One of my daughter's acquaintances once remarked, "You'll never see a Bible in a Catholic Church." Obviously, this person had never been in a Catholic Church, or at least had given little attention to the items within it. Unfortunately, her view is not uncommon. (Even some Catholics mistakenly believe that their religion forbids Bible reading.) Although Catholics do not base their faith solely on the Bible, many of the Church's services and practices have their foundation in Holy Scripture.

I have tried to show by citing passages in the Mass and certain Catholic customs (such as the wearing of ornate liturgical vestments) as well as material from well-known Catholic writers that far from being antiscriptural, the Catholic Church regards Scripture as an integral part of its customs and beliefs.