Father C. John McCloskey, III, STD: A Lifetime Reading List
Here is some news for a beautiful Sunday...
Father C. John McCloskey of the Prelature of Opus Dei has a remarkable background that began on Wall Street. His biography is quite astounding as indicated here. Stories on those souls who have converted to the Faith under his spiritual guidance are also numerous.
Fr. John has what he calls a Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan that I printed out years ago. While some may quibble that "this should be added" or "that should be deleted," the plan is an excellent one. It contains some of the great works of Roman Catholic literature from famous novelists, saints, Popes and apologists. Here is a just a brief look:
Father C. John McCloskey of the Prelature of Opus Dei has a remarkable background that began on Wall Street. His biography is quite astounding as indicated here. Stories on those souls who have converted to the Faith under his spiritual guidance are also numerous.
Fr. John has what he calls a Catholic Lifetime Reading Plan that I printed out years ago. While some may quibble that "this should be added" or "that should be deleted," the plan is an excellent one. It contains some of the great works of Roman Catholic literature from famous novelists, saints, Popes and apologists. Here is a just a brief look:
- St. Catherine – Little Talks with God (modernized version of "The Dialogues") – Spiritual Classics
- Cervantes – Don Quixote – Literary Classics
- Chautard – Soul of Apostolate – Spiritual Reading
- Chesterton – Everlasting Man – Spiritual Classics
- Chesterton – Orthodoxy – Spiritual Classics
- Chesterton – St. Thomas Aquinas
- Chesterton – St. Francis of Assisi – Holy Men and Women
- Cizek – He Leadeth Me – Spiritual Reading
- Crocker – Triumph – History and Culture
- Caussaude – Abandonment to Divine Providence – Spiritual Reading
- Dante – Divine Comedy – Literary Classics
- Dawson – Christianity and European Culture – History and Culture
- Day – Long Loneliness – Holy Men and Women
- de la Palma – The Sacred Passion – Spiritual Reading
- de Sales – Introduction to Devout Life – Spiritual Reading
- de Sales – Treatise on the Love of God – Spiritual Reading
Last summer I started a Church History class beginning at 30 AD and continuing to 500 AD; this summer we went from 500 1500 AD; the 3rd year it will go from 1500-1958, followed by a study of the Church in America, then a study of Vatican II to present. I have tried to incorporate not only the facts of the history of the church, but writings of the period, which students have to read and give a report (like a book club, but everyone gets different assignments to read). My students, who are mostly "retireds," have enjoyed getting acquainted with all these nearly forgotten works. I'm sure I can incorporate some of your suggestions in upcoming sessions. If you have additional suggestions, let me know Many thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind notice! In the realm of Patristics, I know of Mike Aquilina who writes the blog The Way of the Fathers. He appears on EWTN often and is a good friend of Scott Hahn. He has some excellent materials on the Early Fathers.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have some contacts. Oddly, this post was "done on a lark" and it has turned out to be my most popular search. Clearly, Catholics are searching for lists of excellent, spiritual and historical reading.
A.M.D.G.+
D.v