Catholic Readers discussion

Here is a reading list put together by Fr. John McCloskey.

http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/...

It is fun to check off how many of these books you have already read and if you would add to or delete some of individual titles on your own list.

Hope some of you enjoy this list.

Lisa, if this is in the wrong place, please move or delete this entry.

The link didn't work. Here it is, Lifetime Reading List

Lynne wrote: "The link didn't work. Here it is, Lifetime Reading List"

Thank you.

Thank you for this list. It'll definitely take a lifetime to get through it, but it's nice to have a map of suggested readings to help you get to Heaven while your waiting. :-)

Hm, I'm missing a couple of authors and works on that list, I think:

Vonier - A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Marmion - anything ;)
Guéranger - anything ;)

Good to see Baur's Frequent Confession on the list! Another excellent book on the topic is Pardon and Peace, by Alfred Wilson. It takes a slightly different approach and the tone is lighter too. I'd recommend it!

On the other hand, I've never heard of the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy. After a skim of the Wikipedia article I think I need to put that on my 'Read this soon and by that I mean the end of the Summer'-list :D

Links:
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist
Christ, the Life of the Soul (e.g.)
On the Holy Mass (e.g.)
Pardon and Peace

Kristin Lavransdatter is definitely a must read!

Simcha Fisher has blogged about Kristin Lavransdatter here!

Thanks for the list! Good thing I am young because I have only read 4 of those books, lol!

If I've had to search the forums more than twice to find this list, it should be a sticky - and so it is :>

Is this the same list that is on the Catholic Information Center bookstore site?

Carlos wrote: "Is this the same list that is on the Catholic Information Center bookstore site?

"

While some titles overlap they seem to be different lists.

Jamie wrote: "Thank you for this list. It'll definitely take a lifetime to get through it, but it's nice to have a map of suggested readings to help you get to Heaven while your waiting. :-)"

Because I am a mega-geek, I decided to download the full list into a spreadsheet and log which books I've read, including partials (e.g., 100% for Orthodoxy - even though I've read it 3 times - but only 5% for the Catechism, based on how much I've read straight through, not counting reading a paragraph here or there as a reference).

Turns out, I've read 8.92% of the list of 121 books. That's better than I was expecting... but at this rate, I'll have to live to 448 years old!

Anybody else tally up how many of the books on this list you've read (including partials)?

14.04% here. I plan to read a good many of them. Of those I did read, my personal "best of list" is:

Diary of a Country Priest
St Thomas/St Aquinas by Chesterton
Life of Christ - Sheen
Lord of the Rings (no brainer)
Kristen Lavransdatter (all 3)

Many more that I would add to the list for must read Catholic lit.

19.8% completed. One more currently in progress will take it to 20.6% Several others that I've attempted, and not gotten very far in and therefore not counted. Those would take me to 28.1%

Wow, you folks are doing so much better than I am on this :D Good going!

Dan wrote: "14.04% here. I plan to read a good many of them. Of those I did read, my personal "best of list" is:

Diary of a Country Priest
St Thomas/St Aquinas by Chesterton
Life of Christ - Sheen
Lord of the Rings (no brainer)
Kristen Lavransdatter (all 3)..."

Agreed on Chesterton's Aquinas, Sheen's Life of Christ, and LOTR. I'd add Chesterton's Orthodoxy and Lewis' Mere Christianity.

Every Chesterton book blows my hair back. I picked up a copy of Everlasting Man - excited to read it. Also - if any of you are Sherlock fans, Chesterton's Father Brown stories are amazing!

Father McCloskey is spot on as usual. Although no Shakespeare.

I found these books extremely helpful:

1) The Hidden Stream by Monsignor Ronald Knox
2) Right and Reason by Austin Fagothey (3rd Edition)
3) The Last Superstition by Edward Feser
4) Aquinas: A Beginner's Guide by Edward Feser
5) Ten Philosophical Mistakes by Mortimer Adler
6) Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures by Pope Benedict XVI
7) God and the World: Believing and Living In Our Time by Pope Benedict XVI
8) The encyclicals Deus Caritas Est, Spe Salvi, and Caritas In Veritate by Pope Benedict XVI
9) Christian Philosophy by Joseph De Torre

Thanks Mark. Seems an interesting addition.

Here's another great book I highly recommend: God In Action by Francis Cardinal George https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

Mike wrote: "Here is a reading list put together by Fr. John McCloskey.

http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/...

It is fun to check off how many of these books you have already read and if you wo..."

This is a fantastic and very helpful list Mike. I intend to read through every book I can get and thank you very much for posting this list.

Doreen wrote: "Mike wrote: "Here is a reading list put together by Fr. John McCloskey.

http://www.catholicity.com/mccloskey/...

It is fun to check off how many of these books you have already read ..."

Unfortunately, some of the books on this list are by heretics and are not acceptable for a Catholic to read unless he or she is going to refute them. For example, the works by "Mother teresa" who said she loved all religions is not an acceptable source to go to for Catholic teaching. She was a manifest heretic as were the anti-popes from John the 23 all the way down to Francis. Also J.R. Tolkien's work-The Lord of the Rings, and The Hobbit were not inspired by God, but by the devil. The books contradict Catholic teaching and J.R. himself admitted that the Lord of the Rings has nothing to do with Christianity. It promotes the idea that there can be a "good" magic and portrays a false view of God; therefore, it must be rejected as the mortally sinful garbage that it is. Tolkien was not a Catholic, but a deceiver and promoter of the occult. He only posed as a "Catholic", just like C.S. Lewis posed as a heretical Protestant, but also promoted the ideas of Freemasonry. Please go to www.vaticancatholic.com for the Traditional Catholic faith of all time, and to find out the truth about what really happened to the Catholic Church after vatican 2. Please watch this video- What Francis Really Believes-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1Brv...

I understand your point Jaclyn but I think as Catholics we should know the difference between what is in keeping with Church doctrine and avoid books that are not.

Unfortunately there were some factions that disapproved of Vatican II so vehemently that they left the Catholic Church back in the sixties. Now they are very derogatory about things that are Roman Catholic. Keep them in your prayers.

Please enjoy the books on Father McCloskey’s life time reading list with confidence. If you are concerned about any of the titles, ask your parish priest or your pastor for his comments.

Mike wrote: "Unfortunately there were some factions that disapproved of Vatican II so vehemently that they left the Catholic Church back in the sixties. Now they are very derogatory about things that are Roman..."
No true Catholic can accept vatican 2 because it taught heresies that the Church has condemned. The Church is the Immaculate Bride of Christ and She cannot teach error to souls. Catholic teaching does not evolve. The idea that dogmas can change has been condemned. You don't care about the Catholic faith, and you are just another heretic. A true Pope cannot confirm teachings which blatantly contradict infallible dogma. There were real heresies in vatican 2; therefore one must reject it as false. Please watch this video- Vatican II's Protestant Heresy-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVXu...
This video discusses and exposes an important passage in Vatican II. A careful examination of the passage uncovers many new points about Vatican II's striking contradiction of Catholic truth on a fundamental dogmatic issue of faith: the Church. The information in this video actually holds such doctrinal significance that, even considered by itself, it serves to devastate the entire Vatican II sect and everyone who would maintain, in the face of these facts, that people adhering to this council (and thus this horrible heresy) can be Catholics and/or popes.

Jaclyn,
Curious exactly what heresies has Vatican II taught and how has the Catholic Church condemned them? This is supposed to be a neutral site where all can discuss their viewpoints. Can you explain why you say Mike doesn't care about the Catholic faith and is a heretic. I always thought only God could judge people.

Jaclyn,

It is my understanding that this site was established to share and explore thoughts regarding books that foster growth and development in the Catholic faith. I don’t believe it to be a place for attacks against the Catholic Church nor for apologetic debate. So consider your vitriol ignored.

Mike

Jaclyn: This is not a Sede* group. Post accordingly.

Doreen: There are serious problems with Vatican II. Very serious problems.

ALL: Whilst we wait for the necessary Syllabus of Errors on Vatican II, play nice or I'll delete comments and remove people from the group.

Well, Lisa, I don't agree with you in relation to Vatican II but I will certainly respect your opinion and behave accordingly. Thank you for speaking up on this issue.

All right, if you people can't behave when the soft mod hat is on, then heed this:

Final Warning: use this thread to talk about which of the books in the reading list in the first post you've read or want to read, etc.

Discussions about Sede* positions are not welcome. Outright denial of the problems with Vatican II and the crisis in the modern Church is not welcome. Once more of either - from anyone - and I will remove the perpetrators from the group.

There are plenty of places on the internet to try and convince people of this. Catholic Readers is not (really) one of them. I will give thought to a separate discussion forum where these things might be discussed here, but in the main this is for the Catholic books we Catholics read.

Now behave.

(Yes, I am a teacher)

I'm reading True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis De Montfort with a study group and very highly recommend it. Right up there with one of my favorite saint's books- St. Theresa of Avila. Looking for more reading that will help me in living the Christian life!

I'm reading Quo Vadis. It is fantastic. And I read The Spirit of Catholicism. I would never have heard of either without this list and without you pointing it out. Thanks!!!

Let's see...I've read parts of the Catechism, Confessions of St. Augustine, and parts of the Divine Comedy, Screwtape Letters. Looks like I've got a lot to catch up on!

Lynne wrote: "The link didn't work. Here it is, Lifetime Reading List" This is the perfect list for traditionalist Catholics who think that the Church stopped changing in the 18th century.... not one listing of any of Popes John, Paul or Francis encyclicals?? Not ONE decree of Vatican II? Maybe Fr. McCloskey should wake up to the modern world.

Ray

Hi everyone,
I actually started a goodreads group a few years ago just for this list. Here's the link for it if you want to join:

https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Does anyone has any suggestions regarding the writings of the Early Fathers? Other than St. Augustine of course... Thanks!

Gonçalo wrote: "Does anyone has any suggestions regarding the writings of the Early Fathers? Other than St. Augustine of course... Thanks!"

Yes! Read Jimmy Akin's "Fathers Know Best". I read it a few years ago and it has some great insights!