Prayer: Seeking the Heart of God

by Mother Teresa, Brother Roger

Mother Teresa was born in Yugoslavia in 1910, to Albanian parents. At 18 she joined a congregation of sisters in Calcutta, and in 1948 took a new congregation on the streets of the city, caring for the poor. Six years later she opened her first home for the dying. Brother Roger settled in the French village of Taize during World War II, and gave shelter to political refugees, notably Jews. The community that grew up has, since 1957, hosted meetings of young people every summer, and at the end of each year there is a meeting in a European city. Both Mother Teresa and Brother Roger always stress the importance of prayer in their personal lives, and in the building of their ministries of peace and care. In the twelve chapters of this book, each written half by one and half by the other, they set out to convey the meaning of prayer, and to express the joy they have found in this relationship with God. They describe it as a silent language, in which the heart of humankind is opened to the heart of God.

Genres: Nonfiction, Spirituality

Paperback

First published July 16, 1992

About the author

Mother Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu[6] (born Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, Albanian: [aˈɲɛzə ˈɡɔndʒɛ bɔjaˈdʒiu]; 26 August 1910 – 5 September 1997), honoured in the Catholic Church as Saint Teresa of Calcutta,[7] was an Albanian-Indian[4] Roman Catholic nun and missionary.[8] She was born in Skopje (now the capital of North Macedonia), then part of the Kosovo Vilayet of the Ottoman Empire. After living in Skopje for eighteen years, she moved to Ireland and then to India, where she lived for most of her life.

In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation that had over 4,500 nuns and was active in 133 countries in 2012. The congregation manages homes for people who are dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. It also runs soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, children's and family counselling programmes, as well as orphanages and schools. Members take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and also profess a fourth vow – to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor."[9]

Following her death she was beatified by Pope John Paul II and canonized by Pope Francis.

Reviews

[Ephrem Arcement · Rating 3 out of 5]

This little book gives you a glimpse into why the Missionaries of Charity and Taize have been such authentic and powerful expressions of the Christian spirit...the prayer life of their founders!

[Care · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little reflections, quick and beautiful read

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great contemplative and meditative book out of the man years of experience that Mother Teresa, and Brother Roger have had in their own communities, and others similar to it in the world. Their heart for God, and people comes out in every word, as they seek to live out His Light in this dark world. It took me 3 months to complete it, though it be a short book, but the messages of this book are worth me reading again and again (which I rarely do but have found books that are making me make exceptions).

[Todd B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

simple.....but not...bite sized meditations that serve as catalysts to an awareness of the most important work and relationship....

[Shannon Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

See my review here: http://iron-diva.blogspot.com/2014/10...