This collection will both enrich your soul and beautify your home, with its deluxe leatherette hardcover, a satin ribbon, golden gilded edges, reinforced sides for longevity, smyth-sewn binding, and gold foil. There are certain books in the Catholic intellectual tradition that outlast the life of the authors and exemplify the qualities of the saints. These five titles have been renowned as Spiritual Classics which form a foundation of the interior life of the Christian:
- The Imitation of Christ
- The Story of a Soul
- Abandonment to Divine Providence
- The Interior Castle
- An Introduction to the Devout Life
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis This book speaks to the soul of every true Christian, reminding us of the fleeting nature of earthly joy as opposed to the eternity of happiness with God. The guide of the saints since it first appeared in 1418, it was the sole spiritual reading of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, who loved it and knew it by heart.
The Story of a Soul by St. Therese of Lisieux Only written under holy obedience by the command of her superior, Saint Thérèse's autobiography conveys the secrets of her great holiness, which she achieved through her simple and ordinary life. It teaches her "Little Way of Spiritual Childhood," which she called her "elevator to Heaven."
Abandonment to Divine Providence by Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade Father de Caussade offers the one sure solution to any spiritual difficulty: abandon yourself entirely to God by embracing the duties of your station in life. With wisdom and gentleness he teaches how to practice complete submission to the will of God in every situation, whether we are beginners or seasoned travelers on the way to perfection. True abandonment, he explains, is a trusting, peaceful, and childlike surrender to the guidance of grace.
The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Ávila Saint Teresa imagines the soul as a magnificent castle full of spacious and elaborate rooms. And, as Saint Teresa describes, at the heart of this castle stands the seat of the King Himself.
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales St. Francis de Sales guides us to the knowledge that we are all called to the devout life. True devotion to God, as Saint Francis de Sales points out, adorns every vocation. Additionally, Saint Francis will explain that the devout life is a choice worthy for its own sake: "And our blessed Lord Himself assure[s] us that a devout life is a lovely, a pleasant, and a happy life." The wisdom contained in these pages have inspired the spiritual lives of saints throughout time and will inspire the saints of the future.
In the chaos of modern commentaries and questionable spiritual advice from the internet, these classics are a firm source of spiritual wisdom that we can trust wholeheartedly to guide our love and fidelity to Christ and His Church. To match the eternal wisdom contained in these volumes, we have now made a beautiful and timeless edition of these books.
