The Paschal Mystery: Reflections for Lent and Easter

by Matthew Becklo

“Our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed.” These words of St. Paul in his Letter to the Corinthians express the highest mystery of the Catholic faith, which Christians around the world contemplate and celebrate every year during the Lent and Easter the suffering, dying, and rising of Jesus.

In this new booklet from Word on Fire, readers are offered a week-by-week guide through these sacred seasons with a series of reflections on Lenten themes like death, temptation, repentance, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving; the events of the Paschal Mystery of Christ recalled during Holy Week; and the joy of the Gospel reflected in the Easter season.

Featuring key passages from Scripture, extended readings from Bishop Robert Barron, and hymns, poetry, prayers, and additional reflections from across two thousand years of Catholic tradition, The Paschal Mystery is a perfect companion guide for parishes, families, and individuals longing for a deeper encounter with Christ during Lent and Easter.

Genres: Religion, Theology, Spirituality, Catholic

Kindle Edition

Published February 9, 2023

Reviews

[Steve Maus · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've stayed on track and in good habit while reading a daily reader, and this one is no exception. (I've just finished this Lent Easter reader here on May 7th, lol) It being a Catholic publication it's solidly different in tone from the literature I'm familiar with, which was an intriguing surprise. It's worth thinking on just how much of the tone and weight of a message can change (or seem to), depending on the perspective of the speaker and the listener.

It's pretty good though, overall. It's separated into difference types of material - prayer, reflection, poems, hymns, Scripture, homilies, etc. It as some of each of these sections for each of the weeks preceding Easter, and then it pace really slows down and the material increases during Holy Week (which is where I got bogged down).

I enjoy the prayers of both St. Teresa of Avila and St Therese of Lisieux. Several times there were specific sentiments that jive with recovery philosophy. There is a much deeper sense of dependence fostered here than in anything Protestant that I have read.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a tremendous resource! Scripture, commentary, poetry, hymns in Latin and English with side-by-side translations, the Stations of the Cross, it's all here. I've read the poetry and the prayers of the Saints contained here with my daughter, one to interest her in classical poetry and the more modern, as the inclusion of G. K. Chesterton and Thomas Merton demonstrate. I've read the prayers of St. Therese of Lisieux and St. Theresa of Avila with her to show her the faith of the great female saints as well. Bishop Baron is correct that in this age, beauty will help restore interest in the true and the good, and this book leads with beauty. The short commentaries by various popes, saints, and thinkers of the last 2,000 years make a great way to encounter them for the first time, and encourage the reader to seek out deeper and longer works by them.

[Jill Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for Lent, I loved the readings, reflections, especially those of St. Therese of Lisieux and Pope John Paul II as well as many others. This was a great companion this Lent. I did not care for hte song lyrics, it did not really add anything for me, but I guess they are meaningful to some.

[Mattie Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the reflections. The hymns and poems did nothing for me though.

[Juan Pablo Alarcon LC · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for a meditative lent and Easter. I was particularly fond of the poems and prayers.