"You will find no one in earnest about his [or her] spiritual progress — St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church So you see, the need for spiritual reading goes back a long, long way! Spiritual reading is like: 1. Oil for our spiritual lamp. Without spiritual reading, our lamp will eventually flicker and go out. There are several categories of spiritual reading. Among them are the following: 1. The Bible. The New Testament, especially, should be regular reading material for the Catholic Christian. The "New American Bible" is the version on which the readings at Mass are based. The "Jerusalem Bible" has more footnotes and internal commentaries (good for Bible study). The "New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition" is also recommended and is regarded by many people as having more poetic beauty. |
2. Bible commentaries. A good commentary on the Bible is essential if you want to go deeper into the meaning of the scripture passages and more fully comprehend God's Word. Ask your spiritual director, a studious Catholic friend, or Fr. Mike (or your own pastor) to recommend a commentary based on your needs and intentions.
3. The lives of saints. These can provide helpful spiritual inspiration, but the reader should be discerning when selecting books in this category. There are "good" biographies available, and some are "not so good." Some really old editions indulged in a sentimentality the is not inspiring to the modern reader. Then there are some modern works that focus on revisionist history or on the psychological aspects of the saint's life rather than on the person's relationship with God.
4. Many works by modern spiritual writers are also wonderful reading. As always, be careful that the material is in accord with the the teaching of the Catholic faith! A few titles (old and new) of spiritual books are given below for your consideration.
(There are some spiritual reading books available in the Fr. Goudreau Room — use our do-it-yourself checkout system.)
5. The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" is a book all Catholics should own and read. It is the cornerstone for discovering and understanding Catholic doctrine, beliefs, and the present-day teachings of the Catholic Church.
3. The lives of saints. These can provide helpful spiritual inspiration, but the reader should be discerning when selecting books in this category. There are "good" biographies available, and some are "not so good." Some really old editions indulged in a sentimentality the is not inspiring to the modern reader. Then there are some modern works that focus on revisionist history or on the psychological aspects of the saint's life rather than on the person's relationship with God.
4. Many works by modern spiritual writers are also wonderful reading. As always, be careful that the material is in accord with the the teaching of the Catholic faith! A few titles (old and new) of spiritual books are given below for your consideration.
(There are some spiritual reading books available in the Fr. Goudreau Room — use our do-it-yourself checkout system.)
5. The "Catechism of the Catholic Church" is a book all Catholics should own and read. It is the cornerstone for discovering and understanding Catholic doctrine, beliefs, and the present-day teachings of the Catholic Church.