Author Topic: Favorite Catholic Books? (Read 2250 times)

Luker · « **on:** May 02, 2013, 08:48:35 PM »

Hello:

As a new convert to the Catholic Church and Tradition I have been absolutely amazed at how much good Catholic writing is out there. Whether lives of the saints, their writings, Catholic history, Papal writings etc etc I always seem to be stumbling on some new book I want to read. So I am wondering what are some favorite Catholic books that people here have? I am always on the lookout for new books to add to my growing Catholic Library!

I will start the discussion with a few great books that I have read recently:

1. The True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St Louis de Montfort. I love this book, especially as a convert from protestantism where Our Lady is given short shrift, this book really has helped me to understand better how truly wonderful the Blessed Virgin Mary is!

2. The Life and Glories of St Joseph, Edward Healy Thompson (Tan books). I heard a couple of priests recommend this book, and boy what a treasure! 500 pages of pretty much everything the Church Fathers, Doctors and others have written about St Joseph. If you love St Joseph, or want to have more of a devotion to him, read this book!

3. The Mass of All Time, Archbishop Lefebvre. I just read this book, I found it really helpful in beginning to understand the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Also the good Archbishop's writing is very easy to understand and very clear. I also have his book ' They Have Uncrowned Him' another excellent book, I will definitely be on the lookout for more of his writings.

So what are some of your favorite Catholic books?

Luke

songbird · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2013, 10:19:27 PM »

My Catholic Faith by Morrow is a must for the whole family. the Cure D' Ars is a real winner! The Imitation of Christ for your bedside. Church history by Laux is very good. The Glories of Mary by Liguori Tumultous Times by Fathers Radecki which can be obtained by St Joseph's Media, box 186 Wayne, MI 48184-0186 or Box 220208, Newhall, CA 91322 It is about the 20 general councils of the cath. church and Vat.II and its aftermath. Very well written and easy to read and to understand.

You are right, there are many good books. Watch your used books stores, estate sales and thrift store and such. Have fun!!

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2013, 10:31:41 PM »

True Devotion to Mary and The Mass of All Time are both excellent books! I haven't read the one about St. Joseph, perhaps I will do that.

In addition to the two I mentioned above, here are my favorites:

For starters, every Catholic should read the Summa Theologia from St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catechism of the Council of Trent.

Anything written by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort is good. True Devotion to Mary is his best work, though I also recommend "The Secret of the Rosary".

I also recommend the works of St. Alphonsus Ligouri. The four from him that I have read are:

Uniformity with God's Will
The Glories of Mary
Twelve Steps to Holiness and Salvation
Salvation and Perfection

Uniformity with God's Will is the only one of those four that I have completed so far. The other three I'm still reading.

All of Archbishop Lefebvre's writings are good, though The Mass of All Time is my personal favorite. Fr. Hewko has also been recommending the Archbishop's book "Spiritual Journey".

Imitation of Christ and Imitation of Mary by Thomas A. Kempis are two must-reads.

Finally, all Catholics should read St. John Chrysostom's "Eight Homilies Against the Jєωs".

I'll add some more later on.

God Bless.

Marlelar · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2013, 11:17:14 PM »

Anything by St. Francis de Sales.

Marsha

Luker · « **Reply #4 on:** May 03, 2013, 10:29:47 PM »

Hi some good ideas so far. I do like St Alphonsus Ligouri, I have a couple books by him, I will have to look for those other titles.

Where can I find more St John Chrysostom? I have a set of Faith of the Early Fathers by Jurgens. It is mostly a great resource, but I guess there is so much of St John Chrysostoms writings extent they only included selections. Unsurprisingly, any of his homiles against Judaism are not included.

Thanks for the ideas so far

Luke

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2013, 12:09:49 AM »

Hi Luker. Here is the work from St. John Chrysostom entitled "Eight Homilies against the Jєωs":

http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-Jєωs6.asp

shin · « **Reply #6 on:** May 04, 2013, 01:32:36 AM »

The books one comes across earliest often make a special impression that lasts forever.

Among the first books I read were St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori's, especially 'The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection' and 'Preparation for Death', along with Rev. F.X. Schouppe, S.J.'s, 'Purgatory', and not long after, 'Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence' by Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure & St. Claude de la Colombiere.

Our Lady of the Rosary Library used to sell these as a work of charity, at very low prices. They still have Rev. Schouppe's book I believe.

So I am always mentioning these. 'The True Spouse of Jesus Christ' is another of St. Alphonsus Maria's works that is very helpful -- all his works are.

The Revelations of St. Bridget of Sweden are quite helpful reading. So too St. Maximus the Confessor, St. John Cassian, St. John Climacus, and the writings of the Desert Fathers.

While most of these writings are available online in many places, such as http://saintsbooks.net I highly recommend buying paper copies to read more easily.

ArturoOrtiz · « **Reply #7 on:** June 20, 2013, 07:37:05 PM »

Quote from: Luker

Hello:

As a new convert to the Catholic Church and Tradition I have been absolutely amazed at how much good Catholic writing is out there. Whether lives of the saints, their writings, Catholic history, Papal writings etc etc I always seem to be stumbling on some new book I want to read. So I am wondering what are some favorite Catholic books that people here have? I am always on the lookout for new books to add to my growing Catholic Library!

I will start the discussion with a few great books that I have read recently:

1. The True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, St Louis de Montfort. I love this book, especially as a convert from protestantism where Our Lady is given short shrift, this book really has helped me to understand better how truly wonderful the Blessed Virgin Mary is!

2. The Life and Glories of St Joseph, Edward Healy Thompson (Tan books). I heard a couple of priests recommend this book, and boy what a treasure! 500 pages of pretty much everything the Church Fathers, Doctors and others have written about St Joseph. If you love St Joseph, or want to have more of a devotion to him, read this book!

3. The Mass of All Time, Archbishop Lefebvre. I just read this book, I found it really helpful in beginning to understand the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Also the good Archbishop's writing is very easy to understand and very clear. I also have his book ' They Have Uncrowned Him' another excellent book, I will definitely be on the lookout for more of his writings.

So what are some of your favorite Catholic books?

Thanks for posting this. I myself as someone knew towards Catholic Tradition have come to know a lot of writings from different people. I have yet to read a lot of things.

I am recently just reading church docuмents mostly papal encyclicals.

Right now I am currently finishing two books. The first one is How the Catholic Church built Western Civilization by Thomas E Woods Jr.

This one is a great book because it cuts a lot of lies people have about the Catholic faith and nonsense that is being taught in public schools

The second one is True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis de Montford

This books has some of the best Marian theology I never knew. I am currently waiting to do my Marian Concecration to Mary

Matto · « **Reply #8 on:** June 20, 2013, 07:50:50 PM »

My favorite Catholic book is The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori. You can read it for free at google books.

poche · « **Reply #9 on:** June 21, 2013, 05:37:29 AM »

The Sayings of the Fathers of the Desert.

poche · « **Reply #10 on:** June 23, 2013, 05:44:26 AM »

The Dark Night of the Soul by St John of the Cross.

Napoli · « **Reply #11 on:** June 23, 2013, 11:19:41 AM »

St. John of the Cross is one of my favourites too.

ServusSpiritusSancti · « **Reply #12 on:** June 23, 2013, 11:47:51 AM »

Quote from: Napoli

St. John of the Cross is one of my favourites too.

Mine, too. I particularly like his book "Ascent of Mt. Carmel".

Napoli · « **Reply #13 on:** June 23, 2013, 12:08:31 PM »

That book should be part of everyone's library.

shin · « **Reply #14 on:** June 23, 2013, 07:58:53 PM »

Dark Night of the Souls. .

I prefer it to Ascent of Mount Carmel, but when I've said that I've been told that I'm putting the cart before the horse. . .