Customer Reviews

Heart of Catholicism: Essential Writings of the Church from St. Paul to John Paul II

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This book is an excellent and basic collection of Catholic writings. It contains writings dating from the New Testament times to Pope John Paul II. Included are writings by Ignatius, Clement, Justin, Cyprian, Athanasius, Basil, Ambrose, Augustine, Benedict, Francis, Thomas Aquinas, Leo XIII, Chesterton, and more. It also contains creeds and Church council documents. While each author is not exhaustively represented (it would take hundreds of volumes!), the book contains relevant and popular excerpts from many well-known and lesser known Catholic authors, enough to generate interest to look into the authors further. Both Eastern and Western writers are included. However, this is not just a book of quotations or excerpts; some works appear in their entirety.

The writings are about topics as diverse as monasticism, the Trinity, justification, modernism, mysticism, the sacraments, love, and so forth. As such the writings provide a general introduction to Catholicism. However, this book is not a catechism or systematic theology, but a basic sampling of writings, so those looking for writings on specific topics may have to sort through the writings.

Overall, I recommend this book for those wanting a good sampling of Catholic writings from the beginning until the present. However, if you are already familiar with many of these writings, the book may not be worth the investment. Even if this is the case, it would still make a good gift.