Catholic Thought discussion

The category for our next read is a Catholic Classic. We defined a Catholic Classic as a book written about Catholicism that has stood the test of time and was written at least a 100 years ago. I really liked how Kristen kept a running list of Christmas books for our Christmas read. I think such a list makes sense for Catholic classics as well. So I am going to start this topic for maintaining our list of Catholic Classics. We can use it to nominate as well. Below will be a list of what I pulled up as Catholic Classics. I list the author and below the books they have written. Unlike Kristen, I have not linked each work to a Goodreads book entry. That's a lot of work, I'm afraid. Maybe in time we'll build that slowly.

Now the list is not comprehensive. Just as we do with the Christmas list, everyone can make recommendations, and if it qualifies we'll put it on the list. Some of these works are just too long for our reads, such as the Aquinas books, but they would qualify for our long term read once that opens up for a new nomination. So we'll keep them on the list. Also note, some of the books on the list Catholic Thought has already read. We don't have a rule against reading it a second time, but many of us would love to move on to something new.

List of Catholic Classics

Augustine of Hippo:
Confessions
City of God
On Christian Doctrine
On the Free Choice of the Will

Basil of Caesaria:
On the Holy Spirit

Athanasius:
The Life of Antony
On the Incarnation

Benedict of Nursia:
The Rule of St. Benedict

Clement of Alexandria:
Protrepticus
Paedagogus
Stromata

Cyril of Jerusalem:
Catechetical Lectures

Gregory of Nazianzus:
Theological Orations
Homilies on "Our Father"

Gregory of Nyssa:
Life of Moses

Boethius, Anicius:
The Consolation of Philosophy

Ireneaus:
Against Heresies

Justin Martyr:
First Apology
Second Apology

Origen:
On First Principles
Commentaries

Pseudo-Dionysius:
Divine Names
Mystical Theology

Abelard, Peter:
Sic et Non
Letters

Anselm of Canterbury:
Monologion
Proslogion
Cur Deus Homo?

Eusebius of Caesarea:
Church History

Aquinas, Thomas:
Summa Theologiae
Summa Contra Gentiles
Questiones de Veritate

Bede, Venerable:
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum

Bernard of Clairvaux:
Commentary on the Song of Songs
Sermons

Bonaventure:
Life of St. Francis
Itinerarium
Collationes de Hexameron
Sermons

Catherine of Sienna:
The Dialogue

Henry Susso:
A Little Book of Eternal Wisdom

Eckhart, Meister:
Sermons

Louis-Marie Grignion de Monfort:
True Devotion to Mary


St. Therese of Lisieux:
The Story of a Soul

Julian of Norwich:
Showings

Richard of St. Victor:
On the Trinity

Ruysbroeck, John:
The Spiritual Espousals

Scotus, Duns:
Ordinatio
De Primo Principio

Thomas a Kempis:
The Imitation of Christ

Bellarmine, Robert:
Ordinatio

Borromeo, Charles:
Tridentine Catechism

de Sales, Francis:
Letters of Spiritual Direction
Introduction to the Devout Life

Erasmus, Desiderius:
Praise of Folly
Enchiridion

Ignatius of Loyola:
Autobiography
Spiritual Exercises

John of the Cross:
Ascent of Mount Carmel
The Flame of Love
Dark Night of the Soul

Lamennais, Felicite de:
Ouvres complètes de Lamennais

Liguori, Alphonsus:
The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection

Newman, John Henry:
Grammar of Assent
University Sermons
The Idea of a University

Pascal, Blaise:
Pensees

Teresa of Avila:
Interior Castle
Autobiography
The Way to Perfection

St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein:
The Science of the Cross
The Hidden Life: Essays, Meditations, Spiritual Texts
Essays on Woman: Collected Works of Edith Stein Life

Let me start the nomination process. I am going to nominate Boethius' The Consolation of Philosophy

It's hard to pick! Several of these I've read and would love to read again, and several I own and haven't started yet. But I think I'll nominate St. Alphonsus Liguori's The Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection. I always find his writings powerful.

Following Michelle, so The Great Means of Salvation and of Perfection :-)

Michelle wrote: "It's hard to pick! Several of these I've read and would love to read again, and several I own and haven't started yet. But I think I'll nominate St. Alphonsus Liguori's [book:The Great Means of Sal..."

Michelle, when I click that link, the entry says that the book is 578 pages. Now that is way too long. But when I go to Amazon, I can find editions that are 150 to 200 pages. That is doable. So can you explain why that link says the book is 578 pages?

I think that edition I linked is illustrated in some fashion. At least that’s what my copy says!

Is this the same book Michelle? It's 175 pages.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

You might want to follow to the the Amazon site and look inside and see if it matches what you have.

Gee whiz, the page counts are all over the place!! I have this kindle edition, which is 313 pages and 0.99:

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Means-Sa...

I’m surprised we don’t have anything by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein. She amazes.

Donna wrote: "I’m surprised we don’t have anything by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein. She amazes."

Yeah, you're right, Donna. I own this The Science of the Cross, but I've never read it.

Donna wrote: "I’m surprised we don’t have anything by St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross/Edith Stein. She amazes."

You're right. I'll add Michael's suggestion and one of my own.

Edit: I just realized. Most of her writing is not a 100 years old yet. I don't think it qualifies. I'll leave it up for now.

Manny wrote: "Edit: I just realized. Most of her writing is not a 100 years old yet. I don't think it qualifies. I'll leave it up for now."

Got it! Thanks, Manny :)

Julian of Norwich

Frances wrote: "Julian of Norwich"

I don't know if Julian has more than one book. The one I know is Revelations of Divine Love. Is this the one you mean Frances.

Michelle wrote: "Gee whiz, the page counts are all over the place!! I have this kindle edition, which is 313 pages and 0.99:

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Means-Sa......"

Michelle, I looked into this. What you have I think is a compendium of more than one of de Ligouri's works. The one you are nominating is anywhere from 165 to 210 pages. So no problem. At Amazon you can find the book here:
https://www.amazon.com/Prayer-Great-M...

So I will make tomorrow end of day the deadline to nominate. I think we have three good ones so far. I would love to read any of these three.

Manny wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Gee whiz, the page counts are all over the place!! I have this kindle edition, which is 313 pages and 0.99:

https://www.amazon.com/Great-Means-Sa......"

That explains it! Thank you, I just picked up the one you linked.

Manny wrote: "So I will make tomorrow end of day the deadline to nominate. I think we have three good ones so far. I would love to read any of these three."

That's fine!

The poll for this read is up here:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...