Why Bother Praying?
Written by the best selling author of Where the Hell Is God?, this accessible volume is for everyone who wonders how to pray, everyone who wonders what happens when you pray, and everyone who wonders if God hears our prayers. In an engaging and informative style, the author explores the context within which we pray, what is distinctive about Christian prayer, praying to Jesus, what communal prayers do, how Mary and the Saints help us pray, and finally, what the point of prayer is—sending us out with Christ to witness to the reign of God in our world.

He ultimately answers the question this way:

Why bother praying? Because at its most basic prayer is making space for God to love us and, through the community of faith, inviting us to have the courage to return the compliment. It changes lives.

Why bother praying? Because God wants us to bother him, and in the process develop a relationship that is marked by such love and joy that it changes us, our neighbor, and the world.

"Richard Leonard has done it again, tackled a difficult theological and spiritual question with honesty, deep knowledge, humor and a warm heart. Why Bother Praying moved me to tears and to laughing out loud. But I was also enlightened on one the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be a Christian, namely engaging in a real relationship with God, which is what prayer is all about. If you enjoyed and profited from Where the Hell is God?, you don't need to be urged to read this one. If you missed that treat, I urge you to buy this book and then you will also want to get the earlier one."
—William A. Barry, SJ
1114086881
Why Bother Praying?
Written by the best selling author of Where the Hell Is God?, this accessible volume is for everyone who wonders how to pray, everyone who wonders what happens when you pray, and everyone who wonders if God hears our prayers. In an engaging and informative style, the author explores the context within which we pray, what is distinctive about Christian prayer, praying to Jesus, what communal prayers do, how Mary and the Saints help us pray, and finally, what the point of prayer is—sending us out with Christ to witness to the reign of God in our world.

He ultimately answers the question this way:

Why bother praying? Because at its most basic prayer is making space for God to love us and, through the community of faith, inviting us to have the courage to return the compliment. It changes lives.

Why bother praying? Because God wants us to bother him, and in the process develop a relationship that is marked by such love and joy that it changes us, our neighbor, and the world.

"Richard Leonard has done it again, tackled a difficult theological and spiritual question with honesty, deep knowledge, humor and a warm heart. Why Bother Praying moved me to tears and to laughing out loud. But I was also enlightened on one the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be a Christian, namely engaging in a real relationship with God, which is what prayer is all about. If you enjoyed and profited from Where the Hell is God?, you don't need to be urged to read this one. If you missed that treat, I urge you to buy this book and then you will also want to get the earlier one."
—William A. Barry, SJ
14.95 In Stock
Why Bother Praying?

Why Bother Praying?

by Richard Leonard SJ
Why Bother Praying?

Why Bother Praying?

by Richard Leonard SJ

Paperback

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Overview

Written by the best selling author of Where the Hell Is God?, this accessible volume is for everyone who wonders how to pray, everyone who wonders what happens when you pray, and everyone who wonders if God hears our prayers. In an engaging and informative style, the author explores the context within which we pray, what is distinctive about Christian prayer, praying to Jesus, what communal prayers do, how Mary and the Saints help us pray, and finally, what the point of prayer is—sending us out with Christ to witness to the reign of God in our world.

He ultimately answers the question this way:

Why bother praying? Because at its most basic prayer is making space for God to love us and, through the community of faith, inviting us to have the courage to return the compliment. It changes lives.

Why bother praying? Because God wants us to bother him, and in the process develop a relationship that is marked by such love and joy that it changes us, our neighbor, and the world.

"Richard Leonard has done it again, tackled a difficult theological and spiritual question with honesty, deep knowledge, humor and a warm heart. Why Bother Praying moved me to tears and to laughing out loud. But I was also enlightened on one the most fundamental aspects of what it means to be a Christian, namely engaging in a real relationship with God, which is what prayer is all about. If you enjoyed and profited from Where the Hell is God?, you don't need to be urged to read this one. If you missed that treat, I urge you to buy this book and then you will also want to get the earlier one."
—William A. Barry, SJ

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780809148035
Publisher: Paulist Press
Publication date: 03/01/2013
Pages: 176
Product dimensions: 5.38(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Foreword James Martin SJ vii

Introduction ix

Chapter 1 The Pilgrim's Progress 1

Prayer in the Here and Now 4

Prayer Is Personal 5

Prayer Is Social 10

Arguments against Belief 11

Arguments for Belief 16

Chapter 2 To Whom Are We Praying? 19

Images of God 21

Names Matter 24

Chapter 3 What Is Distinctive about Christian Prayer? 28

Praise and Thanksgiving 31

Lamentation, Crying Out in Anguish 34

Affirming Our Trust and Faith in God 36

Singing of Our Salvation 39

Waiting upon the Presence of God 41

Chapter 4 Schools of Prayer 46

Desert Spirituality 46

Benedictine Spirituality 49

Franciscan Spirituality 53

Carmelite Spirituality 55

Dominican Spirituality 58

Ignatian Spirituality 61

Chapter 5 It Comes Down to Jesus 67

Jesus Can Deal with Complex Humanity 68

If We Are Praying to Jesus, Our Relationships Are Transformed 70

Seeing the Face of Christ 75

Implications of Jesus' Face for Our Prayer 79

The Lord's Prayer 81

Chapter 6 Public Prayer 83

God Comes to Us in Our Need 84

Seven Special Helps 88

The Word of God Living Now 90

Gathering with the Assembly 92

Chapter 7 Mary 99

Mary and the Vatican Council 102

Mary in the Tradition 103

Why Bother Reclaiming Mary Now? 107

Marian Dogmas 114

Marian Apparitions 116

Mother of the Poor 117

Chapter 8 Prayer for Mission 121

Going Out to the Real World as Sinful Church 122

Knowing What We Are Doing and Where We Are Headed 125

Informing Our Prayer for Mission 134

Conclusion 141

Bibliography 145

Films upon Which to Pray 147

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