On Thursday’s Direct to My Desk, we asked you to recommend a book to give a loved one for Christmas. Here are your answers, along with a list of Al’s favorites.

Calls from our Listeners

A Rosary Litany by Fr. Edward Looney

Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church by Brandon Vogt

Common Sense 101: Lessons from Chesternon by Dale Ahlquist

The Second Greatest Story Ever Told: Now is the Time of Mercy by Fr. Michael Gaitley

33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat In Preparation for Marian Consecration by Fr. Michael Gaitley

Meditations on Vatican Art and Meditations on Vatican Art Angels by Fr. Mark Haydu

The Sacrament of the Present Moment by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

How to Be Holy: First Steps in Becoming a Saint by Peter Kreeft

Answers, not Promises by Mother Angelica

Listen My Son: St. Benedict for Fathers by Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To: Divine Answers to Life’s Most Difficult Problems by Anthony DeStefano

Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly

Seventeen Steps to Heaven by Leo Trese

Dear and Glorious Physician: A Novel about St Luke by Taylor Caldwell

Drinking with the Saints: The Sinner’s Guide to a Holy Happy Hour by Michael Foley

The Pieta Prayer Book by St. Bridget

The Catholic Warrior by Robert Abel

Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis

Introduction to Christianity by Pope Benedict XVI

Sword and Serpent and The Tenth Region of the Night by Taylor Marshall

Struck by Lightning by Gloria Polo

God or Nothing by Cardinal Robert Sarah

The Public Life of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Fr. Alban Goddier

Treasure in Clay by Fr. Fulton J. Sheen

Mary, Queen of Scotland by Margaret George

My Life with the Saints by Fr. James Martin

Al’s Favorites

Divine Renovation: Bringing Your Parish from Maintenance to Mission by Fr. James Mallon

Hard Sayings: A Catholic Approach to Answering Bible Difficulties by Trent Horn

Behold Your Mother: A Biblical Defense of the Marian Doctrines by Tim Staples

Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith by Bishop Robert Barron

Vibrant Paradoxes: The Both/And of Catholicism by Bishop Robert Barron

The Case for Jesus: The Biblical and Historical Evidence for Christ by Brant Pitre

The Christ Files: How Historians Know what they Know about Jesus by John Dickson

The Global Vatican: An Inside Look at the Catholic Church, World Politics and the Extraordinary Relationship between the United States and the Holy See by Ambassador Francis Rooney

The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints by Ralph Martin

The Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament

The Tragedy of US Foreign Policy: How America’s Civil Religion Betrayed the National Interest by Walter McDougall

75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know: The Fascinating Stories behind Great Works of Art, Literature, Music and Film by Terry Glaspey

Silence by Shusako Endo (Al only recommends this for very mature Christians.)

Getting Religion: Faith, Culture and Politics from the Age of Eisenhower to the Era of Obama by Kenneth Woodward

Defeating Jihad: The Winnable War by Dr. Sebastian Gorka

The Day the Revolution Began: Reconsidering the Meaning of Jesus’ Crucifixion by NT Wright