ROCKFORD, Illinois (LifeSiteNews) — Thomas A. Nelson, the founder of renowned traditional Catholic publisher TAN Books, passed away on Saturday at age 88.
Nelson had been bedridden for 5 1/2 years after being “severely incapacitated by a stroke” in January 2020, according to his obituary.
He founded TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., in 1967 amid the tumult in the Church after the Second Vatican Council and started by selling The Secret of the Rosary by St. Louis de Montfort.
“TAN Books began humbly. Out of the trunk of his car, Thomas sold his very first title, The Secret of the Rosary — a book that, to this day, remains one of TAN’s bestsellers,” current TAN Books CEO Conor Gallagher said in a statement. The company has sold more than five million copies of the classic book, Nelson’s obituary states.
“From that single volume grew a publishing house dedicated to defending the Faith and handing on the traditions of the Church. Under his leadership, TAN became known for reprinting the classics of Catholic spirituality, defending the traditional liturgy, preserving the Douay-Rheims Bible, and restoring to circulation countless works of the saints that might otherwise have been lost,” said Gallagher, whose family took over at TAN in 2008.
Nelson sold Catholic booklets “at drastic quantity discounts for widespread distribution,” according to his obituary.
“Over the years, my admiration for Thomas has only grown, as I have come to recognize more fully the courage and foresight he had in preserving the treasures of Catholic tradition,” Gallagher said.
I read so many books from TAN that helped me with my faith. They’re awesome. In reality I owe much to Tom even though I never had the blessing of meeting him in person. Eternal rest grant unto Thy faithful servant O Lord! https://t.co/6YeDugMenQ
— John-Henry Westen (@JohnHenryWesten) August 20, 2025
“I read so many books from TAN that helped me with my faith,” LifeSiteNews CEO John-Henry Westen said. “They’re awesome. In reality, I owe much to Tom even though I never had the blessing of meeting him in person. Eternal rest grant unto Thy faithful servant O Lord!”
TAN Books has long been appreciated by faithful Catholics for its strong orthodoxy and wide range of traditional content. Other classics published by TAN include The Little Catechism of the Curé of Ars, How to Converse with God and The Glories of Mary by St. Alphonsus Liguori, and The Baltimore Catechism.
Nelson compiled the prayer book Catholic Prayers: Compiled from Traditional Sources for TAN.
“Tom had maintained a remarkably positive attitude in the past five and a half years, being forced to learn patience and acceptance. During this trial he had often been consoled by an image of Our Mother of Good Counsel,” his obituary notes.
It adds that Nelson, who died on the morning after the Solemnity of the Assumption, “had received the Last Sacraments and the Apostolic Pardon, and he died wearing the Brown Scapular and a Miraculous Medal.”
“A Requiem Mass will be offered on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary Oratory, 517 Elm St, Rockford, IL 61102 with a visitation prior to Mass starting at 10:00 a.m.,” according to his obituary. St. Mary Oratory is run by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, which is dedicated to the celebration of the Traditional Latin Mass and the traditional sacraments.
“A night-before visitation will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, IL 61108. Burial in Calvary Catholic Cemetery,” the obituary states.
“In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary Oratory or Corpus Christi Monastery of the Poor Clares,” it continues.
