Saint Augustine's Prayer Book

by Derek A. Olsen, David Cobb (Editor), Order of the Holy Cross

Saint Augustine's Prayer Book is a book of prayer and practice -- with disciplines, habits, and patterns for building a Christian spiritual life. It will help you to develop strong habits of prayer, to prepare for and participate in public liturgy thoughtfully, and to nurture a mind and soul ready to work and give and pray for the spread of the kingdom. Saint Augustine's Prayer Book features "Holy Habits of Prayer," devotions to accompany Holy Eucharist, Stations of the Cross, and Stations of the Resurrection, and a wide range of litanies, collects, and prayers for all occasions. The newly revised edition includes the treasured liturgies and prayers of the original while offering some important updates in language and content. Revised and edited by well-regarded scholars David Cobb and Derek Olsen.

Genres: Religion, Reference, Prayer, Theology, Christianity, Devotional, Faith

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2013

Reviews

[Scott Meadows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Published by an Anglican monastery in New York, this is an excellent little book for Anglo-Catholic supplemental prayers alongside the Book of Common Prayer. I particularly enjoy the Pre/Post Eucharistic doxologies, and the litanies near the end.

[Cathryn Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have done something rather unusual. (At least, I think it's unusual.) I have read this prayer book from cover to cover. It came highly recommended to me, a lifelong Episcopalian, and I could tell with a cursory glance through the pages that this was a special kind of prayer book. I wanted to know exactly what was in it, so I decided to read it first as one would read any book--from the beginning to the end.

This new edition edited by David Cobb and Derek Olsen is described by them as "a book of prayer, and it is also a book of practice--of disciplines, habits, and patterns that will help build a Christian spiritual life." In addition to a plethora of prayers for all occasions, the book features excellent explanations of a Christian's obligations for holy habits and patterns of prayer, the church seasons, daily prayer, Eucharistic devotions and more. It is specially designed to be used with--not in place of--the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer.

Beautifully written and edited, this is a compendium of holy thought and prayer that will help build and enhance your spiritual life.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been on a prayer book buying binge of late, as though I could jump-start spiritual practices by spending time and money investigating different approaches to praying the daily office instead of, you know, actually praying. This little book brought that casting about to an end. Some of the books I consulted were too daunting for a neophyte, others so abbreviated and/or divorced from the rhythms of the church's ancient rhythms of prayer that I wondered what exactly the authors intended by calling their suggested devotions "the daily office" at all. St. Augustine's Prayer Book offers a happy medium -- neither prayers so simple and rote that I can breeze through them without them leaving any impression on my soul, nor so long and complex that I find myself racing through them just to get to the end. I have only begun to explore the richness of this book, and look forward to growing familiarity in the days and years to come.

Some of the Anglo-Catholic devotions may be off-putting to my fellow low-church Protestants, but I encourage them not to despise the book as a whole just because you cannot in good conscience pray some of the prayers reflecting that particular tradition of the church. There is abundant richness in the many sections that will give you no theological pause, and those sections that you will not pray may nonetheless be illuminating and informative.

[Riley Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a cradle Roman Catholic who uses The Book of Common Prayer regularly. This is a beautiful prayer book full of helpful devotions that helped shaped my prayer life. Regular and structured prayer is very important to my spirituality and relationship with God. So grateful I found this on amazon! Highly recommend to all liturgical Christians who want to learn about various prayers and deepen their relationship with God.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book when I became Episcopalian (seriously, that's a hard word to type) earlier this year. I received it just when I needed it, as always happens. I appreciate the prayers on bereavement. But, all of the prayers are top-notch.

[Cbarrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful prayer book providing readings and prayers for morning, mid-day, and evening along with other litanies and topical devotions, some more helpful than others based upon one's religious tradition. Prayers and devotions gleaned from early and medieval church and Book of Common Prayer.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

You're never done reading a prayer book; just like you're never done reading the Bible. These types of books are meant for daily encouragement, prayers and meditation. I highly recommend it.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend it. Prayer books are like bibles; you're never done reading it. It's full of encouraging prayers for meditation.

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful addition to a private prayer life.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent prayer book from an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic perspective. It's meant to be a supplement to the Book of Common Prayer, where the BCP is intended for group liturgy and prayer, and the Augustine Prayer book is meant for individual prayer. I also enjoyed the explanations of some of the lesser-known bits of the liturgical calendar, as a novice to the Episcopal Church, those were helpful!

[Sister Simon Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful daily prayer book

Not just as a nun , but as a contemporary Christian looking for a variety of daily and special prayers , the St Augustines Prayer Book is one that I find satisfying and rewarding to turn to morning or evening . It also has the traditional litanies and benedictions so difficult to find- and fits easily into pocket, purse or sleeve.