The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions by Mike Aquilina

I’m not as dumb as I look…I read a book!

Mike Aquilina’s book titled above and pictured to the right is a really good, helpful book for guys like me who are new to the Catholic Faith. The only thing I don’t like about this book is the construction is not great (even for a paperback book), and the familiar “Dummies” style cover art. I know I’m a dummy, it’s just that I don’t like to advertise it when I pick up a book. Nevertheless, these are minor complaints, and as I said, The How-To Book of Catholic Devotions is good and helpful.

Coming from the Reformed Protestant tradition to the Catholic Church was a wonderful experience, and it continues to be, but it is sometimes discouraging when I consider how little I know about “being” a Catholic, which is a very devotional existence, by the way. There are just so many questions that I have, and while it is very easy to find answers to the theological, doctrinal questions one might have (what a vast treasure of help is available both from the Church and the laity!), when it comes to practical questions about basic Catholic devotional life and practice, oddly enough the answers are often more elusive, so it is really nice to have this excellent, straightforward book, which helps tremendously, and encourages (in me at least) a more deliberate and informed devotional walk as a Catholic.

Here is one of the reviews on the book found on Amazon.com:

Often times, the biggest problem faced by those new to the Catholic faith is that they are surrounded by lifetime Catholics. Not that there is anything wrong with lifetime Catholics for these people are the pillars of the faith but they have trouble grasping just how much the novice has to learn. Having lived all of their life with all of the tradition and ritual of the Church these lifetime Catholics can’t know just how confused someone new to the Church can become. That is where books like this come in.

The authors seem to have aimed this book at Catholics who have never been at all active in the Church and have never been taught its ways but for the novice this book is a treasure. Many of the central beliefs of the Church are explained here and explained in a way that anyone can understand. For example, most Catholics wouldn’t really consider Holy Water confusing. The new Catholic however only knows that Dracula doesn’t like the stuff and has no idea of its real significance. This book explains just what it symbolizes and is used for.

Among the things explained in this book are the Sign of the Cross, the Angelus, pilgrimages, the Sacred Heart, and the significance of Fridays. All of it explained in an easy to grasp and fun to read manner. About mid-way through the book the reader will almost hear the sound as everything begins to click. Suddenly, many things that were kind of fuzzy become clear and understandable. Things learned in this book will bring the whole world of the Catholic Church into a much clearer focus.

Many people have great knowledge of the things they write about but only a few can communicate their knowledge as well as these two authors. For someone thinking of converting or just curious this book will be a great help and I highly recommend it to anyone going through the RCIA. Even if you are just studying the Catholic Church to better understand world history, this book is a must. An easy and quick read this book explains much of the knowledge of two thousand years. What more could one ask for?

Mike Aquilina has written some other books that I have also thoroughly enjoyed, including The Fathers of the Church, as well as The Mass of the Early Christians, both of which are also highly reviewed by readers at Amazon.com.

Another book that has become invaluable to me is St. Augustine’s Prayer Book, edited by Rev. Loren Gavitt and available from the Holy Cross Monastery. This is actually an Anglo-Catholic book, but Catholics will find it very helpful, very Catholic. I rarely leave the house without it anymore. Thanks to my friend Thomas Kennedy for introducing me to this prayer book which, along with my Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, are the three books I have to say are my top three.

I am also presently reading two book length interviews of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, which are Salt of the Earth and God and the World. I hope to post about these books soon. These book are unparalleled in giving the reader an intimate introduction to the Pope.

Here is an excerpt of an email I sent a friend on these books:

Here is the link at Amazon for the Ratzinger interview book I mentioned to you on Facebook,  God and the World. I recommend it without reservation. It contains 460 pages that came from three full days of one on one interviews with our Pope, and the result (besides this fine book) was the spiritual restoration of the interviewer Peter Seewald, who also wrote the previous interview book of Ratzinger (also very highly praised) titled  Salt of the Earth.

Here is a link to one of the reviews for God and the World. I am still reading it, and it is wonderful. Imagine sitting in a room eavesdropping on a conversation between a spiritually devastated journalist and the future Pope. Ratzinger’s answers are all extemparaneous and they are amazing. What a brilliant mind! What a servant!

Also, Peter Seewald, the interviewer and author, has recently had published a biography on the Holy Father based upon his two amazing interview experiences with Ratzinger. It is supposed to be excellent as well and is titled Benedict XVI – An Intimate Portrait.

If you are Catholic, or curious about the Catholic Church, buy these books! You won’t be disappointed.

---

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)

• Dr. Francis Beckwith – Evangelical and Catholic
• Why do Catholics believe Sola Scriptura is not Biblical?
• Dark Genius: John Calvin’s “War Against Joy”
• ’Bridget Jones’s Diary’ Book Club