Books For and About Catholic Moms

I know.  There are piles of great books for Catholic mothers out there.  I’ve read a bunch of them, in hopes that I’ll do a better job.

In the last week before Christmas, though, I thought I’d highlight just a couple of great titles.  You know, just in case you’re looking for another last-minute gift to tuck under the tree.

A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy: Walking with Mary from Conception to Baptism First, a great book to read en route to motherhood—as that tiny gift grows within her.  Sarah Reinhard leads the reader through pregnancy week by week—adding spiritual reflections, guest posts from other noted Catholic writers, bible stories, and more.  I love that she ends, not with labor and delivery, but with Baptism—the child’s new birth into the Kingdom of God.  You’ll love A Catholic Mother’s Companion to Pregnancy.

Catholic Mom’s Cafe: 5-Minute Retreats for Every Day of the Year.  Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle gets it:  Mothers are really busy.  If a mother doesn’t earmark time for prayer and reflection, it just doesn’t happen.  That’s why she put together this great book of five-minute retreats for every day of the year.

And while we’re at it, a shout-out to another of Donna-Marie’s books, Rooted in Love: Our Calling as Catholic Women  She knows that being a faith-filled Catholic woman does not mean being perfect.  Rather, in the midst of parenting difficulties, marital problems, economic hardships, and sickness, you can find strength in Christ and in the wisdom and community of the Church.

Everyday Divine: A Catholic Guide to Spirituality by Mary DeTurris Poust offers practical ideas and realistic advice for bringing sacred practice into the most mundane activities:  doing chores, driving, cooking, enjoying leisure time, working out, and much more.  Fr. James Martin, SJ said of Everyday Divine:  “I love this book because it’s practical.  Too often spirituality is seen as something reserved either for mystics or, well, ‘someone else.’”

The Passionate Mom: Dare to Parent in Today’s World.  What makes a mother the best mom she can be?  Susan Merrill, director of iMOM.com and mother of five incredibly different children, has asked that question countless times.  In this book, in the Old Testament book of Nehemiah, Susan finds a roadmap for how a passionate mom can parent almost any child, confidently.

No More Perfect Moms: Learn to Love Your Real Life Don’t you love the socks in the picture?  In this book, author Jill Savage helps moms to change unrealistic expectations to realistic hopes.  She teaches moms to give grace and love to their husbands and children even during struggles, and how to find freedom from disappointment—embracing their real families, real challenges, and real (but imperfect) lives.