The following books are books that I recommend. Please note that I may not always agree with everything the author says but I believe that you do not have to agree with someone one hundred percent to learn something from them.

And Now I See…
A Theology of Transformation
By Robert Barron
This book by Robert Barron, is a must have for the modern Catholic.  Robert Barron takes the complex theology of the Church and brings it down to an understandable level for the average Christian.  His writings have given me a new understanding of the problems facing the Catholic Church and a new insight in how to live my faith in the modern world.
Barron, Robert And Now I See… A Theology of Transformation (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 1998).

Beyond the Mirror:
Reflections on Death and Life
By Henri J. Nouwen
Henri Nouwen wrote this book after a near death experience.  He was hit by a car.  Henri uses his recover time to reflect on the mystery of life and death in the light of his Catholic Faith.  I personally love Henri Nouwen’s way of putting his spiritual insights into language that can help the everyday Christian understand is or her own spiritual experience.
Nouwen, Henri J.: Beyond the Mirror: Reflections on Death and Life (New York: Crossroad Publishing Company, 1990

Can You Drink the Cup?
By Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen reflects on the imagery of drinking in order to explore the spiritual aspect of celebrating life.
Nouwen, Henri: Can You Drink the Cup? (Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press, 1996)

Catholic For A Reason:
Scripture And The Mystery Of The Family Of God
Edited by Scott Hahn and Leon J. Suprenant
In this book Scott Hahn and others describe the Catholic Faith is a series of articles.  The great thing about this series of book is how they use Scripture to highlight their spiritual insights.  A must have for every Catholic.
Catholic For A Reason: Scripture And The Mystery Of The Family Of God Edited by Scott Hahn and Leon J. Suprenant (Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Road Publishing. 1998)

Catholic For A Reason II
Scripture and The Mystery of the Mother of God
Edited by Leon J. Suprenant, Jr.
In this book Scott Hahn and others describe the Catholic Faith in a special way the role of Mary in a series of articles.  The great thing about this series of book is how they use Scripture to highlight their spiritual insights.  A must have for every Catholic.
Catholic for a Reason II: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mother of God, edited by Leon J. Suprenant, Jr. (Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2000).

Catholic For A Reason III
Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass
Edited by Scott Hahn & Regis Flaherty
In this book Scott Hahn and others describe the Catholic Faith in a special way the role of the Mass in a series of articles.  The great thing about this series of book is how they use Scripture to highlight their spiritual insights.  A must have for every Catholic.
Catholic For A Reason III: Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass edited by Scott Hahn & Regis Flaherty (Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Road, 2004)

Creative Ministry
By Henri Nouwen
This book is a much have for every Christian minister.  In his reflection on Christian Ministry Henri Nouwen describes what makes the Christian person minister different for just any other social worker.  Henri Nouwen’s insights can help make any Christian minister more Christ centered.
Nouwen, Henry: Creative Ministry (USA: Image Book, 2003)

The Divine Romance
By Fulton J. Sheen
In this very short book Henri Nouwen describes the fantastic and mysterious fact that our God is deeply and madly in love with us and that we are although sometime unbeknownst to us in love with God. 
Sheen, Fulton J: The Divine Romance (New York: Alba House, 1982)

Experiencing Bereavement
By Helen Alexander
I absolutely love this book by Helen Alexander.  This book has given me keen insights into how to respond to the death of a love one and to help others respond to the death of their love ones.  It is a must have for all Christian ministers.
Alexander, Helen: Experiencing Bereavement (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2002)

First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the Trinity
Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn helps break open the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity and shows how the Life of the Most Holy Trinity is a model for life within the Church and in our own human families.  I highly recommend this book to all Catholics and most importantly to all families.
Hahn, Scott: First Comes Love: Finding Your Family in the Church and the Trinity (New York: Doubleday, 2002)

God and You
Prayer as a Personal Relationship
By: William A. Barry, S.J.
I found this book to be a good book for beginners who wish to learn the basics of true prayer.  It is mostly about the idea that true prayer is the same as building a relationship with God.
Barry, William J. God and You: Prayer as A Personal Relationship (New York: Paulist Press 1987)

Good News About Sex and Marriage:
Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching

By Christopher West

Christopher West is probably the best author out there when it comes to explaining the Church’s great teaching on sexuality.  I recommend this book for all Catholics especially those who do not understand the Church’s teaching on Sexuality.
West, Christopher, Good News About Sex and Marriage: Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Teaching (Ann Arbor, MI: Servant Publications, 2000)

Growing An Engaged Church:
How to Stop “Doing Church” and Start Being Church Again
By Albert Winseman
I was first introduced to the work Gallup (yes the company that does the polls) was doing with Churches by my first pastor.  I found their work insightful and I found this book to be a wonderful insight into the status of Christian churches (Catholic and Protestants) in the United States of America.
Winseman, Albert: Growing an Engaged Church: How to Stop “Doing Church” and Start Being Church Again. (New York, Gallup Press, 2007)

Hail Holy Queen:
The Mother of God in the Word of God
By Scott Hahn
In this book, Scott Hahn helps the everyday Catholic understand the role of Mary in the Church.  I loved Scott Hahn’s use of Scripture (especially the Old Testament) to demonstrate how Mary deserves her place of honor. 

Hahn, Scott: Hail Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God (New York: Doubleday, 2001)

Heaven In Stone And Glass:
Experiencing the Spirituality of the
Gothic Cathedral
By Robert Barron
In this book Robert Barron demonstrates the spiritual symbolism used in building the Great Gothic Cathedrals of Europe.  This book showed me a lot of the symbolism used in Church architecture of today (if on a smaller version.)
Barron, Robert Heaven In Stone And Glass: Experiencing the Spirituality of the Gothic Cathedral (New York: The Crossroad Publishing Company, 2000)

The Joy of the Priesthood
By Fr. Stephen Rossetti
As a priest, I found this book to be very enlightening and uplifting.  I truly recommend this book to my brother priests.
Rossetti, Fr. Stephen The Joy of the Priesthood (Notre Dame, Indiana: Ave Maria Press, 2005)

A Letter of Consolation
By Henri Nouwen
Henri Nouwen wrote a letter six months after his mother’s death to his father explaining how his mother’s death had changed him forever.  This is that letter written in book form with his father’s permission.  I personally gained many new insights into the Paschal mystery.
Nouwen, Henri: A Letter of Consolation (San Francisco, Harper San Francisco, 1982)

The Life of Christ
Fulton J. Sheen
In this book Fulton Sheen writes a biography of Christ through combining all four Gospels.  I believe that this book can be a great source of inspiration and give a lot insight into the understanding of Sacred Scripture.
Sheen, Fulton J. The Life of Christ (New York: Image Books Double Day, 1977)

Life-Giving Love
Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage
By Kimberly Hahn
In this book Kimberly Hahn gives great insight into the Church’s teaching on sexuality from a woman’s point of view.
Hahn, Kimberly Life-Giving Love: Embracing God’s Beautiful Design for Marriage (Ann Arbor, MI: Charis Servant Publications, 2001)

Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession

Scott Hahn

In this book Scott Hahn helps break open the great gift of the Sacrament of Reconciliation up in order to help Catholics understand the power of the gift.  I encourage all who struggle with the idea of the Sacrament of Reconciliation to read this book and then to go and celebrate the sacrament.
Hahn, Scott : Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession (New York: Doubleday, 2003)

Our Grounds for Hope
Enduring Words of Comfort and Assurance
By Fulton Sheen
This small book by Fulton Sheen contains many small reflections on the Life of Christ.
Sheen, Fulton: Our Grounds for Hope: Enduring Words of Comfort and Assurance (Totowa, NJ: Catholic book Publishing Company, 2000)

The Priest is Not His Own
By Fulton Sheen
Fulton Sheen writes a powerful book for priests to read.  Using different Scriptural images, Fulton Sheen helps to show some key aspects of priestly ministry.
Sheen, Fulton: The Priest is Not His Own (San Francisco, Ignatius Press 1963)

Reaching Out:
The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life
By Henri J. Nouwen
This book is one of the key books to my spirituality.  In this book Henri Nouwen talks about three movements within the spiritual life.  The first movement is from loneliness to solitude, the second movement is from hostility to hospitality, and the third movement is from illusion to prayer. 
Nouwen, Henri, J.  Reaching Out: The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life (New York: Image Books Doubleday, 1975)

The Road of Hope
A Gospel from Prison
By Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan
I love this book it is written by a Vietnamese bishop who was held prisoner and tortured by the communist.  Writing this book he gives a lot of spiritual insights into the life of everyday faith from his ordinary experience.
Thuan, Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan: The Road Of Hope: A Gospel from Prison (Boston: Pauline Books & Media, 2001)

The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work:
A Practical Guide From the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert
By John Gottman and Nan Silver
I use this book as one of the foundations for both my spiritual life and for my marriage prep.  He offers very practical tips on how to build stronger relationships.
Gottman, John and Nan Silver: The Seven Principles For Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide From the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert (New York: Three Rivers Press, 1999).

The Spirituality of Imperfection:
Storytelling and the Search for Meaning
By Ernest Kurtz & Katherine Ketcham
One of the key books in my spiritual life is this book.  In this book, I learned about the spiritual history of Alcoholics Anonymous ( I am not an alcoholic by the way).  The book gives great insight into the human condition and all of our tendencies to become addicted and to feel depressed.  This book helps us to understand that real perfection comes from trying to be our best while accepting our imperfections.

Kurtz, Ernest & Katherine Ketcham: The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning (New York: Bantam Books Doubleday, 2002)

Stumbling Blocks And Stepping Stones
Spiritual Answers To Psychological Questions
By Benedict J. Groeschel
This book is a great book and is another of the foundational book to my spiritual life.  I particularly love chapter two in which he talks about the gift of faith and the mystery of why some people do not believe in God.
Groeschel, Benedict, Stumbling Blocks And Stepping Stones: Spiritual Answers to Psychological Questions (New York: Paulist Press, 1987)

Swear to God:
The Promise and Power of The Sacraments
By Scott Hahn
Scott Hahn helps us all understand the Sacraments better.  His key insight in this book is all about the power of oaths and covenants.
Hahn, Scott: Swear to God: The Promise and Power of the Sacraments (New York: Double Day) 2003.

The Return of the Prodigal Son:
A Story of Homecoming
By Henri Nouwen
This book by Henri Nouwen is tremendous.  A must read.  It helped me coming to a greater understanding of this great parable and how the parable helps me understand my relationship with God.
Nouwen, Henri: The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming (New York: Doubleday, 1994)

Theology of the Body For Beginners:
A Basic Introduction of Pope John Paul II’s Sexual Revolution
By Christopher West
Christopher West has made himself the best when it comes to understanding the Church’s teaching on sexuality.
West, Christopher: Theology of the Body for Beginners: A Basic Introduction to Pope John Paul II’s Sexual Revolution. (West Chester, PA: Ascension Press, 2004)

Understanding “Our Father”
Biblical reflections on the Lord’s Prayer
By: Scott Hahn
A great book that sheds light of the great prayer that Jesus taught us.  It shows the Our Father is not only a great prayer but a model for all prayers.
Hahn, Scott Understanding “Our Father” Biblical reflections on the Lord’s Prayer (Steubenville, Ohio: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2002)

Why Be Catholic?
Understanding our Experiences & Tradition
By Richard Rohr w/ Joseph Martos
I found this book to be exciting and it gave me some great insight into the Church’s life.
Rohr, Richard: Why Be Catholic: Understanding Our Experiences & Tradition (Cincinnati, Ohio: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1989.)

With Burning Hearts:
A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life
By Henri J. M. Nouwen
This is a small book with a great meditation on the story of the Road to Emmaus and the role of the Eucharist in our lives.
Nouwen, Henri, J. M. With Burning Hearts: A Meditation on the Eucharistic Life (New York: Orbis Books, 1994)

The World’s First Love
Mary, Mother of God
By Fulton J. Sheen
In this book Fulton Sheen sheds light on the Church’s teaching on the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Sheen, Fulton J. The World’s First Love: Mary Mother of God (San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1952)