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The Art of Praying: The Principles and Methods of Christian Prayer/Formerly Entitled Prayer in Practice
The Art of Praying..the prinicples and methods of Christian prayer should be in every believers library. This channel to the heart, will and desires of God will connect your with his voice and his purpose for your life. Romano Guardini (author) "One cannot, in the long run, remain a Christian without praying, as one cannot live without breathing." Prayer is essential to our well being, our future and sustains us in our present. Let me ask you... Are your prayers sometimes difficult or unrewarding? Do you suffer from distractions or often lack the desire to pray? Your problem is probably not a failure or will (for you do try to pray well) but a failure of knowledge- and the good news is that it's easily overcome. In these pages, Romano Guardini provides a welcome solution to this common he teaches you the art of praying-an art that you must ultimately master if you are to remain a Christian and ddeepen your faith. This is a book that will sure accelerate your Christian voice and empowering you to hear, discern and obey the will of God in your life.
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1943
75 people are currently reading
381 people want to read
About the author
Romano Guardini
381 books163 followersRomano Guardini was a Catholic priest, author, and academic. He was one of the most important figures in Catholic intellectual life in the 20th century.
Guardini was born in Verona, Italy in 1885. His family moved to Mainz when he was one year old and he lived in Germany for the rest of his life. After studying chemistry in Tübingen for two semesters, and economics in Munich and Berlin for three, he decided to become a priest. After studying Theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Tübingen, he was ordained in Mainz in 1910. He briefly worked in a pastoral position before returning to Freiburg to work on his doctorate in Theology under Engelbert Krebs. He received his doctorate in 1915 for a dissertation on Bonaventure. He completed his “Habilitation” in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn in 1922, again with a dissertation on Bonaventure. Throughout this period he also worked as a chaplain to the Catholic youth movement.
In 1923 he was appointed to a chair in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Berlin. In the 1935 essay “Der Heiland” (The Saviour) he criticized Nazi mythologizing of the person of Jesus and emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus. The Nazis forced him to resign from his Berlin position in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he retired to Mooshausen, where his friend Josef Weiger had been parish priest since 1917.
In 1945 Guardini was appointed professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen and resumed lecturing on the Philosophy of Religion. In 1948, he became professor at the University of Munich, where he remained until retiring for health reasons in 1962.
Guardini died in Munich on 1 October 1968. He was buried in the priests’ cemetery of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Munich. His estate was left to the Catholic Academy in Bavaria that he had co-founded.
Guardini was born in Verona, Italy in 1885. His family moved to Mainz when he was one year old and he lived in Germany for the rest of his life. After studying chemistry in Tübingen for two semesters, and economics in Munich and Berlin for three, he decided to become a priest. After studying Theology in Freiburg im Breisgau and Tübingen, he was ordained in Mainz in 1910. He briefly worked in a pastoral position before returning to Freiburg to work on his doctorate in Theology under Engelbert Krebs. He received his doctorate in 1915 for a dissertation on Bonaventure. He completed his “Habilitation” in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Bonn in 1922, again with a dissertation on Bonaventure. Throughout this period he also worked as a chaplain to the Catholic youth movement.
In 1923 he was appointed to a chair in Philosophy of Religion at the University of Berlin. In the 1935 essay “Der Heiland” (The Saviour) he criticized Nazi mythologizing of the person of Jesus and emphasized the Jewishness of Jesus. The Nazis forced him to resign from his Berlin position in 1939. From 1943 to 1945 he retired to Mooshausen, where his friend Josef Weiger had been parish priest since 1917.
In 1945 Guardini was appointed professor in the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Tübingen and resumed lecturing on the Philosophy of Religion. In 1948, he became professor at the University of Munich, where he remained until retiring for health reasons in 1962.
Guardini died in Munich on 1 October 1968. He was buried in the priests’ cemetery of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in Munich. His estate was left to the Catholic Academy in Bavaria that he had co-founded.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 10, 2016
The Art of Praying does not shy away from the number one issue people have with praying--praying is hard. It's a conversation with God that all too often feels one-sided. It's easy to be distracted by other, mundane things while going through rote prayers. It's hard to find time (and patience). Prayer has no practical, tangible, visible results. Authentic prayer should well up from a deep and profound movement, a fully and clear manifestation of God's presence. Romano Guardinin not only acknowledges these problems, they are the very first issues he confronts.
Moments of transcendent awareness or experience are so few that they are not a reliable foundation for a prayer life, nor are they to be expected. Much more value comes from having a regular routine with a certain amount of structure and focus. The focus comes from preparing to pray, finding a method to avoid distractions and compose oneself. The structure should be a bit fluid, based on personal experience and ability. Some may do well with rote prayers while others may benefit more from spiritual reading (the Bible is the most important text). The time praying should not be too short, for then the effort will seem unimportant and irrelevant. The time should not be too long either, especially if other pressing needs or weariness demand attention. Even the posture of prayer is important. It's a matter of discipline and respect, adopting an outward stance that reflects the inner attitude.
Guardini reviews the various purposes of prayer (adoration, reparation, petition, and thanksgiving) and how they are integral to a fruitful prayer life. He considers the Triune God and how prayer needs to start with the Second Person, Jesus Christ the Son, who is the easiest way into contemplation of the transcendent God. Achieving a more substantial union with God through prayer requires both oral or formal prayers and personal contemplative prayer. Guardini again provides practical advice and examples, especially using the example and the intercession of the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This personal prayer life needs to be integrated with the communal prayer life of the church through the various liturgies, the most important being Mass. Here too a rich inner meaning is communicated through outward actions. This happens only when the individual looks past his or her personal preferences and embraces the corporate nature of liturgical prayer. It is not corporate in the sense of conforming to business-like formality but in the sense of being members of the Mystical Body of Christ. The corporal union with others is deepest in the Eucharist, which unites each of us with God and thereby makes us children of God. In this way prayer life is balanced between the responsibilities of individuals to God and the individuals' responsibilities to each other through God (i.e. loving one another as He has loved us).
This book is a very helpful and enlightening look at prayer life for individuals, especially those who struggle to find the time, energy, and proper method for a prayer life.
Moments of transcendent awareness or experience are so few that they are not a reliable foundation for a prayer life, nor are they to be expected. Much more value comes from having a regular routine with a certain amount of structure and focus. The focus comes from preparing to pray, finding a method to avoid distractions and compose oneself. The structure should be a bit fluid, based on personal experience and ability. Some may do well with rote prayers while others may benefit more from spiritual reading (the Bible is the most important text). The time praying should not be too short, for then the effort will seem unimportant and irrelevant. The time should not be too long either, especially if other pressing needs or weariness demand attention. Even the posture of prayer is important. It's a matter of discipline and respect, adopting an outward stance that reflects the inner attitude.
Guardini reviews the various purposes of prayer (adoration, reparation, petition, and thanksgiving) and how they are integral to a fruitful prayer life. He considers the Triune God and how prayer needs to start with the Second Person, Jesus Christ the Son, who is the easiest way into contemplation of the transcendent God. Achieving a more substantial union with God through prayer requires both oral or formal prayers and personal contemplative prayer. Guardini again provides practical advice and examples, especially using the example and the intercession of the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary.
This personal prayer life needs to be integrated with the communal prayer life of the church through the various liturgies, the most important being Mass. Here too a rich inner meaning is communicated through outward actions. This happens only when the individual looks past his or her personal preferences and embraces the corporate nature of liturgical prayer. It is not corporate in the sense of conforming to business-like formality but in the sense of being members of the Mystical Body of Christ. The corporal union with others is deepest in the Eucharist, which unites each of us with God and thereby makes us children of God. In this way prayer life is balanced between the responsibilities of individuals to God and the individuals' responsibilities to each other through God (i.e. loving one another as He has loved us).
This book is a very helpful and enlightening look at prayer life for individuals, especially those who struggle to find the time, energy, and proper method for a prayer life.
July 14, 2023
Put simply, The Art of Praying was exceptional! It gave insights on prayer in a variety of ways from conceptual explanations to practical tips. I found the chapters on Contemplative Prayer and Divine Providence to be particularly helpful. While there were some concepts that were difficult to understand at this point in my spiritual journey, the majority of the book was very helpful for learning about the necessity and theology of prayer along with practical tips for taking prayer to the next level. I have started to look at prayer with a new perspective and strategy because of The Art of Praying, and I am so excited to see these changes transform my prayer life. Additionally, Guardini’s writing style is beautifully profound and yet so accessible. I hope to read more of his books in the future.
July 25, 2023
I learned quite a lot from this book. I enjoyed Guardini’s humor and practicality. Some chapters were more impactful than others, but I definitely enjoyed Chapter 8 “Prayer in Times of Capacity” the most.
July 3, 2023
The Art of Praying is a fantastic book that details the purpose of prayer, how to prepare yourself/your mindset for prayer, the importance of prayer, and how to apply the fruits of prayer. It provides practical and applicable advice for how to pray, and I appreciate that Guardini does not mince words:
- “We should stop lying to God. Better to say openly, “I do not wish to pray,” than to make such excuses.”
- “No one should say that his spiritual life is so highly developed that he has no more need of the Lord’s Prayer; this would be delusion or arrogance.”
Honestly though, I must admit that there were many parts of the book that flew over my head due to a lack of spiritual maturity and an inability to comprehend the some of the profound descriptions Guardini provides about God.
- “We should stop lying to God. Better to say openly, “I do not wish to pray,” than to make such excuses.”
- “No one should say that his spiritual life is so highly developed that he has no more need of the Lord’s Prayer; this would be delusion or arrogance.”
Honestly though, I must admit that there were many parts of the book that flew over my head due to a lack of spiritual maturity and an inability to comprehend the some of the profound descriptions Guardini provides about God.
November 10, 2021
ESPAÑOL: Excelente traducción al español del libro de Guardini, realizada por Alfonso López Quintás, que fue profesor mío hace más de medio siglo.
Un buen resumen sobre la oración personal, con unas palabras al final respecto a la oración litúrgica y las prácticas religiosas populares.
ENGLISH: Excellent translation into Spanish of Guardini's book, by Alfonso López Quintás, who was my teacher over half a century ago.
A good summary about personal prayer, with a few words at the end regarding liturgical prayer and popular religious practices.
Un buen resumen sobre la oración personal, con unas palabras al final respecto a la oración litúrgica y las prácticas religiosas populares.
ENGLISH: Excellent translation into Spanish of Guardini's book, by Alfonso López Quintás, who was my teacher over half a century ago.
A good summary about personal prayer, with a few words at the end regarding liturgical prayer and popular religious practices.
February 11, 2023
What is prayer but wishful thinking?
For many, it seems that it likely stops there. So many grow up in the discourse of God as a sky deity and so prayer becomes a place of primarily petition. How many pray for the success of a sports team, the adoration of a crush, or success in a job interview?
As part of my current deep dive into Christian and Catholic spirituality and mysticism, I cracked into this book by Guardini, a prominent intellectual within Catholic thought in the early 20th century.
Prayer, it seems, is beyond wishful thinking, but it is also a mental act that Catholics struggle to clearly define and describe. Like meditation, it requires a recollection and presence of mind, mental discipline and vulnerability, and a right view regarding certain/all conceptual and symbolic matters. But within the mental space Guardini describes as precondition to prayer, there exists a dynamic condition in which the person speaks and ’listens’, is changed as they speak, and is shaped as they listen.
"Everything depends on this state of recollectedness. No effort to obtain it is ever wasted. And even if the whole duration of our prayer should be applied to this end only, the time thus used would have been well employed. For recollectedness itself is prayer. In times of distress, illness, or great exhaustion, it can be most beneficial to content oneself with such a prayer of recollectedness. It will calm, fortify, and help. Finally, if at first we achieve no more than the understanding of how much we lack in inner unity, something will have been gained, for in some way we would have made contact with that center which knows no distraction."
Yet, Catholic tradition seems to have a poverty of techniques and paths towards being able to recognize and establish recollectedness. In comparison, Buddhism starts a seeker on the path towards nirvana with the techniques for establishing mindfulness. With Christians, many times it ends with the conclusion that in the end, recollectedness is a gift from God. Such a conclusion, coherent in theological terms, becomes a pathetic and sentimental cliche in the hands of the laity. It makes about as much sense as saying physical strength is a gift from God, not establish from routine and habit.
In fact, here, Guardini gives little guidance other than to set a clear intention with mental fortitude. One wonders of those praying with a clenched jaw, or perhaps those who feel to be left out from the gifts of God because they can't establish recollectedness.
"A profound mystery surrounds the origin of divine love, so that to the question as to why God loves man, man himself cannot give an answer. God's love must be regarded as pure gift, as the creative cause of itself."
My criticism of the poverty of technique and clarity on some points aside, there is a deep spiritual tradition being tapped into here, and given the brevity of the book, we only scratch the surface here. I am still seriously critical of the cohesion of the Christian tradition, but it seems that it can tap into the same ‘spiritual’ space as Buddhism. Through these techniques, I can see how a spiritual seeker can develop in mental spaces of calm and recollectedness with prayer, but without more direction available to the Christian seeker, it seems they are likely to walk many detours on the way.
The world would be a much better place if Christian prayer, in practice, would align itself more how it is articulated by the masters - instead it is left to be shaped and passed down through the lenses of sentimentality and superstition.
For many, it seems that it likely stops there. So many grow up in the discourse of God as a sky deity and so prayer becomes a place of primarily petition. How many pray for the success of a sports team, the adoration of a crush, or success in a job interview?
As part of my current deep dive into Christian and Catholic spirituality and mysticism, I cracked into this book by Guardini, a prominent intellectual within Catholic thought in the early 20th century.
Prayer, it seems, is beyond wishful thinking, but it is also a mental act that Catholics struggle to clearly define and describe. Like meditation, it requires a recollection and presence of mind, mental discipline and vulnerability, and a right view regarding certain/all conceptual and symbolic matters. But within the mental space Guardini describes as precondition to prayer, there exists a dynamic condition in which the person speaks and ’listens’, is changed as they speak, and is shaped as they listen.
"Everything depends on this state of recollectedness. No effort to obtain it is ever wasted. And even if the whole duration of our prayer should be applied to this end only, the time thus used would have been well employed. For recollectedness itself is prayer. In times of distress, illness, or great exhaustion, it can be most beneficial to content oneself with such a prayer of recollectedness. It will calm, fortify, and help. Finally, if at first we achieve no more than the understanding of how much we lack in inner unity, something will have been gained, for in some way we would have made contact with that center which knows no distraction."
Yet, Catholic tradition seems to have a poverty of techniques and paths towards being able to recognize and establish recollectedness. In comparison, Buddhism starts a seeker on the path towards nirvana with the techniques for establishing mindfulness. With Christians, many times it ends with the conclusion that in the end, recollectedness is a gift from God. Such a conclusion, coherent in theological terms, becomes a pathetic and sentimental cliche in the hands of the laity. It makes about as much sense as saying physical strength is a gift from God, not establish from routine and habit.
In fact, here, Guardini gives little guidance other than to set a clear intention with mental fortitude. One wonders of those praying with a clenched jaw, or perhaps those who feel to be left out from the gifts of God because they can't establish recollectedness.
"A profound mystery surrounds the origin of divine love, so that to the question as to why God loves man, man himself cannot give an answer. God's love must be regarded as pure gift, as the creative cause of itself."
My criticism of the poverty of technique and clarity on some points aside, there is a deep spiritual tradition being tapped into here, and given the brevity of the book, we only scratch the surface here. I am still seriously critical of the cohesion of the Christian tradition, but it seems that it can tap into the same ‘spiritual’ space as Buddhism. Through these techniques, I can see how a spiritual seeker can develop in mental spaces of calm and recollectedness with prayer, but without more direction available to the Christian seeker, it seems they are likely to walk many detours on the way.
The world would be a much better place if Christian prayer, in practice, would align itself more how it is articulated by the masters - instead it is left to be shaped and passed down through the lenses of sentimentality and superstition.
September 15, 2015
I have no memory of reading this before, yet I gave it a 4-star rating in 2010.
This book makes me think of Gregory the Great's famous quote.
I'm not sure how Guardini pulled it off but this little book has loads of practical common sense for prayer as well as deep insights that sank in and have influenced me greatly.
Highly recommended.
This book makes me think of Gregory the Great's famous quote.
Scripture is like a river . . . broad and deep, shallow enough here for the lamb to go wading, but deep enough there for the elephant to swim.My first time through this book I was the lamb and this time around I was the elephant. Clearly the difference is in my understanding and not in the book itself, which is deceptively simple.
I'm not sure how Guardini pulled it off but this little book has loads of practical common sense for prayer as well as deep insights that sank in and have influenced me greatly.
Highly recommended.
April 29, 2024
Romano Guardini es un sabio, un hombre tocado por Dios para enseñar y transmitir teología de una manera accesible y plenamente humana.
Este libro es ideal para comprender la oracion y su dinámica interna. Para desear orar más y mejor
Este libro es ideal para comprender la oracion y su dinámica interna. Para desear orar más y mejor
February 4, 2024
Complex, yet straightforward. A book to read over and over - to contemplate.
March 22, 2021
Excellent book on prayer! So much wisdom and experience here. I learned a lot from it and will re-read, but I would also recommend it for beginners. What struck me most is that God is so real and personal for the author (not necessarily as a felt presence) -- there is nothing vague about the God Guardini knows. This intimacy is attractive and encouraging.
August 25, 2014
A beautiful book on prayer from a primary source in the 20th century liturgical movement. Guardini manages to situate personal prayer within the larger context of liturgical and devotional prayer, as well as addressing its fundamentals. Highly recommended!
August 2, 2021
De lectura fácil y profundo a la vez. Para releer varias veces.
January 25, 2019
I found this book hidden away in a bibliography of a guide on prayer, and requested the title through interlibrary loan at my local library. Romano Guardini's writing style is accessible and very relatable. As I was reading through the challenges of prayer I kept nodding my head in agreement with the realities I too face in this area. The book walks through prayer, basic techniques and strategies, as well as challenges and obstacles. It is a rich text, and one that you may want to read once and then reread several years later. Guardini packs a lot in his writing style with many words to reflect and ponder on. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to deepen their prayer life and love of Jesus.
February 9, 2021
Guardini's work is presented in a clear and concise manner. It is a sensible read for anyone, especially laity who struggle with deepening their faith or feel removed from other, sometimes overly wordy, priestly, explanatory works. That said, it is not a "read-through" book. It is similar to Kempis' 'My Imitation of Christ' in the organization of chapters and sections. This made it easy to keep track of where I was in the readings as well as note-taking. Difficulty lies in the scientific-styled reading. As I previously said, it's not a 'read-through' so much as a 'continuous study' book. I will most certainly be coming back time and again to this work for guidance as different parts are more relevant to those at different walks in their faith life.
May 5, 2024
Just a great book!
I've read excerpts in Magnificat of Romano Guardini, and then proceeded to read "The Lord's Prayer", which was magnificent. I have re-read it twice since.
This is the second book, I believe, that I have read by Msgr Guardini, and it too is excellent. It is dense reading in the beginning, and becomes quite practical in the end, very down to earth. IN short, just excellent content - it is not easy to pray, then reasons to pray, and types of prayer, and just again, Magnificent!
I will be re-reading this as well, and look forward to the next couple of books I have of Msgr Guardini.
I've read excerpts in Magnificat of Romano Guardini, and then proceeded to read "The Lord's Prayer", which was magnificent. I have re-read it twice since.
This is the second book, I believe, that I have read by Msgr Guardini, and it too is excellent. It is dense reading in the beginning, and becomes quite practical in the end, very down to earth. IN short, just excellent content - it is not easy to pray, then reasons to pray, and types of prayer, and just again, Magnificent!
I will be re-reading this as well, and look forward to the next couple of books I have of Msgr Guardini.
August 27, 2022
The Art of Praying was an honest and challenging book that has pushed me in developing a disciplined life of prayer. I think the most important take away I had from this book, one repeated many times, was that prayer is not always enjoyable or free flowing. It must be disciplined in order to avoid plain laziness. And this is what is rewarding in the end. Guardini’s writing is heady at times but holds beautiful gems.
May 3, 2022
Me encantó. Un libro que desarrolla el tema de la oración no desde una perspectiva personal sino desde la doctrina de la Iglesia. Nos recuerda lo fundamental de cultivar la oración como forma de vincularnos con nuestra más profunda identidad de seres creados y amados por Dios. Súper necesaria su lectura.
August 26, 2017
What can I say- its Guardini! He is wonderful and his modest book explaining how when where why to pray is filled with beautifully rendered advice. I heavily underlined the Book and will come back to it often as a reminder and resource. Great book!
October 19, 2020
I wish that I had come across this book earlier! This is a great overview of prayer - what it is and how to do it well, as the title suggests. As much as I would have liked to read it earlier in my "prayer journey", it was definitely still informative and helpful now.
September 1, 2022
What i love about this book is the integration of prayer and action. 'Forth from worship into service', AND most importantly for me the way he addresses dryness and lack of consolation consistently throughout the book. A treasure
June 7, 2024
Guardini siempre vale la pena. Interesante y sugerente, aunque por momentos pierda interés por un excesivo afán de encontrar un esquema ordenado. Aún así aporta mucho fondo al que quiera hacer crecer su vida de oración.
July 16, 2021
After reading
The Lord, this book recommended itself with great vehemence. Worth it's weight in Gold. confirms my using this author as a touchstone of inspiration. Next comes Letters from Lake Como.
The Lord, this book recommended itself with great vehemence. Worth it's weight in Gold. confirms my using this author as a touchstone of inspiration. Next comes Letters from Lake Como.
May 16, 2023
Necesario para darme cuenta de que no se orar, y por lo menos saber por dónde empezar
Read
March 22, 2015In The Art of Praying, Romano Guardini examines various kinds of prayers (e.g., petition, contemplative, thanksgiving, and so forth) as well as the preparation and process one should undertake when approaching God through prayer so as to maximize its fruitfulness. The book offers myriad practical suggestions for prayer, some of which can be of immediate help, others not so much depending on the physical and spiritual stage of the reader. Consequently, this book deserves to be read again in the future. Suggestions passed over on the initial read may be the very ones needed on a subsequent read since the reader might be in a different stage of physical and spiritual growth.
March 5, 2013
As I expected after reading Fr. Guardini's "The Lord," this much shorter book was eminently practical and yet steeped in deep, reflective observations. I'll likely never approach the sort of praying suggested here, but I have attempted contemplative prayer several times over the last week, and Stations of the Cross touched me last Friday. I hope it lasts, and I should return to my notes on this book to make it work.
Want to read
July 7, 2019Ensayo que recoge una serie de conferencias en Berlín, a finales de la década de 1930, en las que el autor vierte su experiencia personal sobre la oración, su función y significado en la vida cristiana, y también describe los diversos tipos de oración (mental, vocal, etc.) y las condiciones mejores para llevarla a cabo. Enseña a hacer oración y anima a hacerla con esperanza y constancia. Para personas con formación cultural y doctrinal.
August 4, 2024
Cómo siempre ocurre con Guardini; sistemático, mucho más profundo de lo que puedas esperar, y sin ninguna concesión a los fuegos artificiales. Un manual de oración que va pasando por los diferentes métodos, tradiciones y eventos que pueden formar parte de la oración, con su justificación teológica y su aplicación práctica. Muy recomendable.
September 27, 2013
This book is oddly academic-feeling for its subject matter, but isn't academic in that it doesn't have footnotes or references.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews