Best resources (books, etc) for learning about Catholicism?

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wantingtoknow

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Okay, I’ll be attending my first Mass within the next month, so I’ll be able to observe and participate in that aspect of the faith, however, I would like to begin studying about Catholicism so that I can learn more. Here’s what I am looking for:

What books do you recommend for learning about the faith, including Saints, etc (anything you can think of)?

How should I go about reading and learning from my Bible and Catechism (just straight reading is not helping, I feel like I need some guidance)?

What other things do you suggest I be doing while waiting for the opportunity to attend and actually experience Mass?

Thank you so much! I hope to learn more about Catholicism in any way I can. 😃
 
This book is excellent:
chantcd.com/catholic.php/Apologetics

For online writings of the Saints, Popes, etc:
saintsbooks.net/BooksList.html
traditionalcatholic.net/

Best site to use to get familiar with the Holy Bible:
scripturecatholic.com/

Faith comes to us by hearing. A good way to better understanding is discussing these things with devout Catholics that know what they are talking about.

In the mean time, you should start praying the Rosary every day if you can. If that is to much though, pray 3 Hail Mary’s in the morning and the evening. Just ask God to enlighten your heart to do His Will.

Here is a link to how to pray the Rosary:
ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/rosary/how_to.htm

Will you be going to the Latin Mass?
 
I’m not sure if I will be attending a Latin Mass. I honestly have no idea. I just know that I will be going with a friend, and she hasn’t told me much about the Mass yet. I will ask more when I next see her.
 
A good first book to read is “Catholicism for Dummies”. It is pretty easy to read, and you don’t have to be already Catholic to understand it. A bible commentary might help you understand what is going on in the Bible. (Be sure you get a Catholic one!) You can also look up the EWTN website and check with your cable company to sign up for thier (awesome) tv station. Take everything one bit at time and everything will soon come together. Welcome!
 
I recommend a book by Leo Trese titled “The Faith Explained.”

Find a friend in your area that is true to the faith and you can talk to. You can find the best people in the whole community in the line for Sacrament of Penance. These are the best - really.

Ask the priest at the local parish for a contact - someone to talk to. But be careful here, you may get connected to someone that does not practice their faith very well.

After some time goes by, maybe a year or two, look for an evening of recollection or silent retreat in your area. Also, at this time, you may enjoy the book titled Interior Freedom by Jacque Philipe.

In general, blend reading, discussion groups, and lectures/retreats, to get some variety. Even Fr. Corapi on EWTN is nice to add to the mix.
 
Catholic1954 said:
A good first book to read is “Catholicism for Dummies”. It is pretty easy to read, and you don’t have to be already Catholic to understand it. A bible commentary might help you understand what is going on in the Bible. (Be sure you get a Catholic one!) You can also look up the EWTN website and check with your cable company to sign up for thier (awesome) tv station. Take everything one bit at time and everything will soon come together. Welcome!
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👍 Love it!
 
I also think that as a good overview, Catholicism For Dummies, is an excellent start. As for what to read next I would recommend Amy Welborn’s Prove It Church This book is written for High School students but, like CFD, it gives an orthodox simple explanation of the Faith. Something a little deeper is Know, Love and Live the Catholic Faith by Rev, John Pollard.

As one of the comments said, take it bit by bit. The Catholic Church is over 2000 years old and you will not exhaust its riches in a lifetime.

Where you go from the above will depend on your interests. You may wish to learn how to refute some non Catholic objections to the Church - Karl Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism or Catholic Answers *The Essential Catholic Survival Guide *are two great books. If you don’t wish to buy books, log into Catholic Answers and check out their File Library - they have thousands of tracts on the Faith. *This Rock *magazine, also online, has 20 years worth of articles to browse. A book which was foundational for me was *Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine *by Abp Sheehan, edited by Fr Peter Joseph; you may wish to leave Aquinas’ proofs for the existence of God for later though!:confused:

I am excited for you because I remember where I was five years ago. I am a cradle Catholic and attended Catholic Schools but drifted away from the Faith for many years and when I returned I began reading about the Faith for the first time since leaving school and five years later I am still unpacking the treasures of the Scriptures and the Catholic Faith.
 
I have just been perusing my library and have found two other titles you may like.

Michael Dubruiel’s *The How To Book Of The Mass *would be an excellent way to prepare you for the Ordinary Rite of the MAss.

Thomas Howard’s *On Being Catholic *I can’t recommend highly enough. Howard is a convert and writes with lyrical beauty about the Catholic Faith. The chapter on the Mass alone is worth the price of the book.
 
yinekka said:
I also think that as a good overview, Catholicism For Dummies, is an excellent start. As for what to read next I would recommend Amy Welborn’s Prove It Church This book is written for High School students but, like CFD, it gives an orthodox simple explanation of the Faith. Something a little deeper is Know, Love and Live the Catholic Faith by Rev, John Pollard.

As one of the comments said, take it bit by bit. The Catholic Church is over 2000 years old and you will not exhaust its riches in a lifetime.

Where you go from the above will depend on your interests. You may wish to learn how to refute some non Catholic objections to the Church - Karl Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism or Catholic Answers *The Essential Catholic Survival Guide *are two great books. If you don’t wish to buy books, log into Catholic Answers and check out their File Library - they have thousands of tracts on the Faith. *This Rock *magazine, also online, has 20 years worth of articles to browse. A book which was foundational for me was *Apologetics and Catholic Doctrine *by Abp Sheehan, edited by Fr Peter Joseph; you may wish to leave Aquinas’ proofs for the existence of God for later though!:confused:

I am excited for you because I remember where I was five years ago. I am a cradle Catholic and attended Catholic Schools but drifted away from the Faith for many years and when I returned I began reading about the Faith for the first time since leaving school and five years later I am still unpacking the treasures of the Scriptures and the Catholic Faith.
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Actually, I am a high school student.
 
wantingtoknow said:
Actually, I am a high school student.
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I am as well, and I am helping a friend of mine into his journey into the Catholic Church as well. The link that I gave to the book entitled Apologetics is a very good book. I lent it to my friend and after he read it he told me that he wanted to convert to Catholicism. 🙂
 
PhanxicoXavier said:
I am as well, and I am helping a friend of mine into his journey into the Catholic Church as well. The link that I gave to the book entitled Apologetics is a very good book. I lent it to my friend and after he read it he told me that he wanted to convert to Catholicism. 🙂
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Thanks, I’ll have to take a look at it!
 
Intorudction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI)
 
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