Book Recommendations

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Does anyone have any book recommendations for a fallen away catholic? I am looking something geared more toward someone who has lost faith completely as opposed to being geared toward someone who simply has issues with Catholicism specifically. I am thinking of perhaps a book of conversion stories… Any suggestions?
 
Perhaps look into the lives of great saints who were converts or had re-version experiences.
Examples:
Saint Paul - notorious persecutor of Christians turned martyr for Christ and human author of much of our New Testament.
Saint Francis of Assisi - lived a life of sin but he too had a conversion and went on to live a great a holy life, his order surviving to this day.
Saint Augustine of Hippo - also lived a life of worldly ambitions yet also had a conversion and is a Doctor of the Church.

I could go on. There is a fuller list here of saints who were converts.
 
Patrick Madrid’s Surprised by Truth and Surprised by Truth 2 list numerous conversion stories. His book Search and Rescue details methods that work to retrieve fallen away Catholics, and to lead others to faith. Actually, at Patrick’s web site, you can get Surprised by Truth 2 and Search and Rescue in a combo deal. Also, Professor Peter Kreeft’s book Handbook of Catholic Apologetics, which is more in-depth, using logic and philosophy to lead one logicall to the faith, would be good for a thinker.
 
Return to Reason, by Kelly James Clark, is a really excellent book for someone who has philosophical objections to belief in God. It’s the only non-technical book I’ve read that really tackles the strongest arguments made by atheists. Even though I didn’t read it until after I’d returned to the Church, while reading it I kept thinking, “Yes, this is something I would have found hard to dismiss as an atheist.”

Keep in mind, it doesn’t prove that God exists. Instead, it proves that belief in God is not irrational. Even establishing that small point can be a major victory with an atheist.
 
Rico_S said:
Does anyone have any book recommendations for a fallen away catholic? I am looking something geared more toward someone who has lost faith completely as opposed to being geared toward someone who simply has issues with Catholicism specifically. I am thinking of perhaps a book of conversion stories… Any suggestions?
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I would recommend this website. It has a great conversion story. Along with that
anyone interested in the faith could browse at their leisure at many topics.
davidmacd.com/catholic/mary_in_the_bible.htm

For conversion try the Green Scapular which is a “no brainer” and a “shoe in”.

Ten years after the manifestation of the Miraculous Medal to Sister Catherine Laboure in 1830, the Blessed Mother entrusted the Green Scapular of her Immaculate Heart to
Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, likewise a Daughter of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul.

Practices
  1. Wear or carry the scapular
  2. To help another, place it in their vicinity (i.e. their room, wallet, purse, or parts of the house,car).
  3. Pray, at least daily: “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death.”
  4. The prayer should be said for oneself and separately for each person to whom it has been given (unless they pray it themselves)
  5. No enrollment of any kind is necessary, but each scapular should be blessed by a priest (general blessing of sacramentals)
  6. Have the strongest possible trust in Mary’s promise.
“The GREATEST graces come from using the scapular but these graces come
in direct proportion to the degree of CONFIDENCE IN ME which the user has.”
Mary’s own words.

Promises/Benefits
  1. Conversion of those who do not have the faith
  2. Reconciliation to the Church for those who have lost/strayed from the faith
  3. Assurance of a happy death
  4. Strengthening of the faith for those already in the Church
  5. Protection from Satan for those who wear or promote the scapular
Remind Our Lady each day that she promised and that you know she will make good.

Be faithful to the prayer. She didn’t say when, just that she promised it would happen.
“Yes, blessed is she who BELIEVED that the PROMISE made her by the Lord would be FULFILLED.”
(Lk. 1;45) St. Elizabeth extolling the absolute trust of Mary in God’s promise.
 
Thank you all very much for the suggestions! I especially like the Return to Reason suggestion…I think I may start there and see where it leads.
 
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