Sacred Reading
The 2016 Guide to Daily Prayer
by The Apostleship of Prayer, Douglas Leonard, Executive Director
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Pub Date Jun 12 2015 | Archive Date Oct 15 2015
Description
Lectio divina is a traditional prayer practice that has been growing in popularity. Inspired by the traditions of Ignatian spirituality, the Sacred Reading series by the Apostleship of Prayer—an international Jesuit prayer ministry—is a unique guide to the use of lectio divinia through a simple, six-step process that provides a prayerful and imaginative exploration of the daily Gospel readings and helps readers look for application in their own lives.
Beginning with Advent and continuing through the year, including solemnities and select feast days, Sacred Reading is a practical resource for anyone who is interested in a deeper prayer life or seeking a new approach to praying and living the scriptures. The book is a catalyst for an intimate encounter with Christ by reading, reflecting, praying, and responding to the Word of God in a way that is both familiar and fresh.
Advance Praise
“Sacred Reading offers a superb introduction to Ignatian prayer that anyone can use. Too often Ignatian prayer is seen as something reserved only for Jesuits, for people trained in the Spiritual Exercises, or for those who have time for a directed retreat. But this book, created by experts in the traditions of Ignatian prayer, helps the reader to encounter Jesus through short scripture passages, inviting questions and accessible reflections. It’s an innovative way to be invited, with gentle wisdom, into meeting Jesus in your prayer.”
Rev. James Martin, S.J.
Author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage
"Sacred Reading: The 2016 Guide to Daily Prayer is an indispensable resource in deepening your prayer and devotional life. Lectio divina will change how you see your relationships—with the Lord, with others, and with yourself. Highly recommended!”
Most Rev. David L. Ricken
Bishop of Green Bay
“Communion with God increases dramatically as we grow in knowledge of God’s Word. For most people the problem is simply getting started: determining where to begin. A most ancient and venerable practice is lectio divina, scripture reading that is meditation and contemplation but also application. Sacred Reading is an uncommonly useful tool in really getting into scripture in just this way.”
Rev. Michael White and Tom Corcoran
Authors of Rebuilt
“In just six simple steps, Sacred Reading opens our minds and hearts to scripture in refreshing and profound ways. The daily meditations are clear and concise and yet filled with wisdom and promise. Reading scripture daily is good; reading scripture daily with Sacred Reading as guide is awesome.”
Marge Fenelon
Author of Imitating Mary
“This guide through the gospel texts of the daily lectionary offers a fully-embodied experience that includes the mind, heart, imagination, desire, and behavior. This way of prayerfully reading the gospels as the Spirit-empowered word of God shows us how to open our lives to be continually formed in Christ.”
Stephen J. Binz
Speaker and author of Conversing with God in Scripture
“In his apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis invites us to be people of prayer. Sacred Reading is an excellent aid in responding to that invitation. This book offers a clear, helpful, and inspirational guide to deepen our love for scripture as we ponder God’s Word and live it out in our daily lives.”
Most Rev. Robert F. Morneau
Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Green Bay
“I am thankful for the ministry of the Apostleship of Prayer and their many ways of drawing people to active lives of encounter with a living God. I encourage anyone looking to deepen their prayer life to spend time learning this ancient practice, and coming to know a God who dances freely in our imaginations if we will but go there with him.”
Tim Muldoon
Author of Six Sacred Rules for Families
"Sacred Reading is the perfect companion for the lectio journey."
Sonja Corbitt
Author of Unleashed
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9781594716072 |
| PRICE | $15.95 (USD) |
Average rating from 6 members
Featured Reviews
Janet P, Reviewer
Lectio Divina, or sacred reading, is a structured way of reading the gospels that is practiced widely in religious communities and by some laypeople. Until now whenever I've considered it, it looked to much like reading Bible commentary and not like a devotion.
Everything changed for me with this book. It's designed with a gospel reading for every day of the liturgical year starting with Advent in 2015. The Introduction is short but helpful for understanding how to use the book and implement the practice. Each day begins with a short prayer. This is followed by the reading.
Instead of analyzing the text bit by bit with commentary every few words, the commentary covers the reading as a whole. This is followed by ideas for reflection.
For Christians wanting to add a daily reading of the Gospels to their lives, I highly recommend this book.
Jennifer J, Reviewer
Ave Maria Press has prepared an easy-to-use, approachable, guide to daily prayer designed for anyone looking to add a bit of structure to their prayer life.
Each day begins with a guided invitation to settle into prayer, followed by a Gospel passage. After the Gospel, the authors provide a very short reflection, along with questions for the reader to pray and or think about. Each day's passage ends with a short written prayer.
The structured format will appeal to those looking for a guide that provides consistency each day. Readers seeking something more free-flowing will appreciate the questions/thoughts to pray and ponder. The prayers and questions are written simply, in modern language (no "thees" and "thous") which I think will resonate with most readers today.
While it's called The 2016 Guide, the book actually begins with the first Sunday of Advent (the start of the new church year) which is November 29, 2015.
Thank you to Ave Maria Press and NetGalley for a galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Patricia M, Reviewer
I have been pursuing a better understanding of Lectio Divina. This ancient spiritual practice seems simple but yet complex and hard to begin. I love Sacred Reading because it takes you by the hand and walks you through the process. The steps are 1) Knowing that God is present, 2) Read the Gospel reading for the day, 3) Notice what you think or feel, 4) Pray as you are led, 5) Listen to Jesus, and 6) Ask God to show you how to live today. Starting with Advent 2015, the beginning of the Catholic Church year, the gospel readings are included for each day following the church year calendar. The Saints for each day are included as well.
The Apostleship of Prayer is an international Jesuit prayer ministry. They have a popular website Apostleshipof Prayer.org. Their organization has put together this different type of prayer book. Just as important as the content is what is not written within the pages, your prayers, thoughts and hopes. What we bring to the book, the more we can reap from the instruction in Lectio Divina. I truly believe that after using this book for a year, I will have evolved in my knowledge and practice of this ancient prayer practice. The other benefit is helping the reader tap into the life of the Church and the liturgical seasons.
I definitely recommend this book to you. I am looking forward to rereading and using Sacred Reading in my prayer life in the next church year. This book has helped me to grow closer to God’s word and enriched my prayer life and relationship of faith. If you ready to go beyond basic bible study and are ready to pray with the bible, then this book is for you. Living the bible and incorporating God’s word into your daily life is within reach using these pages as teacher and guide.
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