Scripture Memorization for Catholics: Prayers

One of the more interesting aspects of Christian apologetics is dealing with the many urban legends and myths that many Christians hold and teach to others. Among the many Christian urban legends is the myth that Catholics don't know the Bible (for various alleged reasons), and certainly have not memorized it like Reformation Christians.

The truth is that, percentage wise, about as many Catholics as Protestants read the Bible regularly. Less known by Protestants is that most Catholics hear more of the Bible read at a typical Catholic Sunday sevice than they do. Catholics have also memorized large portions of the Bible. Where Catholics are at fault is in not recognizing that they not only know and understand much of the Bible, but that they have memorized much of the Bible.

Out of Christian love for our Catholic brothers and sisters, CAS will assist Catholics in matching the many scripture verses which they as Catholics have memorized with their Biblical source. In this first part of the series on scripture memorization for Catholics, we match Catholic prayers to their corresponding Bible verses.

The Sign of the Cross - Matthew 28:19

All Catholic prayer typically begins with the sign of the cross, an ancient Christian custom. While tracing a cross over one's body, the prayer "In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit" is said. This Catholic prayer comes from the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.

Matthew 28:19
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.

A simple technique to memorize Matthew 28:19 is to recite the entire verse and make the sign of the cross at that part of the verse. After making the sign of the cross, tell yourself "Matthew 28:19"

The Our Father - Matthew 6:9–13, Luke 11:2-4

Catholics recite the Our Father from memory. What many Catholics haven't memorized is the Our father is found in Matthew 6, verses 9–13 and in Luke 11, verses 2-4. The Our Father is a "two fer".

Matthew 6:9–13
This is how you are to pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and do not subject us to the final test, but deliver us from the evil one.

Luke 11:2-4
He said to them, "When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread and forgive us our sins for we ourselves forgive everyone in debt to us, and do not subject us to the final test."

Did you know that the prayer first chosen for the Catholic Rosary was the Our Father, and, depending on circumstances, it was said either fifty or a hundred times?

The Hail Mary - Luke 1:28, Luke 1:42

Catholics have long prayed the Hail Mary; however, many Catholics are unaware that they have been praying the Gospel of Luke. The first "half" of the Hail Mary consists of two overlapping verses from the first chapter of Luke.

Luke 1:28
And the angel being come in, said unto her: Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Luke 1:42
And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.

Did you know that when the Hail Mary was added to the Rosary in the 12th Century that it consisted only of Luke 1:28 and Luke 1:42?

Conclusion

Catholics should take heart. You have memorized much more of the Bible than you and many other Christians believe. Start your scripture memorization by learning the citations for your prayers.

In part 2, we'll explore the citations for already memorized scripture from the Mass.

Related Posts:
Scripture Memorization in Early Church History

Source: The Rosary