Spirituality books

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I was thinking of getting a few books on spirituality and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on these books i’ve picked out.

“Introduction to the Devout Life” Francis De Sales

“The Way of the Heart” Henri Nouwen

“Dark Night of the Soul” John of the Cross

“The Way of Perfection” Teresa of Avila

“The Interior Castle” Teresa of Avila

“Talking with God” Francois Fenelon

???
 
myersdad said:
I was thinking of getting a few books on spirituality and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on these books i’ve picked out.

“Introduction to the Devout Life” Francis De Sales Excellent choice

“The Way of the Heart” Henri Nouwen Not sure about this author. He was the favorite author of someone I don’t trust - guilty by association!

“Dark Night of the Soul” John of the Cross A deep, difficult book for very advanced souls. People are quick to ascribe normal difficulties to the dark night. Maybe wait on this one if you’re a beginner

“The Way of Perfection” Teresa of Avila A good choice after St. Francis de Sales

“The Interior Castle” Teresa of Avila ditto

“Talking with God” Francois Fenelon Not familiar with it
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From your username, I assume you are somebody’s dad and a layperson. With the exception of the Introduction to the Devout Life, the rest of these books were written for religious. You can find a lot of really good books mainly for lay people at the Catholic Information Center. Lay spirituality is distinctly different from that of professed religious.

Happy reading.

Betsy
 
I’m actually a father of two little ones… 🙂

I am a former protestant(err… currently I guess…not catholic yet) children’s pastor (resigned due to high stress and wrong calling…long story). I’ve known about some of these books for a while but never delved into them. But I don’t think I’ll have a problem with reading them…even if they are not exactly made for laypeople…

another book I thought of was Ignatius’ “Spiritual Disciplines”…

Thanks for the link!
 
any of the books listed are spiritual classics. I would recommended starting with Intro to the Devout life, and sticking with one book at a time, read slowly and meditatively, putting suggestions in the book into practice one at a time. A year is not to long to work with one book especially for a beginner in the spiritual journey.

I also recommend a modern guide to the stages of the spiritual life, so you know what stages the other books are referring to. Spiritual Journey by Fr. Groeschel is one of the best guides.
 
Puzzleannie, can you please provide an ISBN number for the Fr. Groeschel book, please? I looked on some major book sellers websites, and I couldn’t locate it.

Thanks!🙂
 
How about The Story of a Soul**, which is the story of St. Therese of Liseux? Her “Little Way” is wonderful. Also The Practice of the Presence of God** I think that’s the name, by Brother Lawrence. Both of these are great supports for a spiritual journey.

Peace,
Linda
 
I love Introduction to the Devout Life and highly recommend it. Another one you can check out is *Imitation of Christ *by Thomas A Kempis and The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva.
 
mommyof4 said:
Puzzleannie, can you please provide an ISBN number for the Fr. Groeschel book, please? I looked on some major book sellers websites, and I couldn’t locate it.

Thanks!🙂
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my apology, I am confusing two books with similar content by Fr. Groeschel, Spiritual Passages, and Journey to something, which I have forgotten (see the thread on losing your memory on another forum). the second, I believe, contains excerpts from several of the great spiritual writers on the progress in the spiritual life, so you get a feel for which of those writers will most help you or appeal to you. The first describes the stages of the spiritual journey and how to know where you are on that path. Both are excellent. Ignatius and EWTN carry a lot of his books, so do many other Catholic book catalogs. I have lent mine out to someone so I can’t provide the info. start with ignatius.com

I don’t like ordering from amazon because they frequently confuse similar books by the same author, esp. with used books.
 
Along with Introduction to Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales, my first and most excellent pick, you may want to try Spiritual Combat by Dom Scupoli. The latter was carried in St. Francis’s pocket and he read from it daily. As you read the Introduction to Devout Life, you will see a lot of the wisdom from Scupoli in St. Francis’s writings. Both are great and helpful for those of us who live in the world. St. Francis was named a Doctor of the Church for his writings, by the way, so you can’t go wrong. Do you want to read either of them on line first? I’ll send you a link, if you prefer.
 
puzzleannie said:
my apology, I am confusing two books with similar content by Fr. Groeschel, Spiritual Passages, and Journey to something, which I have forgotten (see the thread on losing your memory on another forum). the second, I believe, contains excerpts from several of the great spiritual writers on the progress in the spiritual life, so you get a feel for which of those writers will most help you or appeal to you. The first describes the stages of the spiritual journey and how to know where you are on that path. Both are excellent. Ignatius and EWTN carry a lot of his books, so do many other Catholic book catalogs. I have lent mine out to someone so I can’t provide the info. start with ignatius.com

I don’t like ordering from amazon because they frequently confuse similar books by the same author, esp. with used books.
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Thank you! I found them.
 
myersdad said:
I was thinking of getting a few books on spirituality and I was wondering if you had any thoughts on these books i’ve picked out.

“Introduction to the Devout Life” Francis De Sales

“The Way of the Heart” Henri Nouwen

** “Dark Night of the Soul” John of the Cross

“The Way of Perfection” Teresa of Avila

“The Interior Castle” Teresa of Avila**

“Talking with God” Francois Fenelon

???
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Dear myersdad:

I recently received the book, Fire Within: St. Theresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and the Gospel-- On Prayer by Fr. Thomas Dubay. It is a fantastic book which gives an overview of St. Theresa’s and St. John’s work on prayer, and ties it strongly into its root in the Gospel.

Now, it is no subsitute, ultimately, for the saints themselves, but, I find it extremely inspirational. Fr. Thomas lays out clearly the shocking, awe-inspiring fact that God wants to offer an awesome mystical union with everyone.

Personally, it has put the work of the saints in perspective. I read the beginning of St. John’s Ascent of Mount Carmel but I really had no idea what it was really about. I also began reading St. Theresa’s Interior Castle but also left off near the beginning. Of course, I’m a very busy college student, which accounts for most of it, but at the same time, I really didn’t understand why they were emphasizing holiness, conquering sin, so much.

But now I understand. And when I go back to St. John’s and St. Theresa’s work… I’ll be prepared to take it to heart.

In short: I recommend Dubay’s book which will ground you solidly in their thought, and totally inspire you. And then I recommend whichever of these books you want to read! It’s precisely what I plan on doing. But, reading Dubay’s book is an accessible way to see what exactly is the end you have in view for prayer, and perhaps enough inspiration to pick up the truly daunting task of conquering sin and living a holy life.

-Rob
 
Just wanted to echo Rob’s suppot of Fr. Dubay’s book “Fire Within”. Fr. Dubay is an excellent writer and explains why St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila and other classic spiritual authors do not write only for religious and clergy - we are all called to transforming Contemplative Prayer, whether we are Priests, Religious or Lay people.
To stop short and read books only intended for lay persons would be doing yourself a diservice. Fr. Dubay also has a simpler introductory book called “Prayer Primer” and this is worth reading first to get a flavour for his work, both books changed my way of praying forever.
 
It’s a good idea, I think, to read St Teresa of Avila, before trying anything by St John of the Cross. She is deep, but much more acessible than he is…
I read her autobiography over & over. It is less an autobography than the story of her own spiritual journey & growth. Usually just called “The Life” of St Teresa…but not what we today would think of as such…
 
Zooey,

Did you ever read the life of St. Teresa by Marcelle Auclair? Oh my, her biography gives precious insight into how greatly she and the nuns were persecuted, and how much they suffered! In her humility, Teresa did not reveal details of her suffering, but it was far worse then I could have ever imagined from reading her own words about it. Auclair gives specifics that make me wonder if I could ever hold up under similar circumstances.
 
I would agree with the recommendation to start with Introduction to the Devout Life, or Practice of the Presence of God. Another good one is Abandonment to Divine Providence.
 
RobNY said:
Dear myersdad:

In short: I recommend Dubay’s book which will ground you solidly in their thought, and totally inspire you. And then I recommend whichever of these books you want to read! It’s precisely what I plan on doing. But, reading Dubay’s book is an accessible way to see what exactly is the end you have in view for prayer, and perhaps enough inspiration to pick up the truly daunting task of conquering sin and living a holy life.

-Rob
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I’m working through his book Faith and Certitude. It is giving me much to think about.
 
myersdad

Well, I think you have a good choice and I would second the recommendations for “The Fire Within,” by Fr Dubay.

A little advice in order to get the greatest bang for the buck is, that when it comes to St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross,
but the "Collected Works of St. Teresa and the Collected Works of St. John of the Cross, both from ICS publishing.

Also, St. Teresa wasn’t all that good of a writer, as she herself admits, and you’ll find that she goes off onto tangents at times.

St. John of the Cross, is a better writer and for me was much easier to understand.

Jim
 
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