In New Book, Nigerian Catholic Priest Argues for Intentional Reconnection with Scripture

Abuja, 29 January, 2026 / 4:07 PM

A Nigerian Catholic Priest has called on Catholics to cultivate deliberate and sustained engagement with Sacred Scripture, warning that biblical reading must move beyond occasional devotion to become a disciplined daily practice.

In his 377-page book titled “366 Bible Tonics,” Fr. Sylvanus Ejeh Ameh outlines practical ways of helping Christians develop a consistent relationship with the Word of God. The publication is structured to encourage daily interaction with Scripture, positioning the Bible not as a distant religious text but as a regular companion in Christian life.

In an interview with ACI Africa on the sidelines of the public presentation of the book in Nigeria’s Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Fr. Ameh explained that the project emerged from his sustained pastoral engagement with ordinary believers and their struggles with Scripture. 

He said the book was inspired by his long-standing commitment to making the Bible accessible, relatable, and meaningful in everyday contexts.

“For a period of 10 years, I was doing daily reflections on scriptures on Facebook,” he told ACI Africa on Wednesday, January 28, noting that the reflections were shared through an online community now known as Catholic Scripture Fans.

According to Fr. Ameh, many Catholics appreciate the importance of Scripture but lack practical frameworks for sustained reading and reflection. “366 Bible Tonics,” he noted, is designed to respond to that gap by offering daily scriptural prompts that foster habit, reflection, and continuity over an entire year.

“Many people have difficulty carrying the Bible to sit down and read; they are always on the go. Some people read, but just for the sake of reading, and they pass,” Fr. Ameh said.

In response, he decided to “take the Bible to them on social media, where they are,” offering short reflections that could be read quickly and reflected upon during the course of a busy day.

Over time, the idea of compiling these reflections into a book began to take shape. While acknowledging the wide reach of social media, Fr. Ameh said he remained conscious of the fact that not everyone is online or comfortable with digital formats.

“There are some people who, when it comes to matters like this, want to have a booklet in their hand where they can actually study God’s Word,” he explained.

The book, he said, was created to meet both digital and non-digital audiences, allowing readers to engage Scripture in a tangible and personal way.

The title 366 Bible Tonics reflects both the structure and the Pastoral intent of the book. 

Fr. Ameh said the number 366 was chosen deliberately to provide one reflection for each day of the year, including leap years. 

“So that when we fall into a leap year, there is no day missing,” he said. 

Each page contains a short scriptural passage followed by a brief reflection, often just a few verses in length, designed to be read and applied daily.

Explaining the choice of the word “tonics,” Fr. Ameh drew a parallel between spiritual life and physical health. 

“Medically, those medicines called tonics are usually immune boosters. And the Word of God is a spiritual immune booster for us as Christians,” he said.

He added that regular engagement with Scripture strengthens believers against spiritual fatigue, fear, and moral weakness, much like tonics strengthen the body against illness.

According to him, the topics covered include anxiety, depression, fear, financial difficulties, family life, social relationships, and the individual journey with God.

“These are practicable things, relatable things, which deal with everyday issues that affect our spiritual wellbeing,” he said.

Fr. Ameh encouraged readers to adopt a disciplined approach by reading one reflection per day, studying the accompanying Scriptures, and making a conscious effort to practice what it teaches. 

“Even if it does not directly touch you, it will indirectly,” he noted.

The Nigerian Catholic Priest explained that 366 Bible Tonics was created to bridge this gap by offering a simple, pocket-friendly resource that can be used even by those who feel too busy to read lengthy passages of Scripture. 

“You don’t need to read an entire chapter of the Bible on a daily basis; even one small verse can make a big difference in your life,” he said.

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When asked to identify a reflection that holds special personal meaning for him, Fr. Ameh pointed to Psalm 69:6, a prayer against scandal. 

The verse, he said, has formed part of his daily prayer after communion for nearly 20 years. 

“The life I live can either draw somebody to God or push somebody away from God,” he explained, adding that the prayer helps him to guard his words, actions, and relationships so as not to become a stumbling block to others.

Looking ahead, Fr. Ameh, who alos serves as the Director of Radio Maria 91.3 FM Abuja, said his hope is that the book will help families, young people, and Parishioners develop the habit of daily Scripture reading. 

“If anybody, by engaging with this book, can build the habit of daily studying God’s Word, my purpose would have been achieved,” he said.

Fr. Ameh added that “Even if the book simply serves as a springboard that leads readers to study the Bible more deeply on their own, it would still fulfill its mission”. 

A copy of 366 Bible Tonics goes for 5,000 Naira (US$3.60).