Recommended Reading (and Video)
Books
My Daily Bread - A great little book that will really "jump start" your spiritual life. Read one page a day and it will have an unbelievable impact on your life. Very reasonably priced! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
In Conversation With God - A tremendous series of books which can be purchased individually. Corresponds to the daily readings at Mass. Highly recommended! (Intermediate level)
Catholicism For Dummies - A great book to start with. Easy to read, but very informative. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Catholicism Answer Book - Another very readible book that you will refer to often. Contains answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Catholic Faith. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Everything Bible Book - There isn't a simpler book that explains the basics of the Bible. If the Bible intimidates you, try reading this book and you'll feel more confident about reading scripture! (Beginner level)
The New American Bible - Probably the best Bible version to read for a few reasons; It's the version read at Mass so it will be familiar and secondly, it's very easy to read. A word of caution about the footnotes - they are notoriously liberal so take them with a grain of salt. There are other Bible commentaries (see the next few entries) that are more faithful to Catholic Tradition. Still, you can't go wrong with the Bible text itself. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Navarre Bible - The Bible text is the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition which is another popular Bible translation preferred by many Catholic theologians (it is used in the Catechism), but it's a bit more difficult to read than the New American Bible. The advantage of this particular edition is the outstanding footnotes. They are packed with references to Saints, Church Fathers (the early Church writers) and Papal documents. Unfortunately, it is sold in individual volumes and can be a bit costly to purchase them all. The Gospels and Acts of the Apostles have been compiled into one volume and would be a good starting point. (Intermediate level)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church - No Catholic home should be without this book. As Pope John Paul II states in the introduction, it is "a sure norm for teaching the Catholic Faith". This is a must-buy! You can also purchase the Compendium of the Catechism, which summarizes the material in question and answer format. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The United States Catholic Catechism For Adults - When the Catechism was written, the intention was that each country would use it to create their own version. This is the result as compiled by the U.S. bishops. It has some nice clarifications that are tailored to American Catholics. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Baltimore Catechism - Many generation of Catholics learned the Faith, from this simple to understand and straightforward text. While technically designed for children, most adult Catholics could learn much from this book. The simple question and answer format will appeal to those who like "black and white" answers with no "fluff". The inexpensive price makes it even more appealing. Since Catholic doctrine doesn't change, the concepts taught still apply today. (Beginner level)
The Catholic Dictionary - A great reference book for every Catholic. This particular version is the best that we've seen. Contains definitions for hundreds of Catholic terms. Also contains phonetic spelling for each word or phrase. Very handy! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Conversing With God In Scripture - Explains the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Latin for "Sacred Reading") in very simple terms. Allows you to enter into a dialog with God using Biblical readings. This book is easy to read, but will energize your faith. Highly recommended and very inexpensive! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Ignatius Study Bible - The Revised Standard Version (Catholic Edition) with outstanding commentary by Dr. Scott Hahn and Curtis Mitch. Sold as individual volumes only. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Apostles - A great book on the Apostles, written by Pope Benedict XVI. Compiled from his weekly talks, this book will give you a good insight into the character of the men chosen by Christ to build His Church. Highly recommended! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Loving The Holy Mass - One of the best books on the Mass that we've seen. Very inexpensive and concise, but does a great job explaining the importance of the Mass. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
7 Secrets of the Eucharist - (Vinny Flynn) This book offers a nice explanation of the Eucharist. It will give you a greater appreciation for the tremendous gift provided by The Lord. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Search And Rescue - Patrick Madrid offers many practical suggestions for bringing others into or back to the Catholic Faith. Very practical and easy to read (Beginner or Intermediate level)
A Pocket Guide To The Bible - Scott Hahn gives a nice overview of the Bible in this small, but informative book (Beginner or Intermediate level)
An Introduction To The Devout Life - This spiritual classic, written by St. Francis De Sales, has provided much guidance to Christians since it was first published in 1608. Although it may require a few readings to absorb all that this Doctor of the Church has to say, it is well worth the effort. (Intermediate level)
Theology For Beginners - (Frank Sheed) Originally published in 1958, this classic masterpiece is one of the simplest, yet thorough Catholic books that we have seen. Sheed has a wonderful way of explaining very complex theological concepts in very simple and readable terms. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Pope Benedict's Divine Mercy Mandate - (David Came) Most people are familiar with Pope John Paul II’s devotion to Divine Mercy. In fact, he was so linked with that devotion that he is often referred to as “The Mercy Pope”. In this book, the author outlines the current pontiff’s reflections on Divine Mercy and its importance to his pontificate. Numerous quotes from Benedict and John Paul II are used to assert that Divine Mercy is the central message of the Gospel. This book is chock full of informative material. Especially helpful are the author’s suggestions for responding to God’s Divine Mercy in each of our lives. You will find this book difficult to put down and I highly recommend it for anyone who wants to explore the concept of Divine Mercy in greater detail. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Priest Is Not His Own - (Fulton Sheen) Originally published in 1963, this brilliant work will give you a new perspective on the importance of the Catholic priesthood. While most helpful for priests and seminarians, we also recommend it for anyone who wants to learn more about the priestly office or to become more Christ-like. Sheen uses extensive Biblical quotes and reflections to help us understand the origin and importance of the priesthood. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Divine Intimacy - A spiritual masterpiece that will help you to take an honest look at your life and discover those vices which keep you from getting closer to the Lord. Reading just a few pages each day will do wonders for your spiritual life. Quite simply, this is a great book! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Magazines and Newspapers
The Word Among Us Magazine - An easy to read (yet substantial) magazine which provides short meditations on the daily Mass readings. Contains one page of reading for each day. Highly recommended for getting closer to the Lord through His written word! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The Catholic Answer Magazine - A great magazine from Our Sunday Visitor press which answers questions in an easy to understand yet very accurate format. This is one of our favorite magazines and shouldn't be missed! (Beginner or Intermediate level)
The National Catholic Register - If you're going to subscribe to a Catholic newspaper (and we strongly recommend that you do), this is the one! Totally faithful to Church teaching and a great source of Catholic news throughout the world. A knowledge of Catholic events is extremely important when discussing your faith with others. An added bonus is the full text of the Pope's weekly address. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Our Sunday Visitor - Another good national Catholic newspaper. Not as detailed as the National Catholic Register, but a bit easier to read. Recommended for those who are short on time, but still like to keep up with Catholic news. (Beginner or Intermediate level)
Video
Crash Course in Catholicism - This DVD set by EWTN's Fr. John Trigilio and Fr. Ken Brighenti is an easy to understand series that will teach you the basics of Catholicism in a simple, yet informative manner. Highly recommended for those who are new to the Faith or anyone who feels they lack an understanding of basic Catholic teaching. (Beginner level)
Path of the Messiah - Jeff Cavins and Raymond Arroyo take you on a fascinating tour of the Holy Land, retracing the footsteps of Jesus. This original EWTN production is guaranteed to inspire you as the hosts take you on a tour of the actual land where Our Lord walked. (Beginner level)
Do you have any Catholic reading material that you'd like us to include on our site? Send us an email at thecatholictruth@yahoo.com and we'll check it out!
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