Welcome to our Catholic Summer Reading book selections for 2008.

This year's program officially launches the first week of June. Our popular program returns with an all new selection of outstanding Catholic books for this year! Please visit www.catholicsummerreading.com for more details and to find book discussion guides for selected program titles - we will have these posted shortly. You may also want to visit www.catholicbookdiscussion.com to join in some lively online discussions of the books. Happy reading!

Remember, when you go off on vacation this summer, to the beach, to that proverbial cabin in the woods, or to visit family in another state, don't leave your faith behind!

"This book is . . . my personal search for 'the face of the Lord." - Pope Benedict XVI.     This is Pope Benedict XVI's first book since his pontificate began. Who is Jesus? According to the wildly popular book and film, The Da Vinci Code, Jesus was merely a human figure whose original message was distorted by his followers. Not so, argues Pope Benedict XVI in this …

C. S. Lewis One of C.S. Lewis's most imaginative creations, this world-famous book is a humorous correspondence between the devil Screwtape and his apprentice Wormwood, whose job is to produce a human's soul for eternity in hell. Filled with astute insights into temptation, repentance, and grace, this wonderful tale intelligently explores what it means to live a good, honest life and is a …

  By Scott Hahn, Ph.D ONE OF THE CENTURY'S MOST POWERFUL. CATHOLIC APOLOGISTS REFLFLECTS UPON GOD'S UNCHANGING, COVENANT LOVE The eloquent teachings of Scott Hahn have moved thousands of Catholic Christians to a more vital expression of their faith. In A Father Who Keeps His Promises, the popular Catholic apologist explores the "covenant love" God reveals to us through die …

Anne Eileen Heffernan, FSP Mary Elizabeth Tebo, FSP Learn the story of St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes in this young adult biography in the Encounter the Saints Series . Experience the adventures and challenges, heroism and holiness of some of the greatest friends of God! Offers intermediate readers a down-to-earth portrayal of the saints. Each distinct story vividly recreates for the …

The Do's and Don't's in Catholic liturgy today . . . this book will help you navigate through the confusion! No Catholic can be unaware of the crisis in Catholic liturgy.  Even priests are often bewildered by the contradictory information put out by liturgical "experts."  This one-of-a-kind book cuts through the confusion: Empowers priests and laity to deal with the …

By Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J. Father Walter Ciszek, S.J., author of the best-selling He Leadeth Me, tells here the gripping, astounding story of his twenty-three years in Russian prison camps in Siberia, how he was falsely imprisoned as an "American spy", the incredible rigors of daily life as a prisoner, and his extraordinary faith in God and commitment to his priestly vows and …

This is the most acclaimed, short introduction to the Crusades - by  the world's foremost authority on the subject! Find out the truth for yourself and separate fact from fiction. Few attempts had been made to defined 'the crusade' before the first edition of this book was published in 1977. Since then, a number of historians have built on Jonathan Riley-Smith's original conclusions. Now …

The remarkable life of Blessed Pier Frassati for young adults. A beguiling and moving biography of Pier Giorgio Frassati, a handsome, athletic and fun-loving young man from a rich, aristocratic Italian family in the 1920's who was recently beatified by Pope John Paul II. Pier Giorgio turned from a life of privilege to one devoted to working with the poor, and was a courageous witness of …

The might of Islam threatened his world. It’s the year 1570. Fourteen-year-old Guido Callatta, son of a wealthy Venetian merchant, spends his free time roaming the docks, listening to the tales of gnarled old sailors, and dreaming of adventures at sea. But his carefree life is about to change forever. Armies of Ottoman Turks threaten Europe from all sides, conquering Christian towns and …

Familiarize yourself with some of the most amazing turning points in the fascinating history of Christ's Church. There are the saints and sinners, popes and kings that God used to shape his Church and change the world. You ' ll meet Clovis and Charlemagne, Luther and Pope Leo, Suleiman and St. Francis, the Arians, the Franks, the Huguenots, and others whose sins or sacrifices altered the …

Mary Ray Palestine in the first century A.D. is as disturbed and divided as it is today. The Jews have revolted against Roman occupation and as they grow more restive, Rome clamps down harder. The ten Greek cities of Palestine-the Decapolis-want only to continue their peaceful trading existence, but they find themselves caught in the middle of the uprisings. Apollodorus, a merchant of …

An engaging life of St. Catherine Laboure for young readers. For more than a hundred and fifty years the Miraculous Medal has been known and worn by Catholics throughout the world. It has been used and promoted by great saints and Popes as a most powerful sacramental. Less well known is the story of the French Sister to whom the Blessed Virgin manifested the Medal in 1830. This Vision Book for …

This wonderful book for young readers presents the remarkable life of the great English martyr, St. Thomas More, in an engaging and easy-to-read style. St. Thomas More, the light-hearted but heroic Chancellor of England, comes to life in this biography by Elizabeth M. Ince. Raised in the London of the late 1400's, Thomas was a bright student eager for knowledge. When serving as a page for …

Reinvigorate your faith by reading these short yet profoundly inspiring stories of people, from many faiths and diverse backgrounds, who found their way to the Catholic Church. A new collection from Catholic Answers of eleven distinct and often startling accounts of conversion.  The contributors to this book were Jewish, Anglican, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal, …

A new edition of a spiritual classic! Through beautiful prose and meditations, Caryll Houselander depicts the intimately human side of Mary, Mother of God, as an empty reed waiting for God's music to be played through her. Lovingly bringing Our Lady down off her time-honored, ancient pedestal, Houselander shares her insightful and beautiful vision of Mary on earth, Mary among us, Mary as a …

Angels in Iron Nicholas C. Prata The year is A.D. 1565 and the tiny island fortress of Malta, defended by an anachronistic crusading order called the Knights of St. John Hospitallers, is all that stands between the war machine of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and teh very heart of Christendom. Pitifully outmatched and against impossible odds, the indomitable Grand Master Jean Parisot de La …

Young Simon, recently and tragically orphaned, becomes a scribe in the following of the exiled Archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket.  The uncertainty of the tumultuous years leading to the infamous cathedral slaying is heightened by Simon's separation from his twin Edmund, who is in the service of King Henry II. With an expert pen Barbara Willard deftly recounts events leading to the …

Fr. Von Balthasar provides us with a wonderful and concise spiritual guide for all who desire to know and love the Mother of the Lord. The acclaimed theologian von Balthasar gathers from the Sacred Scriptures and the richest tradition of the Church the elements of a portrait which shows Mary's place and her relevance for today.

A beautiful reissue of the greatest spiritual classic to come out of Russia.

What place does Christ have in our modern society? Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, the preacher to the papal household, posed that question in a series of Advent and Lent  meditations presented to Pope Benedict XVI. In Remember Jesus Christ , which is based on these meditations, he explains that in order to bring people to Christ today, the Church needs to proclaim, as simply and succintly as …

Bestselling Catholic author Mike Aquilina shares wonderful stories of family life - full of love and laughter.   "God stoops down to lift up our homes, to make them outposts of his paradise…no matter how cold the winds may blow on a winter day." —From the Introduction Paradise? Family life? Really? Yes—and one filled with laughter. If that doesn't sound like …

Fr. Congar masterfully explains why Tradition is an inescapable aspect of a fully biblical Christian faith. Some Christians claim to reject Tradition in preference to a supposedly "Bible only" Christianity. Catholics, on the other hand, venerate Tradition, yet often without adequately understanding it. In this masterful book, the great theologian Yves Congar explains why Tradition is …

Reviews - "Shadow in the Dark has a wholesomeness that makes it stand out like a mountain among the suggestive emotionally confused sludge that has become the accepted fare to dish up for our youth.  This could be the future standard for sound adolescent literature!"  ~ Leo Madigan, The Weka-Feather Cloak   "With Shadow in the Dark, Barone has produced a real page …

A young adult biography of St. Edith Stein from the Encounter the Saints Series Experience the adventures and challenges, heroism and holiness of some of the greatest friends of God! Offers intermediate readers a down-to-earth portrayal of the saints. Each distinct story vividly recreates for the intermediate reader the saint's place of origin, family life, and corresponding historical events. …

Three scientists revisit the compelling question of the origin of our universe, in an engaging and accessible style.   As progress in science continues to reveal unimagined complexities, three scientists revisit the difficult and compelling question of the origin of our universe. As mathematician, biochemist, and philosopher of science, they explore the possibility of developing a …

Big John's Secret Eleanore M. Jewett There is a mystery woven into Big John’s young life that he must solve. Raised an orphan in a rude peasant village during the strife-filled reign of King John of England, John understands that injustice has been done his family. One day he must reclaim his name and family honor by avenging his unknown father! John’s unusual size and strength earn him a …

The last 50 years have been confusing, tumultuous ones for Catholicism. Seminaries emptied, priests and nuns left their vocations, people dissented from basic teachings, and children received poor catecheses. What happened? This book answers that question. Part history, part Bible study, part apologetics manual, part Marian devotional, part catechism, The Signs of the Times is all profound …

From The Da Vinci Code and Roswell to the pyramid on the back of every dollar bill, we all are fascinated by secrets, codes and coincidences.  Fr. George Rutler - EWTN speaker, Crisis magazine columnist, and reigning Catholic wit-offers his fun reflections, full of surprise, on the coincidental links that connect the most far-flung parts of our worlds.  Topics cover the gamut of …

"Here's another one of those 'They could make it into a movie!' books that keeps you always wanting to read just one more chapter.  Red Hugh was a true champion for Irish liberty from Queen Elizabeth's constricting reign in the late 1580's and beyond.  Hugh's capture, imprisonment, and escape from the Dublin Castle; his triumph over a blizzard and frostbite; his dramatic rescue of his …

About this Book Francis of Assisi is, after Mary of Nazareth, the greatest saint in the Christian calendar, and one of the most influential men in the whole of human history. By universal acclaim, this biography by G. K. Chesterton is considered the best appreciation of Francis's life--the one that gets to the heart of the matter. For Chesterton, Francis is a great paradoxical figure, a man …

A remarkable little gem of a book that will help you make more time for God in your busy life. Are you too busy to pray? What if you could actually gain time and be more productive by praying? Would you pray more? We often forget the real secret to gaining time and being productive is to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well (Mt 6:33). If we …

How Christendom defeated the Ottoman Turks Historian Diane Moczar pulls back the curtain on one of the most important acts in the drama of Muslim aggression against the West: the 500-year-long siege of Europe by the Ottoman Turks. Tracing the rise of the Turkish people from wandering Asian tribe to mighty pan-continental empire, Islam at the Gates chronicles the heroes and villains, the …

Saying "Yes!" to the Holy Spirit in your life.   "God walks with us in this life as a loving friend. Knowing his love and tapping into it is nothing less than spiritual dynamite." — From Chapter One God's love comes to us through the Holy Spirit, but many people are confused about the role and work of this third person of the Trinity. Author David Mangan's …

A superb novel from one of the greatest Catholic fiction writers of the 20th century. Wise Blood, Flannery O’Connor’s astonishing and haunting first novel, is a classic of twentieth-century literature. Focused on the story of Hazel Motes, a twenty-two-year-old caught in an unending struggle against his innate, desperate fate, this tale of redemption, retribution, false prophets, …

A classic Catholic novel - simple, beautiful, sad and inspiring. An idealistic young Catholic priest in an isolated French village keeps a diary describing the unheroic suffering and the petty internal conflicts of his parish. This may sound like a thin plot for a novel, but Diary of a Country Priest , by George Bernanos, remains one of the 20th century's most vivid evocations of saintly life. …

The beginning of the greatest fantasy epic of our time. Bilbo Baggins was a hobbit who wanted to be left alone in quiet comfort. But the wizard Gandalf came along with a band of homeless dwarves. Soon Bilbo was drawn into their quest, facing evil orcs, savage wolves, giant spiders, and worse unknown dangers. Finally, it was Bilbo–alone and unaided–who had to confront the great …

The conclusion to the greatest fantasy epic of our time. While the evil might of the Dark Lord Sauron swarmed out to conquer all Middle-earth, Frodo and Sam struggled deep into Mordor, seat of Sauron’s power. To defeat the Dark Lord, the accursed Ring of Power had to be destroyed in the fires of Mount Doom. But the way was impossibly hard, and Frodo was weakening. Weighed down by the …

Winner of The 1963 National Book Award for Fiction.  One of the greatest Catholic novels of the 20th century! The hero of J.F. Powers's comic masterpiece is Father Urban, a man of the cloth who is also a man of the world. Charming, with an expansive vision of the spiritual life and a high tolerance for moral ambiguity, Urban enjoys a national reputation as a speaker on the religious …

This haunting tale of shame and redemption is the story of Lise Fanshawe, prostitute and brothel manager in postwar Paris, murderer and prisoner, and, finally, a Catholic nun in an order dedicated to serving people on the margins of society. Rumer Godden, author of the masterwork In This House of Brede , tells an inspiring and entirely convincing conversion story that shows how the mercy of …

The Complete Stories of one of the greatest Catholic novelists and short story writers of the 20th century. This collection, when first published in 1972, was the winner of the National Book Award for Fiction. The publication of this extraordinary volume firmly established Flannery O'Connor's monumental contribution to American fiction. There are thirty-one stories here in all, including …

This book is a wonderful invitation to Tolkien's world. This rich treasury includes Tolkien's most beloved short fiction plus his essay on fantasy. FARMER GILES OF HAM. An imaginative history of the distant and marvelous past that introduces the rather unheroic Farmer Giles, whose efforts to capture a somewhat untrustworthy dragon will delight readers everywhere. THE ADVENTURES OF TOM …

Another amazing  novel from one of the great Catholic fiction writers of the 20th century. Will Barrett is a 25-year-old wanderer from the South living in New York City, detached from his roots and with no plans for the future, until the purchase of a telescope sets off a romance and changes his life forever. About the author: Walker Percy is the author of nine books of fiction and …

A limited edition paperback reprint of a classic Catholic novel from the 19th century. A historical picture of the early church in pagan Rome, illustrating the glories of the Christian martyrs as exemplified in the lives of the fair young Virgin, St. Agnes; the heroic soldier, St. Sebastian; the devoted youth, St. Pancratius; etc. This volume is not historical, rather it consists of a series …

A landmark novel from one of the great Catholic novelists of the 20th century. Dr. Tom More has created a stethoscope of the human spirit. With it, he embarks on an unforgettable odyssey to cure mankind's spiritual flu. This novel confronts both the value of life and its susceptibility to chance and ruin. About the author: Walker Percy is the author of over ten books, many of which were …

They are coming! Sixteen-year-old Gilbert Chesterton is orphaned and friendless, stuck working a menial job in grimy turn-of-the-century London. Then one night strange lights fill the sky, and a hail of giant meteors crashes into a field outside the city. The next day Gilbert is amazed to find himself hired by a newspaper and rushed out to investigate the scene. Is it a harmless natural …

A thought-provoking novel about convent life at the turn of the century. Ron Hansen's Mariette in Ecstasy is a gripping, even life-changing book. For the Sisters of the Crucifixion, each day is a ceaseless round of work, study, and prayer--one hardly separate from the other. Their daily life is itself an act of devotion, caught here in a series of illuminated tableaux: hundreds of yellow …

Return to the basics, the "meat and potatoes" of our faith, with Fr. Joe Classen! What is so special about Sacraments? How did the rituals and traditions of the Mass get started? Why do we have a pope? What's the point of going to confession? Father Joe Classen has heard all these questions and more from parishioners, fishing buddies, neighbors, and acquaintances. They seem to …

The continuing story in the greatest fantasy epic of our time. Frodo Baggins knew the Ringwraiths were searching for him--and the Ring of Power he bore that would enable Sauran to destroy all that was good in Middle-earth. Now it was up to Frodo and his faithful servant Sam to carry the Ring to where it could be detroyed--in the very center of Sauron's dark kingdom. About the author: John …

Hailed by Frank O'Connor as one of "the greatest living storytellers," J. F. Powers, who died in 1999, stands with Eudora Welty, Flannery O'Connor, and Raymond Carver among the authors who have given the short story an unmistakably American cast. In three slim collections of perfectly crafted stories, published over a period of some thirty years and brought together here in a single …

Celebrate the Pauline Year with this new book to be published in August 2008. The teachings of the letters of St. Paul permeate just about everything Christians believe and practice, but many of us know very little about this great apostle of the Church. In Meeting St. Paul Today , one of the most respected scholars in the Catholic faith, Fr. Daniel Harrington, SJ, brings the letters of Paul …

Evelyn Waugh tells the story of the Marchmain family. Aristocratic, beautiful and charming, the Marchmains are indeed a symbol of England and her decline in this novel of the upper class of the 1920s and the abdication of responsibility in the 1930s. From the Merriam Webster Encyclopedia of Literature: This satirical novel by Evelyn Waugh was first published in 1945. According to Waugh, a …

The continuing story in the greatest fantasy epic of our time. The Fellowship was scattered. Some were bracing hopelessly for war against the ancient evil of Sauron. Some were contending with the treachery of the wizard Saruman. Only Frodo and Sam were left to take the accursed Ring of Power to be destroyed in Mordor–the dark Kingdom where Sauron was supreme. Their guide was Gollum, …

At her death in 1964, O'Connor left behind a body of unpublished essays and lectures as well as a number of critical articles that had appeared in scattered publications during her too-short lifetime. The keen writings comprising Mystery and Manners , selected and edited by O'Connor's lifelong friends Sally and Robert Fitzgerald, are characterized by the directness and simplicity of the …

A wonderful selection of the writings and biographies of the first monks and nuns of the Church. By the fourth century A.D., devout Christians - men and women alike - had begun to retreat from cities and villages to the deserts of North Africa and Asia Minor, where they sought liberation from their corrupt society and the confining shell of the social self. The Desert Fathers is the perfect …