Books (depression, despondency, torpor)

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Benedictine15

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Does anyone have any book recommendations on the spiritual life that will wake someone up from spiritual torpor…sort of one that will help light the fire of someone who suffers from depression and expends much energy just to get through the day…relying on the graces of our good Lord of course! Otherwise, not sure where I would end up!! :eek:

I am sure those of you who suffer from depression may be familiar with the feeling that because we feel down, lethargic, despondent…we assume that we are displeasing in God’s sight. I need to re-focus a bit and a good book is needed. I am currently studying the Rule of St. Benedict with a commentary and reading scripture but I would like to supplement with a good spiritual book for Lent possibly.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions. (PS…I do have “A Catholic Guide to Depression”)
 
Benedictine15 said:
Does anyone have any book recommendations on the spiritual life that will wake someone up from spiritual torpor…sort of one that will help light the fire of someone who suffers from depression and expends much energy just to get through the day…relying on the graces of our good Lord of course! Otherwise, not sure where I would end up!! :eek:

I am sure those of you who suffer from depression may be familiar with the feeling that because we feel down, lethargic, despondent…we assume that we are displeasing in God’s sight. I need to re-focus a bit and a good book is needed. I am currently studying the Rule of St. Benedict with a commentary and reading scripture but I would like to supplement with a good spiritual book for Lent possibly.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions. (PS…I do have “A Catholic Guide to Depression”)
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Rather than a book right now, would you consider a Spiritual Director?
 
Benedictine15 said:
Does anyone have any book recommendations on the spiritual life that will wake someone up from spiritual torpor…sort of one that will help light the fire of someone who suffers from depression and expends much energy just to get through the day…relying on the graces of our good Lord of course! Otherwise, not sure where I would end up!! :eek:

I am sure those of you who suffer from depression may be familiar with the feeling that because we feel down, lethargic, despondent…we assume that we are displeasing in God’s sight. I need to re-focus a bit and a good book is needed. I am currently studying the Rule of St. Benedict with a commentary and reading scripture but I would like to supplement with a good spiritual book for Lent possibly.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions. (PS…I do have “A Catholic Guide to Depression”)
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Try Robert J. Wicks - touching the holy. Sorin Books. Indiana
 
Yes…I do have a mentor. He had limited suggestions for books and the ones he recommended are good I repeatedly go back to them.
 
pianistclare said:
Rather than a book right now, would you consider a Spiritual Director?
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Yes…I do have a mentor. He has recommended a couple of books which are good and I go back to them repeatedly. It doesn’t hurt to ask since there may be someone in the same boat that has found something that helped them. I know we could be at different points in our spiritual journey and the same book may not speak the same way to each person who reads it. But there may be something the Spirit has yet to reveal to me 😉
 
I find that books that aren’t too serious help my depression - anyone who can make me laugh when I feel like crying is my hero!

It’s probably out of print, but a book that I have found helpful is “We Neurotics, a Handbook for the Half-mad” by Fr. Bernard Basset. It’s a serious book, but he doesn’t take things too seriously. 🙂

It’s available at Amazon, but the price is horrible! Try looking for it at used book stores - the price might be better.
 
Bonnie said:
I find that books that aren’t too serious help my depression - anyone who can make me laugh when I feel like crying is my hero!

It’s probably out of print, but a book that I have found helpful is “We Neurotics, a Handbook for the Half-mad” by Fr. Bernard Basset. It’s a serious book, but he doesn’t take things too seriously. 🙂

It’s available at Amazon, but the price is horrible! Try looking for it at used book stores - the price might be better.
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How can one not love a title like that 👍?

I actually can use our inter-library loan to borrow hard to find books. It’s a blessing! Thanks Bonnie.
 
Christ is Passing By, by St Josemaria Escriva. You can even get it for Kindle.
 
Colorad007 said:
Christ is Passing By, by St Josemaria Escriva. You can even get it for Kindle.
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I am familiar with some passages from there since I have a few volumes of the Navarre Bible which contain many of his quotes in the commentary. They are quite profound and keep one pondering. Great suggestion…bless you.
 
Benedictine15,

You may find interesting The Catholic Guide to Depression by Aaron Kheriaty, MD with Fr. John Cihak, STD and Arise From Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, STD .

Catholic Answers Radio has had numerous episodes focused on mental health, including depression. If you are interested, consider episodes with the aforementioned authors as guests. Just click on their names above.
 
bsf said:
Benedictine15,

You may find interesting The Catholic Guide to Depression by Aaron Kheriaty, MD with Fr. John Cihak, STD and Arise From Darkness: What to Do When Life Doesn’t Make Sense by Fr. Benedict Groeschel, STD .

Catholic Answers Radio has had numerous episodes focused on mental health, including depression. If you are interested, consider episodes with the aforementioned authors as guests. Just click on their names above.
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I have the Catholic Guide to Depression: Excellent book! I am thankful you posted the radio podcasts. Bless you!
 
The Noonday Devil: Acedia, The Unnamed Evil of Our Times, by Dom Jean-Charles Nault, OSB (has been the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Wandrille in Normandy, France, since 2009. He entered the monastery in 1988, earned a doctorate in theology from the John Paul II Pontifical Institute in Rome (Lateran University), and received from Pope Benedict XVI, then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the first Henri de Lubac Prize for his thesis on acedia, La Saveu de Dieu.)

amazon.com/dp/158617939X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=36RU5XB0L7N20&coliid=I14Y7AZPCDF3D9
 
Casilda said:
The Noonday Devil: Acedia, The Unnamed Evil of Our Times, by Dom Jean-Charles Nault, OSB (has been the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Wandrille in Normandy, France, since 2009. He entered the monastery in 1988, earned a doctorate in theology from the John Paul II Pontifical Institute in Rome (Lateran University), and received from Pope Benedict XVI, then Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the first Henri de Lubac Prize for his thesis on acedia, La Saveu de

amazon.com/dp/158617939X/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pd_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=36RU5XB0L7N20&coliid=I14Y7AZPCDF3D9
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Oh…that is an excellent book. I have read it. I am glad you brought it up as a suggestion in case others are not familiar with that work. Bless you.
 
Dear Casilda,

Thank you so much. I am going to check them out now. Bless you!

(Good for pre-Lent viewing 👍)
 
Benedictine15 said:
Does anyone have any book recommendations on the spiritual life that will wake someone up from spiritual torpor…sort of one that will help light the fire of someone who suffers from depression and expends much energy just to get through the day…relying on the graces of our good Lord of course! Otherwise, not sure where I would end up!! :eek:

I am sure those of you who suffer from depression may be familiar with the feeling that because we feel down, lethargic, despondent…we assume that we are displeasing in God’s sight. I need to re-focus a bit and a good book is needed. I am currently studying the Rule of St. Benedict with a commentary and reading scripture but I would like to supplement with a good spiritual book for Lent possibly.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions. (PS…I do have “A Catholic Guide to Depression”)
Click to expand...
If you are dealing with clinical depression, you need to see a psychiatrist because it could also be caused by a neurochemical imbalance that is not your fault. Frankly, the best treatment for depression is medication, frequent exercise, and socializing with others. Most Catholic sources concerning depression tend to blame the sufferer for his/her affliction by lumping it within the category of sloth. Unfortunately, the Fathers and pastors of the ancient Church did not have access to modern tools for understanding illness. Peace.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
If you are dealing with clinical depression, you need to see a psychiatrist because it could also be caused by a neurochemical imbalance that is not your fault. Frankly, the best treatment for depression is medication, frequent exercise, and socializing with others. Most Catholic sources concerning depression tend to blame the sufferer for his/her affliction by lumping it within the category of sloth. Unfortunately, the Fathers and pastors of the ancient Church did not have access to modern tools for understanding illness. Peace.
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Thank you for your reply. I have been under a psychiatrist’s care for 15 years now, eat healthy, socialize, and walk. I have done all I can possibly do in seeking medical remedies so I feel it is good to also strengthen my prayer/spiritual life and to accept each moment as it comes from the Hand of God.
 
Benedictine15 said:
Thank you for your reply. I have been under a psychiatrist’s care for 15 years now, eat healthy, socialize, and walk. I have done all I can possibly do in seeking medical remedies so I feel it is good to also strengthen my prayer/spiritual life and to accept each moment as it comes from the Hand of God.
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Agreed. This illness touches upon one of the mysteries of the human souls. Even the great saints struggled with it. Mother Theresa felt empty because she did not feel the presence of God. She struggled with it as well. It may just be a thorn that some of us are born to bear just as Paul bore his thorn. There maybe no cure until death.
 
Jon_Mallory said:
Agreed. This illness touches upon one of the mysteries of the human souls. Even the great saints struggled with it. Mother Theresa felt empty because she did not feel the presence of God. She struggled with it as well. It may just be a thorn that some of us are born to bear just as Paul bore his thorn. There maybe no cure until death.
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Yes…you touch upon a good point. Everything is permitted for a greater good. And much we will not know until we die! The Mystery of Jesus Crowned with Thorns is very close to my heart because of my depression/insomnia.

God bless.
 
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