Powerful Lenten Reads for Women

Books are some of my nearest and dearest friends.

The last two years I have had a goal to read 100 books in one year. The closest I have gotten is 85, which isn’t too shabby either.

I always have a handful of books going at a time, usually a fiction read for bedtime. Every time I have spiritual direction, my director asks me what is the current spiritual reading I have going. I think a love for reading makes me a better listener and learner and a more empathetic human being.

When preparing our hearts and minds for the season of Lent, I try to take time to think about how I best practice prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. The Church gives us these three ways to help us fully prepare for the mysteries of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. I take time to ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration and guidance in my Lenten practices.

Lent is the perfect time to add a new spiritual classic, memoir, life of a saint, or something else to your routine of spiritual reading.

We are very blessed as Catholic Christians to have a wide variety when it comes to different types of spiritualities and saints to inspire us in modeling our lives more after the person of Jesus.

Here are several ideas to get you ladies thinking about some Lenten Spiritual Reading:

1. My Sisters, The Saints: If you are looking for a new friendship with a female saint you are not already familiar with, this book is a great place to start. A spiritual memoir by Colleen Carroll Campbell, she writes beautifully on how she developed unexpected friendship with several female saints.

At different times in her life, Teresa of Avila, Therese of Lisieux, Faustina, Edith Stein, Mother Teresa, and Mary the Mother of Jesus showed up most when she needed help, guidance, and support. An easy but deep read you could enjoy yourself or in a book club with your girlfriends.

2. Come, Be My Light: I have read this once or twice before during Lent and found it to be a comfort during difficult times in my own life.

A collection of letters written to her spiritual director, this book illuminates the years upon years Mother Teresa expressed a dark night of the soul, extreme spiritual darkness from the Lord. In the midst of her fruitful ministry, she felt no warmth or closeness to the presence of God.

Of course in her legacy, we know she greatly suffered and struggled though she never wavered in her devotion to the call of God in her ministry.

If you are in a season of spiritual dryness, I would recommend this book as a way to draw closer to the heart of Jesus. May you find comfort in Saint Teresa’s word and witness as you walk through whatever darkness you are facing in your own life.

3.  Thirsting for Prayer: I think this book is one of the best I have ever read on prayer in my life! Written by Fr. Jacques Philippe, he revisits some powerful spiritual themes on prayer he draws upon in some other of his books.

He offers the reader new insights on prayer as well. My favorite section is on practical advice for personal prayer. If prayer for you feels dry or boring right now in life, this is deep and meaningful read that will inspire your heart this Lent.

4. The Return of the Prodigal Son: Henri Nouwen is one of my most favorite writers of all-time, I cannot wait to meet him someday in Heaven! His words and reflections have made a deep, lasting impression on my life and in my spiritual journey.

I think this is a perfect book to read during Lent, because every Lent we hear the story of the prodigal son as the Gospel one of the Sundays in Lent.

Based upon Henri’s own reflections on the original painting by Rembrandt, this book will lead to deep reflection and thought on your own place in this famous parable of Jesus.

5. The Way of a Pilgrim: Written by an anonymous Orthodox pilgrim, this spiritual classic comes to us from the Eastern Christian tradition and is a beautiful reflection on the ancient Jesus Prayer (Lord Jesus Christ, have a mercy on me, a sinner). The book is a firsthand account of a man’s journey to understand the deeper spiritual meaning of what it means to live out Saint Paul’s instruction to “pray without ceasing.”

This man travels far and wide on a journey asking this question of many people, “how does one pray without ceasing?” I first read this book after the first time I completed the spiritual exercises of Saint Ignatuis of Loyola, and found it deepened my own prayer life and renewed my appreciation for simple repetitive prayers such as the Jesus Prayer.

What are you doing to prepare your heart and mind for Lent this year?

Have you thought about adding any specific spiritual reading to deepen your Lenten sacrifice?