Know your Bible!

"For the word of God is living and effectual, and more piercing than any two edged sword; and reaching unto the division of the soul and the spirit, of the joints, also and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart".
(Hebrews 4:12).
When I was in church a few weeks ago, waiting for confession, I noticed something. In the old church at St Mary Help of Christians, amongst the amazing artwork, is a book with a two-edged sword in it.
Because it's telling you about the Word of God.
Now, I'm pretty sure I've already written about Dei verbum, but just in case you can't find it, check this out, (DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON DIVINE REVELATION DEI VERBUM SOLEMNLY PROMULGATED BY HIS HOLINESS POPE PAUL VI ON NOVEMBER 18, 1965)
And while I am certainly not Sola Scriptura (nor do I think we should restrict the phrase "Word of God" to that), here's something important to remember:
The Bible IS God's word!
And so many Catholics don't seem to to know it, in fact, not just Catholics, Christians in general.
As of this writing, I'm not married, but I've had girlfriends, and one of them told me, LONG before she and I started dating, that she kept the notes I wrote to her.
I did not know that.
But how much MORE that we should keep the love letters from God? (Remember, the Bible isn't just one book).
I know some Catholics think Protestants are "Bible Christians".
NO, they are not! The Bible as a bound volume, owes its existence to the Jewish people, and the early (i.e., Catholic) Church.
This is a matter of history.
I think many Catholics are afraid of private interpretation.
What may be surprising to y'all, is that the Church doesn't forbid private interpretation. (CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH SECOND EDITION)
That being said, if your "private interpretation" goes against the Church's, it's yours that's wrong.
In fact, the Bible even gives limits on private interpretation, such as Genesis 40:8 and 2 Peter 1:20.
But, I think it handy to keep this verse in mind, "Carefully, study to present thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth".
If you believe the Word of God is truth, then you REALLY need to know your Bible.

*All verses from the Douay Rheims version