A popular inspirational series has now published a volume offering inspiration specifically for Catholics.

The Catholic Review in Baltimore has the soup — er, scoop, from CNS:

The “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series can now add Catholics to the more than 200 groups in its targeted audience.

In mid-December, Simon & Schuster published “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living Catholic Faith,” making it the most recent addition to a series that has sold more than 112 million copies in 40 languages over the past 16 years.

The “Chicken Soup for the Soul” books are filled with personal stories (always 101) and each volume is aimed toward a specific audience: moms, dads, grandparents, teens, kids, sports enthusiasts, pet lovers, coffee lovers, people with a variety of ailments, scrapbookers and even fans of the “American Idol” television show. There are books specifically directed to members of the Jewish faith, Latter-day Saints, Christians and Christian women.

LeAnn Thieman, who co-authored “Living Catholic Faith,” is no stranger to the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” phenomenon. She has co-authored nine other books in the series and is currently working on a new “Chicken Soup” book about miracles.

When Ms. Thieman, who is Catholic, was first approached about working on a “Chicken Soup” book for Catholics, she wasn’t sure such a book was necessary since the series already had a book addressing Christians.

She changed her mind in 2005 during the media coverage of Pope John Paul II’s death and funeral Mass, which she said revealed the large number of devout Catholics in the world. Around that same time, she received another call from the “Chicken Soup” publisher who said Catholics should have their own book. This time she agreed, saying, “You’re not doing it without me.”

The book’s stories include anecdotes about the sacraments, praying the rosary, growing up Catholic, good role models and challenges in living the faith.

In a Jan. 8 phone interview with Catholic News Service from her home near Denver, Ms. Thieman said she tells fellow Catholics that they’ll find “a bit of your family, your roots and yourself in this book.”

She said the stories are ones Catholics will identify with and “should really rekindle their faith.” What impressed her the most in the two-year process of gathering stories and editing them was “how people love this church and their Catholic faith. Even people who have problems (with the Catholic Church) in the end are drawn to it and love it,” she said.

Ms. Thieman said the new book should “give us pride in our faith,” something she acknowledged Catholics could use some help with today.

Check out the link for more. Crackers, anyone?