Lent with Benedict XVI Season of New Life - Pope Benedict XVI - CTS Books

Lent with Benedict XVI: 

Season of New Life

Pope Benedict XVI

Catholic Truth Society

ISBN 9781860827709

ISBN 1860827705

CTS Booklet Do855

Over the last few years, I have read several of books by and about Pope Benedict XVI, many from the Catholic Truth Society. Of the popes in my lifetime, I find his writings of immense spiritual benefit. I would state that I underappreciated him until his resignation. And since then, I have read much. And with each piece I read I appreciate his wisdom, faith, and stand against modernism. And nearly every time I finish one, I find another I want to read. This one was hard to track down but it was well worth it. I tracked down a used out-of-copy that was in near perfect condition. This is another great read by Pope Benedict XVI’s. 

The online descriptions of the book is:

“Each year Lent presents us with a providential opportunity to go deeper as Christians. Drawing on addresses and homilies, this booklet brings home Pope Benedict's urgent call to conversion of heart and therefore to happiness. The journey to Easter joy begins on Ash Wednesday and takes us through Lent. Palm Sunday, Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter Vigil, Eastertide and finally to Pentecost.”

The back of the cover states:

“Each year Lent presents us with a providential opportunity to go deeper as Christians. 

Drawing on recent addresses and homilies, this booklet brings home Pope Benedict’s urgent call to conversion of heart and therefore to happiness. The Journey to Easter joy begins on Ash Wednesday and takes us through Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter Vigil, Eastertide and finally to Pentecost.

The Pilgrim could have no better spiritual guide than Benedict XVI.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Rediccovering our Baptism

Streghten our desire to change – Ash Wednesday

Authentic conversion to God

Walking in Lent

Road that leads to the living God – Palm Sunday

He Makes us all one – the Lord’s Supper

Way of the Cross – Good Friday

Reason and Freedom in creation – Easter Vigil

Continious resurrection within us – Octive of Easter

The gift of joy itself - Pentacost

I highlighted numerous passages while reading this booklet, and could have easily doubled the number. Here are some of them:

“The Lenten period, which leads us to the celebration of Holy Easter, is for the Church a most valuable and important liturgical time, in view of which I am pleased to offer a specific word in order that it may be lived with due diligence.”

“The fact that, in most cases, Baptism is received in infancy highlights how it is a gift of God: no one earns eternal life through their own efforts.”

“In fact, the Church has always associated the Easter Vigil with the celebration of Baptism: this Sacrament realizes the great mystery in which man dies to sin, is made a sharer in the new life of the Risen Christ and receives the same Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead (cf. Rm 8:11).”

“This free gift must always be rekindled in each one of us, and Lent offers us a path like that of the catechumenate, which, for the Christians of the early Church, just as for catechumens today, is an irreplaceable school of faith and Christian life.”

“The Sunday of the man born blind presents Christ as the light of the world. The Gospel confronts each one of us with the question: "Do you believe in the Son of man?" "Lord, I believe!" (Jn 9:35. 38), the man born blind joyfully exclaims, giving voice to all believers.”

“Communion with Christ in this life prepares us to overcome the barrier of death, so that we may live eternally with him. Faith in the resurrection of the dead and hope in eternal life open our eyes to the ultimate meaning of our existence: God created men and women for resurrection and life, and this truth gives an authentic and definitive meaning to human history, to the personal and social lives of men and women, to culture, politics and the economy.”

“The Lenten journey finds its fulfillment in the Paschal Triduum, especially in the Great Vigil of the Holy Night: renewing our baptismal promises, we reaffirm that Christ is the Lord of our life, that life which God bestowed upon us when we were reborn of "water and Holy Spirit", and we profess again our firm commitment to respond to the action of the Grace in order to be his disciples.”

“Through the traditional practices of fasting, almsgiving and prayer, which are an expression of our commitment to conversion, Lent teaches us how to live the love of Christ in an ever more radical way.”

“In synthesis, the Lenten journey. in which we are invited Lo contemplate the Mystery of the Cross, is meant to reproduce within us "the pattern of his death" (Ph 3: 10), so as to effect a deep conversion in our lives; that we may be transformed by the action of the Holy Spirit, like St Paul on the road to Damascus; that we may firm ly orient our existence according to the will of God;”

“Lenten period is a favorable time to recognize our weakness and to accept, through a sincere inventory of our life, the renewing Grace of the Sacrament of Penance, and walk resolutely towards Christ.”

“The blessed ashes imposed upon our forehead are a sign that reminds us of our condition as creatures, that invites us to repent, and to intensify our commitment to convert to follow the Lord ever more closely.”

“The First Sunday of Lent, known as the "Sunday of the Temptation" because it presents Jesus' temptations in the wilderness, invites us to renew our definitive adherence to God and, in order to remain faithful to him, to face courageously the struggle that awaits us.”

“In the Church's tradition, this journey we are asked to take in Lent is marked by certain practices: fasting, almsgiving and prayer. Fasting means abstinence from food but includes other forms of privation for a more modest life.”

“In other words, it is in practice a question of adopting an attitude of authentic conversion to God – of returning to him - recognizing his holiness, his power, his majesty.”

“Let us set out confidently and joyfully on the Lenten journey. Forty days separate us from Easter; this "strong" season of the liturgical year is a favourable time which is granted to us so that we may attend more closely to our conversion, listen more intensely to the word of God and intensify our prayer and penance.”

“Let us invoke the Virgin Mary so that he may help us always to listen to and follow the Lord Jesus, even to the Passion and the Cross, in order to also participate in his glory.”

“God the Father sent him to quench our thirst for eternal life, giving us his love, but to give us this gift Jesus asks for our faith.”

“Each one of us can identify himself with the Samaritan woman: Jesus is waiting for us, especially in this Season of Lent, to speak to our hearts, to my heart. Let us pause a moment in silence, in our room or in a church or in a separate place.”

“Sin wounded humanity and destined it to the darkness of death, but the newness of life shines out in Christ, as well as the destination to which we are called. In him, reinvigorated by the Holy Spirit, we receive the strength to defeat evil and to do good.”

“We need God: he draws us upwards; letting ourselves be upheld by his hands - by faith in other words – sets us aright and gives us the inner strength that raises us on high. We need the humility of a faith which seeks the face of God and trusts in the truth of his love.”

“This evening in faith we have accompanied Jesus as he takes the final steps of his earthly journey the most painful steps, the steps that lead to Calvary. We have heard the cries of the crowd, the words of condemnation, the insults of the soldiers, the lamentation of the Virgin Mary and of the women. Now we are immersed in the silence of this night, in the silence of the cross, the silence of death.”

“Let us gaze on the crucified Jesus, and let us ask in prayer: Enlighten our hearts, Lord, that we may follow you along the way of the cross.”

“In these first clays of the Easter Season - which lasts until Pentecost - we are still filled with the freshness and new joy that the liturgical celebrations have brought to our hearts.”

“The expectations of our time are so numerous: we Christians, firmly believing that Christ's Resurrection has renewed man without taking him from the world in which he builds his history, we must be luminous witnesses of this new life that Easter has brought.”

“This is what the Church wants to tell us: the Spirit Creator of all things and the Holy Spirit whom the Lord caused to come down from the Father upon the community of the disciples are one and the same. Creation and redemption belong to each other and constitute, in depth, one mystery of love and of salvation.”

“All the sacraments, each in its own way, communicate divine life to human beings, thanks to the Holy Spirit who works within them.”

“Therefore let us pray: Lord, show yourself! Make us the gift of your presence and we shall have the most beautiful gift: your joy.”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this volume. The number of times Benedict concludes a section with “Let us entrust our Lenten journey to the Virgin Mary, …” brings home the centrality of seeking her guidance, through Lent and the whole year. This volume was built from 10 pieces given in 2010 and 2011. This is another excellent little volume on Lent from the talks and homilies of Pope Benedict XVI. It was wonderful to work through this book, I was blessed to track it down and you will if you do as well. 

This volume was a wonderful little volume and easy to engage with. It is well worth a read. Another excellent volume based on the writings and teachings of Pope Benedict. I can easily recommend it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Link to reviews of other books by and about Pope Benedict XVI.

Books by Benedict XVI:

The Way of the Cross - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger - Pope Benedict XVI
Finding Life's Purpose: Inspiration for Young People
Don't Be Afraid To Be Saints - with Pope John Paul II
Confession Advice and Encouragement from Pope Benedict XVI 
From the Depths of Our Hearts - Pope Benedict XVI and Robert Cardinal Sarah
Way of the Cross Meditations and Prayers
Way of Calvary: Stations of the Cross 
Spiritual Masters Fathers and Writers of the First Millennium 
Spiritual Masters Medieval Fathers and Writers

True Revolution: The Call to Be Christian Today 

Via Dolorosa with Pope Benedict XVI

Way of the Cross with Pope Benedict XVI 2008

Lourdes Love is the True Cure

Give Yourself to Christ

Praying the Psalms – CTS Year of Faith

Christmas Homilies of Benedict XVI

Lent Easter Awaits Us Returning to the Way of God

Lent, the Journey to Easter Joy: More Words of Encouragement

Paul of Tarsus

Saint Paul

The Way of the Cross at the Colosseum - 2010

Charity In Truth - Ignatius Press

Caritas in Veritate - Catholic Truth Society

The Lenten Journey Words for Lent and Easter

Christ is Our Peace! Homilies and Addresses in Turkey 

How to spread the Gospel Advice and encouragement from Pope Benedict XVI

The Fathers of the Church

Church Fathers From Clement of Rome to Augustine

Church Fathers and Teachers From Leo The Great to Peter Lombard

Jesus, the Apostles and the Early Church and Church Fathers 

Do Not be Afraid to Believe Homilies and Addresses in Africa 

10 Things Pope Benedict Wants You To Know - John L. Allen Jr. - CTS Books 

10 Things Pope Benedict Wants You To Know - John L. Allen Jr. - Liguori   

Lent with Benedict XVI: Season of New Life 

...       

Books About Pope Benedict:
Habemus Papam! Pope Benedict XVI - Regina Doman and Sean Lam
Benedict XVI - Helena Scott and Ethel Tolansky
A Pope of Surprises: The First Five Years of Pope Benedict XVI's Papacy - Helena Scott and Ethel Tolansky
Be Saints! An Invitation from Pope Benedict XVI - Amy Welborn and Ann Kissane Engelhart
Take Five: Meditations Pope Benedict XVI - Mike Aquilina and Fr. Kris Stubna
Friendship with Jesus: Pope Benedict XVI talks to Children on Their First Holy Communion – Amy Welborn and Ann Engelhart

Benedict XVI: Defender of the Faith - Joseph Pearce

...   

Making Sunday Special: The Lord’s Day - Charlotte Ostermann - CTS Deeper Christianity Series

Making Sunday Special: 

The Lord’s Day

Deeper Christianity Series

Charlotte Ostermann

Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860828546

eISBN 9781784692544

ASIN B0714KRCSN

CTS Booklet SP38

Over the last several years, I have read many books from the Catholic Truth Society, over 440 of them in fact, many read more than once; this all since the spring of 2018. Most were good reads; some were great reads; and a few are exceptional. This is a good and interesting read, as are the others in this series I have read. It is the seventeenth in the Deeper Christianity Series that I have read, many of them have been read twice.  This is the First I have read by Charlotte Ostermann, and I believe the only of her works available from the CTS. This series is one of my favourites. This booklet was originally published 2013 and the eBook was released in 2017. The description of this volume is:

“Looking at Sunday as a day set aside for God in history and today. This booklet traces the importance of Sunday and shows how Christians can recover it as a means of rest and sanctification.

Looking at Sunday as a day set aside for God, in history and today. The fast pace of modern life and a growing secularism seem to have made it impossible to accept God’s invitation to make every seventh day a day of rest and contemplation. Starting with the Sabbath in the Jewish tradition and exploring the Christian Sunday Sabbath on the day of Christ’s Resurrection, this booklet traces the importance of Sunday. It also shows how Christians can recover it as a means of rest and sanctification. A great mix of historical background and practical instructions. Gives an overview of how the importance of Sunday has been understood and developed across the centuries.”

The chapters in the book are:

Introduction

What is the Sabbath?

It’s your Sabbath

Dwelling in Sabbath life

Planning your Sabbath

Questionnaire

Further reading

Appendix

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:

“Life in the twenty-first century is fast-paced, noisy, complex. Taking every seventh day as a day of rest and contemplation may seem impossible. How can we reconcile the realities of our busy lives with an invitation to keep one day open, still, uncluttered, holy? But this is what God invites us to do. And this is a day that will change your life.”

“The Sunday Sabbath was created just for you by the Author of Life himself, and corresponds perfectly to your unique personality, needs and situation in life. So far from being a legal obligation, a requirement, a demand, Sunday is like a holy servant created just for you by God, who knows you to a hair.”

“The Jews took the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy very seriously. To protect the rules given by God, though, they created a hedge of many prescriptions and proscriptions for Sabbath-keeping. In light of the freedom we now experience in the Eucharistic Sabbath, their practice seems too legalistic. But the commandment was never revoked, only fulfilled in Christ. We ignore it at our peril.”

“The hope of the Messiah is central to the Jewish sense of the Sabbath. In the kingdom of the Saviour, Israel would finally be wed to its beloved Shabbat, and the people of God would enter his own restful, joyful, eternal peace. Calling himself Lord of the Sabbath, Jesus directs us to the profound Jewish understanding of Shabbat as a basis for comprehending his own identity.”

“Holiday is the natural form for extended rest, but Sabbath-the supernatural holiday-is as like a travel break as the Eucharist is like bread!”

“But even re-entering daily life after a wonderful Sabbath day can be hard. You’ve spent time in kairos-carried away outside time-and must return to chronos, the ticking of the clock, the demands of work, the reality that the world is fighting against you.”

“One of the amazing things about Sabbath is that it begins to permeate the rest of your week. The better you keep your Sabbath-the more fully and truly you attune yourself to God, to freedom-the more all your other days will be transformed.”

“Your awareness of your own soul, emotions, body and mind increases, and so your skill at bringing into equilibrium this whole, real, unique self increases. This has implications for your prayer life, for your ability to radiate joy, for your health, for your growth in holiness. You’ll be bringing souvenirs, new habits, new friendships back from each Sabbath ‘holiday’ into your ‘normal’ life that vivify those other days and infuse them with the fruits of your Sabbath-keeping.”

“The final word in any discussion of Catholic life is really ‘Eucharist’. I cannot over-emphasise that in the Eucharist is the fullness of everything that can be given to man through any attention to spiritual practice, diet, education, etc.”

“When the Church obligates you to come to Mass each Sunday, she does not take away from your freedom to design your own, personal Sabbath-keeping. By anchoring you in truth, and making sure you receive the Living God, she frees and enables you to respond by crafting your Sabbath, your life.”

“You actually already have an eternal home. Though you live in this world, you are not of this world, but are in the process of ‘returning’ home for good.”

“As you learn to live Sabbath as a home-coming, your head will clear, and your sense of direction will improve. This weekly holiday is a trip to your true home, and as you enjoy it, you will grow more aware of the destiny you travel towards in your daily life.”

“TS Eliot referred to ‘distraction from distraction by distractions’. Well-intentioned constant busy-ness can mask failure in spiritual growth.”

“With each reception of Our Lord, you should develop a greater appetite for his gifts. One of the greatest of these is the gift of Sabbath rest.”

“Please ask God to awaken in you a greater awareness that you need more and more of his deep rest, and a greater desire to have all that he wants to give you through your own personalised practice of Sabbath-keeping!”

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this little volume. This book feels very different than many of the others in the series. It really got me thinking on several different tangents. And it is likely a volume I will need to return to again. I worked retail for many years and since then in IT often on call and with scheduled patching or upgrades on Sundays. As such this book has a deep pull for me. And it spoke to a longing I had for many years. Interestingly enough I read this volume on Palm Sunday at the beginning of Holy Week, where I booked the week off to focus on God. I had flex time that needed to be used up. Wanting to make Holy week special and Sundays special are part of the same desire of the heart. 

This book is one I believe we really need today. The CTS Deeper Christianity Series of books is written in such a way that they can easily be read in any order. Pick and choose the ones that interest you, read them in order, or jump around. I have been blessed by all the books in this series that I have read and can highly recommend this book and the series.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews:  2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

For reviews of other books in the CTS Deeper Christianity Series click here.

Books in the Deeper Christianity Series:
7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit 
8 Deadly Sins Learning to Defend the Life of Grace 

Art and Prayer  

Catholic Architecture 
Christian Fasting Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit 

Christian Meaning of Time 

Deepening Prayer Life Defined by Prayer 

Depths of Scripture 
Desire & Delight 
Faith, Hope and Love The Theological Virtues 
Fruits of the Holy Spirit Living a Happy Life 
Icons 
Lectio Divina Spiritual Reading of the Bible 
Kingdom of God 

Making Sunday Special 
Mary in the Liturgy 
Mary Mysteries of the Blessed Virgin Mary 
Providence and Prayer 
Prayer in Sadness and Sorrow 
Prudence, Justice, Courage, and Temperance 
Purgatory A Mystery of Love 
Rediscovering Virtue The Art of Christian Living 

Spiritual Warfare Fighting the Good Fight  

Teachings on Prayer  

The Call to Evangelise: Founded on loving intimacy with the Lord 
The Church's Year Unfolding the Mysteries of Christ 
The Gift of Prayer 

The Name of God The Revelation of the Merciful Presence of God 
The Trinity and the Spiritual Life 

Understanding The Story Of The Bible 
Union with God 
…

Other Books by Charlotte Ostermann:

3D Freedom

A Harmony of Healing

Catholics Communicate Christ

Catholics on the Hill: 

Dare Your Something!

Full Spectrum Freedom

Making Sunday Special – CTS Deeper Christianity

Sabbath Simplified

Souls at Play

Souls at Rest

Souls at Work

Upschooling: Twelve Catholic Homeschool Keynotes

…

33 Days to Divine Mercy - Matthew Kelly

33 Days to Divine Mercy
Matthew Kelly
Blue Sparrow Publishing 
Dynamic Catholic
ISBN 9781635825725

eISBN 9781635825770

ASIN B0DJQWLMTJ

This is an excellent volume, And watching the videos through Lent in 2025 waqs an amazing experience. This is a book all Catholics today need to read! I have read many volumes by Mathew Kelly over 37 times. I have also listened to a number of audio talks and attended 2 virtual conferences. I can state this is a wonderful volume, one the church greatly needs. The description of this volume states:

“Do you need a fresh start?

Are you ready for a new beginning?

Our God is a God of second chances and fresh starts.

33 Days to Divine Mercy is a spiritual pilgrimage, an inspiring journey, a new beginning. It begins by exploring the significance of mercy, both culturally and personally, to discover the transformative power it holds to heal our brokenness.

Jesus is the ultimate new beginning. Divine Mercy is the ultimate second chance. Jesus invites us to leave behind the old and step into the new. This is not merely a call to change our circumstances but to transform our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

What is Jesus inviting you to leave behind? Too often, we allow the weight of our past mistakes to prevent us from living the life God is calling us to live today. It's easy to get stuck in repetitive thought cycles that focus on our past mistakes and the guilt, shame, and regret they gave birth to. Divine Mercy wants to liberate you from these obsessive thoughts about your past. You are not the worst thing you have done, and Divine Mercy is greater than every poor choice you have ever made.

New beginnings are full of hope and possibilities.

Life is a pilgrimage. It is a sacred journey toward our eternal home with God. Learn what it means to be a Pilgrim of Mercy in a world that is constantly trying to reduce you to a tourist and consumer. Journey to the heart of Divine Mercy with Mother Teresa, John Paul II, Augustine, Monica, John Vianney, Sister Faustina, Katharine Drexel, Damien of Molokai, and Vincent de Paul.

Without mercy there can be no forgiveness, without forgiveness there can be no healing, and without healing there can be no lasting peace. Divine Mercy is the spiritual air we breathe. It is the bridge between this world and the next.

33 Days to Divine Mercy will take you on an adventure of life-changing proportions. Embrace this experience and it will forever change the way you think about your past, your present, and your future.”

The chapters Sections in this volume are:

Introduction

One Man’s Journey

Our Culture’s Need for Mercy

Our Personal Need for Mercy

The Four Movements of Mercy

What is Consecration?

The Incredible Journey Before You

The History of Divine Mercy

How to Use This Book

Let the Pilgrimage Begin

Week One: Divine Mercy and the Pilgrim

Day 1: What is Mercy?

Day 2: Who is Mercy?

Day 3: A New Beginning

Day 4: An Authentic Sense of Self

Day 5: Mercy Isn’t Earned

Day 6: Gentle Kindness

Day 7: Humility, Humility, Humility

Week Two: Divine Mercy and the Saints

Day 8: Faustina: Mercy is Stronger Than Our Misery

Day 9: John Paul II: The Happiest Day of My Life

Day 10: Augustine: More Beautiful Than Ever

Day 11: Monica: Every Family Needs a Prayerful Giant

Day 12: Katharine Drexel: Be Bold. Be Catholic.

Day 13: Damien of Molokai: Radical Compassion

Day 14: Vincent De Paul: Goodness Never Dies

Week Three: The Corporal Works of Mercy

Day 15: Feed the Hungry

Day 16: Give Drink to the Thirsty

Day 17: Clothe the Naked

Day 18: Shelter the Homeless

Day 19: Visit the Sick

Day 20: Visit the Imprisoned

Day 21: Bury the Dead

Week Four: The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Day 22: Instruct the Ignorant

Day 23: Counsel the Doubtful

Day 24: Admonish the Sinner

Day 25: Bear Wrongs Patiently

Day 26: Forgive Offenses Willingly

Day 27: Comfort the Afflicted

Day 28: Pray for the Living and the Dead

The Final Days: Surrender

Day 29: What If?

Day 30: The Sacrament of Mercy

Day 31: Becoming a Pilgrim of Mercy

Day 32: Gift of Peace

Day 33: Jesus, I Trust in You

Appendix:

The Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Divine Mercy Novena

Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart Devotion

I highlighted a number of passages while reading this volume. Some of them are:

“You are about to embark on an incredible journey. This isn’t just another book. It is an invitation to participate in a sacred journey—a spiritual pilgrimage. It’s a guide that will lead you to discover God’s vast mercy… and it will change your life in the most marvelous of ways.”

“The Divine Mercy devotion has gained popularity since Saint Faustina was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2000. But it is important to understand that Divine Mercy is first and foremost a defining characteristic of God that people have been encountering throughout salvation history in a variety of ways.”

“The teachings of the Catholic Church have always emphasized mercy, and the sacraments are offered as a powerful encounter with God’s mercy, particularly the Sacrament of Reconciliation.”

“The Church has also consistently taught that we have a responsibility to share God’s mercy with others. This is uniquely manifested in the seven Corporal Works of Mercy and the seven Spiritual Works of Mercy, which we will explore during our thirty-three-day pilgrimage. These Works of Mercy (both corporal and spiritual) are foundational to Catholic social teaching.”

“The Catholic Church has a rich history of celebrating and sharing God’s mercy with the people of every age. Every day the Catholic Church feeds more people, houses more people, clothes more people, educates more people, and visits more prisoners than any other group of people on planet earth. And we have been doing these things for a long time.”

“Spend one minute meditating on Jesus’ suffering on the Cross and then imagine how vast God’s mercy must be. Imagine yourself immersed in His mercy. Ask Him to bathe you in His mercy.”

“God’s mercy is greater than any mistake you can make. God’s mercy will liberate you from the worst moments in your past, and His mercy is the key to the best moments in your future.”

“Over the next few days, take fifteen minutes, pick up your Bible, find a quiet place, get comfortable, take a deep breath, and start reading the Gospel of Matthew. Every time you read the name of Jesus, replace it with mercy, and listen to what that phrase or passage says to you. I think you will find it to be a profound and powerful experience.”

“The people I encounter each day are all in need of healing. I need healing. The type of healing we need may be different—physical, emotional, intellectual, psychological, relational, spiritual—but there is one source of healing for us all: Jesus Christ, the Divine Mercy.”

“He wants to heal us. He wants to teach us how to love again. He wants to bathe us in His mercy, convince us of His mercy, fill us with His mercy, and send us out into the world as Pilgrims of Mercy.”

“I love Mondays because each Monday is a new beginning—a fresh start! God gives us Mondays, New Year’s Day, birthdays, and every single one represents a new blessing and a new beginning. New beginnings are a beautiful gift.”

“Too often, we allow the weight of our past mistakes to prevent us from living the life God is calling us to live today.”

“Jesus is waiting with open arms, ready to walk with you into a future filled with hope and promise. The question is not whether He can transform your life but whether you will let Him. Say yes to Him today and He will turn the page to a new chapter in your life.”

“The message is clear. Things fall apart when we can’t hear the voice of God in our lives. Separated from God, the center of our lives cannot hold, and chaos and confusion take over.”

“Our identity comes from God. When we turn our backs on God or cast Him aside, our lives become adrift. Our center cannot hold, and we become lost and confused.”

“Too many of us have a very poor sense of self. God wants to repair and restore our sense of self.”

“Mercy isn’t earned. This is the essential dilemma we face as modern Christians when it comes to mercy. It isn’t something you can earn. Not even with virtue. It is given. Freely. Completely.”

“It was by sitting alone in the presence of God in quiet empty churches that the Lord touched my life deeply. Out of the silence came a profound gratitude.”

“One of the great quests of the spiritual life is to align what we want with God’s vision for our life. Discovering what God wants for your life rarely happens all at once. It’s an unfolding process that takes time, ongoing effort, and above all, trust.”

“John Paul II had a special devotion to Divine Mercy throughout his life, and a special affection for Sister Faustina, who shared his Polish heritage. All this was born from his innate conviction that “There is nothing that humanity needs more than Divine Mercy.””

“Can something that has been broken be put back together in a way that makes it more beautiful than ever before? Absolutely. But the more beautiful question is this: Can someone who has been broken be healed and become more beautiful and more lovable than ever before?”

“Atop this list in the Canon of Saints is Saint Augustine. He is a staggering example of Divine Mercy at work in the human heart. “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future,” was Oscar Wilde’s observation and Augustine is certainly proof. Wherever you are in your journey, wherever you have been and whatever you have done, the lives of saints such as Augustine remind us that God never gives up on us—even if at times we give up on ourselves or give up on Him.”

“For twenty-five years, as I traveled from one country to the next, from one city to the next, one of the most acute forms of spiritual anguish I witnessed almost every day was that of mothers and fathers whose children have stopped practicing their Catholic faith. I have encountered so many parents and grandparents who are heartbroken because their children or grandchildren have left the Church.”

“Monica prayed like so many parents do, but she also prayed for very specific intentions. She prayed for her son’s conversion to Christianity, for his release from false beliefs and heretical teachings, that his heart would be open to the beauty of the Catholic faith, for his moral transformation, that he would abandon his sinful habits and adopt a life of virtue, that God would send wise and faithful Catholics into Augustine’s life, that God would be merciful to her son, and that God would give her son divine guidance.”

“Your family needs a prayerful giant. A prayerful giant is a person who covers their family with prayer, anchoring the family in God’s grace. Decide right now to accept God’s invitation and challenge to become your family’s prayerful giant.”

“After his death, Talbot became an icon of Ireland’s temperance movement, and his story spread around the world. He is quoted as saying, “Never be too hard on the man who can’t give up drink. It’s as hard to give up the drink as it is to raise the dead to life again. But both are possible and even easy for Our Lord. We have only to depend on him.””

“Vincent de Paul, Frédéric Ozanam, Sister Rosalie Rendu, and Matt Talbot all faced tremendous discouragement at times. It would have been so easy to give up, to retreat into a comfortable life. But they didn’t. They pressed on, persevering in humble service, and the good they did lives on today.”

“There are so many types of hunger: physical hunger; emotional hunger; spiritual hunger; hunger for knowledge; hunger for truth; the existential hunger for meaning and purpose; hunger for peace; hunger for justice; and as Mother Teresa points out, we are all hungry for love.”

“Feeding the hungry isn’t just about food—it’s about nourishing hope, restoring dignity, and sharing the love that transforms lives. Mercy is love reaching out to misery. Feeding the hungry is mercy in action.”

“We have a responsibility to attend to our own spiritual thirst, to dig a well by developing a robust prayer life. By developing a daily practice of prayer and reflection. That’s how we dig the well.”

“It is no coincidence that the image of Divine Mercy shows streams of crystal-clear water flowing from the heart of Jesus. Mercy is love reaching out to misery. He wants His living waters to gush forth into the world and hydrate every soul.”

“VIRTUE OF THE DAY Spiritual Awareness: The virtue of spiritual awareness is marked by a sensitivity to the presence of God. It makes us mindful of how different people, things, and experiences unite us with God or draw us away from Him.”

“Rehumanization. Is there any more urgent task before society today? Which of our problems would not be solved by seeing each other as human beings?”

“Jesus didn’t see taking care of the sick as a side hustle, He didn’t see it as an inconvenience, and He didn’t see it as a distraction to His main mission. He exhibited a preference for those who were sick, whether their illness was physical or spiritual. The early Christians carried this on and captured the imagination of the whole world. Now it is your turn.”

“The Holy Spirit will help us find a way once we make the commitment. Love is creative. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us find creative ways to live out the Works of Mercy, just like Saint Vitalis did.”

“I am totally convinced that the life Jesus invites us to in the Gospels is the best way to live. In fact, I am so convinced that even if you could prove to me that God does not exist, that eternity does not exist, and that we simply cease to exist after we die, I would still believe that the teachings of Jesus offer the best way to live.”

“The word admonish comes from the Latin word admonere, meaning to remind or advise. Admonishing the sinner isn’t a call to judge, reprimand, or control people. It’s an invitation to remind others that there is a “best way to live.” To admonish the sinner is to say, “You are making yourself miserable by looking for joy in the wrong place.””

“There is a reality that we don’t like to talk about. You can mis-live your life. Most people never consider it as a possibility, but it’s true. You can mis-live your life. We assume that all lives are well-lived. It isn’t true. We deceive ourselves.”

“It is also helpful to examine how we respond to correction, coaching, reminders, and warnings. How coachable are you? Champions love coaching. They are so committed to excellence that they would listen to their worst enemy’s advice if it would help them run half a second faster (or the equivalent in their particular sport or discipline). Their desire for excellence in their sport often dwarfs our desire for spiritual excellence.”

“The word admonish comes from the Latin word admonere, meaning to remind or advise. Admonishing the sinner isn’t a call to judge, reprimand, or control people. It’s an invitation to remind others that there is a “best way to live.” To admonish the sinner is to say, “You are making yourself miserable by looking for joy in the wrong place.” It is always an invitation to a better life.”

“People are going to hurt you. It’s an uncomfortable truth, but a truth, nonetheless. Sometimes people wrong us intentionally. At other times, it’s the result of their brokenness, or a misunderstanding, or carelessness. These offenses can range from cutting you off in traffic and saying something sarcastic to someone lying about you, stealing from you, cheating on you, constantly criticizing you, and worse.”

“When we forgive, we share the love of God with others and rid ourselves of dangerous poisons that can prevent us from growing spiritually. The benefits are clear, but that doesn’t make it easy.”

“I honestly don’t know how people live without prayer. I can tell the difference in myself on days when I don’t pray. I’m less patient and more anxious, I give people the benefit of the doubt less and judge more, I think about myself more and I’m less generous with others, and the list goes on and on. I know for certain that prayer makes me a better friend, husband, father, brother, son, employer, and citizen.”

“I have tried life with and without prayer. With prayer is better. Life without prayer is unbearable. Without prayer, life doesn’t make sense. I don’t know how people live without prayer. I don’t know how someone could remain sane in this crazy, noisy, busy world without a few minutes in the classroom of silence each day.”

“Awe: The virtue of awe is a profound respect and reverence for the source of all life. Contemplation of life, truth, beauty, goodness and the sheer power of God all nurture the virtue of awe.”

A sample day is:

“DAY 13

DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI: RADICAL COMPASSION

“Approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Imagine for a moment the life of the average twenty-four-year-old.

At the age of twenty-four, Damien of Molokai volunteered to leave his homeland of Belgium to serve as a missionary in the Kingdom of Hawaii where he was ordained a priest. Eleven years later he volunteered to go to the island of Molokai, where those with leprosy were forcibly quarantined. He knew the risks and he went anyway.

Damien worked tirelessly to improve living conditions for the patients. He helped them build homes, schools, a church, and a hospital. He provided medical care, organized the community, and restored dignity to the patients. He ministered to both their physical needs and spiritual well-being, offering the sacraments, and sharing in their suffering.

After serving the rejected and suffering people of Molokai for many years, Damien contracted leprosy himself. The year was 1884 and he was forty-four years old. Despite his declining health, he continued his work until he died five years later.

Pope Benedict XVI canonized Damien on October 11, 2009, recognizing him as a “Martyr of Charity” and a model of self-sacrificial love.

The radical compassion of Saint Damien of Molokai was so Christlike that I have trouble comprehending it. And most of the letters he wrote were burned upon arrival, out of fear that leprosy could be transmitted just by touching them. So, I tried to imagine what he would say to you as you make this consecration journey, and this is what I came up with:

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The love of Christ compels us to go where others fear to tread, to embrace those whom the world has cast aside, and to pour ourselves out in service to the most vulnerable. This is the essence of radical compassion—a love that knows no boundaries, a mercy that seeks no reward, and a commitment that endures even in the face of great personal suffering.

During my years on the island of Molokai, living among those afflicted by leprosy, I learned firsthand what it means to live out this radical compassion. It is a call to see Christ in the face of the suffering, to love with a heart that does not count the cost, and to give until nothing is left but the joy of having served.

When I first arrived at the leper colony, I was struck by the immense suffering of the people. These men, women, and children had been torn from their families and left to fend for themselves in isolation. Their bodies bore the disfigurements of disease, but it was their loneliness, rejection, and despair that cut the deepest wounds.

Yet, as I walked among them, I was reminded of Christ’s words: “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) In their pain, I saw the suffering Christ. In their isolation, I saw the Christ who was abandoned on the Cross. And in their cries for help, I heard the voice of Christ calling me to love without hesitation.

To practice radical compassion is to recognize the dignity of every human being, especially those whom society has marginalized. It is to see beyond appearances, beyond fear, and beyond prejudice, and to embrace each person as a beloved child of God.

Radical compassion requires a willingness to go beyond the limits of comfort and convenience. It is not a love that remains distant or detached; it is a love that gets its hands dirty, that suffers alongside others, and that offers everything it has.

When I chose to live among the lepers of Molokai, I did so because I believed that love demands presence. I could not merely preach to them from afar; I needed to share in their lives, their struggles, and their hopes. I built churches, heard confessions, bandaged wounds, and buried the dead. Over time, I became one of them—not just in spirit but also in body, as I eventually contracted leprosy myself.

Some may see this as a tragedy, but I see it as a gift. To suffer with those I served was to share in the very heart of Christ’s mission. Jesus Himself took on our humanity, entered into our pain, and gave His life for our salvation. Radical compassion calls us to imitate this self-giving love, to be willing to lose ourselves so that others might find life.

To love radically is to live fully. It is to find meaning and purpose in the service of others and to experience the joy of being an instrument of God’s mercy.

The world today is in desperate need of radical compassion. There is so much division, prejudice, and indifference toward the suffering of others. The example of Jesus and the call of the Gospel challenge us to break down these barriers and to love boldly and unconditionally.

Radical compassion does not require extraordinary circumstances. It begins in the small acts of kindness we show to our neighbors, the sacrifices we make for our families, and the openness we extend to strangers. It is a way of life that sees every person as worthy of love and every moment as an opportunity to serve.

It’s not an easy path, but it is the way of Christ, and in living out this call, we not only transform the lives of others, we also draw closer to the heart of God ourselves.

Open your heart to the radical compassion of Christ. Go to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and He will give you the strength for whatever He calls you to. Let His love flow through you to heal this broken world. It is only by loving without limits that we find the true meaning of our lives.

Father Damien

That is what I imagine he would say to us.

Saint Damien of Molokai, pray for us!

Trust. Surrender. Believe. Receive.

LESSON

Be willing to go wherever God calls you and do whatever He asks you to do, including doing what you are doing right now, right where you are.

VIRTUE OF THE DAY

Compassion: Compassion comes from the Latin word compati, meaning to “suffer with.” The virtue of compassion isn’t merely acknowledging someone’s suffering. It’s sharing in that person’s suffering.

DIVINE MERCY PRAYER

Eternal God, in whom mercy is endless and the treasury of compassion inexhaustible, look kindly upon us and increase Your mercy in us, that in difficult moments we might not despair nor become despondent, but with great confidence submit ourselves to Your holy will, which is Love and Mercy itself.”

I hope those quotes and the sample day give you a feel for this wonderful volume. I could have easily highlighted twice as many passages. Most days I read the chapter after listening to the video so much of the day was already a reminder. I pray that you pick it up and give it a read. It is guaranteed to change your life. 

This is another one of those volumes that could be read over and over again and with each reading you will get something more out of it. It could easily see it becoming a Catholic Classic. The material is presented in clear style. The material is easy to engage with. The samples from saints and others across church history will inspire and challenge readers. A high school student could read it and benefit from the reading and someone who is retired could read it and make improvements for the fourth quarter of their life. And the consecration at the end of the 33 days will be moving.

This is an excellent read. Any Catholic would benefit from reading it. I challenge you to read it and see! I highly recommend this excellent offering from Mathew Kelly’s pen. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2025 Catholic Reading Plan!

Books by Matthew Kelly:
I Know Jesus
The Long View
Decision Point: The Workbook
Decision Point: The Leader Guide
The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic
The One Thing
Off Balance: Getting Beyond the Work-Life Balance Myth to Personal and Professional Satisfaction
Why Am I Here?
Perfectly Yourself: 9 Lessons for Enduring Happiness
Perfectly Yourself Discovering God's Dream For You
Building Better Families: A Practical Guide to Raising Amazing Children
The Dream Manager
The Seven Levels of Intimacy: The Art of Loving and the Joy of Being Loved
The Rhythm of Life: Living Every Day with Passion and Purpose
Building Better Families - 5 Practical Ways to Build Family Spirituality
The Book of Courage
The Shepherd: A Modern Parable about Our Search for Happiness
Mustard Is Persecution, Matthew Kelly Foundation
A Call to Joy - Living in the Presence of God
The Rhythm of Life: An Antidote For Our Busy Age
Words from God
Resisting Happiness
The Narrow Path
Our Father
The Biggest Lie in the History of Christianity
Why I Love Being Catholic
Good Night, Jesus
In a world where you can be anything ...

Coach: 365 Days of Inspiration for Coaches and Players 

I Heard God Laugh: A Practical Guide to Life's 

Life is Messy

Difficult Teachings

The Rocking Chair Prophet

33 Days to Eucharistic Glory

Best Christmas Ever - Worst Christmas Ever

The Three Ordinary Voices of God

Slowing Down to the Speed of Joy

33 Days to Divine Mercy

...

Beautiful ... Series:

Beautiful Hope
Beautiful Mercy

Beautiful Eucharist

...

Rediscover Books by Matthew Kelly:
Rediscover Catholicism: A Spiritual Guide to Living with Passion & Purpose
Rediscover Advent
Rediscover Lent
Rediscover Jesus: An Invitation
Rediscover the Rosary: The Modern Power of an Ancient Prayer
Rediscover the Saints

...

Audio by Matthew Kelly from Lighthouse Media:
Becoming The Best Version Of Yourself
The Best Way To Live
Don't Just Try, Train
Faith At Work & The Holy Moment
The Four Signs Of A Dynamic Catholic - Excerpt
The Jesus Question
My Spiritual Journey
Our Lives Change When Our Habits Change
Raising Amazing Children
The Seven Levels Of Intimacy
The Seven Pillars Of Catholic Spirituality

...