5 Catholic Radio Programs That Will Help You Study the Bible

When was the last time you opened your bible to read and study Sacred Scripture? Bible reading sometimes makes it on a list of resolutions for the new liturgical year or calendar year.

But what exactly does it mean to study the bible? It’s important to pray and ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Also, to best understand the Church’s tradition and teachings, it helps to have a guide.

Bible study certainly takes the form of classes and using study aids like books and videos. However, it can also be studied by listening to priests, theologians, and other Catholic speakers.

Here are five Catholic radio programs that will help you study the bible.

1. Holy Mass with Fr. Kevin Drew

Every Mass includes readings from Sacred Scripture. The readings for Mass are in the book called a Lectionary used during the Liturgy of the Word. The readings and responsorial psalm for every day of the year are included in the Lectionary, including:

• Sundays
• Weekdays
• Special occasions (feasts for saints, feasts of Mary, ritual Masses)

The Lectionary is organized into two cycles:

• Sundays, which are divided into 3 years (A, B, C)
• Weekdays, divided into Year I and Year II

Designed for public worship, the Lectionary does omit repetitive content and long genealogies. However, what is included leads Catholics through the liturgical year. It is concerned with important highlights from the Old and New Testaments following salvation history.

Listen to daily Mass, and you will have covered a great portion of the bible in three years!

2. Bible in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz

This podcast has 365 episodes to take you through the entire Bible. The format follows The Bible Timeline, created by Jeff Cavins, a Biblical scholar.

This program is on weekdays and and also explains salvation history in bite-sized pieces. You will not only understand the bible in a new way, you will be amazed at how relevant it is to your life today.

If you are inspired and hungry for more, be sure to check out the Ascension Press website for more bible study aids, including The Great Adventure Bible and The Bible Timeline Chart.

3. Padre’s Points / Fr. Drew Homily

These programs are homilies from two beloved priests, Fr. Andrew Mattingly and Fr. Kevin Drew, respectively.

The podcast by Fr. Andrew Mattingly, who is from the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph includes homilies, meditations, and other presentations he has done.

Fr. Kevin Drew’s homilies are taken from his live daily Mass (mentioned above). You can listen or watch weekdays on CatholicRadio.com at 11:00 Central time. Not only do his homilies break open Scripture to make it understandable, they often incorporate the saint or feast of the day.

4. Daily Bread with Fr. Al Lauer

This program of teachings by the late Fr. Albert Lauer includes inspiration on topics including:

• early Christian communities
• martyrs of the faith
• the apostle Philip and how you can be like him: an evangelist

Explanations of daily Scripture readings from the New Testament and other church readings are informative and insightful. Episodes often begin with a story from the bible and expand to show relevance for listeners today.

5. Word on Fire with Bishop Robert Barron

Word on Fire began with weekly homilies in the wee hours of the morning on Sundays and has grown to a robust ministry. The goal is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and share the goodness, truth, and beauty of Catholicism through multiple media platforms.

Fr. Robert Barron’s homilies are broadcast daily. If you are looking to deepen your study, there are other resources available on the Word on Fire website. These include The Word on Fire Bible, bookstore, and videos.

Don’t Complicate Bible Study

Keep your study simple and begin with whatever time you have. Catholic Radio Network is here for you as you begin or deepen your understanding of Sacred Scripture.

You can listen online to one of our five livestreams, find your local station, or download our free app for Apple and Android.