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Recommended
Books from Cursillistas
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Bibles |
| Catholic Women's
Devotional Bible
* recommended by
Kathe Jackson |
 | This Bible has the daily readings for
each day listed in the back as well as reflections on women of the
Bible sprinkled all through it. Also, there are subject
reflections such as, "Surrender," "Grieving," and "Conversion."
It is a great help to me. |
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| The Holy Bible |
| Revised Standard Version (Catholic
Edition) |
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| The One Year
Bible, Catholic Edition
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| I wanted to read the Bible in its
entirety. So my protestants friends had a One Year Bible that they
recommended. To my joy, I discovered that we Catholics also have a one
year Bible. By taking the Bible one day at a time, I was able to read
the Bible in its entirety. For three years I read the Bible everyday
by using this Bible. I was able to not only read it through once, but
several times. This enabled me to more fully understand God's Word. I
always had trouble reading the Old Testament until I used this One
Year Bible. It helps to know where we came from to go along with the
New Testament. If you have always wanted to say "I have read the whole
Bible", this is the one for you.
(It now comes in paperback (as well as hardback), which makes a
great affordable gift.)
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Conversion Stories |
| Born
Fundamentalist, Born Again Catholic by David B. Currie |
| Currie, raised in a devout Christian
family whose father was a fundamentalist preacher, presents a very
lucid and scripture-based account of his reasons for converting to
Catholicism. |
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| By What
Authority? An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition by Mark
Shea |
| Shea presents a lively and at times
entertaining look at his conversion to Catholicism from Evangelicalism
and his discovery of Christian tradition. |
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| Crossing the
Tiber: Evangelical Protestants Discover the Historical Church by
Stephen K. Ray |
| Ray describes in detail the religious
path he has traveled from being a fundamentalist Baptist to a devout
Catholic. The author's strength is his extensive use of quotations
from the early Church Fathers and his irenic tone. |
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| The King's
Highway/El Camino Real: God's Highway to Peace and Happiness by
Kenneth Guindon |
| "I wrote this book with the hope that
it would help others avoid mistakes I made due to youthful
immaturity... The King's Highway describes my attempts to find
the Truth in Christianity." |
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| Moonie
Buddhist Catholic: A Spiritual Odyssey by Thomas Case |
| A ten-year journey from the
Haight-Ashbury drug and hippy scene in San Francisco, to the Moonies,
to Tibetan Buddhism in Colorado, and finally to the Catholic Church. |
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| Rome Sweet
Home: Our Journey to Catholicism by Scott and Kimberly Hahn |
| The Hahns tell in their own words
about the spiritual journey that led them to Catholicism. |
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| Surprised by
Truth: 11 Converts Give the Biblical and Historical Reasons for Becoming
Catholic by Patrick Madrid (Editor) |
| These eleven personal conversion
accounts are packed with biblical, theological, and historical proofs
for Catholicism. Each year thousands of atheists, Mormons, and
Protestants are being surprised by Catholic truth and these converts
tell you why. |
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Death and Dying |
| The Gift of
Peace by Joseph Cardinal Bernardin
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| This book was recommended to me by a
friend at my group. It was such a special book for me because my Mama
and Daddy were both dying. It gave me so much love and compassion for
this Cardinal who was dying from pancreatic cancer. To my amazement it
not only helped me to deal with the deaths of my parents, but helped
me to grow with my own understanding of my death that will someday
come.
It was not sad for me to read. It was a gift of peace and wisdom and
joy. The first chapter "Letting Go" is worth the book.
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Novels |
| Unshaken
by Francine Rivers
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| This book was recommended to me by
Pat Scheer. She loaned the book to me and it is a wonderful book about
Ruth and Naomi from the Bible. It is written in a novel format. But I
feel like I am walking the path with Ruth and Naomi. The author uses
the Bible as a reference and combines it into a novel. It was one that
I became obsessed with and could not put down. Pat has read the whole
series. There are five novels in all about the women of the Bible.
There is one about Tamar (woman of hope), Rahah (woman of faith), Ruth
(a woman of love), Bathsheba (woman who received unlimited grace), and
Mary (woman of obedience). They have titles such as Unshaken, Unvieled,
etc. |
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| In His Steps
by Charles SheldonIn
* recommended by Kacee Van Horn |
| One of my favorites of all time, and
it's an old one, is "In His Steps" by Charles Sheldon. It's a novel,
really, but it's the book where people got the WWJD phrase from. It's
original copyright was 1897! It's about a town where a minister takes
a look at his own faith, then challenges the town's leaders, who
attend his local church, to not make any decision, or take any action,
in business or personal life, without first asking themselves what
Jesus would do, honestly answer, and then (this is the hard part),
proceed to do just what they believe He would do. The results are
amazing, some good, some bad, but it really is a great book for folks
who like a good story along with their inspirational reading. Great
book. Really makes you think about your own life and the decisions you
make. |
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Prayer |
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Snow Falling on Snow by Robert J.
Wicks
*recommended by
Kathe Jackson |
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This book is a
compilation of many of the themes of the other books by Robert Wicks.
Prayer and spirituality are the main themes of the book. It is broken
up into small segments so you can read as much or as little as you
want. Great for meditation and contemplative prayer times! |
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Secrets of the Vine by Bruce Wilkinson
*recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| This is a second in the series with
Prayer of Jabez. It is based on one scripture reading John 15: 1-2,
5-8. " I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every
branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch
that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. I am the
vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears
much fruit. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit."
It makes you think about how you are serving and dedicating your
life to the Lord. It is easy reading but very worthwhile. |
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The Prayer of Jabez by Bruce Wilkinson
* recommended
by Carol Semtner
* recommended by
Pam Burnside |
| A quick read. Mr. Wilkinson
gives a lot of history as well as insight to this simple yet very
inclusive prayer |
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It's great |
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Here I Am Again, Lord: Confessions of a Slow Learner by Carole Mayhall
* recommended by
Lee Ann Bomhoff
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Here's a quote from a book I really enjoyed
titled Here I Am Again, Lord: Confessions of a Slow Learner, by Carole
Mayhall: "Blobbing is doing nothing very slowly. And sometimes we
need to blob. Our bodies need it. Our minds need it. Our emotions need
it. Even our spirits need it. At times we need to drop out of the
race--even the human race--for a short time and do nothing. Rest. Only
then will we feel God's arms of love wrapped around us and hear Him
whisper, 'Beloved, I care for you.'" |
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The Holy Will Of God (source of peace and happiness) by Fr. Leo
Pyzalski, C.SS.R .
* recommended by
Rosa Maria Zapata
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I would like to share the name of a book
that has been very helpful in the growth of my relationship with God.
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In The Garden, a Collection of Prayers for Everyday by Marsha Maurer
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| This is a wonderful inexpensive book
that I found at Sams Wholesale Club. It is a collection of prayers
that relate how we live through using garden symbols. I love to garden
so taking my little book to my favorite spot outside is my way of
being with God. Let me give you an example of the prayers in this
book.
HOE
A prayer to weed my faults:
Hoeing is hard, exhausting work. Where do these weeds come from
anyway? They weren't here earlier, and now suddenly they are choking
my garden.
These weeds are like the little faults I fail to see until they grow
into troublesome failures, offenses that distress me and injure
others. Lord, help me to recognize my defects; I want to grow Your
Spirit's fruit, not my stubborn sins. Uproot my self-centeredness, my
inability to compromise, my judgmental attitude, my thoughtless
insensitivity. Remove my dissatisfaction, my greed, my misguided
priorities. Clear the ground to make room for the growth of a patient,
generous spirit. Make me the blessing You intended when You planted
me. Amen.
"The worries of this life,
the deceitfulness of wealth
and the desires for other things
come in and choke the Word,
making it unfruitful."
Mark 4:19 |
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Unexpected Answers by Barbara Bartocci
* recommended by
Kathe Jackson |
| Excellent book about God answering
prayer. These inspirational stories show how God enters our
lives and changes them from the inside out. Prayer is all about
communication and Barbara makes us understand that God always answers
our prayers although sometimes His answers come in ways we aren't
expecting. |
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When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson
* recommended by
Kathe Jackson
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| A wonderful guide to contemplative
prayer, offering ways to find and rest and guidance in God, opening
yourself to God's presence and direction. "God is the One who
keeps showing up and is always present to us, but we need to recognize
that He's at the door trying to get our attention." |
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When the Well Runs Dry by Thomas H. Green. S.J.
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| I loved this book. And it comes in
LARGE PRINT for us older folks.
I found it very easy reading. but also found I was obsessed to read
it all the time. I guess I needed to read its message.
Straightforward and uncompromising, a serious invitation to "prayer
beyond the beginnings" by one who reveals in these pages how serious
is his own commitment to surrender to the Lord the direction of
his/her life and ministry. Using the teachings and metaphors of John
the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and the Cloud of Unknowing, the author
develops a truly remarkable exposition of the advanced stages of
prayer, leading us through our "desert times" to the " small oases"
which will sustain the spirit. It is the hope of Father Green to lead
others to find in the great authors on prayer the treasures which he
himself has found there.
Father Green is the Spiritual Director of San Jose Seminary in
Manila. He is also the author of Opening To God, Darkness in the
Marketplace, and Weeds Among the Wheat. |
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Q & A Books |
| The Catholic
Answer Book by Father Peter Stravinskas |
| Hundreds of answers to questions
about Catholic beliefs and practices. |
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| Did Adam and
Eve Have Bellybuttons? by Matthew Pinto |
| The perfect Confirmation gift.
Answers 200 questions from Catholic teenagers. |
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| Pro-Life
Answers to Pro-Choice Arguments by Randy Alcorn |
| "This book's logic is unassailable it
s research is impeccable; and its scope is monumental. If you have
room for only one pro-life book in your library, make sure it is this
one" (George Grant, Director, Legacy Communications) |
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| Radio Replies
by Fathers Rumble & Carty |
| In three volumes, the authors examine
4,374 questions about the Catholic Faith. Decades old, but useful as
ever. |
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| Tell My Why:
A Father Answers His Daughter's Questions About God by Michael Novak |
| Novak, a Catholic theologian, answers
12 questions (Why should I believe in God? Why are there so many
religions?) from his twenty-something daughter. |
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| What
Catholics Really Believe: Setting the Record Straight by Karl Keating |
| Keating addresses 52 common
misconceptions about the Catholic faith that are held by many
Catholics and other Christians, such as papal infallibility, the place
of Mary, annulment and divorce, and more. |
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| Where we got
the Bible by Henry G. Graham
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| Charlie Meiser gave this book to all
his facilators. It is a book about where we got the Bible. He
should be credited for this recommendation. He loves it! If you want a
personal opinion ask Charlie or Cathy Morrison. They have both read it
several times. I have read only parts.
Note on back of book: The Bible is Catholic. In "Where We Got The
Bible" Henry Graham explains how the Catholic Church compiled the
sacred text, how medieval monks preserved it, and how Catholic
scholars, not Protestant Reformers, first gave Christians the Bible in
their own languages. Along the way Graham destroys myths about
Catholic opposition to Scripture.
To his lively history of the Bible is joined his conversion story,
"From the Kirk to the Catholic Church." Brought up a Calvinist in
Scotland, Graham became a minister but found himself irrestibly drawn
toward the Catholic faith, eventually becoming a Catholic bishop. |
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Responses to 101 Questions on the BIBLE {Paulist
Press}
by Raymond E. Brown, S.S.
* recommended by
Dan Letourneau |
| The late Fr. Raymond Brown is
considered one of the authorities of the Holy Bible in the Catholic
Church having been recognized by universities in the USA and Europe
with some twenty honorary doctoral degrees. He was probably "the
premier Catholic scripture scholar" in the US. Through his career of
lecturing on the Bible, Raymond Brown chose 101 of the most commonly
asked questions on the Bible covering a wide range of subjects. This
book is a must for anyone studying and praying with the Holy
Scriptures. |
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Other Religions |
| Catholicism
and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating |
| Keating defends Catholicism from
fundamentalist attacks and explains why fundamentalism has been so
successful in converting Catholics. |
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| Catholics and
the New Age by Father Mitch Pacwa |
| Fr. Pacwa probes such New Age
practices as Jungian psychology, reincarnation, crystals, the
enneagram and astrology. |
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| Christianity
and American Freemasonry by William Whalen
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| Why are the two incompatible? |
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| Separated
Brethren by William Whalen |
| Subtitled "A Survey of Protestant,
Anglican, Orthodox, Old Catholic, and Other Denominations in the
United States" |
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| Strangers at
Your Door by Father Albert Nevins |
| How to Respond to Jehovah's
Witnesses, the Mormons, televangelists, cults and more |
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Study |
| And the Angels were
Silent, the final week of Jesus
by Max Lucado
* recommended by
Phyllis Miller |
| This book was recommended to me by
Father Joe Arledge. It is formatted to be read the last week before
Easter. So this year you would start on Friday, April 6th. You are
supposed to read a chapter each day to follow in Jesus footsteps on his
final week before He died on the cross.
There is also a study guide for each chapter. |
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Self Help
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| Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
by Joanna Weaver
* recommended by
Kathe Jackson |
| This book is so pertinent in today's
world of the fast paced, hurry up, get it while you can attitude.
Joanna uses many of her own experiences to show women how important it
is to "choose the better part" as Jesus tells Martha. I am reading
this book for the second time already because there are so many
wonderful things mentioned which will help me put aside my worldly cares
to sit at the feet of my Savior.
The book can be purchased at Mardel's or Barnes & Noble but you may have
to have one ordered because I've already bought just about every copy
around!!! |
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