Journeys Home (52 page)

Jaki, Stanley L.
And on This Rock.
2nd ed. Manassas, VA: Trinity
Communications, 1987. Father Jaki puts these words of Christ into their full biblical perspective and geographical context, offering the reader a novel insight into the primacy of Peter.

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The Keys of the Kingdom.
Chicago: Franciscan Herald, 1986. Here Father Jaki provides a thorough analysis of historical, biblical, patristic, and medieval texts on the keys of the kingdom.

Ray, Stephen K.
Upon This Rock: St. Peter and the Primacy of Rome in Scripture and the Early Church
. San Francisco: Ignatius, 1999. Ray, a former Baptist, moves through the Scriptures and the documents of the first five centuries of the Church to demonstrate that the early Christians had a clear understanding of the primacy of Peter in the see of Rome. The most complete compilation of scriptural and Patristic quotations about the primacy of Peter and the papal office available.

Soloviev, Vladimir.
The Russian Church and the Papacy.
San Diego: Catholic Answers, 2001. Pope John Paul II introduced Soloviev, a spiritual genius and profound religious thinker, to contemporaries in his encyclical
Fides et Ratio
("Faith and Reason") as an illustrious Christian thinker, declaring Soloviev's work "prophetic." The editor of this little volume, Father Ray Ryland, admirably captures the central themes of Soloviev's work, which shook the foundations of anti-Catholic Russian Orthodoxy, with three simple propositions: (1) Jesus Christ instituted the universal jurisdiction and infallible teaching authority of the papacy as a perpetual gift to His Church. (2) Apart from the papacy, the Eastern churches will always remain what they are now: ethnic, national churches, totally independent and disunited. (3) Only in union with Rome can the separated Eastern churches become truly Catholic.

Belmonte, Charles and James Socias, eds.
Handbook of Prayers.
Princeton: Scepter, 1992. A helpful compilation of Catholic prayers,
devotions, and blessings.

Chautard, Dom Jean-Baptiste.
The Soul of the Apostolate
. 1907.
Reprint, Rockford, IL: TAN, 1977. A powerful, life-changing book that was the bedside reading of several popes. This classic underscores the importance of the inner life of prayer as the foundations for all acts of service.

De Sales, Frances.
Introduction to the Devout Life.
New York: Doubleday, 1989. This classic devotional work was written precisely for the laity. St. Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622) may have been the first spiritual writer to compose a treatise specifically devoted to lay spirituality. As he states in his preface, those who have written previously on the spiritual life have done so for the instruction of persons who have given up association with the world or have taught a spirituality that would lead persons to do so. The intention of St. Francis, however, was to give spiritual instruction to those who remain in the world, in their professions and in their families, and falsely believe that it is impossible for them to strive for the devout life.

Dubay, Thomas.
Fire Within.
San Francisco: Ignatius, 1989. This book synthesizes the teachings on prayer of two great doctors of the Church, St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila, with the teaching of Sacred Scripture. But the book is not for contemplatives alone. It is meant for every Christian and is based on the gospel imperative of personal prayer and the call to holiness.

Garrigou-Lagrange, Reginald.
Christian Perfection and Contemplation
. Rockford, IL: TAN, 2003. A treatise on the operation of grace in the Christian life that clearly and skillfully explains the great principles of the spiritual life according to St. Thomas Aquinas and other sterling Catholic sources.

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The Three Conversions in the Spiritual Life.
Rockford, IL: TAN, 2002. All Catholics should progress through three "conversions" in their spiritual life. Yet many do not and thus remain spiritually stunted all their lives. Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, explains the classic Catholic traditions on the spiritual life from Scripture, the Fathers, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. John of the Cross, and St. Catherine of Siena. He explains the purgative, illuminative, and unitive ways, and addresses Martin Luther's errors in spirituality.

Guardini, Romano.
The Art of Praying.
1957. Reprint, Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute, 1994. Where did you learn to pray? At your mother's knee? Since then, your understanding of the world has matured immeasurably. Has your understanding of prayer also matured? Or (like most of us) do you simply say your prayers, year after year, as you were taught so long ago? No wonder we have so many erroneous notions about prayer. This helpful book provides hundreds of practical ways to improve your prayer life and grow closer to God.

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The Rosary of Our Lady.
1955. Reprint, Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute, 1994. An explanation of the rosary that will lead you to a deeper experience of grace.

John of the Cross.
The Collected Works of Saint John of the Cross.
1591. Trans. Kieran Kavanaugh and Otilio Rodriguez. Reprint, Washington: ICS Publications, 1996. The fourth centenary of the death of St. John of the Cross inspired this revised edition of the English translation of his writings. The result is an edition that preserves the true meaning of the great mystic's writings, presents them as clearly as possible, and at the same time gives the reader the doctrinal and historical information that will lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of the teachings of the Mystical Doctor. Included in
The Collected Works
are St. John's poetry,
The Ascent of Mount Carmel, The Dark Night, The Spiritual Canticle,
and
The Living Flame of Love,
as well as his letters and other counsels.

a Kempis , Thomas.
The Imitation of Christ.
1418. Trans. Joseph N. Tylenda. Reprint, New York: Vintage Books, 1998. For almost six hundred years, this gentle book, filled with the spirit of the love of God, has brought understanding and comfort to millions of readers in over fifty languages, and provided them with a source of heartfelt personal prayer. For many, these meditations on the life and teachings of Jesus, written in times even more troubled and dangerous than our own, have become second only to the Bible as a guide and inspiration.

Richard, Thomas.
Ordinary Path to Holiness.
New York: Society of St. Paul, 2003. An overview of this traditional form of Catholic spirituality, which has been tested and proven in the crucible of the lives of the saints. This book is an invaluable aid to understanding the "ordinary path to holiness," which provides powerful insights into our spiritual pilgrimage.

Scanlan, Michael.
Rosary Companion.
Steubenville, OH: Franciscan University Press, 1993. A simple, practical aid to understanding the scriptural background of the rosary.

Teresa of Avila.
Interior Castle.
Trans. E. Allison Peers. 1577. Reprint, New York: Doubleday, 1989. This is one of the world's most celebrated books on mystical theology. It is the most sublime and mature of St. Teresa of Avila's works and expresses the full flowering of her deep experience in guiding souls toward spiritual perfection. In addition to its profound mystical content, it is also a treasury of unforgettable maxims on such ascetic subjects as self-knowledge, humility, detachment, and suffering. But above all, this account of a soul's progress in virtue and grace is the record of Teresa's interior life. Her courageous soul, luminous mind, and endearingly human temperament hold a deep attraction for the modern mind.

Therese of Lisieux.
Story of a Soul.
Trans. John Clarke. 1897. Reprint, Washington: ICS Publications, 1996. This story, which is a humble, simple, and joyful acknowledgement of God's mercy and love in St. Therese's uncomplicated life, captured the interest and attention of its readers from the first time it appeared in print. Like the simple and direct message of the Gospels, it serves as the source of a deep and religious inspiration.

Thigpen, Paul.
Praying the Rosary With St. Paul.
Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 2008. This little book illuminates the mysteries of the rosary through scriptural passages from St. Paul, with brief reflections on how the life of Our Lady illustrates the spiritual fruit that the Apostle calls us to cultivate.

Adam, Karl.
The Roots of the Reformation.
Trans. Cecily Hastings. New York: Sheed and Ward, 1951. An unbelievably powerful and candid summary, in only ninety-four pages, of the issues that led to the Reformation and their implications
for today.

Belloc, Hilaire.
How the Reformation Happened.
Rockford, IL: TAN,
1992. An enjoyable and eye-opening presentation of a Catholic perspective on the English Reformation.

Daniel-Rops, Henri.
The Catholic Reformation.
2 vols. Trans. Audrey Butler. New York: Image Books, 1963.

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The Protestant Reformation.
2 vols. New York: Image Books, 1963. A classic retelling of the issues, people, and events of the Reformation period.

Gray, Tim.
Sacraments in Scripture.
Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road, 2001. Delves into the biblical origin of each sacrament. The author guides readers through the Gospels, showing Christ's deliberate acts to inaugurate these sacred signs as the foundation of the New Covenant. Perfect for individual or group study. Each chapter ends with a section of questions for review.

Hahn, Scott.
Swear to God: The Promise
and Power of the Sacraments.
New York: Doubleday, 2004. Explores the richness of Christ's sacraments -- their doctrine, history, symbols, and rituals.

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Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession
. New York: Doubleday, 2003. This book gets to the heart of the matter of Confession: how it is anticipated in the Old Testament, how it is presented in the New Testament, and how necessary it is for the spiritual life today.

Stravinskas, Peter M. J.
Understanding the Sacraments.
Ann Arbor, MI: Servant, 1984. An excellent short study guide, this book offers clear and faithful Catholic teaching in chapters on each of the seven sacraments. Everyday examples and anecdotes enliven the text. An introductory chapter explains the meaning of the word "sacrament," while the closing chapter tells how to recover a sense of the sacred in the liturgy and how to receive God's healing through the sacraments.

Wuerl, Donald.
The Church and Her Sacraments.
Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 1990. A brief but lucid explanation by the Archbishop of Washington, D.C.

Dues, Greg.
Catholic Customs and Traditions: A Popular Guide.
Mystic, CT: Twenty-Third Publications, 1990. A simple, clear,
concise presentation of common Catholic customs.

Richter, Klemens.
The Meaning of the Sacramental Symbols.
Trans.
Linda M. Maloney. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1990. A comprehensive examination of the symbols of worship, tracing their origins, what they have meant through the ages, and whether their meaning is clear for Christians today.

Thigpen, Paul and Leisa Thigpen.
Building Catholic Family Traditions
. Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 1999. Hundreds of ideas and practical tips for cultivating Catholic traditions in family life.

Shea, Mark P.
By What Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition.
Huntington, IN: Our Sunday Visitor, 1996. Interspersed with an account of his own journey from Evangelical Protestant faith to the Catholic Church, Mark Shea skillfully explains how and why Sacred Tradition occupies a central role in Divine Revelation.

We often receive requests to recommend reliable Scripture translations,
commentaries, and Bible studies. Unfortunately, too many of the
notes in many Catholic study Bibles present hypothetical, higher-critical
opinions in a matter-of-fact way, giving lay readers the idea
that these opinions are accepted facts. The following translations
and commentaries avoid this speculation as well as the influence
of modern political correctness.

The Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version.
2nd Catholic ed. San
Francisco: Ignatius, 2006.

My Daily Catholic Bible: 20-Minute Daily Readings.
Paul Thigpen, ed. The full text of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Catholic Edition, is arranged into 365 twenty-minute readings, one for each day of the year. Each reading includes an Old Testament passage, a New Testament passage, and a relevant quote from one of the saints. A good way to read through the entire Bible in one year. Also available in the same format is
My Daily Catholic New Testament.

The Navarre Bible Commentaries.
Dublin, Ireland: Four Courts, 1992. These New Testament commentaries contain both the Latin and the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition texts, accompanied by commentary.

Barber, Michael.
Singing in the Reign.
Steubenville, OH: Emmaus Road, 2001. Discover the secret riches of the Psalms. Christians know the Psalms, sing the Psalms, and pray the Psalms. Yet many believers have lost the big picture: the single sense that unites all the Psalms as one coherent book.

Epie, Chantal.
The Scriptural Roots of Catholic Teaching.
Manchester, NH: Sophia Institute, 2002. A comprehensive and user-friendly guide to the scriptural foundations of the most important and most often controverted teachings of the Church: the source of Divine Revelation, the founding of the Catholic Church by Christ Himself, His establishment of the Sacraments as means of grace, and the importance of devotion to Mary and the saints.

Fuentes, Antonio.
A Guide to the Bible.
Dublin, Ireland: Four Courts, 2002. This guide provides an overview of the Bible and makes it easier to see the gradual unfolding of the biblical message. The author, who teaches Scripture at Navarre University, Pamplona, Spain, notes that his aim is "to provide short commentaries on the various books of the bible, commentaries written for the general reader, the type of reader who is not interested in detailed exegesis but, rather, wants to know what God is saying in the Bible, and what was the social context in which each book was written."