Spiritual books

[Brigid]

This may be in the wrong part of the forum.

What spiritual/saints books does each of us especially like?

I'll start it off (and this isn't complete, these are only the ones I could think of right now) - Story of a Soul, Thy Will Be Done, City of God, The Life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Spirit of the Liturgy, most of CS Lewis',  and a couple of Michael O'Brien's. Remember, this list isn't exhaustive.

[Patricia]

I'm too sleepy to think straight. I'll tell you tomorrow, Brigid. Good night.

[Shin]

Oh no, you can't ask me this, because the list never ends.. I think in Heaven, meditating on God is like reading book after book about Him forever and ever.. except it's even better than that..

I truly love "Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence' however, I have gotten so much out of it.. I always find more. .

And I always come back to read more of St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori..

[Brigid]

I want to read St Alphonsus de Liguori, too, but haven't found any of his works around. I will though, I know.

I agree with you about heaven. I think I would add  though.

[Patricia]

I find St. Alphonsus de Liguori's writings the most simple,  interesting and easy to understand. He uses a lot of examples from the lives of saints which makes for interesting reading. Though a  Doctor of the Church, besides being a musician, painter, and poet (and a lawyer to boot) his writings don't boast of his intellect. That is what I like about him. He writes in a simple fashion because he writes for simple minds of the laity.
Also St. Anthony Mary Claret who devoted his life to writing and distributing spiritual literature.
St. Louis de Montfort , I like again because he writes in a simple fashion for the masses and because of his love for Mother Mary and the Holy Rosary.

[Shin]

I want to read St Alphonsus de Liguori, too, but haven't found any of his works around. I will though, I know.

I agree with you about heaven. I think I would add  though.

I was really blessed as Our Lady of the Rosary Library used to sell his books at non-profit prices, a lot of the rarer volumes that are hard to find elsewhere. He always uses the examples of so many saints, his method is the best.

[Bailey2]

The Soul of Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mrs. Seton (pre-canonization) by Dirvin.
Collected Works of EAS, by the Sisters of Charity.  they are all her journals.
Beginning to Pray and Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony.  He was a Russian Orthodox Bishop.  You can look him up on Internet.  Apparently very saintly.
Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries by Ferdinand Holbock
A Saint's Guide to Happiness by Robert Ellsberg
Ordinary Suffering of Extraordinary Saints by Vincent J O'Malley, CM

[Bailey2]

The Soul of Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mrs. Seton (pre-canonization) by Dirvin.
Collected Works of EAS, by the Sisters of Charity.  they are all her journals.
Beginning to Pray and Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony.  He was a Russian Orthodox Bishop.  You can look him up on Internet.  Apparently very saintly.
Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries by Ferdinand Holbock
A Saint's Guide to Happiness by Robert Ellsberg
Ordinary Suffering of Extraordinary Saints by Vincent J O'Malley, CM
The Holy Longing: The Search for a Christian Spirituality"  by Ronald Rolheiser

[Shin]

The Soul of Elizabeth Ann Seton and Mrs. Seton (pre-canonization) by Dirvin.
Collected Works of EAS, by the Sisters of Charity.  they are all her journals.
Beginning to Pray and Living Prayer by Metropolitan Anthony.  He was a Russian Orthodox Bishop.  You can look him up on Internet.  Apparently very saintly.
Married Saints and Blesseds Through the Centuries by Ferdinand Holbock
A Saint's Guide to Happiness by Robert Ellsberg
Ordinary Suffering of Extraordinary Saints by Vincent J O'Malley, CM

Ah, now there's some treasure I'd like to have ahold of -- some St. Elizabeth Ann Seton's works. Especially her journals, which could provide quotes for the site! Do share some of what she wrote as you can! 

[Brigid]

And Bailey2 - those books by the Eastern Orthodox Bishop look fascinating. The Eastern Orthodox monks developed the Philokalia and that is such a marvelous work(s) along with The Way of the Pilgrim. The EO's use of the constant 'Jesus' prayer got me through one of the hardest parts of my life. The Eastern Orthodox are terribly interesting to me.

He's not canonized (yet?) but our Holy Father's The Spirit of the Liturgy is another I love.

Shin, wouldn't heaven be a huge, never ending library (where high tea is also served and little children are most welcomed, or course).

[Bailey2]

And here in my paranoia, I thought you guys would notice the more liberal author. 
Shin, Elizabeth's journals are in the English they spoke then; it is quite interesting in itself.  You can order the books online.  I don't have Volume 3.  A little tidbit about her:  she and her husband lived 3 houses down from the Hamiltons and she helped to organize and set up for George Washingtons inauguration party, held in NYC.

Brigid, who is not canonized (yet?)?

[Brigid]

Our present Holy Father isn't canonized (since he's still alive and hopefully will be so for a long time yet, if it be His Will).

Why would we censure you for saying which books you like? We are not your judges! (I must admit, I don't know which one is the liberal author  other than I know it isn't St. Elizabeth Ann Seton or Metropolitan Anthony.) At any rate the log in my own eye, at least, is much larger than the speck in your eye, I think.

[Bailey2]

I have no idea if any of those authors are liberal. 
Silly me for thinking I'd get zapped like I did on CAF a few times.

[Shin]

I have no idea if any of those authors are liberal. 
Silly me for thinking I'd get zapped like I did on CAF a few times.

Well, if any are, they normally shouldn't be read.  I haven't read them, so I don't know either.

One should normally read good Catholic authors when reading books on spiritual subjects and only rarely go anywhere else -- when you do you read it more carefully than you would something else. I read the Philokalia, but because most of the writings in it are by Catholics saints, only some are not, and these of course I treat much more carefully, or untrustingly. The Way of the Pilgrim has nothing in it that disagrees with Catholic teaching to my knowledge, and so forth.

Zap! .. just kidding.

 

[Bailey2]

zap back at ya!

All those books above are great.   

[Shin]

zap back at ya!

All those books above are great.   

Good to hear!