I have to admit that I too often fall victim to doomscrolling, push notifications, and the relentless digital noise that fills my life and work. Something deep within me longs for silence, and Lent is the perfect opportunity to respond to this inner prompting. Lent is a gentle invitation to step away from the worldly things that consume our attention for a season and discover who we are without these vices. Lent demands interior silence! I am no expert with silence. I’ve only recently found value in its practice, which has helped me listen to God with the ears of my heart.
I first met the Benedictines when I came to Mount Angel Abbey and Seminary in 2006 to discern my vocation. Living on the same hilltop as the monks, I witnessed the ins and outs of their daily lives: centered on Christ, rooted in stillness, prayer, and work, and always attentive to a good book. I often found the monks in their world-class Alvar Aalto Library, reading for hours. Their simple lives were a living testament, challenging a restless soul like mine to learn to adopt their values, to value silence, and to savor the joy of reading.
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Reading is at the heart of Lent for the Benedictines. “The Rule of Saint Benedict” states, “During this time of Lent each one is to receive a book from the library, and is to read the whole of it straight through. These books are to be distributed at the beginning of Lent” (RB 48:15-16).
We all need time to reset and be with God, and reading may be the right way for some of us. Here are five books, each with a different style and interest, that have helped me.
1. “Van Gogh Has A Broken Heart” by Russ Ramsey.
Russ Ramsey is the pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville and a captivating storyteller who brings art to the forefront. This book offers a collection of stories that show us the well-traveled roads of human suffering through the lives of notable artists. These stories teach us how to lament, melding our sorrow with prayer and forming us as healers for others. These are stories that remind us of the Benedictine lesson to bear all things with patience and endurance as we share in life’s hardships and the faults of others (RB 72.5).
2. “The Monastic Heart” by Joan Chittister, OSB.
Sister Joan Chittister gives rich insight into the Benedictine ethos and shows how the monastic tradition can still be relevant to our lives today. One short chapter a day can help our busy hearts slow down and find the silence we need as we journey through Lent. Chittister takes us into the heart of monastic life, teaching us to find God in the present moment by retreating right where we are. This book has helped me appreciate the genuine joy of being not only a Benedictine oblate but also a disciple of Jesus.
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3. “Mother Angelica: The Remarkable Story of A Nun, Her Nerve, and a Network of Miracles” by Raymond Arroyo.
Mother Angelica was a remarkable woman who made a great contribution to the Church. In a garage in Alabama, she launched what would ultimately become EWTN, the largest religious media network in the world. Raymond Arroyo profiles her remarkable journey, along with the betrayals, misunderstandings, and crosses that led her to glory. Mother Angelica is a radiant example of the Benedictine’s fourth step of humility, in which we must be obedient to God “under difficult, unfavorable, or even unjust conditions” and embrace these sufferings quietly, enduring them without seeking escape (RB 7.35). Jesus invites us to patiently endure the sufferings of life, for they all lead to glory.
4. “The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming” by Henri Nouwen.
Henri Nouwen takes us on a deep dive into our Lord’s most well-known parable in light of Rembrandt’s masterpiece. This is a fitting book for a season of return, forgiveness, and homecoming. Guided by a Benedictine spirit, this book invites deep reflection on the question: Where have all our struggles led us? The book embraces the Rule’s promise that, despite our failures, we can always begin again. We can cling to the hope that the path home is always open.
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5. “Awesome Glory: Resurrection in Scripture, Liturgy, and Theology” by Abbot Jeremy Driscoll, OSB.
I was a student of Abbot Jeremy Driscoll in the Doctor of Ministry program at Mount Angel Seminary a few years ago. Reading his book is like hearing him in his classroom all over again. With a teaching style that is uniquely his own, Abbot Jeremy unpacks the Paschal Mystery in a way that is both intellectually rich and accessible to anyone who wants to appreciate the Easter Triduum. This is a fitting book as you approach Holy Week. The abbot weaves liturgy, ritual, and scripture into a single cohesive experience. The book invites us to deepen our faith, allowing the liturgy to form our hearts for worship. You will not be disappointed!
Five books. One season. The gift to enter into silence. Let us be open to the Lent God has in store for us.
