Praying Constantly: Bringing Your Faith to Life

by Benedict J. Groeschel

Just what did the Apostle Paul mean when he said, Pray without ceasing (1 Thess. 5:17)?

In this perceptive and timely book, celebrated spiritual teacher Benedict Groeschel demonstrates how the combination of grace with enduring Christian truths and practices will enable you to experience a deep, rewarding prayer life that in effect, permeates everything you do.

But Groeschel is not implying everyone should join a monastery. In fact, he points out that half of the communication equation has already been solved by ordinary Christians. God, who created humans in His image, is constantly trying to get in touch with us. He uses the gift of our senses, the beauty of creation, and the riches of music, art, and literature as a kind of celestial call-waiting system.

The challenge confronting us is to answer the call by cultivating an awareness of God s loving presence. The foundation for doing so is to establish and maintain a schedule of daily prayer, thereby creating a framework for communication with God. In addition, the Church offers a lavish variety of resources to support our personal efforts, from daily Mass attendance, to praying the Rosary, to engaging in the ancient practice of lectio divina. As we let God touch our spirits, we will begin to practice contemplation, a prerequisite for regarding everything in our lives as spiritual exercises.

This remarkable book uses the testimonies of Scripture and of the lives of saints through the ages to show how you can make your words and actions a river of unceasing prayer.

Genres: Religion, Catholic

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Benedict Joseph Groeschel, C.F.R. (July 23, 1933 – October 3, 2014) was an American Franciscan friar, Catholic priest, retreat master, author, psychologist, activist and television host. He hosted the television talk program Sunday Night Prime broadcast on the Eternal Word Television Network as well as several serial religious specials. He founded the Office for Spiritual Development for the Catholic Archdiocese of New York. He was Associate Director of the Trinity Retreat House for clergy and executive director of St. Francis House. He was professor of pastoral psychology at St. Joseph's Seminary in New York and an adjunct professor at the Institute for Psychological Sciences in Arlington, Virginia. He was one of the founders of the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal and among his close friends were Mother Teresa, Mother Angelica and Alice von Hildebrand.

Reviews

[Rebecca]

It was pretty good. Not mind blowing but I think it would be a great starter book for someone who is trying to learn about prayer.