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Books > Christianity > Christian Worship > Christian prayer
Is Christian 'tradition' to be maintained as the absolute body of
truth? Can it be used selectively depending on the preferences of
individual believers? What can 'religious truth' possibly mean in
our age of opinions and overwhelming cultural diversity? These are
unsettling questions for Christians, their effect aggravated by our
daily encounter with non-western cultures and non-Christian
religions, and by the increasing presentation of secularism and
atheism as the 'normal' way of life. In Never-Ending Prayer, Bert
Hoedemaker outlines the continuing importance of tradition, while
showing that in facing these challenges our understanding of
tradition needs a 'reset'. Drawing on his own experiences of world
Christianity, he reconstructs the Christian tradition in such a way
that it no longer defines and defends itself as a specific body of
concepts and practices over against 'the world' but as a living
community originating in and remaining in interaction with
humanity's permanent struggles. It is presented as a system of
religious imagination in which prayer is the driving force and
reconciliation is seen as the destination of humankind.
Andrew Murray is the master of devotional literature. His books are
short, easy to read and profoundly challenging. These five books
would be a great addition to any bookcase, providing a great source
of Christian insight. With added Biblical Index.
The Jesus Prayer Rosary will be welcomed by the growing number of
people who are discovering that praying with beads can be a
spiritually enriching and therapeutic experience. It will further
enrich the spirituality of the many Christians who have found
meditative repetition of the ancient Jesus Prayer to be a valuable
devotional aid. This unique book brings together these two popular
approaches to prayer and worship. It offers a Jesus-centred way of
praying with beads. Ideal for complete beginners, it includes basic
instruction on how to pray the rosary, using the Jesus Prayer. It
comprises four sets of meditations which focus on the infancy
narratives in Matthew and Luke, scenes from the ministry of Jesus,
his passion and death. These include readings from the various
Gospel writers. Finally, we are given insight into our experience
of him as the Risen One who gradually transforms our lives. Each
meditation concludes with a prayer mostly taken from the liturgy,
and biblical canticles are provided as centrepiece prayers. A
complete resource for praying privately or in groups, this will
open up the riches of Eastern and Catholic spirituality for all.
Michael Cleary SVD is parish priest of the Church of St Mary- on-
the- Quay, Bristol.
The Rule of St. Benedict offers a rich opportunity to explore a
grounded devotional practice, and this book's fresh perspective
will bring the Rule into your daily life. Praying with Saint
Benedict was written for the thousands of lay Christians who are
drawn to the Rule of St. Benedict and desire to incorporate it into
their daily devotional practice. Those who study the Rule aspire to
apply the Benedictine values of community, hospitality, humility,
simplicity, and prayer in their daily lives. This unique book
incorporates the passage of scripture that Benedict cites, three
contemplation questions that facilitate lectio divina, and a
concluding prayer. Unlike other commentaries on the Rule, the
reflections here tend not to be historical or theological, but
rather present personal, relatable thoughts and applications.
A thorough but easily understood explanation of the Serenity
Prayer, written from a Christian perspective and suitable for
anyone, regardless of whether they have been in recovery. Hudson
shares his own experiences with addiction but broadens the book to
address the struggles that come to everyone: discontent,
restlessness, anxiety, stress, grief, pain in relationships, and
more. "The Serenity Prayer" offers a profound look into a simple
prayer that will deepen your trust and reliance on God.
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