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A Time of Renewal: Daily Reflections for the Lenten Season
Mother Mary Francis, abbess of a Poor Clare Monastery for over forty years, left an enduring legacy in her writings and in the conferences she gave to her spiritual daughters. In this work she presents beautiful meditations on the liturgical season of Lent, revealing the treasures of the liturgy to Christians in all walks of life. Her insight into Holy Scripture and her poet's heart engendered reflections that illuminate the daily Mass readings in a fresh and attractive way.
These meditations enlighten the reader to see conversion as positive and enriching, and help us to understand that the generous embrace of Lenten penance has a purpose and brings a wondrous deeper union with God. She was a true daughter of Saint Francis of Assisi, who found perfect joy by turning away from self to God.
As a spiritual guide, Mother Mary Francis excels in the art of persuasion, aware that the human heart cannot be forced but only gently led to holiness. She makes this goal attractive and desirable by tirelessly explaining why striving for holiness is the happiest and wisest way to live. This book provides a wealth of material for plundering the riches of the Lenten season and for deepening one's spiritual life. Her meditations are profound and timeless, not changing from year to year, thus providing a lifetime of Lenten meditations in this one volume.
These meditations enlighten the reader to see conversion as positive and enriching, and help us to understand that the generous embrace of Lenten penance has a purpose and brings a wondrous deeper union with God. She was a true daughter of Saint Francis of Assisi, who found perfect joy by turning away from self to God.
As a spiritual guide, Mother Mary Francis excels in the art of persuasion, aware that the human heart cannot be forced but only gently led to holiness. She makes this goal attractive and desirable by tirelessly explaining why striving for holiness is the happiest and wisest way to live. This book provides a wealth of material for plundering the riches of the Lenten season and for deepening one's spiritual life. Her meditations are profound and timeless, not changing from year to year, thus providing a lifetime of Lenten meditations in this one volume.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 9, 2015
82 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 21, 2025
What a dear friend to have during Lent! Mother Mary Francis is so raw, humorous, and authentic. I have been transformed and renewed by her writings this Lent - she truly knows the heart of Jesus and getting to know Him more deeply through her eyes is a gift to any person. I think I’ll read this every Lent moving forward.
April 7, 2026
“This is the great choice of Lent: to behave faithfully is in our power. Fire and water are set before man. We can choose whatever we please: fire that burns our hands and our souls, or the water of grace that always refreshes us. God is very merciful toward our failings. God cannot help us when we choose to be mediocre, when we choose to be burned and stay burned.”
Mother Mary Francis is a great spiritual companion, especially if you love a good wake-up slap across the heart and mind every now and again. She speaks and the soul perks up and pays attention- a great deal of wisdom from an absolute powerhouse of holiness.
Mother Mary Francis is a great spiritual companion, especially if you love a good wake-up slap across the heart and mind every now and again. She speaks and the soul perks up and pays attention- a great deal of wisdom from an absolute powerhouse of holiness.
March 31, 2024
Mother Mary Frances says what she is thinking, and she believes what she says. Some simple gems in here. A steady Lenten friend.
April 2, 2024
A great Lenten spiritual read! I loved the daily reflections and the nuggets I got from the authors thoughts on the daily readings. Definitely recommend for those wanting options for their next Lenten season!
April 6, 2026
I loved this devotional! Mother Mary Francis is an eloquent writer about Jesus' Passion and eternal sacrifice. I highly recommend this book to help deepen your prayer life during the season of Lent! (If any of my friends want to borrow it from me in the future, just let me know.)
March 31, 2024
These Lenten reflections were absolutely beautiful! Mother Mary Francis does a lovely job of speaking in deep, thought provoking ways that also feel tangible and practical. It includes focuses on the daily readings and Sunday readings from all three cycles so I’m looking forward to revisiting this again in years to come.
April 5, 2024
An excellent companion to Lent.
April 5, 2024
Love her thought provoking, beautifully deep and yet simple and powerful!
March 29, 2024
Absolute gem. Beautiful reflections that were profound yet super accessible. Will revisit these Lenten reflections again!
April 10, 2023
Alleluia, he is risen.
Being accompanied by Mother's reflections every day this Lent was a great blessing. She opened up for me a vision of penance as freely chosen, fruitful, earnest acts of love for our Lord. The image of little Franciscan brothers running joyfully to St Francis to be corrected characterises this whole book.
"When I have acted very badly, hurting a person I love, the other person may say, 'Oh it's all forgiven. Let's forget it.' There is a sense in which we do forget it, in which we are not bound and constricted by it. We go forward in love. But there is a beautiful, positive sense in which we must never forget it. It is the very opposite of brooding. It is a sense of needing to repair. When I am very much aware that I have hurt, disappointed, caused suffering to the one I love, I am so alert. What can I do? I want to show more love. I am more intent than ever on not disappointing this person again. I'm looking around for something to do. This is what is at the heart of reparation...the love of Christ urges me, I must do something."
"There is never a real penitent who is not a joyous penitent. One who is dragging her feet, one who is trying to get out of suffering and escape sacrifice, is not a penitent at all. What we want to do as concerns penance is to develop a sense of 'Here is my chance! Did I not promise myself, God and my community that I resolve with the help of his grace to do penance? I have to keep my resolution. Here is God's answer!'"
Being accompanied by Mother's reflections every day this Lent was a great blessing. She opened up for me a vision of penance as freely chosen, fruitful, earnest acts of love for our Lord. The image of little Franciscan brothers running joyfully to St Francis to be corrected characterises this whole book.
"When I have acted very badly, hurting a person I love, the other person may say, 'Oh it's all forgiven. Let's forget it.' There is a sense in which we do forget it, in which we are not bound and constricted by it. We go forward in love. But there is a beautiful, positive sense in which we must never forget it. It is the very opposite of brooding. It is a sense of needing to repair. When I am very much aware that I have hurt, disappointed, caused suffering to the one I love, I am so alert. What can I do? I want to show more love. I am more intent than ever on not disappointing this person again. I'm looking around for something to do. This is what is at the heart of reparation...the love of Christ urges me, I must do something."
"There is never a real penitent who is not a joyous penitent. One who is dragging her feet, one who is trying to get out of suffering and escape sacrifice, is not a penitent at all. What we want to do as concerns penance is to develop a sense of 'Here is my chance! Did I not promise myself, God and my community that I resolve with the help of his grace to do penance? I have to keep my resolution. Here is God's answer!'"
April 9, 2026
This book was available to read for free during Lent 2026 on the Ignatius Press app. I have enjoyed the Advent reflections of Mother Mary Francis (on my Kindle via Formed) and her thoughts on the Anima Christi (which I own). I would like to revisit "A Time of Renewal" in the future, but I'll have to buy myself a copy. I liked that she had a different reflection for each of the Sunday Gospels (Year A, B, and C) but the weekday reflections were focused more thematically.
April 3, 2021
This was one of the most beautiful book of Lenten reflections that I have ever read. Mother Mary Francis shows such clarity when speaking about the Lord and our relationship with Him. How it many times is, and how it should be.
I am thinking I will have this book accompany me next Lent also AND look into more of her writings. This one was quite profound.
I am thinking I will have this book accompany me next Lent also AND look into more of her writings. This one was quite profound.
March 30, 2024
Soulful Lenten Aid
Along with the team from Abiding Together, I read this book and listened to their podcast weekly as I walked through this Lenten season 2024.
The writer, Mary Francis, is truly gifted. Gifted as a writer, as a Christian, as a preacher! I look forward to reading another selection by Mary Francis.
Along with the team from Abiding Together, I read this book and listened to their podcast weekly as I walked through this Lenten season 2024.
The writer, Mary Francis, is truly gifted. Gifted as a writer, as a Christian, as a preacher! I look forward to reading another selection by Mary Francis.
March 30, 2024
Mother Mary Francis
Mother Mary Francis gives thoughtful instruction for making a beautiful and hope filled Lenten journey. Her words encourage and challenge the reader to a true renewal of spirit for holy living.
Mother Mary Francis gives thoughtful instruction for making a beautiful and hope filled Lenten journey. Her words encourage and challenge the reader to a true renewal of spirit for holy living.
March 23, 2024
Fickle as I am, I thought the readings per day were too long. I am so glad I stuck with it. Her insights are amazing.i loved it
March 29, 2024
Exceptional. These reflections have challenged my faith in the most loving and thought-provoking ways. Highly recommend.
April 1, 2024
Lent book study 2024 with community friends
April 1, 2024
What a beautiful set of daily reflections for Lent. I will definitely be revisiting this book in Lents to come. So many good nuggets woven into each day!
April 1, 2024
I did this with a friend for lent and this was not my style of reflection or prayer. That said, she loved it!
April 2, 2024
Great daily reflections!
April 18, 2025
read for Lenten spiritual book club
April 5, 2026
Great contemplative read during Lent. A pen and paper were necessary tools in appreciating Mother Mary Frances’s wisdom and the reflection provoked.
April 6, 2026
an incredible Lenten devo! Mother Mary Francis hits my heart with her words every time.
April 6, 2026
Easy to read and easy to apply reflections; Mother Mary Francis is a delight and seems to understand the human heart quite readily.
April 11, 2026
Read this with my husband for Lent. Short daily devotions that pack a punch. Overall we really enjoyed it.
April 30, 2016
It was a great book with a lot of practical ideas for having a successful lent.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews