I'm cleaning off my bookshelves and book baskets, putting everything away except for my designated books for Lent. The shelves and baskets will be sparse. Otherwise, I get distracted and start "perusing" the million books at my bedside and then it's all downhill from there.
I remember reading several years ago about selecting a reading plan for Lent to fall into 3 categories: Something for the Mind, for the Heart, and for the Soul.
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For the Mind (something about Church History, the Sacraments, ethics, dogma, scholarly life of Jesus, or encyclicals). I'll be listening to the audiotape of Lord Have Mercy: The Healing Power of Confession, by Scott Hahn and making my way through Pope Benedict's Encyclical SPE SALVI .
Here are a couple other titles that have been on my list. Maybe for future years? A couple of these would probably be more "soul." (maybe)
- Jesus of Nazareth
- The Passion of Jesus and its Hidden Meaning
- Sermons of Saint Francis de Sales for Lent
- The Foot of the Cross
- Any books by William Thomas Walsh -One of these years, I really want to FINISH one of these.
For the Heart (biographies of the saints or stories reflective of Lent) I will be reading:
- Helena by Evelyn Waugh- I've wanted to read this for several years!!
- The Secret Diary of Elisabeth LeSeur - I pick this book up every other year or so, and find it's perfect for Lent.
Here are some others that I would like to read some year during Lent, or have read:
- Blessed Marie of the Presentation - new book by Tan that I really want to read. Maybe next year.
- Lent: An Uncommon Love Story - Would love to see this book, but haven't yet. By the same author as a favorite picture book The Jesus Garden.
- Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light . I read this last year, and it was a perfect Lenten read.
- Saint Monica
- St. Rita of Cascia
- The Life of Blessed Margaret Costello . This is one of my favorite saint books. I've read it several times during Lent over the past few years.
- Madame Royale by Elena Vidal - A magnificent historical novel about the daughter of Marie-Antoinette and Louis XVI. The role of suffering in Marie-Therese-Charlotte's life makes this an amazing Lenten read.
For the Soul (spiritual reading from works of the saints or saintly writers, prayer books, religious poetry, of the life of our Lord)
- The King, Crucified and Risen by Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel
- Christians at the Cross - I think one of the ladies at 4real recommended this, and my library has it.
- In Conversation with God, Lent and Easter
- Lent and Easter with Mary - I found this from the Paraclete Press website.
Haven't read these, but they are going on my list for future years:
- What Jesus Saw From the Cross
- Small Surrenders
- The School of Jesus Crucified
- The Power of the Cross: Applying the Passion of Christ to Your Life
- The Open Door: Entering the Sanctuary of Icons and Prayer
- First Fruists of Prayer - A forty day journey through the Canon of St. Andrew. Read this the past two years, and highly recommend it.
- Dolores Passion of Our Lord - have read parts of this, but never during Lent. One of these years, Michelle will let me borrow her copy during Lent. *hint*
- Ignatius Study Bible (Mark)
- Mother Love
- Praying with Saint Maria Faustina
- Thoughts and Sayings of Saint Margaret Mary, Sept & Nov (focusing on Detachment, Love of Cross, Suffering)
- The Aquinas Prayer Book
- Prayer: the great means of grace
- Suffering Prayer Leaflet
Cookbook Reading:
Now.......for the booklist for the girls and family!
Listening to:
Some Movies I like to watch during Lent:
- Babette's Feast
- Shawshank Redemption
- Joan of Arc
- Molokia: the story of Fr. Damien
- The Passion of Joan of Arc
- Under the Sun of Satan
- The Tree of Wooden Clogs
- Au Revoir Les Enfants
- The Ninth Day
- Monsieur Vincent
- Teresa de Jesus
- St. Teresa of Avila
- The Passion of the Christ
Now.......for the booklist for the girls and family!
