I also own the Challoner Douay Rheims with extensive notes; the Navarre Bible collection; have Aquinas' Summa, NT Catena Aurea etc on CD; 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia (bought at used book sale for $15.00), Dom Gueranger's Liturgical Year, Catechism of Perseverance by Abbe Gaume etc etc etc. I can tell from the knowledge you display. That's an excellent collection, and I'm envious of your encyclopedia purchase!
I am the same age as Israel and I learned LONG ago that I am on my own in this culture and in this AmChurch.
Seems like most knowledgeable Catholics are self-taught. Kind of a sad commentary, isn't it?
"Seems like most knowledgeable Catholics are self-taught. Kind of a sad commentary, isn't it?"
Sad and aggravating! Especially when you bump up against someone with no respect for anything pre-conciliar...as if they invented the whole shabang in the 60's. We know that the essentials haven't changed so why can't someone reach back and refer to an earlier "classic" like the Baltimore Catechism. You can't even reference it now in a CCD class.