Catholic Fiction

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Can anyone suggest some good fiction with Catholic values? I and my wife have run across a series of books by Michael D. O’Brien. Excellent fiction on the “last days”. My wife is now reading the Children of the Last Days series. Are the books by Bud McFarland any good?
 
I found Bud McFarlane’s books to be page turners, but not what I would call “good”. They can tend to be preachy, and on a number of occasions he puts in caricature homosexuals / feminists / you name it in order to criticise their beliefs. I’m no fan of these philosophies, but the clumsy technique grated on me. He also holds a view of the future that is heavily coloured by various reported Marian apparitions, even those refused authentication by the Church. That’s not necessary a bad thing, but some folks will find it annoying.
 
I’m reading Bud MacFarland’s Conceived Without Sin. It’s really lovely to be able to read a book in which the characters are unabashedly, non-apologizing-for-their-Faith -yet-NOT-in-your-face Catholics!

He’s got three that you can get for free:

Pierced by a Sword
Conceived Without Sin
House of Gold

Yup, it’s fiction. But gotta give credit to MacFarland for making a point about his characters clearly being Catholic and how their Faith works in their lives as the stories unfold.

literature-reviews.com/Conceived_Without_Sin_096463161X.html

Amazon sells Conceived Without Sin for $4.00.

I got mine, and two other Bud MacFarland books, for free from Catholicity.

catholicity.com/

Look on the left side of Catholicity’s Home page for the links to:

Free Catholic CDs & Tapes
Life-changing talks from the Mary Foundation, the world’s largest producer of CDs/tapes.

Free Catholic Novels
America’s favorite Catholic novels from Saint Jude Media, America’s Leading Publisher of Catholic Fictio.
catholicity.com/saintjude/

Pierced by a Sword

This heart-pounding classic is must-reading for every Catholic. Discover why America’s best-loved Catholic novelist has thrilled, inspired, and surprised over one million readers who simply could not put this unforgettable epic down.

(Read more description and feedback about Pierced by a Sword here)
catholicity.com/saintjude/pbs.html

(Meantime, read feedback about Pierced by a Sword here)
Get ready for a journey of epic proportions–rather, cosmic proportions. This book is a little treasure, a marvel. This is an adventure, a comedy, a tragedy, a turbulent odyssey and a peaceful stroll. Most of all, this is a love story like no other I have ever read. A new kind of love story. I’ll see you inside…"

~Michael D. O’Brien
Author of Father Elijah

Satisfied My Restless Heart
(comments by A Visitor from Spring Hill, Florida)
“Pierced By A Sword” is an unbelievable story. I wish it was true. I am moved to tears everytime I open it. Read more testimonies.

** Conceived Without Sin**

From the raging summer waters of the New Jersey shore to the peaceful solitude of cold winter nights on Lake Erie, you will plunge deep into a story about men and marriage with characters who will stay with you for a lifetime.

(Read more description and feedback about Conceived Without Sin here)
catholicity.com/saintjude/cws.html

One strange and wonderful thing about Bud Macfarlane’s storytelling is that his people are so loved by the author that they grab you and hold you. This novel is plainly a story of love and marriage and friendship and conversion. Supernatural forces weave in and out, as they must do in real stories of the faith.

~Thomas W. Case
Author of Moonie Buddhist Catholic

Amazing… Glad to have Catholic fiction around!
(comments by Bethany from Texas)
I’ve read all three Saint Jude Media books. I loved every single one of them. “Conceived Without Sin” is my favorite. I can’t wait to have my soon-to-be husband read it! (May 8, 2004 is the wedding date). Wonderful work, by a wonderful author. Glad to have Catholic fiction around! Write more! Read more testimonies.

** House of Gold**

A life-changing adventure about courage, suffering, and redemption. A vision for all time. Take the “long walk” with Buzz Woodward on the way of the Cross through a world of darkness.

(Read more description and feedback about House of Gold here)
catholicity.com/saintjude/gold.html

You won’t read a more timeless novel than House of Gold – even if you are reading it one hundred years after it was first published. It offers suffering. I know that sounds strange, but you will love the suffering inside its pages. It’s honest, authentic, gut-wrenching. It’s real. I believe this is Bud Macfarlane’s best work. It offers the Cross. Can you take it?

~John D. O’Brien, Editor
Conceived Without Sin and Father Elijah

“Everyday” Catholics
(comments by Heather B. from Baltimore, MD)
I read all of the books. I could not put them down. I enjoyed them so much because they showed how “everyday” Catholics can live in society and be true to the Faith. Most of us wonder how to live in the world but not be of the world. In a non-threatening way these books show you how. Thaks for helping me live my Faith! Read more testimonies.

Hope this helps!
 
Some oldies but goodies:
The World, the Flesh, and Father Smith
Brother Petroc’s Return
The Mass of Brother Michael (I think that’s right)
In This House of Brede

I read very little modern fiction - I guess it’s because I’m in my crone or geezer-ette years - but these are worth reading over & over.
 
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BillFL:
Can anyone suggest some good fiction with Catholic values? I and my wife have run across a series of books by Michael D. O’Brien. Excellent fiction on the “last days”. My wife is now reading the Children of the Last Days series. Are the books by Bud McFarland any good?
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www.Catholicity.com

Bud macfarlane has written some pretty good books…
 
Graham Greene
Flannery O’Connor
Evelyn Waugh
Rumer Godden
Michael O’Brien
 
any of the many novels by Shusaku Endo, who was a Japanese Catholic writer. “Silence” is probably his best known, but more recently available works include “Stained Glass Elegies” and “Song of Sadness.” And I second the choice of Graham Greene.
 
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy”

Amazon.com offers a paperback box set for $20 (though most every public library has them).

A Catholic author, overtly displaying Catholic values, in these excellent works of fantasy.
 
I enjoyed the following fictional apologetics stories: A Philadelphia Catholic in King James Court by Martin Porres Kennedy and How Firm A Foundation by Marcus Grodi which is at a higher level.
 
There is plenty of Catholic Fiction Just visit any anti-catholic site…O wait that is not what you had in mind is it…?
 
Take a look at the novels of Ron Hansen. I just finished his novel Atticus, a modern re-telling of the parable of the prodigal son.

And I can’t recommend enough Flannery O’Connor. Very Catholic, yet, interestingly enough, Catholic characters hardly every appear in her stories…
 
Bill,

“The Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc” by Mark Twain.

Bill
 
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jmacclure:
J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings Trilogy”

Amazon.com offers a paperback box set for $20 (though most every public library has them).

A Catholic author, overtly displaying Catholic values, in these excellent works of fantasy.
Click to expand...
I’ll take Frodo over Harry any day of the week… and twice on Sunday!

Is anybody around here catching that the Harry Potter stuff is driven by non-Christian values… and the Rings stuff driven by Christian values?

Freaks me out no end that kids are getting (no… HAVE gotten) hooked on the New Age stuff put out by Harry Potter’s author.

And NO… I do NOT care that “kids will read if they can read about Harry’s adventures.”

That’s a straw man argument. Not valid, at all.

I learned to read by reading all kinds of Tolkein. Just wish I’d heard about G.K. Chesterton before I hit my 40’s!

Oh… another good piece of “Catholic” fiction is Madeleine L’Engle’s book “A Wrinkle in Time” where Meg and Charles Wallace meet Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Whozit…

And the series “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis! It wasn’t till I hit my teens did I recognize who Aslan really is!
 
I have to agree that LOTR is definitely excellent Catholic fiction. J.R.R. Tolkien was devoutly Catholic, and this rubbed off in the trilogy, besides the obviously battle of good vs. evil:

When Frodo asks Gandalf how the ring came to him (Frodo), rather then returning to its master, Gandalf states that perhaps some other power not of this world was at work. This is a referance to divine providence.

There is another scene in Return of the King (not sure if it is in the book, but still good) where Gandalf and Pippin are in Minas Tirith, which has been invaded, and it seems to be the end. Pippin asks Gandalf about it being the end, and he replies that “Death is only part of the journey.” This is another reference to spiritual matters.

There are other, less obvious allusions, and this is definitely a book with religious influences. Definitely much better than Harry Potter. 👍

Peace,
Alex
 
I read a book recently called A Miracle for Saint Cecilia’s by Katherine Valentine that was both funny and touching. There’s certainly no deep theology to it but it is a good story about the trials and tribulations of a small town parish about to be closed by the diocese.

It’s not the sort of book I typically read. I found it at Borders completely by accident one day and I ended up really enjoying it. There’s a sequel to it that I have not read yet called A Gathering of Angels I believe.
 
One I really loved was The Last Fisherman: A Novel of the Last Pope, the Antichrist and the End of the Age, by Randy England.

Not only was it entertaining but it also help teach me what the Church teaches about the “End Times”.
 
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BillFL:
Can anyone suggest some good fiction with Catholic values? I and my wife have run across a series of books by Michael D. O’Brien. Excellent fiction on the “last days”. My wife is now reading the Children of the Last Days series. Are the books by Bud McFarland any good?
Click to expand...
I think they are superb … and I wish he would write some new ones. They were my first in Catholic Fiction. Excellent! 👍

They actually brought my sister back to the Catholic Church - she ran to the Fundamental Baptist Church! :eek:
 
Veronica_Anne said:
And NO… I do NOT care that “kids will read if they can read about Harry’s adventures.”

That’s a straw man argument. Not valid, at all.
Oh… another good piece of “Catholic” fiction is Madeleine L’Engle’s book “A Wrinkle in Time” where Meg and Charles Wallace meet Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Whozit…
Click to expand...
I agree–reading the tripe of Harry Potter will not influence kids to tackle other things. Not all reading is created equal. It’s like saying “letting your kids watch Pokemon will influence them to watch the news.”

I had to laugh at the “Mrs. Whozit.” It’s Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Which and Mrs. Who. L’Engle came up with the names on a long drive across the US long before she had the story. Did you know she took a lot of heat from more Fundamentalist types for that book? Because it had a happy medium give the kids some help. L’Engle meant it as a joke–Meg said she needed to find a “happy medium” in her life, so she did. But for a long time, her books actually got banned and protested over it.
 
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