Customer Reviews

Divine Hours : Prayers for Springtime

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As someone who has worked with a good number of prayer books over many years including the old Roman Breviary (in Latin), Phyllis Tickle has produced a true trilogy masterpiece. It is extremely "user-friendly" with all prayer materials appearing in tight sequence on each page, eliminating the need to flip all over a book, searching for "what's next?" Thank you for making my life more simple, Ms. Tickle!! I now have more time for real prayer.
More importantly, the assigned prayers and reading selections for each day are very well chosen. They are all on the side of thoughtful brevity. This helps create that wonderful atmosphere prescribed by St. Benedict(father of western monasticism)who instructs "therefore prayer ought to be short and pure, except when it is occasionally prolonged by the inspiration of Divine Grace."

This book of prayers (one of three volumes covering daily prayer for a year) taken in large measure from the Bible is a wonderful prompt in one's life-long conversation with God. It helps one come to words one didn't realize one meant or hadn't the aptitude to say before one began using it in one's daily devotions. In addition to Scripture, it employs prayers from "The Book of Common Prayer" and other standard resources. But one particularly delights in the additional readings taken from a wide range of meditative and inspirational literature. Examples are "Pied Beauty," by Gerard Manley Hopkins and "The Sacrament of the Present Moment," by Jean Pierre de Caussade. What a remarkable contribution to one's spiritual life!

I received this book the other day (just in time for February). I have used it daily from the moment I received it. For those searching for a method of guided daily prayer, I highly recommend. I have found that spending time in prayer with this book has helped me to center, ground, and reflect throughout the day.

This is one of three volumes intended to guide the reader through the annual calendar in prayer. In each volume the author collects scriptures prayers and hymns into a daily rythmn of morning midday and evening prayers. The best thing about it is that what has traditionally been spread throughout a prayer book in several sections is here gathered onto one or two pages each day. Genius!

Roman Catholics love it too!!!! This book is wonderful and subtle and changes your life!

If the discipline of daily prayer (let alone several times a day!) has ever been a struggle for you then YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK and the rest of the series!

I cannot even begin to stress the importance of stoppping for a time-out with God four times a day. Ms Tickle has done a terrific job of putting together prayers, hymns and short Bible readings (OT & NT) that will guide and change you. She has managed to compile what we all need in order to put the hurry and worry and stress of life into perspective. It will encourage prayer for self and others and re-focus you on the truly important aspects of life.

My wife is a psychotherapist and I am a pastoral counselor. In our concerns for those we counsel, our wholeness, grounded in our recognition of personal need, is nurtured by the spiritual. Early each morning we read aloud responsively to each other from her books, pray the prayers, meditate on the scriptural passage, sing the hymn and the gloria; afterwhich we journal our thought for the day. The book and practice has prompted our own coping through a
chronic dilemma, paradoxical adequacy, objective compassion and
effective relations. V. Coletta, D.M. - Loris Coletta, Ph.D.

Phyllis Tickle has provided a great service to those of us who struggle with prayer. She directs our prayers with four daily times of prayer (I am pleased if I can average two out of the four), and mentors us by using a language of prayer that is both familiar and new. Protestants often feel that their prayers must be "Spirit-led" and original, but this can lead to guilt and the eventual abandonment of one's prayer life. While "praying with the church," I find that my own thoughts are often expressed through the words of the prayers, and in addition, I am moved into areas of prayer that I might otherwise neglect. Let us pray!

"The Divine Hours," by Phyllis Tickle, is a refreshing approach to the ancient practice of the offices of daily prayer, that has been practiced continuously for nearly two milleniaby Christian believers. Regardless of your denomination, Tickle's "Divine Hours" makes this tradition readily accessible to all Christians- whether Protestant or Catholic.

In the beginning of each volume, Tickle provides a concise "Brief History of Fixed Hour Prayer" as well as "Notes for Use of this Manual" which are very helpful, fascinating and informative. The book itself is arranged in three brief daily offices of about 1-2 pages each containing Psalm verses, prayers of the day, as well as a suggestion to say the Lord's prayer. The fourth office, said before retiring for the evening is found in the "complines" section for each month. The book can be used interchangably in any year, as it is arranged by day of the week closest to _____ date.

There is also a special section for Holy Week and Easter in the spring edition.

I heard about this wonderful resource from my pastor, and have found it to be a tremendously meaningful and spiritually fulfilling discipline. I must admit I have not said each and every office, but I do squeeze in about two a day on average, and just pick up with the date and time for that given day.

I highly recommend this series of excellent books for anyone looking to deepen their spiritual journey in a very enriching way!

This is a fine way to practice the Daily Office. It speaks to the heart and is beautifully written. My husband and I use it for family devotions. It is wonderful for that. In my private devotions I like to use the more lengthly version found in the BCP and add this to it. It is perfect when you need a lite Office. It is also perfect for someone just starting to practice the Office or for someone's evening devotions with family. My son will be receiving a copy of this to use with his family. It is a great gift.
The reason I give it four stars is that it is very large, fat paperback. I would carry it everywhere with my BCP and Bible were it smaller. As is I leave it at home and use it there. I would also love to see a leather bound edition. I would own one.

This book is wonderful, both as an aid to personal daily devotions and altar visits.

I recomend this book to anyone wishing to start a habit of daily prayers