Lenten Devotional Reading

Catechesis

Seeking God, the Way of Saint Benedict
Esther de Waal
This book is a great introduction to Benedictine spirituality, which we will explore in our Lent Catechesis series as well as the Lenten Retreat. Consider going more in-depth with the ideas presented in Catechesis by reading along in the text the Catechesis teachers are using as the foundation for each week’s teaching. 

About Lent

Lent: The Season of Repentance and Renewal
Esau McCaulley 
This short book by Fr Esau McCaulley introduces readers to the meaning of Lent, Ash Wednesday, and the practices and rituals associated with Lent.  

Great Lent: Journey to Pascha
Alexander Schmemann Alexander
This is a classic book on Lent that draws on the Church’s sacramental and liturgical tradition to suggest the meaning of “Lent in our Life.”

Day by Day Devotionals 

Word in the Wilderness: A Poem a Day for Lent and Easter
Malcolm Guite 
Poems by Guite as well as other classical poets are included in this anthology, along with a daily devotional to accompany each poem. This is a favorite devotional for many in our All Souls community. 

Lent with the Desert Fathers
Thomas McKenzie
Author of The Anglican Way, an Anglican parish priest and Benedictine oblate shares each day an excerpt from the writings of the Desert Fathers accompanied by Father McKenzie’s personal reflections on their words.

Prayer: Forty Days of Practice
Justin McRoberts and Scott Erikson
Not a Lenten devotional per se, but the authors present weekly meditations on prayer with forty illustrations and brief words of encouragement to deepen your prayer life.        

Deepening your spiritual practices 

For those who wish to practice praying with sacred scriptures:

An Ignation Introduction to Prayer: Scriptural Reflections According to the Spiritual Exercises
Timothy Gallagher

For those who wish to deepen and understand their practice of lectio divina:

Sacred Reading
Michael Casey  

For those who wish to explore the Examen Prayer in the Ignatian tradition: 

The Examen Prayer,  Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today
Timothy Gallagher

For those who desire to set aside times of silent prayer throughout the Lent season and beyond: 

Centering Prayer
Basil Pennington, OSB (Order of St. Benedict) 

Intimacy with God
Thomas Keating, OSB 

Word into Silence
John Main, OSB