Books on the Spiritual Life

Unlock the secret of your personality and learn how to be a better spouse, parent, friend, & Christian! All of us are born with distinct personality traits. Some of us live for crowds and parties; others seek solitude and time for quiet reflection. Some of us are naturally pushy, while others are content just to get along. We don't pick and choose these traits; they're just part of the way we're made. For in the womb God doesn't merely mold our body; He also gives us the temperament that,...

First Steps in Becoming a Saint  "Life, in the end, has only one tragedy: not to have been a saint."- Leon Bloy The ever-popular and prolific Peter Kreeft says that the most important question he has written about is how one becomes holy; or to put it another way, how one becomes a saint. This question is central to all the great religions, Kreeft demonstrates, for striving toward holiness, moving toward perfect love, is the whole purpose of life. Kreeft admits that he is only a beginner on t...

What Is the Particular Examen, and How Does It Conquer Sin? This step-by-step guide on how to make a Particular Examen is rooted in the five wounds of Jesus and includes prayers, sample format, and predominant faults to avoid in prayer, work, study, and recreation. As most of us struggle with the same assortment of sins, these targeted reflections will assist you in conquering your faults. This reprint of the 1952 classic contains prayers for each topic from the traditional Roman Missal that ...

St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel-On Prayer This book is the fruit of Fr. Dubay's many years of study and experience in spiritual direction and in it he synthesizes the teachings on prayer of the two great doctors of the Church on prayer--St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila--and the teaching of Sacred Scripture. But the teaching that Fr. Dubay synthesized is not collected from Teresa and John for contemplatives alone. It is meant for every Christian and is b...

Immerse yourself in the faith-filled journey of Marian consecration with 33 Days to Morning Glory, a powerful do-it-yourself retreat. With this book by your side, you will be guided by four giants of Marian spirituality—St. Maximilian Kolbe, St. Louis de Montfort, St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, and St. Pope John Paul II. Masterfully created by Fr. Michael Gaitley, this retreat allows you to enter into their teachings and make them come alive through meditations that touch the hearts of all wh...

In this age of relentless activity it is easy for Christians, particularly those involved in good works, to fall into the pattern of the activist.  But mere activity and material results are not sufficient for a successful apostolate. In his classic work The Soul of the Apostolate,  Dom Chautard demonstrates that the very foundation of all apostolic work must be the Interior Life.  The apostle of Christ will grow to become an instrument and true channel of God’s graces to the world only throu...

The spiritual journey of many is often marred by prayers that lack the substance and power our souls crave. But don’t despair — The Art of Praying brings light to this age-old problem, offering readers practical strategies for improving their experience with prayer today. Written from the perspective of an experienced teacher, these pages provide an opportunity to learn more about praying with a mature soul. As readers work through the comprehensive guide in The Art of Praying, they'll gain g...

The Secret of Peace and HappinessTrustful Surrender to Divine Providence by Fr. Jean Baptiste Saint-Jure gives readers the essential wisdom and comfort needed when facing life's difficulties. This book offers clear answers to complex and often uncertain philosophical questions such as, why does God allow evil? Why is there suffering in the world? And how do we practice trustful surrender? Trustful Surrender brings us the enlightened two-fold answer if we trust in the divine will, regardless o...

Are you a Catholic mom who prays for the wisdom and patience to get through each day? Do you pray for your children, husband, family and friends, and sometimes even yourself? The Catholic Mom's Prayer Companion offers a new, daily resource to make the most of those few, precious minutes you have to pause and reflect.For more than fifteen years, the award-winning CatholicMom.com website has been a trusted source for sound, practical, and spiritual guidance. In their new book, authors Lisa M. H...

What Exorcists See & What We Should Know This book draws upon the great wisdom of some of the leading exorcists in the Church, including Fr. Chad Ripperger, Fr. Gabriele Amorth, Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea, Fr. Gary Thomas, among others, presenting it in an approachable and engaging way that conveys critical insights into spiritual warfare to modern audiences. These experts draw on teachings from various sources, including sacred traditions of our Faith, teachings from Church Fathers and Doct...

According to St. Thomas Aquinas and St. John of the Cross Christian Perfection and Contemplation is an entire treatise on the operation of grace in the spiritual life that clearly and skillfully explains the great principles of the spiritual life according to St. Thomas Aquinas and other sterling Catholic Sources. In fact, the author's fascinating and extremely informative footnotes are themselves worth the price of the book.

Readers of The Imitation of Christ have sometimes asked why Thomas à Kempis does not once mention the Blessed Virgin in his magnificent work. The present book is an answer to their question, compiled from his many devotional writings about her. In its selections it is unique, preserving the poetic heart of its author better than other edited works published under the same title. The Imitation of Mary is arranged according to the mysteries of the life of Mary: joyous, sorrowful, and glorious. ...

Peace of Soul by Sheen is a powerhouse of contemplation and spiritual insight. This one-of-a-kind book provides guidance and clarity for readers confusing and perplexed by the chaos of today's materialistic age, no matter their religious background or creed. Each page encourages you to journey within yourself and into a serene, centered mindset while examining the intricate richness of life. Sheen has outdone himself with this alluringly burning reflection on faith, using his gift for our ben...

A Guide for Modern-Day Catholics  How do we listen to God speak to our hearts, minds, and wills especially above the noise and stress of the modern world? What is the process of discerning God's will? Best-selling author and popular EWTN host Fr. Mitch Pacwa, SJ, tackles these and other questions in this comprehensive book on discernment. He says that first we need to believe in God and his moral laws and make a commitment to please him in all that we do. Then we need to pray so that we can e...

A book of everyday ethics by a man whom Pope St. John Paul II called "one of the great ethicists of the twentieth century," The Art of Living is Dietrich von Hildebrand's essential guide to the moral life. In just over one hundred pages, Dietrich von Hildebrand, with his wife Alice, presents a distinctive view of the virtuous life that begins with reverence, "the mother of all virtues," and includes chapters on "Faithfulness," "Goodness," "Hope," "The Human Heart," and many others. The essays...

The Spiritual Teachings of Venerable Bruno Lanteri With warmth, understanding, and pastoral skill, Fr. Timothy Gallagher provides here a hopeful invitation to all who struggle to overcome the greatest obstacle of all in the spiritual life discouragement. Our enemy actively exploits our vulnerabilities, shrewdly leading us time and again into an overwhelming sense of disturbance. But Fr. Gallagher pulls the curtain back on the wiles of the devil, offering gentle reflections that are remarkably...

Kindness counts. If you have trouble acting with the consistent kindness our Lord expects, your relationships with God and those you love may be suffering. Probably you just can't find the time and can't ever seem to develop the patience that you need in order to be consistently kind amid the irritations that afflict you daily. That's why this book is such a godsend. There's nothing complicated or magical about learning to be kinder; it just takes greater attention to the things that you do a...

The Catholic Guide to Depression is a life-changing book that demonstrates how modern psychology and faith can come together to provide an effective way to deal with depression. Written by psychiatrist Aaron Kheriaty, this book connects psychological approaches and consistent teachings of the Church in order to provide meaningful strategies for those suffering from this difficult affliction.This revolutionary guide shows readers how to effectively manage their depression without having to sol...

Should you take that job?Pursue that relationship?Buy that house? What Does God Want? gives you the tools you need to overcome your doubts and make wise choices . . . all in accordance with Gods will. Here Fr. Michael Scanlan, former president of the Franciscan University of Steubenville, lays out for you the five critical questions you must answer as you wrestle with important but naggingly difficult decisions that keep you up at night. Should you have that risky operation?Move mom into a nu...

How to Understand, Explain, and Defend the Catholic Faith This book unravels mysteries, corrects misunderstandings, and offers thoughtful, straightforward responses to common objections about the Catholic faith.Bestselling author Scott Hahn, a convert to Catholicism, has experienced the doubts that so often drive discussions about God and the Church. In the years before his conversion, he was first a nonbeliever and then an anti-Catholic clergyman. In REASONS TO BELIEVE, he explains the "how ...

These pages, now collected in one small volume, have been written for the purpose of helping the faithful, ordinary souls, to attain one most important object: active participation in the holy Sacrifice of the Mass; so that, consciously and deliberately, they may offer the sacred Victim, offer themselves and be nourished by receiving the holy Eucharist. In a word: that they may live the blessed Eucharist, the sacrifice and the sacrament, in its entirety, and that by living it they may sanctif...

With Christ is an anthology of writings from Blessed Marmion's outstanding trilogy: Christ, the Life of the Soul; Christ in His Mysteries; and Christ, the Ideal of the Monk; as well as from his letters in Union with God and personal notes on his own spiritual life--focused on the theme of suffering and sharing in the Passion of Our Lord. In the words of his editor, Dom Raymund Thibaut, "It is most important to know how to accept suffering; and surely the supreme work of mercy is that difficul...

Every human person seeks happiness, but few find it, because they have not discovered the source of all happiness: God. In the Way to Happiness, Fulton Sheen reflects on the most fundamental aspects of our lives: love, politics, motherhood, work, teens, forgiveness, rest, meditation, and more. In a culture stricken with anxiety, boredom, despair, and fear, Sheen desires to reignite healing, hope, and contentment in the reader. While the secular world holds the mistaken belief that hunger for ...

In a generation plagued by fatherlessness, fear, and indecision, men need a mentor. They need a man who models masculine strength and understands his God-given duty to lay down his life for his family, to provide for their every need, to protect them, to exemplify a life of virtue.  St. Joseph is that man.  Man Your Post: Learning to Lead like St. Joseph is a mission entrusted to you by a company of Catholic men who have faced challenges and found strength through the intercession of the head...

The Carthusian's traditional doctrine on prayer - from its very beginnings to the simplicity of its highest forms. Far from being abstract and theoretical, we learn about the prayer process by sharing the novices' concrete spiritual journey. Their problems and difficulties, and the many pitfalls they encounter on the way, are expressed in an ongoing dialogue with their guide who relates to each one individually. Illuminating, even dazzling, insights, in one of the most profound books on Chris...

Reflecting Josemaría Escrivá's belief that God can be found in professional and everyday settings, The Way blends passages from sacred Scripture with anecdotes drawn from Escrivá's life and work, snatches of conversation, and selections from his personal letters. The direct, conversational writing style and its deeply felt humanity are among the book's main attractions and beautifully convey the belief that the human is not foreign to the divine and that the fully Christian spiritual attitude...

Straightforward Solutions to Life's Puzzling Problems From the founder of EWTN Global Catholic Network comes this profoundly practical, humorous, and common-sense approach to answering life's most vexing questions. Mother Angelica gently confronts your real-life struggles, lifting your heart to God and leading your soul to heaven as she provides answers from a life dedicated to God not the promises of a world entrenched in vice. Mother Angelica will become your trusted companion in the battle...

Contemplative Provocations, by Father Donald Haggerty, is a must-have resource for any spiritual seeker looking to deepen their faith and devotion. This book will take you on a journey towards a deeper encounter with God, exploring the sometimes difficult obstacles that come with seeking Him out. Utilizing rich examples and insights from men and women of the past, this work encourages the reader to stay focused on the ultimate adventure: discovering the living God beyond our human knowledge.C...

How to Transform Work Into a Source of Strength, Holiness, and Joy  Sanctify Your Daily Life offers a unique and revolutionary approach to transforming your workplace into a source of strength, holiness, and joy. Written by Stefan Cardinal Wyszynski -- the teacher of St. John Paul II -- this book is sure to help you develop an attitude of holiness regardless of the type of work you do. It's a powerful tool for helping individuals find purpose and meaning in their daily tasks. Using principles...

First published in 1944 and now a spiritual classic for Catholics across the globe, The Reed of God contains meditations on the humanity of Mary, Mother of God. British Catholic writer and artist Caryll Houselander lovingly explores Mary's intimately human side, depicting Our Lady as a musical instrument who makes divine love known to the world. This refreshed edition is rich and rewarding reading for all Christians who wonder what Mary was really like. While the Second Vatican Council led t...

Recognized as a modern spiritual classic and perhaps Dietrich von Hildebrand's greatest work, this sublime and practical study gives a penetrating analysis of the true path to holiness for those who love Christ. The first requisite is the person's desire for change, and with that fundamental attitude in mind, von Hildebrand devotes a chapter to each of the successive spiritual attitudes necessary for those who strive for Christian perfection. The Beatitudes are treated with beauty and depth i...

"Effeminacy is a plague, and it must be eradicated." Families are being destroyed and souls are being cast into hell because of soft and effeminate men. In Terror of Demons, Kennedy Hall provides the cure: traditional Catholic masculinity. Drawing on centuries of Catholic wisdom from Scripture and the saints, Hall provides the tools for the reader to conquer effeminacy and be a man of God. This book is not for the weak-hearted but will strike every man with the sharpness of iron--he who has e...

Saint Benedict's Twelve-Step Guide to Genuine Self-Esteem Saint Benedict's fifth-century guide to humility offers the antidote to the epidemic of stress and depression overwhelming modern young adults. But the language of The Rule by Saint Benedict is medieval, and its most passionate advocates are cloistered monks and nuns. How then does this ancient wisdom translate into advice for ordinary people? With candor, humor, and a unique approach to classical art, Father Augustine, a high school t...

Inspired by the Parable of the Ten Wise Virgins (Matt 25: 2-13), this book affirms the wealth of grace entrusted to praying women. Through poignant stories and teaching, eleven Catholic women, single, widowed, married, mothers and grandmothers, magnify the Marian vocation of living as contemplatives in action. Learn how, amidst the noise of a secular culture, the authors were formed in joy and sorrow, and discovered the transformative power of prayer. Each chapter ends with spiritual reflecti...

Dom Germain Morin's classic study of the monastic life shows its foundations in the life of the first generation of Christians as described in the Acts of the Apostles. Drawing from his baptismal consecration, the monk does nothing more than live his Baptism to the full and draw from it the ultimate conclusions. This book makes it clear that, far from being a medieval invention, monastic life is grounded in the teaching of the apostles, and as such, is valid for every generation of Christians.

Excerpt from the Introduction: Father Valuy's work gives the religious practical means of achieving detachment from their own wills in order to practice the type of charity Our Lord demands of them. He strikes at the heart of that duplicity of spirit which can so easily put on the semblance of piety but which in reality is hypocritical in its dealings with other men. Fr. Valuy asks: "Am I one of those proud spirits who expose the faults of others in order to show off their pretended virtues?"...

Before being published as a small book, these "counsels of perfection" and spiritual notes by Blessed Edward Poppe (1890-1924), a Belgian priest whose cause for canonization is underway, had been transcribed a hundred times by hand by those who had tasted their flavor, vigor, and supernatural wisdom. Fresh and luminous, this little book has been a tremendous success in Dutch, French, Italian, and German; it now appears at last in English. Responding well to the needs of the faithful, it will ...

This is a new edition of Fr. Paul de Jaegher's classic work on the interior life. In these few simple pages we aim at expounding a conception of the spiritual life, which, of its very nature, seems well adapted to help the soul in its progress through these two stages on the road to sanctity. Founded on a fundamental dogma of the spiritual life, the dogma of sanctifying grace and of the divine indwelling, it helps us singularly to esteem and practice this precious intimacy with Christ, which...

The resurgence of interest in the Charismata, or Charismatic graces, in the last 40 years has given rise to differences of theological outlook arising from Catholic and Protestant sources. This text addresses those various topics and differences and is divided into three parts. The first part is a translation of Fr. Hagen's authoritative text on the nature of the charismatic graces by Ryan Grant. The second part is the original Latin text of Fr. Hagen, which is provided here for the sake of s...

"Ceremonial may be interpreted as a spiritual obeisance to the created beauty of the world." So writes Abbie Graham in the Foreword to her Ceremonials of Common Days. In this succinct yet surprisingly profound work, Graham demonstrates this same "obeisance to beauty" in her own artful writing on the special celebrations, festivities, and traditions accompanying the four seasons. Looking not with the modern eye (which views such things as little more than random, culturally produced rituals) b...