Thursday 7 April 2016

Magnificat Lenten Companion 2016 - Ed. Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.


Lenten Companion 2016
The Magnificat
Ed. Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.
eISBN 9781941709184
ASIN B017YF58C8
 


This was one of the Lenten devotionals I used this year. I have used the Magnificat over the last for seasons of lent and every time have found it extremely beneficial. The meditations are wonderful. There is a wide range of contributors from clergy, religious and the laity. There is also a great 12 pages of prayers at the end of the Lenten devotions. It also contains the full devotion of the stations of the cross as part of the Good Friday readings.

The contributors this year were:
Father Peter John Cameron, O.P.
Father Romanus Cessario, O.P.
Anthony Esolen
Father Anthony Giambrone, O.P.
Father Tim S. Hickey
John Janaro
Elizabeth M. Kelly
Heather King
Melinda Knight
Lisa Lickona
Father Ambrose Mary Little, O.P.
Monsignor Gregory E. S. Malovetz
Regis Martin
James Monti is
Father Vincent Nagle, F.S.C.B.,
Martha Reynolds
Father George William Rutler
Rita A. Simmonds
Joshua Stancil
Father Richard Veras

Father Cameron does an amazing job editing these devotionals. As Mentioned I have used the advent or Lenten devotional books from Magificat 8 times over the last 5 years. I have always been impressed with the writing. The variety of contributors and the spiritual challenge they present. Each Day is a reflection based upon a bible passage, a prayer and a suggested penance. Sometimes it takes a day or two before you can complete the penance but keeping them in mind helps with the growth through this spiritual season. For me this time around one of the most moving was Elizabeth M. Kelly's reflection on March 17th:

MONDAY, MARCH 7
Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent

He Believed What Jesus Said

Some years ago, my brother-in-law died in a plane crash. My nephew, another passenger and just thirteen at the time, survived but was stranded on the side of a mountain overnight awaiting rescue, all the while there with his father's body. Understandably, the night was torturous. Since then, my nephew has had numerous surgeries to repair various injuries sustained in the crash. For one of the last, my sister requested to be with her son immediately on entering recovery. She told my parents, "Sometimes, when he's coming out of anesthesia, he relives the crash. He wakes up crying, saying, 'Dad, please don't be dead!'" In private, my parents went to work. They began offering up their time in adoration for my nephew, specifically that he would wake up from this surgery thinking of something happy, maybe even wake up laughing and singing. Like the father in today's Gospel, their faith in a healing God was strong. They knew they only needed to ask with fervor and faith- and then believe what Jesus said. The father begged Jesus, Sir, come… before my child dies, and Jesus replied, Your son will live. At that very moment the boy was healed. The doctor's first words to my sister after surgery: "Boy, your son is a happy kid. He's coming out of surgery laughing and singing."

Reflection based on John 4: 43-54
Elizabeth M. Kelly

Father ever faithful, strengthen me, that my prayers may be uttered in confidence, heard in heaven, and answered in generous detail to echo the glory of your faithfulness. Today's suggested penance: Pray the rosary with the intention to renew your Marian devotion.

If you are in doubt about what to read next lent or event advent you cannot go wrong with the Magnificat Companion!


(Note: this books is part of a series: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)


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