This volume contains an entry for each day of Lent, beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with Easter Sunday. The simple meditations, excerpted from Fr. Williams' popular "A Heart Like His," are meant to deepen a Christian's journey through Lent by learning to know Christ's heart more intimately.
Are you looking for a way to keep your family engaged in the true spiritual nourishment Lent has to offer? Tending the Garden of Our Hearts offers family devotions based on the scriptures for each day of Great Lent, including questions to discuss and ponder and an appendix full of hands-on activities to bring the lessons of the season to life. Whether you use it every day or dip into it occasionally as time permits, this book will help the whole family get more out of this crucial season of the Orthodox year.
Even three hundred years ago, believers found it difficult to sustain for forty days the proper Lenten spirit. That's why even then, countless Christians turned to the writings of Bishop Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet (1627-1704), whose great piety and simple eloquence won him renown as one of the greatest preachers of his time. From Bishop Bossuet's sermons and spiritual writings, believers drew ever greater Lenten wisdom and strength. Now translator Christopher Blum has selected from Bishop Bossuet's voluminous works fifty brief but remarkably powerful meditations that complement the daily readings at Mass during the Lenten season, thus offering to us the perfect companion for a thoughtful and fruitful Lent. If you read and meditate briefly on just one of them each day in Lent, I guarantee that this good French bishop's eloquence will soon have you not merely remembering the events of Christ's journey to His Crucifixion; it will have you spiritually walking with Him on that journey . . . which is precisely what we are called to do in Lent! With Bossuet, this Lent you will find yourself saying, "O Jesus! I present myself to you to make my journey in your company. O my Savior, receive your traveler! Here I am ready, holding on to nothing. Let me go with You to the Father." That's the fire that should burn in the heart of all Christians. This Lent, let Bishop Bossuet enkindle it in yours. Among the Meditations: God Alone Suffices Pray to God in Secret The Truth and the Life Tempted in the Desert The Sign of Jonah Love Your Enemies This Is My Beloved Son And You Will Be Forgiven The Wicked Tenants In Spirit and in Truth The Silence of Christ Priest, Prophet, and King Our Life, a Journey to God The Great Commandment I Was Hungry and You Fed Me The Love of God for Repentant Sinners Up to Jerusalem God, the Life of the Soul The Witness of the Baptist The Raising of Lazarus Jesus Is Persecuted The True Messiah The Anointing The Betrayal The Eucharist The Passion The Brevity of Life Washed of Our Sins A Sign of Contradiction No Man Ever Spoke Like This Man The Entry of Our Lord into Jerusalem To Unite Ourselves with Christ
The lectionary readings for the Lenten season offer a rich source of information and affirmation on our role as baptized disciples of Christ. Change Our Hearts uses these lectionary texts as a springboard to reflections on the meaning of our baptism and its implications for lifelong ministry. It celebrates the richness of our Catholic liturgy and tradition, encouraging readers to use the Lenten season as an opportunity to immerse themselves in thoughtful prayer, reflection, and practice. Each day features the lectionary citations for that day, a reflection on an aspect of the readings, and a closing prayer or practice. It emphasizes the major themes of Lent-- fasting, prayer, almsgiving, conversion, discipleship--tied into the heart of our baptism in Christ. Readers will also find a strong theme of social justice running through the book. Change Our Hearts is an excellent resource for general parish use. Each day features the lectionary citations for that day, a reflection on an aspect of the readings, and a closing prayer or practice. It is also an ideal book to use with RCIA candidates; by using this book with both parishioners and RCIA candidates, you will enable the entire faith community to join in reflection on the meaning of baptism and Christian discipleship in a challenging, inspired way.
Pope John Paul II's pontificate has been one of the longest and most eventful of the whole history of the Catholic Church. More importantly, this Pope's enduring and courageous preaching of the Gospel message throughout the world has meant that an unprecedented number of people have been exposed to its challenging and invigorating influence. People of the most varied cultures and degrees of Christian commitment have listened to this ambassador of Christ as he addressed their needs and concerns while digging deep into the words of Jesus. Many have been moved to take up the Gospels themselves and rediscover their on-going relevance. Others have felt their devotion to the Church strengthened or have better understood its call to conquer evil with good, violence and hatred with forgiveness, selfishness and pride with humility and self-giving. The present volume is a small representation of John Paul II's teaching presented as a help to those who wish to live the Christian Church's season of Lent more meaningfully. However, it can also meet the interest of inquirers who wish to know something of the Pope's message to Christians and of his hopes for a world in which the respect for truth and the knowledge of God's love bring joy and peace to the hearts of many. Book jacket.
"For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him." John 3:17 Drawing on Scripture, literature, and personal experience, Fr. Ron Rolheiser shows us God's love is unconditional--God so loves us that he gave his only son. The death and resurrection of Jesus reveal a redeeming God, not a rescuing one. And that redemption comes through forgiveness. For each day of Lent through the Second Sunday of Easter, Daybreaks invites us pray and reflect. Fr. Ron explores the themes of humility and repentance, being a disciple, justice and mercy, the nature of God, faith, the Pascal Mystery, gratitude, and redemption. His daily reflections challenge us to be more loving and forgiving Christians.
The reflections contained here invite us to ponder our lives and to open our listening hearts to the voice of God, so that our Lent can truly be a Lent in its deepest sense a spring that buds forth new life. Drawing upon classic and current literature, Marc Foley accompanies us in this Scriptural-personal Lenten journey. He does it in a way that invites us to both explore the human condition and embrace the grace the Lord again offers us in order to transform who we are and how we are living. What more than this can you ask of a Lenten guide?" Robert J. Wicks Author of Everyday Simplicity This little gem [of Lenten reflections] could apply just as well to any time during the liturgical year... Foley turns the reading of this book into an enjoyable and beneficial experience." Kieran Kavanaugh, O.C.D. Carmelite scholar and translator of the Collected Works of St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila
The quotations found within the pages of Lenten Meditations With Saint Pio of Pietrelcina are drawn from his own letters, allowing readers to accompany him on his Lenten journey. Daily excerpts are paired with inspiring Scripture passages that navigate readers through the themes of the season. "Deluxe pamphlet This item is not returnable."
For each day of Lent this inspiring book has a hymn from the Triodion, a quotation from the Fathers, a prayer, Bible readings and a meditation. A beautiful way to keep Lent by meditating on the spiritual truths offered from the wealth of our tradition. An excellent tool for spiritual growth.4th printing.