Here is a simple Catholic Bible study plan for beginners: four weeks, three or four days a week, 20 to 30 minutes each time. Every time you sit down, you pray, read one short passage, write down one thing you noticed, and end with one small response: a prayer, a question, or something to do that day. To start today, you only need a Catholic Bible, a notebook, and a quiet place to read.
Prepare for your four-week Bible study
You need three things: a Catholic Bible, a notebook, and a regular place where you can read in peace. A Catholic Bible has all 73 books, plus short introductions and notes that help you understand each one. If you or your family pray in Spanish, a Spanish Catholic Bible like the Biblia Latinoamericana in large print works just as well with this plan, and its large print is easy on the eyes for parents and grandparents. If you're not sure which one to get, our guide to choosing a Catholic Bible can help you compare, and you can see the formats we have in our Catholic Bible collection.
Pick days and a time you can really keep. Three calm reading days do more than seven rushed ones. Put the time on your calendar, silence your phone, and keep your Bible and notebook together in one spot, so getting started is easy.
Don't worry about doing it perfectly. This plan is only a starting point. If a passage takes longer than you expected, stay with it. If you miss a day, just go on to the next one. The goal isn't to finish pages. It's to spend a few calm minutes with God's word.
Use the same six steps every time you read
- Begin with prayer. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you pay attention, stay humble, and respond. Your own words are enough, or you can use the well-known prayer that begins: “Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.”
- Read the passage once. Notice the people, what they do, words that repeat, things that contrast, and questions that come up.
- Read what comes before and after. Look at the section before and after your passage. The book's introduction and the notes in your Bible tell you what kind of writing it is and when and where it happens.
- Write down one thing you noticed. First write what the passage actually says. Then think about what it means for you.
- Connect it to your faith. Ask yourself what this passage tells you about Jesus, and where you see it in your life, your prayer, or Sunday Mass.
- End with one small step. Write a short prayer, a question you want to look into, or one concrete thing you will do. For example: “Jesus, help me be patient with my family today.”
These six steps take 20 to 30 minutes. After a week or two, you'll do them without looking at the list.
Week one: Meet Jesus in the Gospel of Mark
Don't try to read the Bible from the first page to the last. Start with a Gospel. Mark tells the story in a short, direct way: what Jesus said and did, who he is, his death, and his resurrection.
Here are your four reading days:
- Day 1: Read Mark 1. See how Jesus announces the Kingdom of God and calls his disciples.
- Day 2: Read Mark 2:1-17. Notice how healing, forgiveness, and the call of Levi go together.
- Day 3: Read Mark 4:1-34. Compare the parables and ask what each one says about hearing and receiving God's word.
- Day 4: Read Mark 8:27-38. Notice what Peter says about who Jesus is, what Jesus teaches about the cross, and what it costs to follow him.
At the end of the week, write three sentences: who Jesus is in these passages, what he asks of the people who follow him, and one question you want to keep exploring. You don't have to figure everything out at once. A good question can guide your reading for the next month.
Week two: Follow the early Church in Acts
The Acts of the Apostles tells what happened after Jesus rose: his mission keeps going through the Holy Spirit and the Church. This week helps you connect your own reading with worship, community, sharing your faith, and making good decisions.
Here are your four reading days:
- Day 1: Read Acts 1. Look for the promise of the Holy Spirit, the mission of the apostles, and how the community prays together.
- Day 2: Read Acts 2:1-47. Notice what happens at Pentecost, and then how the first Christians lived their life together.
- Day 3: Read Acts 9:1-31. Follow Saul's story: his encounter with Jesus, his conversion, his baptism, and his first steps sharing the faith.
- Day 4: Read Acts 15:1-35. Notice how the Church handles a disagreement: they listen, weigh it together, make a decision, and let everyone know.
At the end of the week, write one way your faith is personal and one way you live it with others. Acts reminds you that reading the Bible isn't something you do alone. It leads you to prayer, the sacraments, serving others, and life with other believers.
Week three: Learn the language of prayer and wisdom
The Psalms give you words for praise, sadness, saying sorry to God, trust, fear, and thanks. The wisdom books help you look at your habits, your choices, your relationships, and how to live a faithful life. Read slowly, because poems and proverbs don't work like a story.
Here are your four reading days:
- Day 1: Read Psalms 1 and 23. Compare their pictures: a tree with deep roots, a path, and a shepherd.
- Day 2: Read Psalm 51. Look for the confession of sin, God's mercy, a fresh start, and the wish for a faithful heart.
- Day 3: Read Psalm 139. Notice how the writer responds to a God who knows him and is always with him.
- Day 4: Read Proverbs 3:1-12 and Wisdom 7:7-14. Compare everyday trust in God with the wish for wisdom.
After each reading, turn one verse or picture into a short prayer of your own. For example, after Psalm 23 you could pray: “Lord, be my shepherd today.” A proverb isn't a promise that something will always happen. Read it as wise advice that helps you judge well, together with the rest of the Bible.
Week four: Connect Scripture with the Sunday liturgy
For the last week, read this coming Sunday's Mass readings ahead of time: the First Reading, the Psalm, the Second Reading, and the Gospel. You can find them on the US bishops' daily readings page. The link is at the end of this guide.
Here are your four reading days:
- Day 1: Read the Sunday Gospel. Sum up the scene, the main thing that happens, and how Jesus invites people to respond.
- Day 2: Read the First Reading and the Psalm. Look for something they share: an image, a promise, a conflict, or words of praise.
- Day 3: Read the Second Reading. Find what it teaches or asks of the Christian community.
- Day 4: After Mass, read all the readings again. Write one connection you noticed when you heard them or during the homily, and one question you still have.
The Mass readings are short passages chosen from different books, so they don't replace reading each book as a whole. Think of Sunday Mass as a doorway. When a reading catches your attention or confuses you, go back to the full chapter and the book's introduction during your own reading time.
Adapt the plan without losing its purpose
Only have 10 minutes? Pray, read a short passage twice, and write one sentence. Have 45 minutes? Add a second reading, the notes, and the cross-references, which are the other verses your Bible points you to. Reading with a group? Agree on the passage before you meet, and keep the conversation on what the text says.
For your own reading, use a Catholic translation approved by the Church. You'll find the list of approved translations at the end of this guide. A study Bible, a parish class, or a trusted Catholic commentary can help with hard passages. If a passage leaves you with a question about your faith, ask at your parish. Your priest or a catechist will be glad to help.
Continue after four weeks
When the four weeks are over, look back through your notebook and see what helped you most. You could keep going through Mark, read another Gospel, follow the Sunday readings, or pick one Old Testament book with a good guide. Keep the same simple rhythm: pray, read, notice, understand, respond, and come back.
For your next step, the US bishops' guide to understanding the Bible and their Bible study materials can help; both links are at the end. A flexible plan works when it helps you meet God in his word and carry it into your life with the Church.
A Bible, a rosary and a candle for your reading time
A large print Catholic Bible for your four weeks, a rosary for prayer and a candle for your quiet reading spot.
Arrives in 2 to 4 days. Free shipping on orders over $35.
Common questions about Catholic Bible study
How do you study the Catholic Bible?
Start and end with prayer. Use a Catholic Bible with introductions and notes, and read each passage with what comes before and after it, so you know what kind of writing it is and the time and place it comes from. Read it with the faith of the Church, and then respond with prayer, worship, serving others, or one concrete change in your life.
Where should a Catholic beginner start in the Bible?
Start with one Gospel, like Mark or Luke, and read it a little at a time. Then go on to Acts, some of the Psalms, and other books. Reading one whole book gives you much more context than opening to random verses each day.
How often should a Catholic read the Bible?
The Church encourages you to read the Bible regularly as part of your prayer, but this four-week schedule isn't a rule for everyone. Choose a rhythm you can keep. Three or four unhurried reading days a week can help you build a strong habit, and you can add the daily Mass readings if they help your prayer.
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