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Recommended Readings | Book Reviews | Bible Software Reviews

This page is dedicated to books and articles that men in the SacraMentors program have found useful on their spiritual journey. Currently we have listed 45 books on a variety of topics! You can conveniently order them through amazon.com and Sacramentors will benefit from your order. See also the web links page.

We have linked to Amazon.com so that you may easily order these books if you so desire.
If you wish to order click on the title. Please always go through this page to amazon.com. In this way way your order will benefit the SacraMentors movement. Click on Logo at left to go to amazon or click on individual book in the "Recommended Readings" list.

Recommended Readings

Cornerstones of Faith

The Catholic Bible: New American Bible/Personal Study,By Jean Marie Hiesberger (editor), 1995, Oxford University Press
I personally use this bible, and enjoy the extra information in the almost 500 pages in the Reading Guide.(Steve Egge)

Daily Devotionals
Radical Grace - Daily Meditations by Richard Rohr, Edited by John Bookser Feister, 1995, St. Anthony Messenger Press
Daily meditations coordinated with the church calendar. The meditations are transcribed excerpts from various tapes that Fr. Rohr has produced. (Steve Egge)

Bread for the Journey: A Daybook of Wisdom and faith, Henri J.M. Nouwen, 1997, HarperCollins
A 365 daily reflection book by Fr. Nouwen which reflects the Catholic faith.

Daily Prayers for Busy People, William J. O'Malley, 1996, Saint Marys's Press.
A book with 30 days of prayers. (Peter Loveland)

Spiritual Nourishment

The Saints - Works by or about Them
Alphonsus Liguori: The Redeeming Love of Christ: Selected Spiritual Writings, by Alphonsus Liguori, Joseph Oppitz, 1996, New City Press
Practical writings on spirituality by St. Liguori (Richard Casmier) Review of similar book.
The Autobiography of Saint Therese of Lisieux : The Story of a Soul, Translated by John Beevers, 1987, Image Books.
"The Little Flower" who by her life story, inspires us to live closer to God. (Recommended by Fr. Bob Camuso)
Interior Castle by St. Theresa of Avila, Translated by E. Allison Peers 1972, Image Books
A book which will take you deeper in your spiritual life. (Recommended by Fr. Bob Camuso)
Following Francis of Assisi - Spirituality for Daily Living, Patti Normile, 1996, St. Anthony Messenger Press, 124 pages
A very easy read. You will feel you know St. Francis after reading this delightful book. (Richard Casmier)
Confessions of St. Augustine, By St. Augustine, Translated By Rex Warner, 1978, New American Library
Another spiritual classic. (Recommended by Fr. Bob Camuso)
Ascent of Mount Carmel by St. John of the Cross, Translated by E. Allison Peers, Triumph Classics
Another book written by a spiritual mystic which will help in contemplation and prayer. (Recommended by Fr. Bob Camuso)

Fatherhood
Fathering - Strengthening Connection With Your Children No matter Where You Are, Will Glennon, 1995, Conari Press.
This book is a collection of wisdom on fathering from interviews with 100 men. It contains helpful insights on Fathers, Fathering, and Father Wounds. It has a section devoted to men who have been separated from their children and how to father even in long distance relationships. (Steve Egge)

A Call to Peace: 52 Meditations on the Family Pledge of Nonviolence, Jim McGinnis, 1998, Liguori
52 meditations for the family with scriptural references, reflections, and meditations which are designed to bring us closer to the Peace Christ calls us to achieve. A wonderful way to lead your family in weekly meetings.

Grief and Loss

Male Spirituality

General Reading
Medjugorje: The Message, Wayne Wieble, 1989, Paraclete Press
This book is a powerful story of Wayne Wieble's conversion experience. It is as much about faith as it is Medjugorje. I personally had a difficult time putting this book down! (Steve Egge)

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Book reviews

Have you read a good book lately? Would you like to share it with your brothers? Here’s your chance. Write a review not to exceed 300 words and send it to Jeff Smith 1904 Kempton St. S.E. Olympia, WA 98501. Alternatively you may e-mail Jeff at jeffsmith@sacramentors.org

Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren to order from amazon.com click here

Review by Ron Reierson January, 2005

This vastly popular book, written by a Protestant Pastor, and referencing some Catholic texts as well as numerous Protestant ones, is based on a spiritual journey of 40 days, during which one should read a chapter each day. The chapters are short, full of quality thought processes, and end by re-phrasing the topic of the chapter, a verse to remember, and a question which will make you squirm on occasion...as you dig deeply into YOUR relationship with The Lord...and your "brothers and sisters" in Christ.

You'll find Rick Warren easy to read, and since each chapter builds on the previous text, you'll find it leads to the inevitable faith-in-action of which we as Sacramentors are all about. You'll find numerous references to the Sacramentor concepts brought forward in this book, such as letting go of grudges, forgiveness and love.

The author touches on the subject of having key biblical passages available, for us to quote or remember as we travel through our spiritual journey. You'll find many passages quoted during in your readings, referenced in the "Notes" appendix at the end. I found it helpful to underline the key passages I wanted to remember, then use the "Welcome to the Catholic Church" CD (discussed by Steve Egge, below) to locate and cross-reference to other versions and texts for a more fulfilling understanding of those passages. A good study bible will also suffice.

This is not a "read and lay aside" text; rather, one should find it helpful by reviewing periodically some of the key thoughts discussed; this is a "work book".

While the author does not reveal any new scholarship, the way he packages his thoughts is fluid and reasoned---of all the religious texts I've read, this is one of the most practical. It's 322 pages of text make it an easy and pleasant read. My own parish priest made it required reading for the staff at St. Charles Borromeo Parish! I can certainly see why.

The New Man by Thomas Merton, Noon Day Press, New York.

Review by Richard Casmier

The theme of this book by Thomas Merton is the question of spiritual identity. As SacraMentors we've discussed how we must discover our true selves. Thomas Merton shows how we have become strangers to ourselves by our dependence on outward identity and success. ( Remember "Who Am I"?) He shows our real need is for a concern with the image of God within ourselves.

SacraMentors will sense a familiarity with the words as they progress through the book. Once you've read this book you will want to share it with others.

I've dog-eared my book on almost every page, especially in the chapter entitled "Spirit in Bondage". This book belongs in the libraries of every SacraMentors brother.

Richard Casmier is a SacraMentor brother for St. Andrew Parish, Sumner

Grief Recovery Handbook: A Step-By-Step Program for Moving Beyond Loss
by John James & Frank Cherry, Harper Collins, 1989

REVIEW by Alan Walby

In April my wife of 27 years died suddenly and just as suddenly grieving became my main preoccupation. A loss of this magnitude had never hit me before. I had little experience with grief up until then.

Many of our beliefs about grieving are really myths. For example:

Myth #1: Keep your grief to yourself. Just tough it out.
Myth #2: Keep busy. Time will pass and you’ll feel better.

The list could go on and on.

Fact #1: We can’t grieve alone. We need a partner to help.
Fact #2: Unbeknownst to us, prior "unresolved" relationships are slow our present grieving. The "father wounds" we speak of in SacraMentors ranks high on the list.

The solution is simple, but one we would never think of by ourselves. First, work to resolve those prior relationships. Then tackle your present grieving. On your own, this can be difficult and incomplete. But, with a partner, just following the steps brings relief. Before long you should notice a new perspective and outlook. Is it hard? Yes and no. The success you’re likely to find will easily melt away any feelings of fear or reluctance. It’s amazing! It works! The next step is to use your new found method to work on your current grief. If you are in a grieving situation, this book is a must read.

Alan Walby is a SacraMentor member at St. Andrew Parish and resides in Sumner, WA. y is a SacraMentor member at St. Andrew Parish and resides in Sumner, WA. y is a SacraMentor member at St. Andrew Parish and resides in Sumner, WA.

The Redeeming Love of Christ
by Alphonsus Liguori. Edited by Joseph Oppitz, C.S.S.R.. New City Press, New York, 1992.
REVIEW by Richard Casmier

The message of Alphonsus Liguori is on that is familiar to SacraMentors. Ligouri was born in Naples, Italy in 1690. He was unusually gifted and successful in all of his studies as a young man in the upper nobility. At age 16 he became a doctor in both civil and church law. He became a priest at the age of 30 and immediately threw himself into working for the poor and abandoned of the slums of Naples and then the most forgotten, the abandoned mountain folk for whom neither church nor state seemed to care. In 30 years of mission preaching he published 111 books.

Some of the chapters in the book include: The Practice of Familiarity with God and The Great Means of Salvation and Perfection. Once you’ve read a chapter you will want to read parts of it again and again. Liguori said of his writings, "My writing is focused entirely on the practical and is not replete with theoretical questions. I have in mind rather to promote the salvation of souls and therefore I have selected matters that are most useful and helpful." And he does just that! Liguori was declared a saint in 1839.

If your bookseller doesn’t have this book in stock, he can order it for you. It will become on of your favorites.

Richard Casmier is a SacraMentor from St. Andrew Parish and resides in Sumner, WA.

Against an Infinite Horizon
by Ronald Rolheiser. The Crossroad Pub. Co, N.Y., 1996.

REVIEW by Steve Egge

There are many books that strengthen one’s spirituality. There are some books that open a door in one’s mind and lead to a deeper spirituality. As you read them, the "Ah Ha – that’s it" phenomenon happens. Ronald Rolheiser’s book Against an Infinite Horizon opens your mind to the cause of underlying restlessness and the longings that are present in our hearts and everyday lives. This book is worth reading, and rereading. Rolheiser’s book was given to me by Fr. Mike Ryan of Holy Spirit parish when I went to promote the upcoming SacraMentor series. (So if Carl Jones asks you to speak at a mass – Go! You may receive unexpected blessings.)

Here is a sampling of Rolheiser’s writing:

To bless someone is, through some word, gesture, or ritual, to make him aware of three things:

i. The goodness of the original creation where, after making the earth and humans, God said that it was "good, very good".

ii. That God experiences the same delight and pleasure in him or her that he experienced with Jesus at His baptism when He said: "this is my beloved child in whom I take delight".

iii. That we, who are giving the blessing, recognize that goodness and take that delight in him or her.

Elsewhere he describes a view of birth, life, and eternity that will stick in your mind forever. Understand that I am at the beginning of my spiritual journey, but Rolheiser is the only author I have read who has ever really discussed human sexuality and the church and its relationship to marriage in such a life giving and healthful way. The book is in stock at Kauffer’s bookstores.

Steve Egge is a SacraMentor from St. Andrew Parish and resides in Puyallup, WA

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Bible CD-ROM Software

Review by Steve Egge
I wanted to get a Bible on CD-ROM after having a difficult time finding the passage I was looking for in the print version of the "Good News Bible-catholic study edition". How was I to know they moved the "canticles of Daniel" (Daniel 3:24-91) to a separate book in the "deuterocanonicals" called "The song of the three young men"? So I started investigating. This review is not comprehensive, and I have only had "hands on" with one software package. Also remember prices change. The prices listed were as of May 8, 1998.

I considered 3 software packages under $100, there are many more expensive and expansive programs available above this price line. I was steered towards the "Welcome to the Catholic Church 2.0" from after talking to Peter Williamson at:
Bible and Theology Discount Software (www.bibletheology.com)
3030 Roundtree Blvd
Ypsilanti, MI 48197-4813
1/800-548-6678

Peter was extremely helpful in finding out what I wanted out of a bible CD. He sells many of them and has looked at some of them personally. His prices seem less than others I found on the net. Moreover, he seemed to be a sincere, and helpful individual. If you are considering purchasing a Bible CD-ROM, I suggest you look at the packages mentioned here, check out the links, look at the Bible and Theology site for additional offerings, and give Peter a call to help narrow down your choice. Currently Bible and Theology Discount Software will match anyone's advertised price (taking shipping into account), and will give you an additional 3% discount. What Bible software package you want largely depends upon what you want the software to do for you. Here are the three software packages I considered:

Logos software - the catholic collection
Logos software has an array of offerings, including a beginning catholic bible CD containing two bibles and other documents called the "Catholic Collection". The advantage their LLS format is a standard (other books are available in this format) ,they have a good search engine, and you can "unlock" other software on there CD-ROM's by buying the code to unlock them. Apparently twice a year they put the unlocks on a special sale price. The main advantage of Logos software is the availability of a vast library of material. You can add to your collection as your needs expand with original language bibles, commentaries, lexicons (they help you get at the Greek and Hebrew root meanings), and dictionaries. It gives you the ability to look at the original languages (Greek and Hebrew) to get at the source meaning of the words (the Greek and Hebrew packages are offered separately and are adequately represented in the larger Catholic Scholars Pack)

This bible CD contains the following unlocked software:
New American Bible
New Jerusalem Bible
The Latin Vulgate
Jerome Biblical Commentary
The Confessions of St. Augustine

They also have a more comprehensive catholic bible CD (the Catholic Scholar's Pack)
To find out more visit:
The Catholic Collection
$99.95 from Bible and Theology Discount Software

Welcome to the Catholic Church 2.0 - note now version 3.0 is available
Harmony Media has a Catholic CD that contains two bibles and lots more. This is the one I purchased it contains: New American Bible
RSV Bible: Catholic Edition
All Vatican II Documents
Picture Tours: Life of Christ and People of God
Lives of the Saints 3 Volumes
Moral Theology (3 Volumes):
Vol. 1 Christian Moral Principles
Vol. 2 Living a Christian Life
Vol. 3 Difficult Moral Questions
Denzinger (Documents since the Church’s beginning)
Church History 2 Volumes Early Church Fathers
Ceremonies of the Modern Roman Rite
Sacraments and their Celebration
Introduction to Spirituality (Buyer)
Prayers and Devotions (including Stations and Rosary)
The Catholic Catechism (Harden)
Ecclesiology: The Church of God (Buyer)
Encyclopedic Dictionary of Biblical Terms
Maps, Music, and 1500 Illustrations
and hundreds more modern church documents

It has a very "churchy" interface with some nice background music, (one would almost expect incense to come out of the computer). Not too modern, but usable. The interface invites you to browse the contents, not just look up bible verse. By doing so I have been pleasantly rewarded. The strong point of the CD is in the amount of material of the church they offer: Stations of the cross, the Life of Christ, Mysteries of the rosary, prayers, etc. Really, some nice information. I understand that Version 3.0 will come out this summer and include the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The upgrade from Version 2.0 supposed to be $19.95.

The bible has lots of * asterisks that you can move your mouse to and get a pop up box with more information and reference ... like the footnotes at the bottom of the page in many bibles. I enjoy these unobtrusive comments. In a recent bible study class, I found it easier to read the bible on the computer screen and click on the comments as they occurred - jumping to the referred passages and back than to read the bible on paper and search for the proper footnote. The interface also makes it easy to switch between bible versions. There is a table of daily scripture readings for Mass with appropriate links to the bible verse.
Welcome to the Catholic Church 2.0
$65.95 from Bible and Theology Discount Software
B&T Discount Software put up a review of Welcome to the Catholic Church on their Website.

The Bible Library for Catholics CD-ROM
This powerful aid to Scripture study contains these approved Bible translations:
New American Bible
New Revised Standard Version: Catholic Edition
Revised Standard Version With Apocrypha
Plus these valuable study aids:
Barclays' Daily Study Bible Series: New Testament
Greek and Hebrew Definitions
Nave's Topical Index

The Bible Library allows you to Run comprehensive searches -- including Boolean and wildcard searches Create personal notes and cross references Scroll simultaneously through two translations Go to any verse, chapter, or book just by typing in the selection. Print, copy, and export passages, notes, and search results.

The Bible Library for Catholics CD-ROM
$79.95 from Bible and Theology Discount Software.

Logos - The Catholic Scholars Pack
By Steve Egge

Well I splurged and purchaced the Catholic Scholars Pack. My wanting to get at the root meaning of the word began with a comment I'd heard about how the word "meek" in the beatitudes (Matt 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.) didn't mean the same as the word we use today. A friend and I browsed through a Catholic Bookstore and got nowhere with Strong's Concordance. You must realize we were both novices at using this book. Then I began a bible study class, and although I used a bible online to search and find passages, I really became curious about the bible's translation. I know no Greek or Hebrew (although I did take two years of latin in high school). I looked again at the compeating software in this price range and they were perhaps better at getting to the greek and Hebrew than Logos might be, they lacked the "add on" ability that Logos has. I really liked getting the insight of the bible commentary we were using for the book in bible class. The Catholic Scholars pack seemed to fit the bill best. I haven't been disappointed. I can read the bible in one window and (at least in the NAB bible) highlight the footnotes and jump to references as I read and return easily. But also as I read I have a window open with 3 bible commentaries that scroll through as you read and show the relavent comments (by linking with the text). To get at the Greek and Hebrew you have to use the KJV of the bible as Strong's numbers were based on it. There is a free download of a Hebrew Lexicon which gives you the meaning of a Hebrew word (I didn't know that Hebrew read from right to left.). The CD comes with a Greek Lexicon. Vines Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament Words gives a good understanding of the meaning of the "root" word that is contained in the Greek or Hebrew text. Bibles can easily be switched by an arrow key which will cycle them through.

My only complaint was that there were two "neat" things that the software could do that I could not because of the bibles I received in the scholars pack. One was that the Nesltle Aland 26th Edition of the Greek New Testament with Morphology can be better understood if you also have the New American Standard Bible. You simply open both in separate windows and if you right click on a word you can display the greek text with the corresponding greek word in question highlighted. The Scholars pack lacks this bible (NASB - it costs ) The other "trick" is to turn on the "interlinear" feature of the Greek Nestle Aland New Testament. The Scholars pack does not feature this version of the N-A Greek bible. You can upgrade (actually you get a whole new bible) for $29.95 and this is what I did (downloaded the bible from the web and received the unlock over the phone. The "non-catholic" version of the Scholars Pack seems to be a better value - a little bit more money but a lot more "books" as well as the Interlinear version of the Nesle Aland - (It's lacking Jerome's commentary as well as the NAB ... but take a look at it). It too lacks the NASB.

At any rate I am enjoying my software. The answer I found (and rather quickly I might add) to the meaning of "meek" (Strong's 4239) is that the greek word means the "opposite of self-interest" or open to the working of God in your life. I have also heard it said that the ones who are the "meek" are the ones who in the Our Father when they say "thy will be done", they mean it!

I'll leave you with an example of the software search on Meek from Vines (this is just one of the books queried):

Meek, Meekness MEEK, MEEKNESS
A. Adjective.
PRAUèS or PRAOS (prauŸ" , (4239)) denotes gentle, mild, meek; for its significance see the corresponding noun, below, B. Christ uses it of His own disposition, Matt. 11:29; He gives it in the third of His Beatitudes, 5:5; it is said of Him as the King Messiah, 21:5, from Zech. 9:9; it is an adornment of the Christian profession, 1 Pet. 3:4.{indicates that all the N.T. occurrences of the Greek work under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub–heading.} cp.{cp. compare, see also} eµpios, gentle, of a soothing disposition, 1 Thess. 2:7; 2 Tim. 2:24.{indicates that all the N.T. occurrences of the Greek work under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub–heading.}
B. Nouns.
1. PRAUèTE÷S, or PRAOTES, an earlier form, (prauŸth", (4240)) denotes meekness. In its use in Scripture, in which it has a fuller, deeper significance than in non–scriptural Greek writings, it consists not in a person’s “outward behaviour only; nor yet in his relations to his fellow–men; as little in his mere natural disposition. Rather it is an inwrought grace of the soul; and the exercises of it are first and chiefly towards God. It is that temper of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting; it is closely linked with the word tapeinophrosuneµ [humility], and follows directly upon it, Eph. 4:2; Col. 3:12; cp.{cp. compare, see also} the adjectives in the Sept.{Sept. Septuagint} of Zeph. 3:12, “meek and lowly;” … it is only the humble heart which is also the meek, and which, as such, does not fight against God and more or less struggle and contend with Him. This meekness, however, being first of all a meekness before God, is also such in the face of men, even of evil men, out of a sense that these, with the insults and injuries which they may inflict, are permitted and employed by Him for the chastening and purifying of His elect” (Trench, Syn.{Syn. Synonyms} § xlii). In Gal. 5:23 it is associated with enkrateia, self–control.
The meaning of prau¬teµs “is not readily expressed in English, for the terms meekness, mildness, commonly used, suggest weakness and pusillanimity to a greater or less extent, whereas prau¬teµs does nothing of the kind. Nevertheless, it is difficult to find a rendering less open to objection than ‘meekness;’ ‘gentleness’ has been suggested, but as prau¬teµs describes a condition of mind and heart, and as ‘gentleness’ is appropriate rather to actions, this word is no better than that used in both English Versions. It must be clearly understood, therefore, that the meekness manifested by the Lord and commended to the believer is the fruit of power. The common assumption is that when a man is meek it is because he cannot help himself; but the Lord was ‘meek’ because he had the infinite resources of God at His command. Described negatively, meekness is the opposite to self–assertiveness and self–interest; it is equanimity of spirit that is neither elated nor cast down, simply because it is not occupied with self at all.
In 2 Cor. 10:1 the Apostle appeals to the ‘meekness … of Christ.’ Christians are charged to show ‘all meekness toward all men,’ Tit. 3:2, for meekness becomes ‘God’s elect,’ Col. 3:12. To this virtue the ‘man of God’ is urged; he is to ‘follow after meekness’ for his own sake, 1 Tim. 6:11 (the best texts have No.{No. number} 2 here, however), and in his service, and more especially in his dealings with the ‘ignorant and erring,’ he is to exhibit ‘a spirit of meekness,’ 1 Cor. 4:21 and Gal. 6:1; even ‘they that oppose themselves’ are to be corrected in meekness, 2 Tim. 2:25. James exhorts his ‘beloved brethren’ to ‘receive with meekness the implanted word,’ 1:21. Peter enjoins ‘meekness’ in setting forth the grounds of the Christian hope, 3:15.”*{* * From Notes on Galatians by Hogg and Vine, pp. 294, 295.}¶{¶ ¶ indicates that all the N.T. occurrences of the Greek work under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub–heading.}
2. PRAUèPATHIA (prauŸpaqiva ), a meek disposition, meekness (praus, meek, paschoµ, to suffer), is found in the best texts in 1 Tim. 6:11.¶{¶ ¶ indicates that all the N.T. occurrences of the Greek work under consideration are mentioned under the heading or sub–heading.}

Vine, W. E., Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, (Grand Rapids, MI: Fleming H. Revell) 1981.

I purchaced the Catholic Scholars Collection from Bible and Theology Discount Software.

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