Every year from now on, one of the first Sunday's of the year will highlight the importance of the Word of God.
Similar to how Corpus Christi is celebrated as a tribute to the Eucharist on a Sunday in the month of June, with this “Motu Proprio,” the pope has instituted a Sunday dedicated to the Bible.
The date is no coincidence; it's near the day that the Catholic Church remembers its relationship with the Jewish community as well as the week it prays for unity between Christians.
The pope proposed that on that Sunday, the great importance of the Bible should be contemplated. This could be by enthroning the Holy Scriptures, celebrating the Rite of Institution of Lector as a special ministry, or by blessing Bibles to give to others.
In honor of the occasion, the pope asked bishops and priests to prepare their homilies with extra care, because commentary on the sacred readings cannot be improvised.
The first Sunday of the Word of God will be Jan. 26, 2020.
Javier Martínez-Brocal
Translated: Rachel Dobrzynski
