Wednesday 30 March 2016

Sacred Reading for Lent 2016 - Douglas Leonard - Apostleship of Prayer


Sacred Reading for Lent 2016
Douglas Leonard
Apostleship of Prayer
Ave Maria Press
ISBN 9781594716119
eISBN 9781594716126

This was one of 5 Lenten devotionals I used in 2016. I typically read 2 in the morning 2 at lunch and one in the evening. Each day follows the same format, a short quote, a reading, reflection, prayer and a time for listen or a second reflection. A sample is:

Friday, February 12, 2016
Know that God is present with you and ready to converse.
"You are always with me, Jesus, but you are not present to me as you were to your disciples. I seek greater closeness with you."

Read the Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15.
Then the disciples of John came to Jesus, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?" And Jesus said to them, "The wedding guests cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast."

Notice what you think and feel as you read the Gospel.
When Jesus, the bridegroom, is taken from them, then will his disciples fast.

Pray as you are led for yourself and others.
"Jesus, I wish to fast and pray during this season. I offer my sacrifices for the good of others. How marvelous that fasting and praying accomplish good in this world ..." (Continue in your own words.)

Listen to Jesus.
When you fast and pray, you imitate me. When you fast and pray, you draw out of yourself and enter into me. I can teach you what you need to know. What else is Jesus saying to you?

This book is part of a larger series. I happened to have read the Advent 2016-2016 volume and enjoyed it a lot. There is also an annual volume for the whole year that begins in Advent and goes through the whole church year.  

This was a good devotional and I would likely buy the whole year volume next year. It was a good introduction to the style and format. And there were some really good guided reflections in this book.

(Note: this books is part of a series: A Year of Reading Intention - Catholic Reading!)

No comments: