writing: meditate on it day and night.

Meditate on It Day and Night – Catholic Stand (April 2025)

Let not the book of this law depart from thy mouth: but thou shalt meditate on it day and night, that thou mayst observe and do all things that are written in it: then shalt thou direct thy way, and understand it (Joshua 1:8, RHE).

I converted to Christianity in 2014 and to the Catholic Faith in 2019. After I became a Christian, I was thrilled. In the beginning, I never thought difficulties would arise and I simply thought I would always just stay a Christian. I did not know anything about suffering or spiritual warfare. However, I soon discovered that reading spiritual books were powerful tools to help me thrive while facing difficult times.

Once I was in the Catholic Faith, I found it to be very intellectual. Previously, I was very focused on prayer and I loved listening to worship music; I was very focused on the creative side of Christianity. Now as a new Catholic, I realized there were a lot of educational materials I had to read to simply enter the Church. It was only through reading Catholic catechisms and spiritual books that I found myself wanting to stay Catholic for the rest of my life. 

All of us experience some sort of suffering in life. Perhaps we are all of a sudden faced with a challenge within our family. Maybe we are having a crisis within a marriage. Maybe we are not being treated well by our boss or maybe a close relative has a fatal illness. These are the times when we come to a crossroad. The road splits in two and we have to choose which way to take. We can go to the left and get lost in the obstacles and the adversities or we can go to the right and throw ourselves into the arms of God, begging Him to help us. 

How can we prevent ourselves from going in the wrong direction? How can we make sure in these challenging and onerous moments where we can hardly think, that we go on the right path? How can we make sure we automatically turn to God with each predicament which arises?

One of the ways I have found to stay strong in the Catholic Faith, even in the midst of difficulties, is to read the Bible, Catholic catechisms, and spiritual books written directly by the saints or about the saints. These books have strengthened my faith. 

When I first read the Catechism, I realized the truth of the Catholic Faith. I realized everything I was reading in the catechisms was directly related to the Bible and they do not contradict each other. I felt relieved and consoled. It was really comforting to feel as though I did not have to do any work myself and I could rely on the Church and trust Her. I was excited that I did not have to figure out the “right way” all on my own because it was already set for me.

In the Catholic Faith, all I had to do was follow it; I did not have to discover anything for myself. I felt relieved and freed from a burden. I did not fully know it, but previously, I had felt burdened with the weight of constantly making sure I was walking in the right way and trying to figure it out myself but now as a Catholic, I loved how the Catholic catechisms were so clear and all I had to do was follow what was already set for me. All the sins were clearly written; I could stop writing all the sins I found in the Bible myself to try to figure out which sins to avoid. I had everything clearly laid out right in front of me already in the catechisms and other instructional materials. What a joy.

Personally, I found it very helpful to first read The Catechism Explained by Fr. Spirago. Then, I also chose to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the Catechism of the Council of Trent. This was after reading the Bible fully, but you could start with either one of the catechisms or the Bible. I loved reading the catechisms.

I appreciated The Catechism Explained by Spirago because it is traditional and I found everything it said was similar to what the Bible said. I was also pleased with the Catechism of the Catholic Church and was in love with the in-depth descriptions of each sin and how it discussed the virtues in detail. I learned a substantial amount about living a virtuous life (part three was very interesting and impressive to me and something I did not find as much in other catechisms). When reading the Catechism of the Catholic Church, I felt very freed when reading the chapters on social life and social justice. Having been a psychology major, I found it fascinating to learn how beautifully the Catholic Faith supports the respect for the human person. I also enjoyed reading the Catechism of the Council of Trent and adored how strongly it supports the Bible.

Along with the Catechism, I also found it necessary to read the Bible. Personally, I found it very helpful to read different Catholic translations of the Bible. I found the translations were similar enough and I began to really trust the Bible. I had previously read non-Catholic translations of the Bible; once I became a Catholic, I found the translations are all really similar with one another and do not differ too much. I love the Douay-Rheims translation, but I really enjoy any Catholic translation of the Bible. The Bible, in fact, is my favorite book. I find it important and valuable to read the Bible because you can see for yourself what the catechisms are talking about. When you are reading the Bible, you realize, “oh, the Catechism talks about that!” Or, when you read the Catechism, you realize, “oh, this is in the Bible!” It really strengthens and reinforces one’s faith. One starts to realize how sturdy the Catholic Faith is and that it will not fall through if you stand on it.

Lastly, I found it very helpful to read books written by the saints. These types of books inspired my spirit and filled me with inspiration and encouragement. I felt like a little child reading about miracles, learning about all the possibilities that exist with God! It was all so marvelous and enchanting. The books by the saints fill me with joy and excite me to live out my Catholic Faith. I especially loved reading the ones that go into detail about all the healings and miracles. I found these books really enhanced my Catholic Faith and my general faith in God. I became a stronger believer of God!

Finding good books about the saints or by the saints is really personal: I recommend looking through different books from the saints and seeing which one calls you. For me, I really was moved by St. Gerard Majella: The Wonder-Worker and Patron of Expectant Mothers, by Fr. Edward Saint-Omer, C.S.S.R. This book is filled with miracles and I continue to read this often to strengthen my spirit. Other books I enjoyed about the saints were: The Life of St. Francis, by St. Bonaventure, The Desert Fathers, by Benedicta Ward, St. Anthony of the Desert, by St. Athanasius, The Story of a Soul, by St. Therese of Lisieux, The Practice of the Presence of God, by Brother Lawrence, Divine Mercy Diary, by St. Faustina, St. Kateri Tekakwitha’s biography, and Forty Dreams of St. John Bosco, by St. John Bosco. These were really moving and heartrending books that personally changed my life and filled me with excitement to not only be a Catholic, but to stay a strong and life-filled Catholic.

If I had not read any of these Catholic books, I would not even know that the Catholic Church is the true church. I might have even fall away from Christianity as a whole, since I did not know much about it! Difficulties arise very quickly and all of a sudden you do not have time to start learning about the Catholic Faith. Thus, it is important to pick up a Catholic book now, so when the time of extreme difficulty and suffering comes, you are very ready.

Instead of turning to the left through confusion, you turn to the right and throw yourself into prayer. Instead of not going to Mass anymore, you will desire to go to daily Mass. Instead of going into confusion, you will throw yourself into praying the rosary and meditating on the mysteries! Instead of not going to the Sacrament of Confession anymore, you will be eager to go weekly to keep yourself strong in God. Instead of turning to sin in times of difficulty, you recognize that your strength comes from God and you work towards staying in a state of grace and receiving frequent Holy Communion.

After years of learning about the Catholic Faith, I find I am much stronger. When temptations come to go into this and that other way, I choose to stay Catholic. When I hear about some who go into New Age or occult practices, such as alternative healing or psychic readings, I already know to stay away from those evils. When spiritual warfare tries to get me to turn away from Christianity completely, I turn away from those evil temptations and throw myself even more into God. When sin looks me in the face, I look away in disgust and delve deeper into the eyes of God.

I specifically would recommend reading a few different Catholic catechisms, one Catholic Bible, and a few different inspirational books about the saints. I very much would recommend reading books which are written by the saints themselves or famous books about the saints that many have agreed are reliable sources.

 These educational materials, combined with Sunday Mass and the Sacraments, really help us to be stout and strong in our Catholic Faith and help us get closer to God. Instead of our minds turning to the things of the world, we find ourselves meditating on the things of God. Instead of standing in puzzlement, we are able to use Scripture and other Catholic resources to live full Catholic lives in a state of grace and we are able to even defend our Faith.

All Scripture, inspired of God, is profitable to teach, to reprove, to correct, to instruct in justice: That the man of God may be perfect, furnished to every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17, RHE).