Pray All Ways

In the preface to the 2007 edition of his classic on prayer, Edward Hayes defines the spiritual challenge of the twenty-first century as "an exodus out of the God-dwelling space of churches to experience God inhabiting all spaces." We are called not simply to engage in formal times of prayer, Hayes writes, but to live in communion with Jesus and the father. "Different activities of daily life are not distractions, but rich soil for prayer." He mentions the chapters on the prayers of Tears and Napping, described below, as ways to discover a new style of prayer. The Prayer of Napping is presented in the context of Mark 4: 38-41 in which Jesus falls asleep on a fishing boat in the midst of a violent storm. Hayes addresses "the heresy of hurry-hurry," a mistaken notion that without our "rest-less" efforts, God's plan to bring about the kingdom will fail. He also recounts Scripture stories in which God delivered messages to slumbering people. The Prayer of Tears chapter is rich with images: tears are prayer-beads, sacraments of humility. Tears, the author explains, signal loss of control, and they are prayer "because prayer is communion with that which is beyond our control: God." The fifth stanza in Hayes' Prayer of Tears summarizes the message: "It would seem/that from among the many beautiful prayers, / the sacred songs and canticles of praise, / my tears may be the best worship of all." Each of the 15 chapters consists of a reflection on the prayer topic and an original prayer poem. This revised work on prayer belongs in every Catholic home and at the fingertips of all those engaged in faith formation.

I found this book and bought it after looking at it a few times. Not a bad book to add to your spiritual library. Written by Father Hays of the Roman Rite, this book gives the reader some different prayers and ways of praying that compliment most any spirituality. I also like that throughout the book, Fr. Hays has different illustrations of incense with the Psalm, "Let my prayer rise like incense before you".....Very nice.

I loved this book because it is a book about prayer which is more than your standard prayer book. The author presents a clear and concise format while maintaining a warm and friendly style which keeps you interested. I was however interested to discover that the author is a catholic priest which is kewl and all but the book should not be placed in the metaphysical section of the book store, which is the only thing I found misleading about it. I will say however that even if your not christian this can be a good book.

This book is awesome! As the author says, "Until we have learned to pray all ways, the danger is that we will replace prayer with work and some acts of kindness. But if these activities, regardless of how much good seems to be happening, are separated from a heart that is praying, they cease to be apostolic, fruitful, and redemptive. They become simply good deeds."The key to this book is this: "The different activities of our daily lives are not distractions from prayer but rather the rich soil for prayer."And how can you say no to a book that has a chapter called the Prayer of Napping! :->

Through the prayers and meditations in this book, I've enhanced my faith greatly. Father Hays helps us to see the Divine in the everyday. I highly recommend this book and plan to buy several copies as gifts for friends and family members whom I think would benefit from the messages contained in this work.