Why do Catholics use the Bible in worship?

Answer 1

The Bible is what the priest uses at the altar to say the mass. God is present in the bible (and thus it is revered) he instructed his disciples to proclaim his word everywhere. The bible is the truth and the truth is not afraid to be seen by anyone for it is an "open book".

The book placed on the altar is not a Bible but a Sacramentary which is the book containing the prayers said at Mass by the priest. The other book used during Mass is the Missal which contains the scripture readings for each Mass of the year. The Missal usually is placed on the ambo - pulpit.

Answer 2

Roman Catholic AnswerCatholics use the Bible as it is the Word of God, it is the Church's book: the Catholic Church wrote the Bible, and all of It's doctrine and belief is contained therein. There is nothing in the Bible that contradicts Catholicism, nor vice versa. The Bible is primarily the Word of God, and God is It's primary author. Sacred Scripture is covered in articles 101-144 in the Catechism; see also the document Dei Verbum from Vatican Council II.

from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

101 In order to reveal himself to men, in the condescension of his goodness God speaks to them in human words: "Indeed the words of God, expressing the words of men, are in every way like human language, just as the Word of the eternal Father, when he took on himself the flesh of human weakness, became like men." (Dei Verbum 63)

103 For this reason, the Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerate the Lord's Body. She never cease to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God's Word and Christ's Body. (Cf. Dei Verbum 21)

107 The inspired books teach the truth. "Since therefore all that the inspired authors or sacred writers affirm should be regarded as affirmed by the Holy Spirit, we must acknowledge that the books of Scripture firmly, faithfully, and without errorteach truth which God, for the sake of our salvation, wished to see confided to the Sacred Scriptures." (Dei Verbum 11) {emphasis mine}

108 Still, the Christian faith is not a "religion of the book." Christianity is the religion of the "Word" of God, a word which is "not a written and mute word, but the Word which is incarnate and living." (St. Bernard, S. Missus est hom. 4,11; J.P. Migne, ed., Patrologia Latinia {Paris: 1841-1855} 183, 86) If the Scriptures are not to remain a dead letter, Christ, the eternal Word of the living God, must, through the Holy Spirit, "open [our] minds to understand the Scriptures." (Cf. Lk24:45)