Books on Prayer – Beginnings
- Into the Deep, Dan Burke – This book is highly recommended as a starting point for anyone interested in beginning a prayer life. It’s a quick read with short chapters, making it accessible for those who might need a refresher on the basics or who have never taken their prayer life seriously. The book provides a straightforward explanation of the basic Ignatian approach to meditation. Even for those familiar with the content, it’s a valuable refresher that can be read in about an hour. For first-time readers, the short chapters can be savored slowly over the course of a week.
- The Art of Praying, Romano Guardini – This book is serious yet accessible, making prayer relevant and practical. Written by one of the Church’s greatest theologians, it’s a bit longer but is excellent for those who want to go beyond the basics of prayer. It’s especially recommended for those who have committed to prayer for some time.
- Thirsting For Prayer, Jacques Philippe – This text offers beautiful spiritual insights and motivations for those looking to deepen their prayer life. It’s shorter but covers a broad range of topics, serving as an excellent spiritual appetizer that helps readers develop a taste for the richness of prayer. The book resonates more deeply with those who already have a certain spiritual sensitivity, but it is beneficial for nearly anyone, as it aims to ignite the heart with spiritual fervor.
- The Examen Prayer, Timothy Gallagher – Cultivating a habit of praying the Examen can be transformative, and this book offers one of the best introductions to the depth behind this simple prayer. Its many examples make it an enjoyable and beneficial read.
- The Soul of the Apostolate, Jean-Baptiste Chautard – This book is well-suited for those fully committed to living the Christian life, particularly for those drawn to active, apostolic service in the Church. It effectively places life and prayer in their proper context.
Books on Prayer – Maturing
As prayer life deepens, Christians often need more advanced guidance to navigate the complexities of their spiritual journey. For those who have moved beyond the basics and are hungry for greater spiritual depth, these books offer more of the classic and systematic teachings on prayer.
- The Prayer of Faith, Leonard Boase – Although not widely known, this book offers surprising depth and a systematic approach to prayer. It presents unique perspectives and insights that are particularly helpful for those transitioning from the fundamentals to a more mature practice of prayer, though it’s recommended to read Dubay’s works before tackling this one for a fuller understanding.
- Fire Within, Thomas Dubay – This book stands as one of the best systematic introductions to contemplative prayer within the Carmelite tradition. It’s essential reading for anyone called to a deeper prayer life or who wants to better understand the Church’s teachings on advanced prayer. The book provides an excellent synthesis of John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, making it a valuable precursor to reading their original works.
- Dark Night of the Soul, John of the Cross – The transition to infused contemplative prayer can be disorienting and painful, especially without guidance. The first half of this classic work is particularly helpful for understanding why this stage is so challenging and how to navigate it. The second half of the book, while still valuable, may not be immediately applicable to those just beginning to experience infused contemplation, though it can still be worthwhile to read.
- Interior Castle, Teresa of Avila – Teresa of Avila’s work is placed here because it delves into the supernatural aspects of deeper prayer. She covers the journey from the very beginning stages all the way to full union with God. While the average reader may struggle to relate to some of the more advanced stages she describes, the general overview provided by this Saint is invaluable.
- Hidden Mountain, Secret Garden, Anthony Lilles – For those who have made it through other foundational texts and are seeking another perspective, this book is highly recommended. While it attempts to offer a systematic overview, it is less organized than some of the more scholarly works but still provides many valuable insights.
Books on Prayer – Established
For those firmly rooted in a consistent prayer, the challenges and rewards of contemplation become more significant. Whether dealing with dryness in prayer, navigating the “dark nights,” or desiring a richer connection with God, these advanced books are tailored for people more established in the spiritual life.
- When the Well Runs Dry, Thomas Green – For those who regularly experience the alternating consolation and desolation characteristic of contemplative prayer, this book is a must-read. It helps readers understand that dryness in prayer is not a problem to be solved but rather the environment where authentic contemplative prayer takes place.
- The Cloud of Unknowing, Unknown Author – Although a classic, this book is less accessible and can be confusing for those who are not well-versed in the basics. However, after reading other advanced texts and experiencing contemplative prayer, it becomes a valuable work to have read at least once, especially given its brevity.
- New Seeds of Contemplation, Thomas Merton – This book offers profound insights, making it highly recommended for the right person—someone with the proper perspective and established experience in prayer.
- Contemplative Provocations, Donald Haggerty – A collection of the author’s reflections, this book speaks directly to the contemplative soul. It provides a wealth of material that can be used to inspire personal prayer, making it highly effective for sparking moments of intimacy with the Lord.
Spiritual Life In General
These books are known to be life-changing and are worth revisiting regularly (if not daily).
- The Three Conversions in the Interior Life, Garrigou-Lagrange – This tiny, beautiful book presents the fullness of what believers are called to in their spiritual lives.
- The Sanctifier, Luis Martinez – A brilliant work on the Holy Spirit’s role in spiritual life, this book captures the Church’s authentic and timeless teaching. It may start slowly, making perseverance through the first few chapters necessary, but it ultimately proves to be transformative.
- Discerning the Will of God, Timothy Gallagher – This book offers the simplest explanation of Ignatian discernment and, while it may not be one to reread often, the key concepts are useful in daily practice.
- Poverty of Spirit, Johann Baptist Metz – This little book provides insights that have deeply marked spiritual life and is ideal to reread each Lent for continued growth and reflection.
- Imitation of Christ, Thomas à Kempis – A timeless classic, this book is essential for any serious spiritual life. With chapters short enough to read daily, there is no reason not to engage with this profound work.
- The Way of Perfection, Teresa of Avila – This text holds particular appeal for those who resonate with Teresa’s temperament and personal influence, making it a favorite for those who have a special affinity for her teachings.
Spiritual Theology
These are longer, academic works, but are highly recommended for their excellence. Each is rooted in Scripture and the teachings of Thomas Aquinas.
- Spiritual Theology, Jordan Aumann – A superb summary of growth in holiness, this book highlights the beauty of virtue and spiritual growth. It’s academic, but concise, with a focus on Aquinas, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila.
- The Spiritual Life, Adolphe Tanquerey – This is considered the most complete single-volume introduction to the spiritual life from a theological perspective. It strikes a balance by being less academic than other works, making it more accessible.
- Three Ages of the Interior Life, Garrigou-Lagrange – A towering two-volume work, this text covers the entirety of spiritual theology in great depth. The author’s influence is underscored by his role in personally teaching theology to Pope John Paul II.
- I Want to See God & I Am a Daughter of the Church, Marie Eugene – A comprehensive synthesis of Carmelite spirituality, these works offer the same depth as other spiritual theology texts but present the material with a tone that is more spiritual than purely academic.