Knox 2023 Spring Book Study
Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone (2021) by James Martin, SJ
Paperback: 416 pages, $21.77 from Amazon Canada
“A New York Times Bestseller”
“A smart, wise, often side-splittingly funny master class in seeking God. Any spiritual seeker – from atheist to professional religious-will cherish this (book) – in the lineage of C.S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa.”
Learning to Pray explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice in our lives.
A trusted guide walking beside us as we navigate our unique spiritual paths, Martin lays out the different styles and traditions of prayer throughout Christian history and invites us to experiment and discover which works best to feed our soul and build intimacy with our Creator. Father Martin makes clear there is not one secret formula for praying. But like any relationship, each person can discover the best style for building an intimate relationship with God, regardless of religion or denomination. Prayer, he teaches us, is open and accessible to anyone willing to open their heart.
Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared on all the major networks, and in such diverse outlets as The Colbert Report, NPR’s Fresh Air, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal.