The Bible has been translated into 2,454 languages. However, according to a report of the Catholic news agency, Zenit, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary general of the bishops' synod, said that while "the Bible is the most translated and disseminated book in the world but, unfortunately, it is not very read".

It seems that this is not just a problem for the Church in Malta but in the Church universal. Tens of thousands of Maltese Bibles have been sold. But are they also being read by tens of thousands?

Malta had to wait for the 1980s to have the Maltese edition of the Bible printed in one volume. The late Prof. Karm Sant headed the team of translators from the Għaqda Bibblika. The Media Centre was responsible for the publication's production and marketing. It was a great success. Thousands of copies were sold.

Since then we have had other editions of the Bible printed in one volume. The MUSEUM gave us the Bibbja Saydon in more than one format. The Għaqda Bibblika produced other editions as well.

Mgr Eterovic said that according to recent research, "only 38 per cent of Italian practising Catholics have read a passage of the Bible in the past 12 months".

"More than 50 per cent of those consulted in Italy and other countries believe that sacred Scripture is difficult to understand," the archbishop reported. "Evidently, people need to be introduced and guided in an ecclesial understanding of the Bible."

In October the Church will attack this problem. The 12th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops will be held during October 5-26, and focus on the theme 'The Word of God in the Life and Mission of the Church'. One of the synod's aims is to get more people to read the Bible. The synod is attended by bishops representing dioceses all around the world. There will also be representatives of religious orders and laymen.

A few weeks ago the Vatican released the working document on which the synod discussions will be based. The final document is produced after a lot of con-sultation. The synod secretariat writes a number of guidelines and then asks bishops' conferences, religious congregations, and many others to give their reactions. Local structures such as parishes, movements and associations of the faithful are consulted.

The aim of the synod is to try to increase the faithful's knowledge and love for the Bible. The synod's working document clearly states that one of the synod's objectives is "to bring about a deep love for sacred Scripture, so that 'the faithful, by having greater access' to the Bible, might come to know the unity between the bread of the Word and the Body of Christ so as to fully nourish the Christian life".

"The synod will attempt to show the unity between the bread of the Word and of the Eucharist, between the Liturgy of the Word and the Eucharist, which are so united between themselves to the point of forming only one table of the bread of life," he continued, mentioning that the last synod had focused on the Eucharist.

The synod will be marked by the fact that it is being celebrated during the Pauline Year. This great Apostle has marked the Church and contributed to the Bible more than any other of the apostles. So it is more than reasonable to expect that the memory and the writings of St Paul will help instil in the Synodal Fathers the same missionary spirit and love for the Word of God that Paul had.

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