Notlukewarm: lent

Monday, March 3, 2014

Reading List for Lent

I like to read. And since we do not have TV, I read and read and read. But even if we did have TV I'd still read. This year for Lent I was led to give up reading fiction. When the thought first entered my consciousness I dismissed it quickly. But it kept coming back and when I turned it round and studied it I realized I should do it and when I decided I felt peace.

Here's my list of what I plan on reading, probably in this order:

Blessed by Less by Susan V. Vogt
Evangelical Catholicism by George Weigel
Made for More by Curtis Martin
Proof of Heaven by Eben Alexander, M.D.
Ordinary Lives Extraordinary Mission by John R. Wood
The Catholic Vision for Leading like Jesus by Owen Phelps, Ph.D.

I will also finish reading The Joy of the Gospel by Pope Francis; Little Conversations with God, Catherine of Siena's Dialogue, and Contemplative Prayer by Franz Jalics

This last category is probably the most important one, prayer and meditation.
The Bible
The Ignatian Workout for Lent by Tim Muldoon
A Book of Lenten Prayers by William G. Storey

Should be enough.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Detachment

Today's Gospel is about serious detachment. Lent is a perfect time to work on detaching oneself from worldliness and being too concerned with our physical comforts and needs.

St. Francis is a favorite saint of mine and the movie Brother Son Sister Moon is great reminder of how to detach.

This scene is a favorite of mine, showing how far Francis went to make a point:

Here is a scene from the movie of Francis during an audience with Pope Innocent III; in it he speaks this Gospel to the Pope in hopes of getting permission to begin an order:

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Countdowns

Two of them to be precise. Can you guess what countdowns I am talking about? Well, one involves millions of people and the other not so many.
We have a one week or seven day countdown to Lent. Are you ready? Have you decided what your plan is this year? Here are a few links:
Pope Francis' Lenten Message
Praying Lent from Creighton University
Lenten Resources from Loyola Press
Daily Lenten Calendar from Busted Halo
10 Things to Remember for Lent from the USCCB

I'll tell you my plan soon, promise.

The other countdown is eight days to my husband taking his comprehensive exam to graduate from seminary where he has been studying to become a deacon. Studying for almost five years. In some ways I can't believe his schooling is coming to an end. But we are so grateful, for so many reasons. First though he must pass his comps so almost every minute he is not at work he is studying. I am his sounding board and pray-er. My prayers are not only for him but for his classmates as well, two of whom we hope and pray will be ordained to the deaconate.
So, get ready for Lent and if you are inclined, say a prayer for my husband and his classmates.

See you tomorrow, because this is part of a whole group of bloggers committed to 7 posts in 7 days!