In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year

by Francisco Fernández-Carvajal

This seven-volume set gives you brief (five to six pages) meditations for every day of the Church's entire liturgical calendar, including feast days and each of the three cycles of Ordinary Time on Sundays. Author Francis Fernandez-Carvajal makes generous use of the writings of the great saints as he brings you focused and moving meditations on themes taken from the Mass readings for that day, the liturgical season, and more. This work is rich and extensive enough to serve as your spiritual reading for a lifetime, as it helps you relate the particulars of the message of Christ to the ordinary circumstances of your day. Each volume is small enough for you to carry it to Adoration or some other suitable place for meditation. The whole set comes with a handsome slipcase that prevents wear-and-tear on the individual volumes.

Genres: Catholic, Religion, Christian, Devotional, Theology, Reference, Spirituality

3800 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1992

About the author

Francisco Fernández-Carvajal, natural de Albolote, Granada, es Licenciado en Historia por la Universidad de Navarra y Doctor en Derecho Canónico por el Angelicum de Roma. Sacerdote de la Prelatura del Opus Dei. Durante más de diez años fue Redactor-Jefe de la revista Palabra.

Es uno de los autores contemporáneos de obras de espiritualidad más conocido.

En Ediciones Palabra ha publicado Hablar con Dios, del que se han editado más de dos millones de ejemplares. Esta gran obra contiene más de quinientas cincuenta meditaciones para cada día del año. Ha sido traducida al inglés, francés, italiano, portugués, alemán, holandés, rumano, eslovaco, checo y polaco. Actualmente se está llevando a cabo la traducción al ruso y al húngaro.

También en esta misma editorial se han publicado -con numerosas reediciones- otras obras suyas: Vida de Jesús, Donde duerme la ilusión (La tibieza), Hijos de Dios (en colaboración con Pedro Beteta), Quédate conmigo, Como quieras Tú (meditaciones sobre la Pasión del Señor), El día que cambié mi vida, Antología de textos para la oración y la predicación, y Para llegar a puerto (El sentido de la ayuda espiritual).

Reviews

[Julie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading this series most mornings for over 20 years and have yet to find a devotional that is better or more complete. Following the daily Mass readings, topics range from the sacraments and virtues to family interaction and friendship. The sensible and down-to-earth writing is enhanced by quotes from saints, elsewhere in the Bible, Church documents, etc. I especially enjoy the fact that this was translated from the original Spanish, meaning that things applying to my daily life and problems are exactly the same things faced by people in Spain, or, indeed, around the world.

Even after so long, there is new food for thought and for "conversation." Also, I realize how much I have been formed as a Catholic by the overall message about living daily life by sharing our small joys and sorrows with Christ. One could do much worse.

[Doreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are my 'mainstay' devotionals.
Each day has about a 3-4 page reading to correspond to the daily scripture readings of the Catholic Church.
Has essential teachings and encouragement for living a faithfilled life in our everyday lives.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best set of daily meditations I have ever used. A nun recommended these to me years ago. I have used them off and on ever since.

[Kari]

This is the set of personal meditation books that are incredible. The meditations coincide with the daily Mass readings and provide realistic and concrete ways to incorporate the Gospel in everyday life. These are a MUST!

[Scott Nvenue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series of Catholic books with thoughts and meditations for each day of the year. Intense! If you want to really understand Catholicism, these are the books to read.

[Joe Serb · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In Conversations with God" is a way to stay connected to God through a short daily meditation on the Bible readings of the day. All 365 days for all three years of the Catholic reading cycle are covered. The beauty of this is that you can take it or leave it on any given day, flip to the appropriate day for the calendar, and begin again. I highly recommend this for anyone, but most especially for any Catholic who is trying to grow in their faith.

[Christopher Floss · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a good devotional to use throughout the year, I'd recommend purchasing one of these books. Each "day" offers three meditations to read based on the scripture readings for the day.

[Colin Mcnamara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole series is probably the best I've ever read.

[Allen Mathew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful testimonies of saints and christian faith...nourished me....read only one volume....tried hard but could not get other 6 volumes!

[Steven R. McEvoy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

Note: I have switched to the eBook editions that are split across 2 volumes for each volume in this set.

[Candise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 2 is still on my night stand as I pour through the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Wonderful and comforting!

[Carollozano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a daily devotion.

[Cherry · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect companion for spiritual reading and reflection all throughout the year. Year after year.

[Leslie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my favorite book for meditations. Each day's reflections are amazingly insightful and are a perfect length. It has a perfect amount of content for self-reflection when I meditate.

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I try to read this every day. It's one of the best reflections I've found on the daily Bible readings* (usually focussed on the daily Gospel) and how to apply them to your everyday life. If you want some practical advice on how to live a Christian life, inspired by the Bible, read these reflections!

There are three short (~2-page) reflections for each day.

*Catholics have a schedule of Scripture readings (the book called the "Lectionary") that are read at Mass on a 3-year cycle for Sundays and a 2-year cycle for other days.

[Jairo Fraga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Livro excelente, meditações bem focadas no nosso dia a dia, com reflexões para crescermos em santidade. Gosto muito de ler paralelamente com outras meditações mais pesadas, como as de Santo Afonso de Ligório, para facilitar um exame mais completo do estado da nossa alma, e do que fazer em termos práticos para amar mais a Deus e buscar o fim último da nossa vida.

Tempo estimado de leitura: 60 horas.

[Romina Bedogni drago · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over twenty years reading these daily meditations. Always relevant, practical and very profound. This book brings together in each daily reflection, the liturgical reading of the day with sound doctrine, teachings from the Saints, and connects it all with our everyday lives and relationships.
A treasure.

[Allison Faugot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Changed my faith life. Made my relationship with Jesus real and action filled. Formed my conscience

[Patrick Wachira · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deep insights into life of and with God

[Robyn Bray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this set is an ongoing process for me. It is a work meant to be read as part of daily prayer and meditation. The richness and depth of its spiritually nourishing content is not absorbable in mass quantity. It must be savored, pondered in one's heart and mind, accepted as a communion of bread and wine, to receive its refreshing and healing properties.

This set is on my "short list" of books and writers who have bottled and administer an infusion of living oil and wine. These range from strongly astringent to the tenderest of offerings. Their common factor is the revelation of Jesus to me, in my life, my own inner being, and in those I encounter along the way.

This list includes:

'My Utmost for His Highest' by Oswald Chambers
Anything by Henry Nouwen
and George MacDonald

There are a few others, but these rank highest on my "stranded on an island" reading material.