Private Revelation Must Reads for Catholics

Private revelation is often a very confusing topic for Christians and especially Catholics. People can easily get caught up in the weeds trying to figure out what is real, who is trustworthy, and what they have time to actually learn about. Many Catholics will steer clear from it all together - focusing on just the tradition and scripture of the Catholic Church. Is this the right way to go? Well, we certainly believe that the private revelations of holy saints and mystics who came before us offer much to gain.

Read this guide to learn about our favorite private revelation books in our collection. These four books are a great starting point for stepping into this area of our Catholic faith.

Prefer to learn about our favorite private revelation books more visually? Watch along as Keevin talks to John, co-owner of Leaflet Missal, about his favorites and the purpose of private revelation.

Author: Sister Josefa Menendez was a Spanish nun who entered a French convent in the 1920s. Her life was marked by extraordinary mystical experiences and profound suffering.

Book Overview: This powerful book recounts Sister Josefa's 100+ visits to hell - not visions...but real visits. Unlike the children of Fatima who were shown visions of hell, Sister Josefa herself actually physically experienced its torments. The book includes her mystical experiences of the pains of hell and how she was able to physically endure it. Her private revelation accounts are both terrifying and enlightening, as she describes feeling truly lost and separated from God during these experiences.

Why read it? No one really desires to read about hell or the devil...so why should you read it? "The Way of Divine Love" emphasizes the importance of joining our sufferings to Christ for the salvation of souls. What better way can we learn this than through the example of a Sister who actually experienced the most terrifying pains and sights imaginable. The book illustrates the immense depths of God's love and the reality of spiritual warfare, encouraging readers to offer their own sufferings for the good of others.

Author: Mary of Ágreda was a 17th-century Conceptionist nun from Spain who lived from 1602 to 1665. People know her for her gift of bilocation and her profound mystical experiences. Stories claim that she even bilocated from Spain to New Mexico, where she taught Native Americans the catechism.

Book Overview: This extensive work, available in both abridged and four-volume versions, contains the private revelations that Mary of Ágreda received from the Blessed Virgin Mary about her life and that of Jesus Christ. The book is renowned for its detailed accounts and spiritual insights.

"The Mystical City of God" offers a unique perspective on the lives of Jesus and Mary, providing readers with a deeper understanding of salvation history and the role of the Blessed Virgin Mary in God's plan.

Author: Anne Catherine Emmerich was a 19th-century Augustinian nun, mystic, and stigmatic who lived from 1774 to 1824 in Germany.

Book Overview: This book, available in abridged, multi-volume, and NEW high quality leatherette versions, contains vivid visions of Christ's passion as experienced by Blessed Anne Catherine. Her detailed accounts of her private revelations offer an intensely emotional and visceral understanding of Jesus' suffering. Mel Gibson used this book, along with "The Mystical City of God," as a source of inspiration for his famous film "The Passion of the Christ."

"The Dolorous Passion" provides readers with a profound meditation on Christ's suffering and death, offering insights that go beyond the Gospel accounts and helping deepen one's appreciation for the sacrifice that Jesus made for each and every one of us.

Anne Catherine Emmerich has written many other books alongside the Dolorous Passion. Browse them all and find something that interests you!

Author: Saint Faustina was a Polish nun who lived from 1905 to 1938. You may know her as the "Apostle of Divine Mercy" due to her visions and conversations with Jesus about His mercy. In 1931, our Lord appeared to her in a vision. In the vision, Jesus was clothed in white. His right hand was raised in blessing and His left touched His garment near His heart. From his heart came two rays of light, one red and the other pale white. Jesus then spoke a message to her to bring His image and message of Divine Mercy to the world.

Book Overview: This diary, titled "Divine Mercy in My Soul," recounts St. Faustina's mystical experiences, including her visions of Jesus, heaven, hell, and purgatory. It emphasizes God's infinite mercy and the importance of trusting in Jesus. The Divine Mercy devotion is very popular now and continues to grow. It includes the Divine Mercy Chaplet and the Divine Mercy Sunday feast. This book is the most complete way to understand this devotion and the message of our Lord. "Divine Mercy in My Soul" encourages readers to trust in God's mercy, no matter how grave their sins, and to extend that mercy to others through prayer and action.

While these books are considered private revelation and are thus not required reading or dogma for Catholics, they offer profound insights into God's love, mercy, and the spiritual realm.

This is very important! Some Catholics can get caught up thinking that these revelations are being forced upon them. That is not the case.

Think of reading private revelation kind of like hiring a coach for something. If you are trying to become better at a sport, learn a hobby, or master a technique, you will likely seek the guidance and example of someone more experienced and successful than you in that area. In a very similar way, we have thousands of saints and other holy men and women in the Catholic Church. Why not at least have an open mind to what these faithful people before us have done or learned?

Whether you're looking to deepen your own faith or searching for a meaningful gift for a loved one, these texts provide ample material for reflection and spiritual growth. Remember that these books are not replacements for Sacred Scripture or Tradition, but they can offer a rich spiritual supplement for the faithful Catholic.