/lit/ - Literature

>>21658871
For "maxxing," I would recommend:

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

I can tell you that both of these books are *excellent*, but the Faustina book had really a very strong impact on my spiritual life -- it changed my whole spiritual outlook, and very much for the better. (Now, I might note that this book reflects a private revelation, but one that the Church has, subsequently, adopted and wholeheartedly approves of (thus the addition of Divine Mercy Sunday to the liturgical calendar). As a general matter, there is so much non-private, non-seer material to read and be inspired by, that I think the more prudent course is to stick to such books.)

Get grounded in the basics, before moving on, if ever, to more marginal materials. The Imitation of Christ, Introduction to the Devout Life. Classics for a reason. Great books. The Story of a Soul. Very good, by a great saint. I also recommend D'Elbee, I Believe in Love, which is a commentary on the spiritual doctrine of Therese of Lisieux. An excellent and inspiring book.

I can't connect with Liguori's books on Mary, but he wrote a little book on prayer that I found very good: "How to Converse With God" (https://www.amazon.com/How-Converse-God-Liguori/dp/0895557975)) I highly recommend it.

There is a book I read in my youth that I found interesting, but not really much more than that: Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence. But I have taken it up again recently and, seasoned by the reversals that this life brings, I find it to be a remarkably profound book. Almost uncanny in its insight.

C. Bernard Ruffin's book on Padre Pio is fascinating and inspiring.

With all these things, of course, ymmv.

You also might want to check out the catalogs of Ignatius Press, Tan Books, Sophia Press, and Ave Maria Press. They are good Catholic publishers. Preserving Christian Publications is a great used book dealer, exclusively of older Catholic books (they also publish some books). Very reasonable prices. Their plain text catalog is always fascinating to browse through if you're into Catholic books.

>>21471633
Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (this is *fascinating*)
>https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Dialogue-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809122332

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence. If you like Abandonment, Caussade's letters are well worth reading as a follow-up.

D'Elbee, I Believe in Love

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

St. Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life

Louis Bouyer, The Bible and the Gospel: The Meaning of Scripture. I haven't read this new edition so I can't entirely vouch for it, but apparently it's an improved translation that contains some material left out of the older, 1950s translation. The out-of-print latter ("The Meaning of Sacred Scripture") is an all-time favorite of mine. This new version is presumably just as good.

The above are all books that I found to be great.

Ignatius Press has a nice print catalog that is always fun to browse through. They have a great selection of books. Other good sources include Sophia Institute Press, Ave Maria, Emmaus Road Publishing, TAN (*most* of their stuff is good). And there are others, but those names come to me off the top of my head. Preserving Christian Publications in Boonville, NY is a great resource for used Catholic books. They have a neat print catalogue that comes out periodically. God bless.

>>19448014
>are there any good books for a lapsed Catholic starting fresh again?

There is an abundance of riches, some of which are listed here: >>/lit/?task=search&ghost=yes&search_text=faustina+hildebrand

Of course, 'ymmv' on any particular one of those suggested titles.

Ignatius Press has a nice print catalog that is always fun to browse through. They have a great selection of books. Other good sources include Sophia Institute Press, Ave Maria, TAN (*most* of their stuff is good). And there are others, but those names come to me off the top of my head. Preserving Christian Publications in NY is a great resource for used Catholic books. They have a neat print catalogue that comes out periodically. God bless.

>How do I become a faithful Catholic in this modern world?

Here are some good books. Pray, and ask for God's guidance. Read something that's congenial to you, then read more, branching off from that.

Scott Hahn, The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

John Paul II's Marian encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987) is an inspired work, obviously the product of a lifetime of meditating on the Marian doctrines. This edition with an intro by Ratzinger makes for a particularly nice package:
>https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Encyclical-Letter-Mother-Redeemer/dp/0898702194

Free here: https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html

Hugo Rahner, Our Lady and the Church
>https://www.amazon.com/Our-Lady-Church-Hugo-Rahner/dp/0972598111

Evangelical is Not Enough by Thomas Howard

The Mass of the Early Christians by Mike Aquilina

Upon this Rock by Steve Ray

Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating

Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David B. Currie

The Faith of our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbon

The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin

Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

Frank Sheed, Theology and Sanity

Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus

Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (this is *fascinating*)
>https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Dialogue-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809122332

Thomas Merton, The Seven-Story Mountain

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

GK Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

D'Elbee, I Believe in Love

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

St. Francis de Sales, The Catholic Controversy

"The Introduction to the Devout Life

-- Check out the catalogs of Ignatius Press, Tan Books, Sophia Press. They are good Catholic publishers.

>>16504888
>Can I get some recs about it please? Its theology, mysticism, anything good you've read about it.

Here are some good books. Read something that's congenial to you, then read more, branching off from that. Pray, and ask for God's guidance.

Scott Hahn, The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

John Paul II's Marian encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987) is an inspired work, obviously the product of a lifetime of meditating on the Marian doctrines. This edition with an intro by Ratzinger makes for a particularly nice package:
>https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Encyclical-Letter-Mother-Redeemer/dp/0898702194

The Catholic Catechism is very good.

Hugo Rahner, Our Lady and the Church
>https://www.amazon.com/Our-Lady-Church-Hugo-Rahner/dp/0972598111

Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples

Evangelical is Not Enough by Thomas Howard

The Faith of our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbons. Written by an American cardinal specifically to explain the Catholic faith to Protestants at a time when Catholics were regarded with considerable suspicion in the US. Many scriptural references. Really quite excellent.
>http://www.amazon.com/The-Faith-Fathers-James-Gibbons/dp/1484922506

It's in the public domain and is available free online:
>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27435/27435-pdf.pdf

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

Frank Sheed, Theology and Sanity

Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus

Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (this is *fascinating*)
>https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Dialogue-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809122332

Thomas Merton, The Seven-Story Mountain

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy

GK Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

D'Elbee, I Believe in Love

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

St. Francis de Sales, The Catholic Controversy

Fr. John Hardon, Spiritual Life in the Modern World.
>https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Modern-World-Father-Hardon/dp/0967298962

Fr. Gabriel, Divine Intimacy
Daily meditations on the interior life, written to correspond with the liturgical year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The monthly publication MAGNIFICAT is **extremely** well done. Highly recommended.
>https://us.magnificat.net/

-- Check out the catalogs of Ignatius Press, Tan Books, Sophia Press. They are good Catholic publishers.

>>16384055
>I'm trying to sign up for RCIA classes ... What should I do now?

I'm sorry to hear that. Presumably things are messed up because of covid. But even so, that level of non-responsiveness is not acceptable.

Maybe you can get contact info for the head of religious education, and try to contact them personally.

>What books other than the Bible and Catechism helped you develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith?

Here are some good books. Read something that's congenial to you, then read more, branching off from that. Pray, and ask for God's guidance.

Scott Hahn, The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

John Paul II's Marian encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987) is an inspired work, obviously the product of a lifetime of meditating on the Marian doctrines. This edition with an intro by Ratzinger makes for a particularly nice package:
>https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Encyclical-Letter-Mother-Redeemer/dp/0898702194

The Catholic Catechism is very good.

Hugo Rahner, Our Lady and the Church
>https://www.amazon.com/Our-Lady-Church-Hugo-Rahner/dp/0972598111

Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples

Evangelical is Not Enough by Thomas Howard

The Faith of our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbons. Written by an American cardinal specifically to explain the Catholic faith to Protestants at a time when Catholics were regarded with considerable suspicion in the US. Many scriptural references. Really quite excellent.
>http://www.amazon.com/The-Faith-Fathers-James-Gibbons/dp/1484922506

It's in the public domain and is available free online:
>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27435/27435-pdf.pdf

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

Frank Sheed, Theology and Sanity

Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus

Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (this is *fascinating*)
>https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Dialogue-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809122332

Thomas Merton, The Seven-Story Mountain

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy

GK Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

D'Elbee, I Believe in Love

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

St. Francis de Sales, The Catholic Controversy

Fr. John Hardon, Spiritual Life in the Modern World.
>https://www.amazon.com/Spiritual-Modern-World-Father-Hardon/dp/0967298962

Fr. Gabriel, Divine Intimacy
Daily meditations on the interior life, written to correspond with the liturgical year. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

The monthly publication MAGNIFICAT is **extremely** well done. Highly recommended.
>https://us.magnificat.net/

-- Check out the catalogs of Ignatius Press, Tan Books, Sophia Press. They are good Catholic publishers.

>>16366074
>How do I become a faithful Catholic in this modern world?

Here are some good books. Pray, and ask for God's guidance. Read something that's congenial to you, then read more, branching off from that.

Scott Hahn, The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth

John Paul II's Marian encyclical, Redemptoris Mater (1987) is an inspired work, obviously the product of a lifetime of meditating on the Marian doctrines. This edition with an intro by Ratzinger makes for a particularly nice package:
>https://www.amazon.com/Mary-Encyclical-Letter-Mother-Redeemer/dp/0898702194

Free here: https://w2.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_jp-ii_enc_25031987_redemptoris-mater.html

JPII's apostolic letter on the rosary, to which he proposed adding the Mysteries of light, is very good:
>http://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/2002/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae.html

The Catholic Catechism is very good.

Hugo Rahner, Our Lady and the Church
>https://www.amazon.com/Our-Lady-Church-Hugo-Rahner/dp/0972598111

Evangelical is Not Enough by Thomas Howard

The Mass of the Early Christians by Mike Aquilina

Upon this Rock by Steve Ray

Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating

Born Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David B. Currie

The Faith of our Fathers by James Cardinal Gibbons. Written by an American cardinal specifically to explain the Catholic faith to Protestants at a time when Catholics were regarded with considerable suspicion in the US. Many scriptural references. Really quite excellent.
>http://www.amazon.com/The-Faith-Fathers-James-Gibbons/dp/1484922506

It's in the public domain and is available free online:
>http://www.gutenberg.org/files/27435/27435-pdf.pdf

The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin

Behold Your Mother - A Biblical and Historical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples

Frank Sheed, Theology for Beginners

Frank Sheed, Theology and Sanity

Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus

Fulton J. Sheen, Life of Christ

Sr. Faustina, Divine Mercy in My Soul

Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (this is *fascinating*)
>https://www.amazon.com/Catherine-Siena-Dialogue-Classics-Spirituality/dp/0809122332

Thomas Merton, The Seven-Story Mountain

Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation

GK Chesterton, Orthodoxy

GK Chesterton, The Everlasting Man

Flannery O'Connor, The Habit of Being

Thomas a Kempis, The Imitation of Christ

Caussade, Abandonment to Divine Providence

D'Elbee, I Believe in Love

Dietrich von Hildebrand, Transformation in Christ

St. Francis de Sales, The Catholic Controversy

-- Check out the catalogs of Ignatius Press, Tan Books, Sophia Press. They are good Catholic publishers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LaembL-KGg