Catholic Books

Once a long time ago a little girl named Laura Ingalls lived in the Big Woods of Wisconsin, in a little house made of logs. She grew up and wrote nine books about her childhood - the famous Little House stories. Laura had a daughter of her own named Rose, who grew up in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri, also in a little house made of logs. "Little House on Rocky Ridge" is the beginning of Rose's story, which starts where the book "The First Four Years" ends.

Winner of a 2025 CMA Book Award from the Catholic Media Association: Healing and Self Help (First Place). The wounds we carry from childhood—whether from trauma, neglect, or unmet needs—often remain hidden, yet they continue to affect how we relate to ourselves, others, and God. No matter how much time has passed, our “inner child” remembers. In Befriending Your Inner Child: A Catholic Approach to Inner Healing, licensed marriage and family therapist Brya Hanan offers a gentle and faith-cente...

With such a great cloud of witnesses, we have much to learn from the saints. Allow the saints to be your child's example for meeting Christ in the Eucharist.' In Eucharistic Saints, your children will encounter stories of saints they may already know, like Pope Saint John Paul II and St. Thomas Aquinas, and they will become familiar with saints they may not know yet, like St. Peter Julian Eymard and St. Tarcisius. This book also introduces your children to holy souls who were their own age, l...

This classic work from Thomas à Kempis, author of The Imitation of Christ, is now available in English for the first time. It is a simple truth that, without the virtue of humility, we cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven. It simply cannot be done. Just as pride is the root and source of all sin, so is humility the foundational virtue in which all other virtues must be grounded if they are to bear fruit. Humility is the heartbeat of the saints. It is the virtue that conforms us most closely to ...

Since the turn of the twenty-first century, there has been a heightened fascination with "Celtic Christianity," construed by some as a spirituality of semi-pagan sensibilities -- without rules, never united with Rome, and aligned with ecological and feminist concerns. Celtic prayers and "Celtic liturgies" continue to be fashionable in certain circles. This groundbreaking book presents a comprehensive authentic history of Christianity in Ireland in late antiquity for the first time. It is a li...

"When people stop believing in God, the problem is not that they will believe in nothing, the problem is that they will believe in anything." --C. S. Lewis Business luminary Bob Trussell uses plain language and simple logic to merge scientific theory with philosophy, religion, and the Bible to make an air-tight case for belief in God and all that that can mean for your current life and the life to come. He contends that while most Americans possess some level of belief in God along the scale ...

Here is a powerful, life-changing book that will help you understand and conquer the struggles you face in your spiritual life. It's a book for those who love the Lord and desire holiness yet often feel adrift or stagnant in their search for spiritual growth. All of us encounter valleys on our journey with the Lord -- those periods of spiritual desolation that are a painful yet unavoidable feature of our prayer life. Spiritual desolation is as complex as we are, so understanding what is happe...

Sometimes it is difficult to understand God's will for our lives, especially when times are tough or when something happens that disturbs us. Mother Angelica counsels us in these pages to stop simply existing and start living. "You are called to be holy!" Beloved by many, the practical wisdom of Mother Mary Angelica radiates from this book as she guides you through Scripture and the writings of St. John, St. James, and St. Paul. Replete with stirring real-life examples, Mother Angelica both c...

When He chiseled the Ten Commandments in stone, God did not write "Thou shalt not be an atheist." Instead, He commanded: "Thou shalt not have strange gods before me." Why? Because man is incurably God-centered. He cannot exist without a god, and if he rejects the true God, he will invariably create his own false god. Fr. Vincent Miceli breaks new ground in this fascinating analysis of seventeen Enlightenment theologians and philosophers who contributed to the rise of atheism. He explores thei...

Though they escape the notice of many, stunning miracles of healing take place each and every day at Our Lady's Grotto in Lourdes, France. Inexplicable, biblical-like healings of body, mind, and spirit leave visitors with the gifts of peace and renewed faith. Here is the book that will move you, deepen your faith in Our Lady's active involvement in our world, and help you personally encounter Our Lord.Marlene Watkins recounts twenty astounding true stories of miracles at Lourdes, including he...

Ancient Rome's brutal culture exploited the weak and considered human life expendable. Women were used as property; unwanted children were left on the streets to die. Four centuries later, even ordinary men and women prospered in what had become a vigorous new Christian society; a society that served the vulnerable, exalted women, treasured virtue, and loved peace. Faith had triumphed. Truth was proclaimed. And on this rock-solid foundation, Christian society flourished in the West for the ne...

While many Catholics are aware of great female saints such as Catherine of Siena and Thérèse of Lisieux, a view persists that, over the centuries, women played a limited role in the development of Catholic traditions and institutions. In this innovative survey of Church history, Bronwen McShea demonstrates instead that faithful women have always been at the heart of the Church's common life, shaping it and the course of entire civilizations.In Women of the Church, McShea presents a wide array...

Winner of a 2025 Excellence in Publishing Award from the Association of Catholic Publishers: Inspirational (Second Place). Every educator needs encouragement and support when facing the challenges of teaching—whether it’s managing a noisy classroom, handling a tough parent conference, or navigating staff meetings and lesson planning. In A Saint Squad for Teachers, veteran teacher Amy Cattapan introduces forty-five saints ready to accompany and intercede for educators through every season of t...

"The Moral Wisdom of the Catholic Church: A Defense of Her Controversial Moral Teachings Volume 3" by Robert Spitzer, S.J., Ph.D., offers a robust defense of the Catholic Church's teachings on moral issues. As part of the trilogy "Called Out of Darkness: Contending with Evil Through the Church, Virtue, and Prayer," this volume tackles the foundations of the Church's moral teachings, engaging both theological and philosophical perspectives. Spitzer enriches his defense with empirical evidence ...

The Recovery Rosary teaches you how to pray and meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary as a source of strength, healing, and renewal for Catholics walking the Twelve Steps of recovery—or accompanying loved ones who are. Designed for individuals or small groups, this devotional unites the rich spiritual tradition of the Rosary with the transformative power of recovery. Each meditation connects the mysteries of Jesus and Mary’s lives with real stories from those overcoming addiction, compulsio...

The Holy Eucharist is the Church's most precious treasure, the source and summit of her worship and life. The Church is built upon and around the Eucharist.In this book, a renowned spiritual writer and Carmelite priest shows how receiving the Lord in the Eucharist has profound consequences, because the Eucharist is not only the great Sacrament that brings about oneness with Christ and with the faithful but also the foundational norm for Christian behavior. Any Christian who wonders how he sho...

Besides the graces of the Sacraments, God has another way for us to grow in faith from a mustard seed into a giant tree. And that way is a life of virtue. A virtue is a habit, something that must be practiced daily if it is to increase. At our Baptism, we received the virtues of faith, hope, and love. In this children's book, authors Patrick O'Hearn and Fr. Donald Calloway, MIC, with beautiful illustrations by Adalee Hude, describe 15 of the most important virtues for boys and girls. We begin...

Under the Sun of Satan, Georges Bernanos's powerful debut novel, throws the reader headlong into the mystery of evil and the drama of salvation. Saturated with dramatic intensity and marked with Bernanos's inimitable fitful style, the novel follows young Fr. Donissan, a man of fervent faith but limited intelligence, striving to serve the Lord in his rural ministry. The priest's ability to plumb the depths of his flock's inner lives, along with his awareness of Satan on the prowl, grant him fo...

"Seek out the Lord and his might; constantly seek his face." This concise admonition from the Book of Psalms captures the impetus of Seeking God's Face. In these meditations, Joseph Ratzinger reflects upon the major feasts and the Sundays of the year, inspired by Scripture, the Church Fathers, and the lives of the saints. The seasons of Advent and Christmas receive particular attention, with an address on the mystery of suffering, a sermon on the "Word Made Flesh," and a consideration of the ...

"Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign of contradiction." For the 1976 Lenten retreat to St. Paul VI and the Roman curia, Karol Wojtyla set this prophecy of Simeon to the Holy Family at the heart of his preaching. Over the course of twenty-two meditations, Wojtyla examines and tests the apparent contradictions in the words and deeds of Jesus Christ-all of which are occasions for profound encounters with God himself. Indeed, the "words a sign...

To survey the history of the Catholic Church is, in the words of Eamon Duffy, to be left with "a sense of the intractable complexity of the historical reality of the Church and its institutions." To do justice to this complexity, Philip Hughes wrote an ambitious, three-volume survey of Church history-comprehensive in scope yet accessible in detail. In Volume I: The Church and the World in Which It Was Founded, Hughes dispenses with the chronological method, instead following the organic divis...

Only Jesus, first published in English in 1962, is the last of Luis M. Martínez's writings, and widely hailed as his magnum opus. Combining robust doctrine and authentic mysticism, Martínez leads his readers through a quadripartite meditation on the person of Jesus Christ. In Part One, he considers the unfolding of revelation through the Incarnation, public ministry, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Parts Two and Three reflect on the union between Jesus and the Christian faithful,...

With the incredible popularity of recent books championing agnosticism or atheism, many people might never know that such books almost completely ignore the considerable evidence for theism uncovered in both physics and philosophy over the past four decades. New Proofs for the Existence of God responds to these glaring omissions. From universal space-time asymmetry to cosmic coincidences to the intelligibility of reality, Robert Spitzer tackles a wealth of evidence. He considers string theory...

St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) displayed mystical gifts from childhood. Though she longed to remain a virgin, her parents arranged a marriage for her, and, as a wife and mother, she led a devout life that mirrored that of a consecrated religious, through fervent prayer and tireless works of charity. In fact, she founded a community of Benedictine oblates who live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, each according to her own state in life; the community now counts thousands of members worl...

In Visions of the Divine, Catholic evangelist, author, and businessman Steve Auth reunites the art of the Eucharist with the Eucharistic liturgy itself. Much of this art was separated from the context of the Mass for which it was created many centuries ago and is relegated now to museums sprinkled around the world. Along with his co-authors Evelyn Auth and Msgr. Roger Landry, Steve leads the reader on a worldwide pilgrimage to some of the most spectacular and moving artistic masterpieces crea...

There's so much noise. Everything can seem like a distraction. Distraction, in fact, seems our oxygen. When was the last time you saw people talking on an elevator? We seem to plug in everywhere. We have earphones and screens and don't evenlook up, never mind find time for silence. Our hearts need quiet. How are we ever going to pray otherwise? How could we ever possibly know God's love and will, and the truth about ourselves and the world without resting in Him?Resting in Him. What does that...

Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss happen more often than we realize, leaving many to suffer in isolation. This unique companion will help those grieving from child loss as they search for comfort and meaning. Couples will encounter the experiences of holy people who suffered loss, such as Sts. Louis and Zélie Martin, St. Gianna Molla, and Servant of God Chiara Corbella Petrillo. Parents will also receive hope and consolation from firsthand stories of modern-day parents who have experie...

"The knot of Eve's disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin Eve had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith."--St. Irenaeus of Lyons Few devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary have spread more in recent years than Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. When the faithful encounter trying moments, when all hope seems to be lost, they turn to their mother."Come with me to my Son," she tells us. And all is unbound.Through ordinary and everyday ...

Father Christopher Hart, a young New York priest and classic film buff, is unwittingly drafted by the mob to hear the confession of a man slated for execution. This was not one of the duties he expected when he became a first-time pastor. Learning how to balance the books and safely navigate parish politics, yes; but playing a key role in the White Death--a mafia ritual in which a person condemned to death is allowed to confess his sins before he's killed--was not included on the Parish Leade...

Teresa of Ávila, Spain, was born into a wealthy family in 1515. She loved Jesus very much and became a Carmelite nun. When she received the Eucharist, she could feel his great love and grew stronger in her faith and friendship with Jesus. Teresa felt the nuns needed more quiet time and more time for prayer and so she started a new Carmelite convent. The nuns prayed for the Church, for sinners and people who did not love God. She was also known as Teresa of Jesus. She is the patron (October 15...

Do you find yourself struggling to explain the Catholic faith when you're faced with tough questions? If so, look no further than The Essential Catholic Survival Guide from Catholic Answers. This comprehensive book has been created to provide clear, concise answers to seventy of the most commonly asked questions about Catholicism. Having a solid grasp on these topics can be invaluable in any number of situations – whether it’s responding to doubts or challenges at work or in social settings, ...

This book will help you understand that you can study dog poetry, become the Minnesota Twins closer, run for president of the United States, become a Franciscan friar in Albuquerque, put oranges in a circle, teach conflicting political theory at the University of Idaho, attend Mass literally underground in a subterranean cathedral hundreds of feet below the desert floor, play no-pads tackle football on Boise State’s blue turf, write tracts while sunbathing atop Namur’s castle in summer, discu...

As Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn said, "Within the philosophical system of Marx and Lenin, and at the heart of their psychology, hatred of God is the principal driving force, more fundamental than all their political and economic pretensions." This is certainly true of the leaders of the Communist "dynasty" that currently rules China. Chairman Mao, the founder of the Red Dynasty, proudly referred to himself as wu fa wu tian--a Chinese phrase meaning that he was both Godless and lawless. His hatred o...

A Summary of the Spiritual Life: Simplified and Arranged for Daily Reading, Reflection and Prayer Written with loving care by Father Anthony Paone, as a dialogue with Christ himself, this devotional will strengthen your love for Christ and his teachings. Father Paone leads the reader through the three ways of the spiritual life: Purification, Imitation, and Union. My Daily Bread overflows with reflections and prayers specifically designed to help you grow in the spiritual life and overcome fa...

Introducing the Five Pillars of the Spiritual Life, a revolutionary guide written by Fr. Spitzer, President of Gonzaga University and esteemed spiritual teacher and writer. Perfect for those who strive to maintain a regular spiritual life while leading hectic lifestyles, this book offers insights on how to both grow closer to God and stay engaged with everyday life at the same time. Drawing from years of experience in organizing successful retreats and seminars, Fr. Spitzer has distilled key ...

The Hundredfold is a tapestry of hymns, monologues, and short lyrics knit together as one book-length poem in praise of Christ in his startling humanity. Using all the riches of the English poetic tradition--meter, rhyme, music--the poet ponders the mysterious man from Nazareth and the world he came to set on fire with splendor. Having made a career of translating the Italian masters Dante and Tasso, Anthony Esolen puts on the dusty mantle of such English craftsmen as Donne, Milton, and Hopki...

"A Pocket Guide to the Holy Rosary" by Kevin and Mary O'Neill is an engaging and colorful booklet designed to teach children the power and practice of praying the Rosary. Through charming illustrations and straightforward guidance, it introduces young readers to the twenty mysteries of the Holy Rosary, blending fun with faith in a way that captures the imagination. The booklet offers a solid explanation of why the Rosary is prayed, diagrams and instructions on how to pray it, the basic prayer...

This book shows from within the damage that the sexual revolution has caused to our bodies, our souls, and our sense of joy. Quoting extensively from testimonies and reports written by the revolution's most outspoken advocates, Nathanael Blake proves that even beyond the question of right and wrong, Christian sexual ethics simply provide a better way to love and live. The sexual revolution offered happiness and great sex--but Americans are increasingly lonely and unhappy, and they even report...

Dr. Robert D. Enright, founder of the International Forgiveness Institute, invites you to travel with him down the road from alienation to forgiveness to possible reconciliation. His cathartic exercises will enliven your relationship with Jesus and provide a healing balm that will deepen your empathy and dispose you to forgiving others.Similar to The Imitation of Christ, this work is divided into three books comprising short chapters with brief points to consider. The first book lays out forg...

Rose and her family are still living in the little town of Mansfield, where they are doing their best to get back on their feet and return to Rocky Ridge Farm. It's a big year for Rose and one filled with many changes. She witnesses the dawn of a new era as she celebrates the turn of the twentieth century, and she helps with the first apple harvest out on Rocky Ridge Farm. There is even love in the air for Rose.

Many are well aware of St. Thomas Aquinas's intellectual prowess -- his genius in metaphysics and supernatural theology that pierced the depths of truth. However, few know about the private spiritual life of this illustrious Doctor of the Church. This work, written by Msgr. Martin Grabmann, a foremost authority on Aquinas, is unique in its telling of the holiness of St. Thomas's priestly soul. Neither a purely devotional nor a strictly scientific treatment of the interior life of St. Thomas, ...

Peter Kreeft presents a series of brilliant essays about many of the problems that undermine our Western civilization, along with ways to address them. "These essays are not new proposals or solutions to today's problems," he says. "They are old. They have been tried, and have worked. They have made people happy and good. That is what makes them so radical and so unusual today."In his witty, readable style, Kreeft implores us to gather wisdom and preserve it, as the monks did in the Middle Ag...

"Grief is like a long valley, a winding valley where any bend may reveal a totally new landscape." C.S. Lewis Lorene Duquin, an experienced grief counselor was no stranger to understanding and explaining grief, and had helped many people work through it. But when she lost her mother she found herself living in an entirely new space. Grieving the Loss of a Loved One contains 52 powerful, one-page meditations that will help you work through the various aspects of grieving as they did for Lorene...

The power of a woman is most concretely observed in the seeds she plants, day after day, in the lives of those around her. Soul Garden is a sizable collection of personal stories, essays, poems, and recipes written to cultivate the motherly role of women by offering inspiration, camaraderie, and encouragement.Contributors from across the country and around the world invite readers to put away their screens and to pick up this lovely, tangible book, in which they can find nourishment for the s...

Discover what it means to become a man of faith through the lives of ten male saints and their experiences pursuing holiness. In Holy Grit, Catholic life coach Paul George invites men to confront the challenges of modern life—struggles in marriage, parenting, suffering, and purpose—and take concrete steps toward the life God created them to live. Many men grow up with an image of masculinity shaped by tough guys on TV—boxers, cowboys, gangsters, fighter pilots—the fastest gun in the West. The...

The eighth and final installment in the Rose Years series, which tells the story of the spirited daughter of the author of the beloved Little House series. Rose Wilder has become an independent young woman. She leaves Rocky Ridge Farm, first for Kansas City to learn how to be a telegrapher, then for San Francisco. Her dream is to work for a year or two, save a little money, and then marry Paul Cooley, her childhood sweetheart. But the big city has all sorts of surprises in store for Rose, and...

Not long ago, veteran Youth Minister Everett Fritz counted the number of his former Youth Group members who were still practicing the Faith. The result? Almost all of them had left the Faith! Fritz learned that other parishes reported similar staggering losses, pointing to a grim truth: today's Youth Ministries simply do not form young people into lifelong disciples of Jesus Christ. Not satisfied with these dismal results, Fritz devised a different way of forming young people in the Faith. It...