Book Reviews and More: Lent 2016 Reading Plan

Monday 25 January 2016

Lent 2016 Reading Plan

Lent 2016 Reading Plan

Lent does not begin for a few weeks. This year Len runs from Wednesday February 10th through Thursday March 24th. Lent is a season of penance, reflection, prayer and fasting as a way to grow closer to God. And as much as I enjoy Advent and preparing for Christmas, Lent to me in a season of renewal and restoration and a new beginning. This year as I prepared my reading list for Lent, I went back through some of my lists from the past few years and especially my readings from Advent this past year. During advent each night I read Welcome Baby Jesus by Sarah A. Reinhard and the kids and I really got a lot out of it. So We will be doing Welcome Risen Jesus as a family and the rest will be resources for my personal growth.

Best Lent Ever - Matthew Kelly
The Dynamic Catholic Institute

This is a series of daily messages and videos delivered directly into your mailbox. Last year I did the lent and advent series and really got a lot out of them so I am looking forward to the lent messages again this year.

Sacred Reading for Lent 2016
Douglas Leonard
Ave Maria Press
ISBN 9781594716119
ASIN B013IFD8KW

This is a new resource for me. It ended up in my recommended list and I thought I would give it a try. I do not know much about it but am excited about something new this year.

Rediscover Lent
Matthew Kelly
St. Anthony Messenger Press
ISBN 9781616362379
eISBN 9781616364236

I have yet to read anything my Matthew Kelly that did not help grow my faith. I love the daily email from The Dynamic Catholic Institute, and I really look forward to reading this book over lent. I know that this book is a series of excerpts from Rediscover Catholicism, but I have yet to read that book. This should be an awesome tool this year.

Welcome Risen Jesus
Sarah A. Reinhard
Liguori Publications
ISBN 9780764820748

Last year I read the book Sarah edited, Word by Word: Slowing Down with the Hail Mary and absolutely loved it. And this past advent we read Welcome Baby Jesus with the kids and it was amazing. I am really looking forward to her insights on lent and the reflections and action points for the kids.

Lenten Companion 2016
The Magnificat
Ed. Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.
eISBN 9781941709184

Over the last few years I have often read the Magnificat's, Lenten, Advent and even Year of Faith Companion a number of times. They are always amazing resources. I find the diversity of contributors and power of the meditations are inspiring and challenging. And these ebooks are very reasonably priced.

Lenten Meditations with Fulton J. Sheen
Fulton J. Sheen
Liguori Publications
ISBN 9780764816840

I recently finished listening to Life Changers by Greg Willits, in it he focuses on knowing the faith, living the faith and sharing the faith. A few different times he recommends reading something by Fulton J. Sheen, so I picked up this devotion for Lent. Now to be honest I was a little disappointed, at first, it is only a short quote and a related bible verse. But after reading a few, even though it will be the shortest daily resource I expect some real gem's from this book.

In Conversation With God Volume #2 Lent and Eastertide
Francis Fernandez
ISBN 0906138205
Scepter Press
ISBN 0906138191

This volume spans the time from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost Sunday. Therefore this book will lead you through Lent, Easter and the 5 weeks of Easter leading up to Pentecost. If you cannot afford the whole set, start with this volume and the Advent and Christmastide volume, then add the others over time. It is usually cheaper to buy the boxed set but sometimes that amount of money is not available up front. You can read my full review of this book here. And these are now available in ebooks.