Essence of Prayer (Hiddenspring) [Paperback]

Ruth, Ocd Burrows (Author), Wendy Beckett (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2006 | Series: Hiddenspring

Prayer is a word we take for granted. Ought we to do so? What do we mean by prayer? What does the word mean in the Christian context? Almost always when we talk about prayer we refer to something we do. From that standpoint, questions problems, confusion, discouragement and illusions multiply. For Ruth Burrows it is essential to correct this view.

Our Christian knowledge assures us that prayer is essentially what God does, how God addresses us, looks at us. And what God is doing for us is giving us the Divine Self in love. What then is the core of the central message of the revelation of Jesus? It is the unconditional love of God for us, for each one of us. God the unutterable, incomprehensible Mystery, the Reality of all reality, the Life of all Life. And this means that divine Love desires to communicate its Holy Self to us. This is the richness of the vision of a contemplative nun who contradicts the heresy of so much modern writing about the spiritual life--namely that we reach God by running faster. The growing fascination for the public of the contemplative and monastic life is evidence of the profound appeal of this approach. For this there is a real hunger. At its simplest we do no look for success so as to be assured that we do believe. We give ourselves over completely to divine love. Ultimately, we live for God and not for ourselves.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'Ruth Burrows, the experienced Carmelite writer: hard-headed, warm-hearted, helpful and positive about God's universal invitation to prayer.'

~ The Tablet, 22nd July 2006 (Christopher Howse Tablet, The )

'This is a book that should chance lives. Its central message is that everyone can pray....Essence of Pray is a collection of short essays on prayer..Surprisingly, this structure works better than a book hammered out to a continuous shape, because there is a chance to avoid misunderstanding by coming at a subject from a difference angle.'

~ 16/09/2006

(Christopher Howse Tablet, The )

'It is useful as spiritual reading that will help the prayer and Christian lives of men and women living in the world. For that, it can be recommended.' ~ Prebendary John Gaskell, Church Times, 10/11/2006

(John Gaskell Church Times )

'a valuable contribution to the vast array of books offering advice and encouragement to Christians on the subject of prayer. This book is full of insights...Ruth Burrows...reflections are thought-provoking and described with encouragement and simplicity.'

~ John Mann, Church of Ireland Gazette, February 2007

(John Mann )

"The person who has most clearly written about this area in our own times is Ruth Burrows in books such as Essence of Prayer"

(Christopher Howse Tablet, The )

'Here is a major contribution from the pen of a well-known writer on spiritual themes...An impressive offfering...different from her earlier works, and well worth a little study.'

Elizabeth CSF, Franciscan

(Elizabeth CSF, Franciscan, January 2008 )

'Essence of Prayer is a good introduction to the chief labour of Carmel.'

(Daily Telegraph, The )

'a genuine attempt to introduce the theory and practice of prayer to the uninitiated, in language that is accessible to all men and women.' Mount Carmel, July 2010

"The book has been written by one who clearly lives every word she writes. As Wendy Beckett says in her Foreword: 'to read Ruth Burrows...is to take into your mind and heart the insight of somebody who is close to God, and has the rare ability to share that closeness with others. God has given her great gifts, and she has opened herself to receive them' (p. vii). In this lies her appeal. Teresa of Avila wrote from her own experience. Ruth Burrows, too, writes from her own experience, albeit different from Teresa's. So she too writes with authority--and it shows! I especially appreciate how in this volume great care has been taken with the use of language, which is inclusive both as regards God and ourselves."
-Elizabeth Ruth Obbard, Mount Carmel, July-Sept. 2010

'Ruth Burrows, the experienced Carmelite writer: hard-headed, warm-hearted, helpful and positive about God's universal invitation to prayer.'

~ The Tablet, 22nd July 2006 (, Tablet, The )

'This is a book that should chance lives. Its central message is that everyone can pray....Essence of Pray is a collection of short essays on prayer..Surprisingly, this structure works better than a book hammered out to a continuous shape, because there is a chance to avoid misunderstanding by coming at a subject from a difference angle.'

~ 16/09/2006

(, Tablet, The )

'It is useful as spiritual reading that will help the prayer and Christian lives of men and women living in the world. For that, it can be recommended.' ~ Prebendary John Gaskell, Church Times, 10/11/2006

(, Church Times )

'a valuable contribution to the vast array of books offering advice and encouragement to Christians on the subject of prayer. This book is full of insights...Ruth Burrows...reflections are thought-provoking and described with encouragement and simplicity.'

~ John Mann, Church of Ireland Gazette, February 2007

(, )

"The person who has most clearly written about this area in our own times is Ruth Burrows in books such as Essence of Prayer"

(, Tablet, The )

'Here is a major contribution from the pen of a well-known writer on spiritual themes...An impressive offfering...different from her earlier works, and well worth a little study.'

Elizabeth CSF, Franciscan

(, ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Ruth Burrows is a Carmelite nun in Britain.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: HiddenSpring (July 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587680394
• ISBN-13: 978-1587680397
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #79,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MUCH NEEDED REMINDER FROM ONE WHO SHOULD KNOW, November 29, 2006

By 

Peter Fennessy (Bloomfield Hills, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essence of Prayer (Hiddenspring) (Paperback)

This book is a collection of 19 articles, 13 of which have been previously published but have here for the first time been conveniently gathered. Despite the disparate and repetitive nature of such a collection, there is an underlying unity, and important things bear repetition. The first half of the book concerns the nature of prayer, the second half Carmelite history and the spirituality of Carmelites whose lives and doctrine illustrate those principles of prayer: Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Therese of Lisieux, Elizabeth of the Trinity. Burrows is a Carmelite nun whose works include Guidelines for Mystical Prayer, Fire Upon the Earth (about Teresa of Avila), and Ascent to Love (on John of the Cross). She reminds us in particular that prayer is much more what God does in us than what we do for God. Rather than spending time worrying about methods of prayer or seeking conscious experience of grace, we need to be present in faith, trust and surrender to the Lord, allowing God to work in us. "We must remember that prayer takes place at the deepest level of our person and escapes our direct cognition; therefore we can make no judgment about it." This, of course, is a blow to our ego, and that on the whole is a good thing.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very pleased with Essence of Prayer, November 8, 2007

By 

D. F. Raczkowski - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essence of Prayer (Hiddenspring) (Paperback)

Ruth Burrows provides an enlightening look at Carmelite Spirituality. And, illumines the reader to an aspect of prayer one might not think to consider, that one does not do prayer but rather, is the recipient of God's action. The book also provides for some very good history on Sts. Theresa of Avila, Elizabeth of the Trinity and Therese of Lisieux. Anyone reading this book will feel the time spent was of spiritual value.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Insight Into Prayer, February 18, 2009

By 

S. E. Meehan (Jacksonville, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Essence of Prayer (Hiddenspring) (Paperback)

This book provides great insight into prayer, especially the Carmelite charism. Anyone who is serious about their prayer life would benefit from this book.