Navarre Bible : Saint Matthew

Navarre Bible : St. Mark

Navarre Bible : St. Luke

This is my second favorite gospel.  This is an especially good read at Christmas time.

Navarre Bible : St. John

This is my favorite one.   I am rereading this one for at least the third time now.  I did not truly realize what "deep stuff" this gospel is until I read the Navarre version.   This is the book I would recommend that you start with.

Navarre Bible : Acts of the Apostles

Navarre Bible : Romans & Galatians

Navarre Bible : Thessalonians and Pastoral Epistles

Navarre Bible : Captivity Epistles

Navarre Bible : Corinthians

Navarre Bible : Hebrews

Navarre Bible : Catholic Epistles

Navarre Bible : Revelations

In Wildness Is the Preservation of the World

This is without a doubt the most beautiful book I have ever owned.  Eliot Porter's photographs capture the essence of the forest and are the perfect complement to the writings of Henry D. Thoreau.  The book is well worth the price for the pictures alone.

So why do I have this listed with religious books?  Because people often find their way to God by contemplating His handiwork in the natural world first.  Thoreau thought deeply about the natural world and I don't think anyone can do that without "touching the face of God" whether they realize it themselves or not.  The other reason is because this is one of my favorite "comfort" books.  Take it to a quiet place, open it anywhere, really look at the pictures and think about Thoreau's writing.  Take your time.  Try to read in little sips not big gulps.   And you have an armchair retreat!  Very refreshing.

Behold the Beauty of the Lord

This is the book that taught me to appreciate the Icons of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Icons are paintings designed to be windows to heaven and now that I understand them better I prefer them to western religious art.  If you have visited the rest of my web site, you have seen 3 of the 4 Icons discussed in detail in this book.  These 3 Icons have become so special to me that I had to include them on this web site.  They are Andrei Rublev's picture of the Holy Trinity, under the guise of the 3 angels that visited Abraham (See Morning Prayer), the Virgin of Vladimir (See Abortion prayer), and the Savior of Zvenigorod (See Chaplet of Trust in Jesus).  If you have ever wanted to learn how to pray with Icons, this is a good book for beginners!

Through the Rosary With Fra Angelico

This is a scriptural Rosary.  As you may have guessed if you saw the rest of my web site, I love the Rosary.  I have tried using several Rosary prayer books but this is the one I've used most.  What makes it so memorable is the art of Fra Angelico.  It is very nicely rendered in a small glossy pamphlet that you can take with you anywhere.

This book began as a year long series of articles in Liguorian magazine. I remember eagerly awaiting each issue just to read these articles. I bought the book when it was first published. Why? Because each article/chapter is wise advise from a friend who has been down the spiritual road before me. A good friend who knows my weaknesses, prods me when I'm complacent or soothes me when I'm sorrowful and always helps me down the road to God. I started with this book at the beginning of my spiritual journey and come back to it time and again for a refresher course.

Story of a Soul : The Autobiography of St. Therese of Lisieux

There are several translations of this book.  This is the one that I bought and have read and read until it is dogeared and disreputable looking.  St. Therese wrote this account of her spiritual journey under obedience to her superiors in the convent.  If you have ever been curious how saints think, then read this book.   As you will find out, not only are saints different than the rest of us ordinary folks, they think different too!  St.Therese lived an obscure life on earth.   After she died she was quickly canonized and is now one of the most popular saints.   She has even been declared a Doctor of the Church!  Doctors of the Church are saints with special intellectual gifts. They are not primarily healers but doctors of philosophy and theology whose teaching should guide us in our spiritual lives.  So what better recommendation could you ask for?!

Diary of Blessed Sister M. Faustina Kowalska

This is the diary of a Polish nun who is on her way to being recognized as a saint.  Jesus called her to promote devotion to him as the Divine Mercy.  He told her to have a painting made of him with a red ray and a white ray coming from his heart and the words "Jesus I trust in You" on it.  This is the whole story of how the Divine Mercy devotion started in Blessed Faustina's own words.  A lot of other books, big and small, have been written about the Divine Mercy devotion but this is the source of them all.  The Mercy of God is for everyone and so is this book. 

We are lucky to be living in times where all the spiritual riches of the Church are available to ordinary lay people.  Now we too can fully join the community of believers praying the Liturgy of the Hours.  This is the most spiritually rich way I know to pray with the Psalms.

I have highlighted the full blown four volume set because it is the best and easiest to use.  I had to learn this the hard way, but you don't have to if you take my advice.   I started with the one volume book (also listed for those who don't want to commit to the four volume set).  I also tried Shorter Christian Prayer, a skinnier one volume book.  Learning how to practice this prayer is a little daunting at first.   In the smaller books you have to flip around from one section of pages to the next a lot to complete one hour's prayer.  With the four volume set you have basically two sections.  You start with the day's Psalms and then switch to the seasonal section for the concluding readings and prayers.  The size and cost of the four volume set scared me a little at first but it is so much easier to use than the others that I have been very glad that I bought it.  This is an investment in yourself and your spiritual life.  You are worth having the best!

I'm not an expert but I have been praying the Liturgy of the Hours for years so if you start with this and need to ask a question just email me. 

Also you might want to try these web sites for more information http://liturgyny.catholic.org/lithours.htm         http://www.universalis.com/cgi-bin/display/index.htm   Also, see the note below on shortwave radio.

Liturgy of the Hours: Advent and Christmas Vol I

This would be a good place to start if you are not ready to buy all four books yet.  Pray the Liturgy of the Hours to do something special for Christmas.  Let's face it, we all need something to help us remember "Jesus is the reason for the season" so we don't get lost in all the commercialism now days.

Liturgy of the Hours: Lent and Easter Vol II

This would be another good place to start if you are not ready to buy all four books yet.  Pray the Liturgy of the Hours to do something special for Lent and Easter.

Liturgy of the Hours: Ordinary Time Weeks 1 to 17 Vol III

The Liturgy of the Hours : Ordinary Time Weeks 18 to 34 Vol IV

This is the same four volume set except it is bound in leather, is more expensive and is sold as a complete set and not the individual books.

Christian Prayer : The Liturgy of the Hours (one volume)

This is the book I started with.  Like I said above it is not as easy to use as the four volume set.  It still covers all the Psalms but does not have as big a variety of readings.  This is still a good book.  Anything smaller than this is too hard to use and too limited in material covered.

Chant / The Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos

This is the timeless sound of Gregorian Chant from the Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos, Spain.   Surprisingly this CD became a pop hit a couple of years ago!  Everything is sung in Latin but you do not have to know what it means to enjoy this CD.  This CD just sounds like PEACE.  It is the most restful piece of music I have ever listened to.

This is a tip for those of you who like to practice Centering Prayer.   Pop this CD in and set it up to play only tracks 1-5, or 6-12, or 13-17.  Each set of tracks will give you a 19 min session and the restful music played low helps you be calm.  You don't need any jarring timers this way.

Jesus Christ Superstar: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Album

OK, I'm really going to date myself now.  I have been listening to the music of Jesus Christ Superstar since shortly after the play was introduced (before there was a movie).  I have had this music on cassette tape, record albums and now CD's.  I'm only recommending the movie soundtrack because it is the version I personally like best.  It has an extra song, "Could We Start Again Please?" that the disciples sing after Jesus is arrested and before he is crucified that I really like.  I'm just not willing to give up this song to listen to the Broadway version.

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) DVD

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) VHS widescreen

Jesus Christ Superstar (1973) VHS

Whatever radio you choose to get, make sure it has digital tuning!   There are plenty of radios now in every price range with digital tuning so there is no reason to suffer the inconvenience of analog tuning.

2003 Passport to World Band Radio

This is a good guide to shortwave listening.  It has a section to help beginners and I have found it to be quite useful.

Sangean ATS-606AP Compact Stereo Receiver

This is the radio I personally own.  It has good speaker audio for its size and sounds even better with earpieces.  It is easy to use and would be good for a beginner.