Think, Encounter, Proclaim: The Value of Reading Physical Books
“The Word became flesh and lived among us.” - John 1:14
Words – both spoken and written – have been central to the Christian life since the start. Christians read scripture written in the far-distant past, inherited from our Jewish brothers and sisters. We tell stories and share writings to carry on the Christian faith, and have done so long before the invention of the printing press.
Above all, Christ is the Logos – the Word, the Truth, and the Light. Through reading works that honor Him - both in the highest form of Sacred Scripture and in lower forms such as novels that honor Christian values – we grow in mind and spirit.
Rev. Thomas M. Santa reflects on this in the January 2026 edition of Liguorian magazine: “The printed word connects us in a particularly important way to the Word made flesh. Holding the Word, meditating on the Word, feeling the Word, and praying the Word are all important parts of our Catholic spiritual life and practice.”
At a recent address celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Vatican Publishing House, Pope Leo XIV himself championed the value of reading: “Reading nourishes the mind; it helps to foster a conscious and well-formed critical sense, guarding us against fundamentalism and ideological shortcuts.”
Pope Leo XIV’s words remind us of the richness of the Christian tradition. From the writers of Sacred Scripture to the works of Saints like St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Alphonsus Liguori, to the modern works of Catholics today, we see the impact that the writings of Christians have had on the whole world. Writing builds community and reading is a participation in the whole of the Christian legacy.
“When we hold a book in our hands, we ideally encounter its author. But at the same time, we meet those who have read it before us, or who are reading it now or will read it in the future... a book is a bridge to others, a source of dialogue that enriches us, a stimulus to expand our own perspective,” Pope Leo XIV says.
These Catholic publications need readers as much as they need writers. Each reader participates in ministry in their own unique way.
Rev. Thomas M. Santa reminds readers of Liguorian about the lasting impact of their readership: “Your support ensures the accurate recording of Catholic life and practice for the people of today, as well as for the people hundreds of years from now, who will search archival records to understand who we were and what we believed.”
The importance of the legacy of the printed word is nothing less than a continuation of the values of Christianity.
“For us Christians, the book is an opportunity to proclaim Christ... At the school of Mary and the Saints, let us nourish ourselves with the Word of God, so that it may shape our way of thinking and acting,” Pope Leo XIV shares during his address to the Vatican Publishing House.
This ministry connects most deeply when we consider the printed word.
The Pope says, “In the digital age, the physicality of the book reminds us of the role of thought, reflection and study.”
Rev. Thomas M. Santa shared a similar sentiment a few months prior: “It is good to enjoy the feel of a book or magazine in your hands, the smell of newly printed pages, and the fulfillment of reading the printed word – it can be an experience of the Sacred. It is a medium that was hard-earned over the centuries, and there is still a place – a need – for it today.”
We encourage you to pick up a new Catholic book. Dive into prayers with the saints with Catholic Novenas: A Classic Collection. Journey alongside Christ in the desert with The Desert Walk. Learn more about the Pope with Pope Leo XIV: Restless Heart, Faithful Shepherd. Read historical writings from the saints themselves with Peace of Soul by Ven. Fulton Sheen or Visits to the Blessed Sacrament and Our Lady by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Each work will bring you deeper into the spiritual life and help you become more a part of the whole of the Christian tradition.
