2019 Catholic Reading Challenge

Listed here are a few of the categories in Hannah’s 2019 Reading Challenge. The arrows (è) indicate which books we have available by donation at the Pastoral Centre. Many of the other books are available in our sign-out library.

“Unlike most of the Viking-inspired A Book by a Catholic Novelist: art of its period, Gunnar’s Daughter The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene is not a historical romance. It is a Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waug Memento Mori by Muriel Spark skillful conversation between two Silence by Shusaku Endo historical moments about questions Love in the Ruins by Walker Percy as troublesome in Undset’s own Diary of a Country Priest by George Bernanos time – and in ours – as they were in Lord of the World by the Saga Age: rape and revenge, èGunnar’s Daughter by Sigrid Undset civil and domestic violence, a Kristen Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset troubled marriage, and children made victims of their parents’ A Book or Encyclical by a Pope: problems. Whether modern readers know Undset’s Laudato Si by saga models or not, they meet these themes in Veratatis Splendor by Pope St. John Paul II Gunnar’s Daughter with a shock of recognition.” Jesus of by Pope Benedict XVI – Scott Hahn

A Book by Scott Hahn: Angels and Saints The Lamb’s Supper Edith Stein … was one of èRome Sweet Home the most intriguing Catholics of the A Book by a Catholic Woman: twentieth century. A The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander Jewish convert, an èEssential Writings by Edith Stein eminent philosopher, èThe Privilege of Being a Woman by Alice von Hildebrand educator, and advocate Revelations of Divine Love by Lady Julian of Norwich for women, she became a Discalced Carmelite nun, sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was arrested by The well-known and very the Nazis and died in Auschwitz in 1942. This popular Catholic couple, Scott volume highlights the extraordinary features and Kimberly Hahn, have of her spirituality – a vision that integrated her spoken all over the world about philosophical training, her affinity for their conversion to the Catholic Carmelite mysticism, and her personal Church. This book tells the full identification with the way of the Cross. Edith story of their incredible Stein provides a wonderful introduction to an spiritual journey that led them extraordinary mind. to embrace Catholicism. – taken from back cover

Scott Hahn was a Presbyterian minister, the top student in his seminary class, a brilliant Arguing the superiority of men in Scripture scholar, and militantly anti-Catholic … strength, power, success and until he reluctantly began to discover that his creativity through the ages, [Dr. “enemy” had all the right answers. Kimberly, Alice von Hildebrand] shows that also a top-notch theology student in the feminism’s attempts to gain seminary, is the daughter of a well-known equality with men by imitation of Protestant minister, and went through a men is unnatural, foolish, tremendous “dark night of the soul” after Scott destructive and self-defeating. converted to Catholicism. With beauty and erudition she elaborates the privilege women Written with simplicity, charity, grace and wit, have in being naturally more the Hahns’ deep love and knowledge of Christ capable of human concerns, self- and of Scripture is evident and contagious gift, sensitivity, dignity, loveliness, heroic sacrifice, throughout their story. Their love of truth and and a great ability to awaken what is best in men of neighbor is equally evident and their through their very weakness and tenderness. theological focus on the great importance of the family, both biological and spiritual, will be a Above all the Blessed Mother’s role in the Incarnation source of inspiration for all readers. points to the true privilege of being a woman. – taken from back cover – taken from back cover