Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (now Benedict XVI) — Introduction to Christianity
Benedict XVI — Jesus of Nazareth
Anything by Scott Hahn (Lamb’s Supper comes to mind)
Welcome, Ultrasonic!
Receive the sacraments and pray for the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
The sacraments are spiritual nourishment. They will give you insight and the strength to carry out God’s plan for your life. Call upon the graces you will receive through them.
We have so many awesome books, and so much history! “Christ the King, Lord of History” is a good survey book.
Alot depends on your personal disposition, but there’s alot to read for anybody.
In addition to the bible and the CCC, I personally like simple meditations like “Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence,” and the “Little Catechism of the Cure D’Ars.”
I keep the “Sources of Catholic Dogma,” “Where We got the Bible”, the “Catholic Concordance,” and writings of the Doctors of the Church close at hand for research.
There are lots and lots of heavier spiritual books for whenever you feel ready for them.
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.)
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
Let your conscience be your only guide.
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!
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:)
An abundance of knowledge via audio’s:
http://catholicaudio.blogspot.com/
Click ‘Relativism’ on the right column. Michael Voris - Season 4 - The One True Faith...
I invite you to join the Daily Readings Ping List. A lot of good material there and lots of links to explore.
Padre Pio:The True Story by C. Bernard Ruffin
amazing biography of a 20th Century saint.
Advice? Don’t!
Pinging La Dita!!!
Congrats and welcome!
I’m a 44 year old cradle Catholic, having in the past taught Religion, Science and Latin in an independent (traditional) Catholic school.
I’m actively a catechist in our parish to 5th graders.
During my college years I spent some time in apostasy, and interestingly enough found my way back into the Church after some interest in Judaism. I credit the Blessed Mother for my return. She has always watched over me.
Here is what works for me;
I don’t have a TV, but enjoy listening to podcasts of Fr. Benedict Groeschel and replays of Mother Angelica on the web. I learn something new from them every week, but mainly I enjoy the tone of their discussion particularly Fr. Groeschel. His voice is calming, steady and true.
Laura Ingraham is a national conservative talk show host. A recent and passionate convert to Catholicism. I enjoy her show when she talks religion and culture, less so when she does politics ~ www.lauraingraham.com
I enjoy the writing of Dr. Scott Hahn, a former Evangelical, particularly “The Lamb’s Supper”. I also recommend “The Lessons of St. Francis” by John Michael Talbot. I would also check out Amy Welborn at www.amywelborn.com. I would simply purchase her “The Loyola Kids’Book of Saints”. It’s great for adults, children and young people. It’s bridges Catholics and Christians and puts the lives of the saints into a context for our times.
Lite fair and Ecumenical; I have always enjoyed Max Lucado. At first, I was troubled and somewhat prejudicial about reading an Evangelical author. Max’s warm style and reverence for all of the things that I treasure, especially the Blessed Mother, quickly won me over. It’s easy reading. I give away copies of “The Applause of Heaven” to busy friends and family members. “God Came Near” is a pleasure to read, as well.
Learn the Angelus and teach your family. Pray it together every day: http://www.geocities.com/Vienna/2983/Angelus.html
The Catechism of the Catholic Church by JPII is available in book and online: http://www.christusrex.org/www1/CDHN/ccc.html
Unfortunately, there is also a great deal of wayward teaching out there, too. I would be wary of simply walking into any Catholic Church and assuming that they may be giving instruction correctly. I’ve actually heard some priests visiting my own congregation who are very “free and liberal” with their homilies ~ some do not follow proper liturgical practice and some have actually criticized the Magesterium from the pulpit. Fortunately, many of these 60’s styled priests are dying off.
My own pastor is very good, but if I had landed in the wrong church with the wrong pastor, who knows where I might be today?
Finally, if you have a chance, I would most highly recommend a trip to Washington, DC for the Life March. The Diocese of Washington sponsors a youth rally and Mass inside the Verizon Center every year and it is an incredibly positive experience. Attach yourself to a youth group as a chaperon in a parish that travels for the event (there seem to be many from Florida) and enjoy an amazing day that will change your life forever! Meet other Catholics, as well as our Christian brothers and sisters and have the best time that you could possibly imagine.
Hope it helps. Best of luck and Christ’s peace be with you.
Oops, that’s the flag of Alabama on your profile, not Floridar!
I would still look for a group and make the trip to DC. You get extra gold stars in Heaven for the mileage. ;0)