Not sure if some of these classics in the original language have approbations but the only ones that I have that do are The imitation of Christ, The Summa Theologica, The Catholic Controversies, and The Soul of the Apostolate. The others are either translations by well known catholic writers of the early 20th century (in the case of St. Augustine’s Confessions), a well-respected academic institution (in the case of Bossuet’s Discourse on Universal History) or the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Canada (In the Case of Peter Lombard’s The Sentences).
“The imitation of Christ: Translated by Ronald Knox and Michael Oakley”
Publisher : Ignatius Press (April 18, 2019)
ISBN-10 : 1586171313
ISBN-13 : 978-158617131
Nihil Obstat: Joannes M.T Burton, D.D., L.S.S.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: E. Morrogh Bernard
Vicarica Generelis
Westmonasterii: Die XVIII Septembris MCMLIX
“Summa Theologica” (authored by St. Thomas Aquinas in Latin) First complete American Edition in Three Volumes Literally Translated by Fathers of the English Dominican Province Published by Benzinger Brothers, Inc. Copyright 1947. This is touted to be one of the best English translations of this work.
ASIN : B001B1GKVA
Publisher : Benziger Brothers, Inc; First American Edition (January 1, 1947)
Nihil Obstat: Rt. Rev. Msgr.John M. Fearns, S.T.D.
Censor Librorum
Imprimatur: Francis Cardinal Spellman,
Archbishop of New York
New York, August 14, 1946
Approbatio Ordinis Pro Versione Anglica
Nihil Obstat: F. Raphael Mos, O.P. S.T.L.
Leo Moore, O.P., S.T.L.
Imprimatur: F. Beda Jarrett, O.P., S.T.L., A.M.
Prior Provincialis Anglia
In Festo Pentecostes, 1920
The next set of classics are a 4 volume set called “The Sentences” by Bishop Peter Lombard and were used to train priests for a few centuries in the middle ages. This set was translated from the Latin by Giulio Silano
The Sentences Book 1: The Mystery of the Trinity
Publisher : PIMS; First in English edition (January 1, 2007)
Language : English
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780888442925
ISBN-13 : 978-0888442925
The Sentences Book 2: On Creation
Publisher : PIMS; 2nd ed. edition (January 1, 2008)
Language : English
Paperback : 282 pages
ISBN-10 : 0888442939
ISBN-13 : 978-0888442932
The Sentences Book 3: On the Incarnation of the Word
Publisher : PIMS (November 1, 2008)
Language : English
Paperback : 238 pages
ISBN-10 : 0888442955
ISBN-13 : 978-0888442956
The Sentences Book 4: On the Doctrine of Signs
ASIN : 0888442963
Publisher : PIMS; 4th ed. edition (September 1, 2010)
Language : English
Paperback : 336 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780888442963
ISBN-13 : 978-0888442963
“The Catholic Controversy: St. Frances de Sales Defense of the Faith” by St. Francis de Sales is as I understand a compilation of pamphlets which the saint used to convert a whole protestant section of France back to Catholicism. This book is, as I understand, translated from the French.
Publisher : Tan Books (January 1, 1986)
Language : English
Paperback : 376 pages
ISBN-10 : 0895553872
ISBN-13 : 978-0895553874
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 89-52138
There are more than one translation of “The Confessions of St. Augustine” but the most informative in my opinion is F. J. Sheed’s translations because he gives a forward plus a note of explanation on who the Manichees were. It is available on amazon.
ASIN : B00221WB3Y
Publisher : Sheed & Ward (January 1, 1942)
Language : English
Hardcover : 208 pages
The next book is about apostolates and St. Pius X said he read it many nights before bed. The book is entitled “Soul of the Apostolate” by Dom Jean-Baptiste Chautard, O.C.S.O.
ASIN : 0895550318
Publisher : TAN Books (January 1, 1946)
Language : English
Paperback : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780895550316
ISBN-13 : 978-089555031
Nihil Obstat: M. Maurice Molloy, O.C.S.O.
M. Alberic Wulf, O.C.S.O.
Imprimi Potest: M. Fredericus Dunne, O.C.S.O.
Abbas B.M. de Gethsemani
Imprimatur: +Joannes A. Floersh, D.D.
Archiepiscopus Ludovicopolitanus
Die 18a Septembris, 1946
The last book is the “Discourse on Universal History” by Jacques-Benigne Bossuet. It follows history with and emphasis on how it occurred with regard to the Jewish and Catholic religions up to its time.
Publisher : Univ of Chicago Pr; First Thus edition (February 1, 1976)
Language : English
Hardcover : 376 pages
ISBN-10 : 0226067084
ISBN-13 : 978-0226067087
Traditional Thomistic Catholic 