Recommended Books for Ongoing Formation and Personal Reading

Phase 3

Formation is a lifelong process which involves individuals at every level and stimulates their conversion; in other words, it is a radical re-orientation and a progressive transformation of their selves and of their relationships with others and with God.

Carmelite Formation: A Journey of Transformation

Selection Criteria

  • For a book to be acceptable for ongoing formation It needs to be approved Carmelite literature, a Carmelite author or published by a Carmelite Publishing House (such as ICS), or specifically approved.
  • The following lists are a sampling of recommended books for ongoing formation and for personal reading.
  • In general, history books or biographical books do not lend themselves to ongoing formation discussion.
  • Keep in mind that one of the reasons for ongoing formation is to direct you on the Carmelite journey with ideas on how to delve deeper in to the Carmelite charism and spirituality.

The titles below have been checked, and all are currently available. Simply search the author/title on the internet (using Google, Bing, or your favorite search engine) and you will be directed to available resources to obtain the book. Please keep in mind that availability does change over time.

Carmelite Websites

Some available Carmelite websites. Please try and support Carmelite sources, if possible.

Books for Ongoing Formation

Revised January 2020; books listed by author’s last name. Download Here

Authors — B
  • Bergstrom-Allen, Johan, editor — Climbing the Mountain
  • Borriello, Luigi, OCD — Spiritual Doctrine of Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity
  • Brandsma, Titus, O. Carm. — Carmelite Mysticism Historical Sketches
  • Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection — Practice of the Presence of God
  • Burrows, Ruth
    • Ascend to Love; the Spiritual Teaching of St. John of the Cross
    • Essence of Prayer
    • Interior Castle Explored
Authors — C
  • Chalmers, Joseph, O. Carm.
    • Carmel — School of Prayer
    • In Allegiance of Jesus Christ
    • Mary the Contemplative
    • Let It Be: Praying the Scriptures in Company with Mary, the Mother of Jesus
Authors — D
  • De Meester, Conrad, OCD — With Empty Hands — the Message of St. Thérèse
  • Dent, Barbara — My Only Friend is Darkness: Living the Night with St. John of the Cross
  • Doohan, Leonard — The Contemporary Challenge of St. John of the Cross
Authors — E
  • Egan, Keith, TOC — Carmelite Prayer: A Tradition for the 21st Century
Authors — F
  • Foley, Marc, OCD, editor
    • The Ascent to Joy: John of the Cross, Selected Spiritual Writings
    • Ascent of Mt. Carmel, Reflections by St. John of theCross
    • The Context of Holiness: Psychological and Spiritual
    • Reflections on the Life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
    • The Love that Keeps Us Sane: Living the Little Way of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
    • The Story of a Soul
Authors — H
  • Hardy, Richard — John of the Cross: Man and Mystic
  • Healy, Killian, O. Carm.
    • Awakening Your Soul to the Presence of God
    • Prophet of Fire
Authors — K
  • Kinn, James — The Practice of Contemplation According to John of the Cross
  • Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD
    • The Interior Castle; A Study Edition
    • John of the Cross, Doctor of Light and Love
    • Way of Perfection, Study Guide
Authors — L
  • Laforest, Ann, OCD — The Way to Love, Thérèse of Lisieux
Authors — M
  • Matthew, Lain, OCD
    • The Impact of God
    • The Dark Night: Psychological Experience & Spiritual Reality
  • McGreal, Wilfrid, O. Carm.
    • At the Fountain of Elijah
    • The Gospel Sustains Me
  • McMahon, Patrick, O. Carm. — A Pattern for Life, The Rule of St. Albert and the Carmelite Laity
  • Moorcroft, Jennifer — He is My Heaven; Life of Elizabeth of the Trinity
  • Muto, Susan — Twelve Little Ways to Transform Your Heart
Authors — O
  • O’Donnell, Christopher, O. Carm.
    • Love in the Heart of the Church; the Mission of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
    • Prayer: Insights from St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • O’Keefe, Mark, OSB — The way of Transformation: St. Teresa of Avila on the Foundation and Fruit of Prayer (ICS)
  • O’Sullivan, Tracy, O.Carm.
    • Pilgrimage to God
    • Been There Already
    • Evangelization & Contemplation
Authors — S
  • Schmidt, Joseph F.
    • The Gospel According to St. Thérèse — A Faith Sharing Guide
    • Everything is Grace: The Life and Way of Thérèse of Lisieux
    • Walking the Little Way of Thérèse of Lisieux: Discovering the Path of Love
  • Seelaus, Vilma, OCD — Distractions in Prayer: Blessing or Curse? St. Teresa of Avila’s Teachings in The Interior Castle
  • Simsic, Wayne
    • The Inward Path to God
    • Seeking the Beloved: Prayer Journey with St. John of the Cross
  • Slattery, Peter, O. Carm. — St. John of the Cross
Authors —V
  • Valabek, Redemptus, O. Carm.
    • Essays on Titus Brandsma
    • Prayer Life in Carmel
Authors —W
  • Welch, John, O. Carm. —
    • Carmel Notes; St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross, St. Thérèse of Lisieux
    • The Carmelite Way
    • Seasons of the Heart

Books for Personal Reading

This list was revised January 2020. Download Here

  • Ackerman, Jane — Elijah, Prophet of Carmel
  • Alvarez, Tomas, OCD/Domingo, Fernando, OCD — The Divine Adventure
  • Baudouin-Croix, Marie — Leonie Martin: A Difficult Life
  • Boaga, Emanuele, O. Carm. — The Lady of the Place
  • Carmelite Media — The Carmelite NGO: Meeting the People in the Marketplace
  • Cutri, Sr. Mary Paul, OCD — Sounding Solitude
  • Dacha DiarVelasco, Balbino, O. Carm. — St. John of the Cross – His Origins
  • deMeester, Conrad — Your Presence is My Joy; Life and Message of Elizabeth of the Trinity
  • Dolle, Constant — Encountering God in the Abyss
  • Foley, Marc, OCD — St. Teresa of Avila, Book of Her Foundations
  • Gaucher, Guy — John and Thérèse: Flames of Love, The Influences of St. John of the Cross in the Life and Writings of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • Glueckert, Leopold, O. Carm. — Desert Springs in the City: a Concise History of the Carmelites
  • Kieran Kavanaugh, OCD
    • Collected Works of John of the Cross
    • Collected Works of St. Teresa of Avila, Vol. 1, 2, 3
  • Mangin, Helene — The Extraordinary Parents of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
  • Martin, Louis and Zelie — Call to a Deeper Love: Correspondence between Zelie and Louis Martin
  • McGreal, Wilfred, O.Carm. — At the Fountain of Elijah: The Carmelite Tradition
  • Medwick, Cathleen — Teresa of Avila: The Progress of a Soul
  • Miller, Charles — Together in Prayer: Learning to Love the Liturgy of the Hours
  • Moorcroft, Jennifer — God is All Joy: Life of St. Teresa of the Andes
  • O’Sullivan, Tracy, O. Carm. — Praying Our Way Toward Wholeness
  • Steggink, Otger, O. Carm. — Introduction to the Dwelling Places of the Interior Castle of St. Teresa of Avila
  • Payne, Steven, OCD, editor — The Carmelite Tradition
  • Ribot, Felip, O. Carm. — Book of the First Monks
  • Snow, Glenn, O.Carm. — Foundation Stones: A Primer in Carmelite History and Charism
  • Stein, Edith (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross)
    • The Mystery of Christmas — Incarnation and Humanity
    • The Hidden Life
    • The Science of the Cross
  • Tijhuis Raphael, O. Carm. — Nothing Can Stop God from Reaching Us — Survivor’s Diary
  • Valabek, Redemptus, O. Carm. — Mary, Mother of Carmel, Vol. 1 and 2
  • Von Balthasar, Hans — Two Sisters in the Spirit: Thérèse of Lisieux and Elizabeth of the Trinity
  • Welch, John, O. Carm. — When Gods Die