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Prayers of Life
This book sets before us the range of Christian spirituality. from the total abandonment to God of the greatest mystics to the almost casual proffering of a cup of water in His name.
135 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1954
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 24, 2020
Oh my - I don't know where to start with this book. It is amazing. Michel Quoist was a Catholic Priest. He is most known for his writing of this simple, yet very powerful book, although he has written several other books as well. This book was first published in 1954 under the title "Prayers of Life". The book is not meant to be read as a novel. Each prayer is written as a dialogue with God ending with a final prayer to God. There is so much depth and meaning to ponder in each and every prayer. I think I will be reading these prayers over and over for the rest of my life - they will never get old or out of date. It is the perfect Lenten read!
January 8, 2021
Translated from the original French in the 1950s. Quite interesting reading prayers from a different Christian tradition and a different culture.
"We repeat: it is a sin to live without fighting with all our might, where we are, for more justice in the world."
"We haven't the right to be silent, but speaking is a serious matter, and we must weigh our words in the sight of God."
"We repeat: it is a sin to live without fighting with all our might, where we are, for more justice in the world."
"We haven't the right to be silent, but speaking is a serious matter, and we must weigh our words in the sight of God."
October 20, 2020
I was given this book not long after it came in its English translation, and for years it accompanied me wherever I went, highlighted and scribbled over, in pen or pencil in those days. I don't know how many times I worked my way through it.
May 20, 2018
He writes what I'm thinking, but with hope.
June 7, 2018
I read and re-read an earlier edition of this book, decades ago. Loved how Quoist opened himself to the suffering of others and learned to transform it.
October 9, 2018
Powerful prayers of life out here
October 31, 2013
Very good reading prayers in the morning. My sister got me this for my birthday 5 years ago or more and it resurfaced recently. I like reading poetic prayers like this. Here are a couple samples from the book:
THE BABY
The mother left the carriage for a minute, and I went over to
meet the Holy Trinity living in the baby's pure soul.
It was asleep, its arms carelessly laid on the embroidered sheet.
Its closed eyes looked inward and its chest gently rose and fell
As if to murmur: This dwelling is inhabited.
Lord, you are there.
I adore you in this little one who has not yet disfigured you.
Help me to become like him once more,
To recapture your likeness and your life now so deeply buried in
my heart.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
God says: I like youngsters. I want people to be like them.
I don't like old people unless they are still children.
I want only children in my Kingdom; this has been decreed from
the beginning of time.
Youngsters-twisted, humped, wrinkled, white-bearded--all
kinds of youngsters, but youngsters.
There is no changing it; it has been decided. There is room for
no one else.
I like little children because my image has not yet been dulled
in them.
They have not blotched my likeness; they are new, pure, without a
blot, without a smear.
So, when I gently lean over them, I recognize myself in them.
I like them because they are still growing, they are still improv-
ing.
They are on the road, they are on their way.
But with grown-ups there is nothing to expect any more.
They will no longer grow, no longer improve.
They have come to a full stop.
It is disastrous--grown-ups thinking they have arrived.
I like youngsters because they are still struggling, because they
are still sinning.
Not because they sin, you understand, but because they know
that they sin, and they say so, and they try not to sin any
more.
But I don't like grown-ups. They never harm anyone; they have
nothing to reproach themselves for.
I can't forgive them; I have nothing to forgive.
It is a pity, it is indeed a pity, because it is not true.
But above all, I like youngsters because of the look in their eyes.
In their eyes I can read their age.
In my heaven, there will be only five-year-old eyes, for I know of
nothing more beautiful than the pure eyes of a child.
It is not surprising, for I live in children, and it is I who look
out through their eyes.
When pure eyes meet yours, it is I who smile at you through the
flesh.
But on the other hand, I know of nothing sadder than lifeless
eyes in the face of a child.
The windows are open, but the house is empty.
Two eyes are there, but no light.
And, saddened, I stand at the door, and wait in the cold and
knock. I am eager to get in.
And he, the child, is alone.
He gets stout, he hardens, he dries up, he gets old. Poor old
fellow!
----
Alleluia! Alleluia! Open, all of you, little old men!
It is I, your God, the Eternal, risen from the dead, coming to
bring back to life the child in you.
Hurry! Now is the time. I am ready to give you again the beauti-
ful face of a child, the beautiful eyes of a child.
For I love youngsters, and I want everyone to be like them.
The book ends with prayers related to the stations of the cross and the very last one is on Christ laid in the tomb:
XIV Jesus is Laid In The Tomb
Men tread in relays the Way of the Cross.
The resurrection will only be completed when they have reached
the end of the Way.
I am on the road; I have a small share of your suffering and the
others have theirs.
Together we help you to carry the burden that you have as-
sumed and made divine.
There lies my hope, Lord, and my invincible trust.
There is not a fraction of my little suffering that you have not
already lived and transformed into infinite redemption.
When the road is hard and monotonous,
When it leads to the grave,
I know that beyond the grave you are waiting for me in your glory.
Lord, help me faithfully to travel along my road, at my proper
place in the vastness of humanity.
Help me above all to recognize you and to help you in all my
pilgrim brothers.
For it would be a lie to weep before your lifeless image if I did
not follow you, living, on the road that men travel.
THE BABY
The mother left the carriage for a minute, and I went over to
meet the Holy Trinity living in the baby's pure soul.
It was asleep, its arms carelessly laid on the embroidered sheet.
Its closed eyes looked inward and its chest gently rose and fell
As if to murmur: This dwelling is inhabited.
Lord, you are there.
I adore you in this little one who has not yet disfigured you.
Help me to become like him once more,
To recapture your likeness and your life now so deeply buried in
my heart.
13 People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
God says: I like youngsters. I want people to be like them.
I don't like old people unless they are still children.
I want only children in my Kingdom; this has been decreed from
the beginning of time.
Youngsters-twisted, humped, wrinkled, white-bearded--all
kinds of youngsters, but youngsters.
There is no changing it; it has been decided. There is room for
no one else.
I like little children because my image has not yet been dulled
in them.
They have not blotched my likeness; they are new, pure, without a
blot, without a smear.
So, when I gently lean over them, I recognize myself in them.
I like them because they are still growing, they are still improv-
ing.
They are on the road, they are on their way.
But with grown-ups there is nothing to expect any more.
They will no longer grow, no longer improve.
They have come to a full stop.
It is disastrous--grown-ups thinking they have arrived.
I like youngsters because they are still struggling, because they
are still sinning.
Not because they sin, you understand, but because they know
that they sin, and they say so, and they try not to sin any
more.
But I don't like grown-ups. They never harm anyone; they have
nothing to reproach themselves for.
I can't forgive them; I have nothing to forgive.
It is a pity, it is indeed a pity, because it is not true.
But above all, I like youngsters because of the look in their eyes.
In their eyes I can read their age.
In my heaven, there will be only five-year-old eyes, for I know of
nothing more beautiful than the pure eyes of a child.
It is not surprising, for I live in children, and it is I who look
out through their eyes.
When pure eyes meet yours, it is I who smile at you through the
flesh.
But on the other hand, I know of nothing sadder than lifeless
eyes in the face of a child.
The windows are open, but the house is empty.
Two eyes are there, but no light.
And, saddened, I stand at the door, and wait in the cold and
knock. I am eager to get in.
And he, the child, is alone.
He gets stout, he hardens, he dries up, he gets old. Poor old
fellow!
----
Alleluia! Alleluia! Open, all of you, little old men!
It is I, your God, the Eternal, risen from the dead, coming to
bring back to life the child in you.
Hurry! Now is the time. I am ready to give you again the beauti-
ful face of a child, the beautiful eyes of a child.
For I love youngsters, and I want everyone to be like them.
The book ends with prayers related to the stations of the cross and the very last one is on Christ laid in the tomb:
XIV Jesus is Laid In The Tomb
Men tread in relays the Way of the Cross.
The resurrection will only be completed when they have reached
the end of the Way.
I am on the road; I have a small share of your suffering and the
others have theirs.
Together we help you to carry the burden that you have as-
sumed and made divine.
There lies my hope, Lord, and my invincible trust.
There is not a fraction of my little suffering that you have not
already lived and transformed into infinite redemption.
When the road is hard and monotonous,
When it leads to the grave,
I know that beyond the grave you are waiting for me in your glory.
Lord, help me faithfully to travel along my road, at my proper
place in the vastness of humanity.
Help me above all to recognize you and to help you in all my
pilgrim brothers.
For it would be a lie to weep before your lifeless image if I did
not follow you, living, on the road that men travel.
March 14, 2014
I found this among my grandmother's book probably about ten years ago. She was a practicing Catholic, I am a protestant. Although I don't agree with all of the theology of this book I do find it very beneficial. I especially like how the author desires for us to make no separation between the secular and the spiritual. I recommend this book to help open your eyes to seeing God throughout your daily life. I also like the prayers for the stations the cross, unfortunately you cant find many protestant prayers on that particular subject. It is now the season of lent and I will be focusing on the stations of the cross. My only caution would be for protestants to have a good hold on theology before reading this book, in order that they do not get confused.
September 6, 2015
We often think of prayers simply as words we speak to God, but true prayer, authentic prayers, will involve listening. This moving, amazing book is designed not to help you so much speak to the Lord, but to listen through guided words on the page. I have soaked much of this book in and will continue doing so for it has been used to bring life to my prayer times in fresh ways.
November 13, 2020
Timeless prayers to bring you closer God and his creatures.
September 24, 2015
Got hold of this book during a recent silent retreat. Very insightful prayers. I love this book.
April 13, 2016
A little dated now but still with some timeless gems therein.
September 10, 2020
i found this book in my grandpa’s shelf. this book is amazing. u guys must read this! ❤️
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February 20, 2016amazing
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews