Discussion guide for small groups included. Includes bibliographical references (pages 373-386)
Contents:
Everyone can pray : an introduction -- Walking to school : childhood prayer -- Why pray? : some common reasons -- Praying without knowing it : nine types of prayer you may be unaware of -- What is prayer? : a few definitions and insights -- Beginning a friendship with God : Father Barry's insight -- Everyone needs help : petitionary prayer -- Now I lay me down to sleep : rote and other formal prayers -- I am here : the daily examen -- What happens when you pray? : emotions, insights, memories, desires, images, words, feelings, and mystical experiences -- How do I know it's God? : discerning God's voice -- The gift of imagination : Ignatian contemplation -- Praying with sacred texts : lectio divina -- Finding God at the center : centering prayer -- Discovering God in creation : nature prayer -- Talking about prayer : spiritual direction, retreats, faith sharing, and journaling -- Topics in prayer : distractions, dryness, expectations, and the overall ups and downs of the spiritual life -- Now what? : moving from prayer to action -- Acknowledgements -- For further exploration -- Discussion guide for small groups.
Summary:
One of America's most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage teaches anyone to converse with God in this comprehensive guide to prayer. In The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, Father James Martin included a chapter on communicating with God. Now, he expands those thoughts in this profound and practical handbook. Learning to Pray explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice in our lives. A trusted guide walking beside us as we navigate our unique spiritual paths, Martin lays out the different styles and traditions of prayer throughout Christian history and invites us to experiment and discover which works best to feed our soul and build intimacy with our Creator. Father Martin makes clear there is not one secret formula for praying. But like any relationship, each person can discover the best style for building an intimate relationship with God, regardless of religion or denomination. Prayer, he teaches us, is open and accessible to anyone willing to open their heart. -- Provided by publisher. Explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform lives when it becomes a regular practice, discussing different styles and traditions of prayer throughout Christian history and encouraging readers to experiment and discover which works best for them.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.