Alight with Hidden Glory - by Erik Varden (Hardcover)

About the Book

Book Synopsis

"The richness of [these] reflections will continue for a long time to be for us a source of blessing, of grace, of encounter with Jesus Christ." Pope Leo XIV

Alight with Hidden Glory brings together the reflections preached by Bishop Erik Varden to Pope Leo XIV and the Roman Curia at the 2026 Lent retreat.

Informed by Scripture and the liturgy, illumined by the insights of Bernard of Clairvaux, a man who helped shape medieval Europe, the book addresses questions of timeless relevance: What is the meaning of freedom? How can we speak well about truth? How do we respond when high ideals are compromised by human betrayal?

Erik Varden reveals Lent not as deprivation but as a clarifying pilgrimage toward Christ's 'hidden glory'. This contemplative yet urgent work invites readers to walk the exodus path with renewed courage, vigilance, and hope.

Review Quotes

"The richness of [these] reflections will continue for a long time to be for us a source of blessing, of grace, of encounter with Jesus Christ." --Pope Leo XIV

"It was a wise papal decision, as there are very few Catholics who can break open the riches of biblical faith like Bishop Varden, whose command of sources ranging from literature and music to theology, philosophy, and the lives of the saints is amazing. That he writes in a crystalline prose accessible to all makes this small book, composed of Varden's papal retreat conferences, a spiritual feast" --Catholic World Report

"This book makes for good spiritual reading for clergy and religious, seminarians and novices, as well as the faithful at large. Such a spiritual text rewards slow reading punctuated by introspection and prayer rather than rushed completion. This Cistercian-flavored retreat is a valuable aid in the arduous journey of continuing conversion." --Homiletic & Pastoral Review

About the Author