Books to Grow Your Faith

It’s back-to-school season, which means a few things in my life: lunch box containers have returned to the dish rack, laundry needs to happen with more regularity so that we aren’t madly searching for clean uniform polos as the school bus rounds the corner, and routine (sweet, blessed routine!) is no longer a foreign concept in our household. Our whole family’s life just runs a little smoother when we have specific places to be at specific times on a regular basis. My daughters (one in kindergarten and one in pre-school) are thrilled to be back in school, and their baby brother isn’t too sad about getting some one-on-one time with whichever parent is home with him for the day.

The school year resuming impacts more than my school-aged children and our overall family life, though. While I’m no longer formally a student, I consider myself a lifelong learner, and there is not a time of year that I feel quite as motivated to deepen my knowledge and grow in understanding as the month September. There is just something in the early autumn air that seems to whisper: pick up a book, take some notes, expand your mind.

For me, this sometimes looks like taking on additional professional education opportunities in September. For instance, I work as a psychotherapist, and I just signed up for a course on couples counseling. I can’t wait to dig into the video series and begin integrating what I learn into my practice. Other times, it looks like picking a topic that I want to learn more about (such as bread baking, or gardening) and watching YouTube videos about it, or calling up a friend who has expertise in the area to get their advice. And sometimes, September simply calls me to pick up a book I’ve been meaning to read, not necessarily because the story line is riveting or it’s at the top of the bestseller’s list, but because I know it will help me grow.

If you, too, are feeling moved and motivated to learn during this back to school season, you might consider choosing a spiritual classic, or modern exploration of a topic related to religion, to help you grow your faith.

Here are some suggestions:

The Interior Castle

Admittedly, I have a soft spot for The Interior Castle. Not only am I named after St. Teresa of Avila but this was the first of her books that I read, many years ago. In it, St. Teresa uses a castle with various rooms as a metaphor for the spiritual journey. Each room represents a stage of growth, with the final, innermost room signifying union with God. To me, the book is part spiritual autobiography and part guide, as St. Teresa details her own inner journey as well as wisdom for those of us also seeking deeper connection with God.

Living the Seasons: Simple Ways to Celebrate the Beauty of your Faith Throughout the Year

Living the Seasons is a gorgeous book packed with full-color photos, recipes, imaginative ideas for crafts and activities, and commentary, all organized around the liturgical calendar. If you are interested in infusing more Catholicity into your family culture, this book is a great place to start. It’s non-intimidating, informative, and fun – an excellent way to learn more about all of the Church seasons, the Holy Days of Obligation, and the feast days for various saints. If you get the book now, you’ll have time to read and prepare for the start of a new Liturgical year.

The Way of Divine Love

The Way of Divine Love records the mystical experiences of Sister Josefa Menendez, a Spanish woman of deep, unwavering faith. Sr. Josefa lived in Spain as a child and then young adult, supporting her poverty-stricken family with her work as a dressmaker despite her lifelong call to religious life. She was finally able to enter the Society of the Sacred Heart at the age of 30. Between then and when she died just three years later, she experienced deep connection with God as well as detailed visions of the Passion of the Christ. When you read about these (and other mystical visions) in The Way of Divine Love, you will be bolstered by Sr. Josefa’s revelations.

Quotations on the Spiritual Life - St. Maria Faustina Kowalska

If you aren’t a big reader and the thought of consuming a book from cover to cover fills you with dread, but you’re still feeling the itch to learn and expand your mind this September, a collection of quotations like Quotations on the Spiritual Life might be just for you. You can pick up this book and read one or few anytime you have a moment to spare. Try keeping your book in the kitchen and taking in some wisdom while your coffee brews or your bagel toasts. Or, tuck it in the glove compartment of your vehicle to peruse in the school pick up line. If you want extra back-to-school vibes, you pick a quote to journal about, reflecting on what the words mean to you at this present phase of life.

I Believe: The Apostles’ Creed in Sacred Art

Okay, I fully get that I Believe: The Apostles' Creed in Sacred Art is technically a children’s book. Pictures fill every page, as the book matches classic works of art with the words of the Apostles Creed, and the explanations that are provided to describe each phrase of the creed are written at a level that is developmentally suited for kids. But who among us couldn’t use a refresh, from time to time, on the fundamentals of our faith? And I know that I can’t be the only one who appreciates simple, digestible language when wrapping my mind around large and mysterious concepts. Bonus: if you have an important child in your life, be it your own son or daughter, a godchild, or an extended family member or friend, this book will give you the chance to learn alongside them as you read it together.