With Ash Wednesday a couple of days ago, we began
the Lenten season. In addition personal penance,
fasting, extra prayer, contemplation of Christ’s Passion, an intellectually
minded Christian should also read a spiritual work during the 40-something days
leading to Easter Sunday. This year I’ve
decided to read a medieval work, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. The
work was completed around 1427 by a German monk (or perhaps a combined effort
of three monks) in the Netherlands. I’ve
been cautioned by several people here that this might now be the most exciting
read. What motivated me to read this,
though, was that this book was at one point the most read book after the
bible. So without fear, I have jumped
into it and will provide some observation in the coming weeks.
In addition, I hope
all will take up some religious work.
Here are a number of ideas. First
let me plug books on what I have now considered the patron saint of this blog,
St. Catherine of Siena. My Lenten read
from last year was a biography by the Nobel Prize winning author, Sigrid Undset,
CatherineOf Siena. I also posted four blogs on my reading of the
biography which you can find here.
I also recommend these two other books on St.
Catherine, though I’ve only perused them.
A book of her prayers, The Prayersof Catherine of Siena: 2nd Edition by Suzanne Noffke and an understanding of her theology, Catherine of Siena: Spiritual Development inHer Life and Teaching by Thomas McDermott.
In addition you can find some really good ideas for
Lenten reads from two Catholic crackerjack book smiths, bloggers Elizabeth
Scalia at The Anchoress and Julie Davis at Happy Catholic. They both provide a long list of great ideas to
read during Lent. I’m just going to list
the books they recommend, but both posts give little summaries of the books and
links to the Amazon page, so check out their write ups.
From The Anchoress’s “Lenten Reading Recommendations 2014”:
Jesus
the Bridegroom: The Greatest Love Story Ever Told
by Brant Pitre.
Jesus
of Nazareth by Pope Benedict XVI.
Jesus:
A Pilgrimage by James Martin, SJ.
Julian’s
Gospel: Illuminating the Life and Revelations of Julian of Norwich,
by Veronica Mary Rolf.
The
Showings of Julian of Norwich: A New Translation
by Mirabai Starr.
Provocations:
Spiritual Writings of Kierkegaard by Soren Kierkegaard.
Yes,
God!: What Ordinary Families Can Learn about Parenting from Today’s Vocation
Stories, by Susie Lloyd.
Through
the Year with Pope Francis: Daily Reflections by Pope
Francis.
Gulag:
A History by Anne Applebaum.
With
God in Russia, by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek SJ.
Mercy
in the City: How to Feed the Hungry, Give Drink to the Thirsty, Visit the
Imprisoned, and Keep Your Day Job, by Kerry Weber.
Beginning
to Pray by Anthony Bloom.
Cultivating
God’s Garden Through Lent, by Margaret Rose Realy.
Simplifying
the Soul: Lenten Practices to Renew Your Spirit
by Paula Huston.
The
Romance of Religion by Father Dwight Longenecker.
God
for Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Lent and Easter
edited by Greg Pennoyer and Gregory Wolfe.
Naked
and You Clothed Me: Homilies and Reflections, with
contributions from Deacon Greg Kandra, James Martin, SJ, Rob Bell and others.
And don’t forget Ms. Scalia’s books:
Strange
Gods: Unmasking the Idols in Everyday Life by Elizabeth
Scalia.
I
Don't Want to be a Hoo-er by Elizabeth Scalia.
From Happy Catholic’s “Lenten Reading Ideas”:
The
Medium and the Light: Reflections on Religion and Media
by Marshall McLuhan.
The
Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Night
Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko.
The
Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold.
The
Reapers Are the Angels by Alden Bell.
Harry
Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling.
In
This House of Brede by Rumer Godden.
Five
for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden.
The
Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis.
The
Last Monk of Tibhirine by Freddy Derwahl.
A
Song For Nagasaki by Fr. Paul Glynn.
The
Bells of Nagasaki by Takashi Nagai.
When
the Carpenter Was King by Maria von Trapp.
Lectio
Divina books by Stephen J. Binz.
Night
of the Confessor by Tomas Halik.
Gospel
of Mark, The (Catholic Commentary on Sacred
Scripture) by Mary Healy.
To
Know Christ Jesus by Frank Sheed.
The
School of Prayer: An Introduction to the Divine Office for All Christians
by John Brook.
Beginning
to Pray by Anthony Bloom.
Contemplating
the Trinity: The Path to Abundant Christian Life
by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa.
And don’t forget Ms. Davis’s books:
Happy
Catholic by Julie Davis.
Lord,
Open My Heart: Daily Scriptural Reflections for Lent
by Julie Davis.
One common pick between the two bloggers is Anthony
Bloom’s Beginning to Pray. That sounds interesting enough to pick it
up. I’m always looking for more ideas on
prayer.
Have you read any of the recommendations? I’d like to hear your thoughts on them if you have. I may pick a second read for Lent, and I can’t
decide which one. Do you have any
recommendations?
I DO think the Imitation is exciting! Just so pithy that I find it hard to digest large chunks all at once. I think you'll find it wonderful. I have a translation that is in older language, which I like. I have heard of others liking the translations in modern English better.
ReplyDeleteWow those lists are long! From the Anchoress, I didn't recognize a whole lot. I also want to read a book by Fr. Walter J. Ciszek, He Leadeth Me. I always wanted to try Jesus of Nazareth, too, but I don;t think this year, as I am already full to overflowing. I also just heard about Mercy in the City, and want to read that...sometime.
The Happy Catholic List, I found interesting, and... strange? I can understand Lord of the Rings, but Harry Potter? I'm sure she has some reason. Don't get me wrong, I read all the books and enjoyed them, and don't see the supposed danger there, but as spiritual reading for Lent?
I just finished the Space Trilogy. Love it!
I posted my reading list over on my blog. The only addition I am making is Father Z's daily Lentcast. They are fantastic. I download them to my phone, and can listen to them while I wait places, etc.
I will probably come back and refer to your list when I am ready for more reading material! Some of them look really good.
If you read her (Julie at Happy Catholic) post, she explains why Harry Potter. It was a surprise to me too but I've never read any Harry Potter.
DeleteI look forward to your posts about The Imitation of Christ. Perhaps a short (modern language) summary every now and then.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Thanks for stopping by Victor M. I envision at least one post on The Imitation of Christ. I'm about a quarter of the way through and already have formed some definite thoughts.
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