Recommend Any Books About TC?

[James224]

I am a book worm like no tomorrow I was wondering if there were any books on Traditional Catholicism that would be a good read. Thank you!

I have read many books put out by Tan Books which I think is now owned by Benedict Press. Search either one. One author that’s not real well known except in very traditional circles that I love to read is books by Solange Hertz. She has degrees in history and writes books about history with a strong prophetic bent. Very traditional!

 

[JReducation]

Sure. Personality, temperament, personal tastes, educational background – all these can affect our individual response to one work vs. another, while we can still appreciate things on a more objective level.

Rodriguez’s systematic treatment of his subject matter appeals to me, while it avoids being too synthetic (i.e. there are plenty of stories and anecdotes and colorful analogies to keep it from being a dry manual of ascetical principles). I’m a computer programmer, and when I write something or try to solve a problem my first instinct is to chop up the subject into logical parts and start moving through them one by one. Likewise, when studying a new subject, I gravitate toward treatments of it (books, etc.) that take the same approach.

Take the late Fr. Dubay’s (may he rest in peace) book Fire Within. It’s well-written, but to be honest I had a hard time “applying” it in my life. Whereas when I hit upon Rodriguez, I felt like I’d found a spiritual home in which I could take up shelter and find nourishment. Other souls might have quite the opposite reaction. That being said, I readily point folks to Dubay’s works if they’re looking for solid resources on the spiritual life and contemplative prayer, especially if they demonstrate some attraction to Carmelite spirituality.

Anyway, I don’t want to divert this thread, but just thought I’d follow up.

I see what you’re saying. I tend to recommend books that I like. That’s possible weakness of mine, not the book’s. I don’t like works that are systematic as much as works that have a big picture. I’m right-brained.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[JReducation]

Of those listed I’m familiar with…

I dunno, Of Rahner and some, not all, of his like minded colleagues … Humani generis

There is just so much to read. Thanks for the review of his works. I’m sure that all those Nouvelle Théologie thinkers had their own individual views, but when a pope writes against such thought in general, I think those not fully studied in theology could be swayed in a not so orthodox manner. With your education, yes, you are qualified to discern what may be questionable.

I admit, I haven’t read anything by Rahner, just of him. I have seen nothing by H.H. to worry about.

I agree that Rahner and even several of the classics shouldn’t be read outside of a reading group, a course or without the guidance of someone who understands his talking points and can point out where he’s right, where he’s wrong and where he has not been proven either right to wrong.

Don’t rest so sure on His Holiness. There are people out there, especially very conservative people, who have a problem with his writings in ecclesiology and moral development. I don’t have problems with them, but some people believe that he deviates from traditional thinking. In fact, he does not, he simply brings out principles and ideas that were always in the mind of the great popes, doctors and other Catholic theologians, but are rarely discussed. Also, he is not a Thomist, though he is very familiar with Aquinas. But that’s not his method. He is a blend between Augustine and Bonaventure. His writings fit into the Augustinian-Franciscan.school. Nonetheless, he takes you to the right place, if you follow along and wait to get to the end so that you can see the scope. Like Augustine and Bonaventure, Benedict paints a picture. If you cite one sentence of his work, you may find that he’ll disagree with you. This happens a lot with his talks. People cite something that he says and he comes back later and said, “I never said that.” He wants you go think about his sujbect from the first letter to the last period.

My guess is that this is why he likes Rahner and uses him a lot in his own writings. Rahner paints big pictures. You don’t always agree with the picture, but you certainly learn to appreciate his method. His methodology is fascinating.

I failed to mention another one of my favorites who is a good read for those interested in a non-traditional defense of tradition: John Henry Newman. He’s awesome. He’s another one that has to be read from cover to cover or you’ll miss the whole point. I remember having to read his Development of Doctrine in two nights for a class.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF

 

[CradleCath]

I am a book worm like no tomorrow I was wondering if there were any books on Traditional Catholicism that would be a good read. Thank you!

I’d suggest anything written by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. I’ve read much of & much about today’s Theologians, but just last year…I returned to Bishop Sheen, who was actually **part **of Traditional Catholicism, who was actually present as priest, bishop & Archbishop during the “glory years” (may they come again) of Catholicism here in the US. My favorite of his books is Calvary & The Mass. An excerpt:

“Picture then the High Priest Christ leaving the sacristy of heaven for the altar of Calvary. He has already put on the vestment of our human nature, the maniple of our suffering, the stole of priesthood, the chasuble of the Cross. Calvary is his cathedral; the rock of Calvary is the altar stone; the sun turning to red is the sanctuary lamp; Mary and John are the living side altars; the Host is His Body; the wine is His Blood. He is upright as Priest, yet He is prostrate as Victim. His Mass is about to begin.”

archbishopsheencause.org/the-cause

 

[preV2tradcath]

I’d suggest anything written by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen. I’ve read much of & much about today’s Theologians, but just last year…I returned to Bishop Sheen, who was actually **part **of Traditional Catholicism, who was actually present as priest, bishop & Archbishop during the “glory years” (may they come again) of Catholicism here in the US. My favorite of his books is Calvary & The Mass. An excerpt:

“Picture then the High Priest Christ leaving the sacristy of heaven for the altar of Calvary. He has already put on the vestment of our human nature, the maniple of our suffering, the stole of priesthood, the chasuble of the Cross. Calvary is his cathedral; the rock of Calvary is the altar stone; the sun turning to red is the sanctuary lamp; Mary and John are the living side altars; the Host is His Body; the wine is His Blood. He is upright as Priest, yet He is prostrate as Victim. His Mass is about to begin.”

archbishopsheencause.org/the-cause

Thank you for the quote from Bishop Sheen. That is one of the best on the Mass that I have seen in a long time.