Books That Straightened Out My Life - Part 1 of 3
In 1998 I came back to the Catholic Church after years of living only
for myself. It has been 15 years now that I have been trying to live the
life of a good Catholic. There have been highs and lows, victories and
defeats in this struggle and I am sure there will continue to be until
the end.
I've told my conversion story
over and over to hundreds and I don't plan to do so here. Rather,
inspired, in a way, by the title (I've not yet read the book) of
Benjamin Wilker's new book
10 Books That Screwed Up the World: And 5 Others That Didn't Help I decided to list my own top 10 books. However, if I were writing a book like Mr. Wilker's, it would be titled, 10
Books That Straightened Out My Life: And 5 Others That Helped.
My
conversion started with a book. Of course I never could attribute all
that grace to a single book. When I tell my story I describe all of the
people in my life who were praying for me at the time. I compare that
wellspring of prayer to a giant water-tower being filled with grace. The
book was merely a tool that opened the hardness of my heart and allowed
that grace to flow in.
The book that I read, the one that opened the floodgates of grace was
Pierced by a Sword
by Bud Macfarlane Jr. This book was exactly what I needed at the time.
In it I saw real people struggling with real problems like my own.
However, they dealt with their problems with faith. It wasn't a
super-pious type faith but a real down-to-earth, gritty faith. In this
book I saw that it was possible to live a holy life without constantly
walking around chanting or praying the rosary. In this book I also saw
the power and potential for miracles in everyday life. All the teachings
that had been locked away in some closet, or perhaps a tabernacle, in
my soul came to life once again.
After reading Pierced by a
Sword, I was introduced to C.S. Lewis. All of his works have had a
profound effect on my life and I will mention others later, but none
more than his classic
The Screwtape Letters.
Saint Paul talks about doing what he doesn't want to and not doing what
he wants to and C.S. Lewis tells us who is behind this confusion. This
conversation between a senior devil and his nephew in training gave me
new insight into my own struggles and temptations. I've read it numerous
times since and have gained new insights every time.
Shortly after my return to the Church and to the sacraments I had the opportunity to visit the
Franciscan University of Steubenville
where I was encouraged in my faith life by the love of Christ witnessed
on that campus. I also became interested in St. Francis at that time.
My brother, who was in the seminary at the
Pontifical College Josephium, found a book about St. Francis for me in the library there.
The Perfect Joy of Saint Francis
by Felix Timmerman introduced me to the life and spirituality of St.
Francis and I was inspired. In fact, I gave away many of my possessions
and desired to live a more simple life. I moved out of a trailer that I
was renting with a friend and found a simple apartment in town away from
the partying and garbage that goes with it.
Living on my own
away from the partying gave me more time to read. At a Catholic
bookstore in the neighboring town I found one of the most powerful books
written in the area of spirituality. This book, like The Screwtape
Letters, is one that should be read over and over.
Abandonment to Divine Providence
by Jean Pierre de Caussade is a book that can change the way you see
God and the world. It is also like having a spiritual director close by
for all occasions. After reading Abandoment I really began to discern my
vocation.
As it turns out, my vocation was to the married life. God revealed this to me through the life and witness of my future wife's
grandfather.
During our courtship and engagement I was introduced to the Catholic
author Louis de Wohl. I have never read a book by de Wohl that I didn't
like. Most of his works are historical novels about saints and their
lives.
The Golden Thread
is a novel about Saint Ignatius of Loyola that not only turned me on to
writing but to Ignatian spirituality. Louis de Wohl is a master of
writing wonderful stories that bring the saints to life in your heart.
After reading The Golden Thread I felt like a friend of Saint Ignatius
and I believe we still are.
10 Books That Straightened Out My Life - Part 2
Comments
I also love to hear people's stories of how they have come to the faith. Whether dramatic or subtle, it is so great to see how God works in people's lives!