catefrankie:

septembersung:

Hmmm, maybe. Some people tell me my “general reading” recs are good, others insist everything I suggest is still way over their heads. And it really depends on what exactly you want to read about. 

Peter Kreeft is a good place to start. He’s pretty accessible but still a hard-hitting writer. 

A lot of Pope Benedict XVI’s books are meant for the “average” reader, and he’s always profound. His interviews with Seewald, books like A School of Prayer, the Jesus of Nazareth trilogy… 

Pretty much all the books I recommend on liturgy and problems that have developed in Catholic life and worship post-Vatican II are accessible regardless of background; they’re meant to be. Such as ones I’ve mentioned recently, like A Bitter Trial, Ugly as Sin, The Catholic Sanctuary and the Second Vatican Council, and so on. 

Anything by Edward Sri is going to be pretty good. I have trouble with Scott Hahn’s writing style, personally, and Brant Pitre’s, but many people love them; Hahn’s youtube videos are quite good. 

I think Dempster’s Dominion and Dynasty is pretty accessible for academic literature on the Old Testament, but then, I thought that about most of Sailhamer’s The Pentateuch as Narrative, and many disagreed with me. 

My go-to Pauline book rec is always Gorman’s Apostle of the Crucified Lord. Definitely accessible (Protestant, but mostly excellent) but only if that’s what you’re looking for – it’s not a devotional, it’s contextualization and explanations, historical and theological. 

G.K. Chesterton, obviously. I’ve been drawn back lately to The Everlasting Man. 

I would stay away from the popular, but problematic, writers Thomas Merton and James Martin. (Here’s a breakdown of Merton’s issues; be sure to read both parts.)

I WASN’T INVITED, BUT I’M HERE ANYWAYS.  THIS IS HOW YOU KNOW I’M NOT A VAMPIRE.  I just skimmed my bookshelves, and these are the things I love so deeply I cannot stop myself from interrupting.

From Ratzinger: Daughter Zion, his tiny little text on Mary.  I also adore Truth and Tolerance and Introduction to Christianity.  

If you want some solid theology of the body reading, but can’t get into JPII in the original or don’t want to commit to all of the Wednesday Catecheses: Called to Love, Carl Anderson & Jose Granados.  This is a great text.  Seriously, do not read any of Christopher West’s stuff; this is much more faithful to St. John Paul II’s intention for the theology of the body, and it’s beautiful.

My favorite thing JPII ever wrote is also the most accessible thing he ever wrote, A Meditation on Givenness.  Written around the same time he wrote Letter to Families, but never published during his lifetime, it’s a short essay on how and why God puts people in our lives.  I literally weep every single time. 

If you want something on the liturgy: For the Life of the World, Alexander Schmemann.  Schmemann is Orthodox, so his understanding of symbol is so rich.  I just flipped through it and it’s a little denser than the other stuff I’ve recommended, but I think still doable? 

If you feel like dipping your toe into the Balthasar black hole: Unless You Become Like This Child is a tiny little thing, and just lovely.

HAVE FUN