Author Description

This Book Describes And Analyzes The Multifaceted Relationship Between Catholics And The Bible. Award-winning Biblical Scholar And Historian Michael Peppard Explores The Paradoxical Role Of The Bible For Catholics-a Book Central To Their Tradition, But Not Usually In The Form Of A Book. The Opening Chapters Explore The Role Of The Bible In The Mass, Highlighting The Centrality Of Gospel Narratives And The Often Predictive Interpretations Of The Hebrew Scriptures. Special Attention Is Paid To The Depiction Of Biblical Women And The Representation Of Jews And Judaism In Liturgical Readings. Subsequent Chapters Examine The Bible's Presence In Rituals Of The Catholic Life Cycle, Devotional Practices Like The Rosary, And Cultural Expressions Such As The Feast Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe. A Substantial Portion Of The Book Is Devoted To The Visual Arts, Tracing The Development Of Catholic Biblical Art From The Late Roman Empire Through The Middle Ages, Including Everything From Sarcophagi To Stained Glass To Liturgical Drama. The Bible Also Infuses The Catholic Imagination In Literature And Popular Media, And Thus The Book Examines Representative Figures From Poetry, Fiction, Music, And Film. The Book Concludes With Analysis Of Direct Textual Engagement Of Catholics With The Bible In Devotional Reading And Scholarship, Considering Its Impact On Doctrine And Ethics. From Beginning To End, The Argument Is Framed By The Annunciation And The Pietà, Symbolizing The Central Roles Of Jesus And Mary In Catholic Biblical Engagement. This Guided Tour Shows The Dynamic Ways In Which Catholics Encounter, Interpret, And Embody The Bible Throughout Their Lives-- Provided By Publisher.