Catholic Thought discussion

This will be the thread to nominate books for our next read. Don't nominate yet. Official nominations according to our schedule will start on the first of October, which is next week.

But I enjoy talking about books as much as reading them, and I thought the discussion period prior to our last nomination went well. So I'd figure I'd do it again. Plus it will allow members to build up to their 50 posts in order to have their vote count double.

Here are a few books on my book shelf that are up for me to read. Would love to get people's reaction.

i've been trying to get to know more about the Church Fathers, and I heard this book was very good: When the Church Was Young: Voices of the Early Fathers

I'm always trying to deepen my skill at prayer, and I have this by Pope Benedict XVI: A School of Prayer: The Saints Show Us How to Pray. I guess it's like going to school for prayer.

And next on my saint's lives to explore is St. Dominic: The Life of St. Dominic. We tend to know so much about St. Francis of Assisi, but the other friar who started a major order is well worth learning about.

Anything seem interesting? What are some of the books you are considering?

Another highly recommended book is The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers by Mike Aquilina. I've stared reading it... Michael Barber has only praises for it in his series Exploring the Early Church Fathers from Saint Joseph Communications (I think I got the series through Lighthouse)

One drawback reading the Church Fathers on their own, is that it doesn't give you a historical or spiritual setting, which audiences they wrote for, and what challenges they faced. Without the context these writings - which are huge in their scope - one misses stuff. This is not to say that reading these texts in their entirety isn't useful, it is. But given the huge time investment involved reading the most important excerpts may be more practical.

Pope Benedict XVI devoted a long series on the early Church during his weekly Angelus addresses. They are all free online, or one can get them in book format. These would be perfect for short reads coupled with excerpts of the actual texts.

Incidentally, and I may have mentioned this before, our parish has a study on the early Church this fall. Our primary text is Christianity in Ancient Rome: The First Three Centuries It is a fabulous text starting with the Jewish diaspora in the Mediterranean world before Christ, setting the scene what the first Christians encountered and going from there. Unfortunately the book is very expensive. I was able to get it cheaper ordering through the publisher, but still had to pay a premium. Given that we are getting a free university level class, I can't really complain about the price of the book :)
The supporting text we're using is Destroyer of the Gods: Early Christian Distinctiveness in the Roman World. I haven't cracked this one open yet. It is a study how different Christianity was in a very pagan world.

Those are all excellent choices Kerstin. I would happily read any of them. I think there is a distinction between trying to learn of the Church Fathers and the ancient Roman history from where Christianity rose out of. As it turns out I am an ancient Roman history buff, and so either of those two last books you mention would fascinate me.

We read your number six last year here Loretta. If you do read it on your own, you might want to check the comments.

I do like some of those.

Yes, isn't it fun to talk books. ;)

Oh my goodness Loretta, you really get into the spirit :)

I read 'Story of a Soul' and was just in awe how at an early age Terese could grasp concepts of the faith that many of us need a life-time for.

A friend who attends a Baptist church just handed me "My Heart Will Triumph" by Mariana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjagorie (OK I know I spelled that wrong). I am thrilled that my Baptist friend is reading something like this and want to read it so I can talk with her about it. It looks good.

I would also second anything by Fr. James Martin, S.J. I have "Between and Myrth" on my TBR pile.

Irene wrote: "A friend who attends a Baptist church just handed me "My Heart Will Triumph" by Mariana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjagorie (OK I know I spelled that wrong). I am thrilled that my Baptist f..."

Do you not have any concern regarding Father James Martin?

Susan wrote: "Irene wrote: "A friend who attends a Baptist church just handed me "My Heart Will Triumph" by Mariana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjagorie (OK I know I spelled that wrong). I am thrilled tha..."

Per our new rules Susan if the books suggested touch on Fr. Martin's controversial statements and things he advocates, they could not be nominated. (See rules page) We decided to exclude politically charged readings, and by political I mean both Roman Catholic politics as well as politics at large. However, I couldn't find anything that would suggest these books do. If anyone believes the contents of these books touch on the controversies surrounding Fr. Martin, please let me or Kirsten know.

I always love to read anything by Scott HanHn or Vinny Flynn. However, since All Saints day is in November, would anybody like to read a biography/autobiography of a saint or a book such as Fr. Benedict Groeschel's The Saints in My Life: My Favorite Spiritual Companions?

Loretta, the book rule rule is not about judging. It's there to avoid divisive controversy. Let me quote it from the rules:

"To create a more harmonious discussion and experience here, this group excludes the discussion of politics, both that of internal to the Catholic Church and external to the country and world at large."

And then in Message #2 I clarify:

" The original and still current intent is to avoid the internal political strife that occurs between various factions of Catholics. We don't want the group to degenerate into bickering between say Liberals and Conservatives or between any other factions. We want to avoid that. And while we were at clarifying that statement, we included a statement about all politics in general."

Again, the point is to avoid bickering and divisiveness. If you've ever participated on discussion forums, it is astonishing how divisive they become. Yes, they get lots of energy and participation, but they create an antagonistic atmosphere. I envision Catholic Thought Book Club as a sort of monestery away from that atmosphere. A refuge, a retreat. Fr. Martin for better or worse is a very polarizing person. We have a 2000 year literary history that we can explore without needing to bring up what divides Catholics today. In a hundred years from now, Fr. Martin's issues will either be synthesized into Church dogma or will be dust. Catholic Thought may consider it then.

Lisa wrote: "I always love to read anything by Scott HanHn or Vinny Flynn. However, since All Saints day is in November, would anybody like to read a biography/autobiography of a saint or a book such as Fr. Ben..."

Lisa that is a great idea. We don't nominate based on a theme, but I will nominate and vote keeping All Saints day in mind.

Manny wrote: "Susan wrote: "Irene wrote: "A friend who attends a Baptist church just handed me "My Heart Will Triumph" by Mariana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjagorie (OK I know I spelled that wrong). I a..."

Thank you.

Susan wrote: "Irene wrote: "A friend who attends a Baptist church just handed me "My Heart Will Triumph" by Mariana Soldo, one of the visionaries of Medjagorie (OK I know I spelled that wrong). I am thrilled tha..."



No I don't. I have read other books by Fr. Martin and found them solid and well written. I loved his book "My Life With the Saints". Although I completely agree with our rule not to tackle a book that might be contraversial such as his most recent one, I would not be personally concerned about reading it. I do not think my commitment to Christ would be injured by reading a book like that, even if in the end, I disagree with what he says. At this point,, not having read it, I can't say anything about his thoughts on the topic.

Since we're upon another nomination, I was looking over the Lifetime Reading Plans (Fr. McCloskey and Fr. Hardon) plus Bishop Robert Barron's list, there are in total seven books recommended by all:

St. Augustine Confessions
St. Augustine City of God (long read)
G.K. Chesterton The Everlasting Man
John Henry Newman Apologia Pro Vita Sua
St. John of the Cross Dark Night of the Soul
Karl Adam The Spirit of Catholicism
St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica (long read)

Except perhaps of the Chesterton, all of these should be available on public domain, i.e., free downloads. Finding them has become another matter!

Hmm, I've been meaning to read The Everlasting Man for a while.

By the way, official nominations start tomorrow!

There is no way I could handle the Summa Theologica.

For theology: Jesus the Christ, by Cardinal Walter Kasper

For fiction: The Stories of Flannery O'Connor
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, by Brian Moore
Cold Heaven, by Brian Moore
Catholics, by Brian Moore

Frances wrote: "For theology: Jesus the Christ, by Cardinal Walter Kasper

For fiction: The Stories of Flannery O'Connor
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne, by Brian Moore
Cold Heaven, by Brian Moore
Catholics..."

Hi Francis and welcome. Those look like great reads. Today begins the nomination process to get to a vote for our next book club read. No one has nominated yet. Would you like to be the first? We only nominate one per person. So pick one and call it your nomination.

We also have an introduction thread. I invite you to introduce yourself. The thread is here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Thank you, Manny. I love the concept of this group. It's so hard to pick just one book. Required to select only one, however, I think I will nominate Jesus the Christ. When I was studying for my master's degree, Walter Kasper's work was highly regarded. Since this is my one chance to nominate, I do want to put out the name of the wonderful book published this year by the eminent Anglican theologian N.T. Wright (Bishop Robert Barron quotes him). The Day the Revolution Began is superb, original. But, my formal nomination is Jesus the Christ by Cardinal Walter Kasper.

I liked Father Martin's book very much and hope that anyone planning a trip to Israel would get a chance to read Jesus: A Pilgrimage before they went.

Great. Frances we are have a short read going on while we nominate and vote. We are reading and commenting on the Gospel of Mark. That discussion thread is under Bible Study, here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You might want to familiarize yourself with our discussion board and our rules and procedures.

I'm going to nominate The Life of St. Dominic by Augusta Theodosia Drane.

I'm going with Confessions by St. Augustine

My nomination is Doctors of the Church written by Pope Benedict XVI.

Ok, just as a summary so far we have the following nominations.

Loretta: Jesus: A Pilgrimage by James Martin
Frances: Jesus the Christ, by Cardinal Walter Kasper
Manny: The Life of St. Dominic
Kerstin: Confessions by St. Augustine
Lisa: Doctors of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI

Great selections. All books I wouldn't mind reading!

I will nominate "Between Heaven and Myrth" by Fr. James Martin.

I'd also be very excited by any book by Walter Kasper.

Just a reminder. Nominations Saturday night at midnight, eastern standard time.

Nominations are over. I'm setting up the poll.

Edit: Poll will open at 3 AM eastern standard time.

My nomination in post #26 was left off the pole. Maybe the Holy Spirit did not want us to consider that one this time. I voted for another title since my nomination was missing.

Irene wrote: "My nomination in post #26 was left off the pole. Maybe the Holy Spirit did not want us to consider that one this time. I voted for another title since my nomination was missing."

I am so sorry Irene. I didn't see it. I can put it in the poll and I think I can have you revote. Please let me know if you want me to as soon as possible.

Loretta wrote: "Manny wrote: "Irene wrote: "My nomination in post #26 was left off the pole. Maybe the Holy Spirit did not want us to consider that one this time. I voted for another title since my nomination was ..."

Ok. Will do.

Irene - tell me if you want me to try to change your vote.

OK, it's added, and Irene I cleared your vote. So please re-vote at your nearest convenience.

My apologies again.

No problem. I would have been fine skipping it and taking its absence from the pole as a sign.

Irene wrote: "No problem. I would have been fine skipping it and taking its absence from the pole as a sign."

Well, the Holy Spirit has to hit me over the head really hard, and then I might have listened...lol. Seriously, I would have felt bad if I let that go. Enjoy your Sunday.

Loretta wrote: "Manny wrote: "Loretta wrote: "Manny wrote: "Irene wrote: "My nomination in post #26 was left off the pole. Maybe the Holy Spirit did not want us to consider that one this time. I voted for another ..."

You're welcomed. :)