To Pray and to Love

This is a good book. It is easy to read and very informative. You will not be sorry you read this book. It is not like any other book about prayer that I have ever read.

This was an excellent book on the power of prayer and its importance in the pursuit of love for God and neighbor. Bondi takes the reader on a journey through prayer in the early church and monastic orders to give the modern Christian a sense of how prayer can be used in the pursuit of a deeper relationship with God and neighbor. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deeper understanding of prayer in their life and in the life of their faith community.

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut during prayer? Do you wonder if prayer is for you? Do you want to know why people pray? This book helps you find answers to these questions and so many more. Never underestimate your ability to pray. That is the main message of this book. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and sit down to read this book to help enhance your prayer life!

It is reassuring to read that if we do not gain a sense of peace after praying, it does not necessarily mean we are not in touch with ourselves and God. Bondi helped me to realize my life with God is ongoing and that my prayer, whether it feels good or bad, is going to change depending on what is going on in my life at the time. More often than not, "it is not in the easy times of our prayer that we grow toward God the most but in the times of chaos, confusion, pain, or even boredom." (p.73)

To Pray and To Love gave me an education on the early church and how prayer was percieved by the Abbas and Ammas. How simple it can be. Only it's not simple. "Prayer is a gift from God. All we do is receive the gift." Easier said than done. Ms. Bondi's knowledge of the monastic life was an eye opener. Especially about the role of women in the early church. I had never heard or read about Ammas. It was wonderful to know women did have a part in early church development. I agree with her, it's a shame most of the records of monastries founded by these Ammas have been lost. I learned from this book that I was praying more than I realized and God hears every prayer short or long. Even those "God help me get through this moment" prayers. This book was loaned to me by my minister. I'm getting my own copy. I feel the need to read this book again and again.