Books We Have Already Read
Here are the books we’ve already read in our Systematic Theology Project, spanning 19 calendar years.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2024-2025
Revelations of Divine Love (1395) by Julian of Norwich (circa 1342 to circa 1416).
On the Holy Spirit (374) by Basil the Great (330-378).
Das Heilige (1917) by Rudolf Otto (1869–1937).
The Art of Dying Well (1619) by Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621).
The Qur’an (610–632 AD), (the second one-fourth).
SUMMER 2024
none
ACADEMIC YEAR 2023-2024
1 Enoch (circa 300–200 BC). Translation and commentary by George W. E. Nickelsburg.
The Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) by John Bunyan (1628–1688).
The Divine Dance (2020) by Richard Rohr.
The Qur’an (610–632 AD). Chapters 1 to 6. Translation by Laleh Bakhtiar.
SUMMER 2023
none
ACADEMIC YEAR 2022-2023
Life Together (1939) by Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906–1945).
The Bhagavad Gita (second half of the first millennium B.C.), translated by Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948).
Meister Eckhart: Selections from his Essential Writings by Eckhart von Hochheim OP (circa 1260 to circa 1328).
Abandonment to Divine Providence, by Jean Pierre de Caussade (1675 to 1751 AD).
The Catechetical Instructions of St. Thomas Aquinas (circa 1225 to 1274).
Dialogue of St. Catherine of Sienna (1347–1380).
Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life by Henry J. M. Nouwen (1932–1996).
SUMMER 2022
none
ACADEMIC YEAR 2021-2022
The Interior Castle, by Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582).
The Dark Night, by John of the Cross (1542-1591).
On the Incarnation, by Athanasius of Alexandria (296-298 to 373).
Fear and Trembling, by Søren Kierkegaard (1813–1855).
The Introductions to the following documents from the Second Vatican Council:
- Gravissimum Educationis – Declaration on Christian Education.
- Inter Mirifica – Decree on the Media of Social Communications.
- Orientalium Ecclesiarum – Decree on the Catholic Churches of the Eastern Rite.
- Christus Dominus – Decree Concerning the Pastoral Office of Bishops in the Church.
- Perfectae Caritatis – Decree on the Adaptation and Renewal of Religious Life.
- Optatam Totius – Decree on Priestly Training.
- Apostolicam Actuositatem – Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity.
- Ad Gentes – Decree Ad Gentes On the Missionary Activity of the Church.
- Presbyterorum Ordinis – Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests.
SUMMER 2021
The Cloud of Unknowing, in the 14th century.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2020 – 2021
Dignitatis Humanae — Declaration on Religious Freedom, by the Second Vatican Council.
Letter from a Birmingham Jail, by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, by Bryan Massingale.
Interior Freedom, by Jacques Philippe.
Gaudium et Spes — Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, by the Second Vatican Council.
Homanisation, by Karl Rahner.
Sacrosanctum Concilium — Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, by the Second Vatican Council.
Unitatis Redintegratio — Decree on Ecumenism, by the Second Vatican Council.
Return of the Prodigal Son, by Henri J. M. Nouwen (1932–1996).
SUMMER 2020
The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis (1898–1963).
ACADEMIC YEAR 2019-2020
A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter (1924-2021), chapters 33 and 34.
Meaning of Tradition, by Yves Congar.
Lectures on Justification, by John Henry Newman (1801-1890), chapters 1 to 3.
A Testament of Devotion, by Thomas Raymond Kelly.
Living Buddha, Living Christ, by Thich Nhat Hahn.
Dei Verbum — Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, by the Second Vatican Council.
Lumen Gentium — Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, by the Second Vatican Council.
Nostra Aetate — Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, by the Second Vatican Council. Read our commentary of paragraph 4 on this page.
SUMMER 2019
none
ACADEMIC YEAR 2018-2019
Rerum Novarum, by Leo XIII.
A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter (1924-2021), chapters 25 and 26.
Poems by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844–1889):
- Lead, Kindly Light
- God’s Grandeur
- Windover
- Pied Beauty
The Inner Experience: Notes on Contemplation, by Thomas Merton.
Mere Christianity, by C. S. Lewis (1898–1963).
Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Writings Selected by Ursula King.
SUMMER 2018
The Problem of Pain (1940) by C. S. Lewis (1898–1963).
ACADEMIC YEAR 2017-2018
A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter (1924-2021), selections.
A History of Christian Thought, by Paul Tillich (1886–1965), selections.
The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence.
Discourse on the Method, by René Descartes (1596-1650).
Selections by John Henry Newman (1801-1890).
First Vatican Council.
Orthodoxy, by G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936).
SUMMER 2017
Cur Deus Homo, by Anselm of Canterbury.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2016-2017
The Life of Teresa of Jesus by Teresa of Ávila(1515-1582).
Commentary on Galatians, by Dr. Martin Luther.
SUMMER 2016
ACADEMIC YEAR 2015-2016
Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification.
On Learned Ignorance, by Nicholas of Cusa.
The Ninety-Five Theses, by Dr. Martin Luther.
The 404 Theses, by Johann Eck.
The Spiritual Exercises, by Ignatius of Loyola.
The Smalcald Articles, by Dr. Martin Luther.
SUMMER 2015
The Apology of Socrates.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2014-2015
Third Council of Constantinople, in 680/681 AD.
Second Council of Nicaea, in 787 AD.
Fourth Council of Constantinople, in 869-870 AD.
Proslogion, by Anselm of Canterbury.
Second Council of the Lateran, in 1139 AD.
On Loving God, by Bernard of Clairvaux.
First Council of Lyon, in 1245 AD.
The Divine Comedy, by Dantè Alighieri (1265-1321)
Imitation of Christ, by Thomas a Kempis.
Revelations of Divine Love, by Julian of Norwich.
SUMMER 2014
- Simply Jesus
- Putting the Gospels Back Together
- How God became King
- Sacraments and New Creation
ACADEMIC YEAR 2013-2014
The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, by Clement I of Rome (97 AD).
The Didache, by the Shepherd of Hermas.
First Council of Nicaea, in 325 AD.
The Sayings of the Desert Fathers, by Sister Benedicta Ward, SLG.
On the Holy Spirit, by Basil the Great (330-378).
First Council of Constantinople, in 381 AD.
The Council of Ephesus, in 431 AD.
The Rule of Saint Benedict, by Benedict of Nursia.
The Council of Chalcedon, in 451 AD.
Second Council of Constantinople, in 553 AD.
SUMMER 2013
The Story of a Soul, by Thérèse of Lisieux.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2012-2013
Catholicism DVDs, by Robert Barron (born 1959), Episodes 6-10 and Study Guide.
SUMMER 2012
ACADEMIC YEAR 2011-2012
Catholicism DVDs, by Robert Barron (born 1959), Episodes 1-5 and Study Guide.
SUMMER 2011
The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2010-2011
Confessions, by Augustine of Hippo.
Fides et ratio, by John Paul II.
Verbum Domini, by Benedict XVI.
SUMMER 2010
A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter (1924-2021), first half.
ACADEMIC YEAR 2009-2010
A History of Christian Thought, by Paul Tillich (1886–1965).
A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter (1924-2021), second half.
SUMMER 2009
Paths to Holiness, by Robert Barron (born 1959).
ACADEMIC YEAR 2008-2009
The New Testament.
SUMMER 2008
Seminars by Todd Van Natta:
- The Interior Castle (1577), by Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582)
- The Liturgy of the Hours
- The Living Flame of Love by John of the Cross (1542-1591)
- The Secret (DVD)