Nine recently- (or about-to-be-) published Catholic Books to add to your TBR pile!

Anyone else here taking part in Haley Stewart's #CathLit2019 Challenge? I wrote a little about it here (and included a free list printable if you'd like to organize your reads!), and I'll be putting some individual mini-reviews up of all my reads on Instagram over the next week or so.

By far, the most exciting category so far has been "Recently-publised Catholic Book," which explains why I've gone a bit overboard and read five in that category instead of moving on to all the others. If you're looking for a new, beautiful book to help you learn about or grow in the Catholic faith, you've come to the right place! Half of these I read this year, but I'm including a few more stellar examples from last year as well.

#1: In Sinu Jesu; the Journal of a Priest at Prayer
These private revelations of Our Lord to a Benedictine Monk made me weep at finally grasping a tiny thread of how much Our Lord loves me. (Surprisingly--the book also made me laugh out loud, at bits of unexpected wry humor.) While the revelations are directed primarily toward priests, they encourage all of us to console the Heart of Jesus through our trust, our love, and time spent in the presence of the Eucharist.

#2: The Grace of Enough
Haley Stewart's book was one of my favorite reads of 2018. I'm not usually an underliner of books, but I admit I grabbed a pencil with this one, because so many lines were worth remembering. Then almost as soon I abandoned that idea, because so many lines were worth remembering. The whole book would have been one, long underline. I highly recommend this to anyone looking to simplify their lives--not because minimalism is trendy right now but because you want to make room for the good, the true, and the beautiful. It's incredibly entertaining and readable to boot.

#3: The Catholic All Year Compendium
Another 2018 read for me, but one that I keep turning back to--it's the kind of book best read through once and then referred to for certain occasions. Kendra Tierney's book is the common sense, funny and beautiful liturgical living bible. If you've ever wondered how to bring your family's celebrations more in line with the rich liturgical seasons and feasts of the Church, you have to check this out.

#4: Marian Consecration for Children
Mariologist Carrie Gress has created a tool to help children as young as five or six to draw closer to Mary through the beautiful act of consecration. She taps into children's story-focused brains by telling lives of the saints, historical accounts of Marian miracles, and bits and pieces of the richest children's literature (everything from Lord of the Rings to The Runaway Bunny) in order to learn more about Mary, learn of her love for us, and desire her help. I thought I'd be reading this with only my younger children (it's advertised for ages 5-11), but my oldest daughter and I are absolutely loving it. Gress's voice is gentle, but never condescending. I wouldn't hesitate giving this to anyone up to age 13 or so, if they weren't quite ready for St. Louis deMontfort, or even if they simply wanted another Marian perspective.
Warning: because Gress's choice of literature hits a wide age range, I was slightly frustrated that she included spoilery bits of some of my favorite series (namely, The Lord of the Rings and Anne of Green Gables). I edited these out as I read to my kids, without the reflections suffering at all.
I did also delve into a much deeper discussion of the complementary gifts of men and women, as I found the "men are strong, women are beautiful" description over-simplified to the point of being problematic. Instead, my husband and I led a conversation about ways in which men and women are both strong, but how we often show our strength in different ways; men are often called to protect and defend, women to nurture.
Publisher: maybe consider this for future printings??

#5: Girl, Arise
I have to confess, this book made me feel old. Claire Swinarski writes with an upbeat, young voice that may appeal more to millennials than those quite so old ladyish as myself. :) That said: read this regardless of your age for the brilliant, brilliant chapter on being a pro-life feminist.

#6: The Mindful Catholic: Finding God One Moment at a Time
Dr. Gregoro Bottaro provides the Catholic answer to the current mindfulness trend. As is often the case...nothing's new under the sun. :) Catholic saints and mystics have known how to live in the present since, well, since Jesus gave us the Our Father. As is also often the case...we've forgotten their wisdom. Dr. Bottaro reminds us of how to trust God by allowing ourselves to be present with Him, and provides tips, exercises, and inspiration to help you grow in this practice.
I've been saying the novena included in the back every day (long past the prescribed nine), and it has yet to not make me cry.

#7: Be Brave in the Scared
Mary Lenaburg's story is punch-to-the-gut tragic--or at least it would seem so in the eyes of the world. Her journey to the realization of God's hand even in her life's greatest difficulties left me feeling inspired and challenged. (This book merits the "about to be" in the post title, as it comes out later this spring--but you can preorder it now!)

#8: The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise
This was another from last year, but it's too beautiful to leave out! Cardinal Sarah speaks so beautifully and profoundly on the power of silence, stillness, and restful prayer in a world incessantly beeping and whirring and demanding. It's challenging without being condemning; you leave each section feeling uplifted and refreshed.

#9: One Beautiful Dream
Jennifer Fulwiler is funny, brilliant, and spot-on. I absolutely loved this book when I read it last year, and have purchased several copies for my mom friends who are doing creative work of one kind or another--I think it speaks especially to mothers, in a way we've needed for a long time, but is also relevant to anyone wondering how to balance their passions with the demands of daily life.

I'm also looking forward to a few more new books that I haven't had time to finish yet, especially Name Unspoken, by Cadence McManimon (also fits the category of Catholic novel or book by a Catholic woman, so I'll probably review it under one of those categories)... I'm sure you'll hear more from me soon!

What are your favorite spiritual reads, Catholic or otherwise? Please share in the comments!


*As usual, you can purchase any of the books through Amazon by clicking on the images, and I will get a small percentage. But I'm happier to hear that you bought them from your local bookseller. :)