Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 1 and 2 - Patrick Abbott

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 1 & 2

Patrick Abbott

Karl Press 

ASIN B0GGY4TYMF

This eBook edition contains two short stories published in the Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency world. It is a slapstick  humorous world, with some real bite! The stories remind me of a Catholic or Christian version of Harry Harrison or Robert Asprin, especially the Stainless Steel Rat Series and the Phule’s Company Series. But I am getting ahead of myself. 

The description of this collection states:

“What happens when a man escapes a Haitian vodou ritual and meets a ghost only to be mistaken for being a zombie by an overeager vampire? You get the ghost and “zombie” drafted in the vampire’s effort to make a paranormal detective agency! Debra the vampire wants a profitable business, Fred the ghost needs to move on to the next world, while Max “the zombie” is desperate to return home in this humorous misadventure in a hidden side of Savannah, Georgia, filled with monsters, magic, and more.

This collection contains the first two short stories in the Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency series.”

This first story was available for free via the authors substack and newletter a couple of years ago. I have had all three books in his Fallen Series for a while but had not got around to reading it yet. I have been aware of Patrick and his writing for a little while. The first story in this collection was my introduction to his work other than online pieces he has offered. The sections and chapters in this work are:

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency

Chapter One: Beginnings

Chapter Two: The First Case

Chapter Three: Storm Stories

Chapter Four: The Business Meeting

Chapter Five: The Book Man

Book Two – The Uranium Killer

Chapter One - The Not So Wonderful Land of Oz

Chapter Two - The Junior Club of Savannahian Vampires

Chapter Three – The Mission Brief

Chapter Four – The Sting

Chapter Five – The Plunder of Great Price

Epilogue – Comeuppance

My original review of the first story stated:

This is a really fun story. Readers will be hooked right from the beginning. And the story has more than a few surprising twists. None more so than at the climax of the story, and to be honest it will leave you desperate to find out what happens next. I can only hope there will be a continuation of this story so we can find out. I found myself thinking about this story several times over the next few days after reading it. And I have recommended it to a few friends. 

Debra is so over the top, we cannot help but feel she gets what she deserves in the penultimate chapter of the story. Fred is a ghost just trying to find a way to heaven living a strange purgatory here on earth. The fact that Debora and Max can see him and interact with him gives him the first hope he has had in year. And Max is just trying to figure out how to get his life back and is pretty certain he is now a zombie or any other form of undead. He just has no money, no id and no opportunities. SO he is stuck between a hard place, and a Vampire with grandiose plans and a ghost as his support and back up for the vampire’s hare-brained plans. 

This is a laugh out loud funny story. It reminds me a lot of some of the works of Tom Holt and Robert Asprin. It is a wonderful story and you really cannot beat the price. I can easily recommend this entertaining story. Join the trio as they travel from crypt to restaurant to Bed & Breakfast and beyond trying to establish their agency.

The second story is even better!

Fred comes back and has a mission from heaven but that is after a side trip to Oz. Yes that Oz. Things go from crazy to absurd, and yet they really work well. A cryptid Bishop (maybe in Homage to the Fairy Pope in Karina Fabian’s Dragon Eye PI Stories.) A police department on the take in the south. A ghost, a former vampire and a zombie, what could go wrong? Oh and let’s net forget Fred's visit from heaven giving assignments and providing assistance to his old teammates. 

I can easily state. I really do not like comedy’s when it comes to movies or television. In fact I have a pretty strong aversion to them. But when it is done well in writing I can greatly appreciate it. At Patrick does an excellent job. In some ways this reads like a mellower less vengeful or angry Declan Finn, and I say that with all due respect to both authors. 

I really enjoyed these two stories, even rereading the first one almost 18 months later. I hope there are future stories set in this world. I would not hesitate pick them up. A really fun read!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! 

Books by Patrick Abbott:

An Odd Pilgrimage 

The Wick in the Wind 

…

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency Series:

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 2 Uranium Killer 

Savannah Paranormal Detective Agency 1 & 2 

…

The Fallen Series:

Fallen 

Risen 

Dormition 

…

Conspiracy 365 May - Gabrielle Lord

Conspiracy 365 May
Gabrielle Lord
Scholastic
ISBN 9781443102339

Scholastic Australia

eISBN 9781921988578

ASIN B00BFV1FSY

I read the first two volumes in this series back in 2011, I had planned on reading them one a month as they were released. But that did not happen. My son just started reading them in his late teens so I decided to pick them back up and finish the series. I have read one a month over the last three months and am keeping pace at a month ahead of the calendar.

When I read the first 2 it was a new series from Scholastic, Conspiracy 365, is another unique approach to books that will draw readers in and keep them addicted. Much like the 39 Clues or Skeleton Creek books, it approaches storytelling in a new and different way that with draw an addicted following of readers. The story is about the life of Callum (Cal) Ormond. Almost like a year-long version of the TV series 24. The story will be told over 12 books, one released each month. And we now know the story continued with a shorter follow up series.

The description of this volume states:

“Stripped of his identity and imprisoned in an insane asylum, Cal's search for the truth has never looked more hopeless. Nobody knows where he is and he has no way to get in touch with his mates. He's also lost all the clues he had to the Ormond Singularity: the family secret that's turned his life into a nightmare. Against all odds, somehow Cal must escape to carry on his father's quest. He has 245 days. The countdown continues.

The clock is ticking. Any second could be his last.”

This fifth instalment keeps up the intense plot Cal wakes up in an asylum, checked in under a different name, and only giving up papers will get him out. He tries to escape, and things do not go well. Then during a disturbance he sends out a call for help. But has he burned the bridges with his friend who has stood by him. If he can get out where can he go and who can he trust?

These books were originally published in Australia and North America by Scholastic, unfortunately it appears eBook editions were never released in Canada. This is another great instalment in a great series.

These books have a few cool features. In each book, the page numbers start at the highest and count down. The chapter and section headings are Dates and Time. This was an excellent fifth instalment in the series and I know I will have to read all 12 books; the story is so good I cannot put it down. Give them a try you will not be disappointed.

Books by Gabrielle Lord:
Conspiracy 365:
Series Overview
January (2011)
February (2011)

March (2011)
April (2011)
May (2011)
June (2011)
July (2011)
August (2011)
September (2011)
October (2011)
November (2011)
December (2011)

…

Conspiracy 365 Black Ops:

Missing (2013)

Hunted (2013)

Endgame (2013)

…

48 Hours Series:

The Vanishing (2017)

The Medusa Curse (2017)

…

Gemma Lincoln:

Feeding the Demons (1999)

Baby Did a Bad Thing (2002)

Spiking the Girl (2004)

Shattered (2007)

Death by Beauty (2012)

…

Jack McCain:

Death Delights (2001)

Lethal Factor (2003)

Dirty Weekend (2005)

…

Other Books:

Fortress (1980)

Tooth and Claw (1983)

Jumbo (1986)

Salt (1990)

Whipping Boy (1992)

The Stranger Inside: An Erotic Adventure (1994)

Bones (1995)

The Sharp End (1998)

Monkey Undercover (2006)

…

Crux Daily Lenten Meditations - Fr. Columba Jordan, CFR

Crux: Daily Lenten Meditations 

Fr. Columba Jordan, CFR

Ascension Press

ISBN 9798892761468

eISBN 9798892761598

Prior to Lent in 2026 I picked up some resources to help along the Lenten Journey. This was one I was greatly interested in from when I first saw and heard about it. And the combination of the videos and readers were excellent. I watched the video in the morning then read the reflection most days in the afternoon. The overlap in the material really helped it to stick. But I am getting ahead of myself. 

The description of this volume states:

“Meet God in Surrender this Lent

Join Fr. Columba Jordan with the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal for daily Lenten meditations that help you learn to rely on God’s strength.

Rooted in the Crux program’s holistic balance of body and soul, this devotional offers daily reflections, Scripture passages to help you pray, reflect, and surrender more deeply to God.

You will read through the entirety of the Gospel of Mark, reflecting on your identity as God’s beloved child, and respond through prayer and practical action.

(Note: The Sunday readings follow the Sunday readings from Mass.)

Designed for individuals, families, and parish groups, Crux helps you unite physical and spiritual disciplines—fasting, exercise, reading, and prayer—into one transformative Lenten experience that leads you closer to Christ.

For the Family

The weekly family section features prayers, inspirational quotes, challenges, and other activities that align thematically with the Crux’s four Lenten disciplines and this devotional’s daily reflections. They are a helpful way for families to keep the season of fasting, penance, almsgiving, and prayer centered on the loving sacrifice of Jesus.”

The chapters in this volume are:

Introduction

Ash Wednesday

The First Week of Lent

The Second Week of Lent

The Third Week of Lent

The Fourth Week of Lent

The Fifth Week of Lent

Holy Week

Easter Sunday

Daily Challenge Tracker

Notes

About the author we are informed:

“A native of County Kildare, Ireland, Fr. Columba Jordan is a Franciscan Friar of the Renewal (CFR) currently serving in St. Patrick’s Friary, Limerick. His main ministry is youth work in addition to his work as a popular speaker and presenter. He hosts the weekly video podcast, Little By Little, offering short-form faith formation.”

Each day follows the same format:

Day and Title

A Word of the day to set the tone

A Scripture Verse

A reflection

Respond

Space for journaling.

For each week there is also:

For the Family Section

Challenge of the Week

Prayer of The Week

Bible Verse 

Song of the Week 

A sample day is:

“Day 1

Ash Wednesday

Surrender

Read Mark 1:1–11

“A voice came from heaven, ‘You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.’”

Reflect

Welcome to the “first” day of Lent. This season, our goal is to grow closer to God through surrender—and we’re going to do this by choosing to do hard things. Why? Because doing hard things—things that stretch us, things that challenge us, things that we would rather avoid—is what helps us recognize our limitations. Doing hard things helps us encounter our weaknesses, which is precisely where God wants to meet us. Doing hard things teaches us to surrender to Christ in faith.

One of the biggest obstacles to real growth in Christ is the opposite of surrender: namely, self-reliance. When we try to do everything on our own, we get in the way of the work Christ wants to do in us and for us. If we want to make progress in our relationship with God, we first need to get out of our own way by relinquishing control and allowing God to act.

To that end, I’m challenging you to take on four disciplines throughout Lent, two physical and two spiritual, that will help lead you to the point of surrender to God. The two physical disciplines are daily exercise and fasting. The two spiritual disciplines are spiritual reading (primarily with Scripture) and prayer. The meditations in this book will help guide you as you strive to put these disciplines into practice.

Don’t be afraid when your weaknesses are brought to the surface. That’s the entire goal of these disciplines. The words to keep in mind throughout our Lenten journey together are the ones that the Lord spoke to St. Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). That weakness is actually a blessing: It will draw you closer to God. When you push yourself to what you think are your limits, you’ll realize you have to rely on God to go any further.

On that note, let’s hit the ground running, as St. Mark does in today’s Scripture reading. In the first chapter of his Gospel, Mark gives us a brief introduction before jumping into the account of Jesus’ baptism. In this very brief passage, Mark doesn’t waste a single word. As the Spirit descends upon Jesus, the Father declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11).

What we see declared at Jesus’ baptism is, in a hidden, sacramental way, what God declares at our own baptism. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) tells us, Baptism makes us “‘a new creature,’ an adopted son of God, who has become a ‘partaker of the divine nature,’ member of Christ and coheir with him, and a temple of the Holy Spirit” (CCC 1265). In other words, just as the Father is speaking these things to Jesus at his baptism, he also speaks them to you. At the moment in Baptism when you become his adopted son or daughter, God makes this declaration of love to you.

Many Catholics don’t fully get this, myself included. They just don’t live it. They read this Scripture passage and think that the Father is just speaking to Jesus rather than to us. But in reality, this is the message that God is constantly trying to tell you: You are his child. You are his beloved. And he delights in you.

This is where our Lenten journey starts. Everything from this point on is about accepting these truths. The goal is to simply believe, internalize, and live these truths, removing every obstacle to them in your heart and mind.

That’s where surrender comes into play. We can accept these truths with our whole hearts, knowing that because God loves us so deeply, he will work everything out for our good. God is always pouring out a waterfall of love and grace upon us as he did at our baptism; all we need to do from this point on is to surrender to it.

Respond

Look up a Catholic prayer of surrender or trust: for example, the Suscipe prayer by St. Ignatius; the “Prayer of Abandonment” by St. Charles de Foucauld; the “Surrender Novena” by Servant of God Don Dolindo Ruotolo; or the “Litany of Trust” by the Sisters of Life. Which line (or lines) of the prayer(s) do you most struggle with? Journal about these lines or bring them into conversation with God.”

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

“Welcome to the “first” day of Lent. This season, our goal is to grow closer to God through surrender—and we’re going to do this by choosing to do hard things. Why? Because doing hard things—things that stretch us, things that challenge us, things that we would rather avoid—is what helps us recognize our limitations. Doing hard things helps us encounter our weaknesses, which is precisely where God wants to meet us. Doing hard things teaches us to surrender to Christ in faith.”

“But in reality, this is the message that God is constantly trying to tell you: You are his child. You are his beloved. And he delights in you.”

“Our repentance, our sorrow for sin, is transformative; since we have the hope of salvation through Christ, we can allow that sorrow to spur us to continually turn towards him and grow closer to him.”

“Repentance does not imply a one-time event. Metanoia involves turning to God again and again.”

“Fostering our relationship with God requires stillness and silence. Even if we fill our time with many good things, the things we’re called to do in service to others—feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick or imprisoned, comfort the dying and grieving—if we do those things without spending time with God, we will fall into the trap of busyness, not holiness.”

“God sees us in our physical need and our spiritual need; he cares for both. When either our physical health or spiritual health is neglected, our whole person suffers. Jesus longs to heal us in body and in soul.”

“For this reason, in order to make this Lent fruitful, we will strive to engage our heart, mind, body, and soul in loving the Lord. To this end, we have our four spiritual disciplines: spiritual reading, prayer, fasting, and physical exercise.”

“Being a follower of Christ often means doing hard things, sometimes things we would much rather not do.”

“A great indicator of our growth in the spiritual life is where we are on the spectrum between fear and faith.”

“In this new Israel, Jesus’ new family, our relationship with him is based on faith, on really trusting him because we know him from our heart.”

“Sometimes the terrifying thing is that God’s hand is there, and we’re worried about what he will do.”

“We don’t have trust in God because he always makes everything easy and delightful for us. We have trust in him because we know that even if we can’t understand the reason for the storm, we know that he is only letting us struggle through it because it will ultimately be better for us than having no storms at all.”

“I would have hated to be on the receiving end of Jesus’ condemnations. So uncomfortable! But Jesus isn’t worried about being nice and comforting all the time. He came not to bring peace but a sword. He’s not afraid of shaking things up when we need it or of challenging us to our core.”

“This is the great challenge we face in our faith: to surrender all our opinions about how God should do things.”

“If you’re struggling with your faith, don’t fret. Just work on letting the mustard seed grow, on trusting him more, and surrendering your control.”

“Different people reveal different facets of a person, and we are glad to be able to know our friends even more thoroughly through their friendships with others. This is especially true of friendship with the infinite God, about whom there is always more to learn.”

“Recently, I’ve been trying to make it my practice to embrace difficult things, especially inconvenient things, requests, jobs, and the like, because, in some mysterious way, God is present to me in those activities. Perhaps he meets me there because my intention is a bit purer. I’m definitely not doing these things because I want to do them or enjoy them—but I enjoy him.”

“Even when we know what the final chapter of the history of the world will look like, even when we know Jesus’ triumph is certain, we sometimes don’t understand the path he’s leading us on to get to that point when that path is so strewn with suffering. It is in these moments of darkness that the virtue of hope comes to bear.”

“Think of how, for all of Holy Saturday, the disciples couldn’t see the joy of Easter because Christ lay hidden behind that stone. As you endure these moments in your own life, ask God to help you endure those times when you can’t see him at work, when you feel like you’re standing before the tomb. Ask him to increase the virtue of hope in you, to increase in you the confidence that he will bring about a resurrection in your heart.”

“For us, then, let us affirm our belief in Christ’s Resurrection and allow the joy of Easter to well up in our hearts and overflow into praise.” 

I hope that sample day and those quotes give you a feel for this volume. This was a wonderful tool for a Lenten retreat. The combination of the book, and the videos worked very well together. Father Columba shares extensively from his own journey and his life experiences. 

Father Columba’s written and audio reflections are deeply moving. They are also challenging. I do not think anyone could come away from this program unchanged. It is easy to engage with, but the deeper you are willing to go the more you will get out of it. I could easily see returning to it and working through it over a future lent. And I really wish there were other books available from Father Columba, for I would pick them up immediately.

This book was a great resource for helping me to have a better Lent. It was challenging, but also rewarding and inspiring. I can easily recommend it!

Another excellent resource from Ascension!

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For all Lent resource reviews click here. For all reviews of Ascension Press Resources click here.

Wilderness Within: A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation - Sr. Josephine Garrett CSFN and June Jameson

Wilderness Within

A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation 

Sr. Josephine Garrett CSFN 

June Jameson (Illustrator)

Ave Maria Press

ISBN 9781646802975

eISBN 9781646802982

ASIN B0DHT7N199 

During Lent in 2026 I worked through a few volumes, and two of them were from this series. They were both very different but I benefited greatly from both of them. To date it appears there are 5 offerings each for Lent and Advent in the “A Guided Lent/Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” series. I plan on working through all of them because both this and the other volume I did this year were excellent!

The description of this volume states:

“This Lent, allow Sr. Josephine Garrett to be your guide as you explore the interior wilderness of your heart and invite Jesus in to heal you with his love.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus went into the wilderness? Some believe it was to reveal his divinity or to restore humanity's relationship with God. In Wilderness Within, Sr. Josephine Garrett, a mental health counselor and popular speaker, reflects on the belief that Jesus went into the wilderness to rescue us--to rescue us! The Lord does not want us to view the wilderness as something that causes worry, anxiety, or fear. "What if, instead," Sr. Josephine writes, "we looked at how God has been a faithful provider in the wilderness and trusted that He will do the same for us in the wilderness journey ahead? What if we joyfully take His hand and journey into the wilderness, because when Christ enters there, 'this opposite place of the garden becomes the place of reconciliation and healing'" (Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth)?

In Wilderness Within, Sr. Josephine will guide you through the forty days of Lent to attend to the wilderness of your heart as a place to be explored, restored, and sent on mission by Jesus's tender love.

• Week of Ash Wednesday: Enter Lent by recognizing your ability to always begin anew in Christ.

• Week One: Open your heart to God's love, allowing yourself to reverence your heart as a gift from your Creator.

• Week Two: Reflect on the truth that we are created for relationships, and examine the relationships in your life.

• Week Three: Take an honest look at your limitations, wounds, and sin guided by a spirit of humility and repentance.

• Week Four: Begin to see how God designed your heart to be rescued by him and grow in your capacity to be healed by him.

• Week Five: Leave the wilderness of your heart so that you can go on mission--with a heart restored by Christ's love--to love your neighbor and be a good steward of the gifts and charisms given to you.

• Holy Week: Follow in Jesus's footsteps to the Cross and discover how you can love him well through each stage of the Passion and Resurrection.

Each day's content includes brief meditations, specially crafted illustrations, thought-provoking reflection questions, heartfelt prayers curated to uplift your spirit, and ample journaling space for personal revelations and insights. Whether you're journeying alone or with a group, Wilderness Within is your guide to a beautiful and renewing Lent.

Free companion videos featuring Sr. Josephine and a free downloadable leader's guide are available at avemariapress.com.”

About the author we are informed:

“Sr. Josephine Garrett, CSFN, is a sister of the Holy Family of Nazareth, a licensed counselor, host of the Hope Stories podcast, and a Catholic speaker and author.

Garrett earned a bachelor’s degree in political philosophy from the University of Dallas. Prior to entering religious life, she worked as vice president in the home loans division of Bank of America. In 2019, she earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology and became a nationally certified counselor licensed in Texas.

She worked as a school counselor in Tyler, Texas, and is presently serving as a counselor in private practice. Garrett is a voice for mental health on various platforms such as Formed and Hallow.

She resides in Tyler, Texas.”

About the illustrator:

“June Jameson is an independent artist who creates large oils on canvases for galleries, churches, hospitals, and private collections. Jameson has developed a unique style that blends her strong Catholic faith with her impressionist paintings.

Jameson earned her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Florida. Many of her original paintings are represented by the Sacred Art Gallery in Arizona and several of her images are available to license for liturgical use through the Diocesan Library of Art.

Jameson lives in Ocala, Florida, with her husband and nine children.

Prints of her work, including the images created for Wilderness Within, can be found at junejameson.com.”

The chapters and sections in this book are:

Introduction

How to Use This Journal

Week of Ash Wednesday: Begin Again

     Ash Wednesday: Rend Your Heart

     Thursday: Rock the Boat

     Friday: Journey into the Wilderness

     Saturday: Reverence Your Findings

First Week of Lent: A Heart Rooted in Love

     Sunday: Identify Your Roots

     Monday: Believe in Love

     Tuesday: Perceive God’s Love

     Wednesday: Abide in Joy

     Thursday: Abide Always

     Friday: Abide in Suffering and Sorrow

     Saturday: Reverence the Waters

Second Week of Lent: A Heart Made for Relationship

     Sunday: Image Your Creator

     Monday: Fertilize the Soil

     Tuesday: Delight in the Fruit

     Wednesday: Be Refined by the Fire

     Thursday: Steward the Treasure

     Friday: Embrace the Mystery

     Saturday: Reverence Love

Third Week of Lent: A Heart Wounded by Sin

     Sunday: Open the Door

     Monday: Let Us Work Redemption

     Tuesday: Go to the Root

     Wednesday: Till the Soil

     Thursday: Find the Patterns

     Friday: Stand in Truth

     Saturday: Reverence the Fire

Fourth Week of Lent: A Heart Rescued by God

     Sunday: Prepare Him Room

     Monday: Banish Idols

     Tuesday: Tend His Garden

     Wednesday: Take Captive Your Thoughts

     Thursday: Light Up the Darkness

     Friday: Make Peace with the Cross

     Saturday: Renew Your Vows

Fifth Week of Lent: A Heart Poured Out with God

     Sunday: Leave the Wilderness

     Monday: You Are a Mission

     Tuesday: He Is the Vine

     Wednesday: Love Your Neighbor

     Thursday: Be a Good Steward

     Friday: Become a Font of Mercy

     Saturday: State Your Mission

Holy Week: A Heart United with Christ

     Palm Sunday: Ascend to Jerusalem

     Monday: Be Devoted

     Tuesday: Fill the Empty Space

     Wednesday: Love Him Well

     Holy Thursday: The Hour of Love

     Good Friday: In His Flesh

     Holy Saturday: In the Heart of the Earth

     Easter Sunday: He Is Risen Indeed

Appendix: Implicit Religion Incomplete Sentences

A sample reflection is:

“Ash Wednesday

Our Lenten journey . . . is a journey on which each and every day we learn to leave behind our selfishness and our being closed in on ourselves, to make room for God who opens and transforms our hearts.

Pope Benedict XVI, Final homily, February 13, 2013

Rend Your Heart

After twenty years of being Catholic, I still find myself approaching Ash Wednesday each year with some anxiety and trepidation (even as a nun!). As soon as the day arrives and I begin all my big plans for prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, I find myself immediately fearful of what feels like inevitable failure, as if the purpose of Lent is to “get it right.” In reality, I will most likely demonstrate over the next forty days what it looks like to not “get it right.” After twenty Lents, I have learned that it takes far more courage to be in a state of beginning again than it does to be in a state of getting it right. Ven. Bruno Lanteri said, “If I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times with peaceful repentance I will say immediately Nunc Coepi [Now I Begin].” Bl. Mary of Jesus the Good Shepherd—the foundress of my community, Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth—said it this way; “Rest assured that the Lord is pleased a thousandfold more by a soul who is susceptible to many falls, but who knowing her weakness, turns to God in humility, than by another who is less prone to fall and is seemingly more perfect, but is self-confident and self-sufficient.”

On Ash Wednesday we are instructed in the reading from the prophet Joel to rend our hearts, not our garments (see Joel 2:12). Some of us have heard this time and time again, but have we really understood what the scripture is saying? Rend means “to tear.” At the outset of Lent, the first instruction from scripture tells us to tear open our hearts before the Lord; I think it’s safe to say Lent is not for the folks who seemingly have it all together. Perhaps when we make Lent about mainly checking the boxes of the “things’’ we said we would do, we have only rended our garments instead of our hearts. Maybe we can reframe these forty days from a journey toward our own perfection to instead a time to strive to have the courage to begin again, and again, again . . . well. In doing so, we can hope to make room for God, who opens (and perhaps it is through his power that this rending happens) and transforms our hearts, for he will only journey into a heart with an open door.

Reflect

Reflect on your own rended heart. If you were to rend (open) your heart before God today, as you enter Lent, what would he find there? Some questions you can ask to help clarify the movements of your heart are “What is stirring in my heart lately?” or “What is breaking my heart lately?”

What doubts or anxieties do you have about the forty days ahead? Doubts and anxieties are often attached to desires; what are the desires beneath those doubts and worries?

Pray with Romans 5:1–5.

Pray

I return to you, Lord, with my whole heart. The past is ashes, and I bring to you my tears and fasting, trusting that you are slow to anger and quick to forgive. Amen.”

I highlighted numerous passages while working through this volume. Some of them are:

“I believe Lent is not an exceptional time, but rather an exemplary time. It is a time when we enter deeply into the Paschal Mystery, which is at work in us and in the world, not only during the forty days of Lent, but all the time. In this way, Lent becomes an example of what much of the rest of our year and faith journey in general ought to look like.”

“During Lent, we are called to spiritually enter into the wilderness of our hearts with Jesus. In our Lenten observances and sacrifices, we face our temptations head-on with and in Christ because we receive the grace of seeing them more clearly. Our need for God’s grace becomes more evident precisely in our intentional efforts to sacrifice.”

“Jesus’s lowliness gives him access to the recesses of our hearts, and his gentleness empowers him to conquer the wilderness without overwhelming us.”

“As we embark on this journey together, we have a unique opportunity set before us to journey with Jesus to the Wilderness Within and to follow him to Calvary where we learn to pour ourselves out for mission, in union with Christ. Through the meditations, prayers, scriptures, mental-health tools, and real-life stories in this journal, you will be invited to slow down, to reflect, to prepare, and to create space for daily encounters with Jesus.”

““Rest assured that the Lord is pleased a thousandfold more by a soul who is susceptible to many falls, but who knowing her weakness, turns to God in humility, than by another who is less prone to fall and is seemingly more perfect, but is self-confident and self-sufficient.””

“Maybe we can reframe these forty days from a journey toward our own perfection to instead a time to strive to have the courage to begin again, and again, again . . . well. In doing so, we can hope to make room for God, who opens (and perhaps it is through his power that this rending happens) and transforms our hearts, for he will only journey into a heart with an open door.”

“A few Ash Wednesdays ago, I was sitting at my desk preparing a guidance-counseling lesson for fifth graders and wondering how to connect our focus on virtuous relationships to the season of Lent. I quickly realized that all Lenten practices (whether prayer, fasting, or almsgiving) ultimately impact some aspect of relationship, hopefully for the better, whether it’s relationship with myself, others, or God.”

“To fast from negative thoughts about yourself, replacing those thoughts with brief prayers. To fast from uncharitable thoughts and gossip about others and strive to presume good will. To regularly spend more time with your family in a common area of your home, or to plan to eat a meal together at the table (so many families no longer practice this simple, yet profound routine that establishes powerful bonds).”

“What was it like to think of making adjustments to plans you have already discerned for Lent? Sometimes we are very set on doing Lent the way we discerned. What if God would like to evolve that as Lent progresses? Does he have permission?”

“Yet our Lenten plans are not what is being done for Lent. Rather, those commitments help us to receive what Jesus desires to do in us this Lent. It is God who accomplishes Lent in us.”

“I’ve learned that the more reverence we have for ourselves, the more likely we are to take time to slow down, find silence, and be still.”

“Here is the fact of the matter: Who God is says a lot about who I am and who you are. So if God is love, what does that mean about you, and the hidden center of your being, your heart?”

“To no credit of our own, but through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, when God the Father looks at each of us, he sees Jesus. He not only sees Jesus but also his own life, his own image, which we cannot disfigure.”

“The reason our belief and not our individual works warrants eternal life is because being receptive and open to the graces to believe is far more intimate than performing the external actions that give the appearance of belief.”

“Rather, our need for him is what draws him close and makes him attracted to us—much like how a gardener sets out into the garden that she loves. She of course admires what is going well in her garden, but above all she’s there to lovingly tend.” 

“We must also reflect on how we are giving love and how we are receiving others as gift. How are we helping others to comprehend their great dignity and worth? For it is not being loved alone that makes us understand exactly who we are and what we were made for; this is fully known in giving love, in self-donation.”

“I pray today that you can consider on a deep personal level what he has done for you and what he has done for the world. Today his heart is pierced open, and it will never close again. The all-powerful God, who could have taken any approach to your salvation, chose to save you through death, an open heart, and a throne of mercy inside of it.”

“Today, yes, we need to go about as if Jesus is dead; he is, in the flesh. But I invite you to join the Sisters who seek him in the hidden repose, hidden in the depths of the earth, alive and at work, making the heart of the earth fruitful with his loving sacrifice.”

“Feel gratitude for all that the Lord has done, and ask God to show you how you are called to, in all things, love and serve the Divine Majesty, who continues to work to make your wilderness within a resurrection garden with God’s love enthroned.””

I hope that sample reflection and those quotes give you a feel for this volume. The supplemental weekly videos and other resources on the Ave Maria Site really do make this a self-guided retreat. You can work through it personally, as a family or in a small group. The illustrations are great for meditation. Sr. Josephine Garrett CSFN is very open and transparent, she uses examples from her life, life in her community and from her ministry. It is deeply moving.

The material is easy to engage with and written and a very compelling manner. Anyone with a secondary school education could easily worth through this volume. But the working through it might not be easy. It will help you go deeper over the days of Lent. But it will be work. It will challenge readers to be more open and honest with them and with God. It will encourage us to open our hearts, our hurts, our wounds and turn to God for healing and restoration. The two I read this Lent are so good, I am debating just picking another to work through as a guided retreat. I am not sure I can wait for Advent for another an experience like this.

This volume was so good I plan on picking up all of them in the series and hope to work through them over the next few Lents and Advents.

An amazing volume I can easily recommend.  

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For all Lent resource reviews click here.

A Guided Journal from Ave Maria Press:

A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation:

Made for Heaven - Fr. Agustino Torres CFR 

Restore - Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT 

Return - Fr. John Burns 

Wilderness Within - Sr. Josephine Garrett CSFN 

Witness - Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe OP

…

A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation:

Adore - Fr. John Burns

Behold - Miriam James Heidland SOLT 

Encountering Emmanuel - Heather Khym

Illuminate - Fr. John Nepil

Prepare Your Heart - Fr. Agustino Torres CFR

…

Closing Accounts - E. P. Cowley

Closing Accounts

E. P. Cowley

Smashwords

eISBN 9780994970909

2015

Every so often you read something that truly helps you see the world in a new way. It causes a paradigm shift of an unveiling. It is like scales falling from your eyes. That has happened to me a few times over the last 30ish years. Reading C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape and Space Series, Jacob the Baker by Noah ben Shea, Piercing the Darkness by Frank E. Petretti, Joshua by Joseph F. Girzone, The Singer by Calvin Miller … This was one of those books. I started keeping track of my reading in October of 1995, since 1996 I have averaged 211 books per year, and since 2016 I am averaging over 400 books per year. And this is one of the best pieces of fiction I have read. And it is one of those life changing books.

I absolutely loved Tales From Wakken Wood, when I read it earlier this year. And while doing research for it, I discovered this volume. I found mention to it on 2 blog posts from a decade ago. And through some internet sleuthing, the way back machine and some luck was able to obtain a copy of it. I think it is a tragedy that this volume is not available, and dearly hope the good people at Ignatius who published Wakken give it a chance to be back in print. 

The description of this volume originally was:

“When a young artist paints the Mayor’s portrait, he hangs it in City Hall. The trouble is that this is no ordinary painting. Everyone sees something different and whose account is true? The painting launches a train of strange events in a world that teeters on the edge of apocalypse. The story is told in four linked accounts woven together, ending at the same moment in time.” 

A longer description states:

“Fifteen-year old Letty has painted the Mayor's portrait. He hangs it in City Hall for all the world to see, but the trouble is that this is no ordinary painting. Everyone sees something different and whose account is true? But Letty's painting is only one strange occurrence in a world that teeters on the edge of apocalypse.

Michael, the reluctant soldier, is forced to join the General's rag-tag army. Assigned to the regiment in the capitol city, he finds his way into a company of mysterious people who are working to rescue the city's orphans from destitution. A man named Joe is the leader of this strange crew and Michael learns to trust him, even in the abyss called Belltown.

Thaddaeus, the forgotten artist, stirs up the crowd of regulars at The Tower Inn with his disturbing paintings. Is he mad? Or is he a prophet? Marching to the beat of his own interior music, he never asks what the world thinks. He is too busy straining after an elusive tune, following wherever it might lead.

Mayor Jared Hobic is happily corrupt: sucking up to the General, cheating on his wife, slithering like a snake into his position of power and influence. Everything is going his way until a young girl paints his portrait. Now he's plagued by a knocking sound. Is it in his head? Is he losing his mind? And who is this mysterious man named Joe who eludes his grasp? Mayor Hobic is certainly beginning to lose his grip on his carefully constructed life.

The story is told in four linked accounts woven together and ending at the same moment in time. Threaded throughout the tales are images of a strange man named Joe, the paintings of Letty; and the bread lady, mysterious and serene, who is always at her table in the market square.”

 

At the bottom of the book page we are informed:

“An illustrated map for Closing Accounts is available on the author's blogsite: The Fiction of EP Cowley.

Check out Tales From Wakken Wood, Cowley's current project.

The author lives in Vancouver, B.C.”

 

The chapters and section in this volume are:

Letty Begins

Michael’s Sketch

The Painter’s Exposition

Extracts From The Book Of Tales

     The Poor Man and His Treasure

     The Ungrateful Guests

     The Girl Who Was Robbed

     A Tale of Two Sons

Quietus

Epilogue

This book hit me light a freight train. Normally I would read through a volume this size in an afternoon or evening. It took me most of Holy Week to get through it. Part of me did not want to stop reading, and another part knew I needed to process. Each of the first three sections; Letty’s, Michael’s, and the Painters’ rocked me. I went back and read each section after reading it, and read it a second time. Then the four stories from the Book of Tales, are retellings of parables in a modern light. They reminded me a lot of Joshua’s teaches by Girzone or the lessons of Jacob the Baker. Quintus was not an easy read, written as a journal, from the Mayor it ebbs and flows. It is by far the longest section both in length and in amount of time covered. It is the most in depth. 

In the story we encounter a phrase:

“Beneath, above, behind, before, within, beside, to win, restore.”

It hit me the first time we encountered it and as the painter latched on to it, In some ways it became his breathing Jesus prayer. But as the story progressed we find out it is the refrain to a song and over time we learn some versus, What I have built and I could easily be wrong is:

Beneath, above, behind, before

Within, beside, to win, restore.

I bind unto myself today

The power in the starlit space

The sun’s life-giving lucid rays

The whiteness of the evening moon,

The flashing of the lightning free

The whirling wind’s tumultuous shocks

The steadfast earth

The deep salt sea

Swirling ‘round the ancient rocks.

Beneath, above, behind, before

Within, beside, to win, restore.

I bind unto myself today

A refuge under mighty wings

A fortress in the time of storm

A shield from terror in the night

A clashing sword of victory

A strong right arm to rescue all

An eye that sees

An ear that hears

Bestowing strength to those who call.

Beneath, above, behind, before

Within, beside, to win, restore.

I bind unto myself this night

A refuge under mighty wings

A fortress in the time of storm

A shield from terror in the dark.

Beneath, above, behind, before

Within, beside, to win, restore.

I bind unto myself this night

The flashing of the lightning free

The whirling wind’s tumultuous shocks

The steadfast earth

The deep salt sea . . .

Beneath, above, behind, before

Within, beside, to win, restore.

It does not appear to have name in the story but reminded me so much of Saint Patrick’s Brestplate, especially the version in Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time, that I have taken to calling it the Closing Accounts Breastplate. I have started praying this each evening, it marks the third prayer from a fictional novel I try and pray daily. The first is as mentioned St Patrick’s Rune, the second is A Hunter’s Prayer, and now this one. And every time we encountered a piece of it as I read I copied it out and added it to my prayer notebook. 

I talked with 2 of my teen children while reading this, in fact they would tell you I could not stop talking about it. It is a volume I would love for them to read and be able to share with friends. 

This is an excellent read, I could easily recommend it for older teens, Young Adults and Adults. This is way better than a lot of fiction I read in my teen years. It is an excellent work that draws readers in quickly and it really keeps their attention. It is one of those out-of-print volumes I track down and read, that I desperately wish was still available. I know several people I would recommend it to immediately. A fantastic read I can easily recommend, and I hope there will be many more from Cowley’s masterful pen. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan!  

Books by E.P. Cowley:

Closing Accounts

Tales From Wakken Wood

…

Restore A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation - Miriam James Heidland SOLT and Valerie Delgado

Restore: 

A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation 

Miriam James Heidland SOLT

Valerie Delgado (Illustrator)

Ave Maria Press

ISBN 9781646801480

eISBN 9781646801497

ASIN B09P9QY56Q

During Lent in 2026 I worked through a few volumes, and two of them were from this series. They were both very different but I benefited greatly from both of them. To date it appears there are 5 offerings each for Lent and Advent in the “A Guided Lent/Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation” series. I plan on working through all of them because both this and the other volume I did this year were excellent!

The description of this volume states:

“Follow the Lord into the depths of your heart this Lent and you will never be the same.

Take a healing journey with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, as she helps you turn away from what wounds you and toward God who heals you and makes you whole.

In this beautiful guided journal for prayer and meditation, Sr. Miriam invites you to meet the tenderness of God’s mercy, the power of his love, and the restoration of your heart and life as you practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.

Restore features stunning original art by Valerie Delgado of Pax.Valerie along with daily meditations on a passage from scripture, reflection questions, guided prayer, and space for journaling and notetaking.

Throughout Lent, you’ll move through four different phases of healing, focusing on traditional Lenten practices:

 1. Prayer is the means of healing our relationship with God.

  2. Fasting disciplines us in healing our relationship with ourselves.

   3. Almsgiving leads us to healing our relationships with others.

    4. Sacrifice shows us the path to heaven and union with God.

If you enter into Lent with Christ, your heart will see more clearly, be pierced more easily, love more strongly, and serve more passionately. Jesus will be etched into the crevasses of your being.

Restore is perfect for both individual and group use. Free companion videos and a downloadable leader’s guide are available at avemariapress.com.”

About the author we are informed:

“Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT, is a popular Catholic speaker, cohost of the Abiding Together podcast, and the author of the bestselling book Loved as I Am.

A former Division I athlete who had a radical conversion and joined the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity in 1998, Heidland has shared her story on EWTN’s The Journey Home, at numerous SEEK and Steubenville conferences, and at the USCCB’s Convocation of Catholic Leaders.

In addition to speaking, Heidland has served in parish ministry and as the director of novices for her SOLT community. She also has served as an assistant to both her provincial and general superiors.

Heidland earned a master’s degree in theology from the Augustine Institute and speaks extensively on the topics of conversion, authentic love, forgiveness, and healing.”

About the illustrator:

“Valerie Delgado is a Catholic painter, a digital artist, and the owner of Pax. Beloved. She illustrated the books Prepare Your Heart by Fr. Agustino Torres, CFR; Adore by Fr. John Burns; Restore by Sr. Miriam James Heidland, SOLT; and ABC Get to Know the Saints with Me by Caroline Perkins.”

The chapters and sections in this book are:

Week of Ash Wednesday

First Week of Lent: The Desert

Second Week of Lent: Freedom of Heart

Third Week of Lent: The Roots of Sin

Fourth Week of Lent: The Healing Balm of Almsgiving

Fifth Week of Lent: The Journey of Forgiveness

Holy Week, the Week of All Weeks

A sample reflection is:

“Ash Wednesday

But you are merciful to all, for you can do all things, and you overlook men’s sins, that they may repent. . . . You spare all things, for they are yours, O Lord who love the living.

Wisdom 11:23, 26

The Inner Room

Here we begin, dear friends. Ash Wednesday. Our foreheads are marked with the blackness of death while the words “Repent and believe in the gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return” are spoken over us. Every single person, no matter their age or state in life, receives the same greeting, for we all are called to repent, believe, and remember. All things pass away and only the eternal remains.

We receive glimpses of this reality throughout our lives, but today we ponder it specifically as the door through which we follow Jesus out into the desert. The Catechism states that “interior repentance is a radical reorientation of our whole life, a return, a conversion to God with all our heart, an end of sin, a turning away from evil, with repugnance toward the evil actions we have committed” (CCC 1431). We must turn away from what wounds us, destroys us, and makes us sick and turn toward God who heals us, saves us, and makes us whole.

While other people may know certain things about us, and we may know ourselves to varying degrees, only the Lord knows us fully. He alone sees us in our fullness and wholeness and loves us completely. This is why we must go into the “inner room” with him, into the hidden place, so all can be revealed.

He is inviting us into an encounter with him, in the depths of our hearts, for that is where true transformation takes place.

Reflect

Where are you in your heart and life right now? What is Jesus wanting to heal in you as you pray, fast, and give alms this Lent?

Take a few minutes to write about this in your journal.

Pray

Jesus, help me as i begin this journey with you. Give me an open heart, a willing spirit, and the courage to keep going, no matter what. Amen.”

I highlighted numerous passages while working through this volume. Some of them are:

“The season of Lent stirs many things in our hearts. Some people love it, some people dislike it, and all of us know that we are supposed to somehow be transformed through it all. We often give up chocolate, alcohol, or meat. We try to practice mortification and remember that we are only pilgrims on this earth and that all things pass away. And while all these things are inherently good and important, I often wonder what is being engaged at the deeper level of our hearts.”

“Perhaps by now you have noticed some areas of your life that need attention this Lent. When you look at the traditional Lenten disciplines of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, you may have chosen a few practices for each discipline that will help bring you into deeper freedom during this season.”

“As sin scatters and fragments, love brings us into communion and wholeness.”

“He is calling us into union with him in the heart. This is why we must allow the Lord to prompt our actions with his inspiration and further them with his help. We are not making the journey of Lent on our own or from our own will. We are being led by the Lord as the Holy Spirit led Jesus out into the desert.”

“This is a journey about your heart with Jesus and your relationship with him. Each person’s relationship with Christ is unique and unrepeatable. As God loves each of us in a way he loves no other person, so too we love God in a way that no one else loves God.”

“Prayer heals our relationship with God. Where we are shattered by sin and disorder, prayer draws us into the heart of God.”

“Or more succinctly, the heart of God enters into our misery. God enters into the true misery of our sin, sorrow, and suffering, and he saves us, restores us, and redeems us.”

“The beautiful thing about the desert, though, is that it lays all things bare and Christ goes before us. We do not go into the desert alone, and the Lord will not reveal anything to us that he does not also wish to attend to and heal.”

“A covenant says, “I love you. I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. I am not going anywhere. I am here for you. No matter what happens, I will not reject you. I love you as you are, and I desire your ultimate good. I give myself to you completely and I receive you completely. You do not have to hide anything. You do not have to pretend. You can bring anything to me and I will be with you in it, bear it with you, and speak the truth to you about it in love.” This is how God loves us. This is the freedom and responsibility of love.”

“Prayer is not mere words; prayer is life itself. This is why we pray without ceasing.”

“How might you give the Lord permission to come into any place of your life and bring you into wholeness and into relationship with himself?”

“The earth that we live upon is not neutral territory. We live on not a cruise ship but a battlefield. And we know this battle through and through, as well as the ache for communion in eternal love.”

““First, our wounds are not arbitrary, they are not random. Satan is like a sniper. He intuits with his angelic intellect the destiny of every human person and he shoots his deadly arrows into the place that will do the most damage in order to thwart the flourishing of the person and God’s plan for their life. Satan succeeds when he can convince us to hate God, hate ourselves, and hate others for the wounds we bear.”

““Suffering that is not transformed is transmitted.” Every experience of suffering we have had that has not yet been redeemed and transformed by the love of Christ is transmitted to those around us. The suffering we have experienced does not just disappear; it is most often buried alive. And that pain buried alive continues to afflict us and those around us.”

“The priest who mentored me for many years before and after I entered religious life was very fond of offering the adage that when we fast from one thing, we need to feast on something else. This is not compensating for what we are aching for but offering our heart, mind, body, and soul the true food that it needs.”

“As Adam and Eve hid in the garden, so do we. In light of our story and where we hurt and how we try to avoid suffering, our sin and broken ways of living follow a pattern.”

““Behind every disordered desire is a good and holy desire, an unmet need, an unhealed wound, and a hidden pattern of sin.””

“Maybe we feel that no one in our life listens to us or really hears our heart and takes us seriously with attentiveness and love. Maybe we don’t feel as though we have a safe place to bring our sorrows, and we have had to bury our anger our entire life. Maybe we have wounds of rejection, abandonment, shame, fear, powerlessness, hopelessness, or confusion. These unhealed wounds and unacknowledged needs (that often tie back to our childhoods with long histories and patterns) continue to play out over and over again in our lives. Collectively they are the proverbial “iceberg under the water” that drives so much of our painful behavior.”

“Jesus continually comes to us where we are ill and in need and asks us if we want to be well. As we recall our Lenten journey thus far, we know that if we are honest, we all have places in our lives where we are not well, where we are out of communion and experiencing isolation, and where we need healing. And as we discover, it is through communion that healing gushes forth.”

“And yet this is often the very thing we want the most—to be seen, received, and loved. Jesus is truly present to us and receives us.”

“Lord, give me a generous and open heart. May my love for you grow more deeply into a fragrant, life-giving aroma that fills the world around me.”

“This life is not the end. This life is not all there is. The best things on earth are only a small foreshadowing of the beauty of heaven.”

I hope that sample reflection and those quotes give you a feel for this volume. The supplemental weekly videos and other resources on the Ave Maria Site really do make this a self-guided retreat. You can work through it personally, as a family or in a small group. The illustrations are great for meditation. 

The material is easy to engage with and written and a very compelling manner. Anyone with a secondary school education could easily worth through this volume. But the working through it might not be easy. It will help you go deeper over the days of Lent. But it will be work. It will challenge readers to be more open and honest with them and with God. It will encourage us to open our hearts, our hurts, our wounds and turn to God for healing and restoration. 

This volume was so good I plan on picking up all of them in the series and hope to work through them over the next few Lents and Advents.

An amazing volume I can easily recommend. 

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2026 Catholic Reading Plan! For all Lent resource reviews click here.

A Guided Journal from Ave Maria Press:

A Guided Lent Journal for Prayer and Meditation:

Made for Heaven - Fr. Agustino Torres CFR 

Restore - Sr. Miriam James Heidland SOLT 

Return - Fr. John Burns 

Wilderness Within - Sr. Josephine Garrett CSFN 

Witness - Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe OP

…

A Guided Advent Journal for Prayer and Meditation:

Adore - Fr. John Burns

Behold - Miriam James Heidland SOLT 

Encountering Emmanuel - Heather Khym

Illuminate - Fr. John Nepil

Prepare Your Heart - Fr. Agustino Torres CFR

…