"I got received into the Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil! ... Now what?"

The Octave of Easter is Drawing to a close, and throughout the week, the liturgy has focused on the mystagogy of the Neophytes and the newly initiated into the Mysteries of the Church. But drawing deeper into the Faith is a lifelong journey, and for the newly initiated, it can seem like there's either too little, or too much in the way of suggested direction.


The book The Four Signs of the Dynamic Catholic by Matthew Kelly [https://dynamiccatholic.com/the-four-signs-of-a-dynamic-catholic-free-copy] would not be a bad place to start. It gives you a "program" so to speak of how to stay engaged in your Faith through Prayer, Study, Generous Giving, and Evangelization on top of regular participation in the Sacraments.

After that, start reading the daily Mass Readings online [http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/index.cfm] which draws you into the liturgical rhythm of the church and will feed your prayer with the Word of God.

For spiritual reading and study here are ten books, I suggest getting a hold of:

1) **CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH** - http://store.usccb.org/catechism-of-the-catholic-church-p/5-110.htm Indispensable to any Catholic interesting in knowing the definitive answer on what the Church teaches, and delivered in language geared toward a spiritual viewpoint, prayerfulness, discipleship, holiness, and joy.

2) Ignatius Press New Testament Study Bible - https://www.ignatius.com/New-Testament-P417.aspx Too many people think the Bible is a book to be cracked open that will present all the answers the Church wants you know. Unfortunately, this kind of reading can lead to a lot of error (and has). The Ignatius Press New Testament study bible, places the Scripture within the context of the teachings of the Church with sound historical and literary analysis. It will help you draw out the meaning of the text, and draw you in to dialogue with God through His Word.

3) Know Him in the Breaking of the Bread: A Guide to the Mass, Fr Francis Randolph - http://a.co/4ySsquW The Mass is awesome! but it is also filled with Signs and Symbols that without a key can leave one missing out on the full awesomeness of the Mass. This book sets the stage for liturgical catechesis by going through each rite of the Mass, explaining its basic meaning and purpose, and offering ways throughout to draw you deeper into full and active participation in the mass.

4) Prayer for Beginners, Peter Kreeft - http://a.co/iVfqUSw The first secret of prayer, do it! But there are lot of challenges to prayer (distraction above all) and Dr. Peter Kreeft helps navigate some of the challenges to prayer, while giving an overview of some of the prayer types and spiritualities of the Church.

5) Learning the Virtues, Romano Guardini - https://www.sophiainstitute.com/products/item/learning-the-virtues becoming Christian means that pursuing virtue, the habitual and firm disposition to do the good, is a deep part of our path to holiness. Persons of virtue are also persons of happiness, and Fr. Guardini reveals why and how for several virtues that are fundamental to following the great commandment to Love God and Love your Neighbor.

6) The Screwtape Letters, C.S. Lewis - http://a.co/2KC83nM prayer and the pursuit of Virtue is a battles, and the fallen angels, the demons, are our enemy in this Spiritual Warfare. C.S. Lewis has written a brilliant book that shows us the tactics of the enemy from their own viewpoint, in order that we might be prepared when we encounter them, and how to respond in faith in God's victory, prayer, and triumph!

7) The Everlasting Man, G.K. Chesterton - https://www.ignatius.com/The-Everlasting-Man-P615.aspx After the Catechism, The Everlasting Man would be the first place I'd send someone interested in Apologetics. Not only does the book offer brilliant insights into why Catholicism is the fulfillment of all human history, but it does so with humor and wit, without being spiteful and judgmental to those who disagree. This book completely changed the way I think about thinking about history.

8) Introduction to the Devout Life, Francis de Sales - http://a.co/beKptGk St. Francis de Sales's classic, like The Four Signs of the Dynamic Catholic is another book with a program. But its a more advanced program for someone who has at least encountered the basics of Christian living and is for those who are more ready to "go out into the deep." It can be a little dense, but every word is worth it.

9) Abandonment to Divine Providence, Jean-Pierre de Caussade - http://a.co/5SMrgT0 a spiritual exploration of the Biblical truth, "We know that all things work for good for those who love God." Evil and holiness, trial and triumph are all a part of our Christian life. de Caussade reveals how "all things" can be seen through spiritual lenses, or at least accepted with deep trust and faith in God, and the hope that all leads toward our glorification.

10) The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence - http://a.co/dd0TPag Beautiful and simple spiritual reflection on how to "pray always" as we are commanded. Helping us to gain Augustine's exhortation to "transcend yourself" and be aware of the spiritual reality of God's presence in every moment and every place, and the consequences of living such awareness in your everyday life.