Favorite Spiritual Reading Books for Meditation & Contemplation
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In this post, I’m sharing some of my favorite spiritual reading books for meditation and contemplation — these are some of the best books that have helped in my prayer life.
These books are some of the biggest aids in growing a deeper spiritual life and those that have been really transformative.
Favorite Catholic Prayer and Meditation Books
I want to begin this post by saying that this is not to give spiritual advice, that is reserved for your priest or spiritual director. Instead, I just want to share some of the books that have been a great aid in my personal spiritual life. And has really helped with my mental prayer and contemplation.
I know, that it is hard to find good, classic catholic books if one doesn’t know where to begin looking. Over many years, I’ve slowly been building our classical home library and these are a few of our favorites.
I also wrote more on how classical literature has improved my spiritual life here and about an education in wonder here.
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01
Holy Scripture + Classics
Holy Scripture, The Imitation of Christ, and My Daily Bread were my go-to choices for my beginning meditations. I like the short readings from these classics and have been helpful in the beginnings of motherhood.
I try to read Holy Scripture daily — in the mornings with the children, and alone in the evenings before bed. In this post, I shared a bit more about how we do Bible readings and the commentaries and other resources that we use in our homeschool.
02
Daily Practice of Mental Prayer and Of Divine Contemplation
These short meditations are easy to follow and contains six separate values, spanning the entire traditional liturgical year. They are filled with much wisdom from the Carmelite saints like St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross. A vintage classic that has been recently republished by Cor Jesu Press.
03
Dom S. Louismet Collection
These are some of my most prized collection of vintage books — a true treasure in spiritual reading and advice. If you can find them in the wild, I would totally recommend that you snatch them up. It took me many years to build this collection and many of them came from overseas, but it was worth it to me. And I’m still on the hunt for numbers 6 & 7…if anyone has any leads, let me know! 😊
The advice of Dom Louismet is a true gem in aiding one in a deeper spiritual life. And he explains the mystical knowledge of God in a simplified, easy to follow way. All were published
The books in order:
- The Mystical Knowledge of God
- The Mystical Life
- Mysticism – True and False
- Divine Contemplation for All
- The Mystery of Jesus
- Mystical initiation
- Burning Bush
“Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason. God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.”
St. John of the Cross
04
More Vintage Classics
Most of us are probably familiar with the classic, The Sinner’s Guide by Venerable Louis of Granada, but few of us have read a book he wrote that many saints favored. The Book of Prayer and Meditation is fairly new to me and it’s another true gem.
Many of you also have heard me write in praise of Divine Intimacy many times throughout the years. And it’s still one that I use daily. A true Carmelite classic.
Other favorites that should be read slowly and meditatively:
05
Spiritual Reading & Meditations on the Passion of Our Lord
“Among the many subjects proposed by the Church to us for mental prayer, there is none more profitable than the sublime mystery of Calvary. For even where everything is supremely holy—namely, in the actions of Him Who is the way, and the truth, and the life—the Passion is the culmination of sanctity, the highest exercise of virtue, the greatest cause of merit. Hence devout meditation on it produces most abundant fruit in souls.” — Taken from the introduction of the Meditation on the Passion
06
Soliloquies of St. Augustine
I’ve enjoyed reading through the Soliloquies of St. Augustine slowly over the past year. It was a great vintage find, and if you’re able to find a copy, I would highly recommend it. If not, Cor Jesu Press has reprinted The St. Augustine’s Manual which contains some of the same writings from the saint.
“Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee.”
St. Augustine
I hope that you’ve found this post helpful and that you’ve found some new favorite spiritual reading & meditation books.
Comment below to share your favorites with us!
