The Catholic Book Club discussion

Welcome members!

This thread is for any members who would like to introduce themselves to the group. Please tell us a little something about yourself and what Catholic books or authors you would enjoy discussing with us.

We are delighted you have joined our group and look forward to getting to know you better.

Hi my name is Praise from India and i m a catholic.My favourite books are: True devotion to Mary by St.LOUIS DE MONTFORT,Life of ST.THERESE OF AVILA,Interrior castle by ST THERESE OF AVILA,Diary of ST. maria faustina and Spiritual combact by FR.LORONSO SCUPULI.

Bless wrote: "Hi my name is Praise from India and i m a catholic.My favourite books are: True devotion to Mary by St.LOUIS DE MONTFORT,Life of ST.THERESE OF AVILA,Interrior castle by ST THERESE OF AVILA,Diary of..."

Hi Praise, welcome to the group!! I notice from some of your other answers that you have answered the call to the priesthood. Are you a priest now or are you in seminary? God Bless you on your journey.

What about you, John? Tell us a bit about yourself.

I am going to join Capuchin seminary in june.

Bless wrote: "I am going to join Capuchin seminary in june."

Wonderful. You must be very excited.

C.D. wrote: "What about you, John? Tell us a bit about yourself."

Hi, C.D., sure. I am a revert. Raised Catholic I wandered away from the church, first into evangelical circles, then, eventually, when confounded by the internal contradictions of Protestantism (the rationale of schism has no logical stopping point), into agnosticism. My spiritual journey back to the Church began on 9/11 and culminated with my returning to the Church and wife being baptized at the Easter Vigil in 2004.

I have three adult children, practice law and split my time between Minnesota and Florida. In the Church I have become active in Cursillo. My main hobbies are hiking (my wife and I are walking the Camino in stages; last year we did Le Puy to Figeac), reading and languages.

Hi Bless, its reassuring to know young men like yourself are still answering the call. The period of discernment can be rough. Bless you for being open to whatever the Lord has in mind for you.

You sound like a busy man of diverse interests, John. Thank you for sharing. I'm a revert, too. Welcome back to the both of us, I guess. Heh, heh.

I'm a YA author, and my name is Cynthia T. Toney. I use the middle initial in my pen name because someone else named Cynthia Toney was arrested. Yikes! But she doesn't write books. My first series is Bird Face, including the titles 8 Notes to a Nobody and 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status, published by Write Integrity Press, a Christian publisher that sometimes acquires Catholic fiction. I love reading YA and NA, particularly contemporary, and I'm a member of the Catholic Writers Guild.

I'm Jane Lebak, and I'm a parent and a writer. One of my goals is to be reading more steadily rather than in bursts, so hopefully having assigned books will help (although I read the current month's selection a few years ago.)

I'd like to read and discuss St. Frances de Sales because he just seems so practical and gentle.

I enjoy reading fiction, devotionals, and Apologetics. I am also a writer. My first book "Return To Paradise" is a Catholic based inspirational/romance novel. I am currently writing my second book "Seventy Times Seven", which I hope to have out the middle of this year. It is also a Catholic based inspirational novel. In addition to the forgiveness/redemption theme that you might expect from the title, it will have a very strong pro-life theme.

Hello everyone, I only recently discovered this Goodreads group and I look forward to chatting with you here. I took my first sacraments when I was in late primary school and still practice my faith to this day. I have a passion for reading and have always been drawn to the stories of the saints, especially St Brigid and St John Bosco.

Tara wrote: "Hello everyone, I only recently discovered this Goodreads group and I look forward to chatting with you here. I took my first sacraments when I was in late primary school and still practice my fait..."

Excellent, welcome Tara. Hopefully you will be able to join us this month for the reading and discussion of St. Teresa's Autobiography.

Hi, everyone! My name is Gina Marinello-Sweeney. I am the author of The Veritas Chronicles, a Catholic trilogy that begins with I Thirst. The second volume, The Rose and the Sword, was released this month. While that series is primarily realistic fiction, I also enjoy writing in the genre of fantasy. Poetry is another passion of mine, whether in English or Spanish.

As far as Catholic literature goes, I have enjoyed books by Regina Doman, Josh Baker, Theresa Linden, and Cynthia Toney, among others. A nonfiction classic that I highly recommend is The Story of My Soul by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. I feel especially close to The Little Flower. Her remark that she would be our spiritual little sister for all eternity rings true to me. I love her childlike joy and connection to roses. She had (and has) a great understanding of Beauty and Truth. Additionally, I have always felt a special connection to a saint who lived during my lifetime, St. Pope John Paul II. I love reading his poetry; there is nothing like it. His "Letter to Artists" is also brilliant. In the future, I hope to read works by St. Francis de Sales; after all, he is the patron saint of writers! A new nonfiction Catholic work that I recommend, especially for young people, is Catherine Stewart's How To Become a Heroic Catholic: A Guide to Defending Catholicism for Teenagers and Young Adults.

Gina wrote: "Hi, everyone! My name is Gina Marinello-Sweeney. I am the author of The Veritas Chronicles, a Catholic trilogy that begins with I Thirst. The second volume, The Rose and the Sword, was released thi..."

Welcome, Gina.

For everyone else's information, Gina has provided the questions which will guide the discussion of her book, I Thirst, our May BOTM.

Thank you! It was my pleasure. :)

Hi everyone - I am Christy Fitzgerald, a wife of 28 years, mom of 4 grown sons (youngest is 18, I'll have an empty nest soon), I'm an RN case manager, and I've been Catholic for about 28.5 years (converted "for" my husband, haha, that's what I thought anyway). I am passionately Catholic and enjoy reading different kinds of Catholic literature. I just finished Michael O'Brien's Father Elijah and enjoyed it very much. I've read Scott Hahn, St. Pope JPll, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Ignatius' Spiritual Exercises, St. Augustine, St. Faustina, I tried reading Aquinas' Summa Theologica (hahahaha, that was funny), then I tried reading the Summa of the Summa (nope) and decided to stick to less lofty works. I tend to read in spurts like the poster a few above me, but would like to start reading more regularly. I thirst for knowledge and understanding, and for spiritual growth. I look forward to getting to know everyone better.

Hi Christy! Welcome to the group. I was relating to your intro. I too read an eclectic selection of Catholic literature, and like you, I too tried to several times to read the Summa Theologicae and failed. I actually have two copies of the complete 25 volumes; one on my Kindle and the other a searchable copy on my laptop. Maybe someday I will get through the whole thing, but it won't be any time soon! LOL

Welcome, Christy. Like you and Jeffrey, I read broadly. Unlike you and Jeffrey, I haven't attempted the Summa. or the Summa of the Summa. It is on my "I really ought try to read that someday but I'm a little afraid of it list." Along with Pascal's Pensées. I have read Thomas V. Morris's Making Sense of It All: Pascal and the Meaning of Life (Pensées sur les Pensées?)

In any case, as you may have seen, we are currently reading The Life of Saint Teresa of Ávila by Herself and in may will be reading I Thirst, by Gina Marinello-Sweeney, who is a member of our group and who graciously provided questions to guide our discussion. Voting for our June BOTM will take place in mid-May.

Feel free to dive right in!

Hi y'all! My name is Catherine Stewart. I'm a Catholic teen trying to figure out what path God is calling me to walk.

In my senior year of high school I released a book titled "How to Become a Heroic Catholic: A Guide to Defending Catholicism for Teenagers and Young Adults", written to engage the teens/YAs of today's world and help them grow in knowledge and understanding of this beautiful faith we have and share. I spent 6 months doing deep research and figuring out what to include, then 18 months writing and editing. It includes passages from the Bible, Catechism, and Church fathers.

I'm a Church History Nerd. And I am very proud of that fact. My favorite period to study right now is the early Church (from 33 AD to about 500 AD). Going with that - my confirmation name is Athanasius, after the short guy with red hair who brought down Arianism.

My faith is my life. It's impossible for me to even try to separate the two at all.

As far as Catholic books/authors I would enjoy discussing...

I love the Summa Theologica. In middle school I read Aquinas's Shorter Summa (fantastic read!) and then at my confirmation received the full Summa Theologica in a beautiful set of 5 blue and gold bound books. Working my way through it, but it's incredible.

St. Augustine's writings (like City of God, Confessions, etc.) are other favorites.

Anything by Chesterton - lately I've been attempting to collect his works. Orthodoxy would be a fun book to discuss.

The Apostasy that Wasn't, by Rod Bennett - love to discuss that book. Just finished reading it last week, learned a lot about the early Church.

Code of Canon Law, anyone? I keep that on my bookshelf for when I have spare time to read. It's a lot of legalistic stuff and such, but I always love learning what the Church teaches and why and how she deals with things like choosing Godparents, Confirmation Sponsors, etc.

Brant Pitre's works. He's a not-too-well-known Catholic author/apologist with a focus on the Jewish Roots of Catholicism. His books are fantastic and I think they'd be great to discuss here. Same with Scott Hahn.

Louis de Wohl has some incredible stories of Saints like Augustine, Catherine of Siena, Aquinas, etc. as well as a novel about the soldier who pierced Christ's side on Good Friday.

Hmm...I guess that's a good start! Between my mom and I, we have a collection of over 300 Catholic books. I haven't been able to participate much in this group yet (college and finals, finally done for the year!) but I'm looking forward to getting involved!

Sarah wrote: "Hi Catherine! That sounds pretty cool. Since most people say that if you trace back the Church, you won't find Jesus, but I'm glad someone's proving them wrong!

Can you give me a little summary o..."

Hey, Sarah! Gina is one of my favorite Catholic fiction authors. I was able to read an advance copy of the sequel to I Thirst and love it :D

A little summary...well, the short story is that Catholicism today holds the same beliefs in all things that the Early Church did. You can find writings from St. Ignatius of Antioch, who learned at the feet of St. John the Apostle, about the Eucharist. Some of the earliest known hymns are celebrating Mary as the Virgin Mother, and there's even a poem celebrating her by St. Ephram the Syrian. The authority of the Church in Rome (i.e., the Pope) is shown and carried throughout history - especially as noted by the letters Clement of Rome wrote...and it's just incredible to see that those Catholics (the term Catholic used first in 110 AD by Ignatius of Antioch, but the context leads us to believe it had been used before then) believe the same things we believe today. Truly the "One. Holy. Catholic. Apostolic." Church handed down through Scripture and Tradition today thanks to the Magisterium. So, haha, I guess that's a little summary?

Nice to meet you!

And, I think it was Cardinal John Henry Newman who said, "To be deep in history is to cease to be Protestant"
That's one of my favorite quotes. Because it rings so true.

Catherine and Sarah, I'm glad you two met! :) I have been so impressed by your intelligence, insight, and sweet nature. I think you would get along very well. :) (Speaking of which, Sarah . . . where is your co-conspirator in Abominable Snowwoman predictions, aka. Nicole? ;) )

I highly recommend Catherine's apologetics book. It is an excellent resource that has been praised by well-known apologist Jimmy Akin. And, from my own reading of the text, I can say that that praise was certainly well deserved.

Wow, Catherine, you sound like a very impressive teen!
On the early Church: as a "fallen away Baptist" (I journeyed from the evangelical tradition through Lutheranism to Catholicism, which embraces all the best in my previous churches), I've been struck by how many thoughtful people raised in the evangelical tradition have become Catholic primarily through reading the Church Fathers.

Welcome home, Jill!

The early Church is incredible. The more I study it the more I know what I believe is indeed Truth. If you read the Church Fathers, you'll have to notice that they're all Catholic in their beliefs and teachings. Seeing and learning how they worked out issues, how they had to be so extremely picky and stringent on each word used in the Creed and such (because who knew the difference between the Greek words 'homoousius' and 'homoiousius' was the difference between Truth and heresy in the Nicene Creed?) it explains so much as to how the Church operates today and has operated throughout history.

I love it. :D

Welcome to the group Catherine.

Please feel free to add your suggestions to the nominations thread. We will be voting for our July BOTM in mid-June, so be sure to stop by for that. And I hope you can join us in reading and discussing Please Don't Remove Margreat's Glasses!, by Josh Baker, our June BOTM.

Catherine wrote: "Hi y'all! My name is Catherine Stewart. I'm a Catholic teen trying to figure out what path God is calling me to walk.

In my senior year of high school I released a book titled "How to Become a He..."
John wrote: "Welcome to the group Catherine.

Please feel free to add your suggestions to the nominations thread. We will be voting for our July BOTM in mid-June, so be sure to stop by for that. And I hope you ..."

Hello, although i do not usually to appear very much in this group in part for my little capacity to speak English. I join to the choir of welcome. Welcome Mistress Catherine, and for my part if you need something about me. You do not doubt to ask for me. Yours Sincerely Fonch. Your references about my favorites authors Louis de Wohl, and G.K. Chesterton are really interesting.

I really need to read more Chesterton. I love the various quotes and sections of "The Ballad of the White Horse" that I have read by him.

Gina wrote: "I really need to read more Chesterton. I love the various quotes and sections of "The Ballad of the White Horse" that I have read by him."

You have to read all kind of things was written by the genius Chesterton. He is synonime of quality, and common sense :-). I will have read at least 30 books was written by him. The last the biography of Saint Francis Assissi, and the novel the Ball and the Cross. The first was ratwed by 4 stars, and the second was rated by five stars :-). He is my favorite writer.

I have been really impressed by the little I have seen so far. :) I will definitely have to check out his work! Thanks for the recommendations, Fonch!

Gina wrote: "I have been really impressed by the little I have seen so far. :) I will definitely have to check out his work! Thanks for the recommendations, Fonch!"

Gina wrote: "I have been really impressed by the little I have seen so far. :) I will definitely have to check out his work! Thanks for the recommendations, Fonch!"

Thanks for your fond words Mrs. Marinello. With all i am sure that every book was written by Chesterton, that you read i thought that you liked it. The only book that i read to G.K. Chesterton, and i have to recognize that i do not like very much. It was the play "Magic". Despite all there were people that this play liked very much :-).
I like very mucch all Father Brown, "The poet and lunatics", "Napoleon of Notting Hill", "The Fliying Inn" (this is really actual nowadays :-)), and the "Ball and the cross". I wish this suggestions were useful for you :-).

Thanks, Fonch! I will keep that in mind. :) I have heard great things about Father Brown.

Gina wrote: "Thanks, Fonch! I will keep that in mind. :) I have heard great things about Father Brown."
It is excellent about all the first book "The innocence of the father Brown", besides there are good short stories and "The unbelief of Father Brown", and "The secret of Father Brown".
I have the intenction to make a list with my favorites chapters of the Father Brown Stories. Perhaps my favorite was the 9th story of the first book "The God`s hammer". The last story of the book "The secret of Father Brown". "The Marne`s penitennce" is rather good.
Chesterton follow the Thomist theory defended by the Pope Leo XIII, and the Belgian Abbey Mercier.
But in your country Gina has a similar detective to the Father Brown. The father Dowling created by the american writer-Thomist Philosopher Ralph McInerny
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ralph_M...

Very interesting. I think I saw an episode or two of a TV series based on the Father Dowling series.

Gina wrote: "Very interesting. I think I saw an episode or two of a TV series based on the Father Dowling series."

Yes There was a TV. Serie, but i did watch it the TV serie. Unfortunatelly the Ralph McInerny novel`s were not translated to spanish, and i could not read them :-(.

Hi, I'm Nicole. Although I've commented on other threads I was rather self-conscious and therefore neglected to introduce myself.

I'm getting my undergrad in music composition. I have almost as much trouble deciding my favorite composer as deciding my favorite book.

One of my favorite saints is Saint Hildegard of Bingen, though I have observed that more musicians know her as a composer than Catholics know her as a saint. I have been trying to read my way through the books on the Catholic YA fiction list, which is made more difficult by the fact that my library doesn't want to buy those books. I also enjoy listening to audiobooks.

Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the list. And please vote for any you already read and liked. I also have a Facebook group page by the same name. Many of us on this comment thread are already members. If you'd like to join Books for Catholic Teens on Facebook, request on Facebook. I have met so many wonderful YA authors and parents, grandparents, and educators/leaders of teens there. I'm trying to read everyone's books, but there are many more than I could've dreamed. And I'm readiing Catholic adult novels and nonfiction, too, so I can't begin to list all the books here. I'm so happy for all of us that so many good books for Catholics exist!

Cynthia wrote: "Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the list. And please vote for any..."

Youth is a divine treasure. I wish i could enjoy it. In spite of this i want to say one thing. I think that that the good catholic fiction can be read for everybody children, boys, adults, and old people.
With all if we can get that more young people read catholic novels, then will be much better.

Cynthia wrote: "Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the list. And please vote for any..."

My friend and member of this group Manuel Alfonseca has written catholic novels for teens. Although his books are in spanish. They have been translated to English by himself https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...
You could read their novels in this link https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/sea...
In my case i love "Jacob`s ladder" and "Under an orange sky".

Fonch wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the list. And ple..."

Hi, Fonch. I accepted your friend request. Thanks! I'm one of those adults who reads lots of Young Adult books by Catholic and other Christian authors. I love them. A good book is a good book no matter what age group it was written for.

Cynthia wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the..."

Cynthia wrote: "Fonch wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "Hi, it's Cynthia again. I started the Listopia list Books for Catholic Teens. After reading its description, if you read such a book, please feel free to add it to the..."

It is a big pleasure for me having something with your readings :-). In my case i am well known like a catholic readers collector. I read catholic books, and i collect catholic writers. I have a dream to read the best catholic writers of the world. Although i read different genres. I am very interested in christian literature, of course except the christian writers were anticatholic in this case i do not read. In this group i like really much Stephen R. Lawhead "Byzantium" is one of my favorites novels, Margaret Weiss, and Tracy Hickman the aclaimed authors of Dragonlance, Orson Scott Card. Now i confess that i am very interested in christian fantasy authors, that unfortunatelly has not translate to spanish yet. I am thinking in Ted Dekker, Donita K. Pual, Weiland, Jill Williamson an others.

Hi! My name is Sarah I'm from Pullman, WA, a newly wed and the "mom" to two fur babies both black labs. Some of my favorite Catholic books are

1) Rome Sweet Home by Scott Hahn

2) Confessions of a Mega church pastor by Allen hunt

Hey everyone! I am Taylor, a young Catholic teen wishing to deepen her faith. I am one of seven children.

I like Scott Hahn's books, The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church by Chris Kaczor, and any good Catholic reads... I also love any edifying classic fiction that provides a good read ;)

Taylor wrote: "Hey everyone! I am Taylor, a young Catholic teen wishing to deepen her faith. I am one of seven children.

I like Scott Hahn's books, The Seven Big Myths About the Catholic Church by Chris Kaczor, ..."

In the case of Sarah and Taylor i could not say more that welcome in my case i want to say thank you to Taylor for writing his favorites catholic book. I have read two books were written by Scott Hahn "Rome Sweet Home", who wrote with his wife Kimberly Hahn, and "Answering the new Atheism, Dismantling Dawkin`s Case Against God", who wrote with Benjamin Wiker. Despite the Spanish Publishings did not publish the books i would like to read Scott Hahn has been very published in my country but RIALP. I did not know to Chris Kaczor thanks, Taylor for letting me that i nkow his name. Your Sincerely Fonch.

Welcome, Sarah and Taylor. Please feel free to poke around and ask questions. We are currently reading Please Don't Remove Margreat's Glasses! and have just chosen Stay with Me as our BOTM for July.

Mattia wrote: "Hi! I'm Mattia, I'm catholic and a theology/philosophy scholar. I'm Italian, I live and work in Rome: I'm a teacher in secondary school.
Pleased to meet you!
Mattia"

Welcome, Mattia. As you may have noticed, we are in the midst of voting for our BOTM for September. Please feel free to join in and vote. I look forward to hearing from you in the discussions.

Hi, Mattia, Sarah, and Taylor!

Hi! I'm Jivko from Poland, I love Jesus but I cant follow Him. Is too hard.Even I dont go every sunday to church. I'm weak, ignominious sinner. But every day I try pray like this : "Lord Jesus Christ , have mercy upon me. " Is method from book name Filokalia.

JivkoIgnominious wrote: "Hi! I'm Jivko from Poland, I love Jesus but I cant follow Him. Is too hard.Even I dont go every sunday to church. I'm weak, ignominious sinner. But every day I try pray like this : "Lord Jesus Chri..."

Be calm the Lord is merciful and he knows the dificulties. There more happiness in the Heaven for a sinner who regret his sin, than 99 fair people. I love Poland is one of my favorites countries.

Sarah wrote: "Hi Cynthia!!!! How are you? How's the 8 Notes to a Nobody/Birdface series?

I think Rome sounds better than NYC since it has such a vast history. The apostles went there! Super amazing!"

Hi, Sarah! Thank you for reading my books. I always read your reviews of YA books when I see them. :-) The Bird Face series should have another book out soon, but I hope more people read 10 Steps to Girlfriend Status before then so they'll understand everything about book three.