The OBOB Book-Chain Inventory

[Irenaeus]

The idea of this thread is that everyone who wants to take part of the "chain" list the books they possess, with title, author, and hopefully a short synopsis. Please, only post those books you are willing to part with for a time.

If new books come into your possession, it is recommended by me that you edit previous posts rather than add new ones; that way we keep tabs on who has what without having to scroll over pages.

I'll start with my collection on the next page.

[Irenaeus]

1) Where is That in Tradition? By Patrick Madrid.
- Discusses several topics in Catholicism with relevant Patristic quotes.

2) Where is That in the Bible? By Patrick Madrid.
-Discusses several topics in Catholicism with relevant Bible texts.

3) Christianity and Classical Culture By Jaroslav Pelikan.
-Written by a preeminent scholar on Christianity.
-Documents the theology of the Cappadocian Fathers (Basil, Gregories of Nyssa & Nazianzen) and the effect of antiquity on Greek Christian thought.

4) Quo Vadis By Henryk Sienkiewicz.
-A Christian Classic written in Polish in 1896. Made into a movie.
-Chronicles the story of a young Patrician named Marcus Vinitius and his love for a young Christian, Lygia, during the reign of the Emperor Nero, just preceeding the Great Fire and the subsequent persecution. A very good drama of conversion set in the classical world.

5) Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul By Cathleen Medwick
- Using Teresa's own texts from the Fundaciones to her Vida, she describes her life.
- Warning: Some of the interpretations of Teresa's mystical experiences are somewhat modernistic and skeptical.

6) The Way of Perfection: Study Edition (http://www.icspublications.org/bookstore/avila/b_avila05.html), by St. Teresa of Avila, prepared by Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D.
- Written by St. Teresa to her religious Sisters during the Reformation.
- Describes degrees of prayer and how to advance thereby.
- General structure centered around the Our Father.
- Includes relevant study guide and glossary of Teresian terms in Mystical theology.

7) The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius by St. Ignatius of Loyola.
- Made for retreats.
- A handbook of meditation on choice of life, amendment from sin, and pursuit of virtue.
-Recommended for more methodical minds.
- Very helpful appendices on the spiritual life on everything from discernment of spirits to choice of penances.

8) The New Anti-Catholicism: The Last Acceptable Prejudice By Phillip Jenkins.
- Written by a former Catholic.
- Chronicles the denigration of the Catholic Church by the media and the culture over the past fourty years.
- Discusses the gross distortions of the press about the "Priestly pedophile" crisis.

9) The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination by Loraine Boettner.
- Much better than the grossly inaccurate Roman Catholicism.
- Chronicles the reasoning behind the Calvinist understanding of Predestination. Warning, it is apologetic in nature. Not for inexperienced.
- Chronicles in a special fourth section the rise of Calvinism in Europe.

10) The Race Set Before Us: A Biblical Theology of Perseverance & Assurance
by Thomas R. Schreiner and Ardel B. Caneday.

- A very eye-opening examination of the texts regarding Predestination, particularly the Protestant interpretation of them in light of the Reformed Tradition.
- Opened me personally to the idea of "process salvation" - we aren't just 'saved' once. An entire chapter is devoted to the idea of salvation, and the purpose of perseverance in every stage.
- While has Calvinist leanings, it can be quite Catholic at times.

11) Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church by Henry Crocker III

- Overview of 2,000 years of Catholic history.
- Apologetic sounding, not friendly (or, dare I say, historically fair) to the Eastern Churches. Not an objective history. Still a good read for an into to Catholic History.

12) The Oxford History of Byzantium by Cyril Mango (and several other contributing authors)
- Details 1,000 years of the Eastern Roman Empire from the establishment of Constantinople as Imperial Capital on the Bosphoric Strait by Constantine up to the permanent take over of Constantinople by the Turks in the 15h century.
- Not friendly toward Christianity in some places.
- Many, many pictures and references.
- Healthy emphasis on the role of the Christian faith in politics and education.
- A good introduction, yet the whole history of an empire can't fit in 300 pages. :)

More to come.

[Irenaeus]

*bump*

Please add, whoever wishes!

[Nautica]

I have limited space being a college student,the 3 books I have with me are:
Saint Bernadette Soubirous by Abbe' Francois Trochu the book that I've read yearly since getting it in 2000.A book so intense and honest I never tire of it.

Butler's Lives Of Saints. I love this book because every day they place a saint for you to reflect on.Today is Saint William.In the back of the book is a list of saints and what causes they are drawn to.Interesting.:)


Catechism of the Catholic Church. Helps me with any questions other have about my beliefs.

[Irenaeus]

Nautica,

I LOVED that biography. It was totally awesome.

[Carrye]

1) The Evidential Power of Beauty: Science and Theology Meet by Thomas DuBay, S.M.
- Discusses the transcendentals, specifically beauty in relation to science
- Uses the metaphysics of Hans von Balthasar

2) Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle.
- Aristotle's work on morality
- Chapters 9 & 10 on friendship are particularly good, esp for the college aged student
- It's Aristotle; enough said.

3) Revelations of Divine Love by St. Julian of Norwich
- This is Julian's private revelation, and she is granted visions of many things.
- She asks for a vision of hell, however, and is not given that.
- God keeps telling her, "all will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well"
- I didn't appreciate this book at first, but I have grown in affection for the mystical text, and for St. Julian herself.

4) The Four Cardinal Virtues by Josef Pieper
- Addresses: Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance

5) Transforming Your Life Though the Eucharist by Fr. John Kane
- An intense, but wonderful spiritual text

6) To Quell the Terror by William Bush
- An account of the Carmelite martyrs of Compiegne, France in 1794

7) The Greatest Marvel of Nature by Pierre-Marie Emonet
- A summary, introductory text on the philosophy of the human person.
- This was used as a supplementary text in my Philosophical Anthropology class, and I would use it if I ever taught the class in high school.

8) Mary in the New Testament by Raymond Brown, et. al.
- An examination of Mary's role, presence, in the NT.
- Does a pretty good job of looking honestly at what we can say from the scriptures, and what comes from tradition.