Catholic Reads

Every true lover of God should have a strong desire to study theology. Have you ever heard of the word "amateur"? Well, amateur is French for "one who loves", from the Latin "amor". In short, theologizing means loving the Lord with all of our minds. As this is the case, then we should have to put in effort to learn the Faith. We start by simply reading and reflecting on Catholic books.

Firs and foremost, we need to read the Bible which is the source of all knowledge and teachings about our Faith. But aside from the Bible, here is a listing of some of the good Catholic books to read:

Catechism:

• Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC)
• Catechism for the Filipino Catholic (CFC)
• Compendium of the CCC
• Compendium of the Social Doctrine
• Katesismo para sa mga Pilipinong Katoliko (KPK)
• YOUCAT (Youth Catechism)

Discipleship

• Be.Li.Ev.E! A response to the call to the new  evangelization in the Year of Faith by Frank Padilla
• Fishers of Men: An urgent call to proclaim the Good News by Frank Padilla
• Renewing the Face of the Earth by Frank Padilla
• Servant Leadership by Frank Padilla
• The Defects of the Saints by Jesus Urteaga
• The Way, Furrow, The Forge by Saint Josemaria Escriva

Mary

• Catholic for a Reason 2: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God by Scott Hahn
• Preparation for Total Consecration by Saint Louis de Montfort
• The Divine Call of Mary: Lessons for Mary, Lessons for us by Shirley Sullivan, PhD, FRSC
• The Greatest Marian Titles: Their history, meaning and usage by Anthony Buono
• The Secret of the Rosary by Saint Louis de Montfort

By and About the Pope

• A Year with John Paul II: Daily meditation from his writings and prayers by Fr. Jerome Verez
• Francis, Bishop of Rome: A short biography by Michael Collins
• Francis, Pope of a New World: Andrea Tornielli
• Jesus of Nazareth 1 by Pope-emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
• Jesus of Nazareth 2 by Pope-emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
• Light of the World, the Pope, the Church, and the signs of the times by Pope-emeritus Pope Benedict XVI
• On Heaven and Earth by Pope Francis
• Jesus of Nazareth 3 by Pope-emeritus Pope Benedict XVI

Encyclicals and Apostolic Exhortations

• Caritas in Veritate (Love in Truth)
• Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel)
• Evangelii Vitae (The Gospel of Life)
• Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith)
• Spe Salvi (Saved in Hope)
• Verbum Domini (The Word of God)
• Apostolicam Actuositatem (Decree on the Apostolate of Laity)
• Christefidelis Laici (The Lay Members of Christ's Faithful People)

Prayer

• The Enneagram and Christian Meditation by Gerry Pierse, CSSR
• The Body at Prayer by Anselm Grun, OSB and Michael  Reepen, OSB
• The Essential Guide to Catholic Prayer and the Mass by Mary DeTurris Pousf
• The Gospel of Contemplation by Sr.Mary Niere, OCD
• The Mystery of God's Word by Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
  

The Eucharist

• Catholic for a Reason 3: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass by Scott Hahn
• The Eucharist and Mary by Bishop Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., DD
• The Eucharist, Our Sanctification by  Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
• The New English Translation of the Roman Missal: A catechetical by Anscar Chupungco, OSB

Vocations

• Living the Priesthood by Most Rev Mylo Vergara, DD
• Living the Episcopacy by Archbishop Emeritus Leonardo Legaspi, OP

The Church

• The Good News Church by Most Rev Teodoro C. Bacani, Jr., DD
• The Essentials of Catholic Spirituality: Living and Breathing our Faith by Fr. Joseph Classen

Apologetics

• The One-Minute Apologist by Dave Armstrong

Resources:
The New Evangelization Resource Book (NERB)

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