Books about early christians

[Le_Bonvivant]

Dear brothers and sisters,

Yesterday i read the passion of Felicitas and Perpetua, a text i read before and which i love.

The simple faith of the early christians, who have their focus completely on the world to come, is very inspiring to me.

What i would like to ask you is if you know any good books about the life of the early christians who were persecuted in the roman empire. People like Felicitas, Perpetua and their friends.

Thank you

 

[Casilda]

I enjoyed Henryk Sienkiewicz’ Quo Vadis as translated by Jeremiah Curtain. Curtain was a contemporary of the author. The novel is set in Rome at the time of Nero. Sts. Peter and Paul appear in the novel. Yet it presents more the interactions of everyday Roman pagans with those who have become followers of Christ especially those waiting in the bowels of the theater waiting for their martyrdom. Both the author and translator were Catholics.

 

[yankeesouth]

Check out books by Pope Benedict…Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church, Great Christian Thinkers, Holy Women, etc.

 

[christofirst]

You might enjoy Four Witnesses; The Early Church in Her Own Words, by Rod Bennett (Ignatius Press, 2002). This book tells of Pope St. Clement of Rome, St. Ignatius of Antioch, St. Justin Martyr, and St. Irenaeus of Lyons, all of whom bravely faced persecution and martyrdom. It is well written. The narrative of their lives is interspersed with their writings, making for easier reading (or so I thought).