Catholic Apologetics
These books are chosen to help explain and defend the eternal and beautiful truths of the Holy Catholic Church.
Books
Apologetica: Elementary Apologetics for Pulpit and Pew
Rev. P. A. Halpin
Catechism of the Summa Theologica
R. P. Thomas Pegues, O.P.
The Catena Aurea
St. Thomas Aquinas and the Fathers of the Church
Latin for “golden chain”, the Catena Aurea is St. Thomas Aquinas’s masterful weaving together of the commentary of the Fathers of the Church on all four Gospels. This edition was translated by St. John Henry Newman into English.
The Works of St. Justin Martyr
St. Justin Martyr
The now extant works of St. Justin Martyr, being very early second century testimony of what teachings Christians received from the Apostles. Contains the First and Second Apology of St. Justin Martyr to the Roman Emperors, and his Dialogue with Trypho the Jew.
Catholic Belief and Practice
Rev. James E. McGavick
Some things in this book may be outdated, since many Catholic practices and the style of explanation of many Catholic beliefs have changed during that time.
The Catholic Controversy
St. Francis de Sales
A compilation of the tracts that St. Francis de Sales anonymously wrote over 4 years that converted over 70,000 Protestants back to Catholicism.
Essays on devotional and Scriptural subjects (defense of True Devotion to Mary)
Dr. Ward
Defense of True Devotion to Mary and St. Louis de Montfort’s doctrines.
Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism
Rev. Thomas L. Kinkead
Also known as Baltimore Catechism No. 4
Guide to a Catholic Church for Non-Catholic Visitors
W. L. Fox
Some things in this book may be outdated, since many Catholic practices and the style of explanation of many Catholic beliefs have changed during that time.
Letter to Dr. Pusey by Henry Edward Manning
Henry Edward Manning
A Manual of Apologetics
Rev. F. J. Koch
Meditations for Layfolk
Bede Jarrett, O.P.
Down to earth explanations of a wide variety of Catholic truths, principles, concepts, and devotions, without watering them down.
A Defense of the Teachings of Mary: A letter by St. John Henry Newman
St. John Henry Newman
Written in 1866, this letter by St. John Henry Newman contains thorough defense of the Church’s core teachings about Mary, with many useful tangents like the process of conversion and an explanation of how the Church’s devotions emerge.
Summa Theologica
St. Thomas Aquinas
The Creed Explained: or, An Exposition of Catholic Doctrine, According to the Creeds of Faith, and the Constitutions and Definitions of the Church
Rev. Arthur Devine, Passionist
This book is included because it has good approbations, and generally looks interesting and useful.
The history of heresies and their refutation
St. Alphonsus de Liguori
Snippets
Apologetica
p.40 Some 19th century arguments against Agnosticism
The Catena Aurea
p.n38 The Fathers of the Church on the healing of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law
p.n40 The Fathers of the Church on Jesus healing many sick and possessed at the Sabbath’s sunset
p.n43 The Fathers of the Church on the healing of the leper
p.n74 The Fathers of the Church on those who thought Jesus was insane or possessed
p.142 The Fathers of the Church on the Spring of Living Water
p.394 The Fathers of the Church on Jesus bringing not Peace but the Sword
p.415 The Church Fathers on John 7:44-50
p.466 The Fathers of the Church on the Five Divided in One House
p.516 The Church Fathers on Hating our Relatives
p.598 Mary Magdalene sees Jesus first after the Resurrection
p.885 The Fathers of the Church on Jesus making arrangements for the Last Supper
Explanation of the Baltimore Catechism
p.218 How Indulgences Work
Letter to Dr. Pusey by Henry Edward Manning
p.10 Cardinal Manning’s explanation of how many 19th century Anglicans were Catholic
Meditations for Layfolk
p.176 The Method of Prayer
A Defense of the Teachings of Mary
p.3 Beginning of John Henry Newman’s reply to the Eirenicon
p.4 St. John Henry Newman’s reflection on his becoming Catholic
p.6 On the prudence of allowing everyone their private conscience without judgment
p.8 That the Eirenicon was an attack and not an attempt at unity
p.11 St. John Henry Newman never called the Anglican Church a bulwark against infidelity in England
p.15 The meaning of Tract 90 was widely misunderstood
p.16 How apparently opposing viewpoints might be reconciled through explanation
p.18 Further reasons why this letter was written
p.19 Converts must first absorb their religion, and afterwards might speak with some authority
p.21 Some aspects of religion are particular to time and place, culture and fashion
p.24 Arguing against non-authoritative writers is essentially attacking a straw-man
p.26 The Church Fathers are a sufficient basis for defending doctrines concerning the Blessed Virgin Mary
p.28 On the importance of the distinction between doctrine and devotion
p.30 That Catholicism contains an enormous variety of devotions suited to every kind of person
p.31 Devotions to Saints in the Church spring up at different times for various reasons
p.33 That Jesus and Mary are the new Adam and Eve according to reason and the Church Fathers
p.37 That the Fathers, even Early Fathers, say Mary caused our salvation as much as Eve caused our ruin
p.39 St. Irenaeus even ascribes to Mary the title and office of the Holy Spirit, that of Paraclete
p.41 Some fourth century Fathers as witnesses to the active role of Mary in humanity’s salvation
p.43 St. Jerome and St. Augustine as worldwide fifth century witnesses of the received teachings of Mary
p.45 Fifth century Fathers testifying firmly of the active role of Mary in our salvation
p.47 If Eve was created with grace, and Mary is the new Eve, then Mary must also have been
p.49 How Mary could reasonably be considered an unfallen child of Eve
p.52 The Immaculate Conception is perfectly reasonable when understood correctly
p.53 Heroes of history should and usually do have a perpetual place in our minds, hearts and words
p.62 If the child and the dragon in Revelation 12 are the devil and Jesus, why is the woman not Mary?
p.67 Defense of title “Theotocos” or “Mother of God”
p.68 Many ancient Fathers witnessing to the reality of the title Mother of God
p.70 The Church Fathers witnessing to the praiseworthiness of the Mother of God by their strong language
p.72 Evidence in Scripture of the fact and command of intercessory prayer within the Church on earth
p.74 That the blessed above still should and do pray for us below
p.76 That sanctity is the source of intercession’s effectiveness
p.79 An example of the Blessed Virgin Mary interceding to prevent heresy in ancient times
p.83 Ideas are living things which ought to be allowed to grow and mature naturally
p.84 Natural development of religious ideas will inherently involve some degree of decay and excess
p.88 It takes nothing from God to draw out the profound implications of the Incarnation having a Mother
p.90 Recognition of Mary’s exaltation only reinforces God’s inherent greatness
p.92 The unfolding of the Incarnation and Mary’s role
p.94 That the opponents in this matter can be reconciled to some degree by certain facts
p.95 That Greek devotion to Mary ought to alleviate Anglican grievances against Catholic Mariology
p.96 Devotion to Mary generally does not result in idolatry
p.100 Devotion to Mary is not incompatible with devotion to her Divine Son
p.102 Proper Catholic teachings on Mary were not fairly or properly represented when attacked
p.108 True devotion to Mary also strongly objects to idolatry of Mary
p.112 The ways the Catholic Church has responded to errors in Mariology have been prudent
p.114 Canisius and Petau on restraining devotion to Mary to what is reasonable and sober
p.115 Raynaud quoting two Fathers who condemn false devotion to Mary
p.117 Raynaud explaining how falsely honoring Mary could be an insult to Christ
p.118 Examples of false and harmful devotion to Mary
p.121 Demonstrations of how accusations of Catholic devotion to Mary are not fair or aimed towards unity
p.123 Liturgical emphasis on Mary is proper and precedented, and points to Jesus
p.131 That non-Catholic beliefs about Mary are not able to stand on the Fathers
p.132 Two quotes of St. Chrysostom that enemies of Mary’s sinlessness incorrectly use against her
p.134 A quote from St. Cyril which proponents of Mary’s sinfulness incorrectly use against her
p.135 An answer to the accusation that the Fathers claimed Mary was not sinless
p.137 How to determine whether a statement is an Apostolic Tradition
p.139 The three later Fathers who speak more lowly of Mary are not speaking dogmatically
p.144 Answers to objections about why some Fathers and Gospel passages spoke unsatisfactorily about Mary