CATHOLIC TEACHING
General Theology:
- Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed
- A Map of Life by Frank Sheed
Jesus Christ:
- On the Incarnation of the Word of God by St. Athanasius
- Scandal of the Incarnation: Irenaeus Against the Heresies by Hans Urs von Balthasar
- Jesus-Shock by Peter Kreeft
- The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
- The Passion of the Infant Christ by Caryll Houselander
- The Cross and the Beatitudes by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Holy Spirit:
- On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil
- The Sanctifier by Archbishop Luis M. Martinez
- Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled with the Fullness of God by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa
- The Action of the Holy Spirit: The Lord and Giver of Life by Frank J. Sheed
- In the School of the Holy Spirit by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Mariology:
- Rosarium Virginis Mariae by St. John Paul II
- The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen
- The Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
- The Anti-Mary Exposed: Rescuing the Culture from Toxic Feminity by Carrie Gress
- The Marian Option: God’s Solution to a Civilization in Crisis by Carrie Gress
- Rediscover the Rosary: The Modern Power of an Ancient Prayer by Matthew Kelly
- The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander
- Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
- 33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley
- The Contemplative Rosary: With St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Avila by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
Sacraments:
- Ecclesia de Eucharistia by Pope St. John Paul II
- Mane Nobiscum Domine by Pope St. John Paul II
- Sacramentum Caritatis by Pope Benedict XVI
- Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on Holy Mass by Pope Benedict XVI
- A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Dom Anscar Vonier
- The Eucharist by Lawrence G. Lovasik
- The Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle by St. Manuel Gonzalez Garcia
- 7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn
- 7 Secrets of Confession by Vinny Flynn
- Bread That Is Broken by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen
- Symbol or Substance? A Dialogue on the Eucharist with C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and J.R.R. Tolkien by Peter Kreeft
- Be Transformed: The Healing Power of the Sacraments by Dr. Bob Schuchts
- How the Eucharist Can Save Civilization by Dr. Jared Staudt
Liturgy:
- Dies Domini by St. John Paul II
- The Spirit of the Liturgy by Pope Benedict XVI
- The Wellspring of Worship by Jean Corbon
- The Lamb’s Supper – The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn
- Preparing Yourself for Mass by Romano Guardini
- If Your Mind Wanders at Mass by Thomas Howard
Ecclesiology:
- Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today by Pope Benedict XVI
- The Dimensions of the Church by Cardinal Avery Dulles
History:
- The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken
Vatican II:
- Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)
- Apostolicam Actuositatem (The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity)
- Dignitatis Humanae ( The Declaration on Religious Freedom)
- Ad Gentes (The Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church)
- Presbyterorum Ordinis (The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests)
- Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)
Morality / Virtues / Theology of the Body:
- Spes Salvi by Pope Benedict XVI
- A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart by Josef Pieper
- Christian Fasting: Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit by Sr. Mary David Totah
- Eat, Fast, Feast: Heal Your Body While Feeding Your Soul by Dr. Jay Richards
- Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen
- On the Eight Deadly Sins by St. John Cassian
- The Noonday Devil: Acedia, The Unnamed Evil of Our Times by Jean-Charles Nault
- Humility by Andrew Murray
- Happy Are You Poor by Fr. Thomas Dubay
- Fit for Eternal Life by Kevin Vost
- The Hidden Power of Kindness by Fr. Lawrence Lovasik
- Becoming Human by Jean Vanier
- Man, The Saint by Jesus Urteaga
- The Intellectual Life by A.G. Sertillanges
- Moral Conversion and Resisting Temptation by Fr. Robert Spitzer
- Born Only Once: The Miracle of Affirmation by Conrad Baars
- Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel
- As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
- The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
- Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, and the Universal Longing by Christopher West
- Our Bodies Tell God’s Story by Christopher West
- Making Gay Okay – How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything by Robert by Robert Reilly
- Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing by Jay Stringer
Spiritual Warfare:
- Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits by Dan Burke
- Slaying Dragons: What Exorcists See & What We Should Know by Charles Fraune
- Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli
- Lukewarmness: The Devil in Disguise by Francisco Carvajal
Pastoral Care & Healing Ministry:
- Life Promises Life: Pages from the Diary of a Hospital Chaplain by Fr. Vincent Nagle
- Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World by Dr. Mary Healy
- 12 Steps to Divine Healing by Eddie Russell
- God Images by Bill Gaultiere
SPIRITUAL READING
St. Teresa of Avila:
- Interior Castle
- The Way of Perfection
- The Life of St. Teresa
- St. Teresa’s Manner of Prayer by Fr. Salvador Ros Garcia
St. John of the Cross:
St. Therese of Lisieux:
- I Believe in Love: A personal retreat based on the teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux by Fr. Jean C.J. D’Elbee
- St. Therese: A Treasured Love Story by Fulton Sheen
- The Way of Trust & Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux by Jacques Philippe
St. Francis de Sales:
- An Introduction to the Devout Life
- Finding God’s Will for You
- Live Today Well: St. Francis de Sales’s Simple Approach to Holiness by Fr. Thomas Dailey
St. Faustina:
- Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina
- 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn
- 33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley
St. Teresa of Calcutta:
- Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love and Secrets of Sanctity by Susan Conroy
- Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge
- Come Be My Light: Mother Teresa by Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk
- No Greater Love – Collection of writings by Mother Teresa
Fr. Thomas Dubay:
- Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel – On Prayer
- Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer
- Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within
- Saints: A Closer Look
- Happy Are You Poor
- And You Are Christ’s: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life
Fr. Jacques Philippe:
- Searching for and Maintaining Peace
- Interior Freedom
- The Way of Trust & Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux
- Time for God
- Thirsting for Prayer
- Real Mercy
- In the School of the Holy Spirit
- Trusting God in the Present
Fr. Thomas Green:
C.S. Lewis:
- Mere Christianity
- Till We Have Faces
- The Great Divorce
- The Weight of Glory
- The Screwtape Letters
- The Problem of Pain
- A Grief Observed
Peter Kreeft:
- Prayer for Beginners
- How to be Holy
- Symbol or Substance? A Dialogue on the Eucharist with C.S. Lewis, Billy Graham, and J.R.R. Tolkien
- Jesus-Shock
Henri Nouwen:
- The Way of the Heart
- Life of the Beloved
- The Return of the Prodigal Son
- The Way of the Heart: The Spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers
John Eldredge:
Catherine Doherty:
- Soul of my Soul – Coming to the Heart of Prayer
- Dear Father
- Dear Seminarian
- Season of Mercy: Lent and Easter
Other authors:
- The Rules for the Discernment of Spirits by St. Ignatius of Loyola
- The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
- The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
- Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen
- The Soul of the Apostolate by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Chautard
- The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah
- Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
- On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
- He and I by Gabrielle Bossis
- Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin & Fr. Boniface Hicks
- Spiritual Direction: A Guide for Sharing the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin & Fr. Boniface Hicks
- “Prepare Your Heart to Pray” by Dom Augustin Guillerand
- Into Your Hands, Father by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen
- Bread That Is Broken by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen
- Surrender! by Fr. Larry Richards
- Unbound: A Practical Guide to Deliverance by Neal Lozano
- Abba’s Heart by Neal Lozano
- Experiencing Father’s Embrace by Jack Frost
- Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost
MEDITATION & PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE:
- Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI
- Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture by Fr. Timothy Gallagher
- Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina by Dr. Tim Gray
- Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey
- A Guide to Christian Meditation by Fr. John Bartunek
- Lectio Divina and the Practice of Teresian Prayer by Sam Anthony Morello
- Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
- Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
READINGS FOR LITURGICAL SEASONS:
Advent & Christmas:
- The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
- The Passion of the Infant Christ by Caryll Houselander
- The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander
- Joy to the World by Scott Hahn
- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren
- Donkey Bells: Advent and Christmas Stories, Traditions and Meditations by Catherine Doherty
Lent & Easter:
- The Lenten Spring by Fr. Thomas Hopko
- Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen
- The Cross and the Beatitudes by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
- “See How the Cross of the Lord Stands Revealed as a Tree of Life” by Richard Conlin (Scripture Paper for Seminary)
- Season of Mercy: Lent and Easter by Catherine Doherty
- The Risen Christ: The Forty Days After the Resurrection by Caryll Houselander
THE PRIESTHOOD, CELIBACY, AND DISCERNMENT:
- The Priest is Not His Own by Bl. Fulton J. Sheen
- On the Priesthood by St. John Chrysostom
- “From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church” by Pope Benedict XVI and Robert Cardinal Sarah
- Priestly Spirituality by Hans Urs von Balthasar
- In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart – The Journal of a Priest at Prayer by A Benedictine Monk
- The Grace of Ars by Fr. Frederick Miller
- Dear Father by Catherine Doherty
- Dear Seminarian by Catherine Doherty
- And You Are Christ’s: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life by Fr. Thomas Dubay
- Virginity: A Positive Approach to Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven by Raniero Cantalamessa
- The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
- Finding God’s Will for You by St. Francis de Sales
- God’s Voice Within by Mark Thibodeaux
- Why Preach by Fr. Peter John Cameron
EVANGELIZATION, CATECHESIS, AND APOLOGETICS:
- Evangelii Nuntiandi by Pope St. Paul VI
- Catechesi Tradendae by St. John Paul II
- Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis
- Gaudete et Exsultate by Pope Francis
- Christus Vivit by Pope Francis
- Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton
- The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
- Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
- Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell
- From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by Msgr. James Shea
- Good News, Bad News: Evangelization, Conversion and the Crisis of Faith by Fr. John McCloskey III and Russell Shaw
- Clear and Simple: How to Have Conversations that Lead to Conversion by Andre Regnier
- Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn
- Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid
- Do Monkeys Go to Heaven? Finding God in All Creation by Fr. John McCarthy
- The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity by Matthew Kelly
- The Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman
BIOGRAPHIES:
- The Life of Anthony by St. Athanasius
- The Curé d’Ars by Abbé Francis Trochu
- A Man for Others: Maximilian Kolbe the “Saint of Auschwitz” by Patricia Treece
- Carlo Acutis: A Millennial in Paradise by Fr. Will Conquer
- Race with the Devil by Joseph Pearce
- St. Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton
- A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati by Luciana Frassati
- Pier Giorgio Frassati by Robert Claude
- Benedict XVI: Last Testament in his own words with Peter Seewald
- My Son Carlo: Carlo Acutis Through the Eyes of His Mother by Antonia Acutis
- The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
- St. Philip Neri by Bob & Penny Lord
PUBLIC SPEAKING:
- Give Your Speech, Change the World by Nick Morgan
- Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
- Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones
HABIT FORMATION, MEMORY & LEARNING:
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Superhuman by Habit by Tynan
- The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
- Mini Habits by Stephen Guise
- Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
- Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
- Read More Books Now by Brandon Vogt
LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION:
- Growing an Engaged Church by Albert Winseman
- Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman, Clifton, Liesveld
- A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen
- Making Vision Stick by Andy Stanley
BUSINESS & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
- To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink
- The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
- Off Balance by Matthew Kelly
- Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
- 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
- Built to Last by Jim Collins
- Act Now by Kevin Harrington
- Driven by Robert Herjavec
- Google Marketing by Aaron Goldman
- Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
- Market Mind Games by Denise Shull
- Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson
- Rework by Fried and Hansson
- The 1 Minute Manager by Blanchard and Johnson
- The Frog and Prince by Darcy Rezac
- The Greatest Networker in the World by John Fogg
- The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
- Trade Off by Jim Collins
- Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
- Zag by Marty Neuiemer
- The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck
- The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stanier
- The Vision Driven Leader by Michael Hyatt
- The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
ECONOMICS & FINANCE:
- Crisis Economics by Nouriel Roubini
- Currency Wars by James Rickards
- Fault Lines by Raghuram Rajan
- How an economy grows & why it crashes by Peter Schiff
- Investing and the Irrational Mind by Robert Koppel
BEST BOOKS TO READ:
- Top 100 Catholic Theology Books: A Book List by Taylor Marshall
- Recommended Books by Bishop Robert Barron
- Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan by Fr. John McCloskey
- Book List for Catholic Seminarians and Priests – Recommended Formation Reading by Fr. Gary Coulter
- Best Books for Seminarians to Read by Msgr. Daniel Trapp
- Best Catholic Books of All Time by Brandon Vogt
- Peter Kreeft’s Recommended Philosophy Books by Brandon Vogt
- The Ultimate Apologist’s Reading List by Trent Horn
- Massive List of Free Books and Resources
What is the book by Chesteron about st Thomas Aquinas
Thank you
I think 33 Days to Merciful Love should fall under St. Therese of Lisieux. It speaks more of her Little Way and how it culminates in a consecration to Merciful Love. St. Faustina’s Diary is featured in the book, but the main focus of the book is about St. Therese’s Little Way and how it leads one to an “elevator”, that is Jesus’ hand, that lifts one straight to Heaven.
Hey can you get the book written by Andrew Murray and do a review on humility of heart by father cajetan
Can you get rid of the protestant Andrew Murray book on humility and give the humility of heart by Rev. Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo a look please
Thank you!
Could you repost the summary of Personal Prayer by Acklin and Hicks? The link is not working. Thanks!
Type it into search bar 🙂
Thanks for your summaries Father!
I have been thinking that doing this in my own reading would be of great help for myself.
Could you make some comments on how you go about making these summaries?
Great to hear! I read the book 1st & highlight & make notes. Then I go through the book again & capture my favourite points and put them into categories to summarize. God bless
Thanks!