Fr Graffy spoke about how the title Take & Read came to be: ‘Some years ago I came across the passage from St Augustine’s ‘Confessions’ in which he tells of the moment of his conversion to faith in Christ. He is in the garden with his friend Alypius. He is much distressed and in great turmoil. He goes off alone into the garden, and suddenly he hears a child’s voice singing out: ‘Take and read! Take and read!’ Augustine returns to where he has left a copy of the New Testament, opens the book, reads some verses from the Letter to the Romans, and knows he must turn to Christ. His conversion is now assured. This passage stayed with me, with its playful chant of Take and read! I suspected that it would make an excellent title for a book on the Bible, or a series of books.’ 

Fr Graffy’s vision for Take & Read is that it would over time offer commentary on every book of the Bible and work has already begun on the Acts of the Apostles and Romans.  Fr Henry Wansbrough gave a wonderful insight and overview of Catholic biblical scholarship over the centuries  and said that resources such as Take & Read, which help unpack and explain the scriptures,  reflects the spirit of Dei Verbum, which was to make the Word of God open and accessible to all God’s people.  Bishop Ambrose Griffiths concluded the day by encouraging the reading of the scriptures as the way each of us comes to know the treasure and riches of Christ.

Take & Read: The Gospels available from Alive Publishing: 
Box Set: £35,
Single Copies: Mathew, Mark, Luke, John: £9.99
Call 01782 745 600 to place your order.
OR order online at www.alivepublishing.co.uk

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