Spiritual classics to read this Lent

You loved our summer reading picks, so here is The Catholic Weekly’s list of spiritual classics (after the scriptures, of course) if you are looking for some great Lenten reading. 

1. St Augustine, The Confessions (397–400). One of the best-loved spiritual autobiographies by a Doctor of the Church. 
2. St Catherine of Siena, The Dialogue (c. 1377). A fiery treatment of divine love and spiritual transformation. 
3. Julian of Norwich, Revelations of Divine Love (c. 1395). Meditations on divine mercy by a mediaeval English mystic, including the assurance: “All shall be well.” 
4. Thomas à Kempis, The Imitation of Christ (c. 1418–1427). A timeless manual of humility and interior devotion. 
5. St Thomas More, The Sadness of Christ (1535). Written during his imprisonment in the Tower of London. 
6. St Teresa of Avila, The Life of St Teresa of Avila (1565). Edith Stein, a Jewish agnostic, converted in one night after reading this. 
7. St John of the Cross, The Spiritual Canticle (c. 1578). In poetry and prose, the Doctor of the Church treads the path of a soul’s loving union with Christ.
8. St Francis de Sales, Introduction to the Devout Life (1609). Gentle and practical encouragement to pursuing holiness. 
9. Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, The Practice of the Presence of God (1692). A simple witness to constant prayer in ordinary life, recommended by Pope Leo XIV. 
10. St Louis-Marie de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary (1712). A passionate and influential guide to Marian consecration. 
11. St Thérèse of Lisieux, Story of a Soul (1898). The ever-popular autobiography of one of four women Doctors of the Church. 
12. Robert Hugh Benson, Lord of the World (1907). A prophetic dystopian novel that includes the church’s fidelity under persecution which was often mentioned by Pope Francis.  
13. G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy (1908). A witty defence of Christian belief recounting Chesterton’s own journey to faith. 
14. Dom Chautard, The Soul of the Apostolate (1910). On the primacy of the interior life in all apostolic work. 
15. Benedict Baur, Frequent Confession (1922). A beautiful, comprehensive and challenging guide to the sacrament. 
16. St Josemaría Escrivá, The Way (1939). Spiritual counsel by the founder of Opus Dei which has changed many lives. 
17. Dom Eugene Boylan, This Tremendous Lover (1947). An inspiring but down-to-earth meditation on the church’s mystical body by an Irish Trappist. 
18. Frank Sheed, To Know Christ Jesus (1962). A simple, lucid narrative of the Gospels by an Australian master of catechesis. 
19. Walter J. Ciszek, He Leadeth Me (1973). A spiritual memoir of survival in Soviet labour camps and abandonment to God’s will. 
20. Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992). The definitive summary of Catholic faith and morals. 
21. Fr Iain Matthew, The Impact of God: Soundings from St John of the Cross (1995). A short, accessible introduction to the Carmelite Doctor and the western contemplative tradition. 
22. Fr Jacques Philippe, Interior Freedom (2002). A gentle, practical invitation to trust in God’s providence.