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