Three New Lenten Resources
Bringing Lent Home with Pope Francis: Prayers, Reflections, and Activities for Families
by Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle
Ave Maria Press, 2015
Bringing Lent Home with Pope Francis is designed to “provide and encourage a daily occurrence of family prayer and communication as you move through this holy season together. By following the suggestions regarding how your family can apply Pope Francis’s wisdom to your lives, you will participate more fully with the rhythm of the Church regarding Lenten prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.”
This book, which can be used every year during Lent, offers a mini prayer service for each day which includes a quote from Pope Francis, a reflection for parents to read on their own, a family prayer, a story from Pope Francis’s life, an idea for something to give up for that day and a way to practice almsgiving.
Cooper O’Boyle has created a valuable resource. The ideas for fasting and almsgiving are especially creative and will add great spiritual meaning to these practices. While designed for family use, it is probably most suited for use with children ages eight and up.
Sacred Reading for Lent 2016
by Apostleship of Prayer (Douglas Leonard, Executive Director)
Ave Maria Press, 2015
Excerpted from Sacred Reading: The 2016 Guide to Daily Prayer, Sacred Reading for Lent 2016 is designed to help readers practice the ancient tradition of Lectio Divina (sacred reading) during the holy season of Lent. “What better way to deepen one’s friendship with Jesus Christ, the Word of God, than by prayerfully encountering him in the daily Gospel?”
Each day offers a short prayer, the Gospel reading for that day, a short reflection, a time to listen to Jesus speaking to your heart and an invitation to ask God to show you how to live that day. Ideally, one should have at least ten quiet minutes a day to best utilize this book.
Stations of the Cross with the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus
by Apostleship of Prayer (William Prospero, S.J.)
Ave Maria Press, 2015
Fr. William Prospero lived from 1965 – 2014. He was born on the feast of St. John Vianney, patron saint of priests, and died on our Blessed Mother’s birthday. As his spiritual director shares in the Foreward, Fr. Prospero, who died of kidney cancer, had a “profound love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Eucharist, and the Blessed Virgin Mary. . . Fr. Will lived these reflections. He walked the Way of the Cross with Jesus, surrendering himself to the incomprehensible and perfect will of the Father.”
These reflections are designed for private, rather than group, use. Fr. Prospero’s writing is beautiful and invites those reading into a deep relationship with Christ as he suffered and as He continues to meet us in the Eucharistic. Each station features a short Scripture passage, a reflection, and prayer. This book would be perfect for a time of Eucharistic adoration, however it can also be used for a meaningful prayer at home during Lent or at any time of the year.
