Spiritual Reading Suggestions

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iBoodle

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Hello all!

I am looking for some suggestions on spiritual reading. I have heard for years- from the pulpit and in the confessional- that I need to get my hands on some good spiritual reading. And not just during Lent. 😊 With all that is happening in the world (abortion, gay marriage, transgender “normalcy”, the list goes on and on…) I find myself becoming more and more bogged down by the thought that I cannot argue against these things articulately enough. If asked about my stance on these issues, I want to be able to defend my Catholic belief with sound arguments and facts. I want any and all spiritual reading that will help me not only with the secular arguments, but also deep spiritual reflection. I am a 21 year old girl, with no concrete direction in life, if that helps!

Where should I start? Should I crack open the Catechism first? I know this is kind of all over the place, with many different questions and concerns. Thank you for reading!

Becca
 
Start with the daily Scripture readings and make it a normal part of your day. I give myself a mandate with it: “no Bible, no breakfast”.
usccb.org/bible/readings/ (this link will take you to the respective daily readings…save it or make your homepage)

Reading the lives of the saints (either books about one saint, or a book that discusses many of them) is also wonderful. The Catechism is a great reference tool that you begin to gradually dive into. But for someone just starting out, it helps to know what topic you are looking for before you dive into it. Or…just start at the beginning…
 
I would recommend Saints’ Books and the Cathechisms.

Saints’ Books are writings of the saints and lives of the saints

Saints Books I recommend:
Story of a Soul - Autobiography of St Therese of Lisieux

Diary of St Faustina

Autobiography of St Anthony Mary Claret

You can find in this thread:
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=974781&page=2

Websites suggestions:

Saints’ Books
Saints’ Quotes
Saints’ Prayers
Basilica catholic ebooks
Free Catholic Books Database
 
Most certainly Bible readings, but don’t necessarily confine yourself to the set daily readings, I’ve got a lot more out of systematically studying the Bible, i.e. read right though a given book, a few chapters a day and find a good commentary to help. I’ve also found a book called Saints in the Roman Calendar that gives a brief overview of the saint remembered on each day of the year.

I’d also recommend Pope Benedict’s Jesus of Nazareth series, and for more topical reading anything by the Catholic Truth Society.
 
iBoodle said:
Hello all!

I am looking for some suggestions on spiritual reading. I have heard for years- from the pulpit and in the confessional- that I need to get my hands on some good spiritual reading. And not just during Lent. 😊 With all that is happening in the world (abortion, gay marriage, transgender “normalcy”, the list goes on and on…) I find myself becoming more and more bogged down by the thought that I cannot argue against these things articulately enough. If asked about my stance on these issues, I want to be able to defend my Catholic belief with sound arguments and facts. I want any and all spiritual reading that will help me not only with the secular arguments, but also deep spiritual reflection. I am a 21 year old girl, with no concrete direction in life, if that helps!

Where should I start? Should I crack open the Catechism first? I know this is kind of all over the place, with many different questions and concerns. Thank you for reading!

Becca
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You need to work on your relationship with Jesus Christ before all of what you’re seeking here.

If you merely equip yourself with intellectual knowledge to win debates, you will not grow spiritually.

In fact, most people who take the path you’re seeking end up doing more harm than good, for they have memorized facts about Catholic doctrine, but don’t have the level of love to present those facts in a way that will help the person they are speaking with.

You need to read about developing your prayer life and asking the Lord for a deeper level of prayer.

Until you do this, all you’ll be doing is arguing about religion.

Jim
 
iBoodle said:
Hello all!

I am looking for some suggestions on spiritual reading. I have heard for years- from the pulpit and in the confessional- that I need to get my hands on some good spiritual reading. And not just during Lent. 😊 With all that is happening in the world (abortion, gay marriage, transgender “normalcy”, the list goes on and on…) I find myself becoming more and more bogged down by the thought that I cannot argue against these things articulately enough. If asked about my stance on these issues, I want to be able to defend my Catholic belief with sound arguments and facts. I want any and all spiritual reading that will help me not only with the secular arguments, but also deep spiritual reflection. I am a 21 year old girl, with no concrete direction in life, if that helps!

Where should I start? Should I crack open the Catechism first? I know this is kind of all over the place, with many different questions and concerns. Thank you for reading!

Becca
Click to expand...
Hello Becca. You are correct that private spiritual reading is a good thing, and to my mind ought to be done by all. But understand that the aim of spiritual reading is not to learn, but rather as a sort of prayer–not the part where you talk to God, but more the part where you listen to Him. My three best recommendations are The New Testament of course, The Imitation of Christ, and The Introduction to the Devout Life of St Francis de Sales. Every reading of these always reveals something new.

If you’re unsure quite how to read a spiritual book, I’m sure a priest you know what be very happy to help. After all, priests learn a lot about the great good of spiritual reading at seminary.
 
iBoodle said:
Hello all!

I am looking for some suggestions on spiritual reading. I have heard for years- from the pulpit and in the confessional- that I need to get my hands on some good spiritual reading. And not just during Lent. 😊 With all that is happening in the world (abortion, gay marriage, transgender “normalcy”, the list goes on and on…) I find myself becoming more and more bogged down by the thought that I cannot argue against these things articulately enough. If asked about my stance on these issues, I want to be able to defend my Catholic belief with sound arguments and facts. I want any and all spiritual reading that will help me not only with the secular arguments, but also deep spiritual reflection. I am a 21 year old girl, with no concrete direction in life, if that helps!

Where should I start? Should I crack open the Catechism first? I know this is kind of all over the place, with many different questions and concerns. Thank you for reading!

Becca
Click to expand...
themostholyrosary.com/mystical-city.htm
catalinarivas.excerptsofinri.com/pdf/Eng-TP-Lg.pdf
fatima.org/essentials/requests/devotion_of_seven_sorrows.pdf
 
JimR-OCDS said:
You need to work on your relationship with Jesus Christ before all of what you’re seeking here.

If you merely equip yourself with intellectual knowledge to win debates, you will not grow spiritually.

In fact, most people who take the path you’re seeking end up doing more harm than good, for they have memorized facts about Catholic doctrine, but don’t have the level of love to present those facts in a way that will help the person they are speaking with.

You need to read about developing your prayer life and asking the Lord for a deeper level of prayer.

Until you do this, all you’ll be doing is arguing about religion.

Jim
Click to expand...
Thank you for all of the suggestions, everyone. Keep them coming. I am making a list as we speak.

I think you are right, Jim. I need to start focusing all week on my soul, and not only on Sunday, or at the end of the night when I say my evening prayers. I find it extremely hard to focus on the rosary sometimes though, as my mind tends to wander and linger on things I need to accomplish that day,work, homework, etc. Spiritual Growth will be my motto for 2016!
 
iBoodle said:
Thank you for all of the suggestions, everyone. Keep them coming. I am making a list as we speak.

I think you are right, Jim. I need to start focusing all week on my soul, and not only on Sunday, or at the end of the night when I say my evening prayers. I find it extremely hard to focus on the rosary sometimes though, as my mind tends to wander and linger on things I need to accomplish that day,work, homework, etc. Spiritual Growth will be my motto for 2016!
Click to expand...
Our minds always wander.

When you say the Rosary, try to see the Hail Mary’s as being like a compass, in that when you become aware that your mind has wandered away from meditating on the mystery for that decade, just return gently to the Hail Mary’s as they will point your focus of intention back to the mystery.

Too many people say the Rosary too fast. Slow down and keep your focus on the mystery, but don’t work at it aggressively or become upset when you find that you mind has wandered. Just return to the Hail Mary’s and you’ll be find.

Remember, prayer is an act of love, not an act of penance.

We do penance when its time to offer penance. We pray when its time to pray.

Jim
 
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