While by no means an exhaustive list, CQBO finds that the following works of literature fit within the Catholic canon of knowledge and is valuable to know, especially when preparing for Catholic quiz bowl tournaments.
| Title | Author | Date of Publication | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confessions | St. Augustine | 398 | Spiritual autobiography detailing Augustine's conversion and theological reflections. |
| City of God | St. Augustine | 426 | Defense of Christianity and vision of the heavenly city in contrast to the earthly one. |
| The Rule of St. Benedict | St. Benedict of Nursia | 530 | Monastic guide emphasizing obedience, stability, and community life. |
| The Consolation of Philosophy | Boethius | 524 | Philosophical dialogue on fate, free will, and the nature of happiness. |
| Pastoral Care | St. Gregory the Great | 590 | Manual for bishops on spiritual leadership and pastoral duties. |
| The Ecclesiastical History of the English People | The Venerable Bede | 731 | Historical account of the Christianization of England. |
| On Loving God | St. Bernard of Clairvaux | 1126 | Treatise on the proper order and depth of love for God. |
| Summa Theologiae | St. Thomas Aquinas | 1274 | Comprehensive theological synthesis of Christian doctrine. |
| The Divine Comedy | Dante Alighieri | 1320 | Epic poem depicting the soul’s journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven. |
| The Cloud of Unknowing | Anonymous | 1375 | Mystical work guiding souls to contemplative union with God. |
| Revelations of Divine Love | Julian of Norwich | 1395 | First known book written in English by a woman, reflecting on God's love. |
| The Imitation of Christ | Thomas à Kempis | 1418 | Devotional classic emphasizing humility and the inner life. |
| The Interior Castle | St. Teresa of Ávila | 1577 | Mystical treatise describing the soul’s journey to God. |
| Dark Night of the Soul | St. John of the Cross | 1578 | Poetic and theological work on spiritual purification. |
| Spiritual Exercises | St. Ignatius of Loyola | 1548 | Set of meditations and prayers for spiritual growth and discernment. |
| Introduction to the Devout Life | St. Francis de Sales | 1609 | Guide for laypeople seeking to live a holy life. |
| True Devotion to Mary | St. Louis de Montfort | 1712 | Classic Marian devotion outlining total consecration. |
| The Glories of Mary | St. Alphonsus Liguori | 1750 | Comprehensive defense and exaltation of Marian devotion. |
| Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine | Bl. John Henry Newman | 1845 | Exploration of how doctrine matures over time. |
| Apologia Pro Vita Sua | Bl. John Henry Newman | 1864 | Defense of his conversion to Catholicism. |
| The Story of a Soul | St. Thérèse of Lisieux | 1898 | Autobiography reflecting her 'Little Way' of spiritual childhood. |
| Orthodoxy | G.K. Chesterton | 1908 | Defense of the Christian faith through wit and paradox. |
| The Spirit of the Liturgy | Romano Guardini | 1918 | Influential work on the theology and aesthetics of liturgy. |
| The Confession | James Joyce | 1914 | Fictional narrative exploring Catholic guilt and identity. |
| The Everlasting Man | G.K. Chesterton | 1925 | Historical argument for Christianity’s uniqueness and truth. |
| The Belief of Catholics | Ronald Knox | 1927 | Explanation of Catholic doctrines aimed at non-Catholics. |
| The Diary of Saint Faustina | St. Faustina Kowalska | 1938 | Record of mystical visions emphasizing Divine Mercy. |
| The Lord | Romano Guardini | 1937 | Meditative reflections on the life and person of Jesus Christ. |
| The Reed of God | Caryll Houselander | 1944 | Spiritual reflections on Mary and divine receptivity. |
| The Seven Storey Mountain | Thomas Merton | 1948 | Memoir of a Trappist monk's journey from secularism to faith. |
| Lord of the Rings | J. R. R. Tolkien | 1954 | The beginning of the epic fantasy genre |
| Love and Responsibility | Karol Wojtyła (Pope John Paul II) | 1960 | Philosophical treatise on human love and sexual ethics. |
| Introduction to Christianity | Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) | 1968 | Modern theological exposition of the Apostles’ Creed. |
| The Catholic Catechism | Fr. John Hardon | 1975 | Comprehensive catechetical text explaining Catholic doctrine. |
| Love is Stronger than Death | Peter Kreeft | 1979 | Philosophical reflection on death and eternal life. |
| Theology of the Body | Pope St. John Paul II | 1979–1984 | Catechetical series on the dignity of the human body and love. |
| Crossing the Threshold of Hope | Pope St. John Paul II | 1994 | Personal reflections addressing major questions of faith. |
| Letter to Artists | Pope St. John Paul II | 1999 | Message encouraging artists to use their gifts to glorify God. |
| The Hidden Power of Kindness | Fr. Lawrence Lovasik | 1999 | Practical guide to cultivating kindness as a virtue. |
| Deus Caritas Est | Pope Benedict XVI | 2005 | Encyclical on the nature of Christian love. |
| Jesus of Nazareth | Pope Benedict XVI | 2007–2012 | Three-volume exploration of the life and mission of Jesus. |
| Spe Salvi | Pope Benedict XVI | 2007 | Encyclical on Christian hope. |
| Catholicism | Bishop Robert Barron | 2011 | Modern presentation of the Catholic faith through theology, art, and culture. |
| Evangelii Gaudium | Pope Francis | 2013 | Apostolic exhortation on the joy of the Gospel and evangelization. |
| Laudato Si' | Pope Francis | 2015 | Encyclical on care for creation and environmental stewardship. |
| Christus Vivit | Pope Francis | 2019 | Exhortation to young people on faith and vocation. |
No comments:
Post a Comment