Our Hearts Are Restless: Catholic Read With Me

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Immaculate Heart!

God bless,

Alexis

In This House of Brede: a book about how vocations can come to the most unlikely people

Alexis — Tue, 07 Jul 2026 14:29:23 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for July at the bottom of the page.

"Vocations can come to the most unlikely people in the most unlikely circumstances and there's no resisting. It's as if God put out a finger and said, 'You.'"
- Rumer Godden, In This House of Brede

Here’s what you need for the month of JULY

This month we are reading, Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper. You can find a free ebook of it here:

LEISURE EBOOK

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Most Precious Blood of Jesus!

God bless,

Alexis

The World's First Love: a book about how Our Lady brings us closer to her Son

Alexis — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 13:48:27 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for June at the bottom of the page.

“She existed in the Divine Mind as an Eternal Thought before there were any mothers. She is the Mother of mothers—she is the world’s first love.”
- Fulton J. Sheen, The World’s First Love

Here’s what you need for the month of JUNE

This month we are reading, In This House if Brede by Rumer Godden. You can find a free ebook of it here:

IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Sacred Heart of Jesus!

God bless,

Alexis

THE WORLD'S FIRST LOVE EBOOK

The Interior Castle: a book about how to unite oneself to God

Alexis — Thu, 07 May 2026 09:51:42 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for May at the bottom of the page.

“true perfection consists in the love of God and our neighbor, and the better we keep both these commandments, the more perfect we shall be.”
- Saint Teresa of Avila, The Interior Castle or The Mansions

Here’s what you need for the month of MAY

This month we are reading, The World’s First Love by Fulton J Sheen. You can find a free ebook of it here:

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month of Our Lady !

God bless,

Alexis

THE INTERIOR CASTLE EBOOK

The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ: My sufferings are most salutary.

Alexis — Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:36:30 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for March at the bottom of the page.

“Thus was the blessed cross of our Lord planted for the first time on the earth; and well might it be compared to the tree of life in Paradise, for the wounds of Jesus were as sacred fountains, from which flowed four rivers destined both to purify the world from the curse of sin, and to give it fertility, so as to produce fruit unto salvation.”
- Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Here’s what you need for the month of APRIL

This month we are reading, The Interior Castle by Saint Teresa of Avila. You can find a free ebook of it here:

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Triduum !

God bless,

Alexis

THE DOLOROUS PASSION EBOOK

Encounters With Silence: a book about conversing with a silent God

Alexis — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 15:41:42 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for March at the bottom of the page.

“Your silence is the framework of my faith, the boundless space where my love finds the strength to believe in Your Love.”
- Karl Rahner, Encounters With Silence

Here’s what you need for the month of MARCH

This month we are reading, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Saint Anne Catherine Emmerich. You can find a free ebook of it here:

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month Of Saint Joseph and a fruitful Lent.

God bless,

Alexis

ENCOUNTERS WITH SILENCE EBOOK

Quo Vadis: a book for the weak Christian

Alexis — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 15:23:30 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for February at the bottom of the page.

“One who confesses Christ cannot be unhappy.”
- Henryk Sienkiewicz, Quo Vadis

Here’s what you need for the month of FEBRUARY

This month we are reading, Encounters With Silence by Karl Rahner. You can find a free ebook of it here:

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Month Of The Holy Family.

God bless,

Alexis

The Hobbit: There is more in you of good than you know

Alexis — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 13:43:56 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for January at the bottom of the page.

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something. You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite the something you were after.”
- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit

Here’s what you need for the month of JANUARY

This month we are reading, Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz. You can find a free ebook of it here:

Kuniczak Translation

Curtin Translation

BOOK DISCUSSION

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

I pray you have a Blessed Holy Month Of The Holy Name of Jesus.

God bless,

Alexis

Stop scrolling. Start reading.

Alexis — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 09:45:30 GMT

“If a man wants to be always in God’s company, he must pray regularly and read regularly. When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us”
– St. Isidore (6th Century)

This is Catholic Read With Me Year 4!

Whether you’ve been along for the ride since Year 1 or are just joining us in 2026, welcome! This is year 4, and I’m so grateful to have you here.

Without further ado, here are the books we’ll be reading this year.

2026 Reading List

January: Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz
February: Encounters With Silence by Karl Rahner
March: The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by St. Anne Catherine Emmerich
April: The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
May: The World’s First Love by Fulton J. Sheen
June: In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden
July: Leisure: The Basis of Culture by Josef Pieper
August: Essays on Woman by Edith Stein
September: The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton
October: Viper’s Tangle by François Mauriac
November: Married Saints & Blesseds by Ferdinand Holböck
December: Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI

To make things super simple, I’ve linked free e-Book versions where I could find them and included places to buy the ones I couldn’t. Just click the titles below to check them out (none of the links are affiliate links).

Let’s Do This Together

Join the Telegram Group: It’s the place where we chat about the book we’re currently reading, share favourite quotes, or just get a little motivation.
Monthly Meetups: This is also where we hop on a call at the end of every month to talk about the book.
TELEGRAM GROUP

Can’t get to the book this month?
No worries! At the end of each month, I’ll share a video review to recap the highlights and keep you in the loop for our discussions.

So grab your favourite drink, find a cozy spot, and let’s get to reading.

Thanks for being part of Our Hearts Are Restless! If you’re not subscribed yet, sign up for free to stay in the loop.

God bless and happy reading!

Alexis

The Music of Christendom: The music of Western civilization is necessarily Catholic

Alexis — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:59:18 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for December at the bottom of the page.

“Building on the foundation of Gregorian chant, followed by the addition of other voices resulting in harmony, the music of Western civilization is necessarily Catholic, even when its foundation is hidden.'“
- Susan Treacy, The Music of Christendom

Here’s what you need for the month of DECEMBER

This month we are reading, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. You can find a free ebook of it here:

THE HOBBIT EBOOK

The month of December is a busy time for most of us so our next book discussion will be some time in January 2026.

I will be putting out a poll to see everyone’s availability in the Telegram group a few weeks before.

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I will be putting out next year’s reading list very soon, so keep a look out for that!

I pray you have a Blessed Advent!

God bless,

Alexis

The Crisis of Civilization: Its Solution Is Catholicism

Alexis — Fri, 07 Nov 2025 17:33:56 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for November at the bottom of the page.

“A Catholic culture does not mean or imply universality. A nation or a whole civilization is of the Catholic culture not when it is entirely composed of strong believers minutely practicing their religion, nor even whit it boasts a majority of such, but when it presents a determining number of units-family institutions, individuals, inspired by and tenacious of the Catholic spirit.”
- Hilaire Belloc, The Crisis of Civilization

Here’s what you need for the month of NOVEMBER

This month we are reading, The Music of Christendom by Susan Treacy. You can find her book here:

THE MUSIC OF CHRISTENDOM

*This is not an affiliate link.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, November 29th

We meet up on Telegram, and to schedule the best time for everyone, I’ll set up a poll in the group to see who’s joining that day and where they’re from. This way, we can choose a time that works for everyone!

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Souls In Purgatory!

God bless,

Alexis

Diary of a Country Priest: the hidden burdens of your priest

Alexis — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:15:33 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for October at the bottom of the page.

“I believe, in fact I am certain, that many men never give out the whole of themselves, their deepest truth. They live on the surface, and yet, so rich is the soil of humanity that even this thin outer layer is able to yield a kind of meager harvest which gives the illusion of real living.”
- Georges Bernanos, Diary of a Country Priest

Most of the time when we speak to our priests, we share our own burdens—our struggles, our sorrows, our questions. But who carries their burdens? How do they cope with the weight of everyone else’s pain while wrestling with their own?

In Georges Bernanos’ Diary of a Country Priest, we enter the inner life of a young, sickly parish priest in rural France. Through his journal, we see his exhaustion, his loneliness, and his doubts, but also his fierce desire to be faithful.

THE CRISIS OF CIVILISATION EBOOK

Here’s what you need for the month of OCTOBER

This month we are reading, The Crisis of Civilization by Hillaire Belloc You can find his book here:

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, November 1st

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Holy Rosary!

God bless,

Alexis

The Betrothed (I Promessi Sposi): Love in the time of "17th Century COVID"

Alexis — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 21:49:02 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for September at the bottom of the page.

"Take from His hands the sufferings you have undergone and be of good courage... For who have reason to rejoice and be hopeful, but those who have suffered and are ready to accuse themselves."
- Alessandro Manzoni, The Betrothed

Alessandro Manzoni’s The Betrothed is more than a love story. While Renzo and Lucia struggle against injustice in 17th-century Lombardy, Manzoni fills the pages with vivid portraits of sinners and saints — from cruel nobles and cowardly officials to humble friars and holy women. Woven through the drama are sweeping historical scenes of famine, war, and plague, along with Manzoni’s unforgettable tangents on human weakness and God’s providence. It’s a novel where history and character meet, and where hope shines in the darkest times.

DIARY OF A COUNTR PRIEST ENG

Here’s what you need for the month of SEPTEMBER

This month we are reading, Diary of A Country Priest by Georges Bernanos You can find his book here:

DIARY OF A COUNTRY PRIEST FR

*This is not an affiliate link.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, September 27th

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Seven Sorrows of Our Lady!

God bless,

Alexis

Saints & Sinners: The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church

Alexis — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 09:56:05 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for August at the bottom of the page.

“But persecution always brings out the best in people.”
- Msgr. James T. Murphy

The Cristeros were everyday Mexican Catholics—farmers, workers, even teenagers—who took up arms in the 1920s to defend their faith when the government began a harsh crackdown on the Church. Under anti-clerical laws, public worship was banned, priests were hunted, churches were destroyed, and Catholics were terrorized. In response, the Cristeros rose with the cry “¡Viva Cristo Rey!”—“Long live Christ the King!”—risking their lives to defend the right to live and worship freely. It’s a powerful and often forgotten chapter in the story of modern martyrdom.

Here’s what you need for the month of AUGUST

This month we are reading, The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni. You can find his book here:

THE BETROTHED PDF

*This is not an affiliate link.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, September 5th

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Immaculate Heart!

God bless,

Alexis

Wise Blood: You can't escape God.

Alexis — Tue, 01 Jul 2025 15:04:16 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for July at the bottom of the page.

“Faith is what someone knows to be true, whether they believe it or not.”
― Flannery O'Connor, Wise Blood

A man runs from God, but God is not so easily shaken.

Flannery O’Connor’s Wise Blood is a story of blindness and sight, false prophets and strange mercy. Hazel Motes’ rebellion disbelief becomes its own kind of belief. He founds the “Church Without Christ” and tries to outrun grace with every step.

In Wise Blood, we see how faith seeps through even the darkest corners. Flannery O’Connor’s writing is spare and sharp, at once brutal and strangely luminous. Where violence becomes revelation and even the blind can see more than they should.

Here’s what you need for the month of JULY

This month we are reading, Saints and Sinners in the Cristero War (Stories of Martyrdom from Mexico) by Msgr. James T. Murphy. You can find his book here:

Saints & Sinners

*This is not an affiliate link.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, August 2

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Precious Blood!

God bless,

Alexis

The Greatest Philospher Who Ever Lived: Behold, your mother.

Alexis — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 15:14:57 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for June at the bottom of the page.

“Wisdom is not an abstract idea. Wisdom is a concrete individual Divine Person (see 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30). No one was ever closer to this Person than Mary, either in body or in soul.”
—Dr. Peter Kreeft, The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived

Mary, the Mother of God was the greatest philosopher who ever lived. Not because she wrote treatises or debated in public squares, but because she perfectly lived the Truth.

Her wisdom wasn’t abstract. It was embodied — expressed in radical openness to God’s will. Her Fiat (her yes) is a philosophical act deeper than any syllogism: a total alignment with divine reality.

This isn’t just a poetic claim. It’s a challenge to rethink what wisdom truly is — not intellectual brilliance, but holiness, humility, and wholehearted trust.

Here’s what you need for the month of JUNE

This month we are reading, Wise Blood by Flannery O’Connor. You can find his book here:

WISE BLOOD EBOOK

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, July 5

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Sacred Heart!

God bless,

Alexis

Logos Rising: A History of Ultimate Reality

Alexis — Wed, 07 May 2025 20:28:35 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for May at the bottom of the page.

"Ever since St. Augustine explicated the meaning and of the Incarnation, we know that time has a direction and a purpose and that the name of that purpose as well as the force which makes that purpose happens is Logos. We know that man's free will allows him to negate that purpose, but no wicked human act, no matter how heinous, not even killing the Logos Incarnate, can thwart God's plan. As the Crucifixion shows, even deicide, the ultimate wicked act, became the occasion which propelled Logos forward in human history, not because it was evil but because God can take that evil and the freedom that enabled it and turn it into a greater good. That is the meaning of human history. Every single victory has led to failure, but every failure has led to another even more unpredictable victory in the upward spiral of Logos that is the inexorable trajectory of human history."
-Dr. E Michael Jones

It’s not just a critique of materialism, Protestant theology, or the modern obsession with freedom divorced from morality—it’s a powerful reminder that language, community, and truth are rooted in something deeper. Logos is the thread that runs through history, always rising, even when it seems defeated.

If you’ve ever sensed that there’s more meaning behind the chaos of our times, this book puts that intuition into words. Every fall becomes the start of a new ascent. Every apparent failure is just another step in the upward spiral of Logos.

Here’s what you need for the month of MAY

This month we are reading, The Greatest Philosopher Who Ever Lived. You can find his book here:

LINK TO BOOK

*This is not an affiliate link.

If you're interested in learning more about Dr. E. Michael Jones, check out my interview with him on Identity & Logos.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, May 31st

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of Our Lady!

Let us unite in prayer, asking the Holy Ghost to guide the Church and grant us a holy Pope!

God bless,

Alexis

The Picture of Dorian Grey: "For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest..." Luke 8:17

Alexis — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:10:49 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for April at the bottom of the page.

"Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face."
-Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Grey

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray is more than just a Gothic tale of vanity and corruption—it’s a powerful parable about the soul, morality, and the consequences of unchecked sin.

The story vividly illustrates how sin distorts not only the soul but, ultimately, even the face of the sinner—just as Christ teaches that what is hidden in the heart will be revealed (Luke 8:17).

We’ll also discuss Wilde’s own complicated relationship with faith, his later conversion to Catholicism, and the novel’s warnings against the modern world’s obsession with beauty and pleasure at the expense of virtue.

Here’s what you need for the month of APRIL

This month we are reading, Logos Rising by Dr E Michael Jones. You can find his book here:

LOGOS RISING

*This is not an affiliate link.

If you're interested in learning more about Dr. E. Michael Jones, check out my interview with him on Identity & Logos.

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, May 3rd

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of The Holy Eucharist!

God bless,

Alexis

100 Great Catholic Poems: rediscover the language of God

Alexis — Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:20:36 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for March at the bottom of the page.

“Poetry is the language of God.”
― Sally Read

THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY EBOOK

Here’s what you need for the month of MARCH

This month we are reading, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. You can find the free here:

Our next book discussion will be on:

Saturday, April 5th

You can join the group here:

I hope to see you there!

I pray you have a Blessed Month of Saint Joseph!

God bless,

Alexis

The Gospel As Revealed To Me by Maria Valtorta Volume 1: The Reality of The Virgin Birth Revealed

Alexis — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 21:17:39 GMT

*You will find all the information regarding the book and discussion date for February at the bottom of the page.

“Mary was not only the Pure, the new Eve created for the joy of God: She was the super Eve, the Masterpiece of the Most High, She was Full of Grace, The Mother of the Word in the mind of God.”
― Jesus, The Gospel As Revealed To Me by Maria Valtorta