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By Ann Zlotnik

It seems that we are sacrificing quite a bit more than originally intended for Lent this year. We are now faced with the realization that we will not be gathering in our churches as communities of faith to participate in the Way of the Cross, group rosary devotion or Good Friday services. We simply have to look for more individualized methods of spiritual growth during these last weeks of Lent.

In his article “An Extension of the Sacred Liturgy and Touchstones of Faith,” Brother John Samaha, S.M., writes, “Alone or in a group, in public or in private, with approved prayers or using a prayer which is spontaneous or has no special authorization, we celebrate the life and love of our Savior in many ways. … Participating in and continuing honored practices of devotion are an important part of our faith-life. Devotions are touchstones of faith. They are part of our Christian heritage.”

The All About Mary website, created and maintained by the International Marian Research Institute in partnership with the Marian Library, can provide online options for personal devotion for the remainder of Lent, Holy Week, the Easter season and well beyond. The following suggestions can help you get started. You may find yourself adding these resources to your Lenten practices in the years to come.  

Follow the Way of the Cross

Polish Way of the Cross
Illustrated with woodcuts prints of German artist H.A.P. Grieshaber, this meditation identifies each station’s root, representation and identification as implied by expressionism. 

Ponder the Lord’s Passion

Passion of the Lord on Stamps 
This meditation uses stamps from around the world that feature popular artists’ depictions of the Passion. 

Passion Plays
Related to medieval mysteries, Passion plays dramatically interpret the events from the Last Supper to the Resurrection. This article is based on a Passion play from Oberammergau, Germany, in 1990.

Reflect with Poetry

Combined, these three poetry listings provide over 30 engaging and timely poems.

Lenten Poetry 

Passion Poetry 

Stabat Mater Poetry 
This 13th-century hymn consists of 20 couplets describing the sorrows of the Blessed Virgin at the cross.

Explore All About Mary

Browse by topic or conduct a keyword search at go.udayton.edu/allaboutmary

— Ann Zlotnik is the graphic designer and communications coordinator for the Marian Library