Three Favorite Religous Books

I love books!  Thanks Mary, over at The Beautiful Gate, for tagging me for a meme on my three favorite religious books. While I have many books that I really like, here are three favorites after the Bible:

• My Other Self - Clarence Enzler - This book was recommended to me recently by my Spiritual Director.  I can describe this book best as a practical abandonment to divine providence.  I have benefited greatly from reading this and know I will come back to it again and again.  Here is what Ave Maria Press has to say:

In My Other Self Clarence Enzler—author of the multi-million copy seller Everyone’s Way of the Cross—guides readers in prayerful conversation with Christ wherein the reader is personally addressed as “my other self” and is urged to embody Christ’s love and compassion to others.


Modeled on the fifteenth-century classic The Imitation of Christ, this new edition of a little-known Enzler masterwork has now been reissued for modern Christians after being out of print for many years. This new edition includes an introduction from the author's son, Msgr. John Enzler, pastor of the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Washington, D.C.

In this intimate guide to the spiritual life, Christ speaks directly to the reader, whom Christ admonishes to be his presence of love and service in the world. Through this creative mode of dialogue, Enzler leads the reader through the journey of the Christian life, beginning with the call to live in friendship with Christ and fulfill Christ's desire. He then examines the means of the Christian life: detachment, virtue, prayer, avoidance of sin, and the Eucharist. Finally he explores the goal of the journey: a life of union with Christ as his disciple and complete joy with him in eternity. Each chapter of My Other Self is divided into short, eloquent sections based on scripture and with beautiful prayers for meditation. These convenient divisions make the book ideal for use as a daily devotional, or a guide to prayer.

•  Abandonment to Divine Providence - Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade - I first read this book about 4 years ago and recently read it again for a book club.  It is so packed with spiritual goodness that I believe I could read it again and again.  Each page is densely packed with beautiful wisdom from Fr. de Caussade.  It is very deep and not always easy to read, but so worth it!  This book probably isn't for everyone, but I had to include it here because it has had a profound impact on me. 

• Discernment of Spirits - Timothy Gallagher - It has been many years since I first read this book, and I believe it is time to read it again!  This book opens up Ignatian spirituality to the average lay person and helps give clarity regarding the states of spiritual consolation and desolation.  A friend first recommended it to me, and I remember just being astonished at how much I could relate to the descriptions of various spiritual states.  Before reading this, I did not really know how to discern what was happening and what to do about it.  Hmmmm..... this is why I need to read this again, as I can get spiritually confused sometimes.  I have been trying to give this up in abandonment, but really God provides us with such wonderful tools, especially through the teachings of the Saints, we should use them.  Going to go find my copy right now!

There are so many other books that I love, especially from the Saints.  Even just reading little booklets from TAN books about the Saints has been so beneficial and enjoyable, but the above three are the books that stand out for helping me most in recent years.

I pass this on to:

Jen at Box Full of Blessings
Michael at Reach Paradise
Fr. Andrew at Catholic Vision

Feel free to give your answer here in the comments or at your blog.  Thanks!