The BEST books, apps, and resources you'll want as a Catholic Convert
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I’ve done the work for you and found a lot of amazing books, websites, authors, teachers, and resources perfect for Catholic converts - so you don’t have to. If you’re a new Catholic or curious about the faith, I’d love to pass these resources along to you. You’ll have some ideas of exactly what books to read, where the great Catholic YouTubers are, and websites to save.
So, bookmark this page to come back to as much as you want. And make sure to share in the comments your favorites too!
creating a solid foundation as a new catholic
Let’s start by setting you up on a good foundation. If you can only do these 3 things - amazing. Let’s start with the basics.
As a soon-to-be-Catholic you’ll want…
1. a Catholic Bible - there’s no ‘right’ translation. Choose the one you want to read, is (for the most part) easy to understand, and also feels beautiful or special (that’s important too).
This is the Bible I use and love.
2. a Catechism - I love the paperback Ascension Press version! I write in it, take notes, highlight important things that stand out to me or that I want to go back to again. This version is a really nice complement to the Catechism in A Year Podcast. Fr. Mike summarizes what you’re reading in the best ways!
3. a blank journal to document your conversion journey - your questions, notes through RCIA, personal revelation in adoration, favorite prayers and quotes that inspire you. And, make sure to journal your feelings, the ups and downs, and the ‘big’ moments - because there will be a lot of them.
The blank journals I love - comes in all the prettiest colors.
You can find the Pope’s Monthly Intentions Calendar here.
4. Bonus would-be-nice-to-have a Daily Roman Missal. It’s an investment you’ll only buy once as long as you take care of it. I love that as Catholics we pray the same prayers and read the same daily readings no matter where we live in the world.
Learning to use a missal is such a good skill to have. This is the one I use.
books that will help grow your catholic faith
Ok, let’s get into a few types of books that you might want to build out your library as a convert.
First, get a book on the Saints so you can start to familiarize yourself and potentially begin figuring out who your patron will be! I’ve been saying a little prayer lately - something like, ‘angels and saints who have an affinity and kindness in your heart for me, please place your name in my mind (or heart today).’ It’s been fun to hear names of Saints I wouldn’t expect. Reading about the lives of the Saints can be amazing - especially once we realize we might have similar experiences to them and they want to help us.
Second, get a prayer book. A little book you can reach for and bookmark your favorite prayers. I like the Pieta, A Catholic Girl’s Guide, and this one I got from Etsy (its my fave).
Third, get a book on the rosary. Praying the rosary is a beautiful devotion and having a book or two that you love and that helps you meditate on each mystery will be something you can use everyday.
Meditative rosary books I like are: The Contemplative Rosary, Mysteries of the Rosary, or Bead by Bead Scriptural Rosary, and Let’s Pray Together (spiral bound and has beautiful imagery to meditate on). I tend to rotate my favorite rosary books but sometimes it’s nice to pray and just be with Our Lady with no books in front of us. There’s purpose to them both.
Fourth, get a book to help you learn why you believe what you believe. Trent Horn and Keith Nester are good teachers. I like their books: Why We’re Catholic and A Convert’s Guide to Roman Catholicism. Keith was an evangelical pastor who converted and his book is a helpful guide to know what to expect as a new Catholic. Trent is a great apologist and has a podcast on Catholic Answers that’s worth checking out.
favorite catholic apps
Ascension
A great all in one app with daily mass readings, classes (like a Biblical Walk through the Mass and Intro to Theology of the Body), and podcasts (like Catechism in a Year and the Bible in a Year). SO much great content, some of it is paid but the podcasts and daily readings are free.
Magnificat
This app has daily mass readings plus, prayers for morning and night and my fav part is the meditation of the day! I like reading the meditation and reflecting and praying with it through the day. There’s a free trial (no cc needed) and after it’s $1.99/month.
Divine Office
If you pray the liturgy of the hours this is the BEST app. The audios are beautiful and the sung hymns are SO stunning. I use this app more during lent than everyday but it’s a good one to have on your phone.
Vatican.Va
You can read all the homilies of Pope Francis in this app. I like reading the general audiences of the Pope with catechesis - always something more to learn! Honestly when standing in line or I have a quiet moment opening this app is so much better than scrolling.
Catholic Answers
Have a question but don’t know where to get a Catholic Answer. ;) This website and app are the best. It’s considered the world’s largest database for answers to the Catholic faith. Their email newsletter is one I (actually) open & look forward to.
learning on youtube with catholic creators
Here’s the Catholic Convert playlist with the videos that’ve helped me most during my conversion (so far).
What’s on this playlist…
daily live rosary from Lourdes, France
testimonies of conversions to the Catholic faith on the Coming Home Network
Pints with Aquinas with Matt Fradd (the episode with Shayne Smith is so good). Matt has great guests and is a good example in the faith.
Keith Nester is an ex evangelical pastor who converted - I learn SO much from his videos
Fr. Allar from the Divine Mercy Shrine has the BEST channel with a series called Defending the Faith that I’ve learned a lot from
Fr. Mark-Mary, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Blessed is She are favorites too
