What books are in the Essential Catholic Library?

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Can anyone recommend a good book about St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein)?
 
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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I think The Bible should be included in your list.
 
TrueLight said:
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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Just added all 3 to my Kindle, Thanks for the Heads up on Practice of the Presence of God.👍
 
jmoneyideas said:
Just added all 3 to my Kindle, Thanks for the Heads up on Practice of the Presence of God.👍
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Awesome!

Let me add something about Introduction to a Devout life. I had heard so much about it on CAF and the priest who was giving me instruction lent me a copy as part of my instruction.

It kind of starts slowly. For example it teaches you how to pray. I remember thinking, this is for people who know nothing of prayer or God. Oh how pride speaks!

As I went along, I was floored and understood why this book should be a staple in any Catholic’s library.
 
TrueLight said:
Awesome!

Let me add something about Introduction to a Devout life. I had heard so much about it on CAF and the priest who was giving me instruction lent me a copy as part of my instruction.

It kind of starts slowly. For example it teaches you how to pray. I remember thinking, this is for people who know nothing of prayer or God. Oh how pride speaks!

As I went along, I was floored and understood why this book should be a staple in any Catholic’s library.
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I chose the enhanced version which has some little extras, Prayer is somewhat something I struggle with so this should be great.😃
 
I am reading Saint Edith Stein, A Spiritual Portrait by Dianne Marie Traffet.
I like it. It is a general bio.

I also have and have read parts of : The Hidden Life, Essays, Meditations, Spiritual Texts edited by Gelber/Linssen

Both are good books, not scholarly, but good reading.
 
Did I miss SELF ABANDONMENT TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE by Father J.P.DeCaussade on the list ?

Blessed New Year to all.😃
 
MaryMagdala said:
I am reading Saint Edith Stein, A Spiritual Portrait by Dianne Marie Traffet.
I like it. It is a general bio.

I also have and have read parts of : The Hidden Life, Essays, Meditations, Spiritual Texts edited by Gelber/Linssen

Both are good books, not scholarly, but good reading.
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Thanks Mary Ann!
 
I want to add Unabridged Christianity by Fr. Mario Romero

Excellent book on apologetics, does a great job showing Catholic beliefs found in the Bible.
 
I’ll have to put some thought into more suggestions, but off the top of my head I would definitely get a copy of the Catechism of the Council of Trent. It’s the only other universal catechism than the CCC and Trent is actually authoritative being composed under the authority of a general council of the Church.

Pax
 
YoungTradCath said:
Practically anything on www.baroniuspress.com

Simply fantastic quality books. Best you can buy practically anywhere, and only the best titles make their cut.
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Baronius does indeed make a nice quality book. Most of the books on my shelf say either: TAN, Neumann Press, Loretto or Ignatius on the side, but there are a lot of other good Catholic publishers out there as well.

Pax.
 
My Catholic Faith by Bishop Louis Morrow is a great general Catechism as well. Lots of (beautiful) pictures, and while it’s a good family resource it’s not a kiddie book. Tons of good information in there in a very useable format. There was a later edition titled Our Catholic Faith which I have not read, but have heard is not as good.

Pax
 
Evelyn Waugh Brideshead Revisited
The Power and the Glory Graham Greene
 
For those of you with e-readers, a lot of books that are past their copyrights are available for free to download! I’ve downloaded dozens of spiritual classics because they’re in the public domain, and can be made available free, or at very little cost. For instance, for Advent and Christmas, I downloaded St. Ireneaus’ “On the Incarnation” for 99 cents!

Second hand bookstores have some of these books too, depending on what town you’re in. You have to slog through a lot of dumb romance novels, but you can find them.

My list would absolutely include St. Catherine’s “Dialogue” and Humanae Vitae.
 
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