Washington Metro Catholics: Catholic Reading

Bibles

New American Bible. (NAB)

Translation used during Mass in the United States. Regarded as an easier to read, yet dignified translation. The most popular translation for Catholics.

New Revised Standard Version. (NRSV)

Dignified translation, but a more scholarly tone than the New American Bible. Translates closely to the Hebrew and Greek and approximates sentence structure of the ancient languages. Popular in university level bible courses.

Revised Standard Version. (RSV)

Earlier version of the NRSV. Keeps some less common words and uses “thee” and “thou” for the Psalms.

Jerusalem Bible

Prepared by Roman Catholic scholars in Britain (including J.R.R. Tolkien, author of the Lord of the Rings). Translated directly from the original Hebrew and Greek sources.

Catechisms

Catechism of the Council of Trent (Roman Catechism)

Prepared in the 1500s, this Catechism addressed many of the issues facing the Church during the Reformation. Protestant leaders were invited to the preparatory meetings. This Catechism was not written for laypeople, but as a resource for priests and bishops.

Baltimore Catechism

Catechism designed for laypeople and used in the United States from the mid-1800s through the 1960s. Comprised of questions and answers, a format that is easy to remember for people who have limited literacy skills or are illiterate. Typically, the Baltimore Catechism was learned by rote – the questions and answers were often easily recalled by lapsed Catholics decades after they had memorized the booklets.

Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)

Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) oversaw the creation of this new Catechism – the first since the Council of Trent. Released in the 1990s, it is designed to be used as a reference for writing national level Catechisms in local languages. Beautifully written and a storehouse of quotes from the saints and church fathers.

Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Released in 2006, the Compendium is the CCC reformatted in the style of the Baltimore Catechism with almost 600 questions and answers.

United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

Based on the CCC, the U.S. Catechism is formatted as a study text with reflection questions and is localized to the United States.

Church History

Catholic History Through Biography

A concise collection of Christian biographies covering two thousand years of history. Includes inspiring lives of eighteen holy men and women, from important early saints, St. Ireneaus and St. Benedict, to modern leaders, including Archbishop John Carroll and Pope Leo XIII.

Jose Orlandis. Short History of the Catholic Church. (2nd Edition)

Excellent concise history, formatted in numbered paragraphs. Gives insightful context to the major events.

Theology

Benedict XVI. Jesus of Nazareth.

Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, is a recognized theologian. In his first book written as Pope, he asks the question, “Who is Jesus?”

Hans Urs von Balthasar. The Glory of the Lord

Regarded as one of the leading 20th century theologians, von Balthasar wrote prolifically over a wide range of topics. The Glory of the Lord is the first of his three books of systematic theology.

Etienne Gilson. The Spirit of Medieval Philosophy.

Gilson was a specialist in the history of medieval philosophy. His books are widely read.

John Paul II. Love and Responsibility.

Pope John Paul II wrote this book in his earlier years to examine issues of human sexuality and marriage.

Spiritual Classics

Augustine of Hippo. Confessions.

The greatest of the Church fathers, Augustine, traces his life to faith in Christ.

Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. The Practice of the Presence of God.

Simple spirituality of remaining recollected during day-to-day work.

Jean-Pierre de Caussade. Abandonment to Divine Providence.

Classic on how to “let go and let God.”

Francis de Sales. Introduction to the Devout Life.

Classic book on how to live a holy life as a layperson, incorporating the duties and joys of lay life.

John of the Cross. Complete Works.

Poetry and writings from the most important mystic in the Church. John of the Cross was hired by Theresa of Avila to help her reform their monastic order.

Thomas Kempis. Imitation of Christ.

First published in 1418, and enormously popular with both Catholics and Protestants over the centuries. Written by a monk from the mysticist German-Dutch school, the book is aimed at monks and advises and exhorts the reader on fleeing the vanities of the world, using adversity well and resisting temptation as well as reflections on Christ.

John Henry Newman. Apologia Pro Vita Sua.

A famous English convert to Catholicism, Cardinal Newman, tells his life story – in exquisite Victorian prose.

Teresa of Avila. The Way of Perfection.

Teresa was a major reformer of the Carmelite order and is a Doctor of the Church. She is also one of the Church’s most prominent mystics. In this more accessible book, Teresa gives advice to her nuns on prayer.

Therese of Lisieux. Story of a Soul.

Therese, a young woman from a bourgeois French family, attains perfection in ordinary circumstances. Enormously popular since it was published in the 19th century.

John XXIII. Journal of a Soul.

Pope John XXIII tells his story of growing up in a poor Italian family and his road to perfection. May be a bit dry at times, but shows a glimpse of the style and rigor of his spiritual practice.

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Meditations from a Simple Path.

Nice overview of Mother Teresa’s approach to spirituality and the poor.

Catholic Literature

Dante Alighieri. The Divine Comedy.

Of the three parts of this Epic Italian poem, the “Inferno” is probably the easiest to read. Dante walks through hell meeting old friends, famous politicians and even a few Popes.

Bernanos, George. Diary of a Country Priest.

Touching French novel about the daily life of a parish priest.

Shusaku Endo. Silence.

Brilliant contemporary novel of Jesuit activity in medieval Japan by a renowned Japanese writer. Very stark portrayal of the Daimyo’s suppression of the growing Christian cult.

Flannery O'Connor. Complete Stories.

Probably the most highly regarded American Catholic author.

J.R.R Tolkien. Lord of the Rings.

Enormously popular novel. Catholic images and ideas are embedded in the story of Frodo and the Ring.

Sigrid Undset. Kristen Lavransdatter.

Undset, a Norwegian convert to Catholicism, won the Nobel Prize for this trilogy of the life of a woman in the middle ages.

Biography

Gerard B. Wegemer, Thomas More: A Portrait of Courage.

Sir Thomas More, an important thinker in his own right, refused to go along with Henry VIII in severing England from Rome. More was executed for his decision.

Fr. Daniel Mode. The Grunt Padre.

Account of the life of Fr. Vincent Capodanno, a Navy chaplain who died in Vietnam while he was ministering to his men on the battlefield

Updates, additions and corrections

WMC Catholic Reading List2009-Jan-28Page 1 of 4