Spiritual Reading List
Explore the Church's priceless treasury of spiritual writing
God has blessed his Church with the writings of many saints who had a profound understanding of the spiritual life, rooted in their own rich experience. If you would like to learn more, consider reading one of the following classic works on spirituality. They are challenging but accessible. Don't be afraid of the challenge. Instead, consider what a blessing it is to be able to enter into conversation, in a sense, with these brilliant, holy saints, and remember that you are called to the same destiny that they currently enjoy: heaven!
St. Augustine (354-430)
Confessions*
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153)
On Loving God
Sermons on the Song of Songs
St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380)
Dialogues* or Little Talks with God
Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
Imitation of Christ*
St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582)
The Interior Castle*
The Way of Perfection
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
Ascent of Mount Carmel
Dark Night of the Soul*
St. Robert Bellarmine (1542-1621)
The Eternal Happiness of the Saints
St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Treatise on the Love of God
Introduction to the Devout Life*
St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897)
Story of a Soul*
You can also try one of these more contemporary spiritual works.
Spiritual Theology by Jordan Aumann, O.P.
This Tremendous Lover* by M. Eugene Boylan
The Everlasting Man* by G. K. Chesterton
Orthodoxy* by G. K. Chesterton
He Leadeth Me* by Walter Ciszek, S.J.
Christ is Passing By by St. Josemaria Escriva
The Way, The Furrow, The Forge by St. Josemaria Escriva
The Way of the Cross by St. Josemaria Escriva
The Problem of Pain* by C. S. Lewis
The Screwtape Letters* by C. S. Lewis
The Spiritual Combat* by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli
Three to Get Married by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
Meditations from a Simple Path by Bl. Teresa of Calcutta
*copy/copies available in the St. John's Lending Library
You can also support our local Catholic bookstore by ordering books through Heavenly Presents on the square in Leonardtown.