Book Summaries

“The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder…. What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection” ~ St. Padre Pio

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, OFM Cap

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:

The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen

The Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montfort

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

Sacraments:

A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Dom Anscar Vonier

Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on Holy Mass by Pope Benedict XVI

7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn

The Eucharist by Lawrence G. Lovasik

7 Secrets of Confession by Vinny Flynn

Liturgy:

The Spirit of the Liturgy by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

Dies Domini by St. John Paul II – 1998 Apostolic Letter

The Wellspring of Worship by Jean Corbon, O.P.

The Lamb’s Supper – The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn

Preparing Yourself for Mass by Romano Guardini

Ecclesiology:

Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

The Dimensions of the Church by Cardinal Avery Dulles

History:

The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken

Virtues:

Christian Fasting: Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit by Sr. Mary David Totah OSB

Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen

On the Eight Deadly Sins by St. John Cassian

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

Other:

Making Gay Okay – How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything by Robert by Robert Reilly

Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World by Dr. Mary Healy

12 Steps to Divine Healing by Eddie Russell

 “To get good from reading the lives of the saints and other spiritual books, we ought not to read out of curiosity, or skimmingly, but with pauses; and when we feel ourselves warmed, we ought not to pass on, but to stop and follow up the spirit which is stirring in us, and when we feel it no longer then to pursue our reading” ~ St. Phillip Neri

SPIRITUAL READING

An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.

Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis

On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila

Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel – On Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay

Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay

Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay

The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin

Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli

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 Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah

Praying with Scripture:

• Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV
• 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

Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Interior Freedom by Fr. Jacques Philippe

The Way of Trust & Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux by Jacques Philippe

Time for God by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Real Mercy by Fr. Jacques Philippe

In the School of the Holy Spirit by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Soul of my Soul – Coming to the Heart of Prayer by Catherine Doherty

St. Teresa’s Manner of Prayer by Fr. Salvador Ros Garcia OCD

Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft

The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen

Surrender! by Fr. Larry Richards

Abba’s Heart by Neal Lozano

Experiencing Father’s Embrace by Jack Frost

Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost

Wild at Heart by John Eldredge

Fathered by God by John Eldredge

EPIC: The Story God is Telling by John Eldredge

The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen

7 Secrets of Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn

33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley

Mother Teresa:

• 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, M.C.
• No Greater Love – Collection of writings by Mother Teresa

 “If your mind finds enough appeal, light, and fruit in any of them [the subject of the meditation or contemplation], remain with that point and do not go any further. Imitate the bees, who do not leave a flow as long as they can extract any honey out of it. But if you do not come on anything that appeals to you after you have examined and tried it out for a while, then go on to another, but proceed calmly and simply in this matter and do not rush yourself” ~ St Francis de Sales

READINGS FOR LITURGICAL SEASONS:

Advent and 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

Lent

• The Lenten Spring by Fr. Thomas Hopko
• Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen
• The Cross and the Beatitudes by Fulton J. Sheen

 

DISCERNMENT & THE PRIESTHOOD:

The Priest is Not His Own by Fulton Sheen

On the Priesthood by St. John Chrysostom

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, OFM Cap

Finding God’s Will for You by St. Francis de Sales

God’s Voice Within by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ

 

EVANGELIZATION, CATECHESIS, AND APOLOGETICS:

Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell

Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn

Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid

Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton

The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton

The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

Catechesi Tradendae by St. John Paul II

Gaudete et Exsultate by Pope Francis

 

LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION:

Growing an Engaged Church by Albert Winseman

Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman, Clifton, Liesveld

AUTOBIOGRAPHIES:

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

Race with the Devil by Joseph Pearce

St. Thomas Aquinas by GK Chesterton

A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati by Luciana Frassati

Benedict XVI: Last Testament in his own words with Peter Seewald

PUBLIC SPEAKING:

Give Your Speech, Change the World by Nick Morgan

Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie

MEMORIZATION AND LEARNING:

Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer

 

BUSINESS & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:

To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink

The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg

Off Balance by Matthew Kelly

Read More Books Now by Brandon Vogt

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

 

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