Suffering With Joy

Three Favorite Religious Books

February 21, 2012

Colleen at Thoughts on Grace tagged me for this meme last week.  Participants are to list their three favorite religious books and then tag three others to carry this meme on.  The challenge is to stick to only three books!  Before starting, however, I must say that I pray from the Bible every day because of the sacred liturgy.   The three books listed below are in addition to the Bible.

One other comment: religious books don’t have to be on spirituality.  They can be about any aspect of religion.  Mine just happen to be about spirituality.

1.  Divine Intimacy by Father Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalen, O.C.D. has become a daily companion for meditation.  It follows the 1962 liturgical calendar but could be used by any Latin rite Catholic.  I like it because the daily meditations are built on the Carmelite model of mental prayer and help build a stronger relationship with God. This book satisfies me also because of the daily connection to the sacred liturgy – a wonderful combination of both Carmelite and Benedictine spirituality.

2. The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila is a book everyone who wants to advance in the spiritual life should have.  St. Teresa is not only a Doctor of the Church, she is one of the greatest spiritual directors of all time. Among her advice on prayer, mortification, and how to advance in the spiritual life you will find her famous meditations on the Our Father which alone is worth revisiting time and again. This may very well be the first “How to” book on prayer, complete with advice on avoiding pitfalls common to many.

3. Diary: Divine Mercy in My Soul by St. Faustina Kowalska was one of the first books I read upon my reversion to the Faith.  St. Faustina was, like St. Teresa of Avila, St. Therese of Lisieux and so many others,  a weak vessel in whom the strength of God was made manifest (2 Cor. 12:10). In reading it I could see how devotion to the Sacred Heart had flowered into a spiritual practice most needed in our age.

I tag:

1. Anthony at The Impractical Catholic

2. Cinhosa at cinhosa

3. Ebeth at A Catholic Mom Climbing the Pillars

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V. Praised be Jesus Christ!

R. Now and forever!

(Click on the link above to read why I end my posts this way.)

Tags: books

8 Comments to Three Favorite Religious Books

1. 

   These are very good picks, Barb. I’ve loved every single word you’ve shared so far from Divine Intimacy and the other two books are in my top ten. And guess what? I just ordered volume I of Divine Intimacy on my Kindle and I’m soooo excited Thank you! (If it wasn’t for you I probably would never have heard of it!)

   I ordered Colleen’s new book too. What a great Lent this will be!

   I pray that Our Lord blesses you immensely this Lent. (And I hope you are feeling well too!)
   Mary recently posted..New Evidence Comes to Light in the Bizarre Case of Father Gordon MacRae
Mary on February 21st, 2012
2. 

   Thanks, Mary. I’m so happy for you that you’ve been able to access this book. I will probably use it for meditation for the rest of my life. God bless you.
barb on February 21st, 2012
3. 

   Barb,

   Thanks for nominating me! I hope to finish a post this week to share my three books.

   Also, thank you for dropping by and commenting. I have enjoyed getting to know fellow Catholic and Christian bloggers through Sunday Snippets.

   †
   cinhosa recently posted..How do you discern God’s will for your life?
cinhosa on February 22nd, 2012
4. 

   I am on a bit of a Teresa kick these days, so I love the “Way of Perfection” suggestion. Thank you!
   dweej {House Unseen} recently posted..Edith Stein- Writer, Convert, Martyr
dweej {House Unseen} on February 26th, 2012
5. 

   wow, these are great books!! I’ve been thinking and it’s been hard, but I’m going to make that effort to do the meme today.

   Lenten blessings!
   Ebeth recently posted..Bravely I wore my ashes yesterday…….
Ebeth on February 26th, 2012
6. 

   Hi Barb,

   I wrote my post on my three favorites:

   http://cinhosa.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/favorite-books-of-faith/

   Thanks for considering me in this and thanks for your great comments on some of my other posts.

   †
   cinhosa recently posted..Favorite books of faith
cinhosa on February 27th, 2012
7. 

   You bet, cinhosa. I really like your blog.
barb on February 27th, 2012
8. 

   Great list, Barb. I love St. Faustina’s Divine Mercy in My Soul…
   Ellen Gable Hrkach recently posted..Welcome Risen Jesus by Sarah Reinhard – Review
Ellen Gable Hrkach on February 28th, 2012