A Book of Everyday Blessings: 100 Prayers for Dancing Monks, Artists, and Pilgrims

by Christine Valters Paintner

160 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2026

About the author

Christine Valters Paintner, PhD is the online Abbess at AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery and global community. She is the author of over 20 books on contemplative practice and creative expression including three collections of poetry. She lives in Galway, Ireland where she leads online retreats with her husband John. Christine is a Benedictine oblate, living out her commitment as a monk in the world.

Reviews

[Eline Pullen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person that is not always used to express my emotions in words this book is a refreshing source. It sparkles light and opens possibilities for my soul that I did not yet saw.

This book is like a companion that shows how to give words to tender feelings. Difficult, bright or just mundane moments. For every situation there’s a blessing to find

The blessings that spoke the most to me were:

For creative joy
For calm in chaos
To love more deeply
For light in our shadows
For our journey through the seasons
For a circle of companions

The comforting words in this book makes it feel like a warm blanket is wrapped around you when reading it.

In the past few years I read some books from Christine Valters Paintner, and everytime she surprises with her careful chosen words. It’s like she sculpts a cathedral of love and possibilities with the words she chooses. As a reader that’s such a blessing to receive.

I think that the strength in these blessings is that they’re really touching on all the facets of life, the mundane, glorious, tiny, boring, painful and wonderful parts.

At the end of the book there are a few pages of suggestions on how to use the blessings in this book and also an invitation to write a blessing yourself.

Concluding: this bundle of blessings is a wonderful book to have around and to read and reread time after time, also it makes a great gift for any friend that can use some tender and caring words in their life.

Thanks a lot to NetGalley and Ave Maria Press for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

The remarkable capacity of Christine Valters Paintner to awaken us to the sacred presence and provision always available to us within daily living makes this book’s one hundred blessings a ‘must-read’ resource. The title of each blessing makes it easy to select the particular one (plus others) able to help us navigate specific circumstances. Whether we need refreshment, encouragement, guidance, or wise counsel for moments mundane or momentous, each blessing/ prayer, organized around seven themes, has layered offerings able to align us with what we need, when we need it.
The book’s penultimate blessing, To Keep Hope Alive, one of my favourites, contains the wise reminder “that hope is not a thing/ but an action.” This prompt to enact and embody hope in specific ways makes this blessing’s sustenance one to repeatedly return to. Its practical wisdom serves as but one example of what makes this whole collection of blessings a long-lasting gift, worthy of consistent revisiting.
When we awaken to the many little graces that gift our days, our capacity for gratitude expands. By acknowledging each day’s unexpected grace-gifts, we become more alert witnesses to the sacredness that permeates the everyday life of ourselves, and others.
Paintner offers us three practices to round out this book. The second one encourages us to Practice Being A Blessing To The World. The details of this and the other two practices offer us ways for passing on the blessings we’ve received. This is a fitting conclusion to the ever-present wisdom living in this blessed book.

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Book of Everyday Blessings is a special repository of blessings for all types of events and occurrences in ordinary days. It is a celebration of all things common and extraordinary. It’s certainly one to have available on hand that you can return to over and over. There are over 100 prayers that encompass blessings for quiet moments, blessings for daily living, blessings for health, healing, and wholeness, pilgrimage blessings, blessings for our connection to the holy wild, and blessings for the seasons, and threshold blessings.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley, and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

[Paulette Thabault · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book of Everyday Blessings offers a blessing for everyone. Blessings for celebrations and everyday events, blessings for unions and coming apart, blessings for all kinds of feelings - love, grief, aloneness, togetherness, and many more. Christine understands the depth of what it is to be human and illuminates love in times of loss or challenges, through times of pure joy. Included are simple, accessible practices for everyday living. Lovely and inspiring, A Book of Everyday Blessings shimmers.

[kellymross · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Refreshing" and "accessible" are the best words to describe this lovely collection. I was impressed by the sheer variety of life circumstances these blessings cover. The author seems to have thought of everything.

This is a wonderful resource to dip in and out of, and its ecumenical spirit makes it a supportive companion for anyone. This is the kind of book you’ll want to buy for yourself and then immediately gift to a friend. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy!