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The Paschal Mystery: Reflections for Lent and Easter
Daily Lenten Meditations, Reflections, Bible readings and Devotional
336 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 9, 2023
This was the best Lenten and Easter book I think I've ever read! There is such a wealth of parts to it, beginning Ash Wednesday and through to Easter.
Looking at the first week of Lent for example:
-The Gospel reading (on that day Mark 1:1-13)
-A reading from Bishop Robert Barron (I could read his words all day!)
-A reflection by St. Athanasius on the life of St. Anthony
-A prayer from the Desert Fathers
-The hymn "Antra Deserti/The Depths of the Desert" in both Latin and English
-Another reflection, this one by Thomas Merton
-Poetry written by Thomas Merton from "St. John the Baptist"
-Prayer by St. Therese of Lisieux
-Wisdom from St. (Mother) Teresa of Kolkata
And that's just for one day of the first week of Lent! Once Holy Week arrived, pertinent Scripture passages, readings, poetry, hymns, etc were given for each day. This little book is surprisingly dense, and rich in spiritual material. Aside from those mentioned above, there were writings from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius Loyola, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Benedict, St. Theresa of Avila, Edith Stein, and many more. Also included are the Stations of the Cross.
If you are looking for a good source of reflections and spiritual reading for your Lenten journey, I can't recommend this one enough!
Looking at the first week of Lent for example:
-The Gospel reading (on that day Mark 1:1-13)
-A reading from Bishop Robert Barron (I could read his words all day!)
-A reflection by St. Athanasius on the life of St. Anthony
-A prayer from the Desert Fathers
-The hymn "Antra Deserti/The Depths of the Desert" in both Latin and English
-Another reflection, this one by Thomas Merton
-Poetry written by Thomas Merton from "St. John the Baptist"
-Prayer by St. Therese of Lisieux
-Wisdom from St. (Mother) Teresa of Kolkata
And that's just for one day of the first week of Lent! Once Holy Week arrived, pertinent Scripture passages, readings, poetry, hymns, etc were given for each day. This little book is surprisingly dense, and rich in spiritual material. Aside from those mentioned above, there were writings from St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ignatius Loyola, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, St. Benedict, St. Theresa of Avila, Edith Stein, and many more. Also included are the Stations of the Cross.
If you are looking for a good source of reflections and spiritual reading for your Lenten journey, I can't recommend this one enough!
April 18, 2023
The PASCHAL MYSTERY: Relections for Lent and Easter is a 2023 publication by Word on Fire. Bishop Robert Barron has compiled a beautiful devotional that begins with Ash Wednesday and journeys through Holy Week and the Easter Octave. Each chapter: i.e., week of Lent and Holy Week has a titled theme followed by Scripture, a Bishop Barron Homily reading, an appropriate prayer from a Catholic Saint, a hymn, poem, reflection, and closing prayer. Stations of the Cross are also included. These Paschal reflections provide valuable tools to motivate our prayer life during our Lenten journey. Word on Fire ministries have designed this book to be used over and over during Lent and Easter in subsequent years. I have noted certain passages to also use throughout the year in private prayer and Adoration. Thank you and God Bless you, Bishop Barron, for providing this wonderful prayer supplement.
June 26, 2023
For several years I have been receiving Word on Fire's booklets designed to help Catholics reflect on their devotion to Christ during Lent and Easter. Until this year, their books have consisted mainly of daily gospel readings and open-end questions built off of them. I would normally find my interest waning by the end of the first week. (Frankly, some of those questions were not very well designed.)
Well, it looks like I wasn't the only one struggling with this format. Word on Fire used an entirely different format this year. The biggest (and best) change is that the readings are designed to read weekly, rather than daily. That gives readers a great deal more control over the pace at which they read these reflections.
The readings for each "week" (there are also readings for Ash Wednesday and several days during Holy Week) are begin with a scriptural passage, followed by reflections by Bishop Barron and other priests, along with poems and prayers. Each section ends with a prayer by Therese de Liseaux, the "Little Flower". I find this touch beautiful and compelling. Basically, Bishop Barron is calling on St. Therese to pray for the reader in her own special way.
This Lenten reflections book is a vast improvement to previous books. If you're a Catholic who has become a supporter of Word on Fire, I would suggest you consider becoming a member so that you could receive, among other wonderful gifts of the spirit, publications such as this one.
Well, it looks like I wasn't the only one struggling with this format. Word on Fire used an entirely different format this year. The biggest (and best) change is that the readings are designed to read weekly, rather than daily. That gives readers a great deal more control over the pace at which they read these reflections.
The readings for each "week" (there are also readings for Ash Wednesday and several days during Holy Week) are begin with a scriptural passage, followed by reflections by Bishop Barron and other priests, along with poems and prayers. Each section ends with a prayer by Therese de Liseaux, the "Little Flower". I find this touch beautiful and compelling. Basically, Bishop Barron is calling on St. Therese to pray for the reader in her own special way.
This Lenten reflections book is a vast improvement to previous books. If you're a Catholic who has become a supporter of Word on Fire, I would suggest you consider becoming a member so that you could receive, among other wonderful gifts of the spirit, publications such as this one.
April 10, 2023
I loved the diverse collection of scripture, reflections, prayers and poetry in this book. However, I wish there had been some direction on how the book was intended to be used.
Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week were broken down individually, but the other sections were for weeks in Lent. It left me wondering if I was meant to use the entire section each day of that week or break it up. Since each section was took long to fit into my normal morning prayer time, I did a little each day but that felt haphazard. I suppose it's the Catholic in me that wants to be told what to pray when, but other than that, I thought this was a very nice Lenten devotional.
Ash Wednesday and the days of Holy Week were broken down individually, but the other sections were for weeks in Lent. It left me wondering if I was meant to use the entire section each day of that week or break it up. Since each section was took long to fit into my normal morning prayer time, I did a little each day but that felt haphazard. I suppose it's the Catholic in me that wants to be told what to pray when, but other than that, I thought this was a very nice Lenten devotional.
April 2, 2024
From Ash Wednesday through Easter Sunday, this devotional collects ancient homilies, reflections and poems from saints, bishops, and Popes, and sprinkles these wisdom pieces between Scriptures for each week of Lent and each day of holy week. I love the beauty of a single quotation on a full page. I love the small size of this book and it's spiritual depths. And I love how I can pick it up briefly to read just one or two pages on any busy day of this Lenten season and feed my heart and soul rich food: centuries of writings available to the Church, perfectly edited and balanced.
April 20, 2023
A useful prayer aide for the season. It helped me focus.
A group of readings for each Sunday of Lent and also Ash Wednesday, each day of Holy Week, Easter, and one more for Easter Season. Stations of the cross included at the back. Each grouping had a scripture, a reading, a reflection, prayer, hymn (in both Latin & English), a poem. All were from a variety of sources. If one piece doesn't speak to you, surely another will.
A group of readings for each Sunday of Lent and also Ash Wednesday, each day of Holy Week, Easter, and one more for Easter Season. Stations of the cross included at the back. Each grouping had a scripture, a reading, a reflection, prayer, hymn (in both Latin & English), a poem. All were from a variety of sources. If one piece doesn't speak to you, surely another will.
April 16, 2023
Loved the diverse sources from the Gospels, Pope Francis, Bishop Barron, and Saints. So much variety including Bible passages, prayers, essays, poems and more. I can see re-reading this in the future over Lent and Easter.
October 26, 2023
I like this format over the daily reflections format. It's different. It's meant to supplement the Sunday Mass.
Did I take forever to finish it? I did. But we are an Easter people living on this side the Resurrection, even if the liturgical season ended months ago.
Did I take forever to finish it? I did. But we are an Easter people living on this side the Resurrection, even if the liturgical season ended months ago.
April 11, 2023
Excellent devotional reading for Lent and especially Holy Week.
April 12, 2023
A book of Lenten and Easter reflections, featuring poetry, hymns, and short readings from scripture and exegetes. Perfect for nighttime reading and meditation.
April 12, 2023
An excellent Lenten resource. I wii read it again next year. Wish I had looked ahead to see the Stations of theCross at the end.
April 19, 2023
This was a great Lenten devotional especially because of how thought provoking it is and how it shows the beauty of the faith:)
May 3, 2023
It wasn't in the format I was expecting, but the readings were good. I would use this book for Lent again in the future.
July 7, 2023
Excellent but a problem with repeated pages and missing pages.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews