Variety Highlights Top 10 Books of 2021

Saints, Sacraments, and several Spanish language titles are among the top selling books the faithful customers of Liguori Publications sought throughout 2021.

Not counting more than 5.6 million bulletins printed and distributed to parishes, and nearly 100,000 copies of the components of the Journey of Faith and Jornado de Fe comprehensive RCIA program for adults, teens and children, the Top 10 best sellers for 2021 included both new and backlist books.

No. 1 on the list was Your Baby’s Baptism Parent Guide by Emily Strand. Part of the Liguori Sacramental Preparation Series, the guidebook includes a short history of baptismal practices and traditions, the meaning of the sacrament and its symbols, and a step-by-step guide.

The Spanish language version of the book by Antonio Ramirez de Leon also made the Liguori Publications Top 10 in 2021. El Bautismo de su bebe was the ninth best seller for the year.

Two more Spanish titles, Juntos para toda la vida (Together for Life) and Visitas al Santisimo (Visits to the Blessed Sacrament) ranked second and third respectively on the 2021 list. Juntos para toda la vida is an easy-to-use guide by Father Joseph Champlin that helps couples actively participate in their wedding. Visitas al Santisimo is a translation of St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Visits to the Blessed Sacrament, which was originally written in 1745.

One of the newest books from Liguori Publications, Dare To Be More: The Witness of Blessed Carlo Acutis by Matt and Colleen Swaim, was only available for three months in 2021. Annualized its sales would have made it the fourth most popular book for the year.

A top seller for decades, the 2005 revised edition of Handbook for Today’s Catholic surpassed a half-million copies sold in 2021. Written in easy-to-understand language, the resource book is fully indexed to the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

For more than 20 years Liguori Publications’ Daybreaks books have been providing daily reflections for Lent and Easter and for Advent and Christmas. The backlist is filled with notable authors, and this year two new names were added. Father Byron Miller’s reflections for Lent and Easter was the fifth best-selling book in 2021, and Daybreaks for Advent and Christmas by Mark C. McCann was No. 8 on the top 10.

Fr. Champlin returns to the Top 10 at No. 6 with De la muerte a la vida (Through Death to Life) a pastoral resource to help families and loved ones in preparation for the Spanish Funeral Rite.

Welcome Baby Jesus by Sarah Reinhard provides reflections for families during Advent and Christmas. With Scripture quotes from the Sunday Gospel readings and actions to bring those words to life, the seasonal book offers new focus for anticipation of the holiday.

Rounding out the Top 10 is a book related to the new Dare To Be More title mentioned above. Ablaze: Stories of Daring Teen Saints by Colleen Swaim features eight young souls who became saints for the selfless heroism of their teen years. Its sequel, Radiate: More Stories of Daring Teen Saints highlights the lives of a dozen additional inspiring young lives.

With more than 2,000 titles, the Top 10 list at Liguori Publications is elite company. Visit Liguori.org to search and find literally, something for everyone.