Awake in the Spirit: A Personal Handbook on Prayer

by M. Basil Pennington

Fr. Basil Pennington presents time- tested ways that Christians have cultivated deep inner relationship with God, including praying with the Scriptures, Centering Prayer, the use of the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and the Prayer of the Hours.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1992

About the author

Dom M. Basil Pennington O.C.S.O. (1931–2005) was a Trappist monk and priest. He was a leading Roman Catholic spiritual writer, speaker, teacher, and director.

Pennington was an alumnus of the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas Angelicum where he obtained a licentiate in Theology in 1959.[1] He also earned a licentiate in Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University. Pennington became known internationally as one of the major proponents of the Centering Prayer movement begun at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts, during the 1970s.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and found it very helpful. Father Pennington wrote this almost 25 years ago as a primer on (what I would consider) Contemplative Prayer practices. However, because he is obviously writing to a Roman Catholic audience, he includes practices such as praying the Rosary, and receiving the Eucharist from that Faith Tradition's perspective.

Even so, there was still much I was able to glean for my own personal prayer life as a Protestant: Centering Prayer practice, praying throughout the day, and even food for thought regarding Communion/Eucharist.

This book stood up well over time. There was only one, somewhat negative comment, regarding receiving the Eucharist outside of the celebration of the Mass that I am confident the author might change or delete if writing today. Given issues of a Pandemic, congregations and parishes that are ageing rapidly, etc, priests and pastors must make allowances.

This book was written for those who are seeking the deeper things of Christ. One will find a good repository of information here, but Protestants will just have to work a little harder.

Recommend