Books I am packing for college: 2nd installment

Two years ago, my sister Anna wrote a blog post about the books she and Trey were taking to the first year at college (you can read the post HERE).

Now, I have graduated high school and Ieave for college shortly (where there is a Catholic Church less than two blocks away from my dorm)! I’ve started making my list of books that I would like to bring with me to college. I thought I would share that list with you in case you also have graduates who would like to take some of these with them:

The Catholic Scripture Study Bible

My Catholic Scripture Study Bible is first on my list–Dad gives us each one at our Confirmation. In addition to the large and clear print (it will not strain tired-from-studying-eyes) and sturdy leather cover, this Bible includes so much to help connect the Scripture to our Faith and lots more:

• 76 pages of colored pages with maps
• Stories of saints
• One-page “Faith Facts” which defend and explaining the Church’s stand on various issues (such as abortion, overpopulation, Purgatory, and female priests, to name a few).
• Eight pages of “apologetics cheat sheets” packed with Bible verses that apply to Church teachings on issues like abortion, contraception, divorce, and a LOT more.
• A 23 -page topical index so you can easily find Bible verses for just about any moral or other teaching you might think of.
• And a lot more….

Discernment Do’s and Don’ts

As a young Catholic, this book has been instrumental in helping me find what my vocation is and what God has intended for me. This book shows HELPFUL and USEFUL tips on how to go about discernment and includes real-world examples and stories about other people in today’s world. Written by a priest who was a cadet at the Air Force Academy (like two of my siblings!) he left the military to become a priest. I began reading this book offhandedly about six months and it quickly found its way onto my bedroom bookcase and now it’s going on my bookshelf at college.

You can learn more about this incredible book from my Dad’s blog post HERE.

Beginning Apologetics Super Set

Going to college is not only a place to study—it is also a place to evangelize! And this Apologetics Set makes it very easy to explain not only WHAT we believe as Catholics, but also WHY we believe what we do. Sure, we don’t worship the saints or Mary, but what are we doing instead? (Hint: we’re asking them to intercede for us).

This superset includes eleven books ranging from answering Jehovah’s Witnesses and how to read the Bible. It also includes a helpful verse finder to back up all our answers! And since it’s a series it makes it easy to lend the books to friends!

How to Make a Good Confession

When Dad first gave us all this book, I laughed because I thought I already knew how to make a “good” confession. However, I was wrong and willing to admit that now. This book has a 16-page examination of conscience and explains how to be truly sorry as well as how to make reparation for the harm done by your sins and how to protect yourself from committing the same sins over and over again (which may be the hardest part).

It’s a short little book that can be used as an examination before confession or a way to reflect on your day during night prayers.

P.S. My Dad also wrote a blot post about this book HERE.

The Rosary of St. John Paul II

This is Anna’s favorite Holy Heroes product (and it’s not hard to see why). This small enough-to-fit-in-the-pocket-of-your-backpack book is a perfect meditation tool for praying the Rosary. (also, you can buy it with this 3-for-price-of-2 link, so you have more to share!)

This book has many options, so you can use it in a variety of different ways:

• It has beautiful illustrations for each decade.
• Each Hail Mary has a scripture verse so it can be prayed as a scriptural Rosary.
• Or use the ten reflections for each of the twenty mysteries of the rosary.
• The introduction also provides step-by-step explanation of how Pope Saint John Paul II suggested we pray and use the Rosary!

You can read the article my Dad wrote about praying the Rosary using the book HERE.

Thank you for all your prayers over the years and please continue to pray for me as I begin college!