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A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle & Muddle of the Ordinary
Acclaimed, award-winning essayist and novelist Brian Doyle—whose writing, in the words of Mary Oliver, is “a gift to us all”—presents one hundred new prayers that evoke his deep Catholic belief in the mystery and miracle of the ordinary (and the whimsical) in human life.
In Brian Doyle’s newest work, A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle & Muddle of the Ordinary, his readers will find a series of prayers unlike any of the beautiful, formal, orthodox prayers of the Catholic tradition or the warm, extemporized prayers heard from pulpits and dinner tables. Doyle’s often-dazzling, always-poignant prayers include eye-opening hymns to shoes and faith and family. In Doyle’s words, “the world is crammed with miracles, so crammed and tumultuous that if we stop, see, savor, we are agog,” and the pages of his newest book give voice and body to this credo. By focusing on experiences that may seem the most unprayerful (one prayer is titled “Prayer on Seeing Yet Another Egregious Parade of Muddy Paw Prints on the Floor”), he gives permission to discover the joys and treasures in what he often calls the muddle of everyday life.
In Brian Doyle’s newest work, A Book of Uncommon Prayer: 100 Celebrations of the Miracle & Muddle of the Ordinary, his readers will find a series of prayers unlike any of the beautiful, formal, orthodox prayers of the Catholic tradition or the warm, extemporized prayers heard from pulpits and dinner tables. Doyle’s often-dazzling, always-poignant prayers include eye-opening hymns to shoes and faith and family. In Doyle’s words, “the world is crammed with miracles, so crammed and tumultuous that if we stop, see, savor, we are agog,” and the pages of his newest book give voice and body to this credo. By focusing on experiences that may seem the most unprayerful (one prayer is titled “Prayer on Seeing Yet Another Egregious Parade of Muddy Paw Prints on the Floor”), he gives permission to discover the joys and treasures in what he often calls the muddle of everyday life.
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
138 people are currently reading
1259 people want to read
About the author
Brian Doyle
60 books728 followersDoyle's essays and poems have appeared in The Atlantic Monthly, Harper's, The American Scholar, Orion, Commonweal, and The Georgia Review, among other magazines and journals, and in The Times of London, The Sydney Morning Herald, The Kansas City Star, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Ottawa Citizen, and Newsday, among other newspapers. He was a book reviewer for The Oregonian and a contributing essayist to both Eureka Street magazine and The Age newspaper in Melbourne, Australia.
Doyle's essays have also been reprinted in:
* the Best American Essays anthologies of 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2005;
* in Best Spiritual Writing 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005; and
* in Best Essays Northwest (2003);
* and in a dozen other anthologies and writing textbooks.
As for awards and honors, he had three startling children, an incomprehensible and fascinating marriage, and he was named to the 1983 Newton (Massachusetts) Men's Basketball League all-star team, and that was a really tough league.
Doyle delivered many dozens of peculiar and muttered speeches and lectures and rants about writing and stuttering grace at a variety of venues, among them Australian Catholic University and Xavier College (both in Melbourne, Australia), Aquinas Academy (in Sydney, Australia); Washington State, Seattle Pacific, Oregon, Utah State, Concordia, and Marylhurst universities; Boston, Lewis & Clark, and Linfield colleges; the universities of Utah, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and Portland; KBOO radio (Portland), ABC and 3AW radio (Australia); the College Theology Society; National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation," and in the PBS film Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero (2002).
Doyle was a native of New York, was fitfully educated at the University of Notre Dame, and was a magazine and newspaper journalist in Portland, Boston, and Chicago for more than twenty years. He was living in Portland, Oregon, with his family when died at age 60 from complications related to a brain tumor.
Doyle's essays have also been reprinted in:
* the Best American Essays anthologies of 1998, 1999, 2003, and 2005;
* in Best Spiritual Writing 1999, 2001, 2002, and 2005; and
* in Best Essays Northwest (2003);
* and in a dozen other anthologies and writing textbooks.
As for awards and honors, he had three startling children, an incomprehensible and fascinating marriage, and he was named to the 1983 Newton (Massachusetts) Men's Basketball League all-star team, and that was a really tough league.
Doyle delivered many dozens of peculiar and muttered speeches and lectures and rants about writing and stuttering grace at a variety of venues, among them Australian Catholic University and Xavier College (both in Melbourne, Australia), Aquinas Academy (in Sydney, Australia); Washington State, Seattle Pacific, Oregon, Utah State, Concordia, and Marylhurst universities; Boston, Lewis & Clark, and Linfield colleges; the universities of Utah, Oregon, Pittsburgh, and Portland; KBOO radio (Portland), ABC and 3AW radio (Australia); the College Theology Society; National Public Radio's "Talk of the Nation," and in the PBS film Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero (2002).
Doyle was a native of New York, was fitfully educated at the University of Notre Dame, and was a magazine and newspaper journalist in Portland, Boston, and Chicago for more than twenty years. He was living in Portland, Oregon, with his family when died at age 60 from complications related to a brain tumor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
January 2, 2021
"Desperate Prayer for Patience with Politicians with Excellent Suits and Shoes and Meticulous Hair and Gobs of Television Makeup Who have Utterly Forgotten That Their Jobs Are Finally About Feeding and Clothing and Protecting and Schooling Children."
Doyle is a unique writer. He has a definite voice and approach to life through prayer. To write 100 original prayers is a feat. And that the prayers are mostly directed to the experience of life and the things he loves and is grateful for is unique. He does not refer to God in a pious or churchified way but rather subtly and also speaks to people. I like that.
He did make me laugh:
“Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated”
“Prayer of Thanks for Bass Players in Bands”
“Prayer for the Incredibly Loud Recycling Truck That Comes at Dawn Every Thursday Morning”
“Prayer for the Brave Small Girl Who Had the Courage to Ask Me What is Wrong with your Nose, Mister?”
And moved me with prayers that address intimate realities:
“Prayer for People Whose Dads Left them as Kids”
“Prayer for Women Who endured Abortions”
“Prayer for Boys and Girls of Other Sexual Orientation than Mine”
He is overall, incredibly grateful for the life he has experienced and that comes through all over the place. He is also an Irish Catholic and from Oregon and I think has lived in the same community for a long time. So there is some old school political incorrectness here and there. I winced a few times.
As a Canadian and a basketball fan I loved that he had a prayer for Steve Nash and also later on for James Naismith (Canadian from Ontario who invent bball). I have also enjoyed some of Pope John Paul II writings and was glad to see a prayer of blessing for him that both venerated but also criticized his failings.
Doyle is a unique writer. He has a definite voice and approach to life through prayer. To write 100 original prayers is a feat. And that the prayers are mostly directed to the experience of life and the things he loves and is grateful for is unique. He does not refer to God in a pious or churchified way but rather subtly and also speaks to people. I like that.
He did make me laugh:
“Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated”
“Prayer of Thanks for Bass Players in Bands”
“Prayer for the Incredibly Loud Recycling Truck That Comes at Dawn Every Thursday Morning”
“Prayer for the Brave Small Girl Who Had the Courage to Ask Me What is Wrong with your Nose, Mister?”
And moved me with prayers that address intimate realities:
“Prayer for People Whose Dads Left them as Kids”
“Prayer for Women Who endured Abortions”
“Prayer for Boys and Girls of Other Sexual Orientation than Mine”
He is overall, incredibly grateful for the life he has experienced and that comes through all over the place. He is also an Irish Catholic and from Oregon and I think has lived in the same community for a long time. So there is some old school political incorrectness here and there. I winced a few times.
As a Canadian and a basketball fan I loved that he had a prayer for Steve Nash and also later on for James Naismith (Canadian from Ontario who invent bball). I have also enjoyed some of Pope John Paul II writings and was glad to see a prayer of blessing for him that both venerated but also criticized his failings.
March 26, 2025
A modest little book that I'm fiercely glad I picked up. Brian Doyle's tone is at once conversational and economical, each short prayer somehow a poem but in the most accessible and true-to-life kind of way it can be. It's an anthology of gratitude for the mundane, and truly I feel that it's healed some small part of me and invited me to shift the way I approach my prayer. In Doyle's own words, this book has made me "somehow gently better".
March 28, 2025
This book should get 10 stars. I loved sitting with these prayers, and as the book says, the uncommonness of them. It made them really eye opening to read. You had prayers with titles like:
Prayer of Bemused Thanks for Scrunchies and Those Other Weird Lovely Things Women Wear in Their Hair
Prayer for the Elderly Women on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated.
Then you also had lines like this to end a prayer
“How could you have allowed us to make such a world, where a species dies forever every blessed day, where millions watch television as millions more starve? How could You have given us such freedom? But You did, You did; and so my prayer must be finally for me, to work harder against the dark, to sing louder, to find more teammates, is that right? Your silence is eloquent again; as usual; as always. And so: amen.”
Beautiful and well worth reading.
Prayer of Bemused Thanks for Scrunchies and Those Other Weird Lovely Things Women Wear in Their Hair
Prayer for the Elderly Women on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated.
Then you also had lines like this to end a prayer
“How could you have allowed us to make such a world, where a species dies forever every blessed day, where millions watch television as millions more starve? How could You have given us such freedom? But You did, You did; and so my prayer must be finally for me, to work harder against the dark, to sing louder, to find more teammates, is that right? Your silence is eloquent again; as usual; as always. And so: amen.”
Beautiful and well worth reading.
July 13, 2020
Full disclosure: I loved Brian Doyle's writing and attitude before starting this, and he did not disappoint.
If you are not a Christian, this may not seem like an appropriate book for you. But if you're a little spiritual, grateful, and/or love writing that expresses the joys and touching poignancies of life, it's well worth reading. Brian Doyle had a very full heart and a very charming sense of humor. It shows.
To give you an idea, here are some excerpts from Grinning Prayer at the Gentle Arrogance & Foolishness of Saying That There Are Only Five Forms of Catholic Prayer:
"...the very idea of there being only five forms of prayer makes me laugh so hard I think I sprained an eyeball. There are as many forms of prayer as there have ever been hearts desperate to speak of longing and mercy and celebration and pleading...Everything alive is a prayer. Your next breath is a prayer...We pray by being. This writing is a prayer. These fingers are praying. Laughing as we admit cheerfully we are silly and small and You are vast beyond measure and composed of love, that is a prayer..."
I will pick this up and read it again now and then to remind myself how much there is to be thankful of, how meaningful life is, and to remember this kind man who has passed away.
If you are not a Christian, this may not seem like an appropriate book for you. But if you're a little spiritual, grateful, and/or love writing that expresses the joys and touching poignancies of life, it's well worth reading. Brian Doyle had a very full heart and a very charming sense of humor. It shows.
To give you an idea, here are some excerpts from Grinning Prayer at the Gentle Arrogance & Foolishness of Saying That There Are Only Five Forms of Catholic Prayer:
"...the very idea of there being only five forms of prayer makes me laugh so hard I think I sprained an eyeball. There are as many forms of prayer as there have ever been hearts desperate to speak of longing and mercy and celebration and pleading...Everything alive is a prayer. Your next breath is a prayer...We pray by being. This writing is a prayer. These fingers are praying. Laughing as we admit cheerfully we are silly and small and You are vast beyond measure and composed of love, that is a prayer..."
I will pick this up and read it again now and then to remind myself how much there is to be thankful of, how meaningful life is, and to remember this kind man who has passed away.
December 25, 2024
Sublimely Doyle; every bit of attentively brilliant that that blessed soul embodied, but at the most delightfully Catholic I’ve yet encountered him. My two favorite prayers were likely “Prayer to the Madonna” and “Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated,” though I starred at least a dozen more. The final few lines before each prayer’s “And so: amen” were often my favorites, Doyle’s incisive essay writer’s insights coming to their pithy, surprising, beautiful peaks. The glory of this collection is in its juxtapositions, deadly serious and supremely playful bumping elbows at nearly every turn, sometimes within the same prayer.
If you’ve not yet read any Doyle, this is an excellent place to start, and these prayers are wonderful to share with friends and family. Doyle’s delight in children especially is moving nearly beyond words. I’m so glad we had him while we did, even as I join the multitudes in wishing it had been for much, much longer. Meeting him in his pages, though, is a veritable treat. ‘Til the Great Beyond and your otter self, then, friend.
If you’ve not yet read any Doyle, this is an excellent place to start, and these prayers are wonderful to share with friends and family. Doyle’s delight in children especially is moving nearly beyond words. I’m so glad we had him while we did, even as I join the multitudes in wishing it had been for much, much longer. Meeting him in his pages, though, is a veritable treat. ‘Til the Great Beyond and your otter self, then, friend.
March 29, 2023
One of the most beautiful things I have recently read. I have always admired Brian Doyle and this book simply inspires a true sense of wonder. The collection exemplifies how, as Brian Doyle himself emphatically asserted to my creative writing class in college, "THERE ARE NO SMALL MOMENTS!" Life is complex and beautiful and nuanced, especially life through the lens of faith. This book has caused me to stop and pause and marvel. It is equal parts humorous and inspiring. I love the devotion and candid nature of each prayer, which explore something as intimate as an individual's conversations with Deity. If you are looking to be reminded of how extraordinary the ordinary and seemingly mundane can be, I highly recommend.
Second time around: Still incredible. The last prayer is a real tearjerker.
Second time around: Still incredible. The last prayer is a real tearjerker.
July 21, 2015
I never expect a prayer book to make me smile, to inspire me to look up and marvel, to force a guffaw and a snort-laugh out of me before I've had my coffee. Obviously, I've never had a prayer book like this one before. A Book of Uncommon Prayer doesn't just raise the bar, it changes the standards altogether.
What Doyle has pulled together might be one of my favorite collections of writing. It's a glimpse into real conversation with God and a sliver of life here and there. When you read it...and pray it...you can't help but be changed, nudged, motivated even a little bit to glance around and see the miracle that is the present moment.
What Doyle has pulled together might be one of my favorite collections of writing. It's a glimpse into real conversation with God and a sliver of life here and there. When you read it...and pray it...you can't help but be changed, nudged, motivated even a little bit to glance around and see the miracle that is the present moment.
May 24, 2019
A prayer of thanks and amusement for Brian Doyle and his run-on sentences and his early editors who did not prevail:
Here I’m assuming that at some point someone tried to corral Doyle into a shorter more organized form, and I thank the universe for nipping that in the bud. This book is just the shot of relentless goodness and gratitude I (and you?) needed, despite the finer points of his theology with which I may violently disagree. Readable on a medium long flight, and truly delightful.
Here I’m assuming that at some point someone tried to corral Doyle into a shorter more organized form, and I thank the universe for nipping that in the bud. This book is just the shot of relentless goodness and gratitude I (and you?) needed, despite the finer points of his theology with which I may violently disagree. Readable on a medium long flight, and truly delightful.
November 17, 2017
Amazingly lovely book of one-page prayers for ordinary folk, written with understanding, sympathy, humor. How many times did I look up and say: "that's it, exactly!" I'm not religious, yet even so, Brian Doyle's ability to see the good in everyone and everyday life is extraordinary. Lovely, lovely book.
December 29, 2025
It’s hard not to love a book with prayers that have titles like:
“Prayer of Thanksgiving for Good Bishops, as Opposed to Meatheads Who Think They Are Important”
Or
“Prayer of Gratitude That There Are Newts in This World”
Or
“Prayer of Spitting Inchoate Rage That You Allow Such Things & People to Inflict Such Horrendous Pain & Agony, Especially on Little Kids, How Could You Let That Happen?”
Or
“Prayer for the Dads Enduring the Epic Winter Rains Along the Muddy Sidelines at Pee Wee Soccer Games”
Or
“Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every 5 Minutes for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated”
Brian Doyle was a gift to this world and I am sad that I never got the opportunity to meet him. Goodness, though, I am grateful that he wrote down some of the stories, prayers, questions, and ideas that floated around in that brain of his.
“Prayer of Thanksgiving for Good Bishops, as Opposed to Meatheads Who Think They Are Important”
Or
“Prayer of Gratitude That There Are Newts in This World”
Or
“Prayer of Spitting Inchoate Rage That You Allow Such Things & People to Inflict Such Horrendous Pain & Agony, Especially on Little Kids, How Could You Let That Happen?”
Or
“Prayer for the Dads Enduring the Epic Winter Rains Along the Muddy Sidelines at Pee Wee Soccer Games”
Or
“Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every 5 Minutes for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated”
Brian Doyle was a gift to this world and I am sad that I never got the opportunity to meet him. Goodness, though, I am grateful that he wrote down some of the stories, prayers, questions, and ideas that floated around in that brain of his.
May 4, 2017
I've been looking for a Brian Doyle book to fall in love with, and now I've found one. And it is so that in his own struggle, he shows us an immense appreciation of all things - and if we don't agree with him about some old dude writing the rules, we agree that the rules matter, and also about the meanings of things that are not within things, but hidden deeply in our own small opinion-making units. And to you, the great Human Spirit that has created all the gods and all interpretations of gods, and all other wonders, we say: well done. And thank you for your beautiful one, Brian, in his difficult hour. And so, amen.
March 11, 2021
I never heard of Brian Doyle until I came across a glowing review of his post-humously published One Long River of Song and found this gem as well. Doyle had a cult-like following (including Mary Oliver) who deeply valued his skill in reflecting on the tangible and intangible elements of our world. In this volume Doyle offers 100 prayers for the obvious (Prayer for Hospital Chaplains) to the ridiculous (Snarling Prayer for the Reckless Jerk Who Just Swerved Insanely Across Three Lanes at Incredible Speed While Texting) to ones that offer hard introspection (Prayer for Osama Bin Laden, Yes Even Him the Stupid Murderous Slime). Reading the titles of the prayers alone makes it worth it. I deeply appreciate Doyle's gracious and generous outlook on all things that make life delicious as well as confounding. Actual rating: 4.5
December 6, 2024
One of my favourite writers of all time. His writing is tender, compassionate, brave, furious, joyful, wild, kind. When I grow up, I'd like to be someone who loves and serves God like Brian Doyle.
Also, a fun bonus: read this book primarily in the staff room at work during my lunch break and thoroughly enjoyed the cackle I got out of every second page. The way this man works the English language is nothing short of a delight. He and Wodehouse would've enjoyed each other.
Also, a fun bonus: read this book primarily in the staff room at work during my lunch break and thoroughly enjoyed the cackle I got out of every second page. The way this man works the English language is nothing short of a delight. He and Wodehouse would've enjoyed each other.
October 29, 2017
This was a sweet little book. Not exactly one you'd sit down and read cover to cover, but a sweet thing to pick up to read one or two prayers and put down feeling much more grateful.
I don't identify with what goodreads and other places have called Doyle's "deep Catholic belief," but I CAN get behind the feeling of gratefulness for and wonder about all the amazing, overlooked things in this world. Reading this always made me feel happy.
I don't identify with what goodreads and other places have called Doyle's "deep Catholic belief," but I CAN get behind the feeling of gratefulness for and wonder about all the amazing, overlooked things in this world. Reading this always made me feel happy.
March 20, 2018
I loved some of the prayers in this book, some didn’t relate to me, some annoyed me, some made me laugh or cry. Overall this was a great way to open my eyes to prayer in everyday life, particularly situations where prayer might not be my first instinct.
March 15, 2019
I read one prayer every night before bed. I really enjoyed the earlier parts of the book. Lots of creative things to be thankful for. I don't know if he ran out of steam, or if I got more "used to" it, but I didn't care for the second half as much.
February 10, 2021
What a fun, beautiful, inspiring companion this book has been over the last 100 days or so. His humor and insights have consistently moved me to gratitude and greater empathy.
May 20, 2025
Mr. Doyle’s writing is unorthodox and brilliant. If possible, I would have given it 3 1/2 stars.
December 30, 2020
Just lovely. This book held so much grace and kindness and gratitude and excitement about God. It was a perfect place for me to spend my mornings at the end of this year.
February 24, 2021
Enjoyed this book. Reminded me to pray for little things as well as large. Loved the direct language he used.
June 27, 2021
This is a beautiful book! Loved it.
April 1, 2024
We’ll say I finished it. I didn’t read every prayer in here but it’s not that kind of book.
Some really touching, sweet prayers that open up the mundane to humor and/or awe. “Prayer in Celebration of the Greatest Invention Ever, the Wicked Hot Shower.” Also those that grapple with grief “Prayer for My Man Daniel Age Three Who Will Die from Cancer in About Two Weeks.”
At its best these prayers are just what you need in the moment, or something you’ll save for a future moment.
But also some weird gender stuff kicking around in here 🤷🏼♀️
Some really touching, sweet prayers that open up the mundane to humor and/or awe. “Prayer in Celebration of the Greatest Invention Ever, the Wicked Hot Shower.” Also those that grapple with grief “Prayer for My Man Daniel Age Three Who Will Die from Cancer in About Two Weeks.”
At its best these prayers are just what you need in the moment, or something you’ll save for a future moment.
But also some weird gender stuff kicking around in here 🤷🏼♀️
March 20, 2024
Brian Doyle is one of my favorite authors. He brings his quirky sense of humor and delightful attention to this wonderful book of prayers. Some have brought laughter, others tears; but all have helped me see God more vividly and to respond with gratitude. This is a book I could read over and over again and never grow tired of.
December 30, 2024
This delightful book has helped me to notice more…to open my eyes to the tiny wonders and miracles in every corner of life. Brian Doyle’s writing is a treasure.
December 15, 2015
http://mariesbookgarden.blogspot.com/...
I got the delicious opportunity to hear author Brian Doyle in Seattle earlier this year. He entertained the packed audience by sharing his colorful writing, telling jokes and laugh-out-loud anecdotes, choking back tears, and entreating us to sing and cry along with him with his sometimes gut-wrenching words. Many of these uncommon prayers drew me in, and I decided to purchase the book.
A few weeks later I decided to use the prayers as my focus for the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. I wrote to Brian and asked his permission to share his writing, and he consented. Each day in April I featured one of these prayers...from homages to doctors, nurses, the pope, the Girl Scouts, IT professionals, proofreaders, and nuns...to angry prayers at Osama Bin Laden and texting drivers...he celebrates the miracle and muddle of ordinary life in a most beautiful way.
If you'd like to learn more about Brian Doyle or read some of the uncommon prayers, go to my blog post above.
I got the delicious opportunity to hear author Brian Doyle in Seattle earlier this year. He entertained the packed audience by sharing his colorful writing, telling jokes and laugh-out-loud anecdotes, choking back tears, and entreating us to sing and cry along with him with his sometimes gut-wrenching words. Many of these uncommon prayers drew me in, and I decided to purchase the book.
A few weeks later I decided to use the prayers as my focus for the April A to Z Blogging Challenge. I wrote to Brian and asked his permission to share his writing, and he consented. Each day in April I featured one of these prayers...from homages to doctors, nurses, the pope, the Girl Scouts, IT professionals, proofreaders, and nuns...to angry prayers at Osama Bin Laden and texting drivers...he celebrates the miracle and muddle of ordinary life in a most beautiful way.
If you'd like to learn more about Brian Doyle or read some of the uncommon prayers, go to my blog post above.
July 7, 2017
Standard prayer books are all well and good: it's handy to have the Angelus or the prayer to St. Joseph for a happy death near at hand. But there are circumstances that just aren't covered in standard prayer books, and that's where this book steps in. Doyle's prayers here include 'Desperate Prayer for Patience with Politicians with Excellent Suits and Shoes and Meticulous Hair and Gobs of Television Makeup Who Have Utterly Forgotten That Their Jobs Are Finally About Feeding and Clothing and Protecting and Schooling Children', 'Prayer for the Elderly Woman on the Train Eating One Almond Every Five Minutes for Two Hours for a Grand Total of Forty Almonds and Believe Me I Counted, Fascinated', 'Quiet Prayer for Friends Whose Teenage Child Just Stormed Out of the House', and 'Grinning Prayer at the Gentle Arrogance & Foolishness of Saying that There Are Only Five Forms of Catholic Prayer'. Reverent, wry, compassionate, humble, funny, honest, touching, but above all, faith-filled.
August 22, 2016
I can't help but give these uncommon prayers an uncommon five-star accolade. These prayers represent the discipline it takes to notice, contemplate and then WRITE DOWN the moments in life that matter. Poets' special task is to take these moments up and then put them down in a memorable, meaningful way for the rest of us who fumble over our words or who lack the necessary discipline. Thank you, Doyle, for doing that for me with your prayers. I stole them and now they're mine.
June 9, 2016
Yes, the rhetorical style gets a bit too cute sometimes and it took a while for me to get past that, but there are some really moving prayers here and the end result is that I noticed more opportunities to pray all over the place.
March 13, 2017
Loved it. Written by a devout Catholic, but one with his eyes wide open and with a killer sense of humor and yet he's serious enough to put you completely off your guard and make you cry the moment after you have laughed. This guy loves God and he helps me to love God and pray with more honesty.
December 1, 2014
How can you not love a book of prayers about hot showers, nuns, birds, Altar Guilds,opossums and Girl Scouts. This is delightful!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews