The Lord be with you! Learning about the Faith does not end once we leave Catholic school or PSR. All of us - including priests - have an obligation to study the Faith. In the article below we will go over some great books to read to grow intellectually and spiritually.
The Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo. Perhaps the most read of Augustine’s works, this work probes the mysteries of the human heart. Augustine relates how he came to recognize that he had wasted his life despite attaining fame and great knowledge. Although some of the prose only shines in Latin, even in English the great doctor of the Church reveals how God shapes the very depths of ourselves if we let Him.
Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. Like St. Augustine, St. Francis had a keen understanding of the human heart and how to make it receptive to God’s grace. In this work he guides us to a deeper appreciation of how God can be loved in our everyday life.
Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI. There is a long tradition of writing books on the life of Christ, and yet Pope Benedict probably wrote the most accessible such work. This book gives its readers a clear view of Jesus ben Joseph, the 1st Century Jew, and Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Lord of the Universe. If you have never read Pope Benedict before, this work will show why he is still so revered.
Discerning the Will of God by Rev. Timothy M. Gallagher, OMV. In this easy to read and follow manual, Gallagher gives his reader a how to guide to figure out what God wants from us! As someone who has done multiple Ignatian style retreats, I can attest that Fr. Gallagher presents St. Ignatius of Loyola’s insights in stunning clarity.
Pastoral and Occasional Sermons by Rev. Ronald Knox. The least well known entry in this list, but one of the greatest collections of English rhetoric. If you ever experience a bad sermon at church, come home and read one of these! Knox knew how to weave theology and metaphor together to make even the hardest teachings of our Faith known and loved.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church was published under Pope St. John Paul II and is a great resource. It is not such a great read. Ironically, the Youth Catechism or YouCat that was developed from it is far more reader friendly. If you want a clear and easy way to understand the whole faith, read the YouCat and explore the Catechism.
As adults we must feed our minds. Obviously, the greatest book to read is the Bible. Next time we will go over how to read it and how to pray with it so that we have the Holy Spirit guide us.
In His Sacred Heart,
Fr. John
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