Good books to read

[Mamanurse]

Since returning to the faith a few years ago I am becoming more interested in learning about church history, how different traditions came to be, and anything else regarding our faith in general that will help me be better at defending it when the time comes. Any suggestions would be great!! Thanks!!

 

[JimG]

When it comes to Church history, James Hitchcock’s “History of the Catholic Church–From the Apostolic Age to the Third Millennium,” is pretty extensive. But there are lots of others.

 

[fred_conty]

THE (EARLY) CHURCH HISTORY, by Eusebius, first 300 years, very interesting.

WHY CATHOLICS ARE RIGHT, by Michael Coren. Apologetical book on crusades and other history.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by Joe Orlandis

Bible History by Henry G Graham
Where we got the Bible
catholicapologetics.info/apologetics/protestantism/wbible.htm​

May God bless and keep you. May God’s face shine on you. May God be kind to you and give you peace.

 

[adawgj]

This isn’t too history like.

Eucharistic Miracles by Joan Carrol Cruz is really good.

 

[landon13]

“One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic: The Early Church was the Catholic Church” by Kenneth Whitehead

 

[Neofight]

Acts of the Apostles by Luke

 

[novusCatholic]

**Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper **(Dr. Brant Pitre).

**The Fathers Know Best **(Jimmy Akin).

The Faith of the Early Fathers Vol. 1 (William Jurgens).

**Unabridged Christianity: Biblical Answers to Common Questions About the Catholic Faith **(Fr. Mario Romero).

**A Biblical Walk Through the Mass **(Dr. Edward Sri).

 

[Michael_Allen]

A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years by Diarmaid MacCulloch is a superb magnum opus written from an independent academic perspective. Prof. MacCulloch is Professor of the History of the Church in the University of Oxford. He also wrote a superb book, ‘Reformation’, on the theological and political schisms of the 1500s (though the Reformation is also covered in his larger work).

If you want books that just give a Catholic perspective then these aren’t books to read. If you want books that explore the different theological and political perspectives with academic rigor, from perhaps the world’s leading Church historian, then these are just the ticket.

God bless +

Michael

 

[Bradys_Dad]

I would highly recommend 2 books by Louis Bouyer if you’d like insight into the fundamental Protestant perspective: The Spirit and Forms of Protestantism and The Word, Church, and Sacraments: In Protestantism and Catholicism. Both of these works are charitable and insightful. I learned a great deal on the foundations of Protestantism as seen by the early Reformers.