These inspirational books are perfect to bring along on beach days
Looking for a good read to take to the lake or beach, or to read on your porch on these long summer nights? Archdiocese of Newark employees shared their favorite inspirational and faith-based books with Jersey Catholic. Book topics include Catholic dating advice, a modern-day story of Mary Magdalene, living a Christ-like life, the virtue of compassion, how Mary and Martha of the Bible are alive today, and how murder leads a father to discover God.
Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World: A Guide for Catholics
Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World: A Guide for Catholics by Thomas G. Morrow was recommended by Jessica Miano, Communications Specialist in the Office of Communications.
“Christian Courtship in an Oversexed World” is a thorough guide for single Roman Catholics, covering all aspects from finding a partner to planning a wedding. It discusses love, moral courtship, the importance of chastity, addressing gender gaps, and offers a Catholic view on marriage. It reassures those feeling out of place in modern dating, presenting a path to true happiness and holiness.
“When I met my now-husband, we started lending books of importance back and forth to read and get to know each other. I had just started reading this book, and I thought it fitting to include it in our book club. As a young Catholic navigating secular dating, it became my go-to guide. I annotated it with my thoughts and passed it to my then-boyfriend, who returned it filled with his own notes. The book’s gender-specific advice section was particularly helpful. It played a significant role in shaping our courtship and understanding of each other in the early days of our relationship. Now, happily married with a 9-month-old and another on the way, I believe this book guided us on the path God meant for us. I highly recommend it for Catholic singles and couples. It is a profound read,” said Miano.
The Imitation of Christ: A Modern Translation
The Imitation of Christ: A Modern Translation by Thomas à Kempis (Author) and Peter Northcutt (Translator) was recommended by Roger Vera of the Office of Development & Stewardship.
This classic guide to living a spiritual life has been meticulously translated for today’s readers, bringing Kempis’ timeless insights on holiness, simplicity, and humility to a new generation. It explores themes such as humility, self-discipline, prayer, and the love of Christ, encouraging readers to emulate the example of Jesus. The book consists of short, easily digestible chapters, creating a “daily devotional” format that has been eagerly embraced by Christians throughout the centuries.
“Released in the early 1400s, this modern translation is a must-read for all Christians. It’s perfect for those new to or coming back to the Catholic faith. My day is not complete without reading a chapter. It’s the guidance and instruction we all need in today’s world,” Roger said.
Unveiling Mary Magdalene: Discover the Truth About a Not-So-Bad Girl of the Bible
Unveiling Mary Magdalene: Discover the Truth About a Not-So-Bad Girl of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgsis recommended by Jaimie Julia Winters, Communications Manager in the Office of Communications.
Author Lizz Curtis Higgs takes readers on a journey with a modern-day Mary Magdalene and Jesus in a discovery about the most misunderstood woman of the New Testament. Was Mary Magdalene a prostitute? An adulteress? The wife of Jesus? An ancient goddess? “Unveiling Mary Magdalene” opens with the fictional journey of Mary Margaret Delaney, a madwoman adrift in modern Chicago and a priest who saves her. Her moving story, closely paralleling the biblical account, is followed by a verse-by-verse study of the first-century Mary Magdalene and her life-changing encounters with Christ.
This heartfelt contemporary fiction is a page-turner and the perfect summer beach book. Other books by Liz Curtis Higgs include “Bad Girls of the Bible” and “Really Bad Girls of the Bible,” which delve into more stories of women in the Bible.
Compassion: Reflections on the Christian Life
Compassion: Reflections on the Christian Life by Henri Nouwen, Douglas Morrison, and Donald McNeill was recommended by Patty Rodriguez, Director of the Catechetical Office.
After years of study and discussion among themselves, with other religious, and with men and women at the very center of national politics, the authors look at compassion with a vigorous new perspective. They place compassion at the heart of Christian life in a world governed far too long by principles of power and destructive control. Compassion, no longer merely an eraser of human mistakes, is a force of prayer and action — the expression of God’s love for us and our love for God and one another.
“One of the most difficult things for humans to reconcile is the experience of a loving and merciful God in the midst of a world filled with suffering and misery. This book provided me with a fresh and profound perspective on how compassion can transform our hearts and how authentic and enduring service is “an expression of the search for God and not just the desire to bring about an individual or social change.”
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Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver was recommended by Adele Ellis, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Schools in the Office of Catholic Schools.
With her fresh approach to the familiar Bible story, Joanna Weaver shows how all of us, Marys and Marthas alike, can draw closer to our Lord: deepening our devotion, strengthening our service, and doing both with less stress and greater joy.
“When I was earning my master’s degree in educational leadership, I was consistently trying to earn that ‘A.’ One day, one of my professors called me ‘Martha.’ He explained that I needed to take in the messages more like Mary. I did heed his advice and did earn the ‘A,’ however, that pivotal moment helped me appreciate listening more than doing. This book walks you through drawing closer to God and Jesus with less stress and more joy,” Ellis said.
Witnesses in the Gospels: Bible Bystanders and Their Stories
Witnesses in the Gospels: Bible Bystanders and Their Stories by Allan F. Wright was recommended by Alexandra Rojas, Website Content Manager in the Office of Communications.
The servants who filled the jars at Jesus’ command when he turned the water into wine, the boy who donated his loaves and fishes so Jesus could multiply them, and the woman with the alabaster jar who anointed Jesus’ feet. These people and many others in the Gospels share one important trait: in the biblical accounts where they appear, they are silent. We have no record of their words. Nevertheless, they have much to say to us by the ways they responded to Christ. Take a journey of the imagination with author Allan Wright back to New Testament times to consider what kinds of lives these individuals might have lived and what lessons we might learn from them.
“‘Silent Witnesses’ invites you to explore the perspectives of the people who were there but whose stories we rarely hear,” Rojas said. “This book transforms the Bible into a practical self-help guide. It not only deepened my understanding of the Gospels but also provided valuable insights into navigating my own life’s challenges.”
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity
The Shack: Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity by William P. Young was recommended by Yvette Jimenez, Technology/Telecommunications Manager in the Office of Information & Technology.
Mackenzie Allen Philips’ youngest daughter, Missy, has been abducted during a family vacation, and evidence that she may have been brutally murdered is found in an abandoned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. A father’s search for his missing daughter leads him to the shack where he confronts his darkest nightmares and the mystery of God’s love.
In a world where religion seems to grow increasingly irrelevant, “The Shack” wrestles with the timeless question, “Where is God in a world so filled with unspeakable pain?” The answers Mack finds will astound you and perhaps transform you as much as they did him.
“Amazing book. It’s a non-stop read. It will make you think about life and forgiveness differently. I Ioved it!” Jimenez said.
