In Conversation with God: Complete Set v. 1-7: Meditations for Each Day of the Year [Paperback]

This is an amazing Catholic meditation and daily reflection series. The seven volumes have daily readings for each day of the church year as well as volume 6 & 7 being special Feast Days. The readings draw heavily upon the writings of Josemaria Escriva the founder of Opus Dei, Pope John Paul II, and the daily readings from the common liturgy for that day. The Sundays have three sets of readings depending on if we are in year A, B, or C in the church readings. These devotions are all about 6 pages long and divided into 3 sections. They can be read all as a lump or part in the morning, midday and evening. I find that with every day there is so much meat in these devotions that I am already planning on reading them again next year.

"We have a duty to rest. Resting in order to serve God and other people better.

We should learn to rest. If we can avoid becoming totally exhausted we should not fail to do so. God wants us to look after our health, and to know how to recover our strength. It is part of the fifth commandment. We need to rest in order to be fit, to restore lost energy, and so that our work may be all the more effective. Above all, we need it so as to serve God and other people better."

Francis Fernandez

In Conversation With God Volume #3 p.217

"For this reason asking advice about reading is an important part of the virtue of prudence, very especially if it is a question of theological or philosophical books, which can radically affect our formation and even our faith itself. How important it is to be right about books! It is still more important to consult our spiritual director about books specifically destined to aid the formation of our soul."

Francis Fernandez

In Conversation With God - Volume #3 p.117

Are but two samplings of what I have already copied out into my journal this year. There is a complete subject, and biblical reference index in volume 7, unfortunately the earlier volumes indexes only go as far as that volume #. The indexes are subject, and reference quoted by church Fathers, Popes and Saints. These books will draw anyone deeper into a faith and a life of action based upon that faith.

I have been an avid reader of Catholic literature for the past twenty years, and have easily read hundreds of Catholic books. In the early years of this period I tended to focus on books about devotional practices (e.g. rosary), Mary, apparitions and the saints. Over time, I found myself not so much interested in abandoning these topics but wanting to build upon them with readings that also dealt with progress in the spiritual life, particularly those that seemed to understand human psychology and the various aspects of virtues required for advancement in the spiritual life. So few writers seemed to be able to provide such a comprehensive range of themes - Garrigou Lagrange's Three Ages of the Interior Life is an exception. I must confess that over this entire time I have been attracted to finding a single book or single multi-volume work that could meet all of my needs. I must say that the 7 volume In Conversation with God series has meet and exceeded this need.

Never before have I encountered a work such as this - in fact I am only aware of one other work (Divine Intimacy new and old versions) that attempted to provide readings matched to liturgical three year cycle at this depth. Over 3300 pages long, at least 6 pages devoted to each day of the year, this work far exceeds Divine Intimacy, is easy to read, contains about every aspect of the faith you could possible consider (sacraments, virtues, Catholic teachings, four last things, spiritual progression, pursuing perfection in the ordinary state of life, Most Blessed Trinity, life of Christ, Mary, prayer, the Church, rosary, the lives of the saints, angels, apparitions, etc...), repeats themes over the entire series (for example, the Most Holy Eucharist or Mary are not treated just in one chapter - but has dozens of chapters devoted to these themes plus they appear in many other chapters), has two volumes that deal with special feast days, is entirely faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church (does not water down in the slightest) yet written in the most gentle and encouraging tone reminiscent of St. Francies de Sales, Alphonsus de Ligouri or Garrigou Lagrange, and pecularily able to appeal to both the beginner and the advanced or the perfect, to those who are Catholic to the core to those distant from the Church. Additionally these books are filled with passages from the bible (matching the liturgical readings of the day), each pages is laced with the hundreds of quotes found throughout the book from beloved saints, popes and other popular Catholic figures.

Never has the gospels been explained so beautifully. This is a work you will treasure each day of your life - and given the size and power of the texts, you will never tire of dipping into this work each day of your life. This work is destined to be a masterpiece of the Catholic Church, and a powerful instrument in encouraging souls in renewing their relationship with God, continuing in the daily struggle of life, responding to the grace of God and attaining perfection in the spiritual life.

You will simply never find such a series of books again - rich in quotations from saints and popes, you will find within these pages the beauty of God.

This set is a timeless classic. I'd hate to begin to describe it in words. The meditations are based on the Daily Readings from the Mass. It offers excellent insights for anyone who's serious about deepening their faith and tranforming everyday life into prayer and growing in holiness. You'll be in sync with the Church's liturgical year and you'll gain an in-depth knowlegde of Church's teaching and virtue. I've used it for 3 years now and I HIGHLY recommend it.