Catholic Books For Lent

As you prayerfully discern what God wants you to do for Lent, below are several book recommendations that can help you go deeper in your spiritual life and get closer to God.  You can easily find these books online, at your local Catholic store, or through your local library.

Contemplating The Seven Sorrows of Mary: A Chaplet With St. Alphonsus Liguori

by Joseph Hollcraft and Ruther Berghorst

This first part of the book focuses on St. Alphonsus Liguori’s explanation of contemplative prayer and encourages us to pray.  The second part goes through how to pray the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary with mediations. In reading this book you will have a greater understanding of Mary’s sorrows which will draw you closer to Jesus’ sorrows.  It also gives you a great devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows.

The Sadness of Christ 

by Thomas More

This is Saint Thomas More’s reflection on the Passion of Christ intertwined with scripture. This will help you to enter into Jesus’s Passion and sadness in a deeper way so that you can see how Christ's suffering is an expression of His Divine Love.

The Last Hours of Jesus: From Gethsemane to Golgotha

by Fr. Ralph Gorman

The Gospels comes to life in this book because it gives you historical details that you never knew before.  These historical details offer great insights to help you to further understand Jesus’ Passion from the Agony in the Garden to the Crucifixion.

The Pain of Christ and the Sorrow of God: Lenten Meditations

by Fr. Gerald Vann

This book helps to appreciate the small things and pay more attention to how we can profit from Jesus’s lessons in our lives.

Lent With The Saints: Daily Reflections

by Greg Friedman, O.F.M.

If you are looking for short meditations to reflect on during Lent, this would be a great addition to your prayer life. Each day focuses on a Saint with a meditation, an action to do that day, and a prayer.  Additionally, you can also read the Scripture that accompanies each meditation.

On The Passion of Christ: According To The Four Evangelists

by Thomas A’Kempis

Thomas A’Kempis is a German monk in the 1400s who is best known for his famous work The Imitation of Christ. In this book, he gives us meditations on The Passion of Christ with spiritual advice and a prayer.

He Leadeth Me

by Fr. Walter Ciszek

This is Fr. Walter’s spiritual autobiography of his time spent in Russia in the labor camps.  This powerful story will teach you to discover how Christ is sufficient in all circumstances.

The Sayings of the Deserts Fathers: The Alphabetical Collection

by Benedicta Ward

These are great sayings by monks who lived in the desert.  You can glean wisdom from these desert fathers that will help you to enter into the passion of Lent.

The Little Way of Lent: Meditations In the Spirit of St. Therese of Lisieux

by Fr. Gary Caster

This book is a day-by-day reflection for Lent.  Each day references Scripture and gives a short meditation that can by applied to our daily lives, incorporating references to St. Therese’s spirituality.

The Seven Last Words

by Fulton Sheen

These are beautiful meditations on the last seven words spoken by Jesus before He died.  Each mediation will touch your heart and your soul.  The reflections are short but powerful!

A Lenten Journey With Mother Mary

by Fr. Edward Looney

A day-by-day Lenten reflection with an invitation to walk with the Blessed Mother through the Lenten season to Easter.  Although the reflections are short, they are very powerful and insightful.  You will have a better understanding of God’s love and mercy when reading this book.

A Time of Renewal: Daily Reflections for the Lenten Season

by Mother Mary Francis, P.C.C.

A day-by-day Lenten book that gives heart-felt reflections that are easily applied to the spiritual life. Each meditation reflects back to the daily scriptures.  Mother Mary Francis is one of my favorite authors because she takes everyday simple things and helps you to go deeper.