Bible for Catholics

Bible for Catholics gives you the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Bible, a translation by Ronald L. Conte Jr. drawn from the Latin Vulgate and guided by the Douay-Rheims. It includes the full Old and New Testaments, with the books a Catholic Bible should have.

You read the Scriptures straight through or jump to a book and chapter. Because it follows the Vulgate tradition, you will notice small differences from the New American Bible you hear at Mass, including the older Psalm numbering. The translation is in the public domain, which is why the app can give it away.

I like that it is upfront about being a particular translation rather than pretending to be the only one. Reading a familiar passage in slightly different words can make you slow down and notice what it actually says. For anyone who enjoys comparing translations, having the CPDV on your phone is a nice thing to have.

It is a good fit for Catholics who want a complete Catholic Bible at no cost, for people curious about the Vulgate and Douay-Rheims line of translations, or for anyone who likes to read one version against another. The text is all there and easy to move around in.

Set your expectations on the reading, not the trimmings. This is a straightforward Bible reader without study notes, audio, or reading plans, and the design is simple. The CPDV is also a one-person translation, so it is best treated as a companion to the approved version you use at Mass rather than a replacement for it.

It is free, from developer greg fairbrother. You can find it here on the App Store: Bible for Catholics. A solid free Catholic Bible for plain reading and comparison.