Books Every Catholic Should Own

Below you will find a list of books that I highly recommend every good Catholic have in his or her library! All of the following literature are books that I have read or, are part of my reference library so I stand behind them 100%! NOTE: This list will be updated as I finish reading new books.

New American Bible (NAB). The only Bible any Catholic in the U.S. should be reading. Filled with liner notes for easier understanding, this version of the bible contains ALL 73 books as Holy Writ. Accept no substitute. 

Catechism of the Catholic Church. A must-have reference book detailing the beliefs and teachings of the Catholic Church. Next to the NAB, no Catholic should be without this book!

Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church. Without a doubt, one of the best books out there on, not only the history of the Catholic Church but, how the Church shaped Western civilization. At a little over 500 pages, it could be an exhaustive read for some, however, it reads almost like a historical novel, so the flow of the book is akin to a suspenseful "page turner," but, don't think for a minute that this is a fictional account of history, Mr. Crocker does an excellent job of detailing the ups and downs of Catholicism throughout the last 2000 years in a very entertaining a scholarly manner. An interesting note is that the author, H.W. Crocker III, was an Anglican who converted to Catholicism after having studied Christian History. If you're looking for something a bit more in depth, then I would suggest A Concise History of the Catholic Church by Thomas Bokenkotter. 

The Mass of the Early Christians. An indispensable read for any Catholic or Protestant! Mike Aquillina, an accomplished Catholic author and radio host, takes a look at the historical evidence for the belief of the Real Presence in the Eucharist by citing both Scripture and the historical writings of the early Church Fathers. The book's chapters can range from several pages to several dozen pages and is set up in a concise manner so as to take you, step by step, through the belief of our early Christian brothers. 

The Lamb's Supper: The Mass as Heaven on Earth. Well known and accomplished theologian, Dr. Scott Hahn's book is a must read for anyone who has ever wondered what St. John's visions, while exiled on the island of Patmos, meant as he penned the Book of Revelation; Hahn's argument is that the Apocalypse of St. John can only be understood fully within the context of the Mass and sets out example after example in proving his thesis. A wonderfully written book, an easy read and, just shy of 200 pages, this is the type of book that'll have you want to reread it again as soon as your done with it! The only other book that comes close to Hahn's amazing take on the Apocalypse is Michael Barber's book Coming Soon: Unlocking the Book of Revelation. Barber's book takes the basic premise of The Lamb's Supper and goes further with the theory, at over 300 pages, Barber ingeniously lays out his argument by analyzing - step by step - the entire Book of Revelation.

Upon This Rock. Former Baptist preacher and Catholic convert, Steve Ray, gives an amazing defense to Peter as the first Pope through concise and explicit exegesis of Scripture and history. Ray takes his reader through all of the times St. Peter is mentioned in Scripture and in the writings of the early Church Fathers as well as analyzing St. Peter's trips through the ancient Roman empire up to his martyrdom in Rome. This is THE book that anyone who has any question regarding the office of the Pope - and it's instilled divine authority - should read! Ray's book can be a bit of an odd read since he at times provides EXTENSIVE proof from Scripture and history to prove his point, therefore, the flow of the book can at times be a bit off. However, this in no way detracts the reader from understanding Ray's argument and this style offers the reader the leeway to simply pick up the book, go to the index  and find whatever reference they need to understand a bible passage better. 

Not By Faith Alone: The Biblical Evidence for the Catholic Doctrine of Justification. Without a doubt, the best book on the Catholic view of Justification! A former Evangelical Protestant preacher and now Catholic apologist extrordinare, Robert Sungenis pulls no punches when it comes to his knowledge of Holy Scripture in light of Catholic Teaching. Be forewarned though: at 700 pages, this book can be a tough read, and, this book needs to be read with the Bible so as to cross reference biblical verses when Sungenis mentions them. A hearty read that is sure to enlighten any Catholic's understanding on the Church's teaching of justification, Sungenis also provides study questions at the end of each chapter so as to quiz the reader on what they just read.

St. Ignatius Press Catholic Study Guide Booklets. A series of study guides, in booklet format, that take an in depth view at the books of the New Testament. I highly suggest that anyone interested in studying the books of the New Testament purchase these booklets since they offer the actual text of the Biblical book as well as notes and commentary on each and every passage. They are very easy to read and understand, moreover, they are available on the web for as little as $4 each! Additionally, the author's provide in depth study questions in the back of each booklet.

The Fathers of the Church, Expanded Edition. Close to 300 pages of detailed information regarding most of the important Early Church Fathers and their specific teachings as well as contributions to Christianity. This book is more of a reference tool than actual reading material and therefore deserves a place in any Catholic's library.

A Biblical Defense of Catholicism. Author Dave Armstrong, a former Protestant missionary, hones in specifically on all of the different doctrines that Protestant have issue with, i.e., Eucharist, Mary, Papacy, Communion of Saints, Sacraments, Apocrypha, Indulgences, etc. and then proceeds to demonstrate conclusive proof for Catholic Teaching and Theology from Scripture. This is an amazing book and the definitive must-have of every true Catholic wants to brush up on our biblical heritage should own. At 230 pages, the book reads very easily and is presented in a way so as the reader will be equipped with a biblical starting point in order to defend our Church's teachings.

The Protestant's Dilemma. Lay apologist, blogger and author Devin Rose writes a very clear and understandable defense against Protestantism. The book is less than 100 pages long and reads VERY easily, which is why I would highly recommend this book to any Catholic, especially the new members of our faith that want to understand the difference between Catholicism and Protestantism. The most interesting thing about Rose's book is in the manner in which he sets up his apologetic defense for a Catholic belief: he basically asks a "what if" or, "if X is true..." question. This is a very ingenious way of building a case for the Catholic Church's teachings because it asks a question from an objective view and then seeks to find the answer. Very good read!