The Clergy Speaks – Cardinal Donald Wuerl

Last updated on: August 18, 2014 at 5:30 pm by Pete Socks

The Clergy Speaks – Cardinal Donald Wuerl 2014-08-16T06:26:01-05:00 Pete Socks

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Welcome back to “The Clergy Speaks”, a recurring feature here at The Catholic Book Blogger. “The Clergy Speaks” is a column focusing on one question I have asked various members of the clergy. That question is: What five books would you recommend as must-reads for Catholics today? I left the responses open to current or classic books with the only restriction being that the Bible and the Catechism could not be used as they are a given. This week we welcome Cardinal Donald Wuerl Archbishop of Washington.

The Cardinal was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and attended The Catholic University of America, the Gregorian University and has a doctorate in theology from Saint Thomas University in Rome. He was ordained a bishop by Pope John Paul II in 1986, in Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome. He served as a bishop in Seattle and also in Pittsburgh until his appointment to Washington. His titular church in Rome is Saint Peter in Chains.

Here are Cardinal Wuerl’s picks for must read books:

Thank you for the invitation to participate in your survey. You asked me to recommend five “must read” books, so here are my choices.

1. Redemptor Hominis, the first encyclical letter of Pope John Paul II. This letter calls all of us to reflect on the unique, saving role of Jesus; but it also outlines the teaching program of Saint John Paul’s ministry, which lasted for over 26 years. As I paid tribute to this extraordinary teacher, I reflected on his encyclicals and apostolic exhortations in the book The Gift of Saint John Paul II. A true understanding of this great Shepherd of the Church begins with his first encyclical.

2. Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI). This work was completed in 1969, when there was so much confusion in the world of catechesis. The author wrote with rare clarity and persuasive power as he helped readers to refocus their understanding of the perennial faith of the Catholic Church. Throughout his life, he wrote many profound works; and he continued to do so as Pope Benedict XVI, producing letters (such as his encyclical God Is Love), addresses, and even books.

3. Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales. This book — with a preface by the author dated 1609 — remains a spiritual classic. I first started using this book as a source of meditation when I was fifteen years old. I continue to keep a copy of it at my prie-dieu in the chapel of my residence.

4. The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis. In understanding the “Francis effect,” one needs to begin with this apostolic exhortation. Though it follows in the wake of the Synod on the New Evangelization, it also incorporates so much of the Pope’s own vision. He tells us how the Church should not only proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ but, more importantly, live that Gospel day to day. This is the action plan.

5. I hesitate to include any of my own titles; but I do write books — and I write only books for which I’ve identified an urgent need. So consistency urges that I include the trilogy of titles I wrote with Mike Aquilina. The books address the basic elements of Catholic life, as evident by their titles: The Mass, The Church, and (forthcoming in September) *The Feasts.*These are things most precious to Catholics: their sacred rites, their home parishes and favorite places of worship, and the annual feasts so rich in customs. God has sanctified time and space for us. I hope these books can open readers’ lives to all the holiness that’s so close at hand.

I hope that these recommendations will be useful to your readers, as all these books have been useful to me.

With every good wish I remain

Faithfully in Christ,

Donald Cardinal Wuerl

Archbishop of Washington

The Clergy Speaks

Cardinal Donald Wuerl

The Clergy Speaks

Previous Post

August 18, 2014

See how the Word stooped down to us, Church Fathers: 028

Next Post

August 19, 2014 Imitate Christ and learn the power of humility, Church Fathers: Day 029

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category A Year with Mary A Year with the Angels A Year with the Church Fathers Book News Children's Review Featured CD Giveaway Guest Post Interview Linked Review Media review Movie Review New Releases Off the Shelf Review speakers Teen Review The Clergy Speaks The Laity Speaks The Open Book Podcast Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz