Sacred Scripture is more than a collection of ancient texts—it is the living Word of God, a gift meant to inspire, console, and challenge us. In the Gospels, Jesus himself shows us the power of Scripture in prayer. Whether quoting scripture or responding to the temptations in the desert, Jesus’ life is steeped in God’s Word.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church encourages all the faithful to make Scripture a regular part of their prayer life: “For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles’” (CCC 2653). By reading and meditating on the Word of God, we enter into a dialogue with Him, discovering His wisdom and love in new and personal ways.
Consider this story: A saint who experienced a profound conversion through reading the Bible was Saint Augustine of Hippo. His story is one of the most well-known in Christian tradition.
Saint Augustine, who in his youth lived a life far from the Christian faith, found his way to God after a pivotal moment of reflection and Scripture reading. In his work Confessions, he recounts how one day, while in a garden and struggling deeply with his inner turmoil, he heard the voice of a child singing: "Take and read, take and read" (Tolle lege in Latin).
Augustine understood this as a divine call. He picked up the Bible that was nearby and read a passage from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans.
These words pierced his heart and led him to abandon his former life of sin, marking the beginning of his conversion and commitment to Christ. Saint Augustine went on to become one of the greatest theologians and Doctors of the Church, leaving behind a lasting legacy of faith and teaching.
His experience reminds us of the transformative power of the Word of God and how, by opening our hearts to Scripture, we can find guidance and renewal for our lives.
What about you? How often do you open your heart to God’s Word? St. Jerome famously said, “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ.” If we want to know Christ more deeply, we must encounter Him in Scripture.
Let us commit to making the Word of God the foundation of our prayer and life. In doing so, we will not only grow in our relationship with Christ but also discover His presence in the everyday moments of our lives.