Here are some fine Catholic books written by my brother priests in the Archdiocese of Washington:
The Faith We Profess: A Catholic Guide to the Apostles’ Creed – Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi offers a simple introduction to Catholicism blending sound Catholic teaching with scripture, the wisdom of the saints, literature, and personal anecdotes to offer a synopsis of the faith suitable for lifelong Catholics and inquirers alike. Vaghi deftly explains how this oldest of the Church’s creeds is not only a summary of Catholic beliefs, but an invitation to entrust oneself to God. Twelve chapters corresponding to the twelve articles of the Creed offer a fast-paced tour of the Catholic faith, with particular attention to sometimes neglected aspects that are distinctive to Catholicism. Questions for reflection and prayers are included for group and/or devotional use.
The Sacraments We Celebrate: A Catholic Guide to the Seven Mysteries of Faith – Drawing from the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the U.S. Catholic Catechism for Adults, and the writings of Benedict XVI and John Paul II, Msgr. Vaghi’s easy-to-use resource considers each of the sacraments from a personal, communal, and social perspective. The chapters explore the sacraments as a whole and examine the scriptural foundation, the history, and the symbolism of each. At a time when Mass attendance, Confession, and the celebration of Catholic weddings are all declining, the clarity and accessibility of Msgr. Peter Vaghi’s writing on the meaning of these celebrations, complemented by questions for reflection and prayer, makes The Sacraments We Celebrate a vital resource for any Catholic seeking to understand these central actions of the faith.
The Commandments We Keep: A Catholic Guide to Living a Moral Life – In his latest addition to the Pillars of Faith series, Msgr. Peter Vaghi guides readers in an exploration of the choices they make in their daily lives. With simplicity and clarity, he unpacks each of the Ten Commandments using a three-pronged approach: discover how the commandment was understood in the Old Testament, understand how Christ fulfilled the commandment in his life and teaching, and examine the personal and practical implications of each commandment for life today.
The Prayer We Offer: A Catholic Guide to Communion with God – Msgr. Peter J. Vaghi guides readers in an exploration of the practice of Christian prayer, starting from the perspective that prayer is God’s gift to his people. Following the outline of the fourth section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, he explores the Old Testament roots of prayer, Jesus as the Master Teacher of prayer, and Jesus’ own prayer–especially during Holy Thursday and Good Friday. Vaghi guides readers into the riches of prayer and offers practical guidance for overcoming common obstacles to conversation with God. Chapters are also devoted to the Rosary and the Our Father.
Forgiveness: A Catholic Approach – In this book, Fr. R. Scott Hurd writes of the spiritual, psychological, physical, and social benefits of learning how to forgive and find peace. Drawing from his pastoral experience, Hurd examines how human weakness affects such things as our ability to forgive and reconcile, our capacity to trust, and how we cope when a plea for forgiveness is rejected by a person we have wronged.
Our own Cardinal Donald Wuerl is also a wonderful teacher and author of the faith.
New Evangelization: Passing on the Catholic Faith Today
The Church: Unlocking the Secrets to the Places Catholics Call Home
Faith That Transforms Us: Reflections on the Creed
Seek First the Kingdom: Challenging the Culture by Living Our Faith
The Mass: The Glory, the Mystery, the Tradition
The Catholic Way: Faith for Living Today
Teaching of Christ
The Sacraments a Continuing Encounter with Christ: Taken from Teaching of Christ: A Catholic Catechism for Adults
The Gospel Truth: A Lectionary-Based Catechism for Adults
The Gift of Faith: A Question and Answer Version of the Teaching of Christ
