Learning the Devout Life
While some books are useful for increasing piety and devotion, the books on this page have been chosen as intended to instruct us in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and of the practical side of living a holy life.
While some books are useful for increasing piety and devotion, the books on this page have been chosen as intended to instruct us in the teachings of the Catholic Church, and of the practical side of living a holy life.
Some things in this book may be outdated, since many Catholic practices and the style of explanation of many Catholic beliefs have changed during that time.
Also known as Baltimore Catechism No. 4
This book is included because it has good approbations, and looks at least a little interesting, especially in the first third or so.
Some things in this book may be outdated, since many Catholic practices and the style of explanation of many Catholic beliefs have changed during that time.
Especially great for parents.
A very theological course in devotion as ‘mansions’. It gives instruction on many topics all around spiritual converse with God, with instruction on discernment of inspirations/revelations. Very good for nuns, fairly good for contemplative religious, and also good for lay people.
Thorough instructions on living a holy and sinless life in practically every state of life. Often used for spiritual direction by those who have no spiritual directors.
Letters written by the bishop of Geneva to various people on various points of practical holiness in everyday life. Could very well be considered a companion to Introduction to the Devout Life.
This book could be considered an update to Introduction to the Devout Life, being written in the same style and spirit, but for more modern times. Very encouraging and instructive.
Down to earth explanations of a wide variety of Catholic truths, principles, concepts, and devotions, without watering them down.
This work has no approbations, but is by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, who was very zealous in Catholic doctrine, having converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism along with St. John Henry Edward Manning. That said, this book may contain opinions of his which are not necessarily doctrines of the Catholic Church. It is included in this library because of its historical and theological interest.
Note: This is not the same as “The Imitation of Mary” sold by Catholic Book Publishing Corp. The content is entirely different.
See also The Temporal Mission of The Holy Ghost.
This might be missing a fourth volume. I’m not sure. An amazon.com result seems to suggest there is a fourth volume. But I haven’t found one on archive.org yet.
This book does not have approbations, but was written by a priest and edited (and probably translated) by another priest. It also says “Authorised Translation” on the title page. It’s also published by Burns, Lambert, and Oates, which are generally safe publishers. So it’s probably safe to read.
Highly recommended by St. Francis de Sales who read bits of it every day for almost 20 years, this book uncovers many finer points and subtle dangers of the spiritual life. With a specialty on conquering your vices, it gives five distinct methods. Quite structured.
This work has no approbations, but is by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, who was very zealous in Catholic doctrine, having converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism along with St. John Henry Newman. It is included in this library because of its historical and theological interest.
This work has no approbations, but is by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, who was very zealous in Catholic doctrine, having converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism along with St. John Henry Edward Manning. That said, this book may contain opinions of his which are not necessarily doctrines of the Catholic Church. It is included in this library because of its historical and theological interest.
This work has no approbations, but is by Henry Edward Cardinal Manning, who was very zealous in Catholic doctrine, having converted from Anglicanism to Catholicism along with St. John Henry Edward Manning. That said, this book may contain opinions of his which are not necessarily doctrines of the Catholic Church. It is included in this library because of its historical and theological interest.
A friendly discourse on life, and how to keep virtues in the midst of a corrupted world. Very great for youth, and explains everything from belief in God and self-control to vocation discernment.
p.218 How Indulgences Work
p.n8 This Book presents Catholic Teachings simply Rearranged as a Bouquet
p.n10 The Origin of This Book
p.n15 This Book Written that Both He and We May Become Devout
p.6 True devotion is never incompatible with our state of life, but enriches it
p.6 Devotion should be practiced differently in each vocation
p.7 Examples of the Devotion of Saints in various States of Life
p.8 The necessity of a Guide to conduct us on the way of Devotion
p.9 How to well choose and to entrust yourself to a Spiritual Director
p.10 We must begin the Spiritual Life with Purification and Courage
p.19 Second Meditation: On the end for which we were created
p.34 Tenth Meditation: Choice between the life of the World and the Devout Life
p.36 Confession turns the Ugliness of Sin into the Beauty of Humility
p.38 A profession of renewed loyalty toward God, to be made after a General Confession
p.40 The Effects of this Profession of Renewed Loyalty toward God
p.41 We must purify ourselves from all affection to venial sins
p.43 We ought to purify ourselves from an affection for useless and dangerous things
p.45 We must purify ourselves from our natural imperfections
p.46 On prayer, and meditation on the Life and Passion of Jesus
p.54 Affections and Resolutions: the third part of the Meditation
p.55 The Conclusion of each Meditation, and the Spiritual Nosegay
p.59 The dryness which we sometimes experience in Meditation
p.60 The Morning Exercise
p.84 Frequent Communion
p.126 We must treat of our affairs with diligence, but without eagerness or solicitude.
p.133 How to preserve Chastity
p.154 True vs vain friendships
p.173 How we must speak of God
p.176 Rash judgments
p.182 Of detraction
p.191 Prohibited Games
p.217 A Word to Virgins.
p.238 Of ungodly fear of evil
p.241 Of sadness
p.262 Annual Retreat: We ought every year to renew our good resolutions by the following exercises
p.263 Annual Retreat Exercise #1: This protestation is noble and much to be desired
p.264 Annual Retreat Exercise #1: God in his goodness and sweet love called us to repentance
p.264 Annual Retreat Exercise #1: God in his generous mercy called us to him before it was too late
p.264 Annual Retreat Exercise #1: How all Heaven rejoices at our renewed pledge to God
p.266 Annual Retreat Exercise #2: How and when to do the second part of the annual spiritual exercises
p.267 Annual Retreat Exercise #2: How to begin the self-examination of the annual spiritual exercises
p.268 Annual Retreat Exercise #3: An examination of the state of your soul towards God
p.270 Annual Retreat Exercise #4: An examination of our state with regard to ourselves
p.271 Annual Retreat Exercise #5: An examination of the state of our soul towards our neighbour
p.272 Annual Retreat Exercise #6:An examination of the affections of your soul
p.273 Annual Retreat Exercise #7: Affections to be exercised after this examination
p.274 Annual Retreat Exercise #8: Consideration of the excellence of our soul
p.275 Annual Retreat Exercise #9: Consideration of the excellence of virtue
p.276 Annual Retreat Exercise #10: Consideration of the example of the Saints
p.278 Annual Retreat Exercise #11: Consideration of the love that Jesus Christ bears us
p.279 Annual Retreat Exercise #12: Consideration of the eternal love of God towards us
p.280 Annual Retreat Exercise #13: General affections on the preceding considerations
p.281 Annual Retreat Exercise #14: Conclusion of these exercises
p.282 The advice in this book are not too numerous in practice
p.282 Annual Retreat Exercise #15: The sentiments we must preserve after the conclusion
p.283 The exercises in this book are suitable even for those not accustomed to prayer
p.285 We must keep our eyes on eternal bliss, and not forsake it for anything at all
p.176 The Method of Prayer
p.109 The devil often tempts us to defer our repentance to the unforeseen future
p.111 We must be Realistic, Selfless, and Courageous in the Pursuit of Virtue
p.113 The error of thinking we are saintly, and how to avoid it
p.115 The trap of falsely pious desires, and how to avoid it
p.172 A method of Prayer grounded on the intercession of our Blessed Lady