Which Book Increased Your Faith

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ajecphotos said:
Besides the Bible, which book/s, that you have read have really made an impact on you and your faith?

For me its St Faustina Diary and books on St Padre Pio.
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Matt Fradd and a bunch of other people’s “Delivered”, it really helped me get over a personal struggle.
Here’s an older one though, G.K. Chesterton’s, “Orthodoxy”
 
Got several books waiting to be read now 👍

Some superb recommendations. Cheers
 
Pope Francis’ “The Church of Mercy” is an outstanding read and a book I highly recommend.
 
I was raised protestant, (southern baptist to be exact) and I’ve lived almost 40 years with the biggest misconception of what it means to be ‘Catholic’. I had always felt a ‘void’ of some sort and continuously questioned ‘‘what am I missing, something just doesn’t add up’’… asking myself and others, ‘why are there so many different religions, churches’, etc… and which one is ‘‘the right one’’, and not once did Catholicism EVER cross my mind because I was so ignorant and believed all the common misconceptions that typical protestants and I’m sure other religions believed… such as the Blessed Virgin Mary is equal to God, or that the Pope is infallible… oh too many to type… Well, about a year ago, I can’t really explain the actual events… but something very spiritual happened within me when I was praying one afternoon and not understanding at all why I ended up at a Catholic church two days later talking to a priest!?.. now I have almost completed RCIA and the best book (other than The Holy Bible), which I’m reading now is My Catholic Faith by Louis L. Morrow. It’s really a textbook, but oh my! Reading this book is like ‘‘eureka!’’ Now that I truly ‘KNOW God’ and understand and believe the Catholic Faith I can say that I love God MORE! Also, when asked by my peers what religion I am, I will never again respond by telling someone that I am not a ‘religious’ person, … rather a ‘spiritual’ one… pfft! I am indeed a religious woman and so blessed and proud to answer with, ‘‘I’m Catholic’’! This book contains many many answers along with Biblical explanations. Truly a great read, especially for people who are not certain of their faith/religion and have questions that can be answered with credible Biblical references.
 
PiperJane said:
I was raised protestant, (southern baptist to be exact) and I’ve lived almost 40 years with the biggest misconception of what it means to be ‘Catholic’. I had always felt a ‘void’ of some sort and continuously questioned ‘‘what am I missing, something just doesn’t add up’’… asking myself and others, ‘why are there so many different religions, churches’, etc… and which one is ‘‘the right one’’, and not once did Catholicism EVER cross my mind because I was so ignorant and believed all the common misconceptions that typical protestants and I’m sure other religions believed… such as the Blessed Virgin Mary is equal to God, or that the Pope is infallible… oh too many to type… Well, about a year ago, I can’t really explain the actual events… but something very spiritual happened within me when I was praying one afternoon and not understanding at all why I ended up at a Catholic church two days later talking to a priest!?.. now I have almost completed RCIA and the best book (other than The Holy Bible), which I’m reading now is My Catholic Faith by Louis L. Morrow. It’s really a textbook, but oh my! Reading this book is like ‘‘eureka!’’ Now that I truly ‘KNOW God’ and understand and believe the Catholic Faith I can say that I love God MORE! Also, when asked by my peers what religion I am, I will never again respond by telling someone that I am not a ‘religious’ person, … rather a ‘spiritual’ one… pfft! I am indeed a religious woman and so blessed and proud to answer with, ‘‘I’m Catholic’’! This book contains many many answers along with Biblical explanations. Truly a great read, especially for people who are not certain of their faith/religion and have questions that can be answered with credible Biblical references.
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I’d say the most edifying thing I’ve read recently wasn’t a book but PiperJanes’s post.
 
ajecphotos said:
Besides the Bible, which book/s, that you have read have really made an impact on you and your faith?

For me its St Faustina Diary and books on St Padre Pio.
Click to expand...
For me it was the book of Sirach in the Catholic bible ! … And I like the books of G. K. Chesterton.
 
Hat4 said:
I’d say the most edifying thing I’ve read recently wasn’t a book but PiperJanes’s post.
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Yes, yes!! Very well written post. I’ve been Catholic all my life but I would like to read this book she mentions. It sounds very exciting. 😃
 
Like so many others here, C.S. Lewis was a huge help to me. His books found me at precisely the right moment in my life to have maximum impact, not counting his Narnia books, which I’d read as a child. So without even specifying a title, his entire oeuvre was a gigantic help to me. I think they work great for both young and old alike.🙂
 
I am Protestant. I have been a Christian for over 30 years now. Catholicism has interest me since the early 80s with the stuides on church history. Even though my sister and brother-in-law converted some years ago to Catholicism, I could never make the plunge due to some theological isues. I am searching right now. I guess one of the factors that fascinated me about catholicism is Francis of Assisi. I have read many books about him but the movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” inspired me the most. I even visited John Michael Talbot’s ministry The Little Portion in Eureak Springs, Arkansas after my divorce back in the early 90s. I’m rambling.

Anyway, John MIchael Talbot’s “Simplicity” is an excellent book on those seeking to live the simple life.

I have pondered often about becoming a Third Order Franciscan. Pray for me.
 
Blackhawkk said:
I am Protestant. I have been a Christian for over 30 years now. Catholicism has interest me since the early 80s with the stuides on church history. Even though my sister and brother-in-law converted some years ago to Catholicism, I could never make the plunge due to some theological isues. I am searching right now. I guess one of the factors that fascinated me about catholicism is Francis of Assisi. I have read many books about him but the movie “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” inspired me the most. I even visited John Michael Talbot’s ministry The Little Portion in Eureak Springs, Arkansas after my divorce back in the early 90s. I’m rambling.

Anyway, John MIchael Talbot’s “Simplicity” is an excellent book on those seeking to live the simple life.

I have pondered often about becoming a Third Order Franciscan. Pray for me.
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Blackhawkk, if you’re that interested in Catholicism, may I suggest “Rediscovering Catholicism” by Matthew Kelley? It’s a very simple book written primarily to help Catholics who have struggled with understanding the basics of the faith, especially if they’ve fallen away from the Church. It’s a really great book.

The book which most increased my faith is “Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic,” also by Matthew Kelley. It was a great reminder of how to live my faith on a daily basis beyond just going to Mass on Sunday.
 
The Way – St. Josemaria. Completely changed my spiritual life for the good.
 
As strange as it may seem, Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism** by retired Episcopal bishop John Spong really got me to get back into Sacred Scripture and my Episcopal parish. I joined a four year study group called Education for Ministry (for the laity) and that four years, together with Karl Keating’s Catholicism and Fundamentalism**, eventually led me to read more about the Catholic Church and I ended up here. Spong–who I disagree with on so much now–is the spark; he got me into thinking more about things. Another influence were some of Fr. Raymond Brown’s books on scripture.
 
For me the first two books were Orthodox Christian books. One was titled “The Message of St. Seraphim of Sarov” and the other was “The Orthodox Way” written by Kallistos Ware. If there is a book that has enhanced my spiritual life by leaps and bounds later on in my life it has to be “Divine Mercy in My Soul” written by St. Maria Faustina as she had dictated the many words of our Lord Jesus Christ. This book has the potential to help unite the Church.
 
“Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist” by Brant Pitre
 
The Question Box by Rev. Bertrand L. Conway, CSP.
This book will really open your eyes and direct you towards heaven
if you just follow its teachings.
 
Father Arseny. Great book, and really made an impression on me on what we are called to do as Christians in loving others.
 
An early biography of St Thérèse of Liseuex had a great impact on me:* The Hidden Face* by Ida Görres (in German this is known as Das Verborgene Antlitz and is still read by many converts). It was originally published in the 1940s and reissued in 2003.

This biography looks at Thérèse as a mature and heroic saint, cutting through much of the insipid and sentimental way in which she is presented in much devotional literature. The psychological study of Thérèse in her troubled youth is subtle and the study of the Carmelite convent and the personality of Mother Marie de Gonzague so well grounded bu historical research. I found it prescient that Görres spent some time looking at Leonie, the sister who did not enter Carmel and who was seen as emotionally ill or immature and unable to keep the disciplines of religious life but who is now seen as possibly worthy of beatification.

This is skilful biography and not hagiography but sympathetic and astute, a classic of its kind.
 
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