RECOMMENDED READING
a list in progress
by John Donaghy
jdonaghy@igc.org
Basics
The Catholic Study Bible: New American
Bible. Oxford University
Press.
(This
edition of the Bible, with the official US Catholic translation, has very
helpful introductions and notes.)
Thomas
P. Rausch, S.J., Catholicism in the Third Millennium. Collegeville, MN: Michael Glazier, 2003
(A
summary of Catholic thought in light of the Second Vatican Council. A very good
introduction for college students.)
Raymond
E. Brown, Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible. Paulist Press.
(If
you have a basic question about Catholic approaches to the bible, chances are
it is answered here by a renowned Catholic biblical scholar.)
Robert
Ellsberg, All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses
for Our Time. Crossroad.
(A
short pointed biography for each day of the year - containing canonized,
uncanonized, and unconventional people who displayed holiness.)
Catechism
of the Catholic Church. Second edition. Publishing Office of the United States Conference of Catholic
Bishops. Other editions available.
(A reference book of the basics of
Catholicism published by the Vatican.)
Compendium of the Social Doctrine of
the Church. United States
Conference of Catholic Bishops, 2005.
(A
basic reference work of the Catholic ChurchÕs teaching on politics, economics,
social justice, and peace published by the Vatican in 2004.)
Richard
McBrien, Catholicism. New Edition. HarperCollins.
(A
thorough scholarly and readable explanation of Catholicism in depth.)
Being a Christian
Dietrich
Bonhoeffer, Life Together. Harper & Row.
(A
challenge to Christian community by a Lutheran pastor who was killed by the
Nazis for his resistance to Hitler.
John
Kavanaugh,S.J., Following Christ in a Consumer Society - Still. Orbis Books.
(A
challenging work that analyzes the consumer culture of the U.S. and contrasts
it to the call of Christ.)
(Martin recounts stories of a few selected
saints and holy people in the context of memoirs, recounting how he first
encountered the saints and how they have enriched his life. Highly
recommended.)
James Martin, S.J., Becoming Who You Are: Insight
on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints. New York: Hidden Spring (Paulist), 2006.
(A short-easily readable book that connects
the lives and struggles of Thomas Merton and Henri Nouwen to a vision of
holiness rooted in the idea of becoming the person God wants us to be –
ourselves.)
(Ellsberg supplements his book All Saints with this collection of holy women.)
Robert
Ellsberg, The SaintsÕ Guide to Happiness. NY: North Point Press, 2003.
(A powerful reflection on the Christian meaning
of happiness, as seen through the lives and sayings of holy people throughout
the ages. Highly recommended.)
C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity. Macmillan.
(A
readable introduction to some basics of Christianity by a famous English
Anglican author.)
Robert
Barron, The Strangest Way: Walking the Christian Path. Orbis Books, 2002.
(A readable approach to living the
Christian life.)
Henri
Nouwen, Letters to Marc about Jesus. Harper & Row.
(Letters
from a prominent Catholic spiritual writer to his young nephew about the
essentials of a life with Jesus. Highly recommended.)
John Neafsey, A Sacred Voice Is Calling: Personal
Vocation and Social Conscience.
Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2006
(A
very useful book about finding oneÕs calling.)
Being Catholic
Handbook
for TodayÕs Catholics. Ligouri.
(A
short guide to Catholic beliefs, practices and prayers, indexed to the
Catechism.)
Andrew
Greeley, The Catholic Imagination. University of California Press.
(An
account of Catholicism which includes a treatment of the role of ritual and
imagination in the lives of ordinary Catholics.)
Edward
Wm. Clark, Five Great Catholic Ideas. Crossroad.
(Thoughtful
theological reflection on five central aspects of Catholicism.)
(An
introduction to how the Catholic church declares saints.)
Scripture
Megan
McKenna, Not Counting Women and Children: Neglected Stories of the Bible. Orbis Books.
(Megan
McKennaÕs use of stories in this and other books put Bible stories in new and
intriguing perspectives.)
David
Robert Ord and Robert B. Coote, Is the Bible True? Understanding the Bible
Today. Maryknoll, NY:
Orbis Books.
(A
good introduction to interpreting the Bible by two Protestant scholars.)
Robert
MacAfee Brown, Unexpected News: Reading the Bible with Third World Eyes. Westminster Press.
(A
liberation reading of selected passages from the Bible. Highly recommended for
a challenging reading of scriptures.)
Walter
Brueggemann, The Prophetic Imagination. Second Edition. Fortress Press.
(A
classic analysis of the role of prophets in the Hebrew scriptures. Challenging
reading.)
Ched
Myers, Binding the Strong Man. Orbis Books.
(A
reading of MarkÕs Gospel with a strong social justice dimension.)
Ched
Myers, Marie Dennis, Joseph Nangle, O.F.M., Cynthia Moe-Lobeda, Stuart Taylor, ŅSay
to This MountainÓ: MarkÕs Story of Discipleship. Orbis Books.
(A guided reading of MarkÕs Gospel in 25
chapters, based on Binding the Strong Man.)
Luke Timothy Johnson, The Real Jesus:
The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional
Gospels. Harper Collins.
(A
critique of the Jesus seminar approach to the New Testament.)
Raymond
E. Brown, Responses to 101 Questions on the Bible. Paulist Press.
(If
you have a basic question about Catholic approaches to the bible, chances are it
is answered here.)
Ronald
D. Witherup, Biblical Fundamentalism: What Every Catholic Should Know. Liturgical Press.
(A balanced approach to the challenges
fundamentalism makes to Catholicism.)
Classics
St.
Augustine, The Confessions. Various translations.
(The first real biography by a 4th-5th
century convert who became a bishop and a major influence on Catholic life and
thought.)
Thomas
Merton, The Seven Storey Mountain. Various editions.
(The autobiography of a 20th century
convert who later became a famous Trappist spiritual writer.)
Dorothy Day, The Long Loneliness. HarperSanFrancisco, 1997 (1952).
(This early autobiography of the
co-founder of the Catholic Worker reveals her prophetic vision and the
struggles that led her to faith and commitment to the poor.)
Sacramental Life
Jim
Forest, Confession: Doorway to Forgiveness. Orbis Books.
(A
guide to the sacrament by an Orthodox writer who integrates Catholic aspects
into this little book. Interesting chapter with examples of examinations of
conscience.)
Henri
J. M. Nouwen, With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life. Orbis Books.
(A
short book with moving reflections on the meaning of the Eucharist for the
Christian life.)
Biographies
Robert
Ellsberg, All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses
for Our Time. Crossroad.
(A
short pointed biography for each day of the year - containing canonized,
uncanonized, and unconventional people who displayed holiness.)
Robert
Ellsberg, Blessed Among All Women: Women Saints, Prophets, And Witnesses For
Our Time. Crossroad.
(Supplements
All Saints All Saints by
providing short pointed biographies of holy women, using MatthewÕs beatitudes
as the framework.)
Jim
Forest, Living with Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton. Orbis Books.
(A
good illustrated biography of the U.S. Trappist monk and spiritual writer by a
friend.)
Jim
Forest, Love is the Measure: A Biography of Dorothy Day. Paulist Press.
(A
good illustrated biography of the founder of the Catholic Worker movement, who
was a prominent Catholic
peacemaker, by a friend who worked with her for several years.)
Lawrence
Martin Jenco, Bound to Forgive: The Pilgrimage of Reconciliation of a Beirut
Hostage. Ave Maria Press.
(The
story of the spiritual journey of Fr. Jenco while he was held as a hostage in
Lebanon.)
Carlo
Carretto, I, Francis.
Orbis Books.
(A
retelling of the life of St. Francis of Assisi in the first person by an
Italian member of the Little Brothers of Jesus.)
James
R. Brockman, S.J., Romero: A Life. Orbis Books.
(The
definitive biography of the Salvadoran Archbishop killed in 1980 for being the
voice for the poor.)
Garry
Wills, Saint Augustine.
Lipper/Viking.
(A
short, very readable life of one of the great early thinkers of the church.)
Richard Deats, Mahatma Gandhi, Nonviolent Liberator: A
Biography. Hyde Park, NY:
New City Press, 2005.
(A
short pointed biography of Gandhi.)
James
Martin, S.J., In Good Company: The Fast Track from the Corporate World to
Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. Sheed & Ward.
(A
fascinating autobiography of a young Jesuit who left a good corporate position
to join the Jesuits. A biting critique of some aspects of the corporate world.)
Frederick John Dalton, The Moral Vision of Cˇsar
Ch‡vez. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books,
2003.
(A
good study of the Mexican-American Catholic leader and founder of the United
Farm Workers, his life, his work, and the values that provided the foundations
for his commitment.)
Sally Cunneen, In Search of Mary: The
Image and the Symbol.
Ballantine.
(Not
really a biography of Mary, but a thorough and very readable study of how Mary
has been perceived and honored through the centuries.)
John
W. Kiser, The Monks of Tibhirine: Faith, Love, and Terror in Algeria. St. MartinÕs Press, 2002.
(The
amazing story of the Trappists in Algeria who sought dialogue with Islam and
were martyred by some extremists.)
Mary
Swander, The Desert Pilgrim: En Route to Mysticism and Miracles. Viking Compass, 2003.
(A moving story of healing –
physical and spiritual.)
Prayerbooks
(This collection of prayers from many sources, related
to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, contains many beautiful prayers.)
The
Essential Catholic Prayer Book: A Collection of Private and Community Prayers. Ligouri Publications.
The
Fire of Peace: A Prayer Book. Pax Christi USA.
(Prayers
composed and compiled by Pax Christi USA, the national Catholic peace
organization.)
Walter Brueggemann, Awed to Heaven, Rooted in
Earth: Prayers of Walter Brueggemann.
Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003.
(A beautiful collection of prayers written and used by
the Protestant scripture scholar Walter Breuggemann.)
Catholic Morality and Catholic Social
Teaching
Fred Kammer, S.J., Doing Faithjustice:
An Introduction to Catholic Social Thought. Revised Edition. Paulist Press, 2004.
Elaine
Prevallet, Toward a Spirituality for Global Justice: A Call to Kinship. Louisville, KY: SowerÕs Books, 2005.
(The spirituality and practice of a
Catholic eco-spirituality of justice are explored in this thoughtful and
challenging book published for use in the Just FAITH program.)
Gerard Sloyan, Catholic Morality
Revisited: Origin and Contemporary Challenges. Twenty-Third Publications.
Vincent
J. Genovesi, S.J., In Pursuit of Love: Catholic Morality and Human
Sexuality. Liturgical Press.
(A thorough balanced treatment of questions of
sexuality and love from a Catholic perspective.)
Phillip
Berryman, Our Unfinished Business: The U. S. Catholic BishopsÕ Letters on
Peace and the Economy. Pantheon.
Pope
John Paul II The Gospel of
Life. Various editions.
Thomas Massaro, S.J., Living Justice:
Catholic Social Teaching in Action. Sheed and Ward.
(A
good short introduction to Catholic teachings on justice - with discussion
questions.)
John
C. Haughey, S.J., Virtue and Affluence: The Challenge of Life. Sheed and Ward.
(These
challenging essays were originally delivered to a group of very affluent
Catholics.)
Marvin
L. Krier Mich, Catholic Social Teaching and Movements. Twenty-Third Publications.
(An
approach to Catholic social teaching integrating analysis of documents since
1891 with description of movements within Catholicism since the 1800s.)
Martin M. McLaughlin, World Food
Security: A Catholic View of Food Policy in the New Millenium. Center of Concern, 2002.
(One of the few books that treat food and agricultural issues from the standpoint of Catholic Social Teaching.)
David Batstone, Saving the Corporate Soul & (Who Knows) Maybe Your Own: Eight Principles for Creating and Preserving Integrity and Profitability Without Selling Out. Jossey-Bass, 2003.
Specific Justice Issues
Pietra Rivoli, The Travels of a T-Shirt in the
Global Economy: An Economist Examines the Markets, Power, and the Politics of
Trade. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2006.
(This tale of the origins of one
t-shirt opens up the myths and realities of international trade in a very
readable way and reveals the people behind the international t-shirt
manufacture and trade.)
Paul Farmer, Pathologies of Power: Health, Human Rights, and the New War
on the Poor. Berkeley: University of
California Press, 2005.
(Paul Farmer, a doctor who has
worked for years in Haiti and other parts of the world on tuberculosis and AIDS,
proposes an alternative approach to work with the poor that emphasizes social justice
and not just charity and development. Highly recommended but not an easy book
to read.)
Spirituality
Dean Brackley, S.J., The Call to Discernment in
Troubled Times: New Perspectives on the Transformative Wisdom of Ignatius of
Loyola. Crossroad, 2004.
(A very helpful reading of the Spiritual Exercises of
St. Ignatius Loyola from a justice perspective from a priest who lives and
works in El Salvador.)
Timothy
Radcliffe, O.P., What Is the Point of Being A Christian? London; Burns & Oates, 2005.
(Essays
from the former master general of the Dominicans that cover a wide range of
what it means to be a Christian – from spirituality to divisions within
the Church.)
Anthony
DeMello, Taking Flight: A Book of Story Meditation. Doubleday.
(Stories
to provoke prayer and thought by a priest acquainted with many religious
traditions.)
Eileen
Egan & Kathleen Egan, Prayertimes with Mother Teresa: A New Adventure in
Prayer Involving Scripture, Mother Teresa, and You. Doubleday.
Ronald Modras, Ignatian Humanism: A Dynamic
Spirituality for the 21st Century.
Loyola Press, 2004.
Mother Teresa, A Simple Path. Ballantine Books, 1995.
Abraham
Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man. Noonday Press.
(A probing analysis of sabbath by a 20th
century Jewish theologian.)
Susan
Bergman, ed., Martyrs: Contemporary Writers on Modern Lives of Faith. Orbis Books.
(Essays
on people whoÕve given their lives in faith in the twentieth century.)
Jim
Forest, Praying with Icons. Orbis Books, 1997.
(A
book to introduce icons, what they are and how they are windows on the Holy.)
Henri
J. M. Nouwen, With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life. Orbis Books.
(A
short book with some moving reflections on the meaning of the Eucharist for the
Christian life.)
Ronald
Rolheiser, The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality.
(A
very good introduction to the spiritual life, advocating a spirituality combining
private prayer and morality, social justice, mellowness of heart and spirit,
and worship in community.)
Timothy Radcliffe, O.P., Sing a New
Song: The Christian Vocation. Templegate.
(The
Master of the Dominicans writes on the life of the spirit, especially for
Dominicans but helpful for all followers of Christ.)
Henri Nouwen, The Return of the
Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming. Doubleday/Image.
(A
meditation on the parable of the prodigal son inspired by a painting by
Rembrandt.)
Ronald
Rolheiser, The Shattered Lantern; Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God Revised edition. Crossroad.
(A
cultural analysis and a call for rediscovering the contemplative dimension of
life.)
William J. OÕMalley, S.J., Daily
Prayers for Busy People. Saint
MaryÕs Press.
(Four weeks of suggestions for morning,
daytime, and night prayers, including literature and paraphrases of
scriptures.)
James
Martin, ed., How Can I Find God? The Famous and the Not-So-Famous Consider
the Quintessential Question. Triumph Books, 1997.
(A collection of short replies to the
question raised in the title from people of many faiths and backgrounds.
Christine
M. Bochen, ed., Thomas Merton: Essential Writings. Orbis.
(A
selection from the writings of a twentieth-century man of the world turned
monk.)
Robert
Ellsberg, ed., Charles De Foucauld: Writings Selected with an Introduction. Orbis.
(A
selection from the writings of a twentieth-century hermit among Muslims.)
Brian
J. Mahan, Forgetting Ourselves on Purpose: Vocation and the Ethics of
Ambition. Jossey Bass,
2002
(If
youÕre trying to figure out where God is calling you and what you should do in
your life, use this book as a guide – even if youÕre 58 years old.)
Mary
Margaret Funk, OSB., Thoughts Matter: The Practice of the Spiritual Life. Continuum.
(Use
the insights of the early monk, St. John Cassian, to grow in your faith.)
Jeremy Carrette & Richard King, Selling
Spirituality: The Silent Takeover of Religion. London Routledege, 2005.
(A challenging critique of spirituality
that conforms to the consumer culture.)
Wayne Muller, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and
Delight in Our Busy Lives. Bantam,
2000.
(A reminder of the need for incorporating
Sabbath into our lives.)
Faith and Science
Forsthoefel,
Paulinus F., Religious Faith Meets Modern Science. New York, NY: Alba House, 1994.
John
Haught, Religion and Science: From Conflict to Conversation. Paulist Press.
John
Haught, God After Darwin: A Theology of Evolution.
Jim
Wallis, GodÕs Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and The Left DoesnÕt Get
It. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.
Joseph
G. Allegretti, Living Your Job, Finding Your Passion; Work and the Spiritual
Life. Paulist Press.
Ministry
Henri
J. M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership. Crossroad.
Violence and Nonviolence
Michael N. Nagler, Is There No Other Way? The
Search for a Nonviolent Future.
Berkeley Hills Books, 2001.
(A very good introduction to the power of nonviolence,
with a basis in spirituality, inspired in part by Hinduism.)
Chris Hedges, War Is a Force That Gives
Us Meaning. Anchor, 2003.
(An extraordinary and insightful analysis of war by a war journalist with a Masters of Divinity from Harvard.)
Eileen
Egan, Peace Be With You: Justified Warfare or the Way of Nonviolence. Orbis.
(An
overview of the Catholic tradition on war and peace, by a dedicated pacifist
who was active with Catholic Relief Services and a friend of both Dorothy Day and
Mother Teresa.)
John
Dear, ed., Henri Nouwen: The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice. Orbis.
(A
good collection on peace and justice by a noted spiritual writer.)
Jim
Forest, Making Friends of Enemies: Reflections on the Teachings of Jesus. Crossroad. (Out of print.)
(Stories
and reflections on nonviolence, forgiveness, and reconciliation.)
Martin
Luther King, Jr., The Trumpet of Conscience. Harper & Row.
Thomas
Merton, ed., Gandhi on Non-Violence. New Directions.
(An
essay and collection of quotations from Gandhi, selected by the famous American
Trappist monk.)
Thomas Merton, Passion for Peace: The
Social Essays. Edited and
with an introduction by William H. Shannon. Crossroad, 1995.
(A
comprehensive collection of MertonÕs writings on war, violence, and racism.)
Thomas
Merton, The Nonviolent Alternative.
(A collection of the writings on
nonviolence, war and peace, by the U.S. Trappist monk. and spiritual writer.)
Walter
Wink, Jesus and Nonviolence: A Third Way. Fortress
Press, 2003.
(A short stimulating discussion of the
Gospel roots of nonviolence.)
John
Howard Yoder, When War Is Unjust: Being Honest in Just-War Thinking. Revised Edition. Orbis Books.
(A
challenging analysis of the just war tradition and teaching by a prominent US
Mennonite pacifist theologian who taught at the University of Notre Dame.)
Living and Volunteering with the Poor
Gary Smith, S.J., Radical Compassion: Finding
Christ in the Heart of the Poor. Loyola Press, 2002
(A
JesuitÕs reflection on living and working with the poor in Portland, Oregon.)
Dominique
Lapierre, City of Joy.
Warner.
(The
story of a man living in the slums of India.)
Jeff
Thielman & Raymond A. Schroth, Volunteer: With the Poor in Peru. Paulist Press.
(Honest
reflections by a young college graduate on his volunteer experience.)
Liberation Spirituality
(A Salvadoran
theologian reflects on the 2001 earthquake, the terrorist attacks on September
11, 2001, and the US wars against Afghanistan and Iraq. Insightful and
challenging.)
Leonardo
Boff, Way of the Cross -Way of Justice. Orbis Books.
(A
Way of the Cross connecting the historical events with contemporary life.)
Segundo
Galilea, The Way of Living
Faith: A Spirituality of Liberation. Harper & Row.
Nestor
Jaˇn, S.J., Toward a Liberation Spirituality. Loyola University Press.
(A
guide to the spiritual life, in the style of St. Ignatius Loyola, from a
liberation perspective.)
Theology: Who Is God
Murray,
John Courtney, The Problem of God: Yesterday and Today. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press,
1964.
(A
philosophical and theological investigation into the nature and existence of
God.)
Liberation Theology
Leonardo
Boff, When Theology Listens to the Poor. Harper and Row.
Oscar Romero, The Violence of Love. Orbis.
(Selections
from the sermons of the martyred archbishop of San Salvador, El Salvador.)
Morality
Wendell Berry, Sex, Economy, Freedom and Community, Pantheon Books, 1993.
(Eight
insightful essays by one of the USÕs extraordinary essayists and prophets.)
Death and Suffering
William OÕMalley, Redemptive Suffering:
Understanding Suffering, Living with It, Growing through It. Crossroad.
Nicholas
Wolterstorff, Lament for a Son. Eerdmans.
(Moving meditations by a father who lost his twenty-five year old son.)