Another publisher reprinting good old Catholic books is Loreto Publications: https://loretopubs.org/ They put out a nice edition of Dom Gueranger’s The Liturgical Year.
Saint Jerome has long held a certain level of fascination for me. Something about an irascible saint appeals to me. I’ve been reading Jean Steinmann’s Saint Jerome and His Times (Notre Dame, IN: Fides, no date, but 1959 imprimatur, hc, trans. Ronald Matthews). Steinmann seems somewhat of a skeptic, but he fills this biography with fascinating details. Jerome certainly led an unconventional life. On Ebay here.
I’ve always benefitted from reading books by philosopher Josef Pieper. He has the gift of writing in a compact fashion about philosophical and theological truths. He has, for instance, helped me better understand Aquinas. Belief and Faith (Chicago: Regnery Logos, 1965, pb, 1963 imprimatur) is both challenging and accessible. As he often does, Pieper explores words and their meaning as a part of his inquiry. There are a number of hardcover copies listed as 1975 published by Bloomsbury/Prager floating around for wildly fluctuating prices; ISBN 9780837184906 / 0837184908, as well as some 1963 hardcover first editions.
The White Fathers by Glenn D. Kittler (Garden City, NY: Image, 1961, sc). No imprimatur, but foreword by His Eminence Laurian Cardinal Rugambwa. The story of another great missionary endeavor. I haven’t read this one. It appears somewhat odd since there are long sections with dialogue, which always makes me a bit suspicious. How did this author manage to get these quotes, I ask myself. (I was once a reporter for a daily paper and I know how tricky it can be to reconstruct long conversations.) Review here: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/a/glenn-d-kittler/the-white-fathers/. Hardcover listing on ABE: https://www.abebooks.com/first-edition/White-Fathers-Kittler-Glenn-D-Garden/31336776439/bd
The Christian Philosophy of Life by Tilmann Pesch, S.J. (St. Louis: B. Herder, n.d. 5th edition, 1909 imprimatur, hc). This is divided into sections corresponding to four weeks—does anyone know if this book is meant to accompany the long Ignatian retreat? It has been reprinted (independently published) in a large pb edition, but I have not run across any other original hc editions. This has markings from both a school and a parish library.
Any canon law nerds reading this? You’ll be interested in Canon Law: A Text and Commentary by Bouscaren and Ellis (Bruce: Milwaukee, 1948 second printing, cloth, 1947 imprimatur). This was once part of a seminary library. Incidentally: Bruce was once a big player in U.S. Catholic publishing, but as orthodoxy declined in Milwaukee so did Bruce’s output. Written by two Jesuits, this is a text for studying the 1917 Pian-Benedictine Code of Canon law. It does not contain the Latin text of the Code, but rather English summaries with other study materials aimed especially at seminarians who need a good working knowledge of canon law. On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Canon-Law-Commentary-Lincoln-Bouscaren/dp/B0007EABN0 Reprint: https://www.traditionalcatholicpublishing.com/canon-law-a-text-and-commentary . Refuge of Sinners does other reprints too: https://www.traditionalcatholicpublishing.com/
Ed Peters is a canon lawyer and scholar who has written extensively on many aspects of canon law, including the older code.
May God be praised in all things!
P.S.: Check out my latest piece of writing at Crisis.