Spirituality books

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Joysong said:
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.
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That is one great book! I found that I could not put it down!
 
Hello Drforjc,

How good it is to meet someone else who has not only read it, but enjoyed it as much as I did. 🙂 I couldn’t resist a moment of thread drift to share the words which meant so much to me from Part Four Ch. X:
For a long time, she sat motionless before her plate; nothing seemed to distract her thoughts from the vision of her work in ruins. Ana de San Bartolome did not dare to insist further.
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But suddenly, she saw Our Lord Jesus Christ standing by the table, wearing a linen garment; he unfolded Teresa’s serviette, broke her bread, and fed her himself as one feeds a child , mouthful by mouthful.
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He said to her, “Daughter, eat. I see how many sufferings you are enduring; Take heart: it is nothing.”
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Teresa ate her bread forthwith, although, the wonder of it all might well have caused her throat to contract.
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Can you picture this awesome moment? Crushed beyond imaginings, believing all was lost … and Jesus feeding her as she sat frozen in unbelievable suffering so severe as to be unable to grasp the supernatural gift taking place before her eyes!
 
That was an awesome moment, and it seemed to me the book was full of great moments like that.
The Mother Foundress (OK, I’m actually a T.O.C. but I have like to think of her as such anyway) was so graced by Our Lord!
I think I will have to re-read Auclair again now that you have me thinking of it!
 
Joysong said:
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.
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drforjc said:
That is one great book! I found that I could not put it down!
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No, & when I googled it, it is out of print, & Amazon has nothing by the author at all!!:crying:
 
Hi Zooey,

Amazon has six of these as of today. If you are still interested, check it out.

There are a few used ones here, too.

I know how much you love St. Teresa of Avila. I’ll pray that you are able to get a copy. 👍
 
Depending on what you’re looking for, there are some excellent contemporary writers.

Nouwen is excellent - I particularly like ‘The Return of the Prodigal Son’ and ‘The Way of the Heart’ (which is is beautiful way into Desert Spirituality, as is Rowan Williams ‘Silence and Honeycakes’).

Richard Foster’s ‘Streams of Living Water: Celebrating the Great Traditions of Christian Faith’ is an excellent book - broader than just spirituality, but helps give a sense of the breadth of Christian experience.

Kathleen Norris’ ‘The Cloiser Walk’ explores the author’s (who is a Presbyterian) experience of the Benedictines.

Rowan Williams’ ‘The Wound of Knowledge’ is an interesting and thorough overview of trends in spirituality until the time of John of the Cross - it’s more academic, but I found it helpful.

And, as practical books, Gerry Hughes ‘God of Surprises’ and ‘God of Compassion’, and anything by William Barry are all good ways of looking at Ignatian Spirituality (as is an Ignatian individually guided retreat!).
 
Way of the Ascetics, Tito Colliander.

Prayer: The Spirituality of the Christian East. Tomas Spidlik.
 
I would add the original, Divine Intimacy, by Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. to the mix. It’ a a one year cycle of bi-daily readings regarding Carmelite Spirituality set up in a Teresian method of Lectio. It does follow the pre-Vactian II calendar, but there are several free online sources available. (latin-mass-society.org/ordo.htm)

It’s a great resouce that hits the most important aspects of Carmelite spirituality while at the same time is a practical way of deeping one’s pray life. Find it at:

tanbooks.com/index.php/page/shop:flypage/product_id/697/keywords/+divine+intimacy+/

Best :tiphat:
 
“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. Teresa was being modest.

Actually, St. Teresa and St. John of the Cross are both considered two of the greatest Spanish writers of all time: St. John of the Cross primarily for his poetry (though he wrote good prose), but St. Teresa primarily for her prose (though she wrote the odd bit of great poetry). There are some secular critics who argue that St. Teresa is the greatest prose stylist in Spanish, period.

Of course, it helps to read them in Spanish, if you want to appreciate this facet of their writing!
 
Lay spirituality is different because of different circumstances of life.

Vowed religious have Christ for a spouse; most lay people have a human spouse or are looking for one. Therefore the issues of custody of the heart are different.

Vowed religous live in community; lay people live in the world with secular jobs and various social connections. The interpersonal issues are different. The work issues are different.

Vowed religious must live out poverty, chastity and obedience differently from lay people.

All, whether religious or lay, are called to love God and do His will, but the ways of accomplishing this are different. Literature by and for religious must be interpreted carefully for application to lay life. For example, where a religious might be careful not to have any attachment to another person, a lay person obeys God by being attached to the spouse and children. A cloistered religious submits the will to a daily schedule; a lay person is charged with figuring out time management on his own.

So when we lay people read books by and for religious, we must determine which practical parts apply to us and which do not. A person with limited formation or lack of access to spiritual direction can easily misinterpret what is read, and try to live a religious-style life in the midst of the world, which can be very, very frustrating and confusing. With proper discernment, however, the books from a religious point of view can be very valuable for anyone.

The OP presented himself as a beginner, which is why I recommended books aimed at lay people first. And there are lots of rich, rich things aimed at lay people. I particularly like the works of St. Josemaria Escriva, who anticipated the message of Vatican II by emphasizing the universal call to holiness and the priesthood of the laity, lived out by offering one’s daily work as a sacrifice to God.

Betsy
 
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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For a wonderful delve into the spiritual life and for little nuggets of spiritual advice on various topics I would heartly recommend books by St Josemaria Escriva namely, “The Way”, “The Furrow” and “The Forge”.

For sermons on spiritual matters you can get “Friends of God” and “Christ is Passing By” The are written in a very easy to read fashion. You can access the books online and if you like them I would suggest you buy some over the coming months.

They are online at escrivaworks.org/
 
RobNY said:
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
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ditto
 
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