My Review Of How To Pray Well

My latest review for Catholic Company is the book How to Pray Well by Raoul Plus, S.J.

How To Pray Well by Raoul Plus, S.J. is wonderful book to add to your library of books on prayer.
In this book, Father Plus discusses in great detail the four major types of prayer: Adoration, Thanksgiving, Repentance and Petition.
I especially liked the section on the prayer of Adoration because as the author states, it is "the most perfect prayer." In this type of prayer, "we forget ourselves entirely and think of God alone."
He also illustrates how the prayer of adoration and the prayer of thanksgiving are related when we thank God, not so much for the things He has done for us (which is important), but when we thank Him for "the riches with which He Himself is infinitely endowed." In other words, we thank God for His being God!
When Father Plus discusses the prayer of Repentance, he talks about the "sense of sin"; that knowledge of having done something wrong that comes with a well~formed conscience. He says that remorse is a great grace and remains even after a soul is pardoned as an incentive to further prayer.
In one of the chapters on the prayer of Petition, the author quotes the words of our Lord to Ven. Balthasar Alvarez. Our Lord says to him, "Why are you so moderate in your requests, when God is so free with His gifts?" This quote brings into perspective the importance and the power in praying for spiritual and temporal favors for others as well as for ourselves.
This book is a treasure trove of advice and instuction on prayer. In reading it, I have found ways to add more meaning and depth to my own prayerlife.
While the book is a mere 174 pages, it is not a quick or easy read. I found it necessary to give some time between chapters and I even took some notes. This book is really 4 separate mini books within one larger one; each type of prayer is its own book subdivided into separate chapters. Having said that, it is well worth the time and effort and I highly recommend it. We all need ways to deepen our prayer life; this book will certainly help the reader to do so.

*Note: Nothing but a copy of the book reviewed here was exchanged for this review.