Table of Contents
Faith Formation for Everyone
Each year of Faith Formation for Everyone has a theme. This year we will explore the Bible. It is sometimes wrongly said that Catholics do not value the Bible, or that they don’t understand it. But that is not true. Every aspect of our liturgical celebrations are loaded with biblical verses and references.
How is it we should use the Bible? How is it we should pray with it? What do we believe about the Bible? And what does it tell us about our relationship with God? For we believe the Bible is the Word of God, and so what is it that God is trying to tell us?
Thursday, December 4, 2025
We continue our exploration of Dei Verbum, the Vatican II document on revelation. We also apply some of Dei Verbum to the book of Genesis.
Thursday, November 6, 2025
The Second Vatican Council took up the question of how God speaks to us, the topic of Revelation. The major document it produced was called Dei Verbum. This is the first of two sessions on this important document.
Dei Verbum Document and Audio
Thursday, October 2, 2025
How is it we got the bible? What are the manuscripts that were translated into the bible we have today? This session explores the ways in which the bible came to be, and provides interesting background in what biblical literature looks like.
Thursday, September 4, 2025 – Introduction to the Bible
The Bible used at Mass
Go into any bookstore, and you will see all types of bibles. How do you know which ones to use? Are they all the same, or are there differences? And if so, how do I tell which bible is the best for me? Does the Catholic Church have a preference for the bibles used?
From the USCCB we read the following. “Since May 19, 2002, the revised Lectionary, based on the New American Bible is the only English-language Lectionary that may be used at Mass in the dioceses of the United States, except for the current Lectionary for Masses with Children which remains in use.
The 1970 edition of the New American Bible is used in the Scripture readings and canticles of the Liturgy of the Hours (except the Benedictus, Magnificat, and Nunc dimittis.)”
Approved bibles for private use
For private use, the list of bibles is longer. Below is the list provided by the USCCB.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law entrusts to the Apostolic See and the episcopal conferences the authority to approve translations of the Sacred Scriptures in the Latin Catholic Church (c. 825, §1). Prior to 1983, Scriptural translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary within a diocese.
What follows is a complete list of the translations of the Sacred Scriptures that have received the approval of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops since 1983.
In addition to the translations listed below, any translation of the Sacred Scriptures that has received proper ecclesiastical approval ‒ namely, by the Apostolic See or a local ordinary prior to 1983, or by the Apostolic See or an episcopal conference following 1983 ‒ may be used by the Catholic faithful for private prayer and study.
Books of the New Testament, Alba House
Contemporary English Version – New Testament, First Edition, American Bible Society
Contemporary English Version – Book of Psalms, American Bible Society
Contemporary English Version – Book of Proverbs, American Bible Society
The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version), G.I.A. Publications
New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE)
New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, National Council of Churches
The Psalms, Alba House
The Psalms (New International Version) – St. Joseph Catholic Edition, Catholic Book Publishing Company
The Psalms – St. Joseph New Catholic Version, Catholic Book Publishing Company
Revised Psalms of the New American Bible (1991)
So You May Believe, A Translation of the Four Gospels, Alba House
Good News Translation (Today’s English Version, Second Edition), American Bible SocietyTranslation for Early Youth, A Translation of the New Testament for Children, Contemporary English Version, American Bible Society
On the friar, you can listen to our homilies (based on the readings of the day) and reflections. You can also ask us to pray for you or to pray for others. You can subscribe to our website to be informed whenever we publish an update. You can subscribe to our podcasts on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.
