In online discussions between Catholics and Protestants, I’ve repeatedly seen the claim that Catholics rarely read the Bible. Some even go as far as saying Catholic priests rarely read Scripture.
But this couldn’t be further from the truth. Let’s go through an average, unexciting day for Catholic priests: Friday, September 4, 2026, which is the twenty-second Friday in Ordinary Time. This day, every priest worldwide must read at least 207 verses of the Bible. Many read far more.
How did I arrive at my total? I simply took the readings from the required Liturgy of the Hours and Mass and counted the verses. More verses could have been included: those quoted in hymns, in the liturgy of the Mass, when praying the Our Father, or paraphrased in similar places, but I only included those listed specifically as biblical passages.
Let’s now go through all the Scriptural passages priests read this day.
Their first encounter with Scripture is in Morning Prayer or Lauds. It includes sixty-four verses: Psalm 95:1-11, Psalm 51:1-19, Habakkuk 3:2-4, 13a, 15-19, Psalm 147:12-20, Ephesians 2:13-16, and Luke 1:68-79.
The second time priests will read Scripture is during Mass, “the fount and apex of the whole Christian life” (Lumen Gentium 11). Twenty-one verses are read this day: 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, Psalm 37:3-6, 27-28, 39-40, John 8:12, and Luke 5:33-39.
At some point in the day, priests will also do the Office of Readings, which is part of the Liturgy of the Hours and focuses on two longer readings: one biblical and one from Christian history. This date includes thirty-eight verses: Psalm 38:1-22 and Jeremiah 30:18-31:9.
Priests will also say Midday Prayer, which must be recited at least once in the middle of the day. It has twenty-nine verses: Psalm 119:73-80, Psalm 59:2-5,10-11,17-18, Psalm 60:1-12, and Deuteronomy 1:13, Baruch 4:28-29, or Wisdom 1:13-15 (depending on the time).
Towards dinner time, priests will say Evening Prayer (also known as Vespers), which has a similar structure to Lauds. It includes thirty-three verses: Psalm 119:19, Psalm 121:1-8, Revelation 15:3-4, 1 Corinthians 2:7-10, and Luke 1:46-55.
Lastly, right before bed, priests will say Night Prayer, also known as Compline. It has twenty-two verses: Psalm 88:1-18, Jeremiah 14:9, and Luke 2:29-32.
Ultimately, this adds up to 207 verses that priests are required to read, at minimum, on a random weekday. This number varies a bit day to day. Most days would be similar, with Sundays having even more verses.
We priests especially need to be imbued with the word of God. Reading over two hundred Bible verses every day for decades helps form our hearts in accordance with God’s Word. Thus, we priests are encouraged not just to read but also to meditate on these passages. There are several methods to do so, like Lectio Divina, where you read, meditate, contemplate, and pray on one passage for a long period.
Vatican II reminds us of the importance of Scripture, particularly for priests. One document says, “All the clergy must hold fast to the Sacred Scriptures through diligent sacred reading and careful study, especially the priests of Christ” (Dei Verbum 25). Another writes:
The knowledge of the sacred minister ought to be sacred because it is drawn from the sacred source and directed to a sacred goal. Especially is it drawn from reading and meditating on the Sacred Scriptures. (Presbyterorum Ordinis 18)
Along with priests, most religious (monks, nuns, sisters, and apostolic brothers) read the same passages. All laypeople are encouraged to pray the Liturgy of the Hours and attend daily Mass as well.
In general, the Catholic Church widely promotes not just reading but meditating on Scripture. Many Catholic prayers incorporate meditation on the Scriptures, like the rosary, where we meditate on key passages in the Gospels, or Lectio Divina as noted above. The Church even gives a special indulgence to those who read and meditate on the Bible for thirty minutes or more.
Thus, this myth that Catholics barely read Scripture must be challenged. On an average random weekday, priests are required to read over two hundred verses, which is over double the verses needed to read the Bible in a year. The lives of priests, monks, and sisters are imbued with Scripture; they are some of the most avid Bible readers among all Christians. And the Church encourages all its members to read and meditate on Scripture regularly, promising special graces for those who do it.