spirituality

This book of prayers (one of three volumes covering daily prayer for a year) taken in large measure from the Bible is a wonderful prompt in one's life-long conversation with God. It helps one come to words one didn't realize one meant or hadn't the aptitude to say before one began using it in one's daily devotions. In addition to Scripture, it employs prayers from "The Book of Common Prayer" and other standard resources. But one particularly delights in the additional readings taken from a wide range of meditative and inspirational literature. Examples are "Pied Beauty," by Gerard Manley Hopkins and "The Sacrament of the Present Moment," by Jean Pierre de Caussade. What a remarkable contribution to one's spiritual life!

I have to believe that this book, which I bought at Costco on a whim, will introduce many, many people to the spiritual fulfillment Praying the Hours.

The brief selections demand thought & uplift the soul, yet make the effort a joy, rather than a task. I now look forward to Morning, Midday, Vespers, & Compline. I find it calming & soothing. I am particularly pleased that she included the often omitted Midday Prayers. On those days when I know that Midday & Vespers will be difficult, I photocopy the pages & stick them in my pocket.

Having read some of the other reviews, I must comment upon on which may deter some Catholics. Lisa Marie Garcia wrote:

Readings are taken from the King James Version of the Bible and not the New Jerusalem Bible (used in Catholic Liturgy)....

However, Ms. Tickle states in her introduction:

Except where otherwise indicated, the texts for the sacred readings in this manual are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible.... On those few occasions when a sacred reading is from the King James Version rather than the New Jerusalem Bible, that change is noted at the reading's conclusion by the notation "KJV".

As a Protestant, I don't really care. Any work that brings one to a prayer & divine meditation has no denomination other than being of God.

I look forward to the next 2 volumes... Prayers for Christmastime & Prayers for Lent & Eastertime.

As someone who has worked with a good number of prayer books over many years including the old Roman Breviary (in Latin), Phyllis Tickle has produced a true trilogy masterpiece. It is extremely "user-friendly" with all prayer materials appearing in tight sequence on each page, eliminating the need to flip all over a book, searching for "what's next?" Thank you for making my life more simple, Ms. Tickle!! I now have more time for real prayer.
More importantly, the assigned prayers and reading selections for each day are very well chosen. They are all on the side of thoughtful brevity. This helps create that wonderful atmosphere prescribed by St. Benedict(father of western monasticism)who instructs "therefore prayer ought to be short and pure, except when it is occasionally prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace."