Dads

It's time to celebrate dads on Father's Day.  These books will encourage and support dad and provide a little inspiration.

Discipline That Lasts a Lifetime by Dr. Ray Guarendi is the perfect book for the dad of any age to learn to be a better parent. Dr. Ray is famous for his commonsense advice, served up with a good dose of humor. Click here for more information.

To bring a smile to dad's face, give him a copy of Love In The Little Things by Mike Aquilina. These amusing stories will not only entertain you, but they will also help you to see the hand of God in the daily rough-and-tumble experiences of family life. Click here for more information.

All dads need inspiration and enouragement to see God in daily life.  Padre Pio, Man of Hope by Renzo Allegri invites you into the life of a true saint of our age.  Discover the secret of his hope and his fervent love for God.  Click here for more information

Grads

How about something to strengthen your grad's faith to go along with all the celebrations? These three books will enable your grad to bring their faith with them to college and beyond.

All young adults have questions about faith and about the life choices before them. Mark Hart addresses these questions in Blessed Are the Bored in Spirit. Get answers from someone who has been there and has gone from "bored in spirit" to "alive in the Spirit". Click here for more information.

If your grad wants to develop his or her own faith tradition, Catholic and Loving It is full of good ideas. Sabitha Narendran and Andrew Salzmann, young adults themselves, have written a very entertaining book about traditional and not-so-traditional customs that will bring the richness of Catholic culture to a new generation. Click here for more information.

Finally, hearing the stories of other young adults who have discovered the reality of God's presence in their lives will be a big encouragement for your grad. I Choose God by Chris Cuddy and Peter Ericksen is full of real stories from real men and women who have made the ultimate choice to follow God. This book is guaranteed to entertain and to inspire. Click here for more information.

Do your New Year's resolutions include growing closer to God and learning more about your Catholic Faith?  If so, here are some suggestions of books to help you meet your goal.

Prayer Primer by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M., will help you grow in prayer whether you are a beginner or more advanced in the practice of prayer.  Learn about different kinds of prayer and how you can establish a better relationship with God.

If you have always wanted to read Scripture, but didn't know where to begin, then The Catholic Bible Study Handbook is a good starting point.  Fr. Jerome Kodell, O.S.B., will introduce you to the Bible and help you understand the different books.  He will give you helpful tools to begin your own study of God's Word. 

  Theology, or the study of God and the works of God, can seem beyond us, but in Theology for Beginners, Frank Sheed brings the study of God to a level that all can understand.  If you would like to understand better what the Catholic church teaches, this book is for you.

Finally, for help in understanding the sacraments, try The Healing Power of the Eucharist by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., or The Untapped Power of the Sacrament of Penance by Fr. Christopher Walsh.  Sometimes we avoid the sacraments because of fear or misunderstanding.  Sometimes we are so familiar with them that we fail to realize their incredible power and beauty.  These books will help you experience God's mercy and personal love in these sacraments

So, in the middle of your resolutions to exercise more and be more organized, work in a little time for God and grow closer to him this new year.

We are all familiar with the Christmas story--perhaps too familiar.  Does the impact of the birth of Christ really penetrate our minds and hearts?  Or does it get lost in a blur of presents, Santa Claus and family parties?  This Advent rediscover the mystery of Emmanuel, God with us.  In Dawn of the Messiah, The Coming of Christ in Scripture, Edward Sri examines the well-known Gospel passages of the birth of Christ. He puts them in the context of the prophetic promises of the long-awaited Messiah.  This practical, easy-to-read book will open your eyes anew to the wonder of God's gift.  You will never read the Christmas story in the same way again. 

Let Fr. Benedict Groeschel be your retreat director during the season of Advent.  In Behold He Comes, Groeschel reflects on the daily Scripture readings for every day of this holy season.  Through stories and personal insight, Groeschel will bring new meaning into this season of hope.  Take a few minutes away from the hustle and bustle of the days before Christmas and focus on the wonder of God's love for you.