The man who was to become the greatest Anglican theologian, apart from Richard Hooker, as well as the most important Catholic theologian of the nineteenth century, and who has often been called ‘the Father of the Second Vatican Council’ because of the ways in which he anticipated the Council in his writings, did not grow up in an intensely religious family. His parents were ordinary, typical members of the Church of England: they did not belong to the high-church tradition of the seventeenth century, nor had they been affected by the Wesleyan or Evangelical revival that was sweeping the Church of England.

Take & Read is a major new publication from Alive Publishing. The series has been developed as a follow up to the document The Gift of Scripture published by the Bishops of England and Wales and of Scotland. Fr Adrian Graffy, the Editor of Take & Read explains the story behind this innovative, exciting, and dynamic new initiative.

This month bishops from around the world convene in Rome for a synod to discuss the overarching theme of the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church. This is a theme very dear to our hearts at Bible Alive. Our daily reflections are rooted and grounded in the liturgical rhythm of the Church and what is beautiful about following the liturgical cycle in this way is that wherever you are in the world (accounting, of course, for national and local feast days) the same readings from the Bible are proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word. We believe that there can be ‘no authentic renewal of the Church without a return to the biblical sources. The Scriptures ‘are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus’ (2 Tim. 3:15). The Word of God is central to the renewal of the liturgy and central to the whole life of faith. Access to the Bible is for all the faithful.’

The title Bible Alive captures eloquently our goal, purpose and mission. The Bible is living, active and therefore dynamic and alive (Hebrews 4:12). From the Bible we draw life, strength and power to live the Christian life. The directors of Alive Publishing and its editorial staff have known in their own lives, through the power of the Holy Spirit, the word of God coming alive in a real and dynamic way. Their experience rooted in many years of study and reflection is that immersing ourselves in the treasure which is Sacred Scripture is life changing and fundamental in living the Christian life.

Bible Alive is a Catholic scripture magazine which draws its strength, inspiration and direction from the liturgical cycle.

“The Bible is living, active and therefore dynamic and alive (Hebrews 4:12). From the Bible we draw life, strength and power to live the Christian life.”

The essence of Bible Alive are the daily reflections. They are written in an accessible and warm style inviting the reader to penetrate and plumb the depths of the scripture reading of the day.

The lead features cover a wide array of subjects, topics, profiles and interviews on matters relating to living the Christian faith today.

The essays and teaching are drawn from the rich teaching of Vatican II, the Cathechism of the Catholic Church, the writings of Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.

Our saint profile affords us the opportunity to explore in depth and detail the life witness of either a beati, a canonized saint or a hero of faith.

Alive Publishing is a Catholic Christian publishing house. The company, which has charitable status, was incorporated in 1996 with the launch of Bible Alive, a Catholic scripture magazine, rooted in the daily and Sunday liturgy of the Catholic Church.

We recognize and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in our time and rejoice in the way in which for many, lay people and clergy alike the Bible is a living book: alive, active, dynamic and life giving.

As a Christian publishing company we look to scriptures, the living tradition of the church, the saints both ancient and new, the teaching of the Second Vatican Council, Pope John Paul II, and Pope Benedict XVI for inspiration, guidance and light. Our magazines, books and newspapers are rooted in a vision which is informed by the Holy Spirit, guided by the teaching authority of the Catholic Church and strengthened by daily conversion, repentance and prayer.

We draw special strength and guidance from Dei Verbum and the Gift of Scripture, a document published by the Bishop’s Conference of England Wales. We do so because of the light and wisdom both documents offer the church on reading, praying and living the scriptures in our daily walk with Christ. The bishops at Vatican II urged each believer to: ‘to learn ‘the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ’ (Philippians 3:8) by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. . . . Let them go gladly to the sacred text itself, whether in the sacred liturgy, which is full of the divine words, or in devout reading. . . . Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For ‘we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles’ ” (Dei Verbum, 25).

Through all our publications but in a unique way through Bible Alive our hope is to encourage our readers to respond to this invitation.

The first letter which opened the first edition of Bible Alive expressed our goal, mission and vision: ‘In November 1994, Pope John Paul II wrote a document called Tertio millennio adveniente, concerning the coming of the third millennium. The Pope reminds us that all of time has been made holy because of the coming of the Son of God into our world. Since the Incarnation, the death and the resurrection of Jesus, and the sending of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, every moment in time has become charged with the presence of God and the salvation he offers the human race.

This understanding of time underlies the daily meditations we shall be producing each month. For each day is an opportunity to meet God, through his Son. As the Holy Father says: ‘Christians… should turn with renewed interest to the Bible… In the revealed text it is the Heavenly Father himself who comes to us in love and who dwells with us, disclosing to us the nature of his only-begotten Son and his plan of salvation for humanity’ (TMA 40). As you pray and read scriptures each day allow God’s word to speak to you.’

As Catholic publishers our vocation and call is to be faithful to this vision and encourage our readers, Christians of all denominations and men and women of good will to know the fruit, blessing and grace of scripture and in so doing draw close to the Father who loves us and gave his Son for us.

The name Bible Alive is grounded in scripture. The writer to the Hebrews described the word of God as being like a two edged sword, living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Our contributing writers would testify that the Bible coming alive was a major part of a renewed experience of God, the grace of a second conversion. It is precisely from this experience of God, the rich treasure we have in the daily liturgy and an active prayer life that grace and insight is found to write the daily reflections which give life to thousands of readers around the world every day.