I was made aware of this link through a poster on Fr. Z's board--What Does the Prayer Really Say? This link has a number of Lenten Reading Plans which I think is such a wonderful idea! The reading plans on this site include a Church Fathers reading plan, a Lives of the Saints reading plan, a Fr. Faber and Cardinal Newman reading plan, and a Fr. John Vianney reading plan. The wonderful thing about this reading plan is it has access to the texts online!An alternative reading plan is Thoughts on the Ladder of Divine Ascent. Inner Light Productions gives a short overview of each of the 30 steps to union with the Divine outlined in the original text by St. John Climacus.
The suggestion was made on Fr. Z's blog, that this accompany a lessening of activities such as television or computer use, in order to make time for more spiritual reading.
In addition to these online reading plans, there is a beautiful sermon on Great Lent by Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in America. In it, he says Lent is a "tithe of the year" that we give up in order to give back to Jesus. Lent, he says, is a time for repentance, in order to help us recognize the depth of our need for change. Fasting is done in order to stop exposing ourselves, temporarily, to the stimuli that cause us to sin. Lent is a hospital to heal us from our attachment to the passions.
Fr. Z also warns us not to have the Lent of a child. Giving up chocolate, he says, is a child's Lent.
Ouch.
Let us strive to become close to God and to do His will during Lent and always.
I'll check in on those reading plans.
ReplyDeleteIts nice to have them all in one place.
ReplyDeleteBe that as it may, I find it far harder to give up chocolate than to read.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Patrice! Giving up food is much harder for me than reading.
ReplyDeleteWell, knowing your love of reading this is perfect for you.
ReplyDeleteI know! I thought it was a great thing to do during Lent for me.
ReplyDelete