Everything Starts from Prayer: Mother Teresa's Meditations on Spiritual Life for People of All Faiths

I've long known that a book's length doesn't guarantee that it will be worth reading . . . such is the case with EVERYTHING STARTS FROM PRAYER: MOTHER TERESA'S MEDITATIONS ON SPIRITUAL LIFE FOR PEOPLE OF ALL FAITHS by Anthony Stern. It is short, but oh so powerful . . . and as the subtitle implies, it is applicable for people of any faith. As I was reading it, I kept having to pause to think about Mother Teresa was saying . . . it was almost as if she were talking to me directly! For example, when I'm in a lazy mood, these words always inspire me: Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. Almost every page contained some other tidbit that I'll want to refer to again--and again . . . to cite just a few others: * There is much suffering in the world- very much. And this material suffering is suffering from hunger, suffering from homelessness, from all kinds of diseases, but I still think the greatest suffering is being lonely, feeling unloved, just having no one. * Examine your heart first, though, to see if there is any lack of forgiveness of others still inside, because how can we ask God for forgiveness if we cannot forgive others? * It is so easy to be proud, harsh, moody and selfish, but we have been created for greater things; why stoop down to things that will spoil the beauty of our hearts? And, lastly, there's this one which is one of my all-time favorites: * We can do no great things-only small things with great love.

Everything Starts from Prayer has been added to the books I use regularly. This book refreshes my spirit. If you have any value for prayer this book will pump it up (Maybe I should send a copy to Governor Schwarzenegger)! With Mother Teresa's ecumenical reach, no walls excluding anyone from prayer, I have gifted this book many times to people I know benefit. "Everything Starts from Prayer" is inspirational and one of my absolute favorites.

There is nothing more needed than this kind of spirit and approach ... Dr. Stern has gloriously translated and amplified the work of another who is deserving of translation and amplification

Prayer speaks from the heart and when done well, it can bypass our inherent prejudices and resistance. Mother Teresa knew this, and her inspirational words, just as her prayers, transcend any faith position and speak to everyone. Dr. Anthony Stern, in his inspiring book brings this great master of prayer to the average reader. Everything Starts from Prayer presents Mother Teresa's own words in an arrangement both accessible and thought provoking.As I was reading the book I was struck by the scope and the depth of prayer that the book reveals through Mother Teresa's beautiful and powerful prose. I realized that besides being an incredibly charitable woman, who devoted her life to help the poor and the sick, she was a great master of praying, with inner knowledge and experience that surpass many other spiritual teachers. Dr. Stern arranged Mother Terasa's prayers in a way that illustrates the nature and the process of prayer and illuminates the many variations and subtleties of praying. Mother Teresa addressed many aspects of prayer, from child-like prayer to healing prayer and even to the resistance to prayer. It is particularly instructive to read the way she addressed the special pain and loneliness of modernity. Her insights into the problems of the ailing psyche from a spiritual point of view are most interesting. When talking about the narcissistic self, she tells us that there is no place for spirit where there is only self. Even God cannot put anything into what is already full. (page 54). Unlike some current spiritual ideas, which divorce spirituality from morality, Mother Teresa teaches us that spirituality and morality go hand in hand. It is easy to be proud and harsh and selfish--so easy. But we have been created for better things (page 12). I recommend this book for anyone who takes prayer seriously, whether new to the practice or experienced. We can all learn a great deal from Mother Teresa and use her experience to further enrich our own prayer lives and learn about our (spiritual) selves. It is a book which should be read not just once, but used repeatedly as a companion to the praying person, a resource that one can refer to when looking for guidance and inspiration.The bibliography at the end of the volume includes books on prayer from different religious perspectives and the resource list will be useful for those who are searching for in-depth experience of prayer in a monastic setting. Mark R. Banschick, MD Adjunct Professor, Hebrew Union College

A sweet book which covers the subject of reaching God through prayer. It is stripped of the boundaries of formal religion and gets to the heart of the matter: How to make contact with God,How to pray, Why you should pray and the nature of prayer. Mother Teresa's words are simple but rich, clear and evocative. I will return to this book again and again for guidance. The book is simple but not simplistic. It raises the spirt and guides the soul.