faithAlivebooks Blog

The Paraclete Collection

Drawing from ancient and contemporary sources and practices, this complete library of essential Christian wisdom is the ideal companion for anyone heading to graduate school, studying for Christian ministry, or as a gift for someone who loves to study and learn. The Paraclete Collection.

Spirituality and Health Magazine

Spirituality and Health Magazine offers a variety of reviews both in print and online. The editors have selected the best spiritual books for 1998 to 2005. For more information visit Spirituality and Health website.

Spirit of Books Spring/Summer 2007

Twice a year the Catholic Book Publishers Association publishes a catalog which is available to all Catholic booksellers. There are 200 books with image, description, etc. Here are a few that caught by interest:

At the Name of Jesus
The Way, the Truth, the Life
Michael O'Neill McGrath and Richard Fragomeni
World Library Publications

Wise Choices
A Spiritual Guide to Making Life Decisions
Margaret Silf
BlueBridge

Roots and Wings
The Human Journey from a Speck of Stardust to a Spark of God
Margaret Silf
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.

The Monastic Way
Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living
A Book of Daily Readings
Compiled by Hannah Ward and Jennifer Wild
Wm. B. Eerdmans

Blessed Among All Women
Women Saints, Prophets and Witnesses for Out Time
Robert Ellsberg
Crossroad Publishing Company

Women in Church History
21 Stories for 21 Centuries
Joanne Turpin
St. Anthony Messenger Press

From Sand to Solid Ground
Questions of Faith for Modern Catholics
Michael Morwood
Crossroad Publishing Company

Practicing Peace
A Devotional Walk through the Quaker Tradition
Catherine Whitmire
Sorin Books

Strong Was Her Faith
Women of the New Testament
J. Ellsworth Kalas
Abingdon Press

The Stories of the Old Testament
A Catholic's Guide
Jim Campbell
Loyola Press

Spirit of Books

Spirit of Books, the fall/winter catalog of the Catholic Book Publishers Association, present over 180 titles from a variety of Catholic Publishers. Here is a sampling of those titles:

An Illustrated History of the Church
The Great Challenges
Guy Bedouelle, OP
Liturgy Training Publications
1568545169

The Catholic Comparative New Testament
(features eight complete texts)
Oxford University Press
019528299X

My Life with the Saints
James Martin, SJ
Loyola Press
0829420010

From Union Square to Rome
Dorothy Day
Edited by Robert Ellsberg
Orbis Books
1570756678

In Search of Belief (Revised Edition)
Joan Chittister
Liguori Publications
0764814842

To receive the Spirit of Books catalog, contact danpierson@faithalivebooks.com

August Bestsellers

Each month the Catholic Book Publisers Association presents the bestselling titles from the previous month. This services is coordinated by Roth Advertising.

August, 2006

Hardcover
1. Values in a Time of Upheaval
Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI),   Crossroad Publishing
   (0824523733)

2. The Rhythm of Life
Matthew Kelly,  Beacon Publishing/Fireside  (0743265106)

3. Perpetual Motivation
Dave Durand,   Crossroad Publishing   (0824523865)

4. The Seven Levels of Intimacy
Matthew Kelly,  Beacon Publishing/Fireside  (0743265114)

5. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Libreria Editrice Vaticana,   USCCB Publishing   (1574557254)

6. Rediscovering Catholicism
Matthew Kelly,  Beacon Publishing  (1929266081)

7. Catechism of the Catholic Church
Doubleday   (9780385508193)
Our Sunday Visitor   (0879739770)
USCCB Publishing   (1574551094)

8. The Holy Longing
Ronald Rolheiser,   Doubleday   (9780385494182)

9. The Book of Courage
Matthew Kelly,  Beacon Publishing  (1929266103)

10. 7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free
Phil Lenahan,  Our Sunday Visitor  (1592762018)


Paperback
1. Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
Libreria Editrice Vaticana,   USCCB Publishing   (1574557203)

2. Catechism of the Catholic Church
Doubleday   (9780385479677)
Our Sunday Visitor   (0879739762)
USCCB Publishing   (1574551108)

3. The DaVinci Deception
Shea, Sri & the Editors of Catholic Exchange,   Ascension Press 
(1932927646)

4. Handbook for Today’s Catholic
A Redemptorist Pastoral Publication,   Liguori Publications   
(0764812203)

5. Good News About Sex & Marriage
Christopher West,   Servant Books   (0867166193)

6. The Little Monk
Madeleine Delbrel,  Crossroad   (0824523105)

7. Return of the Prodigal Son
Henri J. M. Nouwen,  Doubleday  (9780385473071)

8. Theology of the Body for Beginners
Christopher West,  Ascension Press  (1932645349)

9. Life of the Beloved
Henri J. M. Nouwen,   Crossroad   (0824519868)

10. “We Believe...”
Oscar Lukefahr,   Liguori Publications   (0892435364)

Exploring Catholic Literature

Exploring Catholic Literature: A Companion and Resource Guide, by Mary R. Reichardt provides an introduction to 12 recognized masterpieces of Catholic literature. Each chapter contains a brief biography of the author, an extended critical essay highlighting the work's Catholic and literary aspects, suggestions for further reading and study, and questions for discussion.

Augustine of Hippo, Confessions of Saint Augustine

Anonymous, The Cloud of Unknowing

Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love

Dante Alighieri, The Divine Comedy

Gerard Manly Hopkins, Selected Poetry

Sigrid Undset, Kristin Lavransdatter

Graham Greene, The Power and the Glory

Evelyn Waugh, Brideshead Revisited

Flannery O’Connor, Everything That Rises Must Converge

Annie Dillard, Holy the Firm

Shusaku Endo, Deep River

Denise Levertov, The Stream and the Sapphire

Book Talk for Moms

On February 8, 2006 I will be giving a book talk to a group of mothers of young children at St. Robert's Parish, Ada, Michigan. During the presentation, I will highlight the following titles for both children and parents. I would love to hear from you! I invite you to share your thoughts about these books in the comments section at the end of this post.

Books for Kids

Totally Lent!
3 Titles: primary grades, grades 4-6, grades 7 and up
Pflaum Publishing, 2006
$5.95 each

These Are Friends of Jesus
Shirley Neitzel
Illustrated by Benrei Huang
32 pages
Augsburg Books, 2005
$9.99

J is for Jesus: An Easter Alphabet and Activity Book
Debbie Trafton O'Neal
Jan Bryan-Hunt
32 pages
Augsburg Books, 2005
$10.99

Kids Explore America's Catholic Heritage
Young Writers Workshop
184 pages
Pauline Books, 2002
$9.95

The Loyola Book of Saints
Amy Welborn
Illustrated by Ansgar Holmberg, C.S.J.
304 pages
Loyola Press, 2001
$15.95

Every Day Bible Stories: A Bible Story for Every Day of the Year
Jane Chapman, editor
Illustrated by Anna C. Leplar
384 pages
Our Sunday Visitor, 2002
$19.95

The Faith Activities for Catholic Kids series
Grades 1-6
32 pages each
Pflaum Publishing, 2006
$6.95 each

Catholic Book of Bible Stories
Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton
Illustrated by Doris Ettlinger
224 pages
Zonderkidz, 2003
$16.99

Does God Know How to Tie Shoes?
Nancy White Carlstrom
Illustrated by Lori McElrath-Eslick
32 pages
Eerdmans, 1993
$8.00

Clare and Francis
Guido Visconti
Illustrated by Bimba Landmann
40 pages
Eerdmans, 2004
$20.00

St. Francis
Brian Wildsmith
39 pages
Eerdmans, 1996
$20.00

Saints: Lives and Illuminations
Ruth Sanderson
40 pages
Eerdmans, 2003
$20.00

Catholic Encyclopedia for Children
Ann Ball with Julianne M. Will
Illustrated by Kevin Davidson
176 pages
Our Sunday Visitor, 2003
$21.95

A Child's Bedtime Companion
Sandy Henry
Illustrated by Vera Pavlova
28 pages
Ambassador Books, 2005
$12.95

Books for Parents

Spirituality in the Mother Zone: Staying Centered, Finding God
Trudelle Thomas
256 pages
Paulist Press, 2005
$16.95

Good Parents, Tough Times: How Your Catholic Faith Provides Hope and Guidance in Times of Crisis
Charlene C. Giannetti and Margaret Sagarese
231 pages
Loyola Press, 2005
$14.95

Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith
Anne Lamott
320 pages
Penguin, 2005
$24.95

A Year with C.S. Lewis: Daily Readings from His Classic Works
Patricia S. Klein, editor
410 pages
HarperCollins, 2003
$19.95

Sacred Space: The Prayer Book 2006
Ireland Jesuit Communication Centre
377 pages
Ave Maria Press, 2005
$12.95

Bless My Child: A Catholic Mother's Prayer Book
Julie Cragon
156 pages
Ave Maria Press, 2005
$9.95

The Family Cloister
David Robinson
191 pages
Crossroad Publishing, 2000
$14.95

The Flowering of the Soul
Lucinda Vardey, editor
447 pages
Beacon Press, 1999
$16.00

The Saints' Guide to Happiness
Robert Ellsberg
221 pages
North Point Press
$23.00

Raising Faith-Filled Kids: Ordinary Opportunities to Nurture Spirituality at Home
Tom McGrath
274 pages
Loyola Press, 2000
$12.95

Catholic Mom 24/7: Daily Meditations for Busy Mothers
Tammy Bundy
300 pages
St. Anthony Messenger, 2004
$13.95

Spirit of Books

Twice a year the Catholic Book Publisher's Association provides the "Spirit of Books" catalogue to booksellers. The spring/summer 2005 edition features nearly 200 titles.

We at faithAlivebooks.com, reccomend a sampling of titles from the catalogue:

A Pilgrim People: Learning Through the Church Year by John H. Westerhoff; Seabury Classics

Drawn into the Mystery of Jesus through the Gospel of John by Jean Vanier; Paulist Press

Gospels and Acts: The Saint John's Bible by Donald Jackson; Liturgical Press

Bless My Child: A Catholic Mother's Prayer Book by Julie Cragon; Ave Maria Press

The Wisdom of the Benedictine Elders: Thirty of America's Oldest Monks and Nuns Share Their Lives' Greatest Lessons by Mark W. McGinnis; BlueBridge

The Spiritual Apprenticeship of a Curious Catholic: The American Catholic Experience by Jerry Hurtubise; ACTA Publications

Women of Mercy by Kathy Coffey; Orbis Books

Desiring God's Will: Aligning Our Hearts with the Heart of God by David Benner; InterVarsity Press

The New American Bible Concise Concordance edited by John R. Kohlenberger, III; Oxford University Press

The New American Bible Compact Edition; Oxford University Press

Ten Best Catholic Novels

Patrick Samway, SJ, former literary editor of "America" and acclaimed author, chooses his top ten Catholic novels in the selection "The Ten Best Catholic Novels You'll Ever Read." It appeared in the book "I Like Being Catholic: Treasured Tradition, Rituals, and Stories."

He writes, "In much the same way that I am not sure that Catholic mathematics or Catholic watercolors exist, so too I am not sure about putting too much stock in the category of 'Catholic novels.' I do know that there are Catholic authors who write novels, but can we call their novels 'Catholic?' Since the word Catholic is not under copyright, what does it mean exactly? Should the definition of Catholic be restricted to someone who has been baptized in a Roman Catholic Church?"

For Samway's full discussion of the topic, visit faithAlivebooks.