Many saints continue to inspire us through their books.
The wisdom a saint gained through their relationship with Christ can be imparted to us in specific detail through these works.
Here are five inspiring books by Catholic saints as well as free pdfs of those books.
1. Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila
In this work, St. Teresa of Avila, a 16th-century doctor of the Church, takes her reader through the seven stages of spiritual development. Through her explanation of each of these stages, St. Teresa inspires her reader to constantly grow closer to Christ so as to achieve the fruits of closeness with the Lord.
St. Teresa will inspire you to listen for the voice of the Lord so that you can encounter Him truly and deeply.
Read a free pdf of Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila here.
2. On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
This book by St. Bernard of Clairvaux concentrates on love as a powerful force that creates a union between the lover and the beloved. In On Loving God, St. Bernard of Clairvaux explains the four stages of love that bring a person into a closer relationship with Christ. The fourth and final stage of love is love of oneself for God’s sake. In this stage, a person is perfectly selfless and totally dedicated to accomplishing the will of God.
St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s book will help you to surrender yourself totally to God through intimate personal union with Him.
Read a free pdf of On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux here.
3. The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena
In this work, St. Catherine, a 14th-century mystic, records her conversations with God. Of particular focus in this work is divine love, which the saint describes as a boundless love that seeks the salvation of souls and the transformation of hearts. Included in this book are St. Catherine’s visions of heaven, hell, and purgatory.
Read The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena to encounter God through the eyes of a saint who saw Him as merciful, forgiving, and always desiring to draw nearer to His creation.
Read a free pdf of The Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena here.
4. Treatise on the Love of God by St. Francis de Sales
In this 17th-century work by St. Francis de Sales, the saint advises his reader on how to how to grow in love for God, who is love Himself. All aspects of one’s life, St. Francis de Sales teaches, should seek Him whose love is infinite and unconditional. A person can do this though acts of selfless service as well as an intimate prayer life.
Turn to St. Francis de Sales if you want to know how you can better love your Lord.
Read a free pdf of Treatise on the Love of God by St. Francis de Sales here.
5. Cleaving to God by St. Albert the Great
The theme of this medieval work is intimate union with God. St. Albert the Great, a renowned theologian, calls his reader to a closer relationship with the divine. Though St. Albert the Great was an academic, he teaches that union with God is relational rather than intellectual.
Allow the wisdom of this saint to bring you further in your spiritual journey.
