chelsea Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 What are some books or meditations you would recommend to someone who is preparing to enter religious life in the coming months? I have recommended vita consecrata but im not sure what else is good.
Byzantine Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 [i]The Ladder of Divine Ascent[/i] by St. John Climacus?
AveMariaPurissima Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 [i]The Way of Divine Love[/i] by Sister Josefa Menéndez. This book is amesome -- I can't recommend it enough!!!! (In fact, I've been considering making a post about it!)
savvy Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 I would recommend [i]In His Zone[/i] by Fr. Mark Goring.
Gemma Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 Who's doing the entering and into which spirituality? The latter more important than the former. The Conferences of St John Cassian is always used in novitiates. Blessings, Gemma
chelsea Posted June 23, 2012 Author Posted June 23, 2012 Franciscan spirituality. Thanks for the suggestions!
TheresaThoma Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 [quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1340461367' post='2447879'] [u]And You are Christ's[/u], by Thomas Dubay [/quote] I totally agree with this one. I was given it as a gift and I keep reading it over and over.
Gemma Posted June 23, 2012 Posted June 23, 2012 The Rule of the Secular Franciscans lists the Little Flowers of St. Francis. I've always heard rave reviews about the book, and how much it helped those of Franciscan persuasion to deepen their spirituality. Blessings, Gemma
Queen'sDaughter Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 One I have found very helpful is [i]Introduction to the Devout Life[/i] by Saint Fancis de Sales.
Strictlyinkblot Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 'To Heaven with Diana', I know its Dominican rather than Franciscan spirituality but its a wonderful book.
emmaberry Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 [quote name='Queen'sDaughter' timestamp='1340496157' post='2448075'] One I have found very helpful is [i]Introduction to the Devout Life[/i] by Saint Fancis de Sales. [/quote] [quote name='Lisa' timestamp='1340461367' post='2447879'] [u]And You are Christ's[/u], by Thomas Dubay [/quote] The above are wonderful, along with The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis, The Imitation of Mary by Alexander de Rouville, and True Devotion by St Louis de Montfort
PhuturePriest Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 [i]The Story of a Soul. [/i]I cannot stress enough just how amazing and beautiful that book is for someone discerning. And for everyone else in the world not blessed enough to experience the joy of discerning the Religious life!
AnneLine Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 Agreed on St. Therese's [u]Story of a Soul [/u]and [u]The Way of Divine Love[/u]. Wonderful books. Get the John Clark, OCD translation of the Story of a Soul as it is the best literal translation.... If one is into Franciscan spirituality, I can't recommend [u]The Perfect Joy of St. Franci[/u]s by Felix Timmermans strongly enough! It is strongly based on the Little Flowers of St. Francis, but reads like a novel. I encountered it when I was a postulant, and it was the FIRST book I purchased for myself when I left the convent. Totally helped me through that tough transition. I hadn't been that much into St. Francis and St. Clare before that... but walked away with a strong devotion to both.... Another one that I have found VERY helpful is [u]He Leadeth Me[/u] by the Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J. He went as a missionary to the Russian people during the communist years.... and learned some incredible lessons about radical trust in God. Very powerful!!!!
Gemma Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 From one of our affiliate founders, who has been a Secular Franciscan (now Benedictine Oblate): She warns that there is a lot of New Age stuff out there with a Franciscan label. What parts of the Franciscan charism draws them? How are their gifts and talents and yearnings fitting into the charism? She gave me a link: [url="http://franciscanresources.com/store/category/aqco/BOOKS_-_FRANCIS.html"]http://franciscanresources.com/store/category/aqco/BOOKS_-_FRANCIS.html[/url] HTH Blessings, Gemma
Gemma Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 [quote name='AnneLine' timestamp='1340523776' post='2448273'] Agreed on St. Therese's [u]Story of a Soul [/u]and [u]The Way of Divine Love[/u]. Wonderful books. Get the John Clark, OCD translation of the Story of a Soul as it is the best literal translation.... If one is into Franciscan spirituality, I can't recommend [u]The Perfect Joy of St. Franci[/u]s by Felix Timmermans strongly enough! It is strongly based on the Little Flowers of St. Francis, but reads like a novel. I encountered it when I was a postulant, and it was the FIRST book I purchased for myself when I left the convent. Totally helped me through that tough transition. I hadn't been that much into St. Francis and St. Clare before that... but walked away with a strong devotion to both.... Another one that I have found VERY helpful is [u]He Leadeth Me[/u] by the Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek, S.J. He went as a missionary to the Russian people during the communist years.... and learned some incredible lessons about radical trust in God. Very powerful!!!! [/quote] I found [i]The Perfect Joy of St. Francis[/i] on our college bookstore shelf and read it. I finally had the epiphany as to why I had such separation anxiety from the Dominicans in Louisville from my previous college experience. I called the friar whom I had befriended and told him about it, and the Third Order of St. Dominic. I had seen those words on the sign outside the church, but they didn't make a lot of sense to me at the time. Our local church was under the patronage of St. Clare. My significant other read the book, and he came to lunch with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich instead of the full-course fare being offered. "I'm thinking of doing more penance," he said, remorsefully. Really brought him around. He was Presbo, but was converting because we had planned to marry. Anywho, we are praying for your discerning friend. Blessings, Gemma
AnneLine Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 (edited) Both [u]Perfect Joy of St. Francis [/u]and [u]He Leadeth Me[/u] have been reprinted by Ignatius Press... you needn't worry about whether or not they are orthodox if they are printing them..... Gemma, I agree -- there is something about that book that just is .... holy. You can feel God in them. And the same with He Leadeth Me. Have suggested them to numerous people, and every one of them says that both of them impacted them in profound ways...... Edited June 24, 2012 by AnneLine
PhuturePriest Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 It may have already been mentioned, but [i]My Sister Saint Therese [/i]by Sister Genevieve of the Holy Face (Celine Martin.).
OnlySunshine Posted June 24, 2012 Posted June 24, 2012 [url="http://www.amazon.com/Religious-Vocation-An-Unnecessary-Mystery/dp/0895558238/ref=pd_sim_b_5"][i]Religious Vocation: An Unnecessary Mystery[/i] by Fr. Richard Butler, OP[/url] [i][url="http://www.amazon.com/Believe-Love-Personal-Retreat-Teaching/dp/1928832288/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340566132&sr=1-1&keywords=i+believe+in+love"]I Believe in Love: A Personal Retreat based on the Teaching of St. Therese[/url][/i] [i][url="http://www.amazon.com/TAN-Classic-Abandonment-Providence-Classics/dp/0895552264/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340566193&sr=1-5&keywords=abandonment+to+divine+providence"]Abandonment to Divine Providence[/url][/i] (recommended to me by a CFR Sister) [i][url="http://www.amazon.com/Meaning-Vocation-John-Paul-II/dp/0933932995/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1340566249&sr=1-1&keywords=the+meaning+of+vocation"]The Meaning of Vocation[/url][/i]
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