The Catholic Summer Reading Program

This summer, why not take some time to discover the rich treasure of Catholic literature?

Aquinas and More Catholic Goods, the official sponsor of the Catholic summer reading program, would like to invite you to join in a book discussion at your parish, local Catholic store or online at CatholicBookDiscussion.com. Kids can also get involved by downloading our Catholic Kids Reading Path and filling it in as they read Catholic books during the summer.

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An intensely human tour of the great spiritual battles in the US Catholic church during the late 20th century. Brian Gail takes us out into the "trenches" and shows what life was like for Catholics good and bad during this critical time. This book is a great opportunity for Catholics to take hold of who they really are.

Meticulously researched, brilliantly crafted, Fatherless takes the reader on an unforgettable journey inside Fortune 500 boardrooms and Madison Avenue screening rooms, behind one-way mirrors in America’s heartland and two-way screens in church confessionals, to the very peak of Ireland’s highest mountain and inside the papal dining room of John Paul II in Rome.

Francis de Sales’s Introduction to the Devout Life has remained a uniquely accessible and relevant treasure of devotion for nearly four hundred years. As Bishop of Geneva in the first quarter of the sevenjteenth century, Francis de Sales saw to the spiritual needs of everyone from the poorest peasants to court ladies. The desire to be closer to God that he found in people from all levels of society led him to compile these instructions on how to live in Christ. Francis’s compassionate Introduction leads the reader through practical ways of attaining a devout life without renouncing the world and offers prayers and meditations to strengthen devotion in the face of temptation and hardship.

Many who know of Fr. Donald Calloway know him because of his conversion story. He has spoken of it at conferences, on television, radio, online, and wherever he can spread the message. This book finally captures in print how Divine Mercy, through the intercession of the Blessed Mother, touched his life.

In his own words, No Turning Back recounts Fr. Donald's personal story of conversion after reading a book about Our Lady.

Though today he is a devout Catholic Marian priest, Fr. Donald's early years were no indication of what was to come. Before his conversion to Catholicism, he was a high school dropout who had been kicked out of a foreign country, institutionalized twice and thrown in jail multiple times. Discovering a book on Our Lady led to his conversion and ardent love of Mary and the Church.

Not since The Screwtape Letters has there been such a devastatingly diabolical collection of correspondence. Master Tempter Slubgrip writes daily to trainee devil Dogwart, advising him on the temptation of a confused young Catholic, while he struggles to control his own patient, an older Catholic man who is facing a serious illness. The Gargoyle Code make for an un-put-downable reading at any time, but it is especially designed as a book to be read during Lent. The letters from the tempters begin on Shrove Tuesday and follow day by day taking the reader on an entertaining, enlightening and sobering journey toward Easter Sunday.

Whether you are surrounded by the peaceful tranquility of an empty chapel or the anxiety driven mad dash of the New York City rush hour, God is always there. He's there in the stillness. He's there in the chaos. Our call is to seek Him, find Him, and serve Him. As Archbishop of New York, Timothy Dolan knows only too well the many faces of Christ. Known for his devotion, dedication, and sense of humor, Dolan uses Doers of the Word to share a unique combination of simplicity, practicality, and guidance to give our faith a daily dose of meaning and application. No matter our agenda for the day or the week, Dolan masterfully combines insightful commentary and personal stories with snippets of Church history, lives of the saints, and Catholic teaching to inspire holiness through the daily details of ordinary life.

The book of Revelation—you might find it fascinating, you might find it incomprehensible, but either way you probably don't think it has much to say about everyday Christian life. A beast with seven heads, locusts with human faces, Death on a pale horse—what could any of this possibly have to do with whether or not you gossip about your colleagues or cheat on your taxes?

Everything, according to Father Richard Veras. The symbolic language of Revelation underscores such foundational truths as God's inescapable presence—"there is no time, place or situation in which he is not"—to the fact that "the army of the beast is not made up of aliens; it is made up of hardened human hearts."

Father Veras's lively exploration of this apocalyptic book will help you understand the ongoing spiritual battle for humanity and the choices you need to make now in order to stand victorious with Jesus at the end of time.

This book is a culmination of Father Zeno’s life work. With the cooperation of the Oratorian Fathers, he was given full access to all of Newman’s letters, diaries, and complete published and unpublished sermons. From all this he has drawn together the interior struggles Newman faced from childhood until his death. Zeno allows Newman to speak through his work and writings, an exceedingly rich source. This is a landmark work considered one of the best spiritual biographies of John Henry Newman ever written.

This book was first published in Dutch and met with immediate and extensive acclaim. It covers Newman’s young life as an Anglican, the doubts he faced in light of his historical studies, his conversion to Catholicism, the trials he faced as a result of his conversion, and his remarkable growth in holiness and the interior life.

"It took me, all in all, fifteen months to examine the 430 files of letters in the Archivium and the formidable collection of papers, journals and memoranda in the cupboards of the Cardinal’s room... Studying the forty-five volumes of Newman’s works which had up to then been published also required much time. While I read and copied out what threw light on his inner life, the outlines of Newman’s soul gradually became clear to me: the following pages are the result of this labor of love."
— From the Introduction

In this illuminating book, Fr. Philippe leads you deep into the beautiful mystery of St. Joseph - revealing the greatness of the apparently unremarkable man who was the guardian of Jesus and Mary, and who is now the Guardian of the Church, "overflowing with immeasurable wisdom and power."

Weaving together the many different strands of the Church's ever-deepening understanding of St. Joseph, along with his own profound insights, here is a warm and moving portrait of the humble, heroic carpenter of Bethlehem - a great man who became, by God's grace, a great saint. After reading this book, you will never see St. Joseph (and perhaps yourself) in quite the same way again.

In Cloud of Witnesses, Fr. George Rutler offers a personal account of the many remarkable people he has encountered throughout his life. From Robert Frost, to Mother Teresa to the many lesser known people, Fr. Rutler lets you in on the many graces that he has received through his own friendships. Told with personal vignettes in his signature style, Fr. Rutler offers not only an inside glimpse into his remarkable circle of friends, but also a deeper understanding and appreciation for the richness of the priestly ministry.

"In December 1875 the steamship Deutschland left Bremen, Germany, bound for America. On board were five nuns, exiled by a ban on religious orders, bound to begin their lives anew in Missouri. Their journey would end when the Deutschland ran aground at the mouth of the Thames and all five drowned. Ron Hansen tells their harrowing story, but also that of the poet and seminarian Gerard Manley Hopkins, and how the shipwreck moved him to write a grand poem, The Wreck of the Deutschland, a revelatory work read throughout the world today. Combining a thrilling tragedy at sea, with the seeming shipwreck of Hopkins's own life, "Hansen brilliantly, if soberly, weaves two interrelated story lines into a riveting novel".

"This book," the author wrote in 1931, “is an attempt to judge contemporary ideals in the field of morals, religion, science, evolution, sociology, psychology and humanism in the light of that philosophical daylight called ‘common sense.’ If at times it criticizes certain views on the grounds of their unreasonableness, it does so to prepare for a view which seems more reasonable. If at other times it shows that what is wrong with a certain philosophical outlook is that it emphasizes a part against the whole, it does so in order to suggest a view that is more catholic in the sense of being the whole truth.” The extraordinary thing for the reader here at the beginning of the twenty-first century is that many of the “old errors” of seventy-five years ago are still cropping up with “new labels” today. There is no sympathy shown in these pages for those who believe that everything that is modern is best, nor with those who believe that everything that is modern is bad. The book does attempt to show, however, that what is often called “modern” is only a new label for an old error, and that what is called “behind the times” is really “beyond time” and outside of fashions because it is an expression of t he truth which is eternal.

Fr. Morris, a Roman Catholic priest and Fox News analyst, draws from his religious tradition as well as his experiences in the world of media to present understandable and genuine advice for those who suffer—in other words, everyone. The promise of the title is God's promise to bring something better out of suffering. For some, this may oversimplify the matter, but for others it will provide a glimmer of hope. One of the most useful chapters addresses the various images of God that people hold—all of which are incomplete, and some of which can be seen as spiritually harmful. The author describes these images accurately, ties them in with how people who maintain those images view suffering and uses real-life examples he has encountered in his ministry. The theodicy question (why does a loving God allow suffering?) will always present a quandary to believers of all stripes. Morris is successful in making the claim that it is possible to sustain one's faith in the midst of what is sometimes a cruel world. - from Publisher's Weekly

Over the summer in New York City, seven friars who work with the homeless find a runaway girl named Nora, while Bear Denniston searches for his missing girlfriend, Blanche, in a suspenseful retelling of the Snow White story.

George Peterson would rather wrestle at a big high school, but he has to go to a new school run by Catholic parents: John Paul 2 High.

Only seven kids in the whole school! The building is falling apart. Weird things keep happening. And then there’s Allie Weaver, drop-dead gorgeous, barely Catholic.

Why did her parents suddenly transfer her to John Paul 2 High? And what is she so afraid of?

The top book in the Church for young people offers teens answers to 200 questions about the Catholic Faith. The question and answer format and clear, concise explanations make it an excellent resource and easy read for teenagers and adults alike. It may have a silly title, but read it and you'll agree it's a great book. Perfect for RCIA and Confirmation.

In every young Catholic's heart there is a search for meaning. Yet many of our youth never get beyond the material distractions of the world. In fact, in a recent survey, teenagers were eight times more desirous of “being rich” and five times more desirous of "being famous" than pursuing a life of faith.

To be young and Catholic in the modern world is no easy task. Entertained and enticed beyond their ability to cope, millions of Catholic teens and college students are drifting through life—living without purpose or meaning. They are searching for their own path, but they are ill-equipped at such an impressionable age to discern the direction that leads to everlasting happiness.

In this book, renowned Catholic leader Curtis Martin presents the evidence that we have been “made for more” than just the intoxications of this world—sex, partying, and money. We have been made for greatness—and we will only reach such heights when we first come into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

When teenaged Rachel Durham finds a way that she and her eleven stepsisters can sneak out of their Chesapeake Bayside home after midnight, their troubled fundamentalist father enlists the help of Paul Fester, an ex-soldier and traveling juggler, to find out what the girls are up to. A modern retelling of Grimm's fairy tale "The Twelve Dancing Princesses."

Prove It! You is part of the best-selling teen series, Prove It! by Amy Welborn.

God took all the trouble to make the very specific person called "you," so there must be a reason, right?

Your parents may see you one way, and your friends may see you a different way, but who are you really?

Prove It! You focuses on one of God's greatest works of art: you! Best-selling author Amy Welborn, known for her ability to translate theology into practical, real-life terms, looks at all the important issues of your life: friends, faith, family, and your future.

Fear drives me forward as I rush down a rocky path in Jerusalem, trying to sort things out even as dusk makes it harder to hurry.

Am I really an American girl, cast back to the time of Jesus? Or a delusional Jewish teen, plagued with visions of a place called America, thousands of years in the future?

I don’t know anymore.

But I do know that something awful is about to happen to my Jesus: they’re going to arrest him tonight, and kill him.

No one believes me; they think I’m crazy. So it’s up to me to save him, hurrying down this dark path toward Gethsemane, toward the turning point of all history, the attempt to kill Jesus . . . toward the uncertainty of whether I can actually manage to change the future.

The much-anticipated follow-up book to the best-selling Did Adam and Eve Have Belly Buttons?, this book offers compelling answers to some of the most commonly-asked questions teens have about the Catholic faith, including:

* How can we believe in a God we cannot see?
* Is the Catholic faith the only true religion?
* Did the miracles in the Bible really happen?
* Why are we punished for adam and Eve's sins?

How do you show your mommy and daddy that you love them? Do you give them a hug? Bring them flowers? Tell them you love them?

God wants to know that you love him, too. So how do you show God you love Him? In lots of little ways.

Here are tales of pirates and princesses, castles and kings - tales of Catholic boys and girls to remind you that miracles really happen and love is stronger than death. You'll meet:

• Benji, the shepherd who gives his cloak to a child and winds up face-to-face with Jesus
• Anthony, who sets out to be a priest but ends up on a pirate ship where miracles happen
• Vaslav, a child in a Soviet labor camp, who carries the Host and converts a guard
• Racla, the little gypsy who dances for old Fr. Filipesco and discovers the meaning of love
• Marie Angele, who learns from a simple old cure how Jesus makes up for our failings
• Joseph, who makes sacrifices for his godfather that draw the old man back into the Church

Rich men, poor men, priests, nuns, and farmers: all are here with good Catholic children who fill these pages with prayers and fun, bringing delight to Jesus and happiness to all who meet them.

These stories," the author explains, "are meant to show human and lovable people whose mysterious passion for God led them into preposterous escapades." With an eye on the taste of a child for concrete detail and no apologies for "the embroidery of legend," each tale, in a style akin to fairy-tale, sets forth the unique qualities of a Genevieve, a Felix, a Dorothy, or Comgall-16 real saints brought unforgettably to our attention and fond admiration. Illustrated by Tom Matt.

Vivid full-color illustrations highlight the life of St. Paul in this exciting biography. Adventures of Saint Paul is an engaging, educational, and action-packed novel for young readers that accurately tells the story of this inspiring saint’s life. Encourage children to learn from the best examples—the saints!

Perfect for beginner readers, ages 7–9

Even the youngest child can learn from Mary's example.

From her Imaculate Conception to her Ascension, here is the story of Mary told in a way that will charm and delight your children. They'll also love the full-color pictures that brighten the book.

You'll be pleased to see that they're learning solid Marian doctrine, presented in a way every child can understand. The authors who brought you Little Acts of Grace know how to make important religious ideas not only comprehensible but also appealing to young children. As they get to know Mary, children will also learn what they can do to immitate Mary, and what important lessons Mary's life has for us.

Here are yet more of "those human and lovable people whose mysterious passion for God led them into preposterous escapades." Story-teller Ethel Pochocki follows up her book Once Upon a Time Saints and presents another collection of wildly distinctive saints - from Hyacinth to Zita to Longinus to Kentigern - and readers will again be charmed by the vivid immediacy of their settings. We find out what very real people they were, these saints who lived and breathed in a wold as hard, as wet, as hot, as enticing and as changeful as our own. Yet their heroism is all their own. Ethel Pochocki leads us through their adventures, joys and sorrows to the truly happy ending each one gained.

Ages 5 and up