What books are in the Essential Catholic Library?

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I firmly believe we are all ambassadors for the Lord so as a newbie to the church, there are books I recommend that are good books for the beginner:
If you don’t have a good basis, the deep theological books are pointless. Plus what is great is that they are great books to have on your shelf in case you meet someone who is curious about the Catholic church. They are simple an easy to read. I read several of them during my exploration. The Al Kresta book, Catholicism for dummies, youcat, as well as the bible, I would put as my top four. They are great starters.
 
TrueLight said:
I’m curious. Why the Rule of St Benedict?
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I think it is an excellent choice.

If more people made an attempt to follow it their own lives would be improved greatly, one does not have to be a professed religious to make use of it.

BTW, I approve of your suggestion as well. Devout Life by St Francis de Sales has always been one of my favorites.
 
Hesychios said:
I think it is an excellent choice.

If more people made an attempt to follow it their own lives would be improved greatly, one does not have to be a professed religious to make use of it.
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Agreed. In addition, most of the other orders and congregations look to the Rule of Saint Benedict when discussing and interpreting obedience, even within the other Rules. Brother JR has mentioned on here multiple times that if you want to understand how Francis, Teresa, etc. understood obedience then you need to read Benedict.

I would throw in the Rule of Saint Augustine as well. I believe it is the most widely used Rule.
 
RSV Bible, CCC, Intro to the Devout Life, The Mass (Fortescue), Divine Intimacy, Way/Furrow/Forge (St Josemaria)
 
alwayslooking said:
It has been about one year ago that I started really getting into the nuts and bolts of Catholicism. This was helped by a graduate school roommate introducing me to the Extraordinary Form of Mass.

In this past year I have read dozens of books by 20th century authors (an entire four level bookshelf). I’d like to start reading the classics. My best friend of mine is a Lutheran pastor and for years I have noticed his stack of books on a shelf above his desk; these books are as he calls then (I don’t know if this collection has a formal name) the essential books of Lutheranism. They are a Study Bible, prayer book, a service book, Luther’s Confessions, and ect.

With Catholicism being so much older, having had far more great scholars than any protestant denomination,being far more diverse than any single denomination, and being able to claim a founder who left know writings of his own; what would books would our list of essentials contain?

If you, as a Catholic were to compose a list of say 25 books as the essential books of Catholic study, and practice: What would they be?

I’d start with the following:
  • Haydock’s Catholic Bible Commentary
  • Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
  • An Ordinary Form Missal
  • An Extraordinary Form Missal
  • A Brivary
  • The Imitation of Christ
  • Catena Aurea
  • Summa Theologica
  • The Rule of Saint Benedict
  • A strong prayer book such as “Handbook of Prayers”, “Manual of Prayers”, “Blessed Be God”, “Blessed Sacrament Prayer Book”
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Compendium of Catholic Social Justice Doctrine
 
Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition
Missal
Divine Office
Shorter Book of Blessings
Code of Canon Law and a commentary
A Catholic encyclopaedia
The documents of the Second Vatican Council
Story of a Soul, St. Therese of Lisieux
 
jwinch2 said:
Bonaventura: The Minds Road to God

Augustine: The Confessions of Saint Augustine

Catherine of Siena: The Dialogue

Chesterton: Orthodoxy

Irenaeus of Lyons: Against the Heresies
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My list above was intended to add on to the one suggested by the OP, however, it seems that others are giving their complete list so I guess I will finish mine off.

US Catholic Catechism for Adults

Haydock Bible Commentary

The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers

Catechism of the Summa Theologica

Catholicism for Dummies

Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church

Patrology -Volumes 1-5

The Mass of the Early Christians

The Documents of the Second Vatican Council
 
My grain de sel for the sniffing (meant to serve as a mere supplement to the above lists – obv. one gets nowhere without first having one’s 1962 Missal, Catechism, Augustine, Aquinas, &c.,):

St. Robert Southwell - complete poetic works (any edition)

William Shakespeare - Pelican Shakespeare (New York: Penguin, 2002)

Richard Crashaw - complete poetic works (any edition)

John Dryden - complete poetic works (any edition)

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman - An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Assent, The Idea of a University, Apologia Pro Vita Sua,* Selected Sermons, Prayers, and Devotions* (New York: Vintage, 1999)

Gerard Manley Hopkins - complete poetic works (any edition)

Evelyn Waugh - Edmund Campion, Brideshead Revisited, and Helena

Eamon Duffy - The Stripping of the Altars

Pope Benedict XVI - The Spirit of the Liturgy, Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration,* Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week: From the Entrance Into Jerusalem To The Resurrection*

Ian Kerr - John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton
 
Canons And Decrees Of The Council Of Trent
Fundamentals Of Catholic Dogma by Ludwig Ott
The Life Of Christ by Fulton Sheen
Our Lady Of Fatima by William Walsh
The Glories Of Mary by St Alphonsus Liguori
The Life Of Christ by Giuseppe Ricciotti
 
My favorites:

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a’Kempis
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales
Journal of a Soul by Pope John xx111
Story of a Soul by St. Therese
A Right to be Merry by Sr. Mary Francis
Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
Practice of the Presence of GOD by Brother Lawrence
Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
True Devotion to Mary and others by St. Louis De Montfort
In His Steps by Charles Sheldon?
Celebration of Discipline bt Richard J. Foster

Another book is 25 Books Every Christian Should Read It includes several of the above and I plan to read them all this year.
 
MaryMagdala said:
My favorites:

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a’Kempis
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis De Sales
Journal of a Soul by Pope John xx111
Story of a Soul by St. Therese
A Right to be Merry by Sr. Mary Francis
Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan
Practice of the Presence of GOD by Brother Lawrence
Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross
True Devotion to Mary and others by St. Louis De Montfort
In His Steps by Charles Sheldon?
Celebration of Discipline bt Richard J. Foster

Another book is 25 Books Every Christian Should Read It includes several of the above and I plan to read them all this year.
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So I just received my Kindle today and the first book I downloaded (just to make sure it works, you understand :p) is “Practice of the Presence of God”. Good stuff. 👍
 
TrueLight said:
So I just received my Kindle today and the first book I downloaded (just to make sure it works, you understand :p) is “Practice of the Presence of God”. Good stuff. 👍
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I’m glad to hear that.

How about adding “The Sacrament of the Present Moment” by Jean-Pierre De Caussade.

I would also add “In the School of the Holy Spirit” by Jacques Philippe.

For those into Benedictine/Monastic spirituality, “The Cistercian Way” by Andre Louf and Praying with Benedict are must reads. If it isn’t a part of a Catholic’s permanent library then “The Cistercian Way” should be at least read once, if only to get an understanding of what living the gospel in monastic life is all about. Many Catholics don’t understand this part of our faith.

-Tim-
 
Dawnia said:
Bible
Catechism of the Catholic Church
Liturgy of the Hours, 4 vol set
The Letters of St. Therese of Lisieux
Complete Works of St. Theresa of Avila
Fire Within by Dubay
Prayer Primer by Dubay
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First three to include the bible…thanks. I would also recommend that since we just updated the missal translation to niv that you have a niv concordance study bible.
I find the writings of st John Damascus, st Thomas aquinas, st francis of Assisi, and st Dominic, and st basil, in addition to other suggestions.

Vatican II is Aldo not mentioned but necessary for understanding to our pastoral effort.
 
couponfit said:
I would also recommend that since we just updated the missal translation to niv that you have a niv concordance study bible.
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NIV is a protestant translation. The missal is not using the NIV. In the United States (I notice you are from TX) we are still using the New American Bible in the missal.
 
I finished the Practice of the Presence of God. What an amazing book.

Now, I’m going to have to add it to my list of must-haves for all Catholics:

Introduction to the Devout Life
The Imitation of Christ
The Practice of the Presence of God
 
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