Book suggestions for catholic wife and mother?

[Susansmum]

Hi,
I’m looking to become a better wife and mother. I would love some suggestions on books that focus on being a catholic wife/marriage, and/or mother, either together or separately.

If that makes any sense

 

[EasterJoy]

It does, but although I am very much a “book person”, from the vantage point of being married over 20 years and having teenagers, I’d say that a book is probably not what you need. Rather, carve out time alone with your husband and time alone for prayer and reflection–just like the “pay yourself first” method of saving for retirement!–and let nothing take them away from you. Let that guide what you read, when you have time to read. Having that will be like the difference between having a book on exercise and having a walking partner and an exercise class. It is the practices that make perfect, far more than extra knowledge about how to practice.

My other book suggestion is to check out audiobooks from the library, and listen to them while you’re doing work that you do alone, if you find you never have time to think adult thoughts. That does help a lot.

 

[PetiteFoi]

I am a huge non-fiction fan, and a Librarian.
Which is why I’m a little ashamed I don’t have any suggestions for you!! But I’m currently in the middle of coming back to Catholicism myself, and haven’t read any mother/wife books yet, but I definitely want to!
One that I’ve seen highly recommended is: “The Handbook For Catholic Moms…”

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/516GJzI4S+L.BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX225_SY300_CR,0,0,225,300_SH20_OU01.jpg

I’ve yet to read it though!

One book I do have that I enjoy is “The Original Mother’s Manual”

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41Cmaxd2f7L.SY300.jpg

Though it’s a tiny book and mostly full of different prayers for mothers, for themselves/children/husband etc.
I use it a alot.

I look forward to seeing others recommendations!

Peace,
~ PetiteFoi

 

[mcc804]

Although I am a big reader and have read many helpful books over the years, I have come to the point of focusing more on prayer and lives of the saints as the most worthy recommendations. In the past, I’d relied very much on books from a variety of sources that take the basics of Christian marriage and break it down into examples and advice. That can help depending on your spiritual journey. But the most rewarding for me have been the books about any of the saints and specifically the married saints: St. Monica, Blessed Zelie Martin, Blessed Anna Maria Taigi. The messages of the marriage books that are Christian in nature (and many of them are Protestant) lightly cover the same things: humility, submission, charity. But it’s in the lives of the saints where it really inspires and gives you the substance of the teachings.