Lenten Reading

I am sure I'll be adding to this as other bloggers post their reading recommendations.

So what will everybody be reading? I'll go first...

• Praying the Rosary with St. Paul by Paul Thigpen ... I have been reading a mystery a day and it has opened up rosary meditation for me amazingly. (Results: truly a wonderful book about the rosary and the meditations are wonderful. Of course, I'm always a sucker for anything by Paul Thigpen. He is one of our most underappreciated Catholic authors in my opinion. Along with David Scott.)
  
  
• My Daily Catholic Bible, New Testament, by Paul Thigpen ... again, I have been reading a section a day and if the Bible reading hasn't enlightened me, the saint quote of the day has. (Results - just working my way through the readings and the saint quote each day provided many of those little "aha" God moments. Highly recommended as is anything by Thigpen, see my comments for the book above.)
  
  
• New Seeds of Contemplation by Thomas Merton ... for our Catholic women's book club. These essays may be what help me appreciate Merton. There are 39 essays so one per day is perfect for Lenten reading. (Results - I read it all and wound up liking it very much with a few exceptions. Read my comments and an excerpt here.)
  

Here are some other books that I can recommend ...

• Contemplating the Trinity: The Path to Abundant Christian Life by Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa. He was the preacher to the papal household for Pope John Paul II and continues in that capacity for Pope Benedict XVI. I always have found his writing and homilies to be both easy to understand and inspirational. I have found this book to be the same sort as The Interior Castle in that reading a few paragraphs a day lets the message sink in each day. I read this during Lent a couple of years ago and it was wonderful.
  
  
• In This House of Brede by Rumer Godden. My review is at the link.
  
  
• Five for Sorrow, Ten for Joy by Rumer Godden. My review is at the link.
  
  
• Mother Teresa's Secret Fire by Fr. Joseph Langford. My initial commentary is at the link and copious excerpts can be found here.
  

• Revolution of Love ... David Scott's look at Mother Teresa and how she was sent to show us what God wants us to know for our time.
• John Paul the Great ... Peggy Noonan's book about how Pope John Paul II brought her back into the Church. Very inspirational and every time I remember this book I begin saying the rosary again.
• Adventures in Orthodoxy ... Fr. Dwight Longenecker manages to communicate the sheer joy of being Christian and Catholic by examining the Apostle's Creed. I don't know how he does it but it is a pure joy to read.
• Fathers of the Church ... if your taste runs more to Church history, Mike Aquilina's book which places the Fathers of the Church (and some of the Mothers) in context within Church history gives us good material to reflect upon in at least one piece of each person's writings. This is like a continuing letter to us from those who defended Christ and His Church.

(You know, these are amazingly accessible times for readers ... it was distinctly odd when I realized that every author in this list had a web presence of some sort.)

Lists, Glorious Lists

• Dante to Dead Man Walking Project ... you may want to check out this list of Christian classics, keeping in mind that I have edited and commented quite a bit. You definitely need to check the comments box if you go this route because there were many good suggestions there also.

Other Bloggers' Reading Lists

• Jen at Conversion Diary has a wonderful list full of classics. I can second her recommendation for He Leadeth Me. She makes me interested as well in rereading Introduction to the Devout Life which probably would speak to me very differently now than when I read it as a new convert.
• The Anchoress also has an intriguing list. I also would like to read Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust, by Immaculée Ilibagiza but haven't gotten my hands on a copy yet. Do go see what else is on her list. If nothing else this is the start of aq great reading list to pursue throughout the year.
• Catholic Mom got in on the list making early. Check out her recommendations. You can never go wrong with something by Pope Benedict OR with The Screwtape Letters.
  

Over to You ...
I can't wait to see what great ideas turn up in the comments box!