The Little Way Of Lent

Following the Advent and Christmas season daily Scripture readings, Fr. Caster provides an inspirational reflection for each day. The author provides a reflection for each Sunday, one for every weekday in Advent and, and one for every day in the Christmas season.

Accept the invitation to journey through Lent with Jesus Christ and one of the "greatest saints of modern times," St. Therese of Lisieux. Pope John Paul II declared her a Doctor of the Church for her spiritual wisdom inspired by the Gospel. She calls us to "increase the spirit of faith" in our hearts and become what God "wills us to be." Prepare for your journey with an Invitation from St. Therese, a short biography of Saint Therese, an Overview of the Carmelite Order, and a section on Saint Therese and Prayer. The journey begins each day of Lent, weekdays and Sundays, with: a Gospel Reading, a selection from the Writings of St. Therese, a Reflection, and a Prayer. St. Therese of Lisieux is called the saint of "the Little Way" but her spirituality is much greater and deeper, for it is a path to our Lord God Jesus Christ--the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Let the beautiful relationship that she had with Jesus inspire your Lenten journey.

St.Therese of Lisieux, the "Little Flower of Jesus," bore much suffering, from her mother's death when she was young to declining health and an untimely death during her time in the Carmelite convent. Despite her sufferings, St. Therese continued to love Jesus in her "little way." In Lent and Easter Wisdom, John Cleary uses passages from St. Therese's classic autobiography, The Story of a Soul, to comfort and challenge you this Lenten season. As you meditate on Saint Therese's life, let her show you how to keep your faith when you suffer and how to find your way to God when you are lost.

The title of this book, Very Short Reflections--for Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, Ordinary Time and Saints--through the Liturgical Year, accurately describes its contents. Chapter 1 presents a short reflection for every day of the Advent Season. Chapter 2 does the same for every day of the Christmas season. Lent is covered in chapter 3, the Sacred Paschal Triduum in chapter 4, and the fifty days of the Easter season in chapter 5. Chapter 6 covers Ordinary Time. And chapter 7 presents a short reflection for every solemnity, feast, and memorial of saints, whose special day falls during the liturgical year. The short reflections are based on sets of Mass texts--Entrance Antiphon, Collect, Prayer over the Offerings, Preface, Communion Antiphon, Prayer after Communion, and Prayer over the People--presented for every day of Advent and Christmas, Lent and Easter, Ordinary Time and saints in The Roman Missal. The reflection identifies the theme of the day and presents how it is manifested in the Mass texts. These very short reflections are designed to expose to the reader the liturgical spirituality that emanates from the Mass texts.

This Little Black Book is your companion for Lent. It’s an old-fashioned “vade mecum” (pronounced vahday maykum). That’s Latin for “travel with me” and was used to describe a book that was a constant companion – perhaps a condensed book of prayers for traveling priests, or a handbook for quick reference – something you could take with you anywhere.

This Little Black Book is your companion for Lent. It’s an old-fashioned “vade mecum” (pronounced vahday maykum). That’s Latin for “travel with me” and was used to describe a book that was a constant companion – perhaps a condensed book of prayers for traveling priests, or a handbook for quick reference – something you could take with you anywhere.