Top ten reading list for spiritual directors

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Reading List

Top ten reading list for spiritual directors from Catholic Spiritual Direction

  • Guidance in Spiritual Direction by Fr. Charles Hugo Doyle
  • The Three Ages of the Interior Life by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange
  • The Spiritual Life by Fr. Adolphe Tanquerey
  • Spiritual Theology by Fr. Jordan Aumann
  • Discernment of Spirits by Fr. Timothy Gallagher
  • The Fire Within by Fr. Thomas Dubay
  • The Fulfillment of All Desire by Ralph Martin
  • Seeking Spiritual Direction by Fr. Thomas Dubay
  • anything by St. Teresa of Avila – particularly The Interior Castle, or St. John of the Cross
  • Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales

Also see:

  • Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI): “Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation.”

Jesuit perspective (in response to the top 10 list)

  • anything by Fr. Timothy Gallagher
  • Draw Me Into Your Friendship: A Literal Translation and Contemporary Reading of the Spiritual Exercises, by Fr. David Fleming
  • Moment by Moment: a retreat in everyday life, Merz and Smith.
  • The Practice of Spiritual Direction, Barry and Connelly.
  • Abandonment to Divine Providence, Fr. Jean Pierre de Caussade
  • Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina, Thelma Hall
  • De Sales, Francis./Treatise on the Love of God/
  • Groeschel, Benedict. The Courage to be Chaste

Other responses

  • Christ, the Life of the Soul by Blessed Columba Marmion
  • Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean Pierre de Caussade
Last modified 2011 December by MJ. Smith

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