To know a Bible is Catholic, open the first pages and look for the words "Catholic Edition" or a Church approval. A Catholic Bible also has 73 books, seven more than most Protestant Bibles. In English, the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) is widely used in the United States, and in Spanish, the Biblia Latinoamericana is the most widely used in Mexico and Latin America. Then choose a Catholic Bible in the right size for how you'll use it: daily prayer, large print for a grandparent, or a gift for a baptism, First Communion, quinceañera, or wedding.
What makes a Bible Catholic? The 73 books
The quickest way to tell is the table of contents. A Catholic Bible has 73 books: 46 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. Most Protestant Bibles have 66, because they leave out seven Old Testament books that the Catholic Church has always accepted as the word of God.
These seven are called the deuterocanonical books:
- Tobit
- Judith
- Wisdom
- Sirach, also called Ecclesiasticus
- Baruch
- 1 Maccabees
- 2 Maccabees
A Catholic Bible also has extra passages in Daniel and Esther. So when you pick up a Bible, flip to the contents and look for these books. Then check the first pages for "Catholic Edition" or a Church approval.
These books are worth getting to know. They hold some of the most loved stories in the Bible, like young Tobias and the angel Raphael, or the brave mother and her sons in Second Maccabees.
Approved Catholic Bible translations in English
Not every translation is approved for Catholic use, so check this first. An approved Catholic Bible shows Church approval on its first pages, usually on the back of the title page. Look for the Latin terms "Nihil Obstat" and "Imprimatur" and a bishop's name. That's the Church's seal of approval. You can also check the translation on the bishops' list of approved translations.
Good approved options in English:
- New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), widely used by Catholics in the United States.
- New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, a careful translation that's easy to read.
- Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, valued for its dignified, traditional language.
If you're not sure, the U.S. bishops keep a list of approved translations (the link is at the end of this guide). A Bible that isn't clearly Catholic may be missing seven books, so check both: the approval and the table of contents.
So which one should you pick? The NABRE uses clear, modern American English, close to what many U.S. Catholics hear at Mass. The Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition has a more traditional, formal style that many people find beautiful for study and prayer. The New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition sits in between. All three are faithful Catholic Bibles, so choose the one whose language makes you want to read and pray more often.
Catholic Bibles in Spanish (Biblia católica en español)
For many of our families, the Bible that feels like home is in Spanish. Several Spanish editions have Church approval. Any of them is a good choice, as long as it shows that approval and has all 73 books.
The most widely used in Mexico and across Latin America is the Biblia Latinoamericana, sometimes called the Biblia Latinoamérica. It first came out in the early 1970s. It has a Nihil Obstat and an Imprimatur, includes all 73 books, and uses Spanish that's easy to understand. That's why so many parish Bible groups use it. There are also newer approved translations, including one prepared by the bishops of Latin America for the Spanish speaking Church.
If your family reads along at Mass or in a prayer group, ask which edition your parish uses, so your Bible matches what you hear. For a gift, a Spanish Catholic Bible with a beautiful cover and the person's name written inside is a keepsake as much as a book. What matters most is that it shows Church approval and has all 73 books.
At Nuestra Fe we specialize in Spanish Catholic Bibles and gift Bibles for sacraments, and we're happy to help you choose. Our Spanish Bible with a metallic Guadalupe cover has an approved Catholic text and a design that honors Our Lady. The Biblia Latinoamericana in large print is a favorite with readers who want bigger, easier type.
How to choose a Catholic Bible for the way you'll use it
Once you know the Bible is Catholic, think about how you'll use it. That tells you the size, the print, and the edition to get.
For daily prayer and study
If you'll read every day, look for clear type, good footnotes or a short introduction to each book, and a cover that can take daily handling. Here a ribbon marker and a strong binding matter more than a fancy finish.
Large print for grandparents
For older eyes, large print (letra grande) is a real gift. It lets grandparents keep reading the Bible comfortably, without straining, for many years. A larger, lighter edition that lies flat is easier to hold during long prayer times. Look for a big font, good space between the lines, and paper that doesn't let the words from the other side show through.
Gift Bibles for sacraments
Many Bibles are given as gifts for a sacrament, and they're meant to be kept for life. A gift Bible often comes with a special cover, a gift box, and a page to write the person's name and the date. A short dedication is enough, for example: "For Sofía, on her First Communion, May 9, 2027. With love, your padrinos." If your family prays in Spanish, you can write it in Spanish: "Para Sofía, en su Primera Comunión, 9 de mayo de 2027. Con cariño, tus padrinos." The most common occasions:
- Baptism, often given by the godparents as the child's first Bible.
- First Communion, a lasting keepsake from the padrinos or grandparents.
- Quinceañera, presented and blessed as a sign of faith.
- Wedding, given to the couple so they build their home on the word of God.
Shopping for a First Communion gift? Our guide for parents on planning First Communion shows how the Bible goes together with the candle and the rosary.
The quinceañera Bible and the wedding Bible
Two Hispanic traditions give the gift Bible a special place: the quinceañera and the Catholic wedding.
At a quinceañera, the young woman celebrates her fifteenth birthday with a special blessing. She often renews her baptismal promises, and then she may receive blessed signs of faith, such as a medal, a Bible, a rosary, or a prayer book. A beautiful quinceañera Bible becomes a keepsake of the day she made her faith her own. Our gold quinceañera Bible is made for exactly this moment.
At a Catholic wedding, the padrinos de biblia y rosario give the couple a Bible and a rosary, a sign that they will build their marriage on prayer and Scripture. You can read more about these sponsors in our guide to Catholic wedding traditions. Our gold accented wedding Bible with Our Lady of Guadalupe is made to be handed over on the wedding day and kept for a lifetime.
Helpful features to look for inside
Besides the translation and the cover, a few details make a Bible easier to pray with and to study.
- Footnotes and book introductions that explain the background of each book and help with hard passages.
- Cross references in the margins that connect related verses.
- Maps and a short concordance to help you find people, places, and themes.
- A ribbon marker, or two, to keep your place in daily reading.
- Clear type and a layout that doesn't feel cramped.
A Bible with good notes teaches you as you read. That's a big help if you're growing in your faith or coming back to the Bible after some time away.
Cover materials and quality
A Bible you plan to keep deserves a cover that lasts. When you compare editions, look at how it's made, not only how it looks.
- Metallic and gold accented covers make a striking gift and hold up well if you handle them gently.
- Imitation leather and hardcovers are durable and comfortable to hold.
- Gilded page edges add beauty and make the Bible feel like a true keepsake.
- A gift box protects the Bible and makes it a proper present for a sacrament.
- A binding that opens flat without cracking, so the Bible lasts for years.
Our sacramental Bibles are made with the same care as the rest of our keepsakes: their details are made in Mexico, on editions made to be treasured.
Caring for your Bible
A good Bible can last for generations with a little care.
- Keep it away from moisture, heat, and direct sun, which fade and warp covers.
- Handle it with clean, dry hands, and teach children to do the same.
- Use the ribbon marker instead of folding page corners.
- Store it standing up on a shelf or lying flat, never crammed or bent.
- Write the name and date on the gift page, so it becomes a family heirloom with a story.
With that little bit of care, a well made Bible can pass from parent to child. Along the way it collects underlines, holy cards, and quiet memories, until it becomes one of your family's most treasured things.
Catholic Bibles and rosaries to pray with and to give
Spanish Catholic Bibles for daily reading, large print and sacrament gifts, with a rosary to pray alongside them.
Arrives in 2 to 4 days. Free shipping on orders over $35.
Frequently asked questions about Catholic Bibles
What is the difference between a Catholic Bible and a Protestant Bible?
A Catholic Bible has 73 books, and most Protestant Bibles have 66. The difference is seven Old Testament books: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and 1 and 2 Maccabees, plus extra passages in Daniel and Esther. The Catholic Church has always accepted these books as the word of God, so a true Catholic Bible includes them.
Which Catholic Bible translation is best in English?
There's no single best one. Good approved choices are the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE), widely used in the United States, and the Catholic editions of the Revised Standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version. Choose based on whether you like more traditional or more modern language, and make sure it says Catholic Edition or shows Church approval.
What is the best Catholic Bible in Spanish?
The Biblia Latinoamericana is the most widely used Catholic Bible in Mexico and Latin America. It has Church approval, all 73 books, and Spanish that's easy to understand, which is why so many parish groups use it. Other approved Spanish editions are also good, as long as they show Church approval and have all 73 books.
What Bible do you give for a quinceañera?
A quinceañera Bible is a keepsake edition, often with a special cover and a gift box, that is presented and blessed during the celebration. She may also receive other blessed signs of faith, like a rosary, a medal, or a prayer book. Many families choose a Spanish Catholic Bible with an elegant cover she will keep for life.
Why does a Catholic Bible have more books?
A Catholic Bible keeps seven books that were part of the Scriptures the early Church used. Most Protestant Bibles set them aside later, during the Reformation. The Catholic Church kept them, so a Catholic Bible still has the 73 books Christians had long used.
What version of the Bible do Catholics use?
Catholics use an approved Catholic edition with all 73 books. In English, common choices are the New American Bible Revised Edition (NABRE) and the Catholic editions of the Revised Standard Version and the New Revised Standard Version. In Spanish, the Biblia Latinoamericana is widely used. Look for "Catholic Edition" or Church approval on the first pages.
What are the 7 extra books in the Catholic Bible called?
They are called the deuterocanonical books: Tobit, Judith, Wisdom, Sirach, Baruch, and First and Second Maccabees. A Catholic Bible also has extra passages in Daniel and Esther. The Catholic Church has always accepted these books as the word of God, which is why a Catholic Bible has 73 books and most Protestant Bibles have 66.
Do Catholics use the King James Bible?
Generally, no. The King James Version is a Protestant translation, and most editions leave out the seven deuterocanonical books, so it isn't on the list of translations approved for Catholic use. For prayer and study, the Church recommends an approved Catholic edition with all 73 books, like the NABRE in English or the Biblia Latinoamericana in Spanish.
Find the right Bible for your family
Whether you need a Bible for daily prayer, a large print edition for a grandparent, or a keepsake for a sacrament, we're glad to help you choose. Explore our Catholic Bibles collection, with Spanish editions and sacramental gift Bibles made to be read, prayed, and passed down.
Sources