasmuch as the most famous of these, the Nicene-Constantinople Creed, is familiar to all Catholics from the liturgy of the Mass every Sunday.

At the beginning of each summary, there is a brief statement setting forth the background and the reason for issuing the document, and any pertinent circumstances, where appropriate.

Grateful acknowledgment is given to the excellent assistance and advice received from: Rev. Peter J. Elliott, Rev. William E. Lori and Rev. Vincent P. Miceli. We are also grateful to the many other persons who aided in the preparation of this book. Note: The current titles are Msgr. Peter J. Elliot and Most Rev. William E. Lori. Father Miceli has passed into eternity.

Finally, we thank the benefactors whose generosity makes possible the publication and distribution of these books. We especially recognize Mrs. Mary Schrader and James McCaffrey to whom we are deeply indebted. We are confident that the necessary additional financial support will be forthcoming in order to make this work for our Church successful.

George Patrick Morse