Time for God: A Guide to Mental Prayer
by Jacques Philippe (Scepter Publishers, 2008)
AC Librarian's Review
"No one has yet starved to death because they didn't take the time to eat. We always find (or rather take!) the time to do what really matters in life." Jacques Philippe, Time for God
During the season of Lent, many of us experience a well-intentioned desire to reinvigorate our prayers lives and spend more time in serious mental prayer with our Lord. At the same time, we may lack the tools we need to help us in this good and holy desire. This is especially the case in modern American society, where many people simply "don't have time" for such a seemingly "unproductive" activity as mental prayer. In Time for God: A Guide to Mental Prayer, Fr. Jacques Philippe offers readers a practical and accessible introduction to the practice of mental prayer, and a reliable guide to the attitudes that should accompany this practice. He opens his book by noting that "The life of prayer is not the result of a technique, but a gift we receive" and then goes on to balance this statement by adding, "We do need to understand how to receive it" (emphasis added). Everyone, says Fr. Philippe, is called to a life of prayer. The key to "successful" prayer is not a matter of perfecting particular techniques, but of fostering an attitude of openness to the God who wishes to commune with us. In this short but profound book, readers wishing to deepen their relationship with the Lord will find some excellent suggestions for laying the groundwork of a solid prayer life.
During the season of Lent, many of us experience a well-intentioned desire to reinvigorate our prayers lives and spend more time in serious mental prayer with our Lord. At the same time, we may lack the tools we need to help us in this good and holy desire. This is especially the case in modern American society, where many people simply "don't have time" for such a seemingly "unproductive" activity as mental prayer. In Time for God: A Guide to Mental Prayer, Fr. Jacques Philippe offers readers a practical and accessible introduction to the practice of mental prayer, and a reliable guide to the attitudes that should accompany this practice. He opens his book by noting that "The life of prayer is not the result of a technique, but a gift we receive" and then goes on to balance this statement by adding, "We do need to understand how to receive it" (emphasis added). Everyone, says Fr. Philippe, is called to a life of prayer. The key to "successful" prayer is not a matter of perfecting particular techniques, but of fostering an attitude of openness to the God who wishes to commune with us. In this short but profound book, readers wishing to deepen their relationship with the Lord will find some excellent suggestions for laying the groundwork of a solid prayer life.
0 comments:
Post a Comment