Reddit mentions of The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible New Testament

Hi Quill!

I'm like yourself, in that I was raised Catholic, left the Church, and started fooling around with other things (Atheism, Islam, paganism, a whole variety of stuff).

After doing some serious introspection, I came to understand that I wasn't actually looking for God Himself in all of that, I was looking for my own personal definition of what I thought God should be. I was looking for the God of my desires, not the God of my Salvation.

After a period of pretty intense study, I came back to the Church like my ass was on fire and my head was catching. I've run into alot of the same problems you have, and I agree with what many of the others on here have already said, namely start slow, and learn the core message of Christianity through the Gospels.

To help get you on your way, I would like to recommend this to you:

Ignatius Study Bible, New Testament Only

That is the BEST study bible that you can spend your pennies on. I would highly recommend that you start with that, and prayer.

And of course, all of us on here are available if you need community, or have questions! :)

In Christ,
N

From the Gospel of Saint John, 21:15-19:

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

A second time he said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and walked where you would; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish to go.” (This he said to show by what death he was to glorify God.) And after this he said to him, “Follow me.”

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Three times Peter reaffirms his love for Jesus as a personal retribution for the three times he denied him (John 13:38). The dialogue in Gren makes use of several synonyms: two different nouns are used for sheep, and two different verbs are used for feed, know, and love. Although this may be a stylistic feature to avoid redundancy, others think it more significant, especially with the word love.

In his first two questions, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him with "willing love" (Gk. agaoao), but in the third question he asks if Peter loves him with merely friendly affection (Gk. phileo), which is the word Peter uses in all three of his responses. An intended distinction between these terms would indicate that Jesus, desirous of a complete and heroic love from Peter, was willing by the end of the conversation to settle for his friendship.

Look at verse 15, "more than these?" - Peter is challenged to live up to his own words, since earlier he declared that even if the other disciples should fall away from Christ, his commitment would never falter (Matt 26:33).

When Jesus says, "Feed my lambs" Jesus is entrusting to Peter the task of shepherding his entire flock. This supreme leadership position over the Church gives a unique share in the authority of Christ, who is still acknowledged by Peter as the "chief shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4). Is important to recognize that no tension exists in the mind of Jesus between his role as the "good shepherd" and the delegation of pastoral authority to Peter (John 10:11; CCC 553, 881). Vatican I declared that in this episode Christ made Peter the visible head and chief pastor over the universal Church (Pastor aeternus, Chap. 1).

From the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003RWSARS

Get a Bible you would read. I like the RSV-CE, but you can also go with the Douay Rheims if you want archaic English or the NAB. Of the Bibles, the Navarre Bible (RSV) has commentary sections from Saints throughout the centuries. They have a single volume version of the New Testament that I use. (Also good, the Ignatius Study Bible, also New Testament only).

I recommend Thomas Howard's If Your Mind Wanders At Mass and Healing Through the Mass by Fr. Robert DeGrandis.

Get the Official Catechism of the Catholic Church, and get the helps put out by Ignatius Press (which contain the texts of all the footnotes). The Compendium is also good, if you want an abridgement.

For Philosophy, I recommend The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin. In that book he takes the writings of seven doctors of the Church and encapsulates them so that a layperson can follow them. You can use that as a springboard to discover your own readings about St. Augustine, St. John of the Cross, etc.

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