On the importance of spiritual reading and the lives of the saints.
Handouts are posted below.
Listen online [here] (part 1)!
Listen online [here] (part 2)!
Recommendations for
spiritual reading, from Fr. Ryan
If you want a good introduction to the
spiritual life in general, consider: Introduction
to the Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales.
St. Francis becomes your personal
spiritual director as you read this treasure. Though it is called an introduction, this spiritual classic
will be helpful to people in all levels of the spiritual life. 300 pages.
If you are looking for a child-like
spirituality, consider: Story of a Soul,
by St. Thérèse of Lisieux.
In her autobiography, Story of a Soul, St. Thérèse tells us of
the experience of her youth and her entrance into the convent. We are given a
very personal insight into the spiritual life of this young girl, whom Pope St.
Pius X has called the greatest saint of modern times.
If you want a book that can be read in
10 minute segments in the midst of a busy life, consider: The Way, Furrow, and The Forge by St. Josemaría Escriva.
The founder of Opus Dei offers a spirituality most especially suited to the life
of working people. He understands how busy modern life can be and he will help
you to live out your vocation as a lay person, active in the world.
“The Way, Furrow, The Forge” is
available in a single volume edition from Scepter Publishers.
If you want to learn how to speak with
God throughout the day, consider: How to
Converse Continually and Familiarly with God, by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
In approximately 50 pages, St.
Alphonsus teaches you how to “pray always”. This book can be read many times –
it is a practical guide for growing in holiness while going about the
activities of daily life.
Another classic by this Saint (the
Doctor of Moral Theology) is The Great
Means of Salvation and Perfection, which is his treatise on prayer.
If you want a book that can help you to
pray the Rosary better, consider: The
Secret of the Rosary, by St. Louis Marie DeMontfort.
St. Louis Marie DeMontfort is widely
recognized as the Church’s greatest promoter of Marian devotion. He will help
you to understand who Mary is in the life of the Church and who she wants to be
in the life of your soul. The Secret of
the Rosary and Secret of Mary are
very short works of around 100 pages each.
Also, consider: The Secret of Mary and True
Devotion to Mary, by St. Louis Marie DeMontfort.
If you want help with making daily
meditations, consider: The Way of
Salvation and Perfection, by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
St. Alphonsus offers meditations for
every day of the year. He guides you into the depths of the spiritual life and
will bring you to a closer union with our Savior. This book is meant to be used
as a step by step guide-book during times of prayer.
There is also a set of Advent Reflections by St. Alphonsus
which are helpful.
Deserving of special mention are St.
Alphonsus’ reflections on the Eucharist, Visits
to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary – this booklet
contains thirty one meditations which are designed to be used during
Eucharistic Adoration, either before the Tabernacle or during Exposition. This
booklet, and the same Saints Stations of
the Cross are a must-have.
If you like poetry, consider: A Spiritual Canticle and other poems,
by St. John of the Cross.
The poetry of St. John of the Cross is
the fruit of his mystical union with God. The poems themselves are relatively
easy to read, and they are not very long. The Saint offers a more systematic
explanation of the spiritual life in Ascent
of Mount Carmel and Dark Night of the
Soul.
“The Collected Works of St. John of the
Cross” is published by ICS Publications.
Finally, we must mention a few other
titles: Imitation of Christ by
Thomas a Kempus, Soul of the Apostolate
by Jean-Baptiste Chautard, Abandonment
to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade, Interior Castle by St Teresa of Avila, and the list could go on and
on…
Lives of the Saints
For children, try the Vision Books series published by
Ignatius Press. These are chapter books (100 to 300 pages) on over twenty
different saints. Suitable for children seven and up, and even enjoyable for
high school kids, as well as adults!
Furthermore, the Roman Martyrology has a few lines on the saint of each given day.
Get the traditional Martyrology from Preserving Christian Publications.
Also, Modern Saints, which is in at least two volumes by Ann Ball,
contains many inspiring five to ten page stories about saints closer to our own
day. This book is a great read for fathers to use with their children on Sunday
afternoons! Can also be an enjoyable
story after dinner!
Certainly, we must mention Butler’s Lives of the Saints which is
published in four or five volumes. This is more than most people will need, but
contains a brief outline of many thousands of saints, organized by their
traditional feast-days (pre-Vatican II).
