Nine Books That are Perfect for Your Lenten Reading List
They’re instructional and inspirational
It’s the first Friday of Lent, so by now you have gotten ashes and decided whether the fish sandwich from McDonalds or Wendy’s is the most holy. But even with those two critical items out of the way, you’ve still got more than a month to go until Holy Thursday brings Lent to an end. What should you do with all that time? Read, of course.
Spiritual reading is beneficial at any time of year, but especially during the season of Lent. It can be instructional and inspirational, both of which we desperately need these days. Below are nine books that I believe are ideal for the Lenten season.
The Bible, specifically the gospel of Mark. You didn’t really think I would do a piece recommending books for Lent and leave off the Bible, did you? I suggest Mark’s gospel because you’re obviously not going to read the entire Bible during the 40 days of Lent (nor should you try), but the 16 chapters of the shortest gospel can easily be read through twice during that period. It’s also the gospel with the most action.
An Introduction to the Devout Life by St. Francis de Sales. An Introduction to the Devout Life was a series of letters written specifically for the laity, instructing people how to attain holiness in their everyday lives, which was a radical idea in the 17th century when it was assumed only monks and cloistered nuns could live holy lives. The book was a favorite of Pope Pius XI; in 1923, Pope Pius wrote of his hope that the book would “be read now as it formerly was by practically everyone.”
The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. This 15th century classic may be the best-known book on this list, is admired by people of all faiths, and is probably the most widely read Christian book besides the Bible. It was a favorite of the saints as well: St. Ignatius of Loyola read a chapter from it every day, St. Thomas More called it one of the three books everyone should own, and St. Thérèse of Lisieux first read it when she was 14 years old and read it so often she could quote long passages from memory.
The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli. Francis de Sales is the patron saint of writers (and thus a favorite of mine); the book that influenced him most was The Spiritual Combat, a book that like his own An Introduction to the Devout Life is a manual of practical advice rather than a heavy philosophical or theological treatise.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I wanted to include at least one novel for you fiction fans, and if you only know Brideshead Revisited from the excellent 1981 miniseries starring Jeremy Irons (or don’t know it all), you need to read this one. It follows the journey of main character Charles Ryder from agnostic to believer in a way that weaves seamlessly into the story (unlike the heavy-handed, mini-sermons that dominate “Christian fiction” today). In some ways, it’s a Christian version of my favorite novel, The Razor’s Edge.
Letters to a Young Catholic by George Weigel. Another book made up of letters to an anonymous reader (that borrows its title from both Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet and Mario Vargas Llosa’s Letters to a Young Novelist), this book is a journey through the faith, the history, the architecture, and more, of the Catholic Church. It’s an outstanding read for young and old, Catholic and non-Catholic alike.
My Sisters the Saints by Colleen Carroll Campbell. The spiritual memoir of a contemporary woman who drew inspiration from several female saints (whom she calls her spiritual sisters) as she moved through life, dealing with illness, love, infertility, parenthood, and death. It is a compelling read.
The Way of Perfection by St. Teresa of Avila. Another classic from the 16th century, this one is a fine guidebook on prayer and the Christian life. It’s perfect for Lent.
Confessions by St. Augustine. This book has influenced Christian thought for 1700 years, inspiring everyone from St. Thomas Aquinas to Martin Luther. It is also the toughest to get through of all the ones mentioned here (I am still working my way through it myself), but it may be the best Lenten book of the lot.
Be forewarned however: Augustine wrote that when he took up the Bible and read, it changed his life. Any one of these books could change yours as well. Enjoy that fish sandwich.
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