Try to get a healthy mix of theology, the Bible itself, books about the Bible, history, spirituality, and Celtic Christianity.
Click on a book title to read more about it. By the way, if you buy books from Amazon.com when you click to them from this page, you will be helping support the distance ministry of the Celtic Catholic Church.
It goes without saying, but the Celtic Catholic Church does not endorse everything that all these writers have written. But they all have some exciting and provoking thoughts to offer.
Early Christian Writers: The Apostolic Fathers
Allison, C. Fitzsimons; The Cruelty of Heresy: An Affirmation of Orthodox Christianity. An intriguing book. Bishop Fitzsomons Allison first introduces the reader to various classical heresies, in their ancient and modern guises, and then explains in great and moving detail why they are cruel, denying the most basic reality of human existence, and useless, failing to offer any real salvation. A great read for those who still suffer from the mistaken belief that Orthodoxy is somehow boring and heresy exciting.
St. Athanasius; On the Incarnation. Answers the question, "Why did the Word of God become human?"
Bercot, David W.; Will the Real Heretics Please Stand Up. A fascinating look at how much of modern "conservative evangelical" Christianity differs drastically from original Christian theology.
St. Irenaeus; On the Apostolic Preaching. St. Irenaeus, the Bishop of Lyons in France, is one of the "Celtic Fathers" of the Church. This is his basic statement of Christian doctrine. Of interest to anyone who wants to find out about authentic traditional Celtic approach to theology.
Lewis, C. S.; Mere Christianity. One of the most popular books of basic Christian teaching in the world today, and with good reason.
-----; Christian Reflections
-----; The Problem of Pain
Phillips, J. B.; Your God is Too Small
Pinnock, Clark; The Openness of God : A Biblical Challenge to the Traditional Understanding of God
Wiles, Maurice F., ed.; Documents in Early Christian Thought
Holy Bible; The New Jerusalem Bible. Considered by many to be the most beautiful modern translation.
-----; The New Revised Standard Version, with Apocrypha [The Harper Collins Study Bible] [Oxford College Edition] [Paperback edition] An increasingly popular translation which is the only version to contain all the books used liturgically by the Celtic Catholic Church.
Bercot, David W.; Common Sense: A New Approach to Understanding Scripture
Eriugena, John Scotus; The Voice of the Eagle: The Heart of Celtic Christianity. This is a copy of Eriugena's sermon on the first verses of St. John's Gospel. It is translated and commented upon by Christopher Bamford. Eriugena is one of the great Celtic Christian theologians.
Hall, Christopher A.; Reading Scripture with the Church Fathers
Little Rock Scripture Study Program. This is a great group Bible study program. Check out the web site to see how it works. The amount of materials available may be a bit daunting, but take your time and peruse it carefully. To get started, order the introductory packet.
St. Adomnan; Life of Columba
St. Bede; The Ecclesiastical History of the English People. [another translation] The essential history of the ancient British Church (that includes our Celtic history).
Bitel, Lisa M.; Isle of the Saints. Bitel tells you just about everything you could ever want to know about the ancient Celtic monasteries. And since the Church was so largely monastic, she tells a lot about the style and structure of the entire Church.
Cahill, Thomas; How the Irish Saved Civilization. Readable and fun.
Capt, E. Raymond; The Traditions of Glastonbury. Be careful with this book and don't take it too seriously, but Capt does present the various historical/legendary material about the coming of St. Joseph of Arimathea to Glastonbury which has such emotional weight for us Celtic Catholics.
Eusebius; Ecclesiastical History (The History of the Church from Christ to Constantine) [another translation] The essential history of the ancient Church (not including the Celtic regions).
McNeill, John T.; The Celtic Churches: A history A.D. 200 to 1200. Out of print, so you will have to search, but it is worth it. Check your library.
St. Patrick; Confession & Letter to Caroticus
Selner, Edward; Wisdom of the Celtic Saints
Anonymous; The Way of a Pilgrim [the classic R. M. French translation, paperback] [R. M. French translation, hardbound] [Bocovcin translation]
Adam, David; The Cry of the Deer: Meditations on the Hymn of St. Patrick. This is more of a "how-to" book about prayer, based on St. Patrick's famous hymn-prayer. It contains exercizes which could be done by a group.
Bloom, Archbishop Anthony; Beginning to Pray. A small, easy-to-read book which deals, not with platitudes and "how to", but with the very meaning of the human soul and of prayer. Honest and soul-searching. Written for those who do not yet pray.
Bonhoeffer, Dietrich; The Cost of Discipleship. Few writers can challenge you to take it seriously better than this modern martyr who, unlike so many, knew the cost of being a Chrsitian and willingly paid it, even in the face of the Nazis.
Clement of Alexandria (David W. Bercot, editor); The One Who Knows God
de Waal, Esther; A Celtic Way of Prayer
Earle, Mary; Praying with the Celtic Saints: Companions for the Journey
Foster, Richard J.; Celebration of Discipline: The Paths to Spiritual Growth. Also available are a companion study guide for groups and individuals and a journal workbook which can be used with group study. A modern classic on how to do a Christian spiritual life.
-----; Freedom of Simplicity
-----; Spiritual Classics: Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Disciplines
St. John Cassian; Making Life a Prayer: Selected Writings of John Cassian. St. John, from southern France, traveled to Egypt to see the lives of the holy desert monks. On his return, he wrote about his experiences. His books became cornerstones for Celtic monasticism. This book contains a few selections. Read it to be influenced by the same spirit which influenced our fathers and mothers, the Celtic monastic saints.
-----; Teachings on the Spiritual Life. Another anthology of excerpts.
Davies, Oliver; Celtic Spirituality [paperback edition] This is an impressive and useful collection of original writings from the ancient Celtic Church: saints' lives, poems, sermons, and much else.
de Waal, Esther; Every Earthly Blessing: Celebrating a Spirituality of Creation
Mitton, Michael; The Soul of Celtic Spirituality: In the Lives of its Saints
Newell, J. Philip; Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality
Selner, Edward; Wisdom of the Celtic Saints