Books on the Sacraments

There are many good and popular English books on the Mass. Some of them treat the subject after the manner of a Rationale, explaining the significance of the prayers and ceremonies of the Eucharistic rite; others are historical and antiquarian, and elucidate the origin and evolution of the ceremonial—while of devotional books there is no end. This book, however, is a treatise on the folklore and minor antiquities of the Mass; by which are meant the various aspects and the numerous details of ...

Knowing how to make a good Confession can be intimidating, but with Fr. John Kane’s book How to Make a Good Confession, you can learn to make the most effective possible use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and carry its grace into your daily life.This down-to-earth, practical guide shows you how to transform a difficult situation into an opportunity for mercy and love. Fr. Kane helps you learn how to recognize and name yours sins, walk through an examination of conscience, articulate your ...

Over fifty years ago, Msgr. Romano Guardini resolved to help his parishioners overcome the distractions and restlessness they suffered at Mass. Just before Mass each Sunday, he gave a brief talk on some aspect of the Mass, teaching them week by week, topic by topic, how to pre-pare themselves to participate more prayerfully. Afterward, he provided a few minutes of silence for reflection, and then began to offer Mass. So helpful were these 32 talks that they were soon published and have since ...

God's miracles have been documented over the centuries and many of these surround the sacredness of the Eucharist. In her book, Eucharistic Miracles, Joan Carroll Cruz stores up 36 such miracles which occurred between 800 AD to the present day.These blessed moments are carefully highlighted in this work; including Hosts transforming into human flesh, bleeding, levitating, as well as becoming hard as flint when received by a particular person in mortal sin. Every case is backed up and authenti...

One of the most popular devotionals in the Catholic faith, A Novena of Holy Communions is a powerful prayer booklet that can help you grow closer to God. Written by Lawrence G. Lovasik, this devotional consists of nine consecutive Communion exercises, each one rich with doctrine and offering a chance for self-examination.This is an ideal booklet to use over and over again throughout your life, as it can help you to gradually grow in holiness and grace. Whether you are just beginning your jour...

In No Trifling Matter, Monsignor Nicola Bux, a well-respected Italian professor of sacramental and liturgical theology, offers us a modern primer on the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Bux clarifies the purpose, significance, history, and spirituality of each of the seven “efficacious signs” by which, until the end of time, the Church diffuses the conditions of holiness to receptive people. To this positive exposition Bux adds a warning call regarding the deformations, equivocations, addit...

If you’re looking to go further with your Catholic faith, look no further than the 7 Secrets of Confession. This book explores the beauty, power, and depth of this meaningful and transformative sacrament. Too many Catholics believe that Confession is simply a way to clean up our sins before receiving Communion, but it is so much more. As author Flynn traveled around the United States, he noticed far too many people had a flawed understanding of the true value of Confession—full of enthusiasm ...

Renowned preacher Msgr. Ronald Knox explores the profound beauty and significance of marriage in this collection of twenty-four insightful wedding sermons. Each sermon delves into the spiritual and emotional dimensions of love, commitment, and the enduring bond between husband and wife. With Knox's characteristic wit and wisdom, "Bridegroom and Bride" offers timeless reflections on the sacrament of marriage, making it an ideal gift for engaged couples, newlyweds, and anyone seeking a deeper u...

The Eucharistic Sacrifice and the Roman Liturgy The Holy Mass, by Fr. Lucas, is a historical treatise on the Roman Rite which is meant for the average reader that does not have a lot of study on the subject. It was first published in 1914 in two volumes and is now republished containing both volumes in one book.Father Lucas says in his preface: "The attempt to write yet another book about the Mass while for English speaking Catholics Dr Fortescue's work on the Roman Liturgy holds the field ma...

St. John Fisher was a standout figure in the 16th century, going against the reigning king to remain true to his faith. Fisher was a brave defender of traditional Catholic priesthood and liturgy, and his renowned work Defense of the Priesthood attacks Luther's dissenting arguments head-on. This work stands as an important piece of theological literature, both for its critique of Martin Luther’s theology and for its defense of sacraments which were traditionally accepted in Catholicism at the ...

St. Robert Bellarmine was one of the best known of the Counter-Reformation theologians by both friend and foe. His apologetic writings were the most widely read treatises on theological subjects during the 17th century, and they also brought numerous conversions to the Catholic faith. Now for the first time, St. Robert's amazing treatises are available to you in English! In this treatise on the Sacrifice of the Mass, St. Robert divides his work into two topics: That the Mass is a Sacrifice, a...

As seen on EWTN with over 600,000 copies sold! Bestselling author Scott Hahn unveils the mysteries of the Mass, offering readers a deeper appreciation of the most familiar of Catholic rituals.Of all things Catholic, there is nothing that is so familiar as the Mass. With its unchanging prayers, the Mass fits Catholics like their favorite clothes. Yet most Catholics sitting in the pews on Sundays fail to see the powerful supernatural drama that enfolds them. Pope John Paul II described the Mass...

The Hidden Manna has become a classic on Eucharistic teaching. Now in a second edition, accompanied by a new introduction by Fr. Kenneth Baker, a new preface from the author, new material from John Paul II, and the original foreword by Cardinal John O'Connor, this in-depth study lets the breadth and richness of the Church's Tradition speak for itself. Fr. O'Connor presents and comments on substantial excerpts from the major sources of the Church's Tradition extending all the way back to apost...

The Christian liturgy-and the Roman liturgy in particular-developed and thrived within a tradition of commentary and meditation that was fundamental for its understanding, running parallel with the same way of approaching Scripture. The rationalist influences that led to the decline and eventual rejection of the mystical or spiritual senses of Scripture in favor of a narrowly-conceived literal sense led to a narrowing of liturgy as well, which was reduced to its material parts and their vario...

Understanding Marriage and Family: A Catholic Perspective looks at marriage and family through the lenses of common sense and the Catholic faith. Through those lenses, a clear and distinct understanding of marriage and family arises which harmonizes with the consensus of past generations. Using clear language, Fr. Sebastian instructs parents and teachers how to understand, explain and defend traditional marriage and family to a new generation which has lost sight of the wisdom of the ages. Fi...

Dan and Danielle Bean, married for 25 years and veteran parents of 8 children, offer a modern take on an ancient idea: in marriage, we are called to something greater than ourselves. What can that mean in a modern world that abhors sacrifice, rejects the concept of permanence, and devalues the sacrament of marriage? Pulling from the wisdom of the Church and lessons learned from their own real-life experience, Dan and Danielle reflect on the ideas of: Vocation, Sacrament, Sacrifice, Mutual L...

"We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God" (2 Cor 5:20). This heartfelt appeal of the apostle Paul has never ceased to resonate in the Church which still today invites every man to convert and to believe in the salvific power of the Gospel. However, so that the words "mercy," "reconciliation," and "conversion" do not remain mere catchy slogans, experience of the love of God must be continuously renewed. This is what happens every time in the celebration of the Sacrament of Rec...

St. Manuel González García, renowned as the Bishop of the Abandoned Tabernacle and acclaimed the greatest Eucharistic priest since the Curé of Ars, reflected: "I intend to awaken the curiosity, which in this case can truly be called holy, to understand and uncover what the Heart of Jesus in the Tabernacle does, says, and feels. I promise delightful surprises, invaluable discoveries, unimagined horizons, to those who allow themselves to be piqued by this curiosity." Through these profound yet ...

Throughout the Church's history, holy men and women have found that one of the best and most reliable ways to get close to Jesus is through the Eucharist. By reading and sharing their stories in our families, we can imitate Jesus in a very important way, extending his mercy again and again, that the kingdom of God might shine a little more brightly in the world.Stories of the Eucharist invites families to celebrate the transforming power of the Eucharist in our lives by exploring Eucharistic ...

Former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Cardinal Gerhard Müller guides you on a powerful personal retreat based on one that he has given to hundreds of priests and consecrated religious across the globe. In these life-changing pages, His Eminence will help you grow in union with God personally and find comfort in His love as you learn to discern and place your hope in the Holy Trinity. Cardinal Müller deftly breaks open Sacred Scripture and the writings of theologians...

Our experience of God's grace in the Eucharist isn't meant for us alone. Like the fire we light at the Easter Vigil, we must light the candles of our own lives from the Light of Christ and pass that flame to others. This can happen when we embrace a spirituality, a worldview, and a way of living our Faith that is centered on Christ in the Eucharist.For the Life of the World is an invitation to Eucharistic mission. As part of the National Eucharistic Revival in the U.S. Catholic Church, this b...

"A Pocket Guide to Sacramental Reconciliation" by Kevin and Mary O'Neill is a vibrant and informative guide designed to help young Catholics understand and appreciate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Through engaging illustrations and dialogue, it introduces the concepts of mortal and venial sins, preparation for a good confession, and the significance of receiving God's healing love, grace, and mercy. This book includes practical elements like a prayer before confession, steps for making a s...

Introducing the Sacrament of Confession by Héctor R.G. Pérez – the definitive single volume guidebook to ensure you can make a heartfelt, meaningful confession and set forth on the path to peaceful and rewarding reparation.This essential resource leads readers through all of the steps necessary for making a sincere repentance, from understanding Catholic Church teachings on sin and guilt to reading self-guided prayers and exercises for obtaining God’s grace in challenging times. The book prov...

Several popes have referred to St. Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) as "the Apostle of the Eucharist." Nonetheless, he is not that well known in the universal Church. When it comes to worldwide recognition of his extraordinary life, as well as the many amazing things he did to foster a greater love for the Blessed Sacrament, most Catholics are unfamiliar with him and have never heard his name. That is about to change. 30-Day Eucharistic Revival is intended to help you, your children, your gran...

With the luminous insight that we have come to expect from his writings, Robert Cardinal Sarah helps spouses rediscover the deep source of their love--God Himself--and the means for letting love between them grow.This book presents the essentials of a retreat that the cardinal preached to married couples in Lourdes, France. It is meant for all couples, including those who are struggling. There is a path to renewal for everyone, and couples in every situation can find again the preciousness of...

The Holy Eucharist is the Church's most precious treasure, the source and summit of her worship and life. The Church is built upon and around the Eucharist.In this book, a renowned spiritual writer and Carmelite priest shows how receiving the Lord in the Eucharist has profound consequences, because the Eucharist is not only the great Sacrament that brings about oneness with Christ and with the faithful but also the foundational norm for Christian behavior. Any Christian who wonders how he sho...

Join Mother Angelica on a penetrating tour into the sacramental life of the Church. In these pages, Mother Angelica will lead you to discover the spiritual secrets embedded in each of the seven sacraments and how those secrets can help you live the sacramental life to its fullest. Mother Angelica combines the personal reflections of a saintly life with the teachings of a master catechist, providing you with a spiritual handbook that will help you get more out of Holy Communion, expose you to ...

"The end of penance is God, not more penances. Thus the approach to penance has to be by way of love, not by way of steeling the will to toughness. Penance must have its roots in charity, not austerity." With characteristic Benedictine discretion, Van Zeller here sets straight common misapprehensions of penance, steering the reader past the Scylla of extremism on the one hand and the Charybdis of avoiding this essential virtue of the Christian life on the other hand. "Take up your cross and f...

How to Remember and Treasure its Rites In Memorize the Latin Mass! Dr. Kevin Vost harnesses the powerful memory methods of Sts. Albert the Great and Thomas Aquinas to help readers learn and remember all the parts and rites of the Traditional Latin Mass as they delve deep into the meaning and history of each one of them, gleaned from the wisdom of the Church and her saints. Crafted to supplement a Missal and to stimulate further reading, this book is a primer for readers, their children, grand...

An illuminating, reassuring explanation of the Catholic Church’s teachings on confession and forgiveness by the bestselling author of The Lamb’s Supper and Hail, Holy Queen.Jesus told his first clergy, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” In Lord, Have Mercy, Scott Hahn explores the sacrament of reconciliation and shows why it is the key to spiritual growth, particularly in these times of intense anxiety and uncertainty. Drawin...

Countless graces flow from the use of Holy Water when you understand its role in God's plan of salvation, and how it brings new graces into your life.In clear, convincing language, Father Theiler lays out for Christians countless surprising, but long-forgotten truths about Holy Water, and explains the interior acts and dispositions that are necessary for this blessed gift of God to have the sanctifying effect our Lord intends for you.Read these pages attentively; consider them thoughtfully; i...

An Exploration of Holy Matrimony from Genesis to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb This life is preparation for eternity, and from the beginning, God created marriage to help married couples become saints. Indeed, God has given to married couples the profound gift of being able to fulfill the purpose of their creation through, with, and in each other. Marriage is a foreshadowing of Heaven, and each married couple must work with God if their marriage is to be a foretaste of eternity. In this thoug...

Ignatian Wisdom for Husbands and Wives To navigate the inevitable ups and downs of our spiritual lives, countless souls have found comfort and guidance in St. Ignatius of Loyola's Rules for Discernment. For the past forty years, popular retreat master and author Fr. Timothy Gallagher has been at the forefront of making St. Ignatius's Rules understandable and applicable to hundreds of thousands of Catholics seeking greater sensitivity to the "movements" of their souls. Now Fr. Gallagher return...