With Lent only three weeks away, it's time to start thinking about Lent. Not only should we fast, abstain, and give up something during Lent, but also we should do spiritual reading. The Rule of St. Benedict stipulated that monks must read one spiritual book during Lent. We could find great benefit in imitating their example.
'"A willow tree,' says Pope St. Gregory the Great, 'bears no fruit, but by supporting as it does the vine together with its grapes, it makes these its own by supporting what is not its own.' In like manner, he who warmly recommends a book calculated to do much good makes his own all the good that is done by the book" (Father Michael Mueller in The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
Here are some Lenten Book Recommendations:
- The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich.
- Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ by Father Alban Goodier
- Suffering With Christ by Abbot Marmion
- Why the Cross? by Father Edward Leen
- Seven Words on the Cross by Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
- The Definitive Guide to Catholic Fasting & Abstinence by Matthew Plese
- School of Jesus Christ Crucified by Fr. Ignatius
- Daily Lenten Meditation by St. Thomas Aquinas
3 comment(s):
Good post. I had never thought of reading a special book during Lent. I'm going to come back to this and order something soon.
The only book I can think of is some kind of exposition of the Via Crucis.
Meditations for Lent from St. Thomas Aquinas is very good, too.
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