Reading list
Bishop Kalistos Ware
The Jesus Prayer
Available at:
The Name of Jesus, the only Name given to us for salvation (Acts 4:12), the Name to which every knee will bow (Phil. 2:9-11) is the centre point of the Jesus Prayer. A prayer (also a method of prayer) that calms the mind and spirit by meditating on Jesus in His whole person, his true divinity and true humanity.
Bishop Kallistos Ware (who sadly passed away in 2022) was a British Theologian and Bishop in the Orthodox Church. He was respected among both Catholic and Orthodox Christians, and he has written helpful books on Eastern Christian theology and spirituality, including this small but succinct edition on the Jesus Prayer.
The book has short but fully packed chapters exploring the essential aspects of the prayer, including its “four strands”, as he put it, the main purposes of it, its development in Church history, and also excellent insights on the prayer in relation to the Trinity and the Sacraments. Bishop Ware also gives us practical ways of exercising the prayer in our daily lives.
The biggest impact of the book is the encouragement that this prayer should be used by both Western (Catholic) and Eastern Christians. This prayer focuses on our Lord Jesus, the Lord of all Christians. He also points to the Western mystic St. Bernard of Clairvaux, who had a love for the Holy Name (p.12), and works such as The Cloud of the Unknowing (14th century) and The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross (16th century) who wrote positively about these ‘non-iconic’ prayers such as the Jesus Prayer.
We highly recommend this short book published by the Catholic Truth Society. It will enrich your spiritual life and, ultimately, your daily life. It will also foster a greater appreciation among Catholics for our Eastern brothers and sisters and their devotional practices.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner
Trent Horn
A Case For Catholicism
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Answers to Classic and Contemporary Protestant Objections
This book is a compelling defence of the Catholic faith against common Protestant criticisms. Horn, a well-versed apologist and Catholic scholar, provides thoughtful and accessible arguments that address a wide range of theological disputes between Catholicism and Protestantism. His approach is both respectful and thorough, making the book a valuable resource for those seeking to understand or defend Catholic teachings.
Throughout the book, Horn responds to key objections on topics such as authority in the Church, the role of Scripture, the Eucharist, and the doctrine of salvation. He skillfully explains Catholic positions, often highlighting historical and Biblical foundations, while also addressing misconceptions or misinterpretations that Protestant critics may have. The book is organized into clear chapters, each dealing with a specific area of Catholic belief, which makes it easy for readers to navigate and digest the material.
Horn’s tone is both scholarly and accessible, making complex theological arguments approachable for lay readers without sacrificing depth. He avoids polemical attacks, instead focusing on presenting positive arguments for Catholicism, making ‘The Case for Catholicism’ a constructive and enlightening read for anyone interested in interdenominational dialogue or apologetics.
Overall, this book serves as an excellent introduction to Catholic apologetics, providing readers with a solid foundation to engage in meaningful conversations about faith, doctrine, and tradition. It is an invaluable tool for Catholics wishing to understand and explain their faith, as well as for those exploring the differences between Catholicism and Protestantism.
Trent Horn
Why We Are Catholic
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Our reasons for faith, hope, and love;
In this book, the author not only explains why we are Catholic, but he begins by explaining why we believe in something, rather than not believing in anything. From this broad perspective, the author then explains step by step why the Christian faith finds its fullness in the Catholic Church. Various controversial issues such as: Why Catholics venerate Mary and other saints; why Catholics are not Bible-alone Christians; and why Catholics believe that faith and works go hand in hand as faith working through love. The various topics in the book are discussed in comfortable English and in an easy manner. This is indeed an important book to read for anyone who is interested in wanting to know more about the Catholic Church and the Catholic Christian faith.
Stephen K Ray
Crossing The Tiber
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Steve Ray was an evangelical Protestant. In this book, he describes his conversion to the Catholic Church as a crossing of the Tiber River – the river that flows past the Vatican. In the first part of the book, Ray explains how, among other things, his experience with the failure of 'sola scriptura' and 'the right to private judgment and opinion' practically led to his discovery of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, he writes about the words of Jesus to Peter 'on this rock', and what it means. The second part of the book also deals with Baptism and the third part with the Eucharist. (die Nagmaal). Crossing the Tiber is recommended for any seeking Christian, but is especially intended for those who have questions about the Catholic Church.
Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ
God's Voice Within
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This book is a profound exploration of the spiritual practice of discernment. Aimed at those seeking guidance in making decisions, it blends theological insights with practical tools for recognizing God’s voice in daily life. Drawing on the Jesuit tradition, the book presents discernment not as a singular event but as an ongoing process that involves prayer, reflection, and attentiveness to the Holy Spirit.
Thibodeaux breaks down the concept of discernment into easily understandable steps, emphasizing that it’s about distinguishing between the various voices that influence our choices—those of God, our own desires, and worldly distractions. He encourages readers to trust their inner spiritual experiences, whether they lead to joy, peace, or discomfort, to help in making life’s significant decisions. The book also includes examples from both scripture and modern life, offering relatable situations for readers to consider their own discernment journeys.
This work is accessible to a wide audience, whether someone is just beginning to explore Ignatian spirituality or is already familiar with it. Thibodeaux’s writing is clear and inviting, guiding readers to listen deeply to the quiet, yet powerful, voice of God within. Ultimately, ‘God’s Voice Within’ is not just a guide for making decisions, but a call to live a life more attuned to divine direction and inner peace.
This thoughtful, practical book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to integrate prayerful discernment into their daily choices and faith life.
Scott & Kimberly Hahn
Rome Sweet Home.
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Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian minister before his conversion to the Catholic Church. This book tells the story of how Hahn and his wife Kimberly discovered the Catholic Church. In the book, Hahn explains how it was particularly a new insight into the Covenant of God that led to a new appreciation of the Eucharist (Holy Communion) in his church ministry. However, it is this new appreciation of the Eucharist and research on the words of Jesus that He will not drink wine again until everything is fulfilled, that placed Hahn on the path to discovering the Catholic Church. He also speaks of the inner struggle he experienced as a minister with the discovery of the truth of the Catholic Church and the struggle of giving up his work for the sake of converting to the Catholic Church. Anyone will benefit from reading this book, but the book is especially recommended for ministers and pastors who consider the Catholic Church as their home.
Bishop Robert Barron
This Is My Body
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This is My Body - A call to Eucharistic Revival aims to address the concern that many Catholics do not understand the source and summit of the Christian life, the Eucharist.
This compact book, divided into three chapters, explains the meaning of the Blessed Sacrament and the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
Through the three chapters, there is a build-up to this beautiful mystery of Christ's real presence in the Sacrament. Starting first with the Eucharist as a meal, it reminds us of God's goodness and how this goodness overflows from us upon reception of the Blessed Eucharist.
The second chapter, Sacrifice, explains this great Sacrament with references to the Old Testament, among others.
The third and most important chapter returns to the Truth of Christ's Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
This review is written from the perspective of a lifelong Catholic. I discovered this book at a time when us catechists were struggling with teaching the faith in a way that would restore reverence and commitment to our Church. Ultimately, if we really understood the Blessed Sacrament and the Real Presence of Jesus in it, this problem would be resolved, and our Churches would be full.
The book's structure builds to enlighten its readers to the fullness of the Blessed Sacrament. A standout point for me is the description of the implications of sin and God's approach to reconciling us to himself through the Eucharist, again reiterating God's love through this Blessed Sacrament and the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Christian faith.
Using the Old Testament accounts to more deeply understand and provide a full circle view on the why and source of this Sacrament and the context of Jesus' sacrifice, the sacrifice made once for all and represented in the Mass.
Using the historical teachings of many of the early church fathers, such as Origen of Alexandria (c. 185–254 A.D.), who more than once stated, "This bread becomes by prayer a sacred body, which sanctifies those who sincerely partake of it." reiterates the historical richness of this great Sacrament taught throughout the ages.
The book achieves its aims of teaching how the Sacrament is not merely a symbol but the True Presence and the Reality of Jesus in the Eucharist and had this lifelong Catholic kneeling in front of the Blessed Sacrament with a deeper love and uttering with deep conviction, My Lord and My God.
I highly recommend this book and urge the reader not to be intimidated by its complexity but to take on the challenge and research anything they are unfamiliar with. I also urge the reader not to stop here; the Catholic faith is rich in resources to provide the revival needed by many, myself included.
