The Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version : Catholic Edition [Paperback]

Brian Singer-Towns (Editor), Michael O'Neill McGrath (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 2000

Over 650 lively articles draw on the most current biblical scholarship and combine with the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible to address the interests and real-life concerns of today's Catholic young people. The Catholic Youth Bible is designed to help adolescents and young adults:

* answer life's important questions
* see themselves as a vital part of God's saving work in the world
* make connections to Catholic beliefs and traditions
* read the Bible regularly
* study the Bible, pray the Bible, live the Bible!

Attractively designed in two colors, The Catholic Youth Bible includes many engaging, insightful, and inspiring features: * introductions to important biblical people
* background information about the culture and traditions of biblical times
* articles that trace the biblical roots of many Catholic beliefs and practices
* articles that share African American, Asian American, Hispanic and Latino American, and Native American cultural experiences, religious symbols, prayers, and poetry related to the Bible
* articles that help the reader use the Bible for personal prayer
* articles that apply the Bible's messages to relevant situations young people face now over seventy illustrations throughout the Bible
* eight reading plans
* four special indexes to events, people, and teachings; sacrament connections; life and faith issues; and article subjects
* nine full-color maps
* two full-color timelines of biblical and historical events
* twenty-three full-color photographs of biblical places and multicultural images of Jesus

Editorial Reviews

Review

Catholics have lagged behind [Protestants] in making the Bible attractive and accessible to ordinary Christians of any age. Fortunately, . . . things are changing with this Christian Brothers publication [from Saint Mary's Press].

The core of The Catholic Youth Bible is not new; rather it is simply the Catholic edition of the New Revised Standard Version, which has been authorized by the NCCB and the Catholic bishops of Canada. The innovations come in the format and special features of the Bible, designed to attract young people and encourage them to read the text for themselves. . . . this paperback is a colossal bargain at $27.95. -- Church, Winter 1999

One biblical scholar . . . said The Catholic Youth Bible marked the first time since the First Vatican Counciland perhaps everthat a publisher had produced a complete Catholic Bible for youths.

Saint Mary's Press decided to undertake such a monumental project because The Catholic Youth Bible more thoroughly reflected [its] core values than perhaps any previous project . . . to share the good news of Jesus with young people.

Since kids were the targeted readership, they were the ones Saint Marys Press turned to in determining how to present the material in the Bible. The question uppermost in the minds of researchers was: What happens when kids read the Bible?

What they discovered from teen focus groups is that young people often find the Bible overwhelming and intimidating. So the Bibles architects devised a series of aids geared to help young people navigate it. -- Winona Daily News, December 19, 1999

Speaking of Bible study programs, three cheers for The Catholic Youth Bible. This is, without question, the best edition of the Bible ever produced for Catholic youth. I hardly know where to begin to describe it. The Catholic Youth Bible includes advice for interpreting the Bible from a Catholic perspective; articles to help the reader understand culture and traditions and how these affect the biblical documents and their interpretation; Catholic Connections articles that explain the scriptural roots of Catholic tradition and beliefs; and multi-cultural articles to reflect African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic and Latino, and Native American cultural experiences, symbols, prayers and poetry related to the Bible. You need to see it for yourself, thats all there is to it. The Catholic Youth Bible is the ultimate resource to give Catholic youth familiarity with the Scriptures. -- Mitch Finley, The Catechists Connection, March 2000 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Publisher

For many years Saint Mary's Press has listened to an outpouring of requests to publish a Bible for Catholic teenagers. Working with the foremost experts in education, biblical studies, and youth ministry, we have spent the last four years creating The Catholic Youth Bible. The Catholic Youth Bible has been long awaited--and there has never been a Bible like this before!

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 1576 pages
• Publisher: St Marys Pr; Revised edition (February 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0884894894
• ISBN-13: 978-0884894896
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #224,338 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Teens > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reading Worthy of its Readers!, April 14, 2000

By 

Virginia Smith (Billings, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version : Catholic Edition (Paperback)

Having taught scripture classes to Catholic high school seniors for years, I'm delighted, but not surprised, at the quality of "The Catholic Youth Bible". I'm delighted because, while it does not bill itself as a study Bible, the new CYB contains a host of short inserts, maps, and articles reflecting contemporary scripture scholarship. These are presented palatably both visually and linguistically. Its young readers will find in their hands an incomparable tool which will not only assist them in growing in their understanding of and relationship to God, but will teach them so much of what they need in order to live as responsible Catholic Christians in an increasingly complex world. Too often, these bright young minds are woefully underestimated. Even textbooks frequently dish up large servings of "whipped cream" where nourishing "meat and potatoes" are needed. The CYB provides a world of nourishing fare, laid out in invitingly tasty fashion. Earlier, I said I was not surprised that this is so. That is due to long experience with Saint Mary's Press. Early in my teaching career, I learned religious studies texts could be ordered with complete confidence sight unseen from the folks in Winona. The quality is that good, and it rarely wavers. This was definitely the publisher to take on this daunting task, and once again, Saint Mary's Press more than rose to the occasion. hing

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Catholic Youth Bible is awesome!!!, July 23, 2004

By 

Mary Magdalene "jesus freak" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version : Catholic Edition (Paperback)

I am a 15 year old Catholic, and to be perfectly honest, I had never really read the Bible. Yes, I hear it in Mass and in Religious Education, but reading the Bible on my own was just plain difficult before I got the Catholic Youth Bible. It breaks down the different parts of the Bible so that I can understand the differences between the books of the Bible, so that I can choose what it is I want to read. It also explains passages, prayers, and stories that I never knew were so important. It has sections entitled "PRAY IT!" "STUDY IT!" and "LIVE IT!" that explain how to use the words from the Bible to live better lives as Catholics. I have a much better understanding of basic things such as the LORD'S PRAYER!!! Now, every Catholic knows the Lord's prayer by heart but how many of us teens truly understand what each line means and what we should be thinking about when we pray it?? When the prayer appears in the book of Matthew, the CYB picks apart the prayer line by line and explains what significance the prayer should have in our lives and what the lines mean.I would go on forever about how great this Bible is, and how much it has made me grow in spirituality and understanding of Biblical teachings, but we would be here all day. So just buy it yourself!!! It is worth EVERY penny!!!

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Discoveries With Each Reading, April 11, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Catholic Youth Bible: New Revised Standard Version : Catholic Edition (Paperback)

It makes me hungry to feast at the biblical banquet! I like the conversational teaching tone used in special features, the index to locate events and people in the life of Jesus, and the articles that guide a reader to apply the message to real life situations.

This volume truly appeals to youth. Several people I know who purchased The Catholic Youth Bible as a Confirmation gift said the young recipients were enthusiastic about having so much to choose from in one book.

Adults new in their study of scripture are also drawn to the translation, the suggested reading plans and cultural backgrounds. Directors of Religous education want to study the Catholic Connections articles and index of Bible passages related to each sacrament.

The book is well bound and printed on sturdy Bible paper. It will be of long service to anyone who wants to pray it, study it and live it.