Need book recommendation for lapsed Catholic

[Alex1]

I wish to re-ignite interest in Catholicism in a friend that’s never been catechised, nor has attended church. I think he still identifies himself as Catholic though his knowledge/interest in Catholicism and religion in general is minimal.

Any books that would work well for this type of person? Must be light, readable, and enjoyable if possible.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Are you sure a book is the best way to reach this person?

Since you’re friends, perhaps you could invite him to come to various activities with you to see what’s going on in the church.

One time you might invite him to Mass, another time to a lecture, another time to a Taize prayer service or to help with making sandwiches to feed the hungry. These things don’t have to be all at once, but maybe try one and see what happens, then try another.

I think the best way to bring someone into the faith (or to return to the faith) is to show them what joy you experience from your own practice of the faith.

I read someplace about a survey that was done with returning Catholics. They were asked why they hadn’t returned to the Church sooner. The most common answer was “no one ever asked me.”

So offer an invitation! Put out the welcome mat for your friend.

 

[Mark77]

**Catholic Answers has a booklet entitled “Pillar of Fire, Pillar of Truth”, which is a concise & fantastic starting point. **

Here’s an excerpt from the section entitled "Incomplete Christianity Is Not Enough"

"When, centuries ago, they split away from the Catholic Church, the theological ancestors of these Christians eliminated some authentic beliefs and added new ones of their own making. The forms of Christianity they established are really incomplete Christianity.

Only the Catholic Church was founded by Jesus, and only it has been able to preserve all Christian truth without any error—and great numbers of people are coming to see this.

It can be found on the CA website under “Library-Booklets”, here’s the link: catholic.com/library/pillar.asp

If he is interested in reading more, i strongly recommend Peter Kreeft’s book Catholic Christianity which is published by Ignatius Press.

If he’s not a book reader, there are many wonderful websites, starting with CA!

i love Steve Ray, a convert who despite most Catholic’s apathy & ignorance of the Fullness of Truth contained only in their own Catholic Faith, converted after reading the Early Church Fathers & realizing the Catholic Church is the only One, Holy, Catholic & Apostolic Church! His story is here; catholic-convert.com/about/why-im-catholic/*

Good Luck!

Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, Ora Pro Nobis Peccatoribus!

mark*

 

[oldsinnner]

I wish to re-ignite interest in Catholicism in a friend that’s never been catechised, nor has attended church. I think he still identifies himself as Catholic though his knowledge/interest in Catholicism and religion in general is minimal.

Any books that would work well for this type of person? Must be light, readable, and enjoyable if possible.

I recommend Thomas Kempis ‘Imitation of Christ’. You can jump around easily from topic to topic or read it through cover to cover in linear fashion. IOC offers advice on various matters in a QA format that is quite interesting. It’s a perfect book for the cynical. haha…I would love to be able to talk to THAT cat in depth. Also, the first 4 chapters of Gary Wills ‘What Paul Meant’. The whole book is worthy but the first few chapters are gold. And it’s short and sweet and to the point. That is some fascinating and excellent reading. Neither cost more than $8 at the local Catholic book store. Also, LIves of the Saints. $7.50. Catholic Book Publishing.

 

[Scoobyshme]

If you think your friend might also be interested in “hearing” some good Catholic material, I would invite you to point him to my website:

alabamacatholicresources.com

It’s full of free .mp3’s by well-known Catholic men and women.

There’s also some .pdf files he can read online on on his iPod (if he has one) here:

alabamacatholicresources.com/Catholic_PDFs.html

Here are some of my favorite:

The Mass Explained (by Fr. Larry Richards)
alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/The_Mass_Explained.mp3

Confession Explained (by Fr. Larry Richards)
alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Confession.mp3

The Natural Law (by Dr. Charles Rice)
alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Natural_Law-1.mp3

The Rock Subculture (by Dr. John Rao)
alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/Rock_Subculture.mp3

Happiness (by Dr. Peter Kreeft)
alabamacatholicresources.com/Downloads/peter-kreeft_happiness.mp3

 

[Alex1]

Thanks guys. He’s in another state, so I can’t invite him to Mass, etc, with me.

Because his interest is so minimal, I have about one shot at getting his interest. I almost need something that makes the case for why Religion is important in the first place, why we must attend church, etc. As if evangelizing to a pagan.

 

[Scoobyshme]

Thanks guys. He’s in another state, so I can’t invite him to Mass, etc, with me.

Because his interest is so minimal, I have about one shot at getting his interest. I almost need something that makes the case for why Religion is important in the first place, why we must attend church, etc. As if evangelizing to a pagan.

Alex,

In such cases, I recommend the following approach (or one similar to it):

1. Pray, pray, pray. We always go to God about man, before going to man about God.
2. Offer sacrifices and acts of self-denial. Fasting is effective.
3. Get others to pray and fast for you. If you don’t want to give names, just say “for the conversion of a great sinner.”
4. THEN, ask God what to send him. I don’t know him that well, so it would be hard to say. Is he intellectual, or more emotional-based like most Americans?

The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen once told a story that relates. He said he was in the confessional at the cathedral one Saturday night hearing confessions. A young lady came in and said, “I’m not here to go to confession. I just want to kill a little time.” He asked her, “Oh, and how much time would you like to kill?” She said, “About five minutes.” He asked, “Who are you trying to fool?” She said, “My mother.” He asked, “Are you afraid?” She said, “Yes!” He said, “Well, if you’ll let me move this little curtain on the side and turn the light on and let me look at you, I may be able to make your confession for you.” She asked, “What are you, a wise guy?” He said, “No, but if you let me look at you, I may be able to help.” So, she said, “Okay.” He turned the light on and looked at her and said, “You are a prostitute.” She said, “Yes! But that’s not all!” So, he pleaded with her for several minutes to get her to confess the rest and she wouldn’t. She left. So, he said every penitent that came in afterwards, regardless of what they’d done, he’d assign a rosary for the conversion of a great sinner as their penance. When confession finished, he went up to the altar and knelt before the Blessed Sacrament and prayed for that young lady. 9:00. 10:00. 11:00. About midnight, he heard the door to the cathedral open and suspected it was the police coming to see why the lights were still on. He turned around and it was that young lady, in tears, ready to finish her confession and make things right with God. He said the price for her soul had been “paid.” Some souls are expensive (St. Monica prayed for St. Augustine for 30 years before he converted!) and some souls are cheap. We just need to pray and offer sacrifice for them!

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Thanks guys. He’s in another state, so I can’t invite him to Mass, etc, with me.

Because his interest is so minimal, I have about one shot at getting his interest. I almost need something that makes the case for why Religion is important in the first place, why we must attend church, etc. As if evangelizing to a pagan.

Try Matthew Kelly’s Rediscovering Catholicism.
It is a very enjoyable, well written book that is very appealing to someone who may have questions about why faith is important and the hows & of living a truly authentic catholic life.

You can find the book at www.matthewkelly.org