Yale University Library Research Guides: Practical Theology: Classic Spiritual Texts

Subject Headings

A Companion to Medieval Rules and Customaries (Online) by Krijn Pansters (Editor) An introduction to the Rules and Customaries of the main religious Orders in Medieval Europe: Benedictine, Cistercian, Carthusian, Augustinian, Premonstratensian, Templar, Hospitaller, Teutonic, Dominican, Franciscan, and Carmelite.
The Rule of Benedict for Beginners by Wil Derkse; Martin Kessler (Translator) A useful source of life orientation and lifestyle for those interested in living by the Rule. It applies the monastic vows to life within organizations and examines the valuable elements of Benedictine leadership and Benedictine time management.
The Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius by Pierre Wolff (Commentaries by, Translator) A modern American translation of the Latin text recognized by the Vatican as the official version & preferred by Ignatius to the two Spanish texts used by other translators.

Honey and Salt: Selected Spiritual Writings of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux by St. Bernard An original selection for the general reader of Bernard's sermons, treatises, and letters that focus on spirituality.
The Interior Castle by Teresa of Avila; Mirabai Starr A translation of the classic spiritual work is based on the author's mystical vision of a crystal castle with seven chambers, each representing a different stage in a soul's quest for union with God.
John of the Cross: Selected Writings by Kieran Kavanaugh (Editor, Introduction by)
Letters of Spiritual Direction by Francis de Sales
Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich A classic of Medieval religious literature and of Christian spirituality by Julian of Norwich.
The Way of Perfection by Teresa of Avila Teresa discusses the three essentials of a prayer-filled life: fraternal love, detachment from material things, and true humility. The book develops these ideas and takes up directly the matters of prayer and contemplation.

Classics of Western Spirituality (Series) A series published by Paulist Press since 1978, which offers a library of historical texts on Christian spirituality as well as a representative selection of works on Jewish, Islamic, Sufi and Native American spirituality.
Vintage Spiritual Classics Series Includes selected writings from famed spiritual writers in Christianity, mostly from the West.

The Desert Fathers: Sayings of the Early Christian Monks by Benedicta Ward (Translator, Introduction by) Organized around key themes--Charity, Fortitude, Lust, Patience, Prayer, Self-control, and Visions.
Ephrem the Syrian by Kathleen E. McVey (Translator, Introduction by)
The Life of Antony of Egypt by Athanasius Athanasius, one of the most influential church fathers in history, records in his Life of Antony of Egypt the story of another extremely influential figure of early Christianity. In these pages we read of St. Antony's early life, his retreat into the desert and his famous spiritual battles.
The Life of Moses by Gregory of Nyssa

Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life by Richard Rohr Seeks to help readers understand the tasks of the two halves of life and to show them that those who have fallen, failed, or "gone down" are the only ones who understand "up."
Ministry and Spirituality by Henri J. M. Nouwen Three classic works by Henri Nouwen brought together in one edition.
Soul Feast: An Invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson Offering a framework for understanding the spiritual disciplines and instruction for developing and nurturing those practices, “Soul Feast” is a classic in spiritual formation.
The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard Reveals how the key to self-transformation resides in the practice of the spiritual disciplines, and how their practice affirms human life to the fullest.