Hi. I'm reading The Art of Living by Edward Sri for the second time because it's so good. It's about the four cardinal virtues. I like it so much that I also picked up Praying the Rosary Like Never Before, also by Edward Sri. What are some really good books that will help me grow as a Catholic? I'm looking for must-reads.
The best one I have read lately is "Life of Christ" by Fulton J Sheen. I downloaded it on ibooks and read a small portion each day for several months. It is inspirational and insightful. I can't recommend it highly enough. Another great one is "Poem of the Man God" by Maria Valtorta. This is actually a set of 5 books which recants, through apparitions the author was given by Christ and His Mother the New Testament. Frankly, it is so voluminous, I found it easier to buy the books on tape version and listen to them as I go about my daily work. It gave me a great deal of insight into the nature of Our Precious Lord. Another one which I think is essential reading for all Christians but especially Catholics is "The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord" by Anne Catherine Emmerich
Thanks for the response, CPilot! I’ve heard of Fulton J Sheen. I believe I’ve heard him on EWTN Radio. It’s only 45 cents on kindle! Purchased! Sorry. I’m having trouble parsing that second sentence. What did you mean? Thanks.
You didn't mention the topic. What is your topic of interest? Mysticism, Spirituality, Theology, Philosophy, Politics, Social Teaching, Patristics, Chastity, Devotions, Self Help?
Sorry, I tried to squeeze too much into a single sentence. Maria Valtorta was an Italian woman who recorded a long series of apparitions she received in the 1940s from Jesus and Mary. The apparitions recall Christ's life on earth in a series of 5 texts which together are called "The Poem of the Man-God". The books elaborate in detail the events in the New Testament as well as adding a few more complimentary ones. I must add that the church does not recognize these as authentic apparitions. However, in defense of Valtorta, I found nothing in these books which contradicts the teachings of the church but rather I found that listening to the books on tape was very inspirational to me, particularly in my quest to control my addiction. Also, Valtorta's writings have received the approval of several priests and bishops so I conclude the church is being cautious, as it must be, in giving its complete certification to these accounts. You may rightfully wonder how these books address the matter of porn addiction, for they are broad in scope. In response I say that reading/listening to the teachings of Christ in such detail, opened my mind to the gravity of my sins as well as the mercy Christ makes available to us. Also, the loving purity of Mary and her unfailing manner of kindness and understanding was incredibly inspiring to me. In addition, the description of Joseph as a loving, chaste husband and father inspires the icon I have chosen for myself in this forum. Thanks for taking the time to read my suggestions. I pray they can be as helpful to you as they are for me.
Well, I’m interested in all of that. I guess, if I had to pick one, I’m most interested in Philosophy.
St. Thomas, St. Augustine (Plato and Aristotle too), St. Edith Stein, St. John Paul II, Juan Carlos Scannone, Jacques Maritain, All the fathers of Patristics, St. Theresa of Ávila, G. K. Chesterton, H. Belloc, Dorothy Day, E. Mounier, Javier Echevarría, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton, Luigi Giussani, Heinrich Pesch, St. John of Cross, Peter Maurin, Karl Rahner, St. Óscar Romero, Alasdair MacIntyre, Antoine Frederico Ozanam, Fr. Bastos Ávila, Giorgio La Pira, Charles Peguy, S. Josemaria Escrivá, Fulton Sheen, St. Francis of Sales, and all the Popes, especially our dear Pope Francis. These are some authors that I can recommend to you. I didn't prioritize any of the interests I mentioned, I put authors of all the interests I mentioned, because many of them wrote about various subjects during their lives. I probably forgot several important authors hahaha, but these are the authors that I most appreciate.
Anything by Catholic author Matt Fradd. He’s a superb communicator. he’s got a website too with a free e-course: https://www.strive21.com/
I would recommend " the story of a soul " by st Therese of lisieux . Its awesome autobiography of a saint who loved Jesus so much #selfless love. It inspires , changes perception of love, way to see suffering,etc. I have also bought a book by sr Mariam heidland- "loved as i am" . i was inspired by conversion stories which i heard in one podcast, her flashback of addiction, sins , childhood abuses, inferior feeling, looking for many things to find love ,so on. i was stunned while the interviewer asked how could u forgive ur abuser, she said with tears he doesn't know what he is did thats y he did that, she prays for him daily,etc , i was so move seeing her happiness ,forgiveness to a extent to love him dearly, only one with God grace could do that.
Thanks for turning me on to this guy. He's clearly very brilliant. I found his Pints with Aquinas site. It’s pretty cool.
Thanks for the mention of the book "The Story of a Soul". I have wanted to read this book but felt I had too many other books on the go. Your note caused me to download a verbal copy that I can listen to while I work. Thank you!
@CPilot I just wanted to say that I've been reading the book Life of Christ and the what Fulton Sheen says about Communism vs. the West is spot on. Communists seek the cross without Christ and the West seeks Christ without the cross. Brilliant. So true. I was thinking about it today when I read a story about North Korea's Kim Jong Un. According to a state documentary they recently released, Kim's dramatic weight loss can be attributed to him working himself into the ground. In light of Fulton Sheen's piercing analysis, this makes sense. He may really be sacrificing himself for the greater good but without Christ it's all just vanity. Likewise in the West see the divorce of Christ from his cross and that makes Christ merely a spiritual teacher. Many people in the West see Christ as basically just an enlightened hippy. They don't see him as God. The result is that he can be readily dismissed and the West is mired sin up to its eyeballs.
I really liked: Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft (I would probably recommend everything I have read by Kreeft) Jesus and the Jewish Roots of the Eucharist: Unlocking the Secrets of the Last Supper by Brant J. Pitre The Discernment of Spirits: An Ignatian Guide for Everyday Living by Timothy Gallagher Between the Savior and the Sea by Bob Rice (narrative of the gospels, reads like a novel that walks through gospel story with Jesus, apostles, pharisees, romans, etc. ) Time for God by Jacques Philippe (would also recommend all that I have read by Philippe) Father Elijah: An Apocalypse by Michael O'Brien (a fictional story, but a good read)
