Some of my best friends are books. 🙂

A good book is like a fine companion who pours forth its treasures and lightens your days, strengthens your heart and inspires you to grow!

The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it. ~James Bryce

I put together this list of books that have especially helped me through the years. I have read much more than this book list includes…many, many books. Looking at my bookshelves you see that they are bursting….and this is only half of them. 🙂

All good books are special but the following books are extra-special. They stand out among the rest.

I know I have not thought of all of them and I may add to this list as I go along.

Some of the books that are on personal development may be a little controversial for you. I put them on this list, too, because they had a profound effect on me. I took what was in accordance with being a Catholic wife and mother and left the rest.

I like this quote and use it in this regard: “Although, as far as I can tell, some of my heroes have not known the light of Christ in this life, I nevertheless learn from them with great joy, remembering the words of St. Thomas, ‘All truth, by whomever spoken, comes from the Holy Spirit'” (On Truth, q. 1, a. 8).

Spiritual Books:

Mary Was Her Life – Sister Maria Teresa Quevedo   Mary Was Her Life: The Story Of A Nun, Sister Maria Teresa Quevedo, 1930-1950

Introduction to a Devout Life – St. Francis de Sales    An Introduction to the Devout Life (Tan Classics)

Light and Peace – Quadrupani     Light and Peace: Instructions for Devout Souls to Dispel Their Doubts

Achieving Peace of Heart – Fr. Narciso Irala, S.J.    Achieving Peace of Heart

My Beloved – The Story of  a Carmelite Nun    My Beloved: The Story of a Carmelite Nun

Searching For and Maintaining Peace – Fr.  Jacques Phillipe   Searching for and Maintaining Peace: A Small Treatise on Peace of Heart

The Family That Overtook Christ – Father Raymond           The Family that Overtook Christ

An Easy Way to Become a Saint – Fr. Paul O’Sullivan          An Easy Way To Become A Saint

All About the Angels – Fr. Paul O’Sullivan        All About the Angels

With God in Russia – Walter J. Ciszek, S.J.     With God in Russia

He Leadeth Me (Sequel to With God in Russia) – Walter J. Ciszek. S.J.  He Leadeth Me

Family/Wife Books

Christ in the Home – Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J.   Christ in the Home

The Wife Desired  – Fr. Leo Kinsella     The Wife Desired

The Man for Her (for the guys) – Fr. Leo Kinsella     The Man For Her

Mary Reed Newland books with book review and links here.

The Catholic Marriage Manual  – Rev. George A. Kelly   The Catholic Marriage Manual

The Catholic Family Handbook – Rev. George A. Kelly    The Catholic Family Handbook

Prayer/Meditation Books:

My Prayer Book – Father Lasance   My Prayer-Book (Happiness in Goodness)

The Precious Blood Manual – Sisters of the Precious Blood   The Precious Blood and Mother: a Compilation of Prayers from Approved Sources

The Prisoner of Love – Father Lasance   The Prisoner of Love

St. Julian Eymard Books here    with reviews here:   The Real Presence

Divine Intimacy – Father Gabriel of St Mary Magdalen, O.C.D..   Divine Intimacy: Meditations on the Interior Life for Every Day of the Liturgical Year

 

Personal Development Books:

Dare to Dream – Florence Litauer      Dare to Dream

Personality Plus – Florence Litauer    Personality Plus: How to Understand Others by Understanding Yourself

Attitudes that Attract Success   Attitudes that Attract Success: You Are Only One Attitude Away from a Great Life

Surrendered Wife  – Laura Doyle    The Surrendered Wife: A Practical Guide To Finding Intimacy, Passion and Peace

More Hours in My Day – Emilie Barnes      More Hours in My Day: Proven Ways to Organize Your Home, Your Family, and Yourself

Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home – Emilie Barnes    Simple Secrets to a Beautiful Home: Creating a Place You and Your Family Will Love

Open Heart, Open Home – Karen Mains    Open Heart, Open Home: The Hospitable Way to Make Others Feel Welcome & Wanted

Created to be His Helpmeet – Debi Pearl    Created to be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious

Fascinating Womanhood  – Helen Andelin        Fascinating Womanhood

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands – Dr. Laura Schlessinger  The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands

Children’s Books:

The Catholic Girl’s Guide – Father Lasance    The Catholic girl’s guide: Counsels and devotions for girls in the ordinary walks of life, and in particular for the Children of Mary

The Young Man’s Guide – Father Lasance   YOUNG MAN’S GUIDE by Father Lasance

Leading the Little Ones to Mary – Sister Mary Lelia          Leading the Little Ones to Mary

Mary Fabyan Windeatt books (there are many of them) – The Miraculous Medal: The Story of Our Lady’s Appearances to Saint Catherine Laboure

Beautiful Girlhood – Mable Hale     Beautiful Girlhood

Catholic Novels:

Outlaws of Ravenhurst – M. Imelda Wallace    Outlaws of Ravenhurst

Come Rack, Come Rope – Robert Hugh Benson    Come Rack! Come Rope!

Masterful Monk Series – Owen Francis Dudley     The Masterful Monk

Louis de Wohl Books with book review and links here.

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