Greetings in grace! By the request of parishioners of St. John the Baptist Catholic
Church and members of the catholic community at large, I have set forth to put together an extensive book list that consists of a wide-range of catholic books to nurture the faith.
The book list is a strong introduction to the inventory of catholic books, but does not contain every book ever written. My hope is that this catholic library be used as a reference point for you when you feel prompted to read a book about a particular subject. Again, there are other books within each topic, but I did select the more popular reads.
The book list is in alphabetical order according to author’s last name as well as by topic (cf. notes below). Moreover, the reference list has also been coded by reading levels: blue--beginner; green--intermediate; black--advanced. This reading level is relative to the individual, but generally can be applied.
By way of postscript, I want to caution you to avoid an excess of spiritual reading. I believe there is a trap to become too much of a bookworm. We need to digest slowly what we are reading. The subject matter we read is to be filtered through prayer for a deeper understanding and practical application in our daily life. Enjoy and God bless!
In Christ,
Joe Hollcraft
Alphabetical by author’s last name
-A general overview of the selection of books by author. These books exclude the categories of papacy and contemporary theologians.
Papacy
-Books written by popes and/or related to papacy (outside of official documents).
The Bible
-Books directly related to understanding Sacred Scripture.
Magisterial ( Teaching Church) Documents
-All of the Vatican II documents as well as some important Encyclicals (cf. Vatican website for all major documents).
Bible (Typology)
-Books that allow us to understand the Bible, with the OT and NT, as one single drama of salvation history.
Contemporary Theologians
-Twentieth century figures who have contributed much to understanding our faith as a whole (for the more advanced reader).
Novels
-Both Christian and Catholic novels that are primarily fiction, but capture non-fiction truths.
Spiritual Classics
-Books that are considered classics, in large, by their popularity through the years.
Church History
-Books that survey the history of our catholic heritage.
Mariology
-Books on the study of Mary’s role in the church and our lives.
Conversion/Prayer/Inspirational
-This category could have been quite extensive, but I again selected the more popular reads and a few books that inspire.
Catechetics
-A few books that focus on the history of the teaching church as well as the systematic approach to teaching our faith.
The Mass/Eucharist
-Books that highlight the mass as the source and summit of our faith.
Marriage, Sexuality and the Natural Law
-Books that highlight the importance of marriage and the natural law.
Apologetics
-Books that primarily focus on the many specifics to defending the Catholic faith.
Saints and their Writings/Devotion
-Books that is both autobiographical and inspirational.
Teen Ministry/Leadership
-A few reads on ministry and questions facing teens today.
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