Youth Ministry Resources

Ten books every Catholic teen should have:

  1. The Holy Bible
    The Holy Bible is the Word of God given to mankind and co-authored by those who wrote the Books of the Bible in their own words and literary styles. The Bible helps us to understand our purpose as God's creatures and the plan God has for us. There are many translations of the Bible, and the history behind them is too complex to describe here, but check out the following Catholic translations: The New American Bible (the translation used at Mass) and the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition.
  2. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
    The Catechism of the Catholic Church is a standard book of Catholic teaching for all the faithful, bringing together in one source the teaching of the Church throughout the ages. See also the Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, an abridged, question-and-answer version.
  3. A Map of Life, by Frank Sheed
    A Map of Life is a book written by famous lay apologist Frank Sheed as a guidebook for life based on the Catholic faith. It demonstrates how relevant the Catholic faith is to the daily life of Christians and makes the whole faith make sense in a coherent way.
  4. Manual of Prayers, by Fr. James Socias
    The Manual of Prayers is perhaps the best prayer book on the market, including the devotions of centuries of Catholic tradition, thoughtful meditations, and a guide to the Mass.
  5. Yes or No? by Peter Kreeft
    Yes or No? is a dialogue between a faithful Christian and an atheist. Using the dialogue format (an effective way of proceeding from one logical step to another in convincing the reader of the arguments of Christianity), Peter Kreeft debunks misunderstandings, clarifies Christian teaching, and ultimately defends the Christian faith effectively against attack.
  6. Where Is That in the Bible? by Patrick Madrid.
    Where Is That in the Bible? is an unapologetic apologetic, that is, a courageous defense of the faith. By explaining where our Catholic faith comes from, and how it is truly Biblical, Patrick Madrid makes sense of the Catholic faith in the midst of a culture that often attacks it. See also Where Is That in Tradition? and Answer Me This!
  7. The Way, by St. Josemaria Escriva
    St. Josemaria Escriva wrote three particular books that have in a short time become extremely popular spiritual advice. The first of these books is The Way, which delivers several hundred short, sweet, and to-the-point kicks to one's spiritual life. While remaining entirely charitable, the saint calls things as they really are and lays out a challenging way of life, but one that is truly rewarding for those willing to live out the discipline he promotes. See also The Furrow, and The Forge.
  8. The Catholic Source Book, by Fr. Peter Klein
    The Catholic Source Book is your information source for all things Catholic. Covering devotions, liturgy, the faith, tradition, and many other areas, this book is a source for anything from prayers appropriate for various occasions to what saints are patrons for what, to the history of the Catholic Church, to the signs and symbols and their meaning in Scripture and Catholic tradition. It's especially the perfect read for anyone interested in random trivia on the Catholic faith.
  9. If You Really Loved Me, by Jason Evert
    In this book, renowned chastity speaker Jason Evert explains the Catholic Church's teaching on the virtue of chastity and the positive value it has as a gift, not as a restriction. It will help shape the views of teenagers on sexual morality, especially pre-marital sex and the common questions about boundaries and limits.
  10. Triumph: The Power and Glory of the Catholic Church, by H.W. Crocker III
    Triumph is a critically-acclaimed history of the Catholic Church that reads like a novel and focuses on the positive, giving a glimpse of the great history of the Church in a way that will intrigue anyone interested in history and bring the development of the Catholic faith to life for all readers.

Websites for Catholic Teens

The Official Website of the Holy See (The Vatican City)
The Vatican's website is not meant just for youth, but it is a valuable source of information for those who wish to go deeper in their faith or understanding of the Church.

The Scripture Readings for Daily and Sunday Mass
This page of the USCCB website includes the readings for all upcoming Masses, as well as a podcast of the readings.

Phatmass Catholic Youth Apostolate
Phatmass (Preaching Holy Apostolic Truth + Mass) is an organization in Dallas, Texas that produces and promotes Catholic hip-hop music. Aside from their concerts, Phatmass runs a popular web forum where Catholics 13 and older can discuss the faith, debate, ask questions, or simply belong to an online community of faith.

Pure Love Club
The Pure Love Club is an online Catholic apostolate that seeks to promote chastity and a Catholic worldview with regard to sexuality. It does so through books, talks, pamphlets, and the website.

Mother of All Peoples - Youth
Mother of All Peoples is a Catholic website run by one of the world's leading Mariologists (theologians specializing in the theology of Mary), Dr. Mark Miravalle, and the youth section of the website focuses on popular apologetics and devotions for Mary.

Remnant Catholic Youth Apostolate
Remnant, a Catholic band from Texas, runs a youth apostolate including a blog, retreats, and various helpful Catholic bits of information.

Francesco Productions
Francesco Productions strives to serve the poor and transform the culture to reflect the Catholic faith by appealing to the popular youth culture in the United States.