Books
for Protestants inquiring about Catholicism
First, I recommend reading
the Fathers. Here are some good books:
The Teachings of the
Church Fathers by Willis
The History of the Church by Eusebius
The Faith of the Early Fathers (three volumes) by Jurgens
Patrology by Quastens (four volumes)
Early Christian Fathers by Richardson
Second, read about the
ecumenical Councils. I recommend:
The General Councils by Bellito
The Church in Crisis: A
History of the General Councils, 325-1870, by Philip Hughes
Third, read some general
works on the Catholic Faith. I recommend:
Introduction to
Christianity, by Joseph Cardinal
Ratzinger
On Being Catholic, by Thomas Howard
What Catholics Really Believe, by Karl Keating
The Faith of Our Fathers by Gibbons
The Spirit of Catholicism by Karl Adam
Catechism of the Catholic Church (Second Edition)
The Sources of Catholic
Dogma by Denzinger
The Christian Faith by Dupuis
Catholic Christianity, by Peter Kreeft
Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma by Ott
Theology and Sanity by F.J. Sheed
Theology for Beginners, by F.J. Sheed
An Essay on the Development of Doctrine by Newman
The History of Heresies, by Liguori
Fourth, I recommend reading
about the Catholic Church in relation to Scripture. I recommend:
Not by Scripture Alone by Sungenis
Reasons to Believe by Hahn
Making Senses out of Scripture by Shea
Where we got the Bible by Graham
A Biblical Defense of Catholicism by Armstrong
Catholic for a Reason, by Hahn.
Catena Aurea, by Aquinas, Newman (four volume set)
Fifth, read about the
Catholic understanding of Tradition. I recommend:
By What Authority? by Shea
Tradition and Traditions by Congar [a bit pricey]
The Meaning of Tradition by Congar [more affordable]
Sixth, read about Conversions
to Catholicism. I recommend:
Surprised by Truth, by Patrick Madrid (three volumes)
The Conversion of Edith
Stein, by Gaboriau
Rome Sweet Home: Our
Journey to Catholicism, by Scott and
Kimberly Hahn
Crossing the Tiber: Evangelical
Protestants Discover the Historical Church, by Stephen Ray
Lead, Kindly Light: My
Journey to Rome, by Thomas Howard
No Price Too High: A
Pentecostal Preacher Becomes Catholic,
by Alex Jones
Born Fundamentalist, Born
Again Catholic, by David Currie
Seventh, read about the Papacy.
I recommend:
Upon This Rock, by Stephen Ray
Jesus, Peter & the
Keys, by Butler, Dahlgren & Hess
Pope Fiction, by Patrick Madrid
The Papacy Learning Guide, by Ray & Walters
The Russian Church and the
Papacy, by Soloviev
Eighth, read about the Church.
I recommend:
One, Holy, Catholic and
Apostolic by Whitehead
Splendor of the Church, by De Lubac
Called to Communion, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
On the Church of Christ, by Maritain.
Ninth, read about the
relation of Faith and Reason. I recommend:
Fides et Ratio, by John Paul II
The Two Wings of Catholic
Thought: Essays on Fides et Ratio,
edited by Foster & Koterski
Tenth, read about the Saints.
I recommend:
Lives of the Saints, by Butler. (four volumes)
Eleventh, read about Liturgy
& Sacraments. I recommend:
Evangelical Is Not Enough:
Worship of God in Liturgy and Sacrament,
by Thomas Howard
Why Matter Matters, by Lang
Swear to God: The Promise
and Power of the Sacraments, by Scott
Hahn
Letter and Spirit: From
Written Text to Living Word in the Liturgy, by Scott Hahn
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist, by Abbot Vonier, Peter Kreeft, and Aidan Nichols
The Word, Church And
Sacrament: In Protestantism and Catholicism, by Bouyer
The Spirit of the Liturgy, by Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
This is My Body: An
Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence,
by Shea
The Mass of the Early
Christians, by Mike Aquilina
God is Near Us: The
Eucharist, the Heart of Life, by
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger
The Hidden Manna: A
Theology of the Eucharist, by James
T. O'Connor
Worthy is the Lamb: The
Biblical Roots of the Mass, by Thomas
J. Nash
Eucharist, by Louis Bouyer
The Lamb's Supper: The
Mass as Heaven on Earth, by Scott
Hahn
Twelfth, read about the
Catholic understanding of Protestantism. I recommend:
The Spirit and Forms of
Protestantism, by Bouyer.
One and Holy, by Karl Adam.
Characters of the
Reformation, by Belloc.
The Facts About Luther, by O'Hare.
The Catholic Controversy: St. Francis De Sales' Defense of the Faith, by St. Francis De Sales.
How the Reformation
Happened, by Belloc.
Three Reformers, by Maritain.
Not by Faith Alone: A
Biblical Study of the Catholic Doctrine of Justification, by Sungenis
Thirteenth, learn how
Catholics Pray. I recommend:
The Magnificat
The Liturgy of the Hours
Fourteenth, learn about
Catholic devotion. I recommend:
Living the Mysteries: A
Guide for Unfinished Christians, by
Scott Hahn and Mike Aquilina
Introduction to the Devout Life, by
St. Francis De Sales
The Imitation of Christ, by Thomas � Kempis