Ruth: Chapter 6: Spiritual Reading

This has been a busy week.  I thought I had posted on Chapter 6 prior to my retreat but I see that I did not so now I will have to review the chapter as I post.  I have always loved reading faith related books. In fact they are the only reading I do anymore. I use to read a lot of historical novels, and I still enjoy them,  but I hate to "waste" my time reading them when I can read something of spiritual value. My favorite books are the lives of saints and conversion stories like Rome Sweet Home, etc. Along with the book we are reading for this blog I am also now reading Introduction to the Devout Life which is a spiritual classic written in the early 1600s. I thought it would be a hard read but the translation I have is great. It is another book we could post on down the line.  

I hope that, as the book states, God's grace can work in our souls as we read these books, as we resolve to imitate their heroic virtues, love Christ ardently and serve Him as men like St. Ignatius and women like St. Therese did. Books can be prayer starters.  At the beginning of this week, I was on retreat and read an awesome little book on St. Gertrude the Great.  It strengthen, in my soul, the desire for deeper prayer and union with the Lord. I was just filled with such joy and eagerness to read more, learn more and love more.  Our book notes on p. 40 that St. Teresa said that the Lord is more eager to speak with us than we can ever be to speak with Him.  Seeing how the saints expressed the inner movement of the soul helps us understand what is happening to us.  

On p. 40 it also notes that we need to read solid spiritual authors. That is so important and sometimes it is difficult to discern solid authors.  There are Catholic authors who have accepted New Age and other false theologies and incorporated the falsehoods into their writings and teachings.  There are Catholic retreat programs that I will not attend because they incorporate crystals, reiki, Course in Miracles, or liberal theological attitudes in their programs and teaches. So I guess what I am doing is reinforcing that we need "solid" materials to read. The author gave great suggestions.  (As "book" person for our parish I can always try to help you with recommendations for solid Catholic books or at least I will try to help or send you links that will help.) We are really blessed with great resources available to us but now the challenges is to make the time to read and benefits from them in our walk with the Lord.

How have spiritual books helped or challenged you recently and what are your favorites?