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The Spiritual Life

Even the consideration of religious conversion can bring with it tremendous spiritual challenges. As you explore the Catholic Church, we want to help you stay steeped in prayer and growing in your spiritual walk with Christ.

“It was about a year and a half ago that we converted, and I feel that it’s all thanks to the great spiritual directors we had in our life.”

– Jenna Wilber, Wife, Mother, Former Evangelical Protestant

Start with prayer.

This is the heart of the spiritual life and this journey is an opportunity to grow in reliance on Our Lord through prayer.

But we also want to pray for you! Use our contact form to make an anonymous prayer request or — even better — join the Coming Home Network and let us know how we can be praying for you.

“You say that you don’t know how to pray? Put yourself in the presence of God, and once you have said, ‘Lord, I don’t know how to pray!’ rest assured that you have begun to do so.”

– St Josemaria Escriva

Why Develop a Catholic Devotional Life?

In making the journey to the Catholic Church, it’s easy to be confused or overwhelmed by the sheer number and variety of Catholic devotions. Have you ever wondered how many rosaries a day you need to recite to be a good Catholic? Or how many novenas you need to pray in order to be granted a petition? How do you pick and choose what devotions to “make your own”? We encourage you to prayerfully discern God’s leading in this area of your life and focus on devotions that are particularly meaningful to you and that you find yourself attracted towards.

On the page linked below we have collected some resources introducing you to five of the most common Catholic devotions: Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, the Divine Mercy, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the Novena. May the Lord lead as you move forward with developing a Catholic devotional life.  

Attend a CHN Retreat.

Get together with the CHN staff, other converts, and those considering becoming Catholic for a few days of intense prayer, warm fellowship, and deep discussion. Visit our retreats page to learn more about available dates and locations.


Learn More

"I just knew that I needed to be here and to be a part of this group. I just had this feeling that something was going to happen, and it really was just a shot in the arm to keep going, to go forward."

Susan B.

"I had hopes that I would meet people I could fellowship with. What I was blown away with, and really what I'm taking away from here is something deeper.... I'm talking about people who were together for three days and all of a sudden we're leaving as family."

Tony F.

“A highlight for me was hearing from other people who’d had similar experiences, and knowing that God had called me in the same way that he’d called other people.”

Beverly W.

"The Holy Spirit just works when you get together a group of on fire Christians who are at a couple interesting places of their spiritual journey, some of them considering the Catholic Church and maybe feeling convicted to become Catholic and some who've made that journey before..."

JonMarc G.

"What I was able to glean was that no matter where you're at, the Coming Home Network staff and the people around you were able to meet you at that place and take you further along, and all with Christ's love. I would say, don't wait, don't hesitate, do it yesterday."

Tony F.

Discover the treasure.

Those on a journey to the Catholic Church often focus only on the doctrinal issues and miss entirely the vast treasure of Catholic spiritual teaching and practice. Begin to explore it!

  Recommended Videos

  Recommended Books

Navigating the Interior Life: Spiritual Direction and the Journey to God

by Dan Burke and Fr. John Bartunek

What keeps me from all the spiritual riches Christ has for me? What are my “blind spots” in the life of virtue and how can I uncover them? This book will give you the tools you need to understand how and why we grow and die in the spiritual life and what we can do about it.

The Way

by St. Josemaria Escriva

Since this classic of Christian formation and direction was first published in 1939, more than four and a half million copies of The Way have been sold in forty-three different languages. In this book the reader essentially has one of the greatest saints of the 20th century as his or her own personal spiritual director, giving specific guidance in every area of life.

Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within

by Thomas Dubay S.M.

Here is a sure guide for Christians who are considering spiritual direction or who are already engaged in the process. Fr. Dubay explains what spiritual direction is, the qualities to look for in a good spiritual director, the process of finding a director, ways to develop a deeper prayer life, and how to continue growing when your enthusiasm wears thin.

The Way of Perfection

by St Teresa of Avila

Of all of Teresa of Avila’s works, The Way of Perfection is the most easily understood. Written at the height of the controversy surrounding the reforms Teresa instituted in the Carmelite order, it instructed the nuns in the practice of prayer. Teresa discusses the three essentials of a prayer-filled life — fraternal love, detachment from material things, and true humility. Her counsels on these are the fruit of her practical experience.

Ascent to Mount Carmel

by St. John of the Cross

The Ascent of Mount Carmel is the third major work of St. John of the Cross, a Spanish mystic and major figure in the Catholic Reformation in the 16th century. This book is a systematic treatment of the ascetical life in pursuit of mystical union with Christ and is considered to be the introductory work on mystical theology.

Story of a Soul

by St. Therese of Lisieux

Two and a half years before her death in 1897 at the age of 24, as Thérèse Martin began writing down her childhood memories at the request of her blood sisters in the Lisieux Carmel, few could have guessed the eventual outcome. Yet this Story of my soul, first published in 1898 in a highly edited version, quickly became a modern spiritual classic, read by millions and translated into dozens of languages around the world.

Pray. Come on retreat. Explore the riches of Catholic spiritual teaching and practice.

Finally, get into spiritual direction.

“If you ask the pope, he recently said that spiritual direction is for everybody — in particular for those who want to draw closer to God.”

Dan Burke, Author of Navigating the Interior Life

If you’re not sure how, here are some Catholic apostolates that specialize in helping people find spiritual direction.

Spiritual direction has been an experience of deeper fraternity with someone who is further along the pilgrimage than I am. My spiritual director has changed my life by combining his expertise and wisdom with friendship and commiseration. I wouldn't be where I am today without my spiritual director's bringing Christ's love to me in this way.

JHConvert, Catholic Theologian

I am grateful for spiritual direction as it has enabled me to have a personal friendship with God. It has helped me to trust His plan without so many questions. It’s made it easier for me to talk to Him. I’ve found the more we talk the more I want to be in His likeness in what I do and in what I say...

APCradle Catholic, RN

I am a cradle Catholic but I took it all for granted. Once I started to appreciate the faith my mother tried to teach me, I realized how important it is to be more personally connected to Christ. I find that connection through the Eucharist & spiritual direction. My confessions are so much deeper and the fruit of that is a more joyful life. Thank you to my spiritual director for keeping me on my path to righteousness.

BLCradle Catholic, Beautician

The benefits spiritual direction has had on my spiritual growth are numerous. It has helped me to be more accountable in my efforts to grow closer to Jesus Christ, through open and honest discussion about my spiritual life with my spiritual director. Through these discussions, I am guided through assessing where I am in my prayer life, my service to others as well as continuing to learn more about my faith. Spiritual direction has and will continue to play a very important role in my effort to grow ever closer to Jesus Christ.

B. L.Cradle Catholic, Machinist

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