Prayers, Promises, and Devotions for the Holy Souls in Purgatory by Susan Tassone

If you are looking for wisdom on the Church’s teaching about how we should pray for those who have died, and what the saints believed about the purification we receive to prepare us for heaven, you will do well to read this powerful little book by Susan Tassone, an expert on the holy souls and purgatory. Filled with prayers, novenas, and suggestions about how best to intercede for our deceased friends and families, this book will open your eyes to the ways that God works outside of time to extend mercy to all.  

Recommended for those interested in learning more about Purgatory, and anyone feeling drawn to intercede for those who have died.

Abandonment to Divine Providence by Jean-Pierre de Caussade

Father de Caussade’s classic Abandonment to Divine Providence may have first appeared in the 19th century, but it is part of a timeless call to a spirituality of trust which rewards all those who embrace it. Compiled after de Caussade’s death, it draws on the notes and letters of a convent of French Visitation nuns whom he directed for several years.

De Caussade’s message is simple. “You are seeking for secret ways of belonging to God, but there is only one: making use of whatever he offers you,” he says. To do that we need to surrender ourselves to “the duty of the present moment.” 

The book is an antidote to the temptation to be always evaluating or critiquing how well we are doing spiritually. Time and time again we are reminded that it is God who will accomplish our holiness, not us, if we will just trust Him without reservation.  

Recommended for all those who have come to realize their “mission” may be to quietly and faithfully love God in an ordinary life.

Jesus Shock by Peter Kreeft

A frank, thought-provoking, and dynamic exploration of the difference that Jesus’ coming to earth made and should make to humanity. Each “part” of this book reads like the transcript of a lecture from your favorite professor. Kreeft goes to the heart of the gospel, peeling off the layers of familiarity to reveal the shocking impact of what Jesus said and did. Possibly the best and most unexpected turn this book takes, however, is Kreeft’s wonderful explanation of the biggest “shock” Jesus gives us: his real presence in the Eucharist.

Recommended for all those who have wondered why bringing up the name of Jesus in conversation causes embarrassment, and for anyone who wrestles with the claim that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.