I want to read about getting closer to Christ, but I don't know where to start

Welcome Scialen!!!

I have to say that what to read first is often difficult because a lot of it depends on your personality. Someone with a logical bent might start with St Thomas' Summa but someone with a more emotional/mystical bent might start with St. Faustina's diary.

So I would ask do you prefer logical facts or conceptual ideas?

You have a great list of books there so I don't think you can go wrong. Not sure what your attentiveness to reading long pieces is. I find that a lot of folks try to start large pieces but get bogged down in the language or length of dissertation that many of the writings contain.

The Bible is always my first choice. I would typically start someone with John as he's the most relational of the gospel writers and he is also known as the Apostle of Love. So if anyone will help you get closer to the one who is Love, he will. Then move on to his epistles, then perhaps Peter's. Then I'd hop to Luke and follow that with Acts and the rest of Paul's epistles.

I think the catechism is great but if I were you I'd likely not start there but use it for reference. Again, great for information and some amazing insights but perhaps not a meditative read.

Personally I read the Imitation of Christ as a protestant and it's still on my top recommended books ever! If I were you, I'd put that up alongside the Gospel of John.

I have Cardinal Hume's The Mystery of Love but haven't read it yet...it was recommended to me by a very wise soul though so it must be good!

St. Faustina's Diary might be my next suggestion for you if you are comfortable with mystical writings. I will say that while there are many wonderful snippets in the beginning...you really need to get through the first third to start really "feeling" the message.

From the popes, I would go with Redemptor Hominis then Jesus of Nazareth, then Deus Caritas.

Hope that helps. My personal pick for Saints writings that are both intellectual and emotionally challenging would be St. Alphonsus Ligouri so when you hit the bookstore/library again...check him out.

Don't hesistate to stray down to the main forum of OBOB if you haven't already as there are many folks there that may not come to these sub-forums often but who have great insight.

Some suggestions. Some of which are already on your list.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
The Imitatation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
The Way by St. Josemaria Escriva
On Loving God by St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Seven Storey Mountain by Thomas Merton

Scialen said:

St Faustina's Diary

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Dear Scialen,
I would recommend obtaining St. Faustina's diary, to help you grow in your love of Our Lord. Jesus told her; "In the Old Covenant I sent prophets wielding thunderbolts to My people. Today I am sending you with My mercy to the people of the whole world." (p.1585) Saint Faustina is the prophet of our time. Jesus told her that she was more united to Him than any other creature on the earth, as her love for Our Lord was so great, even during the most painful physical and spiritual trials. Her spirit and will to love and save souls is other-worldy. In just 40 days, she was able to save 1,000 souls, through her love and sacrifice alone. Jesus tells her this. Can you imagine saving 1,000 souls in 40 days, and not preaching a single word? Of all the saints, I believe her diary is the most accessible to all people, and in my opinion, one of the most coherent. I might even go so far as to say that it should be required reading for all Catholics.

Blessings.

Scialen,

You've already got some great books to start with. Imitation of Christ is great, as is the Diary of St. Faustina. Though her diary is very long, it's really worth the read. She is so in love with Jesus it is incredibly inspiring (and at least for me, shines light on how far I have to go in my relationship with Him!). I highly recommend The Practice of the Love of Jesus Christ by St. Alphonsus Liguori too!

That being said, there is nothing more important than reading the Bible everyday, especially the New Testament. It's easy to get caught up in reading about Him, but there is nothing like reading His words directly! Nothing will transform your relationship with Jesus faster than that.

Good luck on your journey! It will be eternally rewarding =)