Two Books for Catholics with Anxiety

Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur recommends two books to help Catholics who suffer from anxiety.

I’ve struggled with depression and anxiety most of my life, but I find I am having more difficulty with anxiety as I age. I am thankful to have recently come across two Catholic resources to help with the challenge of trusting in God more and worrying less. 

A Clinical, Practical, and Spiritual Look at Anxiety 

Anxiety: A Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear

By Art Bennett, Laraine Bennett, and Lianna Bennett Haidar

Published by Sophia Institute Press

Anxiety: A Catholic Guide to Freedom from Worry and Fear by Art Bennett, Laraine Bennett, and Lianna Bennett Haidar explores anxiety from a clinical and spiritual perspective and offers practical ways to allay it. The three authors bring a wealth of knowledge to this task, including having sometimes experienced anxiety themselves. Art Bennett is a licensed marriage and family therapist. His wife, Larraine, has a master’s degree in philosophy and has co-authored several books with her husband on the temperaments. Their daughter, Dr. Lianna Bennett Haidar, is a clinical psychologist and Catholic therapist.  

The authors define anxiety as a “feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about a future threat; we can distinguish it from fear, which is the response to a real or perceived imminent threat” (7). If you experience anxiety, you are not alone. “One out of three people will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder at some point in their life” (10). Even saints, such as Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, have suffered from anxiety. Some people seemed to be more hard-wired for worry than others. But Scripture tells us not to be anxious and anxiety is certainly not good for our mental and physical well-being, so what is an anxious person to do? 

Anxiety offers practical help for those who experience anxiety, including suggestions for those who suffer from scrupulosity, which the authors describe as a “phobia concerning sin” (127). They focus on mindfulness as well as eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) as ways to retrain the brain. They mention that there are many other therapies to manage anxiety, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, cognitive processing therapy, internal family systems, and emotion-focused therapy, but Dr. Lianna Bennett Haidar focuses on EMDR in her practice, so that is what is covered extensively in this book. While EMDR and other therapies should be pursued in a therapist’s office, being more mindful of the present moment and focusing on gratitude instead of worrying about the future is a tactic all of us can use at any time to help alleviate our anxiety.  

Anxiety also includes a beautiful Litany of Consolation by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P., that offers a beautiful way to pray for peace and focus on Jesus’ love in the midst of mental difficulties.  

Praying the Rosary for Relief from Anxiety 

Breathe Deeply: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as Invitations to Peace

By Allison Ramirez

Independently published

I didn't realize when I picked up Breathe Deeply: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as Invitations to Peace by Allison Ramirez that it was a book on using the Rosary to pray for relief from anxiety. Apparently, God knew I needed to read it. It offers a Scripture passage, reflection, a "Place Yourself in the Story" meditation, a personal story, and activity suggestions from the author for each decade of the Joyful Mysteries.  

In addition, there is a unique prayer to offer before each Hail Mary that focuses on praying for relief from anxiety in different situations. It is clear that the author understands what it is to suffer from anxiety, and I found these prayers very moving and helpful.  

Ramirez also offers practical suggestions for coping with anxiety, including: “Each time a worrying thought comes to mind, speak aloud a blessing and offer up your thoughts and feelings to the Lord” (46). 

This book concludes with Mary's Magnificat for Anxiety, which incorporates Luke 1:46-55 and adds portions related to anxiety. Breathe Deeply: The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary as Invitations to Peace is a beautiful resource for anyone who wants to pray for peace of mind. 

Ask for these books at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from the links above.

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur
Images: Canva
This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way.