A Bibliography of the Current Crisis in the Catholic Church

In 1996, a fellow student at the Novus Ordo high school I attended engaged me on Vatican II and the New Mass, things I was quite ignorant about, despite being an engaged-in-my-faith Catholic.  He gave me two books: What has Happened to the Catholic Church by the Fathers Radecki, CMRI, and The Problems with the New Mass, by Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy.  These books shook my Catholic foundations and questioned everything I didn’t know about the past 40 years of Church history.  I would go on to read Open Letter to Confused Catholics, They Have Uncrowned Him, both by Archbishop Lefebvre, and everything that Michael Davies ever wrote in pamphlet and book form.  I have read much more since.

An intellectual mentor of mine once said, “When someone says, ‘I don’t know much about x, y, z, but…’ remember to disregard anything that comes out of his/her mouth afterwards.”  You do not have a RIGHT to an opinion (no matter what the US Constitution tells you), much less do most people who have not given considered thought nor possess enough education to have useful or insightful opinions into serious matters.  So too, I believe that anyone who has not, for example, at least read all of the documents of Vatican II but presumes to have an opinion about them renders him/herself absurd. 

What I have enclosed in the bibliography below are 162 books and articles that I have read in the last 15 years which I feel are fundamentally necessary to having useful and productive conversations about the crisis today (note: some of these works are as short as 6 pages, some as lengthy as 800 pages – don’t be intimidated by how long the list is…the important thing is to begin).  If you’ve read most of these works, you have a very panoramic view of the crisis and probably possess a diligence of spirit that assumes you can actually learn something from talking to people you disagree with.  I would note that I’ve exempted devotional and doctrinal works from this list, because they are not strictly speaking oriented to the Crisis, but those works provide invaluable “background” information that is simply assumed that a Catholic knows.  I’ve also excluded “restorationist” works that I deeply value and love, such as Dr. Marian Horvat’s indispensible A Catholic Manual of Civility and Courtesy Calls Again, Dr. John Senior’s Restoration of Christian Culture, the Integrity series as republished by Angelus Press, or Hilaire Belloc's Essay on the Restoration of Property.  I think it is vital that a Catholic first understand the problems within the Church, and as such, will see how the Church’s eclipse so deeply affects everything else in our fallen world – our politics, customs and courtesies, our economics. 

While I should not have to make this disclaimer, I feel that the current level of so-called intellectual debate requires me to say that I do not endorse all the views of an author simply because I list them on this bibliography (indeed, some of them might shout from the rooftops that they disagree with me!).  The authors and their works are listed because they are providing actual engagement in real issues of importance.

While I think all of these works are important, I’ve underlined the ones that I feel are absolutely crucial for those who have limited time to read.

Beginner Works – necessary for all serious thinking Catholics (not just Traditionalists) and not overly difficult to understand

(31 total, 15 of which are crucial)

AA-1025: Memoirs of an Anti-Apostle, Marie Carre, TAN
Christ Denied, Fr Paul Wickens, TAN
Cranmer’s Godly Order, Michael Davies, Angelus Press
The Great Façade, Thomas Woods and Chris Ferrara, Remnant Press
I accuse the Council!, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Angelus Press
The Kingship of Christ and Organized Naturalism, Fr. Denis Fahey, Christian Book Club of America
Letters from the Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary Vol I, Fr Richard Williamson, True Restoration Press
The Liberal Illusion, Louis Veuillot, Angelus Press
Liberalism is a Sin, Fr. Felix Sarda y Salvany, TAN
Open Letter to Confused Catholics, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Angelus Press
The Ottaviani Intervention, Cardinals Ottaviani and Bacci, Philothea Press
Previews of the New Papacy, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
Quo Primum Tempore, Pope St. Pius V
They Have Uncrowned Him, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Angelus Press
What has Happened to the Catholic Church?, The Fathers Radecki, St Joseph’s Media
A Bishop Speaks, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Angelus Press
Apologia pro Marcel Lefebvre Vols I-III, Michael Davies, Angelus Press
Breaking with the Past, Abbot Francis Gasquet
Catholic Prophecy, Yves Dupont, TAN
Close-ups of the Charismatic Movement, John Vennari, Tradition in Action
EWTN: A Network Gone Wrong, Christopher Ferrara, Remnant Press
Grand Orient Freemasonry Unmasked, Msgr Dillon, Christian Book Club of America
Is Tradition Excommunicated?, SSPX, Angelus Press
Liberalism and Catholicism, Fr. A. Roussel, Angelus Press
The New Rosary, Christopher Ferrara, Remnant Press
Please Don’t Change the Papacy, Tradition in Action
Prophecy for Today, Edward Connor, TAN
Vatican II, Homosexuality, and Pedophilia, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
We Resist You to the Face, Michael Matt, Atila Sinke Guimaraes and others, Remnant Press

Intermediate Works – the reading you can only engage in once you have a working knowledge of the spiderweb of problems created by Vatican II

(78, 45 of which are crucial)

Against the Heresies, Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Angelus Press
Archbishop Lefebvre and the Vatican, Fr. Francois Laisney, Angelus Press
Catechism of the Council of Trent, TAN
Complete Documents of Vatican II
Cum Ex Apostolatus Officio, Pope Paul IV
Diuturnum Illud, Pope Leo XIII
Divini Redemptoris, Pope Pius XI
Duties of the Catholic State in Regard to Religion, Cardinal Alfredo Ottaviani
Freemasonry and the Anti-Christian Movement, Fr. E. Cahill, SJ, MH Gill & Son
E Supremi Apostolatus, St Pius X
Graves di Comuni Re, Pope Leo XIII
Humani Generis, Pope Pius XII
Humanum Genus, Pope Leo XIII
In the Murky Waters of Vatican II, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
The Kingship of Christ and Organized Naturalism, Fr. Denis Fahey, CssP, Christian Book Club of America
The Kingship of Christ according to the Principles of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr, Denis Fahey, CssP, Christian Book Club of America
Lambentabili Sane, St. Pius X
“Letter of the Nine” to Archbishop Lefebvre, TraditionalMass.org
“Letter from the then-Fr. Neville to Bishop Fellay,” TraditionalMass.org
Libertas Praestantissimum, Pope Leo XIII
Mediator Dei, Pope Pius XII
Mens Nostra, Pope Pius XI
Mirari Vos, Pope Gregory XVI
Mit Brendenner Sorge, Pope Pius XI
Mortalium Animos, Pope Pius XI
Mystici Corporis, Pope Pius XII
Oath against Modernism, St Pius X
Papacy and Freemasonry, Msgr Jouin, Christian Book Club of America
Pascendi Domenici Gregis, St Pius X
Pope John’s Council, Michael Davies, Angelus Press
Problems with the New Mass, Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy, TAN
Problems with the Prayers of the New Mass, Fr. Anthony Cekada, TAN
Quadragesimo Anno, Pope Pius XI
Quanta Cura and the Syllabus, Pope Pius IX
Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI
Rerum Novarum, Pope Leo XIII
The Rhine Flows into the Tiber, Fr. Ralph Wiltgen, TAN
The Roman Rite Destroyed, Michael Davies, Angelus Press
The Second Vatican Council and Religious Liberty, Michael Davies, Neumann Press
"Supplied Jurisdiction," Bishop Tissier de Mallerais, Angelus Press
Tumultuous Times, the Fathers Radecki, St Joseph’s Media
"Validity of Confessions and Marriages in the Chapels of the SSPX," Fr. Ramon Angles, Angelus Press
The Whole Truth About Fatima Vols I-III, Br. Michael of the Holy Trinity
Americanism and the Collapse of the Church in the United States, Dr. John Rao
Animus Injurandi, Vols I-II, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
Animus Delendi, Vols I-II, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
Catholic, Apostolic, and Roman, Priests of Campos, Angelus Press
The Catholic Church proven by the Bible, Br. Peter Dimond
The Devil’s Final Battle, Fr. Paul Kramer, The Missionary Association
Ecclesia, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
GIRM Warfare, Dr. Thomas Droleskey, Chartres Communications
The Great Sacrilege, Fr. John Wathen, TAN
History of Antichrist, Rev. P. Huchede, TAN
The Horn of the Unicorn, Dr. David Allen White, Angelus Press
Is it the Same Church?, Frank Sheed, Sheed & Ward
Letters from the Rector of St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary Vols II-IV, Bishop Richard Williamson, True Restoration Press
The Liturgical Movement, Fr. Didier Bonneterre, Angelus Press
Liturgical Time Bombs in Vatican II, Michael Davies, TAN
Marcel Lefebvre, Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Angelus Press
Michael Davies: An Evaluation, John S. Daly
The Mouth of the Lion, Dr. David Allen White, Angelus Press
The Order of Melchisdech, Michael Davies, Roman Catholic Books
Pope Pius IX, Yves Chiron, Angelus Press
Priest where is thy Mass, Mass where is thy Priest?, Various, Angelus Press
The Problem of the Liturgical Reform, Priests of the SSPX, Angelus Press
Restoring Christ as King of All Nations, Dr. Thomas Droleskey, Chartres Communications
The Reign of Christ the King in both Public and Private Life, Michael Davies, TAN
Spiritual Journey, Archbishop Lefebvre, Angelus Press
St Pius X, Yves Chiron, Angelus Press
Twelve Timely Essays on Antichrist, Fr. Charles Coughlin
Trojan Horse in the City of God, Dietrich von Hildebrand, Franciscan Herald Press
Will He Find Faith?, Atila Sinke Guimaraes, Tradition in Action
Who is Dead? God or Democracy? Fr. Charles Coughlin
The complete audio interviews of Bishop Williamson by Bernard Janzen, as delivered over a 20-year period.

Advanced Works – recommended for those with some formal philosophical and theological training and/or those who’ve read the majority of the Beginning and Intermediate lists

(53, of which 12 are crucial)

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994), Doubleday
Desire and Deception, Charles Coulombe, Tumblar House
Framework of a Christian State, Fr. E. Cahill, SJ, Roman Catholic Books
The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Fr. Michael Muller, TAN
Iota Unum, Romano Amerio, Sarto House
"Is that Chair Vacant?", Fr. Dominique Bourmand, SSPX.ca
One Hundred Years of Modernism, Fr. Dominique Bourmand, Angelus Press
The Plot against the Church, Maurice Pinay, Christian Book Club of America
The Reform of the Roman Liturgy, Msgr Klaus Gamber, Roman Catholic Books
“Resisting the Pope, Sedevacantism and Frankenchurch,” Fr. Anthony Cekada, TraditionalMass.org
“The Pius X and John XXIII Missals Compared,” Bp. Daniel Dolan, TraditionalMass.org
Work of Human Hands: A Theological Critique of the New Mass, Fr. Anthony Cekada, Philothea Press
“An Open Letter to Bishop Kelly on the Thuc Bishops,’” Mario Dirksen, M.A., ThucBishops.com
“Absolutely Null and Utterly Void: The 1968 Rite of Episcopal Consecration,” Fr. Anthony Cekada, TraditionalMass.org
Baptism of Desire: A Patristic Commentary, Fr. Jean-Marc Rulleau, Angelus Press
The Case of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre: Trial by Canon Law, Charles P Nemeth, Esq., Angelus Press
A Catechism of Modernism, Fr. J.B. Lemius, OMI, TAN
Centissimus Annus, John Paul II
Code of Canon Law (1917), Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Code of Canon Law (1983), Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Credo of the People of God, Paul VI
Crossing the Threshold of Hope, John Paul II, Knopf
The Destruction of the Christian Tradition, Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy
Deus Caritas Est, Benedict XVI
The Heart of the Mass, SSPX, Sarto House
“Hermeneutic of Benedict XVI,” Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais, Le Sel de la Terre
The Hidden Treasure: Holy Mass, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, TAN
How Christ Said the First Mass, Fr. James Meagher, TAN
Humanae Vitae, Paul VI
The Incredible Catholic Mass, Fr. Martin von Cochem, TAN
Introduction to Christianity, Joseph Ratzinger (also republished recently by Benedict XVI), Ignatius Press
JPII’s Theological Journey to Assisi (2 parts across 4 books), Fr. Joannes Dormann, Angelus Press
Light of the World, Joseph Ratzinger, Ignatius Press
Milestones, Joseph Ratzinger, Ignatius Press
The New Montinian Church, Dr. Joaquin Saenz y Arriaga
Outside the Catholic Church there is Absolutely No Salvation, Brs Peter and Michael Dimond
“The New Ecclesiology: An overview,” Bishop Donald Sanborn, TraditionalMass.org
“Paul VI Beatified?”, Fr. Villa
Pope Paul’s New Mass, Michael Davies, Angelus Press
The Problems with the New Sacraments, Dr. Rama Coomaraswamy
The Ratzinger Report, Joseph Ratzinger and Vittorio Messori, Ignatius Press
Redemptor Hominis, John Paul II
The Robber Church, Patrick Henry Omlor
Salt of the Earth, Joseph Ratzinger and Peter Seewald, Ignatius Press
Sedevacantism: A false solution to a real problem, Angelus Press
“Sedevacantism and Mr. Ferrara’s Cardboard Pope,” Fr. Anthony Cekada, TraditionalMass.org
The Theology of Karl Rahner, Robert McCarthy, Tradition in Action
Tertio Millennio Adveniente, John Paul II
Ut Unum Sint, John Paul II
Veritatis Splendor, John Paul II

TR Press Video Streaming

For some time I have been working on a full video-streaming site.  This would make my interviews cheaper to the general public (no DVD production/shipping/mailing costs) and also available instantly worldwide once the interviews had been posted.

I am glad to announce that the site is finally live.  You can see it at www.truerestorationpress.com/videos.  Access to all my interviews I've ever done, as well as a video of a Traditional Latin Mass, done according to Pius X rubrics, is currently available.  But I think the real value is coming in the next 30 days, as most of the talks given at my regional conference will be available through that site, as well as new interviews I'm doing both then, and at the end of the month.  For more info, read here.

What's the value in subscribing to the video site? 

1.  Access to all the interviews/ceremonies/conferences produced by True Restoration (that number goes from 10 to 22 by July 3rd, hence the discounted charter price being offered).
2.  20% discount on all TRP purchases.
3.  Access to the new content 30 days before anyone else.
4.  An ability to converse with the interviewees and fellow subscribers through a forum.
5.  A chance to ask interviewees follow-up questions.

The Bishop and I

The recent publication of my article Quo Vadis, SSPX : Part I has given rise to some confusion and speculation as to how far Bishop Williamson shares, or is responsible for, the positions taken in that article and/or in others expressing various of my personal opinions. This is partly because he and I have been collaborating at True Restoration Press for the last five years. He has provided much (but not all) of the material published by that Press, for which I am solely responsible. It is thus understandable (though it was not intended) that the Bishop may have been implicated to a greater or lesser extent in my past expressions of personal opinion.

During all that time, however, neither the Bishop nor I have ever had the intention of implying – nor have we ever said – that we agreed with all of each other’s positions on various or any particular issues. What each of us thinks, on his own, is a separate matter from, and certainly of more interest than, any coincidental agreement or disagreement we might have on one or another issue. That said, none of our differences of opinion have ever prevented us from collaborating (I hope and believe fruitfully) as writer or speaker, on the one side, and publisher, on the other.

Thus, True Restoration Press will continue, at least until further notice, to carry the Bishop’s books, sermons and interviews. That these serve a useful purpose by their relating of the integral and eternal Catholic Faith to a highly problematic modern world seems to me unarguable. But my private and public opinions on Church and secular issues, past, present and future – including those expressed in the above-mentioned article – are separate matters, and they have never been nor are they endorsed by the Bishop, explicitly or otherwise.

So, to avoid in the future any improper appearance of endorsement (in either direction) or possibility of confusion, the Bishop’s weekly commentary, known as “Eleison Comments” by Dinoscopus, will be, as of July 1, underwritten not by True Restoration Press but by the website Durendal out of Canada.

The Bishop has seen and explicitly approved this clarification.

True Restoration Regional Conference in June

Messrs. Charles Coulombe and John Sharpe were coming to Kansas City this month to speak to a small group of men on some subjects.  Other attendees suggested that both Dr. David Allen White and Dr. E. Michael Jones come to speak as well.  I reached out and am honored that both men are coming.  Two speakers might be a private affair, but four is a conference, like it or not.

I hope that this rather diverse group of speakers for an impromptu conference signals True Restoration's once and future stance: we stand for truth and do not believe that we can only collaborate with those with whom we agree 100%.  That was a luxury afforded to those in the past.  In the current crisis, it is not ours.  We've gathered a group of erudite speakers who are learned and care about Catholicism, though all do not agree about best remedies to the current crisis.  It will be left to you, the layman, to learn with your brain, to contemplate with prayer, and to act when things are made clear to you, with loyalty to the Church, not to a religious congregation.

Here is the most current copy of the schedule: http://freepdfhosting.com/8e57717c33.pdf

I think you're going to find these talks engaging and interesting, but given the short notice, I can imagine that plane airfares will be pricey (but it doesn't hurt to check: I use Hipmunk.com) but those within a driving distance can come in for the Saturday part of the conference only, which includes dinner with Dr. White at a great Austrian restaurant in the evening.

Cost is $350 for all three days, $150 for Saturday ONLY.  All meals are included.

There are 5 full scholarships available for high-school, undergraduate, and graduate students.  Travel is not included.

For questions of attendance or scholarship, please write to truerestoration at gmail dot com.

More announcements to come in the days ahead.