My own Lenten reading matter is going to be from one of my favorite authors, G.K. Chesterton. The book, Lent and Easter: Wisdom from G.K. Chesterton, is published by Liguori and available here.
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in his great cape and hat carrying his walking "stick" which I expect is his wizard's staff?
On each day of Lent, the book offers a quote from Chesterton, a Scripture reference, a short prayer and a suggested action. Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, offers this Chestertonian nugget for meditation:
The essential difference between Christian and Pagan asceticism lies in the fact that Paganism in renouncing pleasure gives up something which it does not think desirable; whereas Christianity in giving up pleasure gives up something it thinks very desirable indeed. Thus there is a frenzy in Christian asceticism; its follies and renunciations are like those of first love.Isn't that lovely? Doesn't it ennoble our sacrifices? What, after all, is the nobility of giving up what isn't worth the giving? It is only those wonderful gifts that we voluntarily sacrifice for a time out of love for another that shine with the glow of grace. Do take a look at this lovely book for your Lenten meditation. You can never go wrong with Chesterton's "theology of joy!"
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