“Test everything; hold fast to what is good.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:21
“The harm that comes to souls from the lack of reading holy books makes me shudder…. What power spiritual reading has to lead to a change of course, and to make even worldly people enter into the way of perfection.” – St. Padre Pio
CATHOLIC TEACHING
General Theology:
Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed
A Map of Life by Frank Sheed
Jesus Christ:
On the Incarnation of the Word of God by St. Athanasius
Scandal of the Incarnation: Irenaeus Against the Heresies by Hans Urs von Balthasar
Jesus-Shock by Peter Kreeft
The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
The Passion of the Infant Christ by Caryll Houselander
The Cross and the Beatitudes by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Holy Spirit:
On the Holy Spirit by St. Basil
The Sanctifier by Archbishop Luis M. Martinez
Sober Intoxication of the Spirit: Filled with the Fullness of God by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
The Action of the Holy Spirit: The Lord and Giver of Life by Frank J. Sheed
In the School of the Holy Spirit by Fr. Jacques Philippe
Mariology:
“Rosarium Virginis Mariae” by St. John Paul II
The World’s First Love: Mary, Mother of God by Fulton J. Sheen
The Secret of Mary by St. Louis de Montfort
Rediscover the Rosary: The Modern Power of an Ancient Prayer by Matthew Kelly
The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander
Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God by Scott Hahn
33 Days to Morning Glory by Fr. Michael Gaitley
The Contemplative Rosary: With St. John Paul II and St. Teresa of Avila by Dan Burke and Connie Rossini
Sacraments:
Ecclesia de Eucharistia by St. John Paul II
Sacramentum Caritatis by Pope Benedict XVI
Heart of the Christian Life: Thoughts on Holy Mass by Pope Benedict XVI
A Key to the Doctrine of the Eucharist by Dom Anscar Vonier
The Eucharist by Lawrence G. Lovasik
7 Secrets of the Eucharist by Vinny Flynn
7 Secrets of Confession by Vinny Flynn
Liturgy:
Dies Domini by St. John Paul II
The Spirit of the Liturgy by Pope Benedict XVI
The Wellspring of Worship by Jean Corbon, O.P.
The Lamb’s Supper – The Mass as Heaven on Earth by Scott Hahn
Preparing Yourself for Mass by Romano Guardini
If Your Mind Wanders at Mass by Thomas Howard
Ecclesiology:
Called to Communion: Understanding the Church Today by Pope Benedict XVI
The Dimensions of the Church by Cardinal Avery Dulles
History:
The Spirit of Early Christian Thought by Robert Louis Wilken
Vatican II:
Dei Verbum (The Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation)
Apostolicam Actuositatem (The Decree on the Apostolate of the Laity)
Dignitatis Humanae ( The Declaration on Religious Freedom)
Ad Gentes (The Decree on the Missionary Activity of the Church)
Presbyterorum Ordinis (The Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests)
Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World)
Morality / Virtues:
A Brief Reader on the Virtues of the Human Heart by Josef Pieper
Christian Fasting: Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit by Sr. Mary David Totah, OSB
Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen
On the Eight Deadly Sins by St. John Cassian
The Noonday Devil: Acedia, The Unnamed Evil of Our Times by Jean-Charles Nault, OSB
Humility by Andrew Murray
Happy Are You Poor by Fr. Thomas Dubay
Fit for Eternal Life by Kevin Vost
The Hidden Power of Kindness by Fr. Lawrence Lovasik
Becoming Human by Jean Vanier
Man, The Saint by Jesus Urteaga
The Intellectual Life by A.G. Sertillanges
Moral Conversion and Resisting Temptation by Fr. Robert Spitzer
Born Only Once: The Miracle of Affirmation by Conrad Baars
Winning the War in Your Mind by Craig Groeschel
As a Man Thinketh by James Allen
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer
Sexuality / Theology of the Body:
Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, and the Universal Longing by Christopher West
Making Gay Okay – How Rationalizing Homosexual Behavior Is Changing Everything by Robert by Robert Reilly
Pastoral Care / Hospital Chaplaincy:
Life Promises Life: Pages from the Diary of a Hospital Chaplain by Fr. Vincent Nagle
Healing:
Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World by Dr. Mary Healy
12 Steps to Divine Healing by Eddie Russell
“To get good from reading the lives of the saints and other spiritual books, we ought not to read out of curiosity, or skimmingly, but with pauses; and when we feel ourselves warmed, we ought not to pass on, but to stop and follow up the spirit which is stirring in us, and when we feel it no longer then to pursue our reading” ~ St. Phillip Neri
SPIRITUAL READING
St. Teresa of Avila:
- Interior Castle
- The Way of Perfection
- The Life of St. Teresa
- St. Teresa’s Manner of Prayer by Fr. Salvador Ros Garcia OCD
St. John of the Cross:
St. Therese of Lisieux:
- I Believe in Love: A personal retreat based on the teaching of St. Therese of Lisieux by Fr. Jean C.J. D’Elbee
- St. Therese: A Treasured Love Story by Fulton Sheen
- The Way of Trust & Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux by Jacques Philippe
St. Francis de Sales:
- An Introduction to the Devout Life
- Finding God’s Will for You
- Live Today Well: St. Francis de Sales’s Simple Approach to Holiness by Fr. Thomas Dailey
St. Faustina:
- Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina
- 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn
- 33 Days to Merciful Love by Fr. Michael Gaitley
St. Teresa of Calcutta:
- Mother Teresa’s Lessons of Love and Secrets of Sanctity by Susan Conroy
- Something Beautiful for God by Malcolm Muggeridge
- Come Be My Light: Mother Teresa by Fr. Brian Kolodiejchuk, M.C.
- No Greater Love – Collection of writings by Mother Teresa
Fr. Thomas Dubay:
- Fire Within: St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, and the Gospel – On Prayer
- Deep Conversion/Deep Prayer
- Prayer Primer: Igniting a Fire Within
- Saints: A Closer Look
- Happy Are You Poor
- And You Are Christ’s: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life
Fr. Jacques Philippe:
- Searching for and Maintaining Peace
- Interior Freedom
- The Way of Trust & Love: A Retreat Guided by St. Therese of Lisieux
- Time for God
- Thirsting for Prayer
- Real Mercy
- In the School of the Holy Spirit
Fr. Thomas Green, SJ:
C.S. Lewis
Catherine Doherty:
- Soul of my Soul – Coming to the Heart of Prayer
- Dear Father
- Dear Seminarian
- Season of Mercy: Lent and Easter
Other authors:
The Rules for the Discernment of Spirits by St. Ignatius of Loyola
Spiritual Warfare and the Discernment of Spirits by Dan Burke
The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
Spiritual Combat by Lorenzo Scupoli
The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence
Divine Intimacy by Fr. Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, O.C.D.
The Soul of the Apostolate by Fr. Jean-Baptiste Chautard
The Power of Silence: Against the Dictatorship of Noise by Robert Cardinal Sarah
Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Personal Prayer: A Guide for Receiving the Father’s Love by Fr. Thomas Acklin, OSB & Fr. Boniface Hicks, OSB
“Prepare Your Heart to Pray” by Dom Augustin Guillerand
Lukewarmness: The Devil in Disguise by Francisco Carvajal
Into Your Hands, Father by Fr. Wilfrid Stinissen
Prayer for Beginners by Peter Kreeft
How to be Holy by Peter Kreeft
Surrender! by Fr. Larry Richards
Abba’s Heart by Neal Lozano
Experiencing Father’s Embrace by Jack Frost
Spiritual Slavery to Spiritual Sonship by Jack Frost
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
Fathered by God by John Eldredge
EPIC: The Story God is Telling by John Eldredge
Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen
The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri Nouwen
“If your mind finds enough appeal, light, and fruit in any of them [the subject of the meditation or contemplation], remain with that point and do not go any further. Imitate the bees, who do not leave a flow as long as they can extract any honey out of it. But if you do not come on anything that appeals to you after you have examined and tried it out for a while, then go on to another, but proceed calmly and simply in this matter and do not rush yourself.” (St. Francis de Sales)
MEDITATION & PRAYING WITH SCRIPTURE:
- Verbum Domini by Pope Benedict XVI
- Meditation and Contemplation: An Ignatian Guide to Praying with Scripture by Fr. Timothy Gallagher, OMV
- Praying Scripture for a Change: An Introduction to Lectio Divina by Dr. Tim Gray
- Sacred Reading: The Ancient Art of Lectio Divina by Michael Casey
- A Guide to Christian Meditation by Fr. John Bartunek, LC
- Lectio Divina and the Practice of Teresian Prayer by Sam Anthony Morello, OCD
- Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer by Dan Burke
- Psalms: The Prayer Book of the Bible by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
READINGS FOR LITURGICAL SEASONS:
Advent and Christmas:
- The Infancy Narratives by Pope Benedict XVI
- The Passion of the Infant Christ by Caryll Houselander
- The Reed of God by Caryll Houselander
- Joy to the World by Scott Hahn
- The Purpose of Christmas by Rick Warren
- Donkey Bells: Advent and Christmas Stories, Traditions and Meditations by Catherine Doherty
Lent & Easter:
- The Lenten Spring by Fr. Thomas Hopko
- Victory over Vice by Fulton J. Sheen
- The Cross and the Beatitudes by Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
- “See How the Cross of the Lord Stands Revealed as a Tree of Life” by Richard Conlin (Scripture Paper for Seminary)
- Season of Mercy: Lent and Easter by Catherine Doherty
- The Risen Christ: The Forty Days After the Resurrection by Caryll Houselander
THE PRIESTHOOD, CELIBACY, AND DISCERNMENT:
The Priest is Not His Own by Bl. Fulton J. Sheen
On the Priesthood by St. John Chrysostom
“From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church” by Pope Benedict XVI and Robert Cardinal Sarah
Priestly Spirituality by Hans Urs von Balthasar
In Sinu Jesu: When Heart Speaks to Heart – The Journal of a Priest at Prayer by A Benedictine Monk
The Grace of Ars by Fr. Frederick Miller
Dear Father by Catherine Doherty
Dear Seminarian by Catherine Doherty
And You Are Christ’s: The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life by Fr. Thomas Dubay
Virginity: A Positive Approach to Celibacy for the Sake of the Kingdom of Heaven by Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap
The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene
Finding God’s Will for You by St. Francis de Sales
God’s Voice Within by Mark Thibodeaux, SJ
Why Preach by Fr. Peter John Cameron
EVANGELIZATION, CATECHESIS, AND APOLOGETICS:
Catechesi Tradendae by St. John Paul II
Evangelii Gaudium by Pope Francis
Gaudete et Exsultate by Pope Francis
Christus Vivit by Pope Francis
Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterto
The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton
Lord of the World by Robert Hugh Benson
Forming Intentional Disciples by Sherry Weddell
From Christendom to Apostolic Mission: Pastoral Strategies for an Apostolic Age by Msgr. James Shea
Good News, Bad News: Evangelization, Conversion and the Crisis of Faith by Fr. John McCloskey III and Russell Shaw
Reasons to Believe by Scott Hahn
Search and Rescue by Patrick Madrid
Do Monkeys Go to Heaven? Finding God in All Creation by Fr. John McCarthy, SJ
The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity by Matthew Kelly (great book on how holiness is actually possible through Holy Moments)
LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATION:
Growing an Engaged Church by Albert Winseman
Living Your Strengths by Albert Winseman, Clifton, Liesveld
A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen
AUTOBIOGRAPHIES:
The Life of Anthony by St. Athanasius
The Curé d’Ars by Abbé Francis Trochu
Race with the Devil by Joseph Pearce
St. Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton
A Man of the Beatitudes: Pier Giorgio Frassati by Luciana Frassati
Pier Giorgio Frassati by Robert Claude
Benedict XVI: Last Testament in his own words with Peter Seewald
PUBLIC SPEAKING:
Give Your Speech, Change the World by Nick Morgan
Public Speaking by Dale Carnegie
MEMORIZATION AND LEARNING:
Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything by Joshua Foer
Read More Books Now by Brandon Vogt
HABIT FORMATION:
Atomic Habits by James Clear
Superhuman by Habit by Tynan
The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
Mini Habits by Stephen Guise
Tiny Habits by BJ Fogg
BUSINESS & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT:
To Sell is Human by Daniel H. Pink
The Charisma Myth by Olivia Fox Cabane
Off Balance by Matthew Kelly
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less by Greg McKeown
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey
Built to Last by Jim Collins
Act Now by Kevin Harrington
Driven by Robert Herjavec
Google Marketing by Aaron Goldman
Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath
Market Mind Games by Denise Shull
Power Negotiating by Roger Dawson
Rework by Fried and Hansson
The 1 Minute Manager by Blanchard and Johnson
The Frog and Prince by Darcy Rezac
The Greatest Networker in the World by John Fogg
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell
Trade Off by Jim Collins
Who Moved My Cheese by Spencer Johnson
Zag by Marty Neuiemer
The Road Less Traveled by Scott Peck
ECONOMICS & FINANCE:
Crisis Economics by Nouriel Roubini
Currency Wars by James Rickards
Fault Lines by Raghuram Rajan
How an economy grows & why it crashes by Peter Schiff
Investing and the Irrational Mind by Robert Koppel
What is the book by Chesteron about st Thomas Aquinas
Thank you
I think 33 Days to Merciful Love should fall under St. Therese of Lisieux. It speaks more of her Little Way and how it culminates in a consecration to Merciful Love. St. Faustina’s Diary is featured in the book, but the main focus of the book is about St. Therese’s Little Way and how it leads one to an “elevator”, that is Jesus’ hand, that lifts one straight to Heaven.
Hey can you get the book written by Andrew Murray and do a review on humility of heart by father cajetan
Can you get rid of the protestant Andrew Murray book on humility and give the humility of heart by Rev. Fr. Cajetan Mary da Bergamo a look please
Thank you!