Some people’s Bibles are bigger than others – especially if you’re Catholic.

Having received the incredible Ignatius Catholic Study Bible as a gift recently, I did not think I’d ever want another Bible! However that powerhouse of Scripture and commentary weighs in at nearly 6 pounds. So I have to admit I don’t carry it around very often (OK, never).

Enter the Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print from Catholic Bible Press!

The Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print is advertised as an “elegant Catholic Bible that is both easy to carry and easy to read.” It sounded fine, but when Catholic Bible Press reached out to me to review this Bible, I wasn’t expecting to be impressed.

First, I am a study Bible guy. I like notes, pictures, indexes, maps – the more info the better! This was the opposite – almost a minimalist Bible with very few extras. So I really didn’t see much to set it apart from other basic Bibles.

Second, I’m, like, super young – so what did I need with a large print Bible?

What attracted me to the Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print was that it is the RSV2 translation (my favorite) and it didn’t weigh 6 pounds (30 oz. if you care.) The form factor on this Bible turned out to be very nice. I measured it at only 1″ thick and 10 1/2″ x 6 3/4″. So it has the feel of a legit Bible without looking like something a medieval monk might carry around.

The Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print has an imitation leather (“Leathersoft™”) cover which is unsurprising for a Bible priced under $50. The surface is decent but the cover is pretty stiff – I’m sure if you bend it hard enough it will crease. But this isn’t an heirloom Bible – it’s one to carry around and (hopefully) actually read! The raised spine and gold gilded page edges make for an overall nice feel.

When it comes to reading, the Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print is a real treat. The text is clear with a 10-point font in the standard dual-column format. Because I teach, it’s nice to have text that doesn’t make me squint when it’s farther away than I would normally read (such as on a lectern next to a pile of notes). At the same time, the print isn’t so enormous that the people twelve pews behind me can read it too. In other words, it doesn’t scream THIS GUY NEEDS LARGE PRINT!!!

This ease of reading is aided by a noticeable lack of extra-textual material. It is rare to see more than two footnotes on a page, and often there are none at all. (And the notes that are there are free of the liberal junk one finds in the notes of every NABRE.) This keeps the text neat and clean, and also reduces the need to thin down the Bible by using that annoying onionskin paper so many publishers use to drop the size/weight.

The same effect is also accomplished by reducing additional features: besides the presentation page, a couple lists, and an 8-page color map set, it’s all Bible.

My only complaint with my particular Bible was that it showed up some of the first pages a bit crunched. It came in a shrink-wrapped box that showed no signs of damage so I have to blame the printer on this one. However, as one who has had many Bibles over the years, this is not uncommon. Further, it was barely noticeable to anyone who wasn’t looking over it critically (and, again, it’s not an heirloom Bible).

So overall I am very happy with this Bible. If you’re looking for a Bible that sits comfortably between a compact, minimalist Bible and a cumbersome study Bible, the Catholic Bible Thinline Large Print is an inexpensive but quality choice.