Revolution of Love.com
Recommended Reading & Resource List for Catholic Mamas
(and Daddies)
There are a number of excellent Catholic books and tapes on the family. Here is a selection of our favorites along with those recommended by people we trust.
Books
For Everyone:
The Bible
author: The Holy Spirit
publisher: Ignatius Press
description: God speaks directly to you in his living word.
Get more info and purchase.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
author: Christ's Church guided by the Holy Spirit
publisher: Doubleday
description: This small paperback version is less intimidating and taken in small doses, you will find incredible wisdom that will enrich your life and deepen your relationship with God.
Get more info and purchase.
Family:
The Catholic Family Handbook: Time-Tested Techniques To Help You Strengthen Your Marriage & Raise Good Kidsauthor: Fr. Lawrence G. Lovansik
publisher: Sophia Press
description: Using Scripture and Church teachings in an easy-to-follow step-by-step format, Fr. Lawrence helps you understand the proper role of the Catholic father and mother and how you can secure happiness in marriage, raise children in a truly Catholic way, and much more. (A personal favorite of Bobbi & Brian.)
Get more info and purchase.
Discipline That Lasts A Lifetime: The Best Gift You Can Give Your Kids
author: Dr. Ray Guarendi
publisher: Catholic Answers
description: Easy-to-read resource of questions and answers about discipline, written in Dr. Ray's style of mixing humor with wise insights and sound advice.
Get more info and purchase.
Family Matters: A Bible Study on Marriage & Family
author: Michaelann & Curtis Martin
publisher: Emmaus Road
description: Michaelann and Curtis Martin have written a practical Bible study for engaged and married couples. Learn how you and your spouse (or spouse-to-be) can develop your prayer life, communicate better, and guide your children to holiness.
Get more info and purchase.
Father McBride's Family Catechism - Based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church
author: Alfred McBride, O. Praem.
publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
description: Following the structure of the official Catholic Catechism, this new look at timeless teachings is intended to help families apply the wisdom of the Catechism to their everyday lives.
Get more info and purchase.
The Mission of the Catholic Family on the Pathway to Heaven
author: Rick Sarkisian, Ph.D.
publisher: Ignatius Press
description: This workbook offers an insightful array of practical tips and Catholic wisdom that will help you and your family draw closer to Christ, His Church, and each other. Discover and deepen your family's sense of its mission in life.
Get more info and purchase.
Parenting with Grace: Catholic Parents Guide to Raising (almost) Perfect Kids
author: Kids Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, LCSW and Lisa Popcak
publisher: Our Sunday Visitor
description: Laced with humor, practical examples, and thought-provoking quizzes, this book helps you discover your own God-given instructions manual for creating a highly individualized, completely Catholic parenting plan for your children.
Get more info and purchase.
Especially for Wives & Moms:
By Love Refined: Letters to a Young Bride
author: Alice von Hildebrand
publisher: Sophia Institute Press
description: This is a beautiful book containing letters exchanged between the young bride "Julie" and her older mentor "Lily". Full of spiritual wisdom and practical advice, Lily speak frankly about the realities of married life once the "honeymoon" is over, while still holding up the ideals of marital love and self-giving.
Get more info and purchase.
Catholic Prayer Book for Mothers
author: Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (2005)
description: This book is hardcover and yet small enough to carry in a purse or diaper bag for the Mom on the go who would like a bit of inspiration and prayer to help keep her going. The book has original and traditional prayer, quotes from the saints and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta as well as Pope John Paul II.
Get more info and purchase.
The Heart of Motherhood: Finding Holiness in the Catholic Home
author: Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
publisher: Crossroad Publishing Company (2006)
description: This book is an in depth study of the sanctity found in the heart of the home during a mother’s vocation. It includes practical tips on prayer, how to keep one’s heart focused on God while busy with mothering, and raising kids in a Catholic family. It includes humor, original prayers, and was endorsed by Mother Teresa, and has a blessing from Pope John Paul II.
Get more info and purchase.
Holiness for Housewivesauthor: Hubert van Zeller
publisher: Ignatius Press
description: Here's a way to grow holy day by day through intimacy with the ordinary. (Bobbi notes: I recently read this one and it is incredible. Full of spiritual wisdom, yet done in a simple easy-to-understand manner. I highly recommend it!)
Get more info and purchase.
Mothers' Manualauthor: A. Francis Coomes, S.J.
publisher: William J. Hirten Co.
description: This popular little manual has prayers for all mothers, from expectant mothers to those in married life. It includes prayers for times of special problems, as well as prayers for husbands and children.
Get more info and purchase.
A Mother's Rule of Life: How to Bring Order to Your Home and Peace to Your Soul
author: Holly Pierlot
publisher: Sophia Institute Press
description: Just as a nun or monk has a "Rule of Life" that is followed in their particular convent or monastery, the author shares a Rule of Life that women can follow within their home as they live out their vocation as wives and mothers. Get more info and purchase.
Get more info and purchase.
Orderly Days Planner publisher: Motherhood Press
description: Orderly Days,, created by a Catholic mother for Catholic mothers, is designed to instill a God-focus in your life. Each month, a new godly virtue is introduced with four weeks of scripture to pray and incorporate into your daily life. Planner includes monthly and weekly calendar, home and family sheets, shopping lists, journal pages, address book, etc.
Get more info and purchase.
Prayerfully Expecting: A Nine-Month Novena for Mothers-To-Be
author: Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle
publisher: Crossroad Publishing Company (2007)
description: This book is a prayer journal for expectant mothers; helping them to transform their pregnancy into a living novena to the Lord. It encourages the expecting Mom to find quiet times throughout her pregnancy to reflect and pray so that she will be at peace, and provides spaces for her to record her thoughts and prayers as she awaits the birth of her baby. Donna-Marie wrote this book while on complete bedrest during a very difficult and high risk pregnancy and wanting to share the blessings she received during her own pregnancy, she offers it to other expectant Moms. In addition to being endorsed by Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, this book was also blessed by Pope John Paul II.
Get more info and purchase.
Woman of Grace: A Bible Study for Married Women
author: Michaelann Martin
publisher: Emmaus Road
description: This book is an insightful and intimate Bible Study written to help married women grow in holiness in their day-to-day living. Drawing from life experiences as a wife and mother of six, the author offers ways that women can improve their prayer lives, communicate with their family, and find fulfillment in their vocation. (Bobbi notes: Our local Mom's Group is using this book for a Bible Study and it is excellent. I also recommend the Martins' Family Matters book for couples.)
Get more info and purchase.
Your Labor of Loveauthor: Agnes Penny
publisher: Tan Books
description: In this book, the author shares the very Catholic spiritual solutions she found to the problems and struggles of pregnancy. A great support for young mothers, it is perfect for women who want to accept the challenges and joys of motherhood according to God's will.
Get more info and purchase.
Your Vocation of Loveauthor: Agnes Penny
publisher: Tan Books
description: Penny, a mother of four young children, has written this little manual to encourage mothers of young children in their sublime vocation of motherhood and to assist them in this glorious role with scores of practical tips on what to do in the challenging situations that automatically arise in raising and educating a family. She covers the topics in 34 short but insightful chapters that make a quick read for mothers on the go-who often have only a few minutes reading time to gain some quick but much-needed inspiration.
Get more info and purchase.
Especially for Dad:
Christian Fatherhood: The Eight Commitments of St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers
author: Steve Wood
publisher: Family Life International
description: "Christian Fatherhood will be a great blessing to all who read it and put its teachings into practice." - Mother Teresa
Get more info and purchase.
Head of the Family: Christian Fatherhood in the Modern World
author: Clayton C. Barbeau
publisher: Sophia Press
description: Rooted firmly in Scripture, these pages call on husbands to stop thinking of themselves simply as bosses and breadwinners but, rather, as co-creators with God, imitators of Christ's love for His people, high priests in the domestic Church, teachers of their children, witnesses to society, providers of spiritual and material goods and models of holiness.
Get more info and purchase.
Father's Manual
author: A. Francis Coomes, S.J.
publisher: William J. Hirten Co.
description: This prayer manual for fathers has prayers for the needs of fatherhood and married life, for special needs and occasions, for various organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, and counsels and helps for fathers and husbands.
Get more info and purchase.
Not Your Average Joeauthor: Rick Sarkisian
publisher: Lifework Press
description: Rick Sarkisian, Ph.D. shares personal anecdotes, real-world experiences and insights in Joseph's vocation, mission and virtues. It will help you learn to make Joseph a part of your daily life, and embrace the virtues that make him anything but "your average Joe."
Get more info and purchase.
NFP:
The Art of Natural Family Planning
author: John & Sheila Kippley
publisher: Couple to Couple League
description: The "bible" of natural family planning. Excellent material for the practical and spiritual side of NFP.
Get more info and purchase.
Fertility, Cycles, and Nutrition
author: Marilyn M. Shannon
publisher: Couple to Couple League
description: Excellent book on the role of nutrition and other factors in a woman's fertility and cycle regularity.
Get more info and purchase.
Life-Giving Love : Embracing God's Beautiful Design for Marriage
author: Kimberly Hahn
publisher: Charis Books
description: Kimberley Hahn takes us back to the One who designed marriage in the first place. God's wonderful plan for the family is clearly revealed in the time-tested teachings of the Catholic Church.
Get more info and purchase.
Audio Tapes
Becoming a Catholic Family Series (4 Audio Tapes)
By Scott & Kimberly Hahn
Building Your Marriage on THE ROCK Series (2 Audio Tapes)
By Steve Wood
Catholic Family Values III Series (3 Audio Tapes)
By Deacon Doctor Robert McDonald
Catholic Home Finances Series (4 Audio Tapes)
By Kimberlt Hahn
Catholic Marriage Covenant Series (3 Audio Tapes)
By Scott and Kimberly Hahn
Contraception, Why Not?
By Janet E. Smith, Ph.D.
"Grace"-ful Parenting: Raising a Catholic Family Series (3 Audio Tapes)
by Stephen Ray
Marriage and Family Problems Series (3 Audio Tapes)
by Steve Wood
Marriage the Bible Way Series (3 Audio Tapes)
By Jesse & Anita Romero
Mercy of God in the Family Series (3 Audio Tapes)
By Fr. Benedict Groeschel
There are various other tape series about marriage and family life available though Saint Joseph Communications.
Magazines:
Faith & Family: The Magazine of Catholic Living RoL Favorite!
Faith and Family is the magazine that brings out the mother in me! Imagine what you would see if Martha Stewart (pre-scandal days) discovered the Truth and beauty of the Catholic faith, and you'd have a pretty good idea of this magazine! Along with articles relevant to raising a Catholic family, F&F is an excellent source for incorporating the liturgical season into your family life with special prayers/meditations, projects, and recipes. It comes four times a year for only $11.95. For a free sample issue go to www.faithandfamilymag.com or call 1-800-421-3230.
Family Foundations is the magazine of the Couple to Couple League International, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to building healthy families through Natural Family Planning. It has recently been redesigned to look less like a newsletter and more like a "real" magazine with a full-colored cover. FF contains excellent articles and columns about married and family life. The current Jan-Feb 2003 issue is specifically dedicated to engaged and newly married couples. I highly recommend it for yourself or a friend! To learn more go to www.ccli.org/mag/index.shtml.
Websites:
Family
Catholic Mom.com
Celebrating Catholic motherhood, this website is for sharing and learning about parenting and faith issues.
Catholic Moms.com
The Catholic mother's place on the internet for fellowship, fun, shopping, and ideas for the family and home.
Dads.org / St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers
St. Joseph's Covenant Keepers is an informal international network of Christian men, under the patronage of St. Joseph, dedicated to strengthening the family.
Domestic-Church.com
Domestic-Church.com hopes to promote a Catholic culture in every family that will lead to the transformation of society and a truly Catholic culture in the world.
Family Life Center.net
Excellent online resource for Catholic families associated with Dads.org.
Just for Kids
Catholic Kids Net.org
Working with kids from pre-school to 8th grade, Kids for Jesus (K4J) is a monthly program that teaches kids about their faith, how to live a life of virtue, and how to be young apostles for Christ. Available at a parish or community level (teams) or for individual families within their own home.
EWTN Kids
EWTN.com's colorful, innovative and faith-filled children's section. Sure to be a family favorite.
Natural Family Planning (NFP)
Couple to Couple League (ccli.org)
The best online resource dealing with natural family planning.
Creighton Model Fertility Care System (creightonmodel.com) RoL Favorite!
The best online resource dealing with natural family planning using the Creighton Model method.
One More Soul (omsoul.com)
Dedicated to spreading the truth about the blessings of children and the harms of contraception; they carry a wide variety of educational resources, including tapes, videos, and books.
Pope Paul VI Institute (popepaulvi.com) RoL Favorite!
The Pope Paul VI Institute is the only Catholic Institution of its type in the United States and perhaps the world that has dedicated its services to the development of morally and professionally acceptable reproductive health services. The Institute is nationally and internationally recognized for its major accomplishements, including the Creighton Model FertilityCare™ System (CrMS), the official language of a woman's health and fertility and the new women's health science, NaProTECHNOLOGY.