Pope Leo 13, on the 13th day of December 1898, granted the following indulgences: "An indulgence of three hundred days is granted to all the Faithful who read the Holy Gospels at least a quarter of an hour.
A Plenary Indulgence under the usual conditions is granted once a month for the daily reading".
Pope Pius the Sixth, at Rome, in April, 1778, wrote the following: "The faithful should be excited to the reading of the Holy Scriptures: For these are the most abundant sources which ought to be left open to everyone, to draw from them purity of morals and of doctrine, to eradicate errors which are so widely disseminated in these corrupt times".
The American Bishops assembled at the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore urged the Catholic people to read the Holy Bible.
"We hope", they said, "that no family can be found amongst us without a correct version of the Holy Scriptures".
They recommended, also, that "at a fixed hour, let the entire family be assembled for night prayers, followed by a short reading of the Holy Scriptures".

Since the Catholic Church expresses such desire that the Sacred Scriptures be read, the following taken from the Holy Bible (New Catholic Edition) will prove a means of grace and a source of great spiritual blessing.

The need of the new birth

Do not wonder that I said to thee, "You must be born again".
St. John 3: 7.
The new birth is necessary because god is holy.

But as the One who called you is holy, be you also holy in all your behavior;
for it is written, You shall be holy, because I am holy.
1, St. Peter 15, 16.

Holiness without which no man will see God.
Hebrews 14.
The new birth is necessary because all have sinned.

As it is written, There is not one just man;
there is none who understands;
there is none who seeks after God.
All have gone astray together;
All have sinned and have need of the glory of God.
Romans 3: 10-12, 23.
The new birth is necessary because the natural man is spiritually dead and blind.

Therefore as through one man sin entered into the world and through sin death, and thus death has passed unto all men because all have sinned.
Romans 12.

You also, when you were dead by reason of your offenses and sins.
Ephesians 2: 1.

And if our gospel also is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing.
In their case, the god of this world (Satan) has blinded their unbelieving minds, that they should not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2, Corinthians 4: 3, 4.

For his workmanship we are, created in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 10.
The new birth is effected through the word of God

.

For you have been reborn, not from corruptible seed but from incorruptible, through the word of God.
1 St. Peter 23.

Of his own will he has begotten us by the word of truth.
St. James 18.

Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water (symbol of the Word of God, see Ephesians 26) and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
St. John 3: 5, 6.

Evidences of the new birth

if we are born of god we have faith in Christ as the only saviour.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.
1 St. John 5: 1.

As many as received him were born of God.
St. John 12, 13.
If we are born of God we do not practice sin as a habit.

Whoever is born of God does not commit sin (That is, he does not practice sin.
Cf. 1 St. John 2: 1).
1 St. John 3: 9.

We know that no one who is born of God commits sin.
1 St. John 18.
(The new nature, received at the time of regeneration, is divine and holy, and as the believer lives under the power of this new nature he does not practice sin.
) if we are born of god we practice righteousness.

If you know that he (God) is just (righteous), know that everyone also who does what is just (righteous) has been born of him.
1 St. John 29.
If we are born of God we love God.

Everyone who loves is born of God, and knows God.
1 St. John 4: 7.
If we are born of God we love the brethren.

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren.
He who does not love abides in death.
1 St. John 14.
If we are born of God we overcome the world.

All that is born of God overcomes the world;
and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
1 St. John 5: 4.
If we are born of God we grow in (not into, but in) grace.

But grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2 St. Peter 18.
If we are born of God we persevere unto the end.

I am convinced of this, that he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to perfection until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1: 6.

Now to him who is able to preserve you without sin and to set you before the presence of his glory, without blemish, in gladness, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, belong glory and majesty, dominion and authority, before all time, and now, and forever.
St. Jude 24.
The new birth is necessary because the spiritual kingdom requires a spiritual nature.

Jesus answered and said to him (Nicodemus) "Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God".
"Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh;
and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Do not wonder that I said to thee, 'You must be born again'".
St. John 3: 3, 5-7.

The nature of the new birth

the new birth is a new creation.

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision but a new creation is of any account.
Galatians 15.

If then any man is in Christ, he is a new creature (literally, "He is a new creation), the former things have passed away;
behold, they are made new!
2 Corinthians 17.

For by grace you have been saved through faith;
and that not from yourselves, for it is the gift of God;
not as the outcome of works, lest anyone may boast.
For his workmanship we are, created in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2: 8-10.
The new birth is the implantation of a new life.

I came that they may have life.
St. John 10.

He who has the Son has the life.
He who has not the Son has not the life.
1 St. John 12.

He who believes in the Son (Jesus Christ, the Son of God), has everlasting life.
St. John 36.
The new birth is the impartation of the divine nature.

Through which he has granted us the very great and precious promises, so that through them you may become partaker of the divine nature.
2 St. Peter 1: 4.
The new birth is Christ living in you by faith.

Christ in you, your hope of glory.
Colossians 27.

It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.
And the life that I now live in the flesh, I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
Galatians 20.

To have Christ dwelling through faith in your hearts.
Ephesians 17.
The new birth is miraculous and mysterious.

The wind blows where it will, and thou hearest its sound but dost not know where it comes from or where it goes.
So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.
St. John 3: 8.
The new birth is immediate and instantaneous.

Amen, amen, I say to you, he who hears my word, and believes him who sent me, has life everlasting, and does not come to judgment, but has passed from death to life.
St. John 24.

The means of the new birth

the new birth is a work of god.

But to as many as received him he gave the power of becoming sons of God;
to those who believe in his name: Who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
St. John 12, 13.

A final word

You may be very religious, a good church member, an upright, honest and sincere person;
you may be baptized, confirmed, reverent and worshipful;
you may attend mass, do penance, say prayers and zealously keep all the sacraments and ceremonies of the church;
you may have the final and extreme unction but if you are not born again you are lost and headed for hell and eternal punishment.
You cannot be saved;
you cannot go to heaven unless you are born again.
Our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, who could not lie, said, "Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (St. John 3: 3).
"You must be born again" (St. John 3: 7).

Being convinced that salvation is alone by accepting Christ as Saviour, and being convicted by the Holy Spirit of my lost condition, I do repent of all effort to be saved by any form of good works, and just now receive Jesus as my personal Saviour and salvation as a free gift from Him.

You may do as you please with God now.
It is permitted.
God placed Himself in men's hands when He sent Jesus Christ into the world as perfect God and perfect Man in one Being.
He was then in man's hands.
They cursed Him.
It was permitted.
Men spit on Him.
God allowed it.
They called Him a devil.
God withheld His wrath.
Finally men arrested Him, gave Him a mock trial, flogged Him, nailed Him on a cross and hung Him between earth and heaven;
and God allowed it.

You can do likewise though Christ is not bodily present.
You can ignore Him.
You can ignore His Book, the Bible, and His church.
You can laugh at His blood-bought salvation, curse His followers, and laugh at hell.
It is permitted.
The eternal Christ may knock at your soul's door, calling you to give up sin and prepare for heaven.
You may refuse Him, spit on Him, call Him a devil, curse Him.
It is permitted.
You may take His name upon your lips in oaths and curses if you so choose.
He is in your hands -- now.

On the other hand, you may seek His favor, humble yourself before Him and beg His mercy, implore His forgiveness, forsake your sins, and abandon your whole life to Him.
He has said, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20::
20).
The choice is up to you.
The latch is on your side of the door.
The choice is yours: the revellings and banquetings of this world or quiet communion with God;
the ever burning lusts of the flesh or the powerful victory of Holy Spirit discipline.
The choice is yours: God is in your hands, now.

God has already set the day when you will be in His hands.
What He does with you then depends on what you do with Him now.
Then it will be a "fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" if you have abused Him in your hands.