Prayer: Our Deepest Longing

by Ronald Rolheiser

Overview

With simple, down-to-earth language, Rolheiser illustrates the importance of prayer and offers techniques for how to pray, using examples from daily life, Scripture, and contemporary writers. He delves into the places that we fear to go with our issues about prayer, encouraging us with gentle kindness and words of hope and inspiration.

The book is divided into five sections.

• Why Pray? Illustrates the purposes and benefits of prayer for ourselves, as well as for the broader Catholic community and even the world.
• Why Is It so Hard? Notes how our contemporary culture conspires against taking time out for solitude and prayer, and how our own ego—with its fears, restlessness, and narcissism—can work against developing a deeper relationship with God through prayer.
• What Is Prayer? Outlines the two basic types of prayer, that is, affective (personal) and priestly (for the world). Describes the many ways or methods for each type of prayer, such as meditation, contemplation, the divine office, the Mass, and Scripture.
• Sticking with It. This section covers the development of mature prayer, discussing ways to pray in times of boredom, disillusionment, crisis, helplessness, or after a loved one’s death.
• Mysticism. Here we learn about this increasingly popular form of intimate relationship with God.

This is a book for all manner of believers, whether your faith is solidly rooted, wavering between childhood religion and adult faith, or just not sure what you believe—or whether you believe at all. It addresses topics such as narcissism, pragmatism, efficiency, and self-gratification that work against a healthy spiritual life. Rolheiser takes us to a place of contact and comfort, in relationship not only with God but with our true selves as well.

The audio edition of this book can be downloaded via Audible.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781616366575
Publisher:	Franciscan Media
Publication date:	08/27/2013
Pages:	80
Sales rank:	268,956
Product dimensions:	5.56(w) x 8.46(h) x 0.24(d)

About the Author

Ronald Rolheiser, a Roman Catholic priest with the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, is an internationally renowned speaker and spiritual writer. His award-winning weekly column "In Exile" is carried by more than seventy newspapers worldwide. He is president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas. Rolheiser is among the most popular and inclusive spiritual writers today. Although rooted in the Catholic faith, he is able to transcend denominational boundaries and religious language to appeal to both practicing Christians and unaffiliated seekers.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

Chapter 1 Struggling in Prayer 1

Too Busy to Bow Down 1

Struggling with Boredom 3

False Notions of Prayer 4

False Feelings in Prayer 6

False Expectations in Prayer 7

Our Shame and Nakedness 9

A Conspiracy Against Interiority 11

Chapter 2 Hearing God's Voice in Prayer 15

The Voice of the Good Shepherd 15

God's Acceptance and Delight 17

God's Unconditional Love 18

Safely in God's Hands 20

"Lord, Teach Us to Pray," 22

Searching for Solitude 23

Chapter 3 Understanding Priestly Prayer 27

A Symphony of Prayer 27

The Divine Office 29

Our Need to Celebrate 30

Good Liturgy: The Role of the Celebrant 32

Good Liturgy: Our Role 34

Chapter 4 Practicing Affective Prayer 37

The Aim of Affective Prayer 37

Being Bold in Prayer 39

Prayer as Surrender 40

Contemplative Prayer 42

Dogged Fidelity 44

The Domestic Monastery 46

Chapter 5 Growing to Maturity in Prayer 49

Patience with God 49

The Sustaining Power of Ritual 51

Facing our Demons 53

Overcoming Anger 55

The Dangers of Despair 57

Wrestling with God 59

Love through Locked Doors 60

God, our Real Mother 62

Chapter 6 Listening to God's Heartbeat 65

Appendix: Resting in God's Presence 69

Editorial Reviews

"Many modern men and women claim to be so busy that they don't have time for a prayer life; they often feel uneasy with inner exploration in a culture where people spend their days skimming the surface of things instead of diving deep. Rolheiser rejoices in the idea of prayer as lifting the heart and mind to God. Part of this practice is celebrating God's presence and grace in our lives. The author salutes the importance of affective prayer—meditation, centering prayer, praying the rosary, and devotional prayers of all kinds. Rolheiser suggests that maturity in prayer is signified by patience with God, the sustaining power of ritual, facing our demons, wrestling with God, overcoming anger and despair, and sensing God as our real mother." — Frederic and Mary Brussat, Spirituality and Practice


"Rolheiser avoids the superficial how-to methods and focuses instead on clarifying the deep longing in the human heart for communion and intimacy with God. Using a compassionate and encouraging style, Rolheiser redirects believers’ common misconceptions and misunderstandings about prayer to the freedom, fulfillment, and necessity of spending time with the Heavenly Father. Although Prayer is a slim book, the guidance Rolheiser provides is meaty and scriptural. He keeps his stories and explanations on a common reader’s level and does not try to impress with lofty, pious terminology or concepts. Prayer will help readers gain a clearer picture of the importance of prayer and encourage them not to be content with just a surface relationship with God. — Jeff Friend, Foreword Reviews

From the Publisher