A Reading List for Catholics

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A Reading List for Catholics
Topic Started: Sunday, 16. November 2008, 15:18 (215 Views)
SeanJ	Sunday, 16. November 2008, 15:18 Post #1
Moderator Posts: 867 Group: Moderator Member #208 Joined: September 26, 2008	I first came across a Reading List for Catholics in the works of Frank J. Sheed, the founder of (Britain's) Catholic Evidence Guild. Since then, such lists have been proposed by several individuals and/or organisations. Our list, which is incomplete, lists a number of books which we think deserve to be read, and which should be found in a parish library, or in the personal library of those able to afford them. Why Should I Be a Christian: Basic Readings * Mere Christianity. C. S. Lewis. There are some great points and arguments in the book even though the writing is old fashioned at this stage - and his attitude to women may not endear him to the fairer sex nowadays. Just bear in mind that he was reflecting the attitudes of the time. * What is the Point of Being a Christian? Fr. Timothy Radcliffe OP Timothy Radcliffe OP is a charismatic spiritual leader with strong liberal instincts who has a profound respect for the authority and teaching charisma of his Church. He is constantly in demand as a speaker, lecturer, preacher and broadcaster and in this new volume he has assembled the best of the addresses he has given over the last three years. He is passionately concerned with issues relating to environment, globalisation and the pastoral care of the marginalised and dispossessed. Shot through with humour, friendship and wisdom, the pages of this book outline a manner of living which is at once faithful to the teachings of Jesus and rooted in the tradition of the church and at the same time responsive to the turbulence of the modern world. Basic Readings for all Catholics * The Holy Bible. Pope Pius XII in his encyclical Divino afflante Spiritu encouraged Catholics to read the bible, the inspired word of God. His encouragement was repeated by the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, and by Pope Paul VI. The New American Bible from the Vatican. Biblia Clerus. Commentaries on the Bible from the Congregation for the Clergy * A Catholic Guide to the Bible. Fr. Oscar Lukefahr, CM. A short, readable introduction to reading the bible. * The Gospel of Mark: Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. Mary Healy. The first volume of a new series. The Gospel of Mark will be read during Year B, which begins with Advent in December 2008. * Reading with God: Lectio Divina. David Foster OSB. Lectio Divina or the act of praying with The Bible. * The Catechism of the Catholic Church. All Catholics should have some knowledge of the Church's teaching. The Catechism of the Catholic Church from the Vatican. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church from the Vatican. * The 1983 Code of Canon Law. This is not everybody's cup of tea, but the code can be viewed at either The Vatican's web site or The Intra-Text Digital Library which is easier to follow because when one law is linked to another, it is possible to go from one to the other with a click of the mouse. Apologetics * The Faith of Our Fathers. James Cardinal Gibbons. A popular book which explains the basic tenets of the Catholic Faith and why we hold them. First published in 1876. * Fundamentals of the Faith: Essays in Christian Apologetics. Peter Kreeft. In this book, Kreeft considers the fundamental elements of Christianity and Catholicism, explaining, defending and showing their relevance to our life and the world’s yearnings. Children's Books Conversion Stories Devotional and Spiritual * God of Surprises. Fr. Gerard Hughes. A guide to Ignatian contemplative prayer, which can also be read simply as an uplifting book on spirituality and the nature of the relationship between human beings and God. This book is a "touchstone," filled with the love of God. The exercises help point to Christ and to God's infinite grace. * God is Not Angry. Fr. Ian Petit. A small book with a profound message that Catholics need to hear. * Introduction to the Devout Life. St Francis de Sales. * Finding Sanctuary: Monastic Steps for Everyday Life. Abbot Christopher Jamison. A good aid to meditation even in the busiest of lives. * Confessions. St. Augustine. * The City of God. St. Augustine. St. Augustine's works are considered to be spiritual classics. But they are not for the faint hearted. * The Dialogue. St. Catherine Of Siena. The crowning spiritual work of a Doctor of the Church. * The Lord. Romano Guardini. The author stated in his preface that "This book is no scientific documentation of history or theology. Its chapters are the spiritual commentaries of some four years of Sunday services undertaken with the sole purpose of obeying as well as possible the Lord's command to proclaim him, his message and works." The then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in a new introduction wrote that "Guardini's book The Lord has not grown old because it still leads us to that which is essential, to that which is truly real, Jesus Christ Himself." * To Be a Pilgrim: A Spiritual Notebook. Cardinal Basil Hume (late Archbishop of Westminster). The book gives excellent guidance for a person wishing to be closer to God. It is easy to read, and understanding it does not require a theology degree. But neither is it over-simple. An ideal guide to the spiritual journey. * Interior Castle. St. Teresa of Avila. St. Teresa thought of the soul as a castle made of a single diamond. * Jesus of Nazareth. Pope Benedict XVI. This book is...my personal search "For the Face of The Lord." Benedict XVI. * Growth in Holiness: or the progress of the Spiritual Life. Father Frederick William Faber. * Your Life is Worth Living: The Christian Philosophy of Life. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen * The Ascent to Truth. Thomas Merton. Ethics and Morality History of the Church * Triumph: The Power and the glory of the Catholic Church. HW Crocker III. This book is an exhilarating review of 2000 years of history. * The Mass of the Early Christians. Mike Aquilina. A very readable introduction to the Church's most ancient Eucharistic beliefs and practices. * How the Catholic Church Built Civilization. Thomas E. Woods, Jr. This engaging and engrossing book is a mine of information. Liturgy * The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. Scott Hahn. Convert, professor of biblical studies, and former Presbyterian minister, Scott Hahn describes the biblical basis of the Mass. Lives of the Saints Miscellaneous, Fiction, and Literature * The Autobiography of an Elizabethan. John Gerard. The autobiography, originally written in Latin, of a Jesuit, who was imprisoned in the tower of London and escaped. Full of narrow escapes and priests' hiding holes. * Catholic Shrines of Western Europe. Kevin J. Wright. A very useful book for those intending to travel. * Brideshead Revisited. Evelyn Waugh. * The Nun's Story. Kathryn Hulme * The Choice. Sister Kirsty A nun writing, under a pseudonym, of her experiences as a novice nun. It is a very deeply spiritual book. * In This House of Brede. Rumer Godden. Another good one about a religious community. * An Infinity of Little Hours. Nancy Klein Maguire. Describes the lives of a group of Novice Carthusian Monks in the 1960s. * The Changing Face of the Priesthood. Fr. Donald Cozzens. A little dated because things have changed very rapidly since its publication in 2000, but it is still an excellent analysis of the problems and issues facing priests today. The evidence-based approach is striking. * The Miracle of Lourdes. Ruth Cranston. A fascinating and illuminating account of miracles at Lourdes. Mariology Patrology: The Writings of the Fathers of the Church * The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers. Mike Aquilina. A very readable introduction. * The Greek Fathers: Their Lives and Writings. Fr. Adrian Fortescue. An introduction to the subject by an English parish priest. * The Sayings of the Desert Fathers - the Alphabetical Collection. Edited by Benedicta Ward. These were men and women who had reached a humility of which we have no idea, because it is not rooted in an hypocritical or contrived deprecation of self, but in the vision of God, and a humbling experience of being so loved. They were ascetics, ruthless to themselves, yet so human, so immensely compassionate not only to the needs of men, but also to their frailty and their sins... * Four Words: The Early church in her own Words. Rod Bennett. An introduction the works of Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons. Reading this book is like reading a novel. Science * Finding Darwin’s God: A Scientist's Search for Common Ground Between God and Evolution. Ken Miller. Miller is a highly respected scientist who writes textbooks for American High Schools, and in some ways is the American equivalent of Richard Dawkins except for one important difference - he is a committed Catholic who makes no apology for his religious beliefs. * The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief. Francis S. Collins. Collins is a world authority on DNA and Genetics, and the Director of the Human Genome Project. In this book he explains how God and science can coexist, discusses evolution, creationism, and intelligent design, and and also describes his own journey from Atheism to Christianity. Theology Books On-Line * There are several sites which provide books on-line. They can be read on-line or downloaded at no cost and read later. http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/scores/top has numerous Catholic books, including The Confessions of St Augustine. Go to" online book catalogue" on the left and browse to your hearts content. Also many libraries operate a free EBook service through the University of Pennsylvania library which is vast. But you can download books directly yourself if you wish to. http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/. For example, try going into "titles" and asking for "St Francis." Edited by SeanJ, Monday, 11. May 2009, 07:48.



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