By Dr. Scott Hahn

I've written or edited nearly two dozen books over the years, but I've never seen anything like the reception to my latest, Understanding the Scriptures: A Complete Course on Bible Study.

Following a talk I gave recently, literally hundreds of copies were sold. There's no other word to describe it - people were excited.

One mother of six later told me that her 15-year-old stayed up all night reading it, and she hasn't stopped talking about it since: "My teenager, now, is falling in love with Scripture."

I'm so grateful for the response.Understanding the Scriptures is a book that's very close to my heart. In fact, I believe this is my most important work.

I wanted to write at a level that a high school-age student could understand but to communicate truths as deep as any adult Catholic can go.

I've long felt that ordinary Catholics deserve a comprehensive introduction to the Bible, a single book that can serve as a reference and guide to the treasures of God's Word.

The Church fathers at Vatican II encouraged the development of Catholic study Bibles - with footnotes, commentaries, and other aides to explain the texts. I'm proud to be the editor of one, The Ignatius Study Bible, along with Center associate Curtis Mitch.

But there's also a great need for a basic text that explains what the Bible is, where it comes from, and how we should read it as Catholics.

One of my favorite stories from the early Church is that of Philip and the man he meets on the road to Gaza (see Acts 8:26-39). The man is reading Isaiah and Philip asks him: "Do you understand what you are reading?" And the man replies: "How can I, unless someone guides me?"

The Bible is a big - and often intimidating - book. And certainly, I'm the most unworthy of guides. But that's why God gave us the Scriptures in the Church. With the successors of Philip to guide us, we can never go wrong.

That's what I'm trying to do in Understanding the Scriptures - to bring the widsom and guidance of the Church to a new generation of believers.

Now I need your help. I want to get this book into the hands of every Catholic - but especially students. Please consider making it a "back to school" gift for any high-school or college students, not to mention RCIA candidates and adult education students.

I strongly believe that this book has the potential not only to inform, but to inspire - to make God's Word come alive and to spark a new desire to study and live that Word more fully. I keep thinking of that man Philip explained the Scriptures to: After being baptized, "He went on his way rejoicing!"

July 2005