The popular blogger and publisher of Envoy magazine offers 10 key reasons why he loves being Catholic (and you should too). Drawing heavily on poignant anecdotes from his own experience as a life-long Catholic born in 1960s, Madrid offers readers a way of looking at the Church--its members, teachings, customs, and history--from perspectives many may have never considered.

Growing up Catholic during a time of great social and theological upheaval and transition, a time in which countless Catholics abandoned their religion in search of something else, Patrick Madrid learned a great deal about why people leave Catholicism and why others stay. This experience helped him gain many insights into what it is about the Catholic Church that some people reject, as well as those things that others treasure. Drawing upon Madrid's personal experiences, Why Be Catholic? offers a deeply personal, fact-based, rationale for why everyone should be Catholic or at least consider the Catholic Church in a new light.

Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15798600-why-be-catholic

A bestseller These 11 personal conversion stories are unlike any you've ever read. They're packed with biblical, theological, and historical proofs for Catholicism. Each year thousands of atheists, Evangelicals, fundamentalists, and Pentecostals find themselves surprised by Catholic truth... and these converts tell you why. Includes the stories of Paul Thigpen, Tim Staples, Marcus Grodi, Steve Wood, Jimmy Akin, Al Kresta, and more.

Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/289516.Surprised_by_Truth?from_search=true

ARE YOU READY, WILLING AND ABLE TO HELP CHANGE THE CULTURE?

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;
so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers
for his harvest."
Luke 10:2

Those words spoken by Jesus nearly 2000 years ago ring even more true today. Christianity is becoming less and less relevant in people's lives. As our nation and our world fall away from the practice of the Christian faith, society continues its slide into a moral abyss. As a Christian, you can be a part of the problem by sitting on the sideline complaining, or you can be part of the solution by helping others to know Christ and building up the Kingdom of God. It's your choice!

In Magnetic Christianity, you'll learn about the eleven attributes of a Magnetic Christian. These attributes, all clearly found in Scripture, are already part of who you are. God has built them into you. Magnetic Christianity will help you identify and enhance these attributes. As you grow in faith and holiness, people will naturally be attracted to you, and to Christ. You'll learn how to naturally and easily share your faith through the practice of these attributes of a Magnetic Christian:

* Positivity
* Enthusiasm
* Friendliness
* Confidence
* Humility
* Honesty
* Kindness
* Compassion
* Approachability
* Generosity
* Encouragement

Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/magnetic-christianity-gus-lloyd/1108913180?ean=2940013951754

The Roman Catholic Church has long been the target of suspicion and hostility. But how much of this is based on ignorance and prejudice and how much is the fruit of thoughtful consideration of the facts?

This book separates fact from fiction. Without excusing or justifying wrongdoing, author Christopher Kaczor clarifies official Catholic teaching and demonstrates that much popular opinion about Catholicism is based on misunderstanding and misinformation. He also provides robust and lucid arguments for Catholic belief and practice.

No one book can answer everyone's questions or objections about Catholicism, but this work examines seven of the most controversial and most common myths about the Catholic Church.

The Seven Myths:

The Church Opposes Science: The Myth of Catholic Irrationality

The Church Opposes Freedom and Happiness: The Myth of Catholic Indifference to Earthly Welfare

The Church Hates Women: The Myth of Catholic Misogyny

Indifferent to Love, the Church Banned Contraception: The Myth of Opposition between Love and Procreation

The Church Hates Gays: The Myth of Catholic "Homophobia"

The Church Opposes Same-Sex Marriage Because of Bigotry: The Myth That There Is No Rational Basis for Limiting Marriage to One Man and One Woman

Priestly Celibacy Caused the Crisis of Sexual Abuse of Minors: The Myth of Priestly Pedophilia

Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15893690-the-seven-big-myths-about-the-catholic-church?from_search=true

Anti-Catholicism has a long history in America. And as Philip Jenkins argues in The New Anti-Catholicism, this virulent strain of hatred--once thought dead--is alive and well in our nation, but few people seem to notice, or care.

A statement that is seen as racist, misogynistic, anti-Semitic, or homophobic can haunt a speaker for years, writes Jenkins, but it is still possible to make hostile and vituperative public statements about Roman Catholicism without fear of serious repercussions. Jenkins shines a light on anti-Catholic sentiment in American society and illuminates its causes, looking closely at gay and feminist anti-Catholicism, anti-Catholic rhetoric and imagery in the media, and the anti-Catholicism of the academic world. For newspapers and newsmagazines, for television news and in movies, for major book publishers, the Catholic Church has come to provide a grossly stereotyped public villain. Catholic opinions, doctrines, and individual leaders are frequently the butt of harsh satire. Indeed, the notion that the church is a deadly enemy of women--the idea of Catholic misogyny--is commonly accepted in the news media and in popular culture, says Jenkins. And the recent pedophile priest scandal, he shows, has revived many ancient anti-Catholic stereotypes.

It was said that with the election of John F. Kennedy, anti-Catholicism in America was dead. This provocative new book corrects that illusion, drawing attention to this important issue.

Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/201961.The_New_Anti_Catholicism?from_search=true

Recent popes have challenged all Catholics to participate in the New Evangelization. But most Catholics feel ill-equipped to take up the challenge. Terry Barber, founder of St. Joseph Communications, has written a practical guide that takes much of the pain and uncertainty out of sharing one's faith. Based on Barber's decades of personal experience as an effective evangelist and masterful communicator, and drawing on the perceptions, examples, and lessons of other great evangelists and apologists, How to Share Your Faith with Anyone informs, entertains, and inspires would-be, as well as, seasoned evangelists and teachers.


Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18234096-how-to-share-your-faith-with-anyone?from_search=true

Someone asked this question on our Facebook page yesterday:

In the event you are interested, Father Rothan & Father Wayne provided some suggestions below.

Recommendations by Father Rothan:
(1) Alan Schrek: Catholic and Christian: Commonly misunderstood Catholic Beliefs (2) Sheen: Lift up your hearts (3) Van Breeman: The God who won't let go

Recommendations by Father Wayne:
I think a devout Catholic would enjoy a life of a saint type book. Something like St. Therese's Story of a Soul or the book on St. Maximilian called Kolbe and the Kommandant or G.K. Chesterton's St. Francis of Assisi (especially in light of our current pope).

Link: http://catalog.franciscanmedia.org/product.aspx?productCode=B36136

Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1029552.The_Saints_Guide_to_Happiness?from_search=true