No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Teens and Young Adults - Amy Welborn

No Greater Love 

Stations of the Cross for Teens and Young Adults

Amy Welborn 

Creative Communications for the Parish

This past Advent I read two devotional books from the pen of Welborn intended for families and both were excellent. The first; Wonders of His Love Family Devotions and Activities for Advent, was a new read. The other was a reread Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions, which I had a read a decade earlier but had not reviewed. This year Welborn promoted two volumes for Lent:

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People

While looking into them I also discovered I had read Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter, 9 years ago but had not reviewed it. So I read both volumes over a few days in order to review them and promote them for Lent this year. And I read this Stations that same Friday.

I picked up this volume for two reasons. The first it was by Amy Welborn and I have loved everything I have read from her masterful pen. And the second I was looking for a few new books for Lent reading in 2026 I picked it up a month before Lent with the plan of adding it into my regular rotation of ‘Stations of the Cross’. I try and pray a stations each day during Lent, and every Friday the rest of the year. I have read over 50 different versions. And I absolutely love this one from Welborn! It is a wonderful little volume with clear concise reflections; it is theologically sound, and very moving.

The description of this volume is:

“Catholic youth will respond to this Way of the Cross written by Amy Welborn, a syndicated columnist and author of several books for young Catholics. Presenting each of the traditional stations with a brief meditation and prayer, Welborn addresses the concerns and hopes of young people in a simple, direct style. Bold new illustrations in this redesigned Stations of the Cross capture the somber yet hope-filled mood of this devotion.”

Some online descriptions begin with ‘For Teens!’ but it can easily be used by individuals, in small groups or even corporately. I ordered 4 copies, one for each of my youngest two children, one for me, and one for their High School Chaplain. I worked through the physical edition of the book, and I found a digital copy of just the text on Welborn’s site. I really wish there was an eBook edition. I know I would use it far more often and I know a few who would pick it up who just do not do physical books anymore. The chapters in the volume are:

No Greater Love

Prayer Before the Altar

First Station Jesus Is Condemned to Die

Second Station Jesus Carries His Cross

Third Station Jesus Falls the First Time

Fourth Station Jesus Meets His Mother

Fifth Station Simon Helps Jesus

Sixth Station Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face

Seventh Station Jesus Falls the Second Time

Eighth Station Jesus Meets the Women

Ninth Station Jesus Falls a Third Time

Tenth Station Jesus Is Stripped of His Garments

Eleventh Station Jesus Is Nailed to the Cross

Twelfth Station Jesus Dies on the Cross

Thirteenth Station Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross

Fourteenth Station Jesus Is Laid in the Tomb

Closing Prayer 

There is no Stabat Mater, and no prayers at the end of each station, but they can easily by added personally. Each station has three parts:

Meditation

Prayer

Bible Verse 

A sample station is:

“THIRD STATION

Jesus Falls the First Time

Meditation

The streets of Jerusalem are narrow and winding. Crowds have gathered to watch Jesus make his way to

the place of crucifixion. Under the weight of the cross and pressed by the crowds, Jesus stumbles and falls.

Prayer

Jesus, the cross you carry is not just made of wood. It is made of the sadness of the world’s sin and all its

consequences in human suffering. That is a heavy burden to carry, and under its weight, you fall.

Sin brings me down to the ground, too. I may think I can handle it at first, but after a while, I find that my lies

or my casual cruelty or my closed heart is making it hard for me to walk upright. I fall.

I see you fall under all the weight, but I also see that you refuse to let the heaviness of the world’s sin keep

you down. You rise and keep walking out of love. Help me to rise, too, and find the path of love once again.

No one has greater love than this,

To lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

(John 15:13)”

In the introduction Welborn states:

“Love is important to all of us. We spend our time on earth engaged in so many activities, but in the end, it all comes down to love. We are seeking a place in life where we can safely love and be loved. We were made for love, and we all hope for a love that never ends and that accepts us just as we are.

What is love, though? The wrong idea of love can take us down sad or even dangerous paths. The Stations of the Cross are, above everything else, about love. When we journey with Jesus on the Way of the Cross, we learn what real love is, what it requires of us and how it gives us hope for the future.

The Gospel of John tells us that at the Last Supper, Jesus told his disciples that they were no longer servants but friends of his-which means friends of God. "No one has greater love than this," he said, "To lay down one's life for one's friends." In this Way of the Cross, we see what this "laying down" means for Jesus-and for us.”

I hope that sample meditation and the introduction gives you a feel for this volume. This was a Way of the Cross I am very thankful I have worked through and look forward to praying it again. If it was available as an eBook it would be one I used often.

This is an excellent Lenten resource, a great volume. I can easily recommend that Way of the Cross. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Amy Welborn:

Reconciled to God Daily Lenten Devotions
Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope
A Catholic Woman's Book of Days
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
Loyola Kids Book of Saints
Loyola Kids Book of Heroes: Stories of Catholic Heroes and Saints throughout History
Here. Now. a Catholic Guide to the Good Life
The Words We Pray
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
Decoding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, and Lies
Come Meet Jesus: An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Be Saints! An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion
Mary and the Christian Life: Scriptural Reflections on the First Disciple
Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis: On the Path with St. Francis
Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions
Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter 

Parables: Stories of the Kingdom
The Absence of War

Relatable and Authentic, Transparent, So Real

All Will Be Well

Nothing Else Occurs To Me

A Reason for Everything

Hope: An Anchor for the Soul 30 Daily Devotions 

Wonders of His Love: Family Devotions and Activities for Advent 

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent 

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People 

...

Prove It Series:
Prove It! God
Prove It! Church
Prove It! Jesus
Prove It! Prayer
Prove It! You
Prove It! The Catholic Teen Bible

...

 

True Serenity 30 Days with Thomas à Kempis - John Kirvan - Great Spiritual Teachers Series

True Serenity 

30 Days with Thomas à Kempis 

Great Spiritual Teachers

John Kirvan

Ave Maria Press

ISBN 9781594711572

ASIN B005JD1M6Y

This is the fourteenth volume in the Great Spiritual Teachers series I have read. It is one of the older titles in the series, it was originally released in 1995, and was part of the rebranding in 2000’s, it has not been updated to the rebranding that started in 2024. Over a year ago I read my first book in the series, it was Born to Do This: 30 Days with Joan of Arc by Jaymie Stuart Wolfe, and loved it and the concept of the series. I have read one almost every month since that first one, and if I can track down all the out of print, will do so until I finish all 24 released to date in the series.

The description of this volume states:

“Hailed as Christianity’s second bestseller, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis is made accessible to the modern reader in condensed and accessible form. This attractively redesigned edition of True Serenity presents the wisdom of Kempiss fifteenth-century classic in a months worth of daily devotions."”

About the series we are informed:

“Each book in the Great Spiritual Teachers series provides a month of daily readings from one of Christianity's most beloved spiritual guides. For each day there is a brief and accessible morning meditation drawn from the mystic's writings, a simple mantra for use throughout the day, and a night prayer to focus one's thoughts as the day ends. These easy-to-use books are the perfect prayer companion for busy people who want to root their spiritual practice in the solid ground of these great spiritual teachers.”

I believe there are 16 volumes in this series currently in print. There are also a number that are currently out of print, The oldest I have seen are from the mid 90’s and it looks like they went through a rebranding and format change in the mid 00’s, and they have undergone yet another rebranding in the 2020’s including some new titles available in the series. I must admit I do not recall running across this series prior to that first volume on Joan. I have however added all of them to my ‘to be read list’. I love the most recent rebranding, and hope Ave Maria completes the rebranding across all volumes, and brings back into print some of the volumes currently not available; specifically the volumes on John of the Cross, Evelyn Underhill, Mother Theresa and others. This specific volume was released in 1995, making it one of the oldest in the series. 

The sections in this volume are:

Foreword 

Thomas A Kempis And The Imitation Of Christ  

How To Pray This Book 

Thirty Days With Thomas A Kempis 

One Final Word 

While reading this I several a few passages, some of them are:

“Life is an ongoing journey of change and choice, a surrendering of the old and a trust in new beginnings. What these saints ultimately realized-and revealed to others-is that refining a relationship with God is the life choice on which all else is built.”

“As Teresa of Avila taught her nuns so well, "Learn to see God in the details of your life, for He is everywhere."”

“Life is an empty journey without the companionship ship of God. And developing a sense of divine intimacy requires time set aside to be with God in prayer, reflection, and contemplation.”

“But in our own times, we must admit, many have never even heard of The Imitation of Christ and many others have relegated it to history as propagating a spirituality that is out of date and out of touch.”

“We have gotten used to a life centered on a search for self. I read a Kempis is to be challenged to turn that world inside out, upside down. Our search for self, he insists, must give way to a search for God. In God alone, we are told, we will finally find ourselves.”

“A second theme runs through the meditation passages. sages. It is God's promise of everlasting, true peace and rest to anyone who loves and serves him. The cost of this peace will be to put God above everything else, above the "world," above self. Any other peace is illusory, any other price is not enough.”

“The purpose of this book is to open a gate for you, to make accessible one of the world's great spiritual masterpieces, The Imitation of Christ, and the spiritual experience and wisdom of its writer, Thomas a Kempis. This is not a book for mere reading. It invites you to meditate and pray its words on a daily basis over a period of thirty days.”

“My friend, let not the world’s fair and subtle words move you, for the kingdom of heaven lives not in their words but in virtuous works.”

“Do not read and study just to be thought wise, but rather to still the world in your spirit and to hear more clearly my voice. This shall be more profitable to you than the knowledge of many difficult and subtle questions.”

“Inflame my heart and enlighten my understanding. Bring sorrow to my heart for the sins of my life and comfort to my soul. Let the only wisdom I seek be yours, 0 Lord.”

“My friend, you shall never be safe from temptation and tribulation in this life. Therefore you will need to protect your spirit as long as you live. For you live and walk among spiritual enemies who will trouble and vex you from every side; Unless you use at all times and in all places the shield of patience, your spirit shall very soon be wounded.”

“Grant me a night of silence with you. Keep me in your embrace through the night, give me quiet rest and your peace, now and forever. Amen.”

“O Lord, you have been with me all through the day. Now evening has come. The shadows have lengthened into darkness. Let my busy world now grow quiet, the feverish concerns of my day be stilled, my work put away.”

“Lord you know what is best for me. Give me what you will, as much as you will, and when you will. Do with me as you know best, as it most pleases you, and as is most to your honor.”

“Take heart, Turn to me for comfort And put your whole trust in my mercy”

“I must remember that you are the source of comfort for all those who call on you, and that without you there is no real comfort in our times of trouble. Let me never forget that you are always near. Let me take heart and turn to you and put my whole trust in your mercy.”

“It is often asked whether one is rich, strong, fair, able, a good writer, a good singer, or a good laborer. But it is seldom asked whether that person is poor in spirit, patient, meek, devout, or inwardly turned to God. The world judges by appearances but we must look to the Spirit.”

“But our old enemies resist our turn to goodness in every way, and hour after hour assault us to see if they can catch us unaware. Therefore stay awake, and pray that you be not turned from your spiritual goals by temptation (3:49).”

“This book was created to be nothing more than a gateway-a gateway to the spiritual wisdom of a specific teacher, and a gateway opening on your own spiritual path. You may decide that Thomas a Kempis is someone whose experience of God is one that you wish to follow more closely and deeply. In that case you should get a copy of the entire text of The Imitation of Christ and pray it as you have prayed this gateway journey.”

Each day follows the same format with three main sections from a newer book in the series:

MY DAY BEGINS: “As the day begins set aside a quiet moment in a quiet place to do the reading provided for the day

The passages are short; they never run more than a couple of hundred words. They have been carefully selected, though, to give a spiritual focus, a spiritual center to your whole day. They are designed to remind you, as another day begins, of your own existence at a spiritual level. They are meant to put you in the presence of the spiritual master who is your companion and teacher on this journey. This is especially true of this journey with Catherine of Siena. The readings are her report of God’s words to her, God’s side of the dialogue. And since the purpose of the passage is to remind you that at every moment during you are in the presence of a God who invites you continually, but quietly, to live in and through him, what better source than the words of God himself?”

ALL THROUGH YOUR DAY: “Immediately following the day’s reading you will find a single sentence, a meditation in the form of a mantra, a phrase meant as a companion for your spirit as it moves through a busy day. Write it down on a 3" x 5" card or on the appropriate page of your daybook. Look at it as often as you can. Repeat it quietly to yourself, and go on your way.

It is not meant to stop you in your tracks or to distract you from responsibilities but simply, gently, to remind you of the presence of God and your desire to respond to this presence.”

MY DAY IS ENDING: “This is a time for letting go of the day, for entering a world of imaginative prayer … This exercise is not meant to last more than a few minutes. End it when you are comfortable doing so. It has two parts. The first, in keeping with Catherine’s model, is a personal response to the words spoken by God in the day’s reading. Just as God has spoken to you, so you speak to God. Second, you are invited to turn to the familiarity of a prayer based on Catherine’s own words. It is an act of trust and confidence, an entryway into peaceful sleep, a simple evening prayer that gathers together the spiritual character of the day that is now ending as it began—in the presence of God.

It is a time for summary and closure.”

A sample day is:

“DAY 13

 My Day Begins 

My friend, says our Savior Christ,

here is how you should pray for what you desire:

Lord if it be your will, be it done as | ask;

and if it be to your praise, be it fulfilled in your name.

And if you see it good and profitable to me,

give me grace to use it in your honor.

But if you know it to be harmful to me

then take from me such desire.

Every desire does not come from the Holy Spirit

even though it may seem right and good,

for it is sometimes very difficult to judge

whether a good spirit or an evil one

is behind this or that desire;

or whether you are being moved

only of your own spirit.

Many are deceived in the end

who first seem to have been moved

by the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, with fear of God

and with meekness of heart,

you should desire and ask

whatever comes to your mind,

and forsaking yourself completely

commit all things to God and say:

Lord you know what is best for me.

Give me what you will,

as much as you will,

and when you will.

Do with me as you know best,

as it most pleases you,

and as is most to your honor.

I am your creature and in your hands.

Lead me where you will.

Iam your servant, ready to do all things

that you command,

for I desire not to live to myself but to you (3:15).

All Through The Day

You, Lord, know what is best for me.

My Day Is Ending

O Lord,

you have been with me all through the day.

Now evening has come.

The shadows have lengthened into darkness.

Let my busy world grow quiet,

the feverish concerns of my day be stilled,

my work put away.

Lord you know what is best for me.

Give me only what you will, when you will.

Do with me as you know best,

as it most pleases you, and is most to your honor.

I am your creation and I rest in your hands.

Lead me where you will.

I am your servant;

I desire to live not for myself but for you alone.

Grant me now a moment of silence with you.

Keep me in your embrace through the night,

give me quiet rest

and your peace,

now and forever.

Amen.”

A second that really impacted me is:

“DAY 16

 My Day Begins 

My friend,

why do you complain?

Consider my passion and the sufferings of my saints,

and you shall see that you suffer very little.

Remember how greatly others have suffered

in my name so that you may the more easily

bear your little griefs.

But whether your sufferings be great or little,

learn to bear them with patience.

The more you learn patience the wiser you shall be,

the more merit you shall have,

and the lighter will be your burden.

The patient soul,

whenever any adversity or wrong comes its way,

no matter from whom or what it may be,

or how often,

receives it thankfully,

as though it came from the hand of God,

and considers it a rich gift and a great blessing.

For we know that there is nothing

that we might suffer

that need pass without great merit.

Be ready therefore to do battle if you seek victory.

Without battle you will not achieve the crown of patience.

Resist strongly and suffer patiently.

For without labor no one can come to rest,

and without battle no one achieves victory.

O Lord Jesus,

make possible to me by grace

that which is not possible to me by nature.

You know well that I suffer very little

and that I am easily cast down by the smallest adversity.

Therefore, I pray that trouble and adversity

may hereafter, for your sake and in your name,

be welcomed by me,

for truly to suffer and be vexed for you is very good

and profitable for the health of my soul (3:19).

All Through The Day

My burden is light.

My Day Is Ending

O Lord,

you have been with me all through the day.

Now evening has come.

The shadows have lengthened into darkness.

Let my busy world grow quiet,

the feverish concerns of my day be stilled,

my work put away.

You have, Lord, taken this day to remind me

that without labor there is no rest,

without battle there is no victory.

Make possible to me, Lord Jesus, by your grace

that which seems impossible to me by nature.

It takes very little, the smallest adversity

to discourage me.

Let me by your grace,

begin again tomorrow.

But for now grant me a moment of your silence.

Keep me in your embrace through the night,

give me quiet rest

and your peace,

now and forever.

Amen.”

I hope those quotes and the sample days give you a feel for this excellent volume. This volume does not have the section Night Prayer to end the day that some have. But the My Day is Ending is mostly a prayer and as can be seen from the times I highlighted and shared them above. 

I have now read 14 volumes in this series, and currently working on a fifteenth and final that has an digital edition available currently, and I can state this is another great offering in the series. I find that some speak to me more than others. With one I did not highlight as much as in previous volumes, or even extensive highlights. I still greatly enjoyed it. I can state I benefited from the month with each person being profiled. And if I went back and did a volume again at a different point or season in life I might interact with it differently. I already plan to circle back to both this volume and the volume on Joan and reread them once I have completed the series, or at least those I can track down.

I will note the eBook formatting on this is terrible. You can only highlight full paragraphs, and even then when I went to export my notes of share on Goodreads most only showed the first word. Hopefully when they rebrand this to the current branding the formatting will be fixed up. 

This was one another of the volumes I connected with. This is a great read, it is one I really enjoyed reading it. I can easily recommend this volume and the series as a whole, and I look forward to reading others in the series. If you have not given any in this series a try this would be an excellent starting point or whichever one seems to call to you.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books in the Great Spiritual Teachers Series:

Abide in love: the Gospel spirituality of John the Evangelist – John Kirvan 

All Will Be Well - Julian of Norwich and John Kirvan 

Born to Do This - Joan of Arc and Jaymie Stuart Wolfe 

Come into the Silence - Thomas Merton 

Draw Ever Closer - Henri J. M. Nouwen and Robert M. Hamma  

Fear Not the Night - John of the Cross and John Kirvan 

God Awaits You Based on the Classic Spirituality of Meister - Richard Chilson 

Grace Through Simplicity - Evelyn Underhill and John Kirvan 

Hope Without Borders: 30 Days with Frances Xavier Cabrini - Amy J. Cattapan   

Let Nothing Disturb You - Teresa of Avila and John Kirvan  

Let There Be Light - Hildegard of Bingen and John Kirvan  

Living in the Presence of God - Brother Lawrence and John Kirvan 

Love Without Measure - Mother Teresa and John Kirvan 

Peace of Heart - Saint Francis of Assisi and John Kirvan 

Rejoice in the Lord - Augustine of Hippo and Trenton Mattingly  

Set Aside Every Fear - Catherine of Siena and John Kirvan  

Set Your Heart Free - Francis de Sales and John Kirvan 

Simply Surrender - Thérèse of Lisieux, Caroline Myss and John Kirvan    

That you may have life: let the mystics be your guide for Lent - John Kirvan 

True Serenity - Thomas a Kempis and John Kirvan 

We Are Beloved - Thea Bowman and Karianna Frey MS 

Where Only Love Can Go - The Cloud of Unknowing and John Kirvan  

You Shall Not Want: The Psalms - Richard Chilson 

…

Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter - Amy Welborn

Daybreaks: 

Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter 

Amy Welborn 

Liguori Publications

ISBN 9780764826870

eISBN 9780764870996

ASIN B01N4QF53K

This past Advent I read two devotional from the pen of Welborn intended for families and both were excellent. The first; Wonders of His Love Family Devotions and Activities for Advent, was a new read. The other was a reread Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions, which I had a read a decade earlier but had not reviewed.  This year Welborn promoted two volumes for Lent:

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People

While looking into them I also discovered I had read Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter, 9 years ago but had not reviewed it. So I read both volumes over a few days in order to review them and promote them for Lent this year.

I decided to reread this volume for two reasons. The first it was by Amy Welborn and I have loved everything I have read from her masterful pen, including this title when I first read it 9 years ago. And the second I was looking for a few new books for Lent reading in 2026 I picked it up a month before Lent with the plan of reading the whole volume, then rereading it over Lent. It is a wonderful little volume with clear concise reflections; it is theologically sound, and very moving.

The description of this volume is:

“Jesus and Mary, from the crib to the cross. We started Advent with eager anticipation for Christmas, but we begin Lent with, perhaps, a bit more reluctance. Giving things up is inconvenient. Taking time for prayer interferes with an already busy schedule. Putting Jesus first means other things must be let go. This Lent and Easter season, author Amy Welborn shares her own struggles and triumphs of trying to live Lent and Easter spirituality year-round. She shares how small moments of frustration can turn into small lessons of grace. We carry our own crosses alongside Jesus this season. But as we drop worldly concerns to pick up our cross, we may realize our burden has actually been lightened.”

I worked through the digital edition of the book, and I I found evidence of older physical booklets editions. But the eBook is available readily. The chapters in the volume are:

Ash Wednesday

Thursday After Ash Wednesday

Friday After Ash Wednesday

Saturday After Ash Wednesday

First Sunday of Lent

First Week of lent Monday

First Week of Lent Tuesday

First Week of Lent Wednesday

First Week of Lent Thursday

First Week of Lent Friday

First Week of Lent Saturday

Second Sunday of Lent

Second Week of Lent Monday

Second Week of Lent Tuesday

Second Week of Lent Wednesday

Second Week of Lent Thursday

Second Week of Lent Friday

Second Week of Lent Saturday

Third Sunday of Lent

Third Week of Lent Monday

Third Week of Lent Tuesday

Third Week of Lent Wednesday

Third Week of Lent Thursday

Third Week of Lent Friday

Third Week of Lent Saturday

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Fourth Week of Lent Monday

Fourth Week of Lent Tuesday

Fourth Week of Lent Wednesday

Fourth Week of Lent Thursday

Fourth Week of Lent Friday

Fourth Week of Lent Saturday

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Week of Lent Monday

Fifth Week of Lent Tuesday

Fifth Week of Lent Wednesday

Fifth Week of Lent Thursday

Fifth Week of Lent Friday

Fifth Week of Lent Saturday

Palm Sunday

Monday of Holy Week

Tuesday of Holy Week

Wednesday of Holy Week

Holy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday

Easter

Easter Monday

Tuesday, Octave of Easter

Wednesday, Octave of Easter

Thursday, Octave of Easter

Friday, Octave of Easter

Saturday, Octave of Easter

Second Sunday of Easter

Each week follows the same format, with reflections for each day, a Pray Together each day and a Grow Together section each week and a reminder to check in on it part way through the week. A sample day is:

“Ash Wednesday

Years ago—years—friends cajoled me into attending an Eagles concert in Tampa.

As the date approached, I realized when it would be happening: Ash Wednesday.

Predictably, I was seized with guilt. Me, a long-standing and—dare I say—prideful Lenten rigorist, a firm critic, for example, of my mother’s habits of serving expensive cuts of fish or dining out on Fridays while I humbly dished out beans or macaroni and cheese to my own family, here I was at a pop concert.

Guilt mixed with something else that night—judgment—while I waited around outside the venue and watched a parade of lithe, tall, gorgeous young women climb out of limos. A surprising number of them had crosses smudged on their foreheads. Did those models realize how lucky they were to be on the receiving end of double judgment? They were evidently doing Ash Wednesday with even more panache and high style than I was but also without an ounce of shame, parading the dichotomy in front of the whole world, with me, on my high horse, remembering the Gospel:

“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them . . .” (Matthew 6:1).

Lent seems fairly straightforward, but Ash Wednesday’s Scripture readings reflect a tension. Joel calls God’s people to a fast. It’s a loud, urgent public call for the entire people to embark on a public penitential walk.

But then Jesus seems to tell us something different. That fast? Do it in secret. Wash your face. Smile. Pray in private. Don’t let anyone know what you’re doing. God knows. That’s enough.

It’s a dilemma we face when we pause at the church door after Mass on Ash Wednesday. We have that cross smudged on our foreheads. Our ashes witness to our sinfulness and our trust in God’s mercy. It’s good for us to publicly admit it, good for the world to see.

But Jesus says what he says, and so my hand reaches up to my forehead, tissue in hand. Do I wipe it off? Should it stay?

Wherever I find myself at Lent’s beginning these days, my first step is to accept that tension. I live in the world. The world needs Jesus. We are his witnesses. But Jesus tells me, repent, witness, pray, and give while fasting from the most deadly thing of all: pride.

Yet even now—oracle of the LORD—return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God.

JOEL 2:12–13”

I highlighted a number of sections my first time through this volume, and about another half dozen my second time through, some of them are:

“Some of us love Lent, others hate it. But, love or hate, here we are, celebrations tumbling into Ash Wednesday, feast giving way to fast.”

“For forty days we will fast more, give more, and pray more. Our motivations vary. We are sorry for our sins and our stubbornness in sin. Our sacrifices become acts of penance. We give God’s will more room to flourish by denying ourselves. We clarify. We prune. We focus. We realize how much we have crowded God out with silly, wasteful, or selfish things. Most of all, we seek to be like Jesus, to take up a cross.”

“Lent seems fairly straightforward, but Ash Wednesday’s Scripture readings reflect a tension. Joel calls God’s people to a fast. It’s a loud, urgent public call for the entire people to embark on a public penitential walk. But then Jesus seems to tell us something different. That fast? Do it in secret. Wash your face. Smile. Pray in private. Don’t let anyone know what you’re doing. God knows. That’s enough.”

“Wherever I find myself at Lent’s beginning these days, my first step is to accept that tension. I live in the world. The world needs Jesus. We are his witnesses. But Jesus tells me, repent, witness, pray, and give while fasting from the most deadly thing of all: pride.”

““That’s smart,” I thought. How often do we talk to each other, assume we’re noted and understood but aren’t?”

“How many times does God speak to me and I let the words drift around my heart but don’t actually hear them?”

“I am invited to enter more deeply into Jesus’ journey during Lent. This is a journey deep into our human life. It began in the Incarnation, but now I see what “Word made flesh” really means. The flesh suffers, dies, and finally rises.”

“No one likes to be sick, but as the saints remind us, illness can be an opportunity for spiritual growth. I know that for me, even a minor illness gives me a chance to grow in empathy and to offer my tiny bit of discomfort for those truly suffering.”

“A quick check of my life from the outside indicates everything is just fine. But in Lent’s focused, quiet space, distant from the cacophony of the daily storms, what do I hear? What is hidden and dripping steadily? What hints did I ignore? Now is the time to tend to that weakness so I don’t cause more damage but flourish with God’s life instead.”

“Such mysteries lie in all of our histories. If we looked at every step that led to our current lives, we would see a confusing tapestry of good and horrible decisions. Accidents that brought us to this moment. Here we are, existing because of the strange things that happened to other people and ourselves.”

“For this reason, I welcome the focused spiritual practices of Lent. This more intentional praying, fasting, and giving gives me an opportunity to root out habits of avoidance and return to the Father’s loving embrace.”

“Like Naaman, our expectations of what God’s activity should look like can be off. The first problem is right up front: We have expectations. We look for emotional highs during private prayer or Mass. Or we disdain simple prayers in favor of complicated programs or spiritual systems.”

“My life is supposed to be like that. What my own eyes have seen is the mercy of God, hope for sinners, and the promise of eternal life. My call is to remember and to witness to that mercy in inviting, welcoming, and loving ways. To remember, to live, to stand witness.”

“In fact, putting my hope for joy in things can distract me from God’s love. God invites me to use the power of my hands, not to serve my own pleasure and existential anxiety, but to serve all those in need with gracious freedom and compassion.”

“Questions. I’ve grown from asking them and being asked. I’m asked, I ask, and in the midst of all the questions, I finally begin to see.”

“As various wise people have said, don’t judge my faith by how I act—I might even be worse without that faith.”

“Dealing with other human beings can be a chore, but if I can push back my self-centeredness and open my eyes, I can see signs. Signs of pain, hurt, loss, and concern. Jesus’ journey to the cross is one of patience, understanding, forgiveness, and of bearing burdens. Joining him on that journey, I see that my call is to look at others, not as problems or irritating objects, but as brothers and sisters giving me signs of the burdens they bear.”

“I pause. I listen humbly, not presuming anything. I welcome that startled disorientation, not as an end, but as the beginning of something more.”

“I have no doubt that Jesus, through the prayers his body offered for healing—consoled us in a real way. For that reason, when I’m asked to pray for someone, I always, always stop and do so. Every prayer, every little sacrifice is a step with him to console, gladden, and transform mourning into joy.”

“Today I continue the journey begun weeks ago, deepened on Palm Sunday and intensified through this Triduum. I may not be in Jerusalem, but wherever I am, in prayer with my brothers and sisters, I walk with Jesus. In this space I encounter this true sacrifice. I am moved by the humility of God and stripped of all the world offers. I walk. We walk on that path, in his footsteps, past and present erased in the eternal now of love.”

“Today has five names. It is the Octave of Easter, the Second Sunday of Easter, and Divine Mercy Sunday. Before the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, it was known as Low Sunday to indicate that it was the end of the eight days and that Easter had been duly celebrated and now it was time to bring the celebrating down a few degrees. Before Vatican II, it was also known as Sunday in White to indicate that this was the last day those who had been baptized during the Easter Vigil wore their white baptismal garment.”

I hope that sample day and those quotes give you a feel for this volume. This was a book I am very thankful I have worked through and look forward to reading it again during Lent. I really appreciated many of the reflections and almost all the prayers at the ends of specific days. The first quote I highlighted this time though was:

“Some of us love Lent, others hate it. But, love or hate, here we are, celebrations tumbling into Ash Wednesday, feast giving way to fast.”

It really got me thinking about I Don't Like Lent by Rev Daniel A. Lord S.J., which I am going to have to reread now as well. It should also be noted there is a companion Daybreaks Advent volume but it appears it has never been released as an eBook. I enjoyed this so much when I read it in 2017 I posted 2 of the reflections at the time:

Ash Wednesday Reflection 

Second Sunday Of Easter Reflection 

Maybe that is why I did not get around to reviewing it. That being said, this is an excellent Lenten resource, a great volume. I can easily recommend it. This is a wonderful volume that will inspire and challenge. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Amy Welborn:

Reconciled to God Daily Lenten Devotions
Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope
A Catholic Woman's Book of Days
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
Loyola Kids Book of Saints
Loyola Kids Book of Heroes: Stories of Catholic Heroes and Saints throughout History
Here. Now. a Catholic Guide to the Good Life
The Words We Pray
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
Decoding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, and Lies
Come Meet Jesus: An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Be Saints! An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion
Mary and the Christian Life: Scriptural Reflections on the First Disciple
Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis: On the Path with St. Francis
Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions
Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter 

Parables: Stories of the Kingdom
The Absence of War

Relatable and Authentic, Transparent, So Real

All Will Be Well

Nothing Else Occurs To Me

A Reason for Everything

Hope: An Anchor for the Soul 30 Daily Devotions 

Wonders of His Love: Family Devotions and Activities for Advent 

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent 

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People 

...

Prove It Series:
Prove It! God
Prove It! Church
Prove It! Jesus
Prove It! Prayer
Prove It! You
Prove It! The Catholic Teen Bible

...

 

A Prayer of the Day To My Guardian Angel

Prayer to My Guardian Angel   

Prayer of the Day  

My guardian angel, you are always near me, inspiring me to choose the good and strengthening me in the battle against Satan and the forces of evil. Keep me always aware of your presence and mindful of your inspirations. Be with me especially at the last moment of my life. Do not leave me, I beg you, until you see me safe in heaven, praising God and singing his mercies for all eternity. 

Amen.

  

Note: Every so often I post a prayer I use as part of my daily prayers. I came across this prayer in 2025 while reading a book. I copied the prayer but did not mark the source. I have added it to my afternoon prayers.

Relates posts and links:

Prayer of the Day Posts

Prayer Book Reviews

My Prayer Notebook. 

My Daily Prayer List April 2024

My Daily Prayer List October 2025

...

Other posts about Prayers to Angels:

Prayer of the Day Prayer to Saint Michael

Prayer of the Day A Litany of St. Michael  

Prayer of the Day Litany in Honour of St. Michael 

Prayer of the Day A Saint Michael Prayer

Marriage Consecration Prayer

A Prayer of the Day St. Raphael Prayer for Healing

Prayer of the Day Angel of God Morning and Evening

To My Guardian Angel Prayer

...

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent - Amy Welborn

With Your Whole Heart: 

Family Devotions and Activities for Lent 

Amy Welborn 

Creative Communications for the Parish

eISBN 9786000426323

eISBN 9781682793831

ASIN B08Q4M86ZT

This past Advent I read two devotional from the pen of Welborn intended for families and both were excellent. The first; Wonders of His Love Family Devotions and Activities for Advent, was a new read. The other was a reread Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions, which I had a read a decade earlier but had not reviewed.  This year Welborn promoted two volumes for Lent:

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People

While looking into them I also discovered I had read Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter, 9 years ago but had not reviewed it. So I read both volumes over a few days in order to review them and promote them for Lent this year.

I picked up this volume for two reasons. The first it was by Amy Welborn and I have loved everything I have read from her masterful pen. And the second I was looking for a few new books for Lent reading in 2026 I picked it up a month before Lent with the plan of reading the whole volume, then rereading it over Lent. It is a wonderful little volume with clear concise reflections; it is theologically sound, and very moving.

The description of this volume is:

“Lent invites us to “return to the Lord” with our “whole heart.” This daily devotional is designed for families to put their faith into practice. Written by popular author Amy Welborn, the booklet encourages parents and family to grow together during the important season of Lent. Welborn suggests six areas of focus for helping family members develop stronger Christian habits—one for each week of the Lenten season. Habits of self-examination, prayer, fasting, charitable giving, gratitude and sacrificial love are discussed and prayed about with simple style that is both hopeful and doable.”

I worked through the digital edition of the book, and I I found evidence of older physical booklets editions. But the eBook is available readily. The chapters in the volume are:

Introduction

Ash Wednesday

Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Friday after Ash Wednesday

Saturday after Ash Wednesday

First Sunday of Lent

Monday, First Week of Lent

Tuesday, First Week of Lent

Wednesday, First Week of Lent

Thursday, First Week of Lent

Friday, First Week of Lent

Saturday, First Week of Lent

Second Sunday of Lent

Monday, Second Week of Lent

Tuesday, Second Week of Lent

Wednesday, Second Week of Lent

Thursday, Second Week of Lent

Friday, Second Week of Lent

Saturday, Second Week of Lent

Third Sunday of Lent

Monday, Third Week of Lent

Tuesday, Third Week of Lent

Wednesday, Third Week of Lent

Thursday, Third Week of Lent

Friday, Third Week of Lent

Saturday, Third Week of Lent

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Monday, Fourth Week of Lent

Tuesday, Fourth Week of Lent

Wednesday, Fourth Week of Lent

Thursday, Fourth Week of Lent

Friday, Fourth Week of Lent

Saturday, Fourth Week of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

Monday, Fifth Week of Lent

Tuesday, Fifth Week of Lent

Wednesday, Fifth Week of Lent

Thursday, Fifth Week of Lent

Friday, Fifth Week of Lent

Saturday, Fifth Week of Lent

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

Monday of Holy Week

Tuesday of Holy Week

Wednesday of Holy Week

Holy Thursday

Good Friday

Holy Saturday/Easter Sunday

Each week follows the same format, with reflections for each day, a Pray Together each day and a Grow Together section each week and a reminder to check in on it part way through the week. A sample day is:

“Ash Wednesday

Yet even now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart…

Joel 2:12

Today, the first day of Lent, is called Ash Wednesday. Many people celebrate this beginning by going to church and receiving ashes, usually in the form of a cross, on their foreheads. These ashes are a sign of being sorry for our sins. They’re a sign that we want to be in communion with Jesus, who carried his cross because he loves us.

God loves each of us and made us for life with him. But that happy life with God doesn’t just happen. We can say yes to it—or we can say no. We can grow and learn in ways that bring our hearts closer to him—or farther away. Lent is a time when people all over the world, young and old, take up their crosses and let Jesus lead them closer to the Father as they pray, sacrifice and help others more.

That’s our path, the one we’re learning to walk on. There are bad habits to turn from and good habits to embrace. We’re not alone on this journey. We’re with each other; we’re with Jesus.

Let’s get ready.

Pray Together:

Jesus, we are on our way, bringing our hearts to you. Amen.

Grow Together:

For the rest of this week, think and talk about some good habits of praying, fasting and giving that you can try to develop during Lent, individually and as a family.”

I highlighted a number of sections my first time through this volume, some of them are:

“Over the next few weeks, we’re going to take a journey. We won’t be in a car or an airplane. We won’t ride the bus or our bikes. This will be a journey of our hearts. It’s Lent, and we’re on our way to Jesus! Of course, Jesus is already with us. Always! But even though the Lord is a part of our lives, do we always listen to him? Are we as close to him as we could be? Do we know his peace and mercy all the time? Are we present to Jesus with our whole heart?”

“Our Lenten journey is a special time to learn and grow with Jesus, walking with him to the fullness of life at Easter. Every week of Lent, the devotions of this booklet will focus on habits that help—or hurt—us on this journey. We’ll try to break habits that keep our whole hearts from Jesus and build good ones that open our hearts to him.”

“Week 1: Practicing habits of self-examination 

Week 2: Practicing habits of prayer 

Week 3: Practicing habits of fasting 

Week 4: Practicing habits of charitable giving 

Week 5: Practicing habits of gratitude 

Week 6: Practicing habits of sacrificial love”

“Today, the first day of Lent, is called Ash Wednesday. Many people celebrate this beginning by going to church and receiving ashes, usually in the form of a cross, on their foreheads. These ashes are a sign of being sorry for our sins. They’re a sign that we want to be in communion with Jesus, who carried his cross because he loves us.”

“For the rest of this week, think and talk about some good habits of praying, fasting and giving that you can try to develop during Lent, individually and as a family.”

“Becoming a joyful friend of Jesus is like that. His way is one of self-giving love. But that just doesn’t happen. That’s why we “give something up for Lent.” Practicing the habit of saying no to even small pleasures and saying yes to small crosses that come our way helps make us stronger. When those heavier crosses come our way, we’ll be ready.”

“Creator God, you made me and you love me. Help me to be honest about myself. Amen.”

“This week, individually and as a family, work on deepening habits and giving opportunities for self-examination: of embracing gifts and talents as well as admitting weaknesses.”

“God made each of us on purpose because he loves us. It’s a good habit to get into—to remember that God made us and loves us—every single day.”

“God, you created each one of us. Thank you for each special person here. Thank you! Amen.”

“These are all gifts too! In a way, they are much more important gifts than sports, school or the arts. Kindness and compassion are ways that we love—and God is love.”

“Every day, especially when we get discouraged, it’s good to thank God for something special about ourselves. Then, knowing how important that is, we turn around and, every day, make a habit of letting someone else know how special they are!”

“We’re made for the happy times, both here on earth and forever in heaven. That’s why we want to take some time every day—maybe in the evening before we fall asleep—to be honest about ourselves. In the quiet of our own rooms, we can go over and review our day, admit what we’ve done wrong to God, and ask him for mercy. He’s always ready to give that!”

“We hurt each other. We make mistakes. We ignore each other. We’re selfish. It sometimes seems easier to try to ignore that hurt, but Jesus tells us here that we can’t do that. It’s our whole heart we’re bringing to him, honest and true. No secrets. No hidden anger.”

“Highlight(aqua) - Page 26 · Location 163

This week, help one another explore and develop habits of prayer, both individually and as a family.”

“We want to get into the habit of praying all the time, wherever we are. But it also helps us to find special times and places to talk to and listen to Jesus. And Jesus did this himself! During Lent, we’re following Jesus. We’re walking with him. What’s your mountain? Where can you go by yourself to take time to pray every day?”

“Jesus, thank you for quiet times and places to praise and thank you. Amen.”

“Lord, every minute of every day is a gift from you. We praise you and bless you for this gift in all we do. Amen.”

“This week, support each other in acts of fasting and sacrifice. Think and talk about how these habits can help us tell God we’re sorry for our sins, live in solidarity with the poor and learn to depend on him, more than anything else, for our peace and happiness.”

“Lord, in fasting, may I learn to base my peace and happiness on your love. You are my rock. Amen.”

“We set the things of the world aside—even good things that don’t hurt us—because we want to focus on God. He’s speaking to us too. Every day that we build those habits of setting aside the world for even a minute, we’re learning to listen to God first, who is always with us, right here.”

“We remember your cross. We thank you for your love. May we share that love and give joyfully. Amen.”

“Jesus, may I recognize you and serve you today. Amen.”

“This week, practice habits of gratitude every day. Say thank you to God through words and deeds of love and sacrifice. Say thank you to others in your family for who they are. Leave notes and gifts and give hugs. Practice gratitude in small ways.

Monday, Fifth Week of Lent

“Life can be hard. We all have bad days. We make mistakes, we do the wrong thing, we suffer accidents. We have to work hard when we feel like playing. But have you noticed something about those hard times? Have you noticed that the ways you’ve grown and become stronger, wiser and more understanding are often because of the difficulties and challenges, even suffering? No one likes hard times. We don’t wish for suffering. We don’t seek it, and we surely don’t want to cause it.”

“That’s a good habit, isn’t it? No matter what happens, offer a little prayer of thanks. Even when something isn’t going my way and I’m a little unhappy with another person, I can take a deep breath and, instead of complaining, start by praying, “Thank you, Lord.”

“Every person we meet is, in some way, on a journey to Jerusalem themselves, getting ready to face a cross, great or small. Suffering is a part of every person’s life. We can be a help to them or not. The habits we form—of listening, of not being quick to judge, of being willing to cheerfully sacrifice our time even in small ways—will shape our lives into a welcoming “home,” the kind that Jesus found with his friends.”

I hope that sample day and those quotes give you a feel for this volume. This was a book I am very thankful I have worked through and look forward to reading it again during Lent. I really appreciated many of the reflections and almost all the prayers at the ends of specific days.  

This is an excellent Lenten resource, a great volume. I can easily recommend it. This is a wonderful volume that will inspire and challenge. I encourage you to pick it up and give it a try!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Amy Welborn:

Reconciled to God Daily Lenten Devotions
Wish You Were Here: Travels Through Loss and Hope
A Catholic Woman's Book of Days
de-Coding Da Vinci: The Facts Behind the Fiction of the Da Vinci Code
Loyola Kids Book of Saints
Loyola Kids Book of Heroes: Stories of Catholic Heroes and Saints throughout History
Here. Now. a Catholic Guide to the Good Life
The Words We Pray
Praying the Rosary: With the Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries
Decoding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend, and Lies
Come Meet Jesus: An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Be Saints! An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI
Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion
Mary and the Christian Life: Scriptural Reflections on the First Disciple
Adventures in Assisi: On the Path with St. Francis: On the Path with St. Francis
Prepare Him Room: Advent Family Devotions
Daybreaks: Daily Reflections for Lent and Easter 

Parables: Stories of the Kingdom
The Absence of War

Relatable and Authentic, Transparent, So Real

All Will Be Well

Nothing Else Occurs To Me

A Reason for Everything

Hope: An Anchor for the Soul 30 Daily Devotions 

Wonders of His Love: Family Devotions and Activities for Advent 

With Your Whole Heart: Family Devotions and Activities for Lent 

No Greater Love Stations of the Cross for Young People 

...

Prove It Series:
Prove It! God
Prove It! Church
Prove It! Jesus
Prove It! Prayer
Prove It! You
Prove It! The Catholic Teen Bible

...