Need a couple of book recommendations

[constantconvert]

I'm looking for a couple of books, can you recommend anything?

First, I'm looking for a collection of the writing of Church fathers, like the letter of Clement to the Corinthians, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Ignatus, etc. I don't mind a brief introduction to the writings, but I mainly want the actual writings not commentary by a modern author.

Second I'm looking for a good prayer book. Mostly I will use it at Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation. I need something with some good prayers for communion, contrition, examination of conscience, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament. Of course it can include other types of prayer too. The book I have now just doesn't cut it, and I can't find a good one at the Catholic book store, so I'll have to order it sight unseen online. Does anyone have a prayer book they are very fond of?

Thanks!

[Splagchnizomai]

1. Didache, which has some of the earliest writings of the Church Fathers.

2a. Shorter Christian Prayer, which will get you started praying the Liturgy of the Hours. I use a prayer card with an Act of Contrition inside the book.

2b. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament by St Alphonsus Ligouri, which is more specifically geared towards adoration and Eucharistic visits.

[CalCatholic]

'The Teachings of the Church Fathers', by John R. Willis, S.J. (Ignatius Press)

[Fiasco]

New Advent has a CD-ROM which might help. Among other stuff, it has the writings of a lot of the Church Fathers:

http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/

[Skygor]

The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin.

[constantconvert]

Originally Posted by Skygor

The Fathers Know Best by Jimmy Akin.

Is it mostly the Church Father's writings? I got the feeling that JImmy Akin did the lion's share of the writing

[Skygor]

Originally Posted by constantconvert

Is it mostly the Church Father's writings? I got the feeling that JImmy Akin did the lion's share of the writing

Ah you are correct. I missed that stipulation in your request. Recommendation retracted.

[Jacob18]

Originally Posted by constantconvert

I'm looking for a couple of books, can you recommend anything?

First, I'm looking for a collection of the writing of Church fathers, like the letter of Clement to the Corinthians, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Ignatus, etc. I don't mind a brief introduction to the writings, but I mainly want the actual writings not commentary by a modern author.

Second I'm looking for a good prayer book. Mostly I will use it at Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation. I need something with some good prayers for communion, contrition, examination of conscience, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament. Of course it can include other types of prayer too. The book I have now just doesn't cut it, and I can't find a good one at the Catholic book store, so I'll have to order it sight unseen online. Does anyone have a prayer book they are very fond of?

Thanks!

http://www.amazon.com/The-Sayings-De...7015954&sr=8-1

[Splagchnizomai]

Originally Posted by constantconvert

Is it mostly the Church Father's writings? I got the feeling that JImmy Akin did the lion's share of the writing

I don't own the book, but I recall flipping through it at a bookstore. I got the sense that it was a compilation -- straight from the Fathers' mouths --- though it arranged expertly by Akins.

[mdgspencer]

You could purchase "Early Christian Writers," edited by Maxwell Staniforth. This provides English translations of original writings of the earliest Fathers: including Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians, the epistles of Ignatius, Polycarp's epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp (though it doesn't include the writings of Justin Martyr). You could also get "Apostolic Fathers" edited by Francis Glimm, though this is more expensive. I don't have this last volume with me now, but I recall that it has writings of the same authors as the first. "Early Christian Writers."
The Fathers of the Church produced a vast literature. There are a number of volumnous sets of the most important writings of the Fathers. Rather than purchasing one of these sets (which are all incomplete,), you could go on the "New Advent" site and select "Fathers" at the top of their home page. One of the translation series of the Fathers into the English language is a 35 large-page volume set--the New Advent site provides a scanned-in version of this 35 volume translation of the Fathers, a set no longer under copyright.
I will check the Jimmy Akin book out myself, though perhaps it doesn't publish works of the Fathers in their entirety??
I am a little surprised that some of the responders identified books about the Fathers rather than books providing their actual writings--but, still, good books about the Fathers are worth knowing too,

[constantconvert]

Originally Posted by mdgspencer

You could purchase "Early Christian Writers," edited by Maxwell Staniforth. This provides English translations of original writings of the earliest Fathers: including Clement's First Epistle to the Corinthians, the epistles of Ignatius, Polycarp's epistle to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp (though it doesn't include the writings of Justin Martyr). You could also get "Apostolic Fathers" edited by Francis Glimm, though this is more expensive. I don't have this last volume with me now, but I recall that it has writings of the same authors as the first. "Early Christian Writers."
The Fathers of the Church produced a vast literature. There are a number of volumnous sets of the most important writings of the Fathers. Rather than purchasing one of these sets (which are all incomplete,), you could go on the "New Advent" site and select "Fathers" at the top of their home page. One of the translation series of the Fathers into the English language is a 35 large-page volume set--the New Advent site provides a scanned-in version of this 35 volume translation of the Fathers, a set no longer under copyright.
I will check the Jimmy Akin book out myself, though perhaps it doesn't publish works of the Fathers in their entirety??
I am a little surprised that some of the responders identified books about the Fathers rather than books providing their actual writings--but, still, good books about the Fathers are worth knowing too,

Thank you, that's very helpful.

[constantconvert]

I ordered my prayer book-- went with The Handbook of Prayers. Looks really good.

[constantconvert]

Originally Posted by Splagchnizomai

1. Didache, which has some of the earliest writings of the Church Fathers.

2a. Shorter Christian Prayer, which will get you started praying the Liturgy of the Hours. I use a prayer card with an Act of Contrition inside the book.

2b. Visits to the Blessed Sacrament by St Alphonsus Ligouri, which is more specifically geared towards adoration and Eucharistic visits.

I have Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, I like it a lot. Also The Blessed Sacrament, God with Us

I tried Shorter Christian Prayer, but I'm not that disciplined

[fred conty]

Originally Posted by constantconvert

I'm looking for a couple of books, can you recommend anything?

First, I'm looking for a collection of the writing of Church fathers, like the letter of Clement to the Corinthians, Justin Martyr, Polycarp, Ignatus, etc. I don't mind a brief introduction to the writings, but I mainly want the actual writings not commentary by a modern author.

Second I'm looking for a good prayer book. Mostly I will use it at Mass, Adoration, and Reconciliation. I need something with some good prayers for communion, contrition, examination of conscience, sitting before the Blessed Sacrament. Of course it can include other types of prayer too. The book I have now just doesn't cut it, and I can't find a good one at the Catholic book store, so I'll have to order it sight unseen online. Does anyone have a prayer book they are very fond of?

Thanks!

There are so many different kinds of prayer books and booklets around.

You could make up a collection of prayers for youself. When you find a prayer that you like jot it down and include it in you own collection. It is difficult to find one book that fits your own way of thinking and praying, as well as the occasions you would like to have. I have found some prayers to be quite good but I didn't prefer the old style language they were written in, so it is easy to change that to make it meaningful. Or certain prayers were good but then one or other sentence didn't appeal to my way of thinking. Or others had a section that was good and from that a good part a prayer could be made.

You might also consider the hymnal. Some verses in the hymns are absolutely beautiful.
Some could be used to spend time thinking about in thoughtful slow prayer.
Also certain psalms and parts of the psalms are good.
There are also the biographies and writting of the saints that have so many good prayers in them. For example in the Diary of St. Faustina, the divine chaplet, and especially the prayer
"O Blood and water...". Mother Teresa's books have some wonderful ideas of prayer. And the standard, The Little Flower and St. Francis. St. Gertrude as well.

There are also some prayers with a plenary indulgences attached by the church.

Maybe you could publish a collection yourself for all occassions. How many people like yourself are looking for one like you?

Just a few ideas..

[fred conty]

Ps. Start a thread to collect prayers for certain times, or a collection of famous prayers, or........