Third in a series

In last week’s column, I mentioned five books that I read when I was a seminarian, five books that had a profound impact on me. In this week’s column I want to mention another five books, five that I read after being ordained a priest.

This looking back on books that have played a role in my life has been provoked by Don Brophy’s new book “One Hundred Great Catholic Books” (Blue Bridge, an imprint of United Tribes Media, Inc.). It has been enjoyable recalling these books, a little like meeting old friends. Each book has insights that have shaped my way of looking at self, neighbor and God. Though I don’t know which, if any, of these books I will re-read in the near future, just thinking about them has been both a refreshing and renewing experience for me. Though some of the books on my list are “dated” they still speak to me.

I am not claiming that the five books mentioned in last week’s column and the five in this column are the 10 best books I have ever read but only that when I read them I was deeply affected. As I indicated last week, I am not including novels in my lists.

The five books that had a strong impact since I was ordained more than 45 years ago are Michael Himes’ “Doing the Truth in Love,” Ronald Rolheiser’s “The Holy Longing,” Bernard Cooke’s “Christian Sacraments and Christian Personality,” Gregory Baum’s “Man Becoming” and John Haught’s “What Is God?”

I first met Michael Himes when he was 14 years old and I was 26. Michael had just graduated from Our Lady of Good Counsel grammar school in Bedford-Stuyvesant and I was a newly ordained priest running a religious vacation summer school at the parish. After he had obtained his doctorate in Historical Theology from the University of Chicago, I heard Michael lecture on several occasions and experienced firsthand what an excellent teacher he is. Reading his book is like listening to him speak.

Rolheiser’s book is simply one of the two or three finest books in spiritual theology I have ever read. I have discussed it with friends and given an adult education course based on it. No one I know whom I have encouraged to read the book has been disappointed with it.
When I arrived at Marquette University in 1964 to pursue doctoral studies in philosophy, I learned that it was possible to minor in another subject. I minored in theology or rather I minored in Bernard Cooke!

A few days after I arrived at the university, Cooke’s book came out. There was a book signing at a local bookstore and I attended. Though I had heard Bernard lecture previously, this was the first time I had a chance to speak with him. A friendship began that has lasted 40 years.

In my 23 years of going to school – elementary, high school, college, seminary and graduate school – I had some excellent teachers. Bernard Cooke was the best. He had the intelligence and the talent to present very profound and exciting ideas in a clear way.

On one occasion, I heard Bernard give a lecture at the University of Wisconsin to about 700 people on “The Death of God.” As I recall, he spoke about Plato, St. Thomas, Kant, Nietzsche and Resurrection Theology. He looked down at his notes, which I believe consisted of one piece of paper, five times during the talk. I suspect the notes were five words: Plato, Thomas, Descartes, Nietzsche, Resurrection. For an hour, Bernard had the audience spellbound. I think it takes a kind of genius to do that. Cooke’s book contains some of his wisdom.

“Man Becoming” changed my understanding of redemption and of God’s loving presence to all people. I think it is a great book.

More than 20 years ago, I began to teach a course at St. John’s University called “The Problem of God.” I needed a book that would present a contemporary view of God. While trying to find such a book, I came upon an ad in a Catholic magazine for a new book. What was in the ad moved me to take a chance and order the book for the course even though I had not read it. The book, John Haught’s “What Is God?,” changed my life. Not only have I used it in the course for the last 20 years but I have given retreats and days of recollection based on it. I think of “What Is God?” as a mini-masterpiece.

What books have affected you deeply?

Editor’s Note: If you would like to share the names of your favorite books with us, email the names to ewilkinson@thetablet.org.