Posted on 05/28/2008 6:05:04 PM PDT by Ultra Sonic 007
There are lots of good book recommendations here; I'll try not to just echo those. I have to echo one, however: St. Therese of Liseux, Story of a Soul. (The movie version of her life, called simply Therese, is very beautiful, also. Sad, also, in a certain way I can't exactly describe.)
Some books to read ... Spirit of Catholicism, by Karl Adam. Spirit and Forms of Protestantism, by Louis Bouyer. The book that my wife credits for her conversion more than any other after the Bible, Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David Currie. (She was not coming from a fundamentalist background, strangely enough.)
I have a lot of Scott Hahn's books, but I actually like his Bible studies on tape/CD better than any of them. I just finished Romanism in Romans, and it may be the best of the bunch. They're available from St. Joseph Communications, www.saintjoe.com. (Some of them are no longer sold, but you may be able to borrow them from other Catholics, parish libraries, etc.)
Take the plunge. Jesus is waiting for you in the tabernacle.
The Baltimore Catechism - much easier to read (and memorize) the fundamental tenets of the Catholic faith than the one more recently published.
The Douay-Rheims Bible - the first official English translation of the Bible.
At some point you will come across writings of those who claim to be Catholic. Authors such as Sr. Joan Chittister , Garry Willis, and others who dissent from official teaching. It is important that all Catholics be well equipped to recognize these wolves. This list should help.
http://www.catholic-pages.com/dir/dissent.asp
Yeah... a REAL Catholic bible (Jerusalem, Douay-Rhiems), not that silly piece of modernism known as the New American Bible.
For a GREAT read, “The Soul of the Apostolate,” by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard. But don’t try to read through it like a novel or an instruction manual. It’s verrry rich, and also takes a little cultural translation.
I’m sure you’re not advising others to receive Holy Communion while still not Catholic.... it just appears that way, right?
No, of course not! I was responding to a poster who said he/she was considering joining the Church for years, but just hasn’t done it.
Thanks for checking up on me, though!
Let your conscience be your only guide.
Receive the sacraments and pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
It looked very much like you meant Holy Communion. I apologize that I still do not understand what you meant.
More of man’s wisdom. We’re being smothered by man’s wisdom.
God’s wisdom is exhilirating and brings joy and freedom.
Oh, I don’t mind. Words do matter, and I do not wish to be unclear.
He is joining the Catholic Church. He will probably be receiving 4 of the 7 sacraments- Baptism, Penance, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
Are you confused about my word “assistance?”
My other comment was to a different poster who said he/she has been studying/preparing to enter the church for 2 years, but just hasn’t entered yet.
The mark of the Satanic minister, who misuses Christ's teaching, is his insistence that "no one is perfect other than Christ himself," and that we can sin all we want to because Christ forgives us.
That's of course, nothing remotely like Catholic teaching. It is remarkably like a quotation I've heard from a certain German ex-Augustinian monk, however.
Yes, get yourself a new Bible with All the books in it.
Have you enrolled in a RCIA class yet? In not, please do. Many of your questions will be answered there.
BTW, Welcome home!
A couple more books:
Rome Sweet Home
The Lamb’s Supper
both by Scott Hahn
Keep on reading, for your whole life. The wonderful thing about Catholicism is that it is so intellectually deep and rich. No other Christian tradition can begin to approach it. Right here on the Internet is enough material to keep you busy for a lifetime without having to even purchase a single book. But since you asked - and are obviously in the mood to buy books - any of the ones recommended here are excellent. The important thing is to keep on reading, keep on growing in your faith. Do that, and it will never disappoint you because you will be tapping into the essence of the faith and not all this superficial stuff.....trends, opinions, what the media says about the Pope and/or the sex abuse crisis and so on. That stuff comes and goes. But the real faith, the faith Our Lord passed on to the Twelve - and which the Catholic Church so faithfully preserves - that will live forever.
Try the ewtn website. The archives are a little hard to search, but deeply comprehensive.
http://ewtn.com/new_library/index.asp
Pray the rosary and meditate on the mysteries.You will soar,trust me:)
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