The spiritual book that had the most impact on you?

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My main spiritual reading is daily reading of Sacred Scripture and it impacts my every day. It is all I read now. St Paul and St John being a great influence upon me.

In the past I have read and have been influenced by:

Story of a Soul - St Therese
Interior Castle - St Teresa of Avila
The Way of Perfection - St Teresa of Avila
Ascent of Mount Carmel - St John of the Cross
Canticle of a soul - St John of the Cross
Dark Night of the soul - St John of the Cross
The Practise of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
Divine Mercy in my soul - St Faustina
The Flowers of St Francis - (can’t remember the author off hand)
Letters and writings of Blessed Elizabeth of the Holy Trinity
Journal of a soul - Pope John XXIII
Writings of Pope John Paul II

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
  1. The Bible
  2. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
  3. The Catholic Controversy by St. Francis de Sales
  4. Catholicism and Fundamentalism by Karl Keating
  5. Worthy Is the Lamb by Thomas Nash
  6. Catholic For a Reason III (Scripture and the Mystery of the Mass)
Jaypeeto4
+JMJ+
 
The foundress of the monastic order I entered had Abandonment to God’s Will as its underlying sprituality. Years later I read “Abandonment to Divine Providence” and all things fell into place for me.
Many books have had an influence on me, but Abandonment I think was the major work that brought about a real “coversio” with insight and understanding.

Barb
 
Thirty-five years ago I was a convert from a Protestant upbringing, followed by an ardent atheism in my college years.

After conversion, I spent hours before the Blessed Sacrament, alone, usually between midnight and 4am, in the sanctuary of a church that remained open all night, in prayer.

Slipping into that candle lit haven, still fragrant with incense, losing myself in wordless prayer while hours spun by, was a behavior I didn’t fully understand, until one night on exiting the church I picked up a book, Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila. I read that book in two days…lapping up every word. I finally knew that it was “normal” to fall head over heels in love with God.
 
I don’t know about the most impact, but some that have been important to me were:

I Believe In Love, by Fr. Jean C.J. d’Elbee
Interior Castle - St Teresa of Avila
The Practice of the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence
The Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
The Space Trilogy (Perelandra, Out of the Silent Planet and That Hideous Strength) - C.S.Lewis
The Cloud of Unknowing - anonymous
The Philokalia
St. Benedict and St. Therese - Dwight Longenecker
Catechism of the Catholic Church;)

:crossrc:
 
Lots, but if I had to pick just one, I’d say Understanding Scrupulosity, by Fr. Thomas Santa.
 
I thought this thread would be a lovely place to put this.
A young family friend recently left the Church for New Life Church in Colorado Springs.
We have a wonderful conversation today in which we both shared our stories. Our stories are remarkably similar, but mine brought me back to the Church while hers took her to New Life.
In our conversation, I told her I was hoping that this would lead to dialog between us on theological issues. I mentioned Dark Night of the Soul, Interior Castle, Little Way for Every Day, and Story of a Soul as books that helped me come home. She is interested in conversation and reading. Are there any other books I should mention to her?
Danke and Pax Christi!
 
Most recently, the Diary of St. Faustina. It gives me hope that if I fully trust in Our Lord’s Mercy, I too will make it to heaven.
 
The Gospel of St. John.
I finally understood what was going on in my own relationship with the Father.

Matthew
 
I’m just a baby in the Church, and currently In RCIA, but these books have had a profound impact:

Jesus of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI

Hail, Holy Queen by Scott Hahn

:newidea:
 
The Way, St. Josemaria Escriva.
Close second: Intro to the Devout Life, St. Francis De Sales
 
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