Books

  • Thread starter Thread starter brierpatch1974
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
B

brierpatch1974

Guest
Hello again everyone, I was just wondering if someone could list 3 or 4 books to read that would be good for somone looking into the catholic church. Not to be offensive with this but kinda like a catholicism 101.
Books that will teach about the church and beliefs and how to go about joining the church and other things to get somone like me, who doesn;t know much, started on the path.
Also What bible do the Catholics use? I must admit the only one I have read from growing up was my moms King James version and I havent really read much of it.
Thanks for the guidance and all the support everyone has given me. I truely appreciate it.

BP
 
Good Morning, Brierpatch!

3 or 4 good books to read when looking into the Catholic Church in a friendly way?

Well, first there is the official statement of beliefs, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, available free online at www.vatican.va

Then there is the fun but solid Catholicism For Dummies, one of the *For Dummies *series of books. It is easy to skip around in, enjoyable and very readable, and is available at regular bookstores. It will include more procedural information–how to do this and that–than will the official catechism.

As to how to join, the norm is to go through a parish. You visit your nearest Catholic church and talk to the priest; phone ahead first for an appointment unless you note the Mass schedule and catch him after Mass. He will direct you to join his parish’s RCIA program (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults). This is a course of inquiry and instruction culminating, for those who stay, in initiation into membership in the Catholic Church. (This will mean baptism for those not baptised; confirmation for the baptised; profession of faith for those validly baptised into non-Catholic denominations; First Confession and First Holy Communion for those who have not yet received these sacraments; and Confession and Communion for those who are rejoining). If you don’t warm up to the priest at the nearest parish, either give him time and go forward anyway, or go to the next nearest parish and talk with that priest.

You are welcome on your journey home to the Catholic Church, Brierpatch! May the Holy Spirit guide and console you.
 
the vatican website has great stuff, but is not the first stop for someone looking for the basics

Catholicism for Dummies is the first book I would recommend (the yellow one, at most bookstores or amazon, not the orange idiot’s guide). Fr. Trigilio has a good section on how to begin reading the bible as well as what goes on at Mass, Catholic prayer and practices etc.

start with the New Testament in any bible. easier to read than the KJV are the New American Bible and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. If English is your second language or your reading is below grade level, try the Good News Translation Catholic Version.

start in and read the Gospel of Mark, which you can do in one or two sittings

you can access the bible and the catechism also on the bishop’s website (easier to navigate than the same thing on the vatican site) usccb.org

for an easier, very search friendly catechism (statement of Catholic belief) go to catholicity.com and browse the searchable catechism. the also have links to great Catholic websites.

then come back here when you have specific questions.

welcome home!
 
I prefer the Douay-Rheims Bible. If some passages are too difficult for a quick understanding, I refer to the NAB.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is available online. I like it in book form because it has a reference guide in the back that provides quick look up information to see the Church’s interpretation on Bible verses.

Someone has already recommended, Catholicism for Dummies. It would be a good book to start with. I also, recommend this as a good Catholicism 101 book.

I never talk about books without recommending The Lamb’s Supper, by Scott Hahn. (It’s one of my favorites.)

Welcome home!

May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1
 
All of the above and By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark Shea.

M
 
Thank you for the help. Now it’s time to go shopping lol.

What exactly is the catechism? I am starting to look at it on the web and trying to figure out how it ties in to the church and the bible. Thanks again and sorry if I seem dense.

Also for some reason I was surprised to hear read the new testement from any bible. I always thought other versions may have lost more of the original do to translation issues and things.
 
brierpatch1974 said:
Thank you for the help. Now it’s time to go shopping lol.

What exactly is the catechism? I am starting to look at it on the web and trying to figure out how it ties in to the church and the bible. Thanks again and sorry if I seem dense.

Also for some reason I was surprised to hear read the new testement from any bible. I always thought other versions may have lost more of the original do to translation issues and things.
Click to expand...
I have one more item to recommend to you after seeing your question on repetitive prayer. It only costs $2.99 and will offer verses to answer most question protestants pose to Catholics. It’s called the Catholic Verse Finder. I love mine and try keep it with me at all times. I made a copy and put it in my Bible.

May the peace of the Lord be with you,
Prodigal Son1
 
Let me strongly recommend Thomas Howard’s On Being Catholic, practically a love letter to his adopted Church.

I’d also suggest G.K. Chesterton’s writings on the Catholic Church, many of which can be found in this volume and one which can be found online here.

And finally let me second the recommendations for the Catechism of the Catholic Church (which you can find many places online, but which is worth having a printed copy so you can mark it up).
 
brierpatch1974 said:
Thank you for the help. Now it’s time to go shopping lol.

What exactly is the catechism? I am starting to look at it on the web and trying to figure out how it ties in to the church and the bible. Thanks again and sorry if I seem dense.

Also for some reason I was surprised to hear read the new testement from any bible. I always thought other versions may have lost more of the original do to translation issues and things.
Click to expand...
As someone already suggested going to www.usccb.org to find the catechism. You might find this helpful in answering your question…

usccb.org/catechism/index.htm
 
brierpatch1974 said:
What exactly is the catechism? I am starting to look at it on the web and trying to figure out how it ties in to the church and the bible. Thanks again and sorry if I seem dense.
Click to expand...
From the Apostolic Constitution, written by Pope John Paul II and printed at the beginning of the Catechism:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved 25 June last and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith and thus a valid and legitimate instrument for ecclesial communion. May it serve the renewal to which the Holy Spirit ceaselessly calls the Church of God, the Body of Christ, on her pilgrimage to the undiminished light of the Kingdom!

BTW, I like this online version: scborromeo.org/ccc.htm
 
Catholicism for Dummies would also be my choice for Catholicism 101. For Catholicism 102 try The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions by Mike Aquilina and Regis Flaherty.
 
One book that I really liked reading is The Catholic Way: Faith for Living Today. Bishop Wuerl does a great job explaining the Catechism, and each chapter ends with a couple of questions for the reader to ponder. Be sure to use the Look Inside option and read a bit of it! 👍
 
Try Why Do Catholics Do That? Sorry to say I don’t know the author offhand.
 
IMO another good compilation of the information from the Catechism is Peter Kreeft’s Catholic Christianity. It was one of the textbooks for my Intro to Catholicism class in college, and I found it to be very easy to read and digest.
 
brierpatch1974 said:
What exactly is the catechism? I am starting to look at it on the web and trying to figure out how it ties in to the church and the bible. Thanks again and sorry if I seem dense.
Click to expand...
No need to apologize—there really is a lot to learn. [Recently, an Australian bishop was accosted at the train station by a man who angrily said “There’s just one thing I don’t understand about the Catholic Church…” The bishop surprised him by replying, “Really? I’m a bishop, and there are a lot of things I don’t understand.” ]

Just take it slow and go down any road you find interesting or need answers to.

The Catechism is simply a Church summary of Christian doctrine, belief and thought. Every once in a while the Church makes a new one. You can get a full version or a shortened version called a ‘compendium’.

One great idea I heard on here was to use the Catechism as a bible study. It’s one of the best ideas I’ve ever come across. (Whoever that was—please pop in and take credit!)

Other than that—I will do what is one of the easiest and best things to do on this board—say “ditto” to PuzzleAnnie. She always has good advice:
puzzleannie said:
the vatican website has great stuff, but is not the first stop for someone looking for the basics

Catholicism for Dummies is the first book I would recommend (the yellow one, at most bookstores or amazon, not the orange idiot’s guide). Fr. Trigilio has a good section on how to begin reading the bible as well as what goes on at Mass, Catholic prayer and practices etc.

start with the New Testament in any bible. easier to read than the KJV are the New American Bible and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition. If English is your second language or your reading is below grade level, try the Good News Translation Catholic Version.

start in and read the Gospel of Mark, which you can do in one or two sittings

you can access the bible and the catechism also on the bishop’s website (easier to navigate than the same thing on the vatican site) usccb.org

for an easier, very search friendly catechism (statement of Catholic belief) go to catholicity.com and browse the searchable catechism. the also have links to great Catholic websites.

then come back here when you have specific questions.

welcome home!
Click to expand...
The only thing I’ll add about the Cath-for-Dummies book is that the title of that series is very off-putting. Good book—bad title.

Whoops–almost forgot: One fantastic book for ANY Catholic is Michael Dubriel’s The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You
 
brierpatch1974 said:
Hello again everyone, I was just wondering if someone could list 3 or 4 books to read that would be good for somone looking into the catholic church. Not to be offensive with this but kinda like a catholicism 101.
Books that will teach about the church and beliefs and how to go about joining the church and other things to get somone like me, who doesn;t know much, started on the path.
Also What bible do the Catholics use? I must admit the only one I have read from growing up was my moms King James version and I havent really read much of it.
Thanks for the guidance and all the support everyone has given me. I truely appreciate it.

BP
Click to expand...
If you want to know the Church’s teachings in detail, The Catechism of the Catholic Church is one of the best places to start with.

As for the Bible, Catholics aren’t restricted on using a single Bible version, but some of the good ones out there you can choose from are the Douay-Rheims Version (you’ll find that it is very similar to the King James Version; which is because the Douay-Rheims New Testament was one of the Bible versions the translators of the KJV looked into for influence); or if you prefer more modern (and much more readable) ones, I’ll recommend:

-The , Catholic EditionRevised Standard Version (Definitely the top one on my list)

-The New American Bible (note that some Catholics have an issue with this translation’s footnotes, prefaces and some elements of the translation itself, so it’s better to take this one with a grain of salt)

-The Jerusalem Bible

As for reading the Bible, it would be better if you start on the New Testament, at the Gospel of Mark (as it is the shortest and most ‘action-packed’ of the Four Gospels).
 
brierpatch1974 said:
Also for some reason I was surprised to hear read the new testement from any bible. I always thought other versions may have lost more of the original do to translation issues and things.
Click to expand...
Yes, some things do get ‘lost in translation’, and different versions of the Bible might render the text literally or paraphrase it in a manner, but it’s worth getting a newer translation of the Bible than the KJV, since Biblical scholarship had advanced in many ways since the time the KJV was translated.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top