Meditations For Lent

by Thomas Aquinas, Philip Hughes (Translator)

Lenten Meditations by St. Thomas Aquinas Do you really make proper use of Lent? Pre-Vatican II Catholics had more help in using Lent properly. Not just the more rigorous disciplines, but sounder preaching and a wealth of solid spiritual books -- such as this magnificent treasury of Lenten wisdom compiled from the sermons of St. Thomas Aquinas. Now it’s back in print for the first time in 60 years. In the simple, non-technical language he used for preaching, St. Thomas shows how to detach yourself from the things of this world and refocus on things above, using as models the penitential examples of Our Lord and Our Lady. He also offers detailed practical advice on how to avoid temptation, weed out vices, and cultivate virtues. To   Conditions to be observed when we pray -- patterned on Christ’s own instructions and example Five evils we incur through sin The spiritual usefulness of physical acts of humility Why Our Lord condemned it so strongly The two purposes of fasting How Christ exemplified all virtues on the cross, the “pulpit from which He taught all mankind” The true meaning of Christ’s warning to be “watchful” -- different from simply waiting Why the pain suffered by Our Lord was the greatest pain possible in this life Factors that will determine whether our heavenly reward will be lesser or greater Why Our Lord went down to Limbo. Four things we may learn from it Why souls in Hell are not freed by the Passion of Christ Christ’s fourfold humiliation on the Cross -- and the fourfold exaltation it merited Him The six ways in which the Blood of Christ is “precious” Four ways Our Lady suffered bitterly in the Passion Christ’s Passion as the perfect example of charity, patience, humility, obedience, and detachment St. Thomas provides 63 Scripture-based Lenten meditation

Genres: Catholic, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Prayer

141 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Philosophy of Saint Thomas Aquinas, a Dominican friar and theologian of Italy and the most influential thinker of the medieval period, combined doctrine of Aristotle and elements of Neoplatonism, a system that Plotinus and his successors developed and based on that of Plato, within a context of Christian thought; his works include the Summa contra gentiles (1259-1264) and the Summa theologiae or theologica (1266-1273).

Saint Albertus Magnus taught Saint Thomas Aquinas.

People ably note this priest, sometimes styled of Aquin or Aquino, as a scholastic. The Roman Catholic tradition honors him as a "doctor of the Church."

Aquinas lived at a critical juncture of western culture when the arrival of the Aristotelian corpus in Latin translation reopened the question of the relation between faith and reason, calling into question the modus vivendi that obtained for centuries. This crisis flared just as people founded universities. Thomas after early studies at Montecassino moved to the University of Naples, where he met members of the new Dominican order. At Naples too, Thomas first extended contact with the new learning. He joined the Dominican order and then went north to study with Albertus Magnus, author of a paraphrase of the Aristotelian corpus. Thomas completed his studies at the University of Paris, formed out the monastic schools on the left bank and the cathedral school at Notre Dame. In two stints as a regent master, Thomas defended the mendicant orders and of greater historical importance countered both the interpretations of Averroës of Aristotle and the Franciscan tendency to reject Greek philosophy. The result, a new modus vivendi between faith and philosophy, survived until the rise of the new physics. The Catholic Church over the centuries regularly and consistently reaffirmed the central importance of work of Thomas for understanding its teachings concerning the Christian revelation, and his close textual commentaries on Aristotle represent a cultural resource, now receiving increased recognition.

Reviews

[Two Hearts Homeschool · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOLD! Honestly the only book I need to journey through Lent with.

[Lee Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I decided to add reading these daily mediations to my Lenten practice this year. As each meditation was no longer than a page, the effort was fairly easy and I'm glad I gave it a go. That said, I don't know that it really added much insight or elevated my religious experience of the season much that I would 'highly recommend' it or bother rereading these yearly. But I will include a few excerpts of bits I did like to give a feel for the writing style and points I did like.
* "St. Augustine speaks of four things being found in every sacrifice, namely a person to whom the offering is made, one by whom it is made, the thing offered and those on whose behalf it is offered. These are all found in the Passion of Our Lord. It is the same person, the only, true mediator Himself, who through the sacrifice of peace reconciles us to God, yet remains one with Him to whom He offers, who makes one with Him those for whom He offers, and is Himself one who both offers and is offered".
* "There is no virtue of which, from the cross, Christ does not give us an example. If you seek an example of charity...this Christ did on the cross. If you seek an example of patience...the patience of Christ, then, on the cross was the greatest patience ever shown. If you seek an example of humility, look at the crucified. For it is God who wills to be judged and to die at the will of Pontius Pilate. If you seek an example of obedience, follow Him who became obedient unto death. If you seek an example of the scorning of the things of this world, follow Him who is the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom. Lo! on the cross He hangs naked, fooled, spit upon, beaten, crowned with thorns, sated with gall and vinegar, and dead. Error to crave for honors, for He was exposed to blows and to mockery... a crown of thorns they put upon His head, and a reed in his right hand. And bowing the knee before him, they mocked him, saying Hail, king of the Jews".
* "From the descent of Christ to hell we may learn...firm hope in God. No matter what the trouble in which a man finds himself, he should always put trust in God's help and rely on it. There is no trouble greater than to find oneself in hell. If then Christ freed those who were in hell, any man who is a friend of God cannot but have great confidence that he too shall be freed from what ever anxiety holds him".
* "We help the souls in purgatory chiefly by these three means, by masses, by prayers, and by almsgiving".

[Jairo Fraga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro que compõe uma coletânea com outros três, compilado a partir de textos de Santo Tomás de Aquino, de suas diversas obras.

Tem cerca de 3 pequenas páginas de meditações por dia, muito úteis, com questões teológicas, como o porque devemos servir ao Senhor no Domingo e muitas reflexões específicas para o tempo quaresmal, como a necessidade da Paixão de Cristo.

Inicia as meditações conforme o calendário do Rito Tridentino, no Domingo da Septuagésima, e vai até o Sábado de Aleluia.

Boa prática para a leitura cotidiana.

Tempo estimado de leitura: 3h30m

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully short, appropriate Lenten meditations related to Scripture. Not too scholastic, either!

[Felipe Costa · Rating 5 out of 5]

São Tomás de Aquino nos fornece as mais primorosas meditações e explicações sobre a Paixão de Cristo. De modo simples e denso Doctor Angelicus expõe os mais corretos entendimentos sobre o sacrifício realizado por Jesus Cristo para purgar a humanidade do pecado original e de abrir a porta dos céus aos homens de boa vontade.

[Chris Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

An enlightening work by the great St Thomas Aquinas which gives us a glimpse into the more meditative side of the great Scholastic philosopher. There is a mystical element beyond his philosophy in his teachings that too often gets overlooked yet plays a crucial role in his more general worldview.

[Gil Michelini · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! If your only exposure to Saint Thomas has been through the Summa and you think of him as a stuffy intellectual, this book might change your mind about him. He was a man in love with the Lord and these reflections taken from several of his writings (including the Summa) testify to that. Reading this during Lent gave me a better appreciation of him, of the gift he is to the Church, and gratitude to the Lord for Saint Thomas but more so for Easter.

[Daniel Millard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of writings and sermons from Saint Thomas Aquinas, specifically for meditation during Lent, concerning the nature of Christ's sacrifice at various points throughout His Passion. This is the most poignant, demanding, and applicable group of Lenten reflections that I have read, and better even than the meditations I've read from St John Henry Newman for Advent. This is a book I may re-read every Lent, as the heavenly doctor's wisdom is outstanding. This has improved my rosary meditations and other reflections as well.

[Scott Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at a thrift store sometime over the past year or two. I didn’t read the entirety of it this year - my first year considering that Lent is something more than just for Catholics. I suspect I won’t fully read it in any year. I plan to shelve it for now. It has been a good companion for Lent on the days which I have read it, as well as on the days which I haven’t. On my reading table; areminder that my journey with Jesus is both personal as well as ancient, simultaneously; like the Omnipresence of our triune God.

[DJ Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful collection of traditional lenten meditations beginning with Septuagesima. The reflections are neither too long nor too short and are rich in spiritual and theological wisdom for each day leading up to the Easter celebration. This is a must-read devotional for any traditional Catholic during lent.

[Paul Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple writing on deep scholastic truths of the faith; every Catholic should read basic writings of Aquinas, and this is one of them. This covers the modes of atonement, the impacts of every event in the Passion, and more, all in easy to read language. I highly recommend for everyone to pick this up for next Lent.

[Daniel Volpato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Os textos de Santo Tomás de Aquino são sempre excelentes, sua lógica e argüição impecáveis. Não obstante, dos textos selecionados para cada dia, alguns me pareceram por demais doutrinais e não me foram muito úteis para meditação.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

We read this book (nearly) everyday. As always Aquinas nuggets of insights throughout the Lenten season, proved efficacious. The only down side is that the scanning made some words difficult to read, but even so that was only from time to time.

[Sam Fletcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful tool to make Lent that much more meaningful!

[Luciana Sá · Rating 5 out of 5]

Foi uma leitura edificante, que me conduziu muito bem pela quaresma. Recomendo a todos que quiserem viver bem esse tempo litúrgico.🙏🏻🙏🏻

[Sir Raymond of Ivanhoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good, but difficult to read.

[Emi · Rating 5 out of 5]

ouro.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Leitura do tempo de semana santa em 2026. Textos bastante carregados de doutrina.

[Sandralena Hanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, concise meditations leading up to and through the passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Easy to read and understand.

[Bill Breen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meditations on Lent from a great Saint and doctor of the Church. You have to be acquainted with his style of writing, but he logically and exhaustiively covers every point. Recommended.

[Mike Orihuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was my third Lent reading this. The church I attend is St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church so I'm interested in learning about this one doctor of the church.