For Children and Young Readers

See the following texts (I) for child readers, and (II) for youth readers. See also the texts listed on the pages Catechisms and Explanations of the Faith and Literature. Texts about, rather than for, children and youth, are currently listed on the pages Marriage and the Family and Education.

[This page is under construction. Suggestions on works to be added would be most appreciated.]

I. Texts for Children

  • Catholic Hymns for Youthful and Infant Minds; to which are added, a Few Poems on Subjects Interesting to Catholic Readers, by M. A. P (London : T. Jones, 1847). May be read online, and available in various formats (pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc.), at Internet Archive.
  • The Child’s Month of Mary (London, Dublin, Derby: Richardson and Son, 1851). With ecclesiastical approbation. May be read online, and is available in pdf, mobi, epub, and other formats, at Internet Archive, with a second copy at Internet Archive. It also available at Google Books, at Google Play Books, with a second copy at Google Play Books.
  • First Communion, by Mother Mary Loyola, edited by Father Thurston (London: Burns & Oates; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1913). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, mobi, epub, and other formats at Internet Archive. Also available in pdf format and may be read online at Catholic Harbor of Faith and Morals. (N.B., The last-mentioned copy of the text is hosted by a website that rejects the Second Vatican Council, which it interprets in a manner contrary to the hermeneutic of reform and continuity proposed by Pope Benedict XVI. Therefore, while the text itself appear to be orthodox, readers are counselled to avoid any statement on the website concerning the said Council.)
  • Jesus of Nazareth: The Story of His life Written for Children, 10th edition, by Mother Mary Loyola, edited by Father [Herbert] Thurston, S.J., with a Foreword by Cardinal Gibbons. (New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1907). With Imprimatur. Available in pdf, mobi/kindle, epub, and other formats at Internet Archive. Another edition (1906) is available at Internet Archive and the HathiTrust Digital Library. Under the title, Jesus of Nazareth: The Story of His Life Simply Told (1917), it is available at Internet Archive. The 24th edition under that title is available at the HathiTrust Digital Library, with a 2nd copy at HathiTrust Digital Library.

II. Texts for Youth

  • Apostolic Letter “Dilecti Amici” to the Youth of the World on the Occasion of International Youth Year, by Pope John Paul II, 31 March 1985. May be read online at the Holy See and at IntraText.
  • Cantiques à St. Joseph dédiés à la jeunesse canadienne. Suivis de pieux exercices en l’honneur du même saint et des saints anges [Songs to St. Joseph dedicated to Canadian youth. Followed by devotions in honor of that saint and the holy angels] (Montreal: J. Lovell, 1862). With approbation of the bishop of Montreal. Available at Open Library and Internet Archive (Digitizing sponsor: University of Ottawa, Book contributor: Faculty of Music, University of Toronto)
  • Catholic Hymns for Youthful and Infant Minds; to which are added, a Few Poems on Subjects Interesting to Catholic Readers, by M. A. P (London : T. Jones, 1847). May be read online, and available in various formats (pdf, epub, mobi/kindle, etc.), at Internet Archive.
  • A Course of Religious Instruction for Catholic Youth, by Rev. John Gerard, S.J. [1840-1912] (London: Burns & Oates; New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benziger Brothers, 1901). With Imprimatur. May be read online, and available in pdf, epub, mobi, and other formats, at Internet Archive with a 2nd copy at Internet Archive. The 4th edition is available at Internet Archive and Open Library.
  • How to Discover Your Vocation: Marriage, Priesthood, Consecrated Life, Permanent Diaconate, Single Life, by Fr Stephen Wang (London: Catholic Truth Society, 2009).
  • Lettre Apostolique “Dilecti Amici” à Tous les Jeunes du Monde à l’Occasion de l’Année Internationale de la Jeunesse, du Pape Jean-Paul II, 31 mars 1985. Disponible à le Saint Siege.
  • Pastoral Letter to Young People on Chastity, from the Episcopal Commission on Doctrine of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (Ottawa: Concacan, 2011). Available in pdf format at Archdiocese of Vancouver.
  • The Ursuline Manual; or, A Collection of Prayers, Spiritual Exercises, etc., Interspersed with the Various Instructions Necessary for Forming Youth to the Practice of Solid Piety; Originally Arranged for the Young Ladies Educated at the Ursuline Convent, Cork, revised by the Very Rev. John Power, D.D. and approved by the Most Rev. John Hughes, D.D., Archbishop of New York (New York: Edward Dunigan and Brother, 1845). May be read online, and available in pdf, mobi, epub, and other formats at Internet Archive. May be read online at Making of America Books beginning with the Title page. A later impression (New York: Edward Dunigan and Brother, 1851) is available at Internet Archive.
  • The Young Man’s Guide: Counsels, Reflections, and Prayers for Catholic Young Men, by Rev. F. X. Lasance (New York, Cincinnati, Chicago: Benzinger Brothers, 1910). With Imprimatur. Available at HathiTrust Digital Library; and available in pdf, epub, mobi, and other formats at Open Library and Internet Archive. [N.B.1, According to the author’s Preface, the work is adapted from Hinaus ins Leben by Fr. Colestin Muff, O.S.B.] [N.B.2, We learned from Internet Archive that Fr. Lasance lived until 1946, but no online source appears to indicate the year of the decease of Fr. Muff. Therefore, while we have assessed as uncertain but probable that this work is in the public domain, we would appreciate further information on Fr. Muff and the text. Thank you.]