Catholic All Week

The Bible – already the best-selling book of all time with more than 5 billion copies estimated sold – is seeing a huge increase in interest. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Bible sales rose 22% in the U.S. through October 2024 compared with the same period last year, according to book tracker Circana BookScan. Among Catholics, some of that increase can be attributed to the popularity of Minnesota priest Father Mike Schmitz’s “Bible in a Year” podcast, the release of beautiful new editions from Ignatius Press and the prevalence of study editions that help readers better connect the dots between the Old and New Testaments. If reading more of the Bible was on your New Year’s resolution list, here is some advice on where to start and some ideas to make it easier.

Which version do I choose?

There are many versions of the Bible, but not all of them are approved by the Catholic Church. Since 1983, Church law has given the authority to approve translations of sacred Scriptures to the Apostolic See (the Church’s central government, led by the pope) and local bishops’ conferences. Prior to 1983, translations could be approved by the Apostolic See or by a local ordinary, usually a bishop or vicar general. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops maintains a comprehensive list of translations that have been approved since 1983. These include well-known versions such as the New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, as well as some you may not be as familiar with, such as The Grail Psalter (Inclusive Language Version).

What books are in the Bible?

One reason why selecting a Catholic edition of the Bible is crucial is ensuring that it contains the proper translations of the right books. There are differences between Protestant and Catholic Bibles that are as foundational as what is in them. While almost all versions agree on the 27 books in the New Testament, the Old Testament varies. Protestant Bibles have only 39 books, while Catholic Bibles add seven more: Tobit, Judith, 1 and 2 Maccabees, Wisdom, Sirach and Baruch. Additionally, there are sections of the books of Esther and Daniel that are only found in Catholic Bibles. These books are called the deuterocanonical books. The Catholic Church believes these books are inspired by the Holy Spirit and includes them.

How do I read it?

Reading the Bible should be approached differently than reading any other book. Theologians suggest beginning your Bible study with a prayer to open your heart to God’s Word and ending with another asking God to allow what you read to impact the way you live. They also suggest not rushing through the passages, but taking the time to prayerfully meditate on the words you are reading to understand how they relate to our time and your life. Finally, you don’t need to read the Bible alone. Join a Catholic Bible study group in your parish or community, find an app you like to read along with friends, or even take a quiz through the USCCB site for a playful twist on learning.

 

Catholic All Week

The Epiphany of the Lord, which in 2025 will be celebrated on Jan. 5 in the United States, celebrates the revelation to the Gentiles that Jesus is the Son of God through the visit of the Magi, or Three Wise Men. In the Eastern tradition where the feast originated, Epiphany – or Theophany as it is called there – commemorates the visit of the Magi, the baptism of Jesus, and the wedding at Cana. In the Western Church, the celebration primarily focuses on the visit of the Magi. As the rest of the world all-too-rapidly moves past the beauty of Christmas, Epiphany gives us more time to reflect on how Jesus is made manifest in our own homes and lives.

Let us eat cake

King Cake, also known as Three Kings Cake, is a culinary treat associated with Epiphany in many countries. Although the ingredients vary widely, almost all have a fève, or small trinket, hidden inside that represents the Magi’s search for the Christ Child. The fève itself varies from country to country, ranging from a bean, coin or almond to a small figure of the infant Jesus. The person who finds the fève traditionally gets a prize. While most of us in the United States associate King Cake with Mardi Gras, the dessert is traditionally served from Epiphany through Carnival in Louisiana. Bake your own version with recipes found at Catholic Cuisine.

Come bearing gifts

The Three Wise Men brought gifts to the Christ Child, and in many cultures, the tradition of giving gifts on this day continues. Just as the gifts of the Magi had deeper meanings, consider a gift that speaks to your family and faith. Gold, a symbol of wealth and power, identifies the recipient as a king. Frankincense, the crystallized sap of a tree used as incense and as an offering, is symbolic of prayer. Myrrh, another resinous tree sap, was used in healing and as an embalming ointment. This gift foreshadowed Jesus’ death. Some families and cultures have a custom of giving three gifts to reflect these biblical offerings.

Bless your home

Did you know that it’s traditional to bless your home on Epiphany? This practice stems from the biblical reference to the three kings entering the home where the Holy Family was staying to worship the Christ Child. Start with a short service that you can find online here. Then use blessed chalk to write the letters C, M and B plus the year above your home’s main entrance or interior doors in this format: 20 + C + M + B + 25. The + represents the cross while the letters are the initials of the three Magi: Caspar, Melchior and Balthazar. They are also an abbreviation for the Latin “Christus mansionem benedicat,” which means: “May Christ bless the house.” It’s a beautiful way to usher in a New Year filled with blessings.

 

Catholic All Week

The idea of pilgrimage is central to the upcoming Jubilee Year of Hope. Pilgrimages represent a journey of spiritual renewal. Visiting holy sites enables people to interact closely with places of historical religious significance – deepening their connection with God and experiencing a sense of community with fellow believers who are walking the same literal and spiritual path. However, there are times when health, finances or life circumstances prevent people from making a physical pilgrimage. Here are a few sites on the Jubilee Year itineraries that you don’t have to leave home to experience, thanks to their innovative online presences:

The largest church in the world

According to tradition, the tomb in which the Apostle Peter was buried after his crucifixion was on the highest point of Vatican Hill. It was on that spot that Emperor Constantine built St. Peter’s Basilica in the fourth century in what is now Vatican City. Many of the greatest artists in history – Bramante, Raphael and Michelangelo – were involved in the construction and decoration of this structure, the largest church in the world. The Vatican recently teamed up with Microsoft to create a stunningly accurate 3D basilica replica powered by artificial intelligence. It combines more than 400,000 photos into a seamless virtual experience through which you can see every inch of the holy space – including intricate details most visitors would never see in person.

The oldest western Marian shrine

According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared in a dream to the Patrician John and Pope Liberius, telling them to build a church on the spot where she would cause snow to fall. On the morning of Aug. 5, 358, snow was seen on the Esquiline Hill, outlining the perimeter of what was to become the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major in Rome. The basilica is home to one of the most important Marian icons, the “Salus Populi Romani” (“Our Lady Savior of the Roman People”). Tradition attributes the artwork to St. Luke the Evangelist, patron of painters. Pope Francis visits the icon before and after his apostolic journeys. The relic of the holy crib – the bedding on which the baby Jesus was laid – is under the papal altar, and the mortal remains of St. Matthew and St. Jerome are in this church. The basilica offers in-depth descriptions and photos as well as a podcast discussing many of its treasures on its website.

The mother of all churches

The Archbasilica of the Most Holy Savior and of Sts. John the Baptist and the Evangelist, better known as St. John Lateran, is the Catholic cathedral of the Diocese of Rome – making it the official seat of its bishop, Pope Francis. It is the oldest of the four papal basilicas and stands over the ruins of a Roman cavalry fort. From the 4th to the 14th century, St. John Lateran was the seat of the papacy, thus becoming the symbol and the heart of the Church’s life. It was also the site of the original Holy Door. Today, online visitors can take a virtual reality tour of the world’s only archbasilica on the Vatican’s website or see it in one of countless online video tours.