American Bible Society publishes durable lightweight New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) in response to request from Archbishop Timothy Broglio
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Free Catholic military Bibles are now being made available to U.S. servicemen and women, veterans and their families from American Bible Society. Bound in water-resistant, earth-toned digital camouflage covers, the special volume of the New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is durable, lightweight and handy for easy reference in all kinds of circumstances, including combat.
The Catholic Bible contains a guide for practicing Lectio Divina—Latin for “divine reading”—a Benedictine tradition of Scriptural reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation and action, as well as the three-year calendar cycle of Sunday Mass readings, a weekday lectionary and collection of Catholic prayers and spiritual devotions including the Hail Mary, Glory Be and Act of Contrition. Publication rights for the revised New American edition were secured through the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
This new military Bible also features the highlighted “Essential 100” passages—50 in the Old Testament and 50 in the New Testament—composing a simple introductory reading plan for those trying to gain a better grasp of the “big story” of God’s Word by tracing the history of salvation. American Bible Society offers a Challenge Coin for anyone who meets the “Essential 100 Bible Reading Challenge:” reading all 100 passages in 100 days.
Also included are letters from His Excellency, the Most Reverend Timothy P. Broglio, J.C.D., Archbishop for the Military Services, and Dr. S. Douglas Birdsall, American Bible Society President and CEO. It was in response to a request from Archbishop Broglio that American Bible Society decided to publish the volume. The Archbishop expressed his desire for a Catholic version of the Good News and English Standard military Bibles that the Society has published for years. Dr. Birdsall presented the first copy to Archbishop Broglio on Monday at the chancery of the Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS).
Archbishop Broglio said:
“Ever since Pope St. Damasus commissioned St. Jerome to translate the Bible from the Hebrew and Greek texts into Latin in the 4thCentury, the Church has toiled to put Scripture into language that can be understood by people the world over. Consequently, the desire to put this special edition of the revised New American Bible in the hands of our men and women in uniform is merely another stop in the constant desire of the Catholic Church to nourish her sons and daughters with the Word of God. I hope all those who take this volume in their hands will be consumed and filled with enthusiasm for the presence of his Kingdom known among the men and women of our time.”
Dr. Birdsall said:
“It is a privilege to partner with the Archdiocese for the Military Services to help provide this full-resource Bible for millions of Catholic men and women in our American military family. What an honor to give something back to those who have given so much, servingour nation so well.”
American Bible Society has printed an initial 10,000 copies of the new Catholic military Bible, two-thousand of which are already being sent to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Additional copies are available for military ministry leadership while supplies last at Provisions@AmericanBible.org or on the Website of the Armed Services Ministry of American Bible Society at www.ArmedServicesMinistry.com.
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About American Bible Society:
Headquartered in Manhattan, the 196-year-old American Bible Society exists to make the Bible available to every person in a language and format each can understand and afford, so all people may experience its life-changing message. One of the nation’s oldest nonprofit organizations, today’s American Bible Society provides interactive, high- and low-tech resources enabling first-time readers and seasoned theologians alike to engage with the best-selling book of all time. For more information, visit AmericanBible.org.
About the Archdiocese for the Military Services:
The Archdiocese for the Military Services (AMS) was created as an independent archdiocese by Pope John Paul II in 1985 as the only Catholic jurisdiction responsible for endorsing and granting faculties for priests to serve as chaplains in the U.S. military and VA Medical Centers.
AMS-endorsed priests serve at more than 220 U.S. military installations in 29 countries, making the AMS the nation’s only global archdiocese. AMS-endorsed chaplains also serve at 153 VA Medical Centers throughout the U.S.
The AMS service population also includes American Catholic civilians working for the federal government in 134 countries, but currently, due to limited resources, the AMS cannot adequately serve this population.
Worldwide, an estimated 1.8 million Catholics depend on the AMS to meet their spiritual and sacramental needs.
For more information on the Archdiocese for the Military Services, visit www.milarch.org, the only official Web site for Catholics in the military and for the Cause of Father Vincent Capodanno, M.M.
