My books

I have some twenty five books lined up to write, with some of them well under way, and others thoroughly researched through the decades, and others rumbling round in heart and mind and soul. I’ll be listing them here with short descriptions, not necessarily in any particular order.

Book #01 — Genesis 2,4–3,24. Two Generations in One Day.

This is the thesis I did in Rome. It was followed by professors from almost all the Pontifical Universities in Rome and caught the interest of Pope Benedict XVI, gloriously reigning. More on that in the popular version (see below). The thesis is an historical critical exegesis (as guided by the instruction of the Papal Magisterium of the Church), which demonstrates in only the most highly scientific manner (though not prescinding from the Faith) many of the Judeo-Catholic doctrines of the faith: creation and the description of God, creation-anthropology, man’s place in the universe and before God, so that man is representative of the universe, which, through himself, is laid in submission before God, so that Adam himself is a generation of the heavens and the earth, marriage and family and the unity of mankind, original sin (Yes, original sin, as based on the biblical anthropology, the key to this doctrine, from Adam, a destruction of the first generation of the heavens and the earth), the cursing of the oracle-”serpent”, the promise of redemption and the giving of enmity, a new creation of the heavens and earth because of this being another generation of man, by way of grace, the woman of Genesis 3,15 (free from Adam’s sin and future to the hagiographer of the account, the mother of the redeemer, and therefore the Immaculate Conception, the blessed Virgin Mary), the relation of man and woman after the fall, and the effects of original sin (especially as seen in the description of the two trees and the description of the reversing of how we view things), the description of the life of grace (enmity) along with the weaknesses consequent on original sin, how we receive grace but cannot grasp after it, eternal life and the promise of resurrection, whether we were suppossed to live forever, and whether all of creation was made for the redeemer, who knew He would unite us to Himself, so that there are two generations in one day, our entrance into the seventh day, finally, by being united as one with the son of the mother of the redeemer.

Book #02 — Genesis 2,4–3,24. Two Generations in One Day — Popular Edition

This is the first project of writing when I get the computers and printers set up in the hermitage (which is still in the process of being built). Much of the original text and notes and appendices will make their way into this popular edition, at least in the notes. I would like to make the popular edition readable by non-experts who do not know biblical languages. There will be some few and brief but rather incisive comments on the “Theology of the Body” (along the lines of a hermeneutic of continuity out of respect for JP II, not the rupture we see with some popularizers). Please God I will be able to write this. I have looked forward to writing this for years, ever since the defense of the thesis in 2007. I was further encouraged by a note from Pope Benedict XVI, encouraging me in this regard. More on that in the popular edition!

Book #03 — The Dog Woman and Other Teachers of the Apostles

This is about the women to be found in the first five books of the New Testament especially in their capacity to teach, each in their own ways, the Apostles chosen by our Lord. Analogies with the present day are everywhere to be found. This is nothing at all in any way similar to the feminist commentaries so prevalent today, which so often disrespect women by saying that they have to be like men in order to amount to anything. Instead, we will see the most glorious providence of God for women and for The Woman, particularly in regard to their role in assisting with the sanctification of the successors of the apostles.

Book #04 — The Fundamental Theology of Biblical Textual Criticism. Toward the Unity of Christians.

This is a rather ferocious little book with it’s in-your-face, unrelenting, agonizingly scientific nature, while all the while being absolutely faithful to the Tradition of the Church, to the Councils and other essential Magisterial interventions. The heart of ecumenism, which concerns the relationship of Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium, is examined in light of the fact of textual critical difficulties. Many, many a great theologian has lost his faith over this problem. There is, however, an answer that has been ignored for some decades. How compromised textual critical solutions might further strike at the unity of the Church in the near future will also be presented in hopes of avoiding a totally unnecessary catastrophe with the serenity of not being subject to the tyranny of political correctness.

Book #05 — Autobiography

What a fright.

My spiritual director of past ages said that writing things down makes thought about our relationship with Christ Jesus clear and humble, saying that it was Saint Ignatius who had said something about this. I was ambivalent, going from eager to fearful to humble. I was finally put under obedience to write it. This, of course, may never see the light of day. Written, I guess so, but maybe not published. Perhaps post-mortem, should the Lord desire it.

Book #06 — The Spiritual Formation of Priests and Seminarians: Spiritual Direction and Confession

This little volume will cover the essential principles of what is indicated in the title. If I have the energy, I many compare what I say, in this or that footnote, to the ever morphing Program for Priestly Formation current in the United States. A best seller just for this reason?! Of special importance will be the description of the relationship of psychology and the spiritual life, not the one being identified with the other (which is by far the most common and fatal mistake in seminaries and special programes today).

Book #07 — Be a Catholic Hermit!

This will be a commentary on Canon 603 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law with an emphasis on the ecclesial dimensions of hermiting. The entire Mystical Body of Christ has an interest in the hermit, and vice-versa.

Book #08 — Priestly Celibacy. Biblical Aspects

This is a rather unique biblical commentary on priestly celibacy pretty much guaranteed to get seminarians and priests all fired up about priestly celibacy, at least that’s what the reaction was from seminarians and priests with whom I’ve shared this or that bit of this volume. I’ll need some time to get ready to publish this one, however.

Book #09 — A Recent History of Romans 5,12

This will bring commentary of the last century full circle, not only providing commentary consonant with all of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church, but also providing some analysis of the recent politics which have derailed any acceptance of original sin by academia.

Book #10 — Child Sacrifice. Judeo-Catholicism and Islam.

This will be an ever so very gentle and respectful commentary on Abraham’s would-be sacrifice of his son according to the Hebrew Scriptures, the New Testament, and the Qur’an. However, that is not to say that some will not be challenged to the very core of their beings. The hard-hitting bit about this volume will be the conscience of the one who is reading it. You will not find any relativism in this book.

Book #11 — A Priest-Hermit’s Commentary on the Song of Songs

How could a hermit not write on the Canticle of Canticles? I’ve been wanting to write this for many, many years. I’ll need some other commentaries by the Fathers of the Church for this one. They’ll go up on the wish list when I have the joy of writing this commentary. Meanwhile, you can enjoy Mother Xavier McMonagle’s Love’s Fugue, available from the Cloistered Benedictine Tyburn Nuns in Westminster, U.K. I have Mother General’s permission to use this little volume as a background to the commentary I hope to write, God willing.

Book #12 — Exorcism. The Biblical Presentation and Personal Experiences

Just what the title says. Names and dates and places will be changed to protect the privacy of those whose experiences with Satan’s minions I have shared.

Book #13 — Padre Dolindo

One of the most praised, and then one of the most condemned priests in the modern history of the Church. An insight into why this was so, and a question as to the justification. Some documents came my way in the late 1990s which are of interest to the ecumenical movement before the Second Vatican Council. This has to do with the relationship of Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition and the Magisterium of the Church. I will not defend Father Donlindo himself. He’s had many bishops come to his defense, with two full filing cabinets concerning him in the Congregation for Bishops alone; I will only cast light on one particular episode in his life which still causes some to shudder about the enormity of ecumenical policies of some individuals of the time, which he questioned. Cardinal Ratzinger/Pope Benedict has also criticized the obtuse ecumenical policies of some, saying that the more that is swept under the carpet without a calm appraisal, the more future division will be fomented. We want unity! Let’s look at this calmly, shall we?

Book #14 — Luke 15,1-32

This was my Licentiate tesina with the then Rector of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, and presently the Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission, Father Stock, S.J. This will be a popular version of this thesis.

Book #15 — John 7,53–8,11

Commentary on the passage of the Mulier Adultera, the Adulterous Woman, as an image of the Church, the Bride of Christ will be detailed, along with a rather incisive commentary on the textual critical status of the passage. Not the usual take on this, for the appraisal is consonant with Saint Jerome and the Council of Trent. Why? Both for reasons of faith, as Saint Augustine has it, and for reasons of the most incisive scientific analysis.

Book #16 — A Catholic Priest-Hermit’s Slavisly, Refreshingly Literal Translation of the Gospels

There is a sub-title to this, which I hesitate to publish here. At any rate, I hope that there will be copious notes, textual critical, exegetical, historical, logistic, spiritual. To make a go of this in a particularly useful way, I’ll need a facsimile of a very particular “lost” manuscript in the vaults of the Vatican library. I already have a more or less guarantee about the not-lost-nature of this manuscript.

Book #17 — Trent and Sixtus V — The non-Papal Bull

This is a presentation of the Latin and English of the document for which this Pope was, it seems, killed off by God.

Book #18 — Papal Infallability for Catholics and non-Catholics. Matthew 16 and 18 — Fundamental Theology!

This is an unexpected, unique presentation of papal infallibilty demonstrating the knowability of truth by all, but why Peter and his successors are the servants of the truth, not the arbitors of the truth. The book is geared to disarm those who are upset with papal infallibility, getting them, instead, to pray for the Holy Father.

Book #19 — Learning to Pray With Your Guardian Angel. Some Experiences I’ve Had.

The many who had me for spiritual direction at the last pontifical seminary where I also taught scripture and theology and liturgy, where I heard confessions and had many for formation advising, know some of my stories about my guardian angel, and will rejoice to see this little book come to light. Guardian angels see the face of God now, and, they are just so cool!

Book #20 — Irony Incarnate and Progress in the Spiritual Life. Psychology and/or Grace?

This is a ripping adventure through the Old and New Testaments, picking out passages which speak to the way the good Lord deals with us after original sin, with all the weaknesses we have.

Book #21 — The Tower of Babel and the Common Ground State of Dialogue Today

This is a rather incisive work, first presenting a detailed analysis of the story of the Tower of Babel, and then moving on to a summary presentation of philosophies of communication, and then offereing a critique, hopefully helpful, of some of today’s methodologies of dialogue. The idea is to shed light on what is geared to disunity, even by design, so that a quicker path to unity into the pierced Heart of Christ will be facilitated.

Book #22 — A Manual for the Confessor and the Penitent

While there are many good manuals from the past and which are now being published, also oversees, this is a rather unique volume in the way no punches are pulled. The Lord has had me experience some of the worst and some of the best confessors in the Church today. Having heard untold numbers of confessions in every possible circumstance throughout my priesthood, not to mention two years of day in day out confessions at Lourdes, has given me more lived experience to fall back on for this volume. All cases are hypothetical, no conglomerations of confessions, nothing like that. The genesis of some of the documents of the Church on this sacrament will also be presented. The seal of Confession, the why and wherefores, will be detailed in a rather shocking manner. I hope to get some collaboration with some of the best canon lawyers in the Church today, both here and in Rome.

Book #23 — Purgatory. Not Just for Dead People

The mercy of our Lord will be emphasized. For an idea about this volume, see some of the notes I’ve started to make for another page on this site, about Priests in Purgatory.

Book #24 — General Introduction to Sacred Scripture

Perhaps…

Book #25 — A Trilogy of Ecclesiastical Novels

Perhaps…

Book #26 — Life in the midst of the Most Holy Trinity

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Book #27 — …

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