Book review: “Rejoice and be glad”

For Lent there are lots of books and other material to use to reflect on the Mass readings or just reflections on various Lenten topics.

There are books like Sister Joyce Rupps’ book I reviewed some time ago, a book by the late Father Benedict Groeschel, and a book by Bishop Robert Barron. There are devotional magazines like Magnificat’s regular magazine and its companion, Give Us This Day, as well as The Word Among Us, and Living Faith.

All these are great and very useful, as are other books. I used the Lenten book in Liturgical Press’ series of books.  They have books for Advent and Christmas, too. There are not as many resources for the Easter Season as there are for Lent or Advent. One has to look harder for that.

The author of this Easter book – “Rejoice and be glad 2024: daily reflections for Easter to Pentecost” – is Father William Skudlarek, O.S.B., a monk at Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, Minnesota, and an author of various books and articles.

This book is available in regular text size, large print, and e-book editions. Father William (most of us American Benedictines and others use our first names instead of our last names) starts his book with an introduction which is followed by daily reflections starting with Easter Sunday Day Mass. The Scripture readings for the Mass are listed and then a verse from one of the readings is given that he reflects on.

This is followed by a short meditation and then a short prayer. The reflection covers two pages. There are bibliographical references at the end.  Father William covers readings from the Easter Season Masses, but also feast days and solemnities. Some memorials are noted but are not reflected upon. This book is set up where Ascension is celebrated on Sunday, as is the case in Oklahoma and Arkansas, and other states.

This book is highly recommended to those looking for a book that has reflections on the Easter Season Mass readings next year. I recommend this book since it is one of the few books for the Easter Season and that is not too short or too long for busy people. I wish the publisher had a book for the Ordinary Time Season in this series too. Happy Easter!

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.