March 3, 2025 // Diocese
Read Your Way through Lent
Books and Devotionals for All Ages Are Available to Help Guide and Offer Reflection on Lent
“Never forget that there are only two philosophies to rule your life,” Venerable Fulton J. Sheen once said. “The one of the cross, which starts with the fast and ends with the feast. The other of Satan, which starts with the feast and ends with the headache.”
The beginning of Lent is an opportunity to consider our own philosophies of life and to build an appetite for the feast of Easter. A visit to Good Shepherd Books and Gifts, located at 915 S. Clinton St. in Fort Wayne, is a great way to explore a wide range of readings to encourage and inspire you and your loved ones through the Lenten season as we redouble our efforts to create a stronger relationship with God.
Just as the message of Christianity is a universal love of God, the season presents materials that have universal appeal for growing in faith. Many options exist to make the season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving more meaningful.
Options abound for all ages and states of life, and the knowledgeable staff are always ready to help. You might consider the following books and devotionals – or the many others in their wide selection.
“Given for You: Eucharistic Stations of the Cross”
Author: Father Patrick Briscoe, OP
Publisher: OSV, 2025
Price: $8.95
A new release from OSV, in Huntington, “Given for You” is a solemn walk with Our Lord as He makes His final steps. Father Patrick Briscoe, OP, a Fort Wayne native who is now editor of Our Sunday Visitor, helps guide through the Stations of the Cross, where we can experience a tremendous and intimate union with Christ. The Stations of the Cross help us to better understand the Eucharistic mystery. “Given for You” reflects on Jesus’ passion and death and points us back to the present reality of the Eucharist, where we encounter His self-gift in a close, personal way. In praying these stations, may we come to love Jesus more and run to Him, truly present in the sacrament of His body and blood.
“Aquinas’s Lenten Meditations: 40 Days with the Angelic Doctor”
Author: St. Thomas Aquinas, translated by Father Philip Hughes
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press, 2022
Price: $17.95
A daily reading from St. Thomas Aquinas brings an offering of Christ’s love in the words of the saint. The more elevated reading offers a challenging, albeit rewarding, opportunity to grow one’s faith from an intellectual perspective. The saint writes, for example: “All these things are almost too much to be believed. … This truth that Christ died for us is so hard a truth that scarcely can our intelligence take hold of it. Nay, it is a truth that our intelligence could in no way discover.” The beautiful text is divided with descriptive titles for the day and an occasional mention of sacred Scripture to go along with the author’s substance-packed work.
“The Lenten Cookbook”
Authors: David Geisser and Scott Hahn
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press, 2021
Price: $29.95
This full-color book is a Lenten treat even if you can barely manage a microwave. The text begins with thoughtfully written works by Scott Hahn about the history and cultural practice of fasting in the Church. Hahn presents fasting without guilt or pressured legalism, rather, saying, “We should fast for the same reason we should do anything else: It is pleasing to the Lord. Our sacrifices, so long as they are made for and to Him, give Him glory by demonstrating that we organize our lives around the reality of the triune God, not the gods of pleasure and power and worldly satisfaction.” While pointing to the need for personal fasting, the author also points to the benefits of going without as an act of unification in the Body of Christ.
After the philosophy behind fasting, Geisser, who also wrote “The Vatican Cookbook” and “The Vatican Christmas Cookbook,” presents culinary options appropriate for the Church’s 40-day preparation for Easter. Brilliant photographs accompany each selection. The text points out that God has given us the gift of food and that using it to create a sense of welcome is a good thing. Working one’s way through the text could be quite the Lenten adventure.
“Arthur the Clumsy Altar Server Plans the Perfect Lent”
Author: Theresa Kiser
Illustrator: Mike Schwalm
Publisher: OSV, 2024
Price: $17.95
In this third installment of the “Arthur the Clumsy Altar Server” series, Arthur discovers that Jesus is always with us, including and especially in our weakest moments. The story picks up on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Arthur the Clumsy Altar Server makes a promise in his heart to be perfect, just like Jesus. For Lent this year, Arthur is giving up mistakes! But no matter how hard he tries, Arthur still makes mistakes. His attempts at being perfect all fall short. Arthur fears that his mistakes mean he will never be good enough to be with Jesus. Readers will learn with Arthur through this endearing story that God is with us all the time to help us because He loves us – even when we aren’t perfect.
“Lord, Show Me the Way”
Author: Josh Noem
Publisher: Ave Maria Press, 2024
Price: $2.75
With common language and an eye on the hope of Christ, this devotional would be appropriate for just about anyone. According to the book’s introduction, “If you’re not sure how to go about deepening your relationship with God, you’re reading the right book!” Each day begins with the text of an excerpt from a common, seasonal song of faith. A daily dose of inspiration is followed by a morning prayer and then a motivational thought to consider during the day. Finally, a peaceful evening prayer that can bring the day to a close is offered. A QR code and web page allow the user to enjoy various versions of the songs cited at the top of the page.
Noem offers readers a balanced perspective on Lent. “The whole point of Lent,” he writes for March 27, “is to dislodge us from our self-centeredness, from the illusions that we can make ourselves holy and happy on our own. There is only one place to find rest, and we don’t have to be worthy of Him. But He cannot receive us if we do not give ourselves to Him as we are.” Even the darkest day of Lent, Good Friday, brings the reader to humble submission, but makes the lesson relevant without scolding, ending with “Loving Savior, bring me back to you.”
“Lent and Easter Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton”
Authors: Thom Satterlee and Robert Moore-Jumonville
Publisher: Liguori, 2008
Price: $13.99
Offered through the Center for the Study of C.S. Lewis and Friends, this work offers a spiritually fruitful reading for each day from Ash Wednesday to the Second Sunday of Easter. The center works to advance the causes of “the Kingdom of God by encouraging the reading of C.S. Lewis and related authors, including G.K. Chesterton.” Most days begin with an enriching excerpt from Chesterton, and the days that do not contain the Catholic author and philosopher’s words include text from his era. For each day, a piece of Scripture is given, along with a relevant, encouraging, and artful title. A related prayer is offered, and a heartfelt Lenten activity suggested for the day. While the historical references or literature shared at the outset of a day’s readings might have language that is a bit too elevated for some audiences, the prayer and action portions will hold appeal for all readers.
“Way of the Cross for Children”
Author: Barbara Yoffie
Illustrator: Chris Sharp
Publisher: Liguori, 2020
Price: $2.99
This honest but age-appropriate version of the Stations of the Cross is ideal for younger children who are ready to come to a fuller understanding of this Catholic tradition. Sections of text are marked with small icons to make it easy to identify what the leader reads and the responses of the children. The basic information of each station is made relevant in prayers offered. For example, at the third station, when Jesus falls the first time, the author writes: “People thought it was funny when you fell. But you got up and kept walking. If somebody laughs or calls me names, I feel sad. I want to say mean things back to them. Instead, I should follow your example and be kind and forgiving.”
“Louie’s Lent”
Author: Claudia Cangilla McAdam
Illustrator: Michael Rogers
Publisher: Ascension Kids, 2022
Price: $17.99
In this beautifully illustrated storybook, the reader follows Louie through Lent. When everyone else’s Lenten fasts are part of his regular life, Louie feels that he is not doing enough. As the story progresses, readers see him live the true spirit of Lent, helping others and sharing what he does have, all because he loves God. The sister who teaches Louie’s class reminds them, “Doing things for other people is like doing them for the Lord.”
These and many other Lenten devotionals are available at Good Shepherd Books and Gifts as well as other local Catholic bookstores.
The best news. Delivered to your inbox.
Subscribe to our mailing list today.