Liguorian Catholic Reading Sampler

A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION

CATHOLIC. PASTORAL. TRUSTED.

Rely on information from a trustworthy source

W hat Catholic books are on your reading list?

The Authentic Word

Print Media

Top 10 Classic Catholic Books

CATHOLIC R EADING

The Power of Story

I

Redemptive Living VINITA HAMPTON WRIGHT

love that the sacred book of Christianity is full of stories. Yes, it includes history, wisdom sayings, letters of exhortation, detailed laws, and explanations of doctrine. But the Bible is a marvelous collection of stories, told by historians and prophets, poets and evangelists. And we have stories within stories, such as when Jesus shares parables.

As for Jesus, at age twelve, he demonstrated his ability to talk theology with the experts. But when he went into public ministry, he wandered the world, telling stories and offering easy-toremember wisdom sayings, such as those we find in the beatitudes.

Centuries later, scientists tell us that humans process stories differently than we process more left-brained information. When I’m reading or listening to a story, a deep, intuitive part of me becomes engaged. I can place myself in a story. I can also allow my imagination to play with a story and ponder its plot points and characters. Storytelling is simple enough to hold the attention of small children, yet this sort of learning can also be an effective and sophisticated process of spiritual development.

World cultures are shaped more by stories than by political ideas or financial strategies. We all look for a story in which to place our lives in a way that makes sense. People remember the grand plots and people of literature, film, and song more than they The Holy Spirit is still writing stories, even though the remember historical facts. Stories are facts arbiblical canon is closed. ranged meaningfully. Without a plot, actions have little meaning. Without a motive, a character is unconvincing.

I “learned” about the kind of person I wanted to become when, as a child, I heard the stories of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar; Daniel and his friends; the shepherd who became a king; and so on. I watched their lives unfold on flannelgraph boards or in illustrated books. Can I remember a single sermon or lesson from back then? Not really. But I remember the men and women of Bible stories, and I’d like to think they helped me choose a life of faith and generosity.

Here’s a thought, and it may sound dangerous, but bear with me: the Holy Spirit is still writing stories, even though the biblical canon is closed. We have thousands of stories from our grand history of saints, and we have unfolding stories today, as people of faith do wonderful work in this world.

We also have the written stories of priests, mystics, mothers, and pilgrims—a Teresa of Ávila or a Thomas Merton. A Sister Helen Prejean or the ordinary people who made sure their elderly neighbors were cared for during a pandemic. And the poets, novelists, essayists, and playwrights who are so skilled at bringing truth to life through mere words on a page.

Please—allow yourself to enjoy stories. Find new ones and rediscover the old ones. Allow your spirit to learn wisdom and hope with the delight of a child. A PIXEL-SHOT / SHUTTERSTOCK

2 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

Liguorian Columnists and Contributors Scott Czarnopys (“Face to Face”) is married to his beautiful wife, Arley, and has two children, Haven and Daxton. He is an elementary-school principal serving in his fourteenth year at Saint Patrick School, a thriving semi-rural Catholic school in the Grand Rapids area of Michigan.

Fr. Peter D. Hill, CSsR (“Plain Talk”), is a Redemptorist missionary who has served as parish priest of Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church, Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago; director of Holy Redeemer Retreat House, Dominica; and formation codirector at North American Redemptorist Formation House in San Antonio, Texas.

Fr. Michael McAndrew, CSsR (“Padre Migrante”), has served for thirty-plus years in Redemptorist Hispanic ministry initiatives, youth ministry, bilingual parish missions, and farmworker ministry. He works with the Catholic Migrant Farmworker Network, directed a Campesino ministry, and recently published a book with Liguori Publications: Walk With My People: A Life in Migration Ministry (828720).

Since 1913

Br. Raymond Pierce, CSsR (“The Lighter Side”), is a native of Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada. His ministry is storytelling via email. Every week, he sends “Morning Smiles” emails of humor and personal stories to nearly 1,000 senior citizens.

Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR (“A Word from the Publisher”), was named president and publisher of Liguori Publications in January 2024, his second assignment as the company’s leader. Professed as a Redemptorist in 1973, his ministries have included retreat work and writing reflections for the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter.

Tim and Julie Smith (“Kitchen Table Gospel”) have been professional music ministers in the Phoenix area for more than thirty-five years. They have written and recorded dozens of music collections, including liturgical music, theater music, children’s music, and bilingual music, and their songs have been published in multiple hymnals.

Editorial Offices

Director of Digital and Creative Services

United States 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori, MO 63057

Wendy Barnes

Associate Editors

Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR Paige Byrne Shortal Andrew Tran-Chung, CSsR

Manuscript Editor Amy Deputato

Director of Media

Fr. Charles Kumar, CSsR

Journalist

Gary Michael Gately

Design, Production, and Post-Production John Gantz Kate Brown Kathy Lane

Director of Sales and Marketing, Liguorian Ad Sales

Donna Hurley

Contracts, Rights, and Permissions Emmy Sandstedt

Editor-In-Chief, India Fr. Sandeep Menezes, CSsR

It is good to enjoy the fulfillment of reading the printed word—it can be an experience of the sacred.

Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted.

Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR

Sales and Customer Service Coordinator

Vinita Hampton Wright (“Redemptive Living”) worked in religious book publishing for more than three decades. She is retired and continues to write, edit, and present retreats and workshops on creativity, writing, and prayer. She works as a spiritual director in Northwest Arkansas.

FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR

Publisher

Chuck Healy

Adam Tran-Chung (“Social Media Perspectives”) is a student of the Redemptorists and is studying philosophy at St. John’s University in New York City. He is an accomplished concert pianist and organist and enjoys composing liturgical music. He is interested in exploring how social media can be used as a tool for evangelization.

India Thomas Town Post, Bengaluru, India, 560084 © 2026 Liguori Publications, a ministry of the Redemptorists. All rights reserved.

636-464-2500. Liguori.org.

Unless noted, Scripture quotations are from The New American Bible, Revised Edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, DC. Used with permission.

Subscription Questions?

Visit Liguorian.org.

Call: 866-848-2492 Email: Liguorian@liguori.org Write: Customer Service, 200 Liguori Drive, Liguori MO 63057 Print + Digital Subscription One year: $38; Outside US: $53 (US funds only).

If you prefer that your name and address not be available to select organizations, please mail your address label to: Mail Preference Service, Liguorian, PO Box 292527, Dayton, OH 45429-0527.

Liguorian is available on CD from Xavier Society for the Blind, 154 E. 23rd Street, New York, NY 10010, or call 800-637-9193 for materials for the blind only.

Advertise in Liguorian Call Oremus Advertising at 781-822-0680 or email evelyn@oremusadvertising.com.

Publication Mail Agreement #40112731.

Canadian Return Mail Request: PO Box 122, Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6S8 Canada ISSN 0024-3450 Printed in the US at Kingery Printing.

Support Our Ministry Please help us continue Liguorian and other Liguori Publications ministries by making a tax-deductible donation or remembering us in your will. Our legal title is Redemptorist Fathers dba Liguori Publications, Federal ID 43-0653409.

Liguorian is named after our founder and patron saint, St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787), Doctor of the Church, bishop, patron of confessors, moral theologian, prolific writer, pastoral theologian par excellence, and founder of the Redemptorist Congregation. It is in his spirit and inspired by the charism he shared with us, “With him there is plentiful redemption for all,” that this magazine and all pastoral educational products of Liguori Publications proudly claim we always strive to be Catholic, Pastoral, Trusted.

To learn more about the Redemptorists, visit Redemptorists.com

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 3

Catholic Imagination

A Word from the Publisher FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR

L

“

ook beyond the bread you eat; see your Savior and your Lord.” These beautiful words, which we often sing in a hymn during the Communion of the Mass, continue to both teach and challenge the faithful people who gather to worship and to give thanks. These simple yet profound words teach the truth of what we celebrate in the Eucharist: the presence of the Body and Blood of the Lord in the bread and the wine. The words of the hymn challenge us because they remind us to continue to perceive the experience of life beyond what is in front of our faces. They are words that invite us to enter fully into the mysterious and the sacred.

The ability to perceive life and to experience the kingdom of God presupposes what I like to identify as the “Catholic imagination.” Catholics are called through the grace of their baptism to “look beyond” and to “see something more.” In this sense, imagination is not to be understood as a type of fantasy or making something up, but rather in the fullness of the theological sense of the concept. Catholic imagination is the celebration of the “already” and the “not yet.”

We understand that Christ and his kingdom have already come, but we also understand that the kingdom has not yet fully been made manifest.

We use this graced skill of Catholic imagination when we celebrate the Eucharist. We also use this graced skill when we look at the crucified Christ that hangs in our churches and in our homes—we do not see the end of something, but rather the beginning of a new creation. Unlike some Christian denominations that exhort their congregations to “take us to the cross, the life-giving blood of the Lamb,” Catholic congregations are led to the foot of the cross but do not remain standing there. A Catholic congregation of worship and faith looks beyond the cross and sees something more. Yes, we celebrate the saving action of the cross, but we also expect to see it present in our world, in the lives and the experiences of the people of God. “Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.”

It is not just a sacramental imagination. Catholics routinely look at their daily lives and the world around them and sense something more: the manifestation of the kingdom of God. It is Catholic imagination that permitted Mother Teresa to pick up the abandoned poor at her doorstep and bring them to an experience of dignity—if not in life, then at least in death.

It is Catholic imagination that animates a schoolteacher, at work in a forgotten school in an underserved community, who is inspired by the power of education and hope. It is Catholic imagination that gives the rural pastor, assigned to four or five different parishes, the energy to make the long round trip of pastoral visitation Sunday after Sunday.

Identifying Catholic imagination at work in the lives of our brothers and sisters in faith does not presuppose or judge the motives of others. Celebrating the powerful manifestation of grace at work in the people of God does not in any way lessen or diminish the inspired efforts of other dedicated men and women. Rather, it is a confident assertion of a quality

4 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

Please consider supporting at least one Catholic periodical or newspaper.

Enable the authentic representation of Catholic life, practice, and imagination. Witness to your Catholic faith to your family, your friends, and anyone else who might visit your home and enjoy paging through the current issue, which you have placed on an end table for easy reference.

AMOR SANTO / CATHOPIC

that is essential to the fabric of what it means to be a Catholic. It is a recognition of the presence of the Spirit of God in our midst that calls us to perceive life as totally and fully blessed.

Catholic imagination permits the people of God to face the di􀍠culties and challenges of life—some of which are extremely serious and call us to a deeper experience of faith—and expect that there is a powerful manifestation of grace yet to come. This unique way of perceiving life has given us the ability to weather many di􀍠culties in the past and will continue enabling us to hope in the future.

“Look beyond the bread you eat; see your Savior and your Lord.”

In this issue of Liguorian, we focus on a very important part of our Catholic imagination: the printed word in its many forms and the authors who celebrate what it means to be Catholic and who have helped us understand our shared life and values. We also celebrate each of us—the Catholic readers who support this creative energy and effort. We would be at a loss if we did not have this essential collaboration between author and reader to inspire and sustain Catholic imagination.

Every Catholic publisher, faithful to the Catholic imagination and practice, needs your support. This has always been the case, but it is all the more important in a time when readers are turning away from the printed word and embracing the digital universe.

Digital media has many benefits, but it is often missing an essential characteristic of the printed word: in print, you cannot represent yourself as something other than who you truly are. For example, we say that Liguorian is Catholic. Pastoral. Trusted., so we must make this evident on every page of the magazine; otherwise, something important is missing. Unfortunately, social media and other digital content are easily manipulated, and what you see is not always what you are looking for.

Please consider supporting at least one Catholic periodical or newspaper. Enable the authentic representation of Catholic life, practice, and imagination. Witness to your Catholic faith to your family, your friends, and anyone else who might visit your home and enjoy paging through the current issue, which you have placed on an end table for easy reference.

We, the members of the Association of Catholic Publishers, appreciate your support.

Download the Incredible Catholic, Pastoral and Trusted Resources in Your Pocket

R E A D | LISTEN | WATCH Redemptio by Liguori Publications is a faith-filled app where

you can read carefully curated seasonal Catholic e-books, watch inspiring spiritual videos, and listen to meaningful podcasts.

Created for personal prayer, reflection, and daily growth, it brings the richness of the Church’s wisdom into everyday life. Now available free for a limited time on the Apple App Store® and Google Play Store™.

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 5

The Authentic Word:

Print Media FR. THOMAS M. SANTA, CSsR

O

ctober 6, 1536, is the date generally given for William Tyndale’s execution in Vilvoorde (sometimes spelled Vilvorde), near Brussels, in presentday Belgium. Tyndale was strangled at the stake, and his body was then burned in the castle’s courtyard. The execution was public and intended to send a clear message. He was condemned and sent to his death for heresy— chiefly for translating the Bible into English and opposing the authority of both the pope and, on certain points, King Henry VIII. That was the official reason. The real reason was fear of something new—in this instance, fear of the potential power of the printing press and the ramifications that the invention suggested.

Portrait of William Tyndale 6 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

Illustration of the Gutenberg printing press WIKIPEDIA COMMONS

SHUTTERSTOCK

We still lack one thing: the ability to trust what is communicated to us.

Authenticity is becoming more of an issue than we ever imagined.

King Henry, the Pope, and much of the titled class had valid concerns about the printing press. What would happen if ordinary people were able to access information without the help of those who believed themselves to be the official caretakers of information? What would happen if anyone could simply print and read whatever they desired—in this case, the Bible? How would easy access to information impact the power of Church and state officials, who, at least up to this point, controlled how information was shared, interpreted, and stored? Even though most people were illiterate at the time the printing press was invented, there were still enough people who could make use of the printed word, and this number far exceeded that of the “official” keepers of information.

The power to read, study, debate, and then discern had traditionally been in the hands of very few people. They were seen as the interpreters of reality, and people turned to them to find out what they should do and how they should think and act. There was no real reason to doubt them or question them. Not only were they state officials, but it was also believed that they had been placed in their position of power by God. To doubt or question them was to doubt or question God.

au·then·tic adj.

1. Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief: an authentic account by an eyewitness.

We read about this understanding of reality from the perspective of our life in this century. We may shake our heads in wonder and disbelief. How could anyone live with this limited perception of reality?

It seems almost nonsensical to us today.

We live in an age in which information is available to us in many different formats besides the printed word. People in much of the world can access what they need and what they’re interested in, and access

is expanding as technology is continually updated. It seems foolish to suggest that the flow of information can be restricted or controlled as effectively as it was once believed possible and even necessary (think of the violence of wars, executions, imprisonment, and the like that followed in the centuries after Tyndale’s execution).

We may no longer fight the wars our ancestors routinely engaged in or enthusiastically send people to die in the torture

A Top Ten Classic Catholic Book List The Bible is the greatest book ever written, bar none. As the word of God, it’s in a distinct class by itself. Apart from the Bible, other books in our Church’s 2,000-year history have endured the test of time to become spiritual classics.

Interspersed among the following pages are thumbnail profiles on ten Catholic books for spiritual reading that are considered perennial favorites according to various sources. How many of these are on your reading list?

—Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR

1. Confessions by St. Augustine of Hippo (354–430) Likely the first Christian book to attain classic status, this masterpiece speaks eloquently about the human condition, conversion, and our soul’s innate longing for God. The book is written as a prayer to God, and Augustine opens with his famous line, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.” In Confessions, Augustine recounts his existential search and transformative journey from youthful ideas and a licentious lifestyle to an uncompromising embrace of God and the Catholic faith.

Augustine wrote this autobiographical account when he was in his early forties, and he lived long afterward, producing another classic work, The City of God. He is one of the four original doctors of the Church, along with Sts. Ambrose, Jerome, and Gregory the Great.

2. Being so in fact; not fraudulent or counterfeit.

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 7

We cannot simply “like” or “follow” and assume we are being informed.

PEXELS

of flames because we disagree with them.

Nevertheless, we still are struggling and adapting. We desire to be informed. We demand the ability to pick and choose.

But, with all our freedom, we lack one thing: the ability to trust what is communicated to us. Authenticity is becoming more of an issue than we ever imagined.

When William Tyndale was condemned to the stake, the people who sent him to his death sincerely believed what they were doing was necessary. With hindsight and the clarity of looking backward through history, we know they were reacting in fear to something unknown.

They understood that when the state officials—the keepers of information—were replaced by a new reality, there would be immediate and unpredictable effects. They sensed this even though they did not truly appreciate the extent of the ramifications the printing press would bring about.

Today, the “official interpreters” of past centuries have been replaced by “influencers.” There are people who still claim to have the authority or knowledge to direct our human experience, but they are struggling to find and maintain a foothold.

Institutions that once were perceived as necessary and essential are now often viewed as relics of the past. Instead, these self-appointed influencers have assumed

the role and the authority of interpreting meaning, reality, and community. Understandably, this has caused confusion and, in some cases, even chaos.

We are not helpless in this new reality. Chaos generates distractions and a lack of clarity, so we must pay attention

A Top Ten Classic Catholic Book List

2. The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis (1380–1471) In this classic book with timeless appeal, Thomas à Kempis relied on his solid faith to navigate the dark and gloomy age in which he lived. Read by more than a billion people, The Imitation of Christ is the most popular Christian book after the Bible.

Saint Thomas More recommended it as one of three books that everyone should own; St. Ignatius of Loyola declared it the most precious book on devotion ever written; and St. Thérèse of Lisieux committed passages from it to memory. From this practical guidebook on the spiritual life is an oft-quoted line: “Man proposes, but God disposes.”

8 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

to what we have learned from our life experience to successfully navigate today’s challenges and opportunities.

The sheer volume of information that is available to us and demands our attention is overwhelming. No one can sift through it all. So, it is a natural development that people will emerge from the chaos and assume the power to interpret what it means—or at least what some of it means. We then freely choose to “like” and “follow” those influencers who appeal to our personal preferences. We permit the algorithms to sort through the rest and present us with only what we need or believe what we need. Effectively, we have given someone else the power to determine what we should think, what we should believe, and how we should act.

This transfer of responsibility for interpreting the meaning of human life and community is not without cost.

Let’s discuss the issue of authenticity.

We cannot simply like a post or follow an account and assume we are being informed. When we turn to influencers as our main source of information, we cannot be surprised when we are then influenced. The influencers are doing exactly

What Is a Modern In󹀹uencer?

A

social media in󹀹uencer, also known as an online influencer or simply an influencer, is a person who builds a grassroots online presence through engaging content such as photos, videos, and updates. This is done by using direct audience interaction to establish authenticity, expertise, and appeal, and by standing apart from traditional celebrities by growing their platform through social media rather than pre-existing fame.

The modern referent of the term is commonly a paid role in which a business entity pays for the social media influencer-for-hire to promote its products and services, known as influencer marketing. Types of influencers include fashion influencers, travel influencers, and virtual influencers, and they involve content creation and often live streaming. what they promised, although they will lose the ability to influence if they wander too far off the path or are no longer perceived as reliable and authentic.

The main issue of authenticity that comes into focus with influencers is this: Are they who they claim to be? Is the

information they provide trustworthy, or is it being manipulated in some way to support a point of view or a perspective on life of which we may not be fully aware? A crucial weakness in social media is the spread of disinformation and the manipulation of words and images. How

can we, the end users, be sure that what we’re viewing and reading is truthful—or even real? How can we be sure that it is an authentic representation of what we think we’re seeing?

These questions certainly bring up concerns, and there are no simple answers. We are still in the infancy stage of this new media reality. We are not quite sure what will come next. Part of this experience is exciting, but it is also challenging. One important consideration is that, for the most part, social media is not generally understood and accepted as the “place of record.” In other words, it is not perceived as authoritative, comprehensive, and reflective of a rigorous editorial process. That distinction remains with the printed word in newspapers, magazines, bulletins, and the like—you know, those old relics from a time long gone.

Take, for example, this issue of the Liguorian that you are reading. It was a laborious process to organize the mate-

The printed word connects us in a particularly important way to the Word made flesh.

AYO PRODUCTION / SHUTTERSTOCK

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 9

KINGERY PRINTING

rial for this issue. Once article topics are identified and authors contracted, it takes a few months (or more!) for the articles to be written. When articles are submitted, they go to the editorial department, where editors read and check for proper format, structure, spelling, and grammar as well as fact-checking items that need to be verified—such as the accepted date in this article for the execution of William Tyndale.

Editors then send articles to the creative services department, who format and design the articles for the magazine.

Page proofs of edited and designed articles are then circulated among the editorial team to ensure that there are no errors, that the content represents the mission of the Redemptorists, and that they have been approved by the publisher, who is the representative of the Redemptorists and provides the nihil obstat, or “permission to publish,” for this magazine. Then and only then are the final files sent to the printer, and the magazine is then delivered to your mailbox. All this is to ensure the authenticity and quality that you have come to expect from Liguorian. These ef-

forts are repeated with each edition of the magazine, a process that has been in place for more than 110 years.



A Top Ten Classic Catholic Book List

3. The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556) A reason for the phenomenal success of this book is that it provides formation for the members of the Jesuit Order founded by Ignatius. It also offers essential guidance for retreat directors and retreatants on contemplative prayer, and, above all, it continues to help Christians of any denomination discern the will of God in their lives. The original, complete form of the Exercises is a silent retreat of about thirty days that focuses on self-abandonment, conversion, and finding God in all things.

Few religious figures have so extensively touched the lives of others as Ignatius of Loyola. The Spiritual Exercises— composed between 1522 and 1524 and first published in 1548—has become more than an inspirational book. In the 500 years since it was written, the Ignatian method of prayer has become a way of life for many! Ad majorem Dei gloriam—“For the greater glory of God.”

10 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

As a reader of this magazine—and, for that matter, of other Catholic periodicals, newspapers, and bulletins—you can be sure that what you are reading is an authentic representation of Catholic thought and practice. If not, the material would not have been approved to publish or to represent this magazine as a Catholic periodical. By contrast, no content on social media is required to meet this high standard of authenticity.

For no other reason than the assurance of authenticity, your support of Catholic reading material is well worth it. Your support ensures the accurate recording of Catholic life and practice for the people of today, as well as for the people hundreds of years from now, who will “search archival records,” to understand who we were, what we believed, and why we practiced the way we did.

Both authenticity and accuracy in reflecting the Catholic experience are very important, but there is yet another good reason to support the printed word.

There is something solemn, perhaps even sacred, about it. That is one of the reasons we acclaim the printed gospel at each liturgy and why our alleluias are so important to us. The printed word connects us in a particularly important

way to the Word made flesh. Holding the Word, meditating on the Word, feeling the Word, and praying the Word are all important parts of our Catholic spiritual life and practice.

When you subscribe to a Catholic periodical, you are enabling the continued commitment to authenticity. When that Catholic periodical comes to your home, it is an opportunity for everyone in your family to experience Catholic life and practice. Over time, the periodical becomes a welcomed member of your family, a trusted resource, a friend. Social media has its place—it would be foolish to deny or ignore the world of digital media—but it is still searching for a path to contribute something of substance rather than generate more noise and distraction.

Please actively support and encourage Catholic publishing. Please support the printed word. It does not need to replace your digital favorites, but it can be supportive. It can help bring a sense of authenticity and clarity to the chaos that social media often generates. It is good to enjoy the feel of a book or magazine in your hands, the smell of newly printed pages, and the fulfillment of reading the printed word—it can be an experience of the sacred. It is a medium that was hard earned over the centuries, and there is still a place—a need—for it today.

Holding the Word, meditating on the Word, feeling the Word, and praying the Word are all important parts of our Catholic spiritual life and practice.

Fr. Thomas M. Santa, CSsR, is the president and publisher of Liguori Publications, his second assignment as the company’s leader. Professed as a Redemptorist in 1973, his ministries have included retreat work and writing reflections for the Scrupulous Anonymous newsletter.

A Top Ten Classic Catholic Book List

4. The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Ávila (1515–1582) Of this remarkable Spanish Carmelite nun’s classic works, The Way of Perfection is the most easily understood, and her autobiography is said to be the most widely read prose classic in Spain after Don Quixote. However, many Teresian scholars single out The Interior Castle as her greatest masterpiece. She received the image of the entire book in a mystical vision on Trinity Sunday, 1577, toward the end of her life. Consequently, it’s regarded as one of her most mature and synthesized works. The book is divided into seven mansions, or dwelling places, and each level in the continuum is a step closer to God. In the seventh mansion, “there are scarcely ever any aridities, or interior disturbances, like…in all the rest; but the soul is almost always in quiet, and she is never afraid that this sublime gift would be counterfeited by the devil; and, therefore, she is confident it comes from God.” Teresa of Ávila was proclaimed a doctor of the Church in 1970.

5. Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross (1542–1591) The common phrase “dark night of the soul,” which describes a crisis of faith or a painful crisis in life, comes from this rapturous poem written by the beloved Carmelite mystic. This classic work follows the soul’s journey from a state of abandonment and purification to a mystical, loving union with God. The journey is called a “dark night” in part because the path and the destination (God) are unknowable. Regarded as one of the most important contributions to the literature of mysticism, Dark Night of the Soul enriches those seeking oneness with God. Saint John of the Cross was proclaimed a doctor of the Church in 1926.

6. Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales (1567–1622) First published in 1609, this book was widely popular in both Catholic and Protestant circles. Francis wrote this influential manual on the interior life after providing expert spiritual direction to numerous people in his lifetime. He emphasizes in the book that holiness is attainable for everyone: “Wherever we may be, we can and should aspire to the perfect life.” Introduction to the Devout Life was intended to help the average layperson embrace the world rather than renounce it. It’s an edifying devotional that motivates readers to achieve greater union with God through prayer and compassionate Christian discipleship. Saint Francis de Sales was declared a doctor of the Church in 1877 due to his wisdom and spiritual writings.

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 11

A Top Ten Classic Catholic Book List 7. True Devotion to Mary by St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (1673–1716) First published in 1843, this classic is considered the greatest single Marian devotional ever written.

Pope St. John Paul II credited the reading of this book as “a decisive turning point” in his life when he was young, and he adopted the phrase Totus Tuus (totally yours) from True Devotion to Mary for his apostolic motto. Pope St. John Paul II explained in a letter to the Montfort religious community: “These two words express total belonging to Jesus through Mary: ‘Tuus totus ego sum, et omnia mea tua sunt,’ St. Louis-Marie wrote, and he translates his words: ‘I am all yours, and all that I have is yours, O most loving Jesus, through your most holy Mother.’ This saint’s teaching has had a profound influence on the Marian devotion of many of the faithful and on my own life. It is a lived teaching of outstanding ascetic and mystical depth, expressed in a lively and passionate style that makes frequent use of images and symbols.”

8. Uniformity with God’s Will

by St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696–1787) Many of the 111 works written by this prolific theologian are considered classics in their own right.

Alphonsus helped move the Church away from fear and Jansenism in his landmark Moral Theology; he fostered greater Marian devotion in his popular Glories of Mary; and his Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and The Way of the Cross appeal to people from all walks of life. One of his short booklets that appears on many lists of spiritual classics is Uniformity with God’s Will, written in 1755, likely upon the death of Alphonsus’ confessor and spiritual director. It’s a challenging but encouraging treatise on how to concretely unify one’s will with God’s to experience divine love and authentic peace and happiness—even in hardship. Because of his extensive writings and impact, Alphonsus was named a doctor of the Church in 1871.

9. The Story of a Soul by St. Thérèse of Lisieux (1873–1897) At the request of her superior (who was also Thérèse’s blood sister), this cloistered Carmelite nun known as the “Little Flower” began writing her memoirs before she succumbed to tuberculosis at age twentyfour. Prior to her death, Thérèse herself said of this autobiography, “What I have written will do a lot of good. It will make the kindness of God better known.” She also promised that after her death, she would let fall “a shower of roses.” Her total dependence on God in a relatable childlike manner captivated the hearts of readers around the world, and her “Little Way” of simplicity, love, and trust continues to lead countless readers to God. Describing prayer as a “burst of love” that opens our soul, uniting us with Jesus, she wrote: “I pray like a child, simply telling God what is on my mind…. He guides me and always understands.” For her tremendous influence on spirituality, the Little Flower was declared a doctor of the Church in 1997.

10. The Seven Storey Mountain

by Thomas Merton (1915–1968) In this extraordinary spiritual autobiography, Merton is like a modern-day Augustine who recounts his restlessness, conversion to Catholicism, and profession of vows as a Trappist monk in a Kentucky abbey. A New York Times bestseller, with millions sold, The Seven Storey Mountain is credited as the first major Catholic work to achieve widespread acclaim in America, and it’s consistently praised as one of the best books of the twentieth century. First published in 1948, and titled after the mountain of purgatory in Dante’s famous Divine Comedy, the book resonated with readers who sought a sense of purpose in the aftermath of World War II and the dawn of the atomic age. This book is also attributed to attracting vocations to the priesthood and monastic life. Merton’s eloquent prose and profound insights into the human condition continue to enlighten both skeptics and believers far and wide!

Books recommended in this Catholic Reading Sampler are available from your local Catholic bookstore.

12 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

Ten Notable Works of Fiction

by Catholic Authors The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene A flawed priest tries to bring hope and faith while running from authorities in anti-Catholic Mexico.

The Father Brown Mysteries by G.K. Chesterton An endearing and eccentric sleuth priest solves mysteries with a compassionate understanding of human nature.

Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor Hazel Motes, a war veteran, tries to start a strange church and wrestles with belief and religious doubt.

The Keys of the Kingdom by A. J. Cronin Considered a failure by his superiors, Fr. Chisholm is sent to China as a missionary, where he encounters the keys to heaven amid danger and hardship.

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh Charles Ryder becomes close to the wealthy Flyte family and discovers faith, love, loss, and personal change.

The Diary of a Country Priest by Georges Bernanos A young French priest records his struggles, doubts, and simple acts of faith in a small village.

Silence by Shusako Endo A priest travels to Japan, faces torture and faith challenges, and watches hidden Christians risk everything to believe.

In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden Philippa Talbot joins a monastery, learning to live in community, pray deeply, and heal from her past.

The Moviegoer by Walker Percy Binx Bolling, a stockbroker in New Orleans who battles domestic issues and postwar trauma, is in need of spiritual redemption.

Special Offer: Save 20%

Liguori Publications books and booklets. Use Code 26430.

Sac ram bol s nd Us

Journe Faithy

ISBN:

978-07648-2

885-0

ys

Writte n in the engag OF style of the Redem ing, pastoral of Faith ptorists, adults and Jornad Journe , teens, y clearly a de Fe children, all gener to audie speak and ations and backg Hispanics. The nces in their voice— the peopl progra rounds e m welco to the Faith and where they are Catho mes in Jornda de Fe addre their own faith lic faith, meeti and quest ng journe ions in y. Journe a catech ss relevant life y of etical appro issues, faith ach to OCIA /RICA topics, .

van Par

CATH OLIC PASTORAL .

TRUSTED. .

Sur rou

d imprin needs t to suppo The of the rt the life of greate people of God who desire encourage r piety and a devotion the positi in the Churc and to ve spiritu h today al energ . y

Tha t

present

Catholic Update is the practical, affordable newsletter that explores Catholic teaching on traditional and contemporary topics in easy-tounderstand language with new, relevant topics each month. 11 Issues per year.

• Individual UPDATE Subscriptions • Parish Subscriptions • Digital Library Subscription • More than 300 back Divine Mercy issues available for in Our Time individual sale

JOHA N VA N PA RY S

The Queen ’s Work

Sacra m

Litu rg

ic al Sy

m bols

entals

That

Su rrou

nd Us

KEEPING CATHOLICS UP TO DATE SINCE 1973

© 2026 LIGUORI PUBLICATIONS, A REDEMPTORIST MINISTRY. 800-325-9521 LIGUORI.ORG

PHOTOCOPYING PROHIBITED.

APRIL 2026

Catholic Traditions:

al Sym

Work

Fr. Byron Miller, CSsR, is an Associate Editor for Liguori Publications. He previously served as its president and publisher (2015–2023) and is the author of numerous faith-based publications.

C2604A

Litu rgic

eapolis. director He also of liturg and is the y and sacre co-founde teaches liturg d arts at Patrons y the Basil of the Arts r and president in the School ica of Saint theology of the Minn of Theology in the Vatic Mary in in liturg of St. John esota /Nor an Muse ical stud degrees architectu ’s Univ ums. Dr. th Dako ies from from the ersity re, and van Pary ta the Catholic religious s received chapter of the Universit University of studies. his doct Notr y of Louv ain, Belgi e Dame and has orate in um, in archeolog graduate The Liguori Publications y, art histo Queen’s Queen’s has revive ry, Work that is

en tals

visible signs to most acce illuminate ssible to From the mysterie fire, and humans.

Introdu s of the light beca We read ction divine ily conn That Surr use we because ect with encounte ound Us, that whic the sym r them used in author h is tang in daily bolic natu Catholic Johan ible is life. In van Pary re of elem litur objects Sacrame s takes ents when they gies, bringing ntals: us thro us grea ’re used church Liturgica like water, ugh the ter unde buildings in a relig symbolis l Symbols rstanding ious man and walk Coverin of the sacre m of various ner. He g some s elements reviews of the diff through the dnes Parys expl histo s sacred associate erences ry of how ores litur spaces d with among shows they deve that gical furn sacramen how God loped from exist within ishings, ts, sacra uses ordi sacramen ancient mentals, nary item vestments, gest tals and times. signs, and ures, sacre s to symbolis liturgies. symbols m is boun draw us close d art, and , van r to him d to insp . This fasci similar obje ire grea cts as he nating ter reve explorat rence for ion of Catholic Johan van Pary churches s is the Minn and

Honorable Mention: Although Willa Cather wasn’t Catholic, she wrote a classic piece of Catholic literature in Death Comes for the Archbishop. Two priests build a Catholic community in New Mexico, facing challenges from locals, nature, and their own faith.

Catholic

“Cathol ics are a sacrame and sacr ntal peo amental ple. We s, to guid of the Holy rely on e

us on our signs and Spirit; sacr journey symbols shares amental of faith. , sacrame his divin s prepare Sacrame e life with nts bring us us to rece nts conf us, and to holiness ive it. In er the grac sacrame the sacr in Christ.” e ntals, thro aments, ugh the Christ prayer of the Chu God uses rch,

Charming Billy by Alice McDermott When the family and friends of Billy Lynch gather after his funeral to question what drove him to alcohol, his memory becomes a lesson on familial love.

W H AT W E D O A N D W H Y W E D O I T

FOLLOWING IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SAINT FAUSTINA Fr. James White, Cssr PIXELVARIO / SHUTTERSTOCK

LEARN MORE: CALL 800-325-9521 OR VISIT LIGUORI.ORG

LEARN MORE: CALL 800-325-9521 TO SUBSCRIBE OR VISIT LIGUORI.ORG Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 13

A VENERABLE MAGAZINE OPENS WIDE ITS PAGES TO THE VOICES AND VISIONS OF THE GLOBAL CHURCH

I N TER N ATION A L One Faith, Many Voices, Shared Mission FR. CHARLES VIJAY KUMAR, CSsR

W

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” —Mark 16:15

e a re liv ing through a transformative moment in history. The world has become smaller. Borders have grown porous not only geographically but also in culture, conversation, and communion. Air travel is accessible, digital technology has woven an interconnected web of communication, and ideas are exchanged across continents at the speed of a click.

In such a world, we, as Redemptorists, are called once again to “cross to the other side” (Mark 4:35). This is not merely a physical crossing, but a spiritual and pastoral one. It is a crossing of cultures, languages, mindsets, and, above all, mission. The call to preach the gospel ever anew has never been more urgent or more universal.

Today, the Redemptorist mission is no longer bound to the local parish or province. It is a global call to proclaim the message of “plentiful redemption” to the most abandoned, wherever they may be found—in bustling cities or in forgotten corners, in digital spaces or in the solitude of human hearts. It is in this spirit that we launch Liguorian International, a renewed and global expression of a magazine with a storied history.

cal to accompany those who had just experienced Redemptorist missions.

These early issues served as pastoral follow-up, offering spiritual insights, moral guidance, and encouragement to families striving to live their Catholic faith. With just $50 of seed funding and a circulation of 500 copies, Liguorian was born, not as a commercial venture, but as a continuation of mission.

Over the decades, under the stewardship of committed editors like Fr. Donald Miller and Fr. Louis Miller, the magazine grew in reach and relevance.

By the 1990s, it was read by tens—even

hundreds—of thousands across the United States as well as in corners of the globe where Redemptorist missionaries had planted seeds of faith. I remember reading Liguorian while I was in the Redemptorist seminary in Bangalore, India, in the 2000s. It was hailed by the US bishops as “a balanced picture of the teachings of the Church and the needs of Catholics in today’s world.”

Yet, Liguorian was never just a magazine. It was, and remains, a pastoral tool, a printed pulpit from which the gospel is preached with clarity, compassion, and courage.

From Seminary to the World The roots of Liguorian magazine trace back to 1913, when five Redemptorist priests in a seminary in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin, began publishing a periodi-

14 Catholic Reading // Liguori.org

GEMINI

Why Liguorian International?

alized by local editorial teams in each As Redemptorists, we do not retreat region. These teams will have the freefrom the media landscape; we engage The vision of Liguorian International dom to add voices, images, and insights it with discernment, creativity, and emerges from the very heart of our that speak directly to the cultural and faith. We follow the example of St. Redemptorist identity. Today, more ecclesial realities of their communities.

Alphonsus Liguori, who used every than ever, we are a congregation in Thus, Liguorian International bemeans at his disposal, including pammotion, both geographically and pascomes both universal and parphlets, books, missions, and music, to torally. We are restructuring ticular.

It speaks a global reach the hearts of people. for the mission, reimaginlanguage of faith while ing how to collaborate Hope Moving Forward being heard in a local acacross provinces and This new frontier excites me, not becent. It is, in the truest continents, and recomcause it is easy, but because it is faithsense, glocal, a ministry mitting ourselves to the ful. It reflects the best of who we are as that is grounded in place Church’s universal call Redemptorists: missionaries of hope, but lifted by the wind of to evangelize. builders of communion, and servants the Spirit across borders.

But our mission must Fr. Sandeep of God’s people.

Pope Francis reminds us meet people where they are.

Menezes, CSsR Liguorian International is a step toin Evangelii Gaudium, “The Church And where are they today? In a ward the kind of Church we are called is called to be the house of the Father, media-saturated world, often overto become and the communities we with doors always wide open” (EG 47). whelmed by misinformation and spiriare called to build. One that is global in In the same way, Liguorian Internatual confusion. In a cultural landscape solidarity, local in service, and always tional will open wide its pages to the marked by disconnection, polarization, walking with those on the margins. voices and visions of the global Church. and despair. In a time when people We pray that this new initiative may hunger not only for information but Media Ministry for the New be led by the Holy Spirit, inspired by the also for authentic wisdom, rooted in Millennium vision of our founder, and strengthened faith.

The Liguorian International by the partnership of readLiguorian International steps into ers, writers, and religious initiative is not simply a this context with a clear purpose: to across the world. As we publishing project.

Rathbe a Catholic, Trusted, and Pastoral er, it is a missionary launch this new chapter, voice across the globe. Not just for the we do so in faith, echoexpression of the ReUnited States, but now also for India, demptorist charism in ing the words of Christ Ireland, South Africa, the Philippines, himself: “The harvest today’s digital and inand wherever Redemptorists serve. terconnected world. is abundant but the laAs the Apostle Paul writes, “I have At a time when finanborers are few; so ask the become all things to all, to save at least Fr. Charles cial resources are limited master of the harvest to send Kumar, CSsR some” (1 Corinthians 9:22b). So, too, out laborers for his harvest” (Luke and personnel are stretched thin, must we adapt—not the message, but Liguorian International offers a model 10:2). the means—so the Good News may be of collaboration, co-creation, and comMay Liguorian International be one heard, seen, and received with joy. munion. By sharing resources, articles, such laborer. And may it bear fruit that artwork, and editorial guidance, we endures. A A Global Mission with Local Roots make it possible for more people in Fr. Charles Vijay Kumar, CSsR, is a Liguorian International is not an exRedemptorist from Bangalore, India. more places to encounter the gospel port; it is an exchange. It is not about Professed in 2004 and ordained in 2009, he through this time-tested medium. packaging one nation’s experience for later c0mpleted a master’s degree in film and another. Rather, it is about discovering television at Loyola Marymount University,  Los Angeles. He is the founder-director of the common soil of faith and allowing the Redemptorist Media Center (RMC) and The magazine will integrate print it to bear fruit uniquely in each land. the founder of Sanctus Redemptor Pvt. Ltd., and digital tools, such as QR codes This model will draw on the core a media company that leads and promotes the Redemptorists’ media ministry. He that link to local Redemptorist media spiritual and theological content from also serves as the publisher-director of content, videos, podcasts, and online the US edition of Liguorian magazine’s Redemptorist Publications India and as the reflections. Social media and YouTube reflections on Catholic living, morality, director of media at Liguori Publications. platforms will extend the conversation spirituality, and pastoral care, and it Fr. Sandeep Menezes, CSsR, serves as beyond the page. will be updated, edited, and contextuLiguorian Editor-in-Chief, India.

Catholic Reading // 800-325-9521 15

Subscribe to Liguorian Liguorian magazine shines with hope—inspiring stories, thoughtful reflections, and helpful insights into issues of the day. Give the gift of Liguorian magazine and help spread the joy of the gospel while bringing a message of hope to friends and family.

1 Year for $38 Each additional subscription is $33.00 Please add $15 if outside the US.

Detach and mail the completed form below with payment in a sealed envelope.

Please do not include cash.

MAIL TO: LIGUORIAN: 200 LIGUORI DRIVE, LIGUORI MO 63057

o NEW SUBSCRIPTION o RENEWAL o GIFT SUBSCRIPTION o 1 YEAR $38.00 (PLEASE ADD $15.00 IF OUTSIDE THE US)

TYPE: TERM:

Subscriber or Gift Donor Info (If giving a gift, please provide recipient info below) NAME ADDRESS CITY

Call to Subscribe 866-848-2492

Subscribe Online Liguorian.org/ subscribe-today

Rate for subscriptions outside STATE

ZIP

the US is $53. Subscriptions outside the US must be prepaid in US funds.

EMAIL

Gift Recipient Info (Discounts available for multiple gifts; please call 866-848-2492 for rates)

First-time access to the digital edition requires registration at Liguorian.org, or send an

NAME

email to Liguori@liguori.org.

ADDRESS CITY

Six issues per year.

STATE

ZIP

EMAIL

o PAYMENT ENCLOSED: $________________ (PLEASE MAIL IN AN ENVELOPE) o CHARGE MY CREDIT CARD: __VISA __DISCOVER __MASTERCARD __AMERICAN EXPRESS Card #

CVV #

Expiration Date______________Signature______________________________________________________ LIGUORIAN IS A REDEMPTORIST PASTORAL PUBLICATION.

Thank You FOR SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY.

Catholic.

Pastoral.

Trusted.