So...what are you reading?

[Tom]

Finishing Pascal's Pensees - fantastic with comments by Peter Kreeft.

[Henry]

Ann wrote: "Reading now Introduction to the Devout Life by Francis de Sales-a wonderful guide for those aiming for a devout and holy life. Unusual for it’s time, it was written specifically for lay people, the..."

This is one of my favorites too. I also recommend his Treatise on the Love of God, a profound and beautiful discussion of the topic. The great thing about St. Francis de Sales is that he makes holiness attractive and accessible.

[Sanja]

One of the best books I've ever read! I'm currently reading his "The unconscious God".

Theresa wrote: "Man's Search for Meaning by Victor Frankl."

[Danielle]

I am reading "The Way of Trust and Love" by Jacques Philippe. It's one of the best books I've read and has given me a lot to reflect on. He does a great job of taking Therese of Lisieux's spirituality and makes it easy to pray with.

[K. P.]

I am reading The Lawless Roads by Graham Greene, his journalistic reporting from Mexico during the revolution, real background to The Power and the Glory, some truly beautiful passages.

https://www.amazon.com/Lawless-Roads-...

[K. P.]

I am reading The Lawless Roads by Graham Greene, his journalistic reporting from Mexico during the revolution, real background to The Power and the Glory, some truly beautiful passages.

https://www.amazon.com/Lawless-Roads-...

[Tauna]

I am reading Introduction to the Devout Life and St. Faustina’s diary.

[Michelle]

I am reading a beautiful book by Fr. Chris Alar After Suicide: There’s Hope for Them and for You. After my sister's abrupt death last September, I've been struggling to wrap my head around it. What a hope-filled book for a hopeless situation!

[Sheila]

Michelle, I heard Fr. Chris interviewed on the radio. He's got a healthy outlook on the subject--glad you're reading his book. I plan to read it, too.

[Michelle]

It's truly wonderful, Sheila. What a blessing to have found it! I sent copies to my father and sisters.

[Kevin]

I just started Dieu ou Rien by Cardinal Sarah. (Of course, I've got the English version at my side to help my comprehension.)

[Gayle]

Tonya (music_city_bibliophile) wrote: "Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe. I could read it every day of my life, and still find something new."

I just found Fr. Philippe and LOVE his books so far! I'm reading Fire & Light right now.

[Arthur]

Tauna wrote: "I am reading Introduction to the Devout Life and St. Faustina’s diary."

What are your thoughts on St. Faustinas diary? I know there had been issues with poor translations in the past.

Hi all, I'm currently reading The End and the Beginning: Pope John Paul II -- The Victory of Freedom, the Last Years, the Legacy,
After just having finished A Pope and a President: John Paul II, Ronald Reagan, and the Extraordinary Untold Story of the 20th Century,

and A Freedom Within: The Prison Notes of Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski.

[Denis]

Right now I’m into a Hagiographies. I’ve finished a good one about Saint Catherine of Siena by Sigrid Undset and I am reading the life of Saint Anton, by Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. It’s impressive how much wisdom and enlightenment are contained in those old books.

Our Lord is the way, but Saints are the lights that let us not being apart of it!

[Catherine]

My latest spiritual reading find has been Holy Handmaids of the Lord by Julie Onderko. Most of the saints she highlights are familiar ones like St. Joan of Arc, St. Therese Lisieux, and St. Faustina. But she takes care to bring out little known stories to make it interesting. Great for a modern Catholic woman!

[Mary]

Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J.M. Nouwen

[Nikita]

Mary wrote: "Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World by Henri J.M. Nouwen"

I have never heard of this book, but looks interesting. I will add it to my to-read list.

[Frances]

An excellent book, learned yet accessible, by the author of books on Shakespeare, Tolkien, and Chesterton. Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know, by Joseph Pearce, Ignatius Press.

[Arthur]

Hi all, just beginning by

[Carmen]

Hello!
Reading NYT bestseller author Brian Stelter's latest book:
HOAX, Donald Trump, Fox News, and the Dangerous Distortion of Truth.
Being that Jesus is the Truth, the Way and the Life, I'm wondering if there is any discussion about the untruths promoted via Catholic radio and TV.
Thanks

[Frances]

I have found this group to be made up of members with many diverse viewpoints. Thus, I wonder if it might not be prudent to avoid topics that, while appealing to some, might be of concern to others.

Yet I defer to the moderator, because freedom of expression is under threat in our country, and, while not wanting to fret too much about it, I also don't want to contribute to it.

[Sheila]

I'm reading Triptych by goodreads author Marcia Whitney-Schenck, a fellow Catholic author, whose forte is historical fiction. Engrossing!

[Carmen]

Frances wrote: "I have found this group to be made up of members with many diverse viewpoints. Thus, I wonder if it might not be prudent to avoid topics that, while appealing to some, might be of concern to others..."

Sadly, I haven't seen much diversity. On the contrary, the group seems to be stuck to an old devotional doctrine.
Instead of worrying about what might be "appealing" or "of concern," I would like some discussion of what is current in our vibrant church.
For example, a discussion of Pope Francis' latest encyclical would be wonderful!

[Frances]

Carmen, I think your idea of studying Pope Francis’s latest encyclical is an interesting one. But may I please ask you to clear up something for me? You mentioned discussing “untruths promoted via Catholic radio and TV.” I am at a loss there. Here are some of the Catholic references other members of the group and I read regularly: Catholic World Report; The Catholic Thing; Dappled Things; America, the Jesuit magazine; Crisis Magazine; Word on Fire; One Peter Five. Writers for these publications are learned men and in many cases, intellectuals of the highest order: George Weigel, Rev. Paul Scalia, son of the late Justice Antonin Scalia, Bishop Robert Barron, Joseph Pearce, e.g.


I can’t associate any untruths with these men, nor do they fit the description of being stuck “to an old devotional doctrine.”

Please help me to see where you are coming from.

[Carmen]

Frances wrote: "Carmen, I think your idea of studying Pope Francis’s latest encyclical is an interesting one. But may I please ask you to clear up something for me? You mentioned discussing “untruths promoted via ..."
Thank you, Frances, for your thoughtful inquiry.
As I see it, the intellectuals to whom you refer are based on what I see as old devotional doctrine. As I inferred, any study of present day Catholic discussion has to begin with the teachings of the present day pope. And other writings should be viewed only to complement what the pope is currently expressing.
Sadly, much of Catholic media does not affirm the pope's teachings. Instead, many actually question and even argue against the pope. In such cases, only one side can be truth and the other becomes an untruth. And as a Catholic, I will always view at what the pope says to be truthful, and those who refuse to affirm him as untruthful.

[Jacob]

This is an interesting discussion. I'm wondering if "old devotional doctrine" might include the Catechism of the Catholic Church (though it's not that old of course), the councils, the Church fathers , and even Scripture itself? I'm not sure how our present Holy Father aligns with all this. I notice he has already dropped the title "Vicar of Christ." He also makes things awkward by seeming shy about explaining what he means, when what he has said leaves room for doubt.

[Frances]

Carmen, in the 14th century, a simple young woman who didn’t learn to write until she was thirty, saw the social and political corruption of her day and recognized it could only be rectified if Pope Gregory XI addressed it directly from Rome. Not dissuaded by the argument that she was “only a woman,” she went to Avignon, France and, when the pope agreed to see her, told him that his presence alone could bring peace to Italy. He resisted. She insisted. Her protestations are still there, recorded in her letters: “I tell you: Come! Come! Don’t wait for time because time isn’t waiting for you.” Finally, Gregory XI relented. By challenging the pope, Catherine of Siena changed history.

There have been saintly popes, men like Leo I and Gregory the Great and John Paul II. There have been bad popes, men like Benedict IX who sold the papacy to his successor, Alexander VI, who fathered several children by various mistresses, and Boniface VIII whom Dante in The Divine Comedy relegated to the eighth circle of hell.

But the Church lives on. And one of the ways it lives on is through the writings of its wonderful theologians and creative thinkers across the ages: Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross, Anglicans C.S. Lewis and N.T. Wright, Edith Stein, Flannery O’Connor. We can’t consign any of these to “the old devotional doctrine” without losing the heart of what it means to be Catholic.

[Carmen]

Jacob wrote: "This is an interesting discussion. I'm wondering if "old devotional doctrine" might include the Catechism of the Catholic Church (though it's not that old of course), the councils, the Church fathe..."

Hi Jacob,
By "old devotional doctrine," I am literally referring to devotions instead of our creed. You bring up the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which is theology based on 2,000 year old Scripture accepted as the canon to define our traditions. The position of the Bishop of Rome is fundamental for a Roman Catholic. Even other catholic and orthodox churches are in communion with the pope.
Today, we celebrated the Solemnity of All Saints which is a fundamental theological truth of the communion of saints. But individual devotions to individual saints are not fundamental to what makes us Catholic.

[Carmen]

Frances wrote: "Carmen, in the 14th century, a simple young woman who didn’t learn to write until she was thirty, saw the social and political corruption of her day and recognized it could only be rectified if Pop..."
Thank you, Frances, for mentioning St. Catherine of Siena, who indeed was instrumental during a very critical time of church history. St. Francis is another saint who challenged the status quo and reformed our church. Our present day pope took the name of Francis for that very reason. This is especially significant because Pope Francis is himself a Jesuit.
With all that said, I think it is vitally important to listen to why Pope Francis feels we need to follow the lead of St. Francis at this time. And here lies my complaint. As we listen to the Good News everyday as something new, we should also listen to the Holy Father in order to see the workings of the Holy Spirit in the present day.

[Kevin]

Well said.

[amdgjuliette]

Hello,
Currently slowly making my way through Fr. John Hardon's Catholic Lifetime booklist. I'm going about it in random order and am right now on Fernand Cabrol's "Mass of the Western Rites."
Excellent, highly recommend this book if anyone is interested in learning about the various Western Rites and where certain parts of the Mass came from.

[Barbie]

I just finished AA-1025: an infiltration of the Communist party into the Catholic Church. This short little book has been most disturbing. The papers from which the author wrote the book were found in the 1940’s, and compiled into a book in the 1970’s. To see how much has come to fruition in reality since the notes were found is, indeed, most disturbing. I welcome comments if anyone else has read this book. Thank you.

[Mary]

Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots by Scott Hahn

[Kevin]

Barbie wrote: "I just finished AA-1025: an infiltration of the Communist party into the Catholic Church. This short little book has been most disturbing. The papers from which the author wrote the book were found..."
I read this a year or so ago. I wasn't convinced the author had any specific personal knowledge. It struck me as more of a construct based on rumors. But that's not to say I'd dismiss it as a Cold War fever dream. I'm sure the USSR had plans to attack the Church, culminating in the attempted assassination of JPII. This may illustrate what they were up to; I just don't buy the personal confession angle.

[Carmen]

Kevin wrote: "Barbie wrote: "I just finished AA-1025: an infiltration of the Communist party into the Catholic Church. ...
Kevin wrote: "It struck me as more of a construct based on rumors."

Thank you for your response. I fear there are many books that are based on rumors. And ironically, Russian based propaganda infiltrates the free world through rumors.

[Barbie]

I appreciate what you’ve shared also, Kevin. Thank you!

[Carmen]

Currently savoring every paragraph of Pope Francis' encyclical 'Fratelli Tutti.'
A must read, I believe, for everyone, but especially for Catholics.

[Mary]

Heaven Starts Now: Becoming a Saint Day by Day by John Riccardo

[Michelle]

On Sunday I began Advent and Christmas Reflections

[Theresa]

Jesus and the Jewish Roots of Mary by Brad Pitre.

[Theresa]

Barbie, Communist infiltration in the Vatican is well documented. It is not a rumor. There are many sources, but I recommend "Fatima Mysteries" by Grzegorz Gorny.

[Carmen]

Theresa wrote: "Barbie, Communist infiltration in the Vatican is well documented. It is not a rumor. There are many sources, but I recommend "Fatima Mysteries" by Grzegorz Gorny."
1) What documentation do you refer to?
2) How are "Mysteries" related to documentation?

[Tom]

I just finished the Evelyn Waugh biography of Edmund Campion - a must-read!

Also - I am a Catholic novelist (When Killers Collide, Attack of the Lambs, etc.) who is seeking Beta readers for my new novel, "Lost in a Haunted Wood."

If interested email me at "taolsin770@gmail.com"
Tom Olsinski

[Mary]

Hope to Die: The Christian Meaning of Death and the Resurrection of the Body by Scott Hahn

[Mary]

Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn

[Christine]

Mary wrote: "Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn" I love that book!

[Christine]

I'm reading EYES OF FIRE ~ How Icons Saved My Life as an Artist by Christine Simoneau Hales. I'm enjoying it, I took a little class with Christine a while ago and have wanted to read her book. It's double spaced and easy read. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...

[Michelle]

I just began The Life and Witness of St. Maria Goretti: Our Little Saint of the Beatitudes.

[Mary]

Methodical Realism: A Handbook for Beginning Realists by Étienne Gilson

[Dominic]

I just finished The Real Story of Catholic History by Steve Weidenkopf (hope that’s spelled right). Great read. Now I’m on Rescued by Fr John Riccardo. If you’re not familiar with him you need to be. He has excellent podcasts.