Paying Attention to God: Discernment in Prayer

by William A. Barry

Barry opens up the issue of discernment in the church in order to help people bring their actual experience of God to bear not only on their own spiritual lives, but on the whole Christian community.

Genres: Spirituality, Prayer, Religion, Nonfiction

130 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

William (Bill) Barry, a distinguished spiritual director and author, was born in Worchester, MA. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1950, studied philosophy in Germany from 1953 until 1956, and was at Weston College for theology studies from 1959 until 1963. Ordained a priest in 1962, Barry went on to earn a Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan in 1968.

In 1969, he began teaching psychology at Weston School of Theology, Cambridge, MA, and in 1971 was named director for the Center for Religious Development. He served in both capacities until 1978, when he was put in charge of formation for the New England Jesuit Province. Barry was the Assistant Director of Novices for the Province (1985-88) when he was named Rector of Boston College.

From 1991 to 1997, he served as Provincial of the New England Jesuits. Following that, he was named co-director of the Jesuit Tertianship Program. Barry directs retreats at Campion Center in Weston, MA.

Despite such a busy and committed life, Barry found the time to write 15 books, including The Practice of Spiritual Direction, God and You, Finding God in All Things, Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God, Who Do You Say I Am?, With an Everlasting Love, and A Friendship Like No Other.

Barry has the rare ability to present complex spiritual issues in clear, well-written prose. He is one of the most influential Ignatian commentators at work today.

Reviews

[Lenore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really strong on analyzing experiences of resistance in prayer and relationship with God.

[Yulya Roesdy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reading!

[Robbie Deacon · Rating 2 out of 5]

William Barry writes an odd little book about prayer that is a very mixed-bag. The book started off very strong with excellent advice on removing internal barriers to prayer. Unfortunately, stuff gets a bit funky in chapter 8. First, there’s a passage where Barry calls God “dear Mommy” (pg 64). This is within a list of other affectionate terms for God (“abba”, “dear Daddy”) but still feels odd and unnecessary. Nowhere in scripture or the history of Christianity does God self identify as female. He relates the term “abba” to “Mommy”again toward the end of the book and it felt weird there as well.

Several pages later, when unpacking 1 John 4:7-21, Barry makes the odd suggestion that through prayer “the human Jesus grew like God” (pg 67). At face value this appears heretical; Jesus is God, and His human nature did not need to grow in virtue to be more “like God”.

Later Barry tries to tackle the conversation of female ministers (specifically female catholic priests). It feels really awkward and forced to have an extended discussion about this topic in a book about prayer. As a whole the third quarter of the book felt oddly political.

Overall, what could have been a helpful little devotional work is marred by awkward theology and forced political references. I may reread the first 4 or 5 chapters but I wouldn’t recommend the rest of the book.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this book was first written in 1973 and updated a few times as recently as 1984), it still had relevant messages. The book focuses on prayer and discernment, from a Jesuit priest.

[Loretta]

Wondering how to tell if it's God or your own inclinations, or something else? This book is a great help.

[Elliot Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The marvelous insights from ch. 4 and 6 are essentially Buddhist :P

[C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry's writing style is very conversational and accessible, something I value in a gifted theologian of his caliber.

One of my favorite chapters in this book is called 'Resistance to union: a virulent strain.' He methodically reviews some of the nuances that exist in such resistance through personal storytelling, which makes the discussion come alive. In the end, he reminds us of its continued existence in our hearts (like the chicken pox virus lodged in our nerve cells) and the need to constantly express to God our 'profound desire to encounter and trust Him and our almost as profound fear of doing so, and ask His help to overcome our ambivalence ~ and keep overcoming it' (pg. 36).

The book is a great read for anyone who wants to get better at paying attention to God and growing closer to Him in friendship.