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Fr. Ted Stylianopoulos' Top Picks

French, R. M. The Way of a Pilgrim. 2nd Triangle ed ed. London: Triangle, 1995.

(Several translations in existence). A simple but profoundly deep and captivating story of a pious Russian pilgrim who learns the Jesus Prayer and the astonishing inner transformation that occurs with its sincere and diligent practice. The pilgrim's humble hut becomes like a royal palace to him. Whomever he meets on the road, he loves as a brother and sister.. The Jesus Prayer shows him here on earth, the mystery of personal salvation, the sweetness and glory of heaven.

Siluan, and Sofroniæi. Wisdom from Mount Athos : The Writings of Starets Silouan, 1866-1938. Revised ed ed. London: Mowbrays, 1974.

Short chapters on various topics, such as the knowledge of God, love, prayer, humility, peace and grace, spiritual warfare by a humble and charismatic saint who spent his life working in the monastery's flour mill and kitchen.

Dorotheus. Discourses and Sayings, Cistercian Studies Series ; No. 33. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Cistercian Publications, 1977.

A studious monastic alert to the many lessons of real life such as, when swimming or having difficulties in life, you don't always have to smash into the waves, but can also dive under them and let them pass. Dorotheos provides crystal clear instructions on such topics as humility, conscience, anger, falsehood, and dealing with temptations with calmness and with gratitude.

Ilarion, and Kallistos Ware. The Spiritual World of Isaac the Syrian, Cistercian Studies Series ; No. 175. Kalamazoo, Mich.: Cistercian Publications, 2000.

Readers will find here one of the most remarkable saints, a singer of the love and mercy of God, who incomparably speaks of the trials and progress in spiritual life. St. Isaac teaches that heaven and hell are spiritual realities already embracing life on earth. Heaven is the love of God. Hell is being in the darkness of evil passions and the Devil. In the afterlife, hell is not a geographic place of punishments that God has prepared but rather the inability and psychic anguish by not sharing in the radiant love of God. Because of God's unconditional and fathomless love, St. Isaac dares to say, all of God's fallen creatures, perhaps even the Devil and his angels, after an incredibly long time of psychic suffering, repentance and cleansing by their own free will, will be redeemed. God is all-loving and all-powerful. His plan of salvation for the whole world, His own creation, will not be thwarted by the power of evil but will find triumphal fulfillment.