Book Recommendations

  • Thread starter Thread starter amandagray825
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

amandagray825

Guest
I’m a relatively new Catholic, and was wondering if someone could give me a few ideas of books that I HAVE to read to understand Catholicism, history, prayer, study and the Bible, spirituality, etc.

Also, why do so many Catholics seem to not like Thomas Groome?
 
have to?
ok, THE BIBLE

thats it, but admittedly if you want to know more about …umm… recent traditions (grin) i suggest you get a copy of the Catechism (maybe the abridged version) and the “how to guide to the Mass” is good… and there are several good books i SUGGEST you read… depends on your tastes.

i like Scott Hahn’s books. all of them, but i grew up Protestant and so did he, so basically he “reads” like a Protestant book on religion… people either love it or hate it i find.

“the essential Catholic handbook of…” is a series… its pretty good

most books on the rosary, but again it depends on your tastes! do you like in depth history? or are you looking for simple “who why where?”
teh Rosary was always intended as a teaching tool, and it does a good job… the Mysteries present the basic stories of Christ and the Church from the Bible that you need to understand a lot… especially with the Luminous Mysteries added… “The Rosary: the little summa” is very good but may be a bit much for a beginner…

i really liked Catholicism for Dummies…
 
I grew up Protestant, so I’m pretty familiar with the Bible (read through it several times), although way less familiar with the Deuterocanonical books. I’m looking for something that explains the whys of Liturgy and beliefs, Catholic Tradition and tradition, an in depth look at the Bible for a Catholic perspective, etc. I wasn’t clear :o Basically, I need a manual on how to be a Catholic!

Your suggestions sound great and I have never heard of Hahn (gonna check him out for sure). I am currently working through the Catechism.
 
Actually, now that I’ve reread your reply, you’ve pretty much given me everything I need! Thanks again!!
 
i dont always express myself well, and i havent had dinner yet, so probably i was unclear!

since i came to the Catholic church because of the Rosary (grew up Episcopalian, as a PK) and i am a MAJOR history geek… AND i read very well… my usual suggested reading list can be a bit odd. ok very odd.

seriously almost scared off a new convert because i didnt think about her needs when she asked me about “rosary books since you know so much about it”

i am fabricdragon or kirsten houseknecht all over the internet, so feel free to chat or ask me to send you book lists… just…it might help if i knew how heavy or scholarly or historical you want…i mean… honestly if you are a much heavier history geek than i am you may even want to go as far as getting your own copy of the Didache… but its HARDLY what i suggest to most folks…
 
Well I majored in English in college- I’m not afraid of anything heavy! 😉

I have the gist of Catholicism—now I want to get to the meat!
 
Has anyone read The Art of Praying by Romano Guardini? Is it worth picking up a copy?
 
Fabricdragon- I’ve read the online versions of Didache (do you happen to know if they are complete?). It seems they are simply reiterations of the Gospels/Letters, with a bit of Church Tradition mixed in. Am I correct, or was what I read basically a summary?
 
amandagray825 said:
I’m a relatively new Catholic, and was wondering if someone could give me a few ideas of books that I HAVE to read to understand Catholicism, history, prayer, study and the Bible, spirituality, etc.

Also, why do so many Catholics seem to not like Thomas Groome?
Click to expand...
“Catholicism for Dummies” by Trigilio and Brighenti isn’t a bad primer.

I’d also suggest you get hold of the “Catechism of the Catholic Church”, and when you’ve got a query about a specific topic, go to the index, and look up the relevant paragraphs and passages. You’ll find this a handy reference.

Another suggestion is “Why Be Catholic” by William J. O’Malley SJ.

I’ve never heard of Thomas Groome.

You’re not going to get an indepth understanding of Catholicism with just these books alone though, since there’s a lot of history, theology and tradition behind it.
 
i dont recall hearing about this guy that “no one likes” but i have a HORRID memory for names… seriously.

The Didache is, in fact, the earliest compilation of church law/practice/prayers we have.
it is basically the equivalent of the book you find in the pew today… some of the readings, epistles, a few lessons…AND! instructions in how to handle candidates and catechumens… a whole little obscure paragraph about proper clothing… the rules on baptism!!
stuff that for a history geek like me? pure gold.
for other people? i mean even a lot of serious serious church folks? yaaaaaaaaaawn.
but for me to be able to look at the Didache and say “HERE is the answer on what the earliest rulings on this question where… HERE is where we get this rule or that habit…” i loved it.

if you are able to get the fact that some of the middle ages stuff was NOT DOCTRINE even though some folks passed it on as if it was? (which , now that i mention that… is not unique to the middle ages)
there is a book…
Rosary: Mysteries, meditations, and the telling of the beads
i liked it
and with an even STRONGER warning about the NON doctrinal correction of some middle ages stories…but as far as "what stories would the saints have heard… what was practice…
Stories of the Rose: the making of the Rosary in the Middle ages

frankly they both taught me a lot about where traditions changed and developed…

(but “The Rosary: the little summa” is DOCTRINAL correct…)
 
Try Eclipse of the Sun or Father Elijah these books are written by Michael O’brien.

They are amazing books and show you the traditional side of the Church and how the government and the world are all against the Church and it’s teachings
 
amandagray825 said:
Has anyone read The Art of Praying by Romano Guardini? Is it worth picking up a copy?
Click to expand...
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6515
Groome, a keynote speaker at the same conference addressed by Professor McLaughlin, is a laicised priest, prolific author of RE books and professor of theology and religious education at Boston College. He has made no secret of his dissent from a wide range of Church teachings…
Click to expand...
Asserting that “there have been distortions and corruptions reflected in Christian Story/Vision,” Groome recommends “religious educators should approach the faith tradition with a healthy suspicion” (Sharing Faith, pp. 232-33). Elsewhere, in speaking of the need to view Catholic tradition with a “critical consciousness”, he writes: “Such a ‘critical consciousness’ seems theologically appropriate to Catholic tradition, given how much untruth is in every statement of faith” (Educating for Life, p. 142).
Click to expand...
This erroneous view often leads Groome to subject dogmatic and definitive teachings of the Church to reductionist and contradictory reinterpretations.
Click to expand...
 
amandagray825 said:
Also, why do so many Catholics seem to not like Thomas Groome?
Click to expand...
catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=6515
Groome, a keynote speaker at the same conference addressed by Professor McLaughlin, is a laicised priest, prolific author of RE books and professor of theology and religious education at Boston College. He has made no secret of his dissent from a wide range of Church teachings…
Click to expand...
Asserting that “there have been distortions and corruptions reflected in Christian Story/Vision,” Groome recommends “religious educators should approach the faith tradition with a healthy suspicion” (Sharing Faith, pp. 232-33). Elsewhere, in speaking of the need to view Catholic tradition with a “critical consciousness”, he writes: “Such a ‘critical consciousness’ seems theologically appropriate to Catholic tradition, given how much untruth is in every statement of faith” (Educating for Life, p. 142).
Click to expand...
This erroneous view often leads Groome to subject dogmatic and definitive teachings of the Church to reductionist and contradictory reinterpretations.
Click to expand...
 
amandagray825 said:
I’m a relatively new Catholic, and was wondering if someone could give me a few ideas of books that I HAVE to read to understand Catholicism, history, prayer, study and the Bible, spirituality, etc.

Also, why do so many Catholics seem to not like Thomas Groome?
Click to expand...
These aren’t long on theory, but good on experiencing, when I’m not feeling so Catholic: Answers, Not Promises by Mother Angelica; Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, and Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz.

I think we make a mistake of trying to think our way though the faith. The idea of faith itself contradicts thinking, per se. We either trust God or we don’t. We either make that jump off the cliff, or we don’t. We can’t do that through trying to argue or reason our way through things – we will eventually run into a more clever argument.
 
Thanks for all the recommendations! I can’t wait to start reading!!!
 
  1. Catholicism by Fr. Robert Barron. Watch his dvd series of the same name if you can.
  2. On Being Catholic by Thomas Howard
  3. The Catholic Passion by David Scott
 
While it is good to learn more about the Catholic Church, I also recommend you spend quality time nurturing your relationship with God, getting to know Him and His will for you. It’s hard to go wrong with books by the saints to get to know about God and His will for you. Here’s some books that I highly recommend, all of which are available online for free (although I do recommend certain translations if you’re up for springing for a paper copy of a book).

Imitation of Christ - Thomas a Kempis (I recommend the Clare Fitzpatrick translation)
Story of a Soul - St Thérèse of Lisieux (I recommend the John Clarke translation by ICS Publishing)
Uniformity with God’s Will - St. Alphonsus Liguori
Introduction to the Devout Life - St. Frances de Sales
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top