Catholic Ragemonkey

Letting the Cat Out Of the Bag!

Because the readership has been so responsive to my initial post about the top five books, I will tell you, one day early, why I asked for your input.

In my parishes, thus far, my parishioners have studied the Catechism, two comprehensive Bible Studies (one focues on OT and one on NT) and in Cherokee, they are finishing an overview of the Church Fathers. So, I was asking myself what else could these folks gain from studying. And that is where the question comes from.

I wanted to know what books were most instructive as spiritual reading in helping to form them into better Catholics. Your selections became the base line option for their reading. If they choose to do the spiritual reading, then they can choose a book to study. I composed a very detailed ballot for each of participants. Now, the rest of the parish will be invited to take part but since they are the faithful who have done all the work, they will be privileged to choose what they are to study. After doing what I think is essential, then the field is wide open.

The following is a copy of the ballot I distributed last night to the participants to make clear, I hope, the madness of the plan I have begun.

Adult Catechesis Series (Cherokee – Tuesday P.M. Series)

1. What general field would you like the series to cover? (Please select only ONE)
Sacred Scripture
(Go to Question 2)

Catholic Doctrine and History
(Go to Question 5 on the back)

2. In our Scripture Study, I would like to study:
Just One Book
(Go to Question 3)

A Group of Books
(Go to Question 4)

3. In our Scripture Study, I would like to study (choose 3)
Old Testament: Genesis / Exodus / Leviticus / Numbers / Deuteronomy / Joshua / Judges / Ruth / I and II Samuel / I and II Kings / I and II Chronicles / Ezra / Nehemiah / Tobit / Judith / Esther / I and II Maccabees / Job / Psalms / Proverbs / Ecclesiastes / The Song of Songs / Wisdom / Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) / Isaiah / Jeremiah / Lamentations / Ezekiel / Daniel / Baruch / Hosea / Joel / Amos / Obadiah / Jonah / Micah / Nahum / Habakkuk / Zephaniah / Haggai / Zechariah / Malachi

New Testament: Matthew / Mark / Luke / John / The Acts of the Apostles / Romans / I and II Corinthians / Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / I and II Thessalonians / I and II Timothy / Titus / Hebrews / James / I and II Peter / I, II, and III John / Jude / Revelation

4. In our Scripture Study, I would like to study the following set of books (choose 2)
Old Testament Choices
Pentateuch [Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy]
Historical Books, Part 1 [Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I and II Samuel, I and II Kings]
Historical Books, Part 2 [I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Tobit, Judith, Esther, I and II Maccabees]
Wisdom [Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, The Song of Songs, Wisdom, Ecclesiasticus]
The Major Prophets [Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel]
The Minor Prophets [Baruch, Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi

New Testament Choices
The Gospels [Matthew, Mark, Luke, John]
The History of the Church [The Acts of the Apostles and Revelation]
Letters of St. Paul [Romans, I and II Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, I and II Thessalonians, I and II Timothy, Titus, Philemon]
The Catholic Letters [Hebrews, James, I and II Peter, I, II, and III John, Jude]

5. Please choose only one from the following list

The Footprints of God (15 week Study) In this Study, participants will delve more deeply into the Christian Faith by studying the life and work of five key figures from Salvation History. Cost: none.

The Borromeo Project, Year Two (40 week Study) In this Study, participants will continue the work begun in the first year of the project. Participants will have a choice of studying either the Vatican II documents or the Encyclicals of John Paul II. Cost: The Cost of Books or Xeroxing.

Catholic Faith Explorers Series (7 week Study) This exciting series from Sapientia Press allows participants to make a close study of a particular aspect of the Christian Faith. Topics include: Baptism, Authority in the Church, The Mass, The Essential Role of the Laity in the Church, and Sacred Scripture and Tradition. Cost: $10.00

Beginning Spiritual Reading (13 week Study) In this Study, participants will read and discuss various classic writings concerning the Spiritual Life. Participants may choose from any of the five following books: Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales, Confessions by St. Augustine, Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis, The Story of a Soul by St. Terese of Liseux, or Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. Cost: The Cost of Books and Xeroxing.

The Theology of the Body (14-16 week Study) In this Study, participants will read and discuss John Paul II’s groundbreaking study of the role human love plays in the divine plan of salvation. An alternative version of this program might also use the works of Christopher West to build upon what is read. Cost: The Cost of Books Plus Incidentals.

Eucharistic Themed Reading (14-16 week Study) In this study, participants would read and discuss a work of Catholic Theology focusing upon the Most Blessed Sacrament. This would be done in honor of the Year of the Holy Eucharist. Participants may choose from the following texts: The Lamb’s Supper by Scott Hahn, The Spirit of the Liturgy by Benedict XVI, Meditations Before Mass by Romano Guardini, Ecclesia de Eucharistia by John Paul II, or Worthy is the Lamb by Thomas Nash.

I hope you all aren't envious...