Help! Can you recommend a good book for my parents?

[justbeinfrank]

I recently had a disturbing discussion with my parents about Catholicism. Basically, the problem is that they never really thought *seriously *about the Catholic faith.

My mom says things like, “Everyone thinks their religion is true. How do you know ours is?”

My dad says things like, “I don’t think you *need *to go to church on Sundays”, “I don’t think you *need *to confess your sins to a priest”, etc.

They both doubt the authority of the Church (especially in light of the recent scandals). They don’t understand what Sacred Tradition is.

They raised me Catholic, made sure I received the sacraments, brought me to Mass (usually), and enrolled me in C.C.D. But they were never really converted, if that makes sense. They were never seized by the Truth. And so they naturally have these doubts, and they have become cafeteria Catholics. They assume that the Catholic Church is just another Christian denomination; just another option on the smorgasbord of religions. Presumably, they go to Mass because it makes them feel good or they feel some basic obligation to do so because it’s how they were raised.

But I worry they don’t have a *saving faith! *

Are there any good books (or other resources) out there that people could recommend for my parents?

Thanks!!

 

[ChiroCatholic]

What has built your faith? You were raised with those beliefs presumedly, and yet sound strongly convicted of the Truth. Perhaps you could share whatever helped turn your heart.

 

[Fidelis]

Start them out with something that will get them thinking. I’d recommend Scott Hahn’s Rome Sweet Home" or any of the “Surprised By Truth” conversion stories edited by Patrick Madrid. Many lukewarm Catholics have had their faith renewed by these books, especially Hahn’s.

 

[Curious]

I found “Surprised by Truth” a great read…I’ve only read one of them - the one by Patrick Madrid. It was really good and pretty easy reading.

If you find them a “Surprised by Truth” book and they like it and are interested in reading more, maybe you can move on to “Catholicism and Fundamentalism.” I bought a copy and lent it to my mother, and told her to refute it if she could. She said she’d try. I couldn’t.

 

[carol_marie]

I’d reccomend Jeff Cavins “My Life on the Rock” He talks about he grew up Catholic and as an adult decided he didn’t believe the Catholic Church was true. He became a Protestant Pastor and then realized he had made a big mistake. He came back to the Church. Great, easy read…