The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book [Hardcover]

Monks of Glenstal Abbey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2001

The Glenstal Book of Prayer is a rich, nourishing resource on the dark, mysterious, but exciting journey that is prayer. It draws on things both old and new: on the wisdom of the Bible, enshrined in Benedictine liturgy, on the experience of modern monks, and on the wisdom of the Christian Church throughout her long and varied history. Coming as it does from an Irish monastery, it reflects in a special way the Celtic tradition with its earthy, popular and devotional prayers. Beautifully bound and designed, it is both prayer and inspiration. The first section is a simplified Liturgy of the Hours to dedicate and bless those two great moments of the day that bear witness to Christ: morning, when we celebrate his rising as the light of the world, and evening, when we acclaim him as the unquenchable light that never sets. Through psalms, canticles, and other words of scripture, through invocations and concluding prayers, the day is hallowed and the presence of the risen Christ is gratefully remembered. In addition, elements have been included stemming from the ancient custom of consecrating special moments to the Lord in the bustle of the daily round. These "prayer-stops" are the modern equivalent to monastic "Little Hours," recalling as they do the coming of the Holy Spirit and the dramatic events of Christ's passion. They are an invitation and an opportunity to pause in the midst of work and turn our hearts to God. Night prayer (Compline), the last monastic office of the day, is included as the prayer before sleep. Its haunting psalms and canticles, its prayers for protection, its calling upon Mary are some of the most beautiful treasures from the storehouse of monastic prayer. They lead us gently across the bridge of sleep, from the glaring light of day to the dark cradle of the night and the world of dreams. This liturgical section includes a seasonal element so that the great festivals of the Christian year may be incorporated in our prayer, and a calendar of saints' days so that they can be commemorated. A selection of prayers for that purpose is also provided. These can be used in place of the prayer at the end of morning and evening prayer. The second section consists of familiar prayers, those tried and tested prayer texts stretching back through the centuries: the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed, the Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, and many others. The third section, ritual prayers, provides prayer forms for various needs and occasions as they arise in every life, and a series of blessings. It will be a valuable and useful resource for the many times when spoken or formal prayers are looked for in situations of necessity, sorrow, joy, or grief. The Celtic element is particularly marked in this part of the book. There is also a special prayer for Benedictine Oblates. The fourth and final part includes psalms (to supplement the liturgical section or for meditation) and a series of quotations from the Rule of Saint Benedict. The latter, encapsulating the wisdom of this great foundational text of Christian civilization, can be read as part of night prayer (Compline) or simply meditated or ruminated upon as a source of inspiration in one's spiritual life. Thus, The Glenstal Book of Prayer provides for the whole sweep of prayer. It captures that movement of the Holy Spirit in the human heart that is prayer and through which God reaches out and embraces us. Includes two-color printing throughout and a ribbon marker.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This handy Benedictine prayer book is divided into three sections: daily prayers, familiar prayers and ritual prayers." -- Susan Hogan/Albach, The Dallas Morning News

Every day in Dublin's major bookshops, scores of people can be seen asking in vain for copies "Glenstal". -- By Shawn Pogatchnik, Associated Press

This handy Benedictine Prayer book is divided into three sections: daily prayers, familiar prayers and ritual prayers. -- Susan Hogan/Albach, The Dallas Morning News, Sept. 22, 2001

Product Details

• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Liturgical Press (September 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0814627676
• ISBN-13: 978-0814627679
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,913 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glenstal - A Prayer in Action, January 7, 2002

By 

L. O'REILLY "lisa66" (Baltimore, MD United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book (Hardcover)

Dear Reader,

I am very proud to recommend this book to people. I count myself lucky to have spent so much time in this timeless place over the years and I am so thrilled that this had been captured by this book. The prayer has been laid out in such a way that it is easily said by one person or by many, as the needs of a person in this busy world dictates. The book uses actual scripture for its prayer, unlike so many prayer manuals that have flooded the market these days. Each day is given with a opening prayer, psalm, scripture text and closing prayer that fit perfectly with the rhythm of the week , not just the season. It is laid out from Sunday to Saturday along with prayers for holy days.
Each session is divided into the typical monastic divisions of the day viz. Mroning, Midday, Evening and Night prompting the individual to pepper their day and work with prayer, not prayer with work. Prayers in English and Irish along with a calendar for Holy Days and saints are given along with traditional catholic prayers, yet this is a universal prayer book,. Time to stop and 'be' is made easy with this little gem. Ermmmmmmmmm!! ( an Irish prounciation guide would have been helpful for this american publication...).

I recommend this to anyone who may have a liking for putting some sort of easy, accessable and short prayer into their lives without missing out on the depth that monasticsm gives. It's size lends itself for being put into the breast pocket of any coat and brought out while one is having a quick sandwich at work!! The calm and peace of this type of prayer 'shouts' out at the reader!!

I enjoy the Icon on the front of the book and it is part of an extensive collection that the community have inherited from Russia over the past twenty years. There is a meditation on this included for use in prayer. The Monks have a wonderful collection to draw from and have put some of their musings into this book.

Communal prayer is the goal of the church and the Monks of Glenstal have brought us closer to that goal. Thanks to Fr. Christopher and all the community for bringing me home with this companion in prayer. I hope you get a flavour of the silence and the contemplation of this gorgeous corner of Ireland that is so real in this book. I know the people who put this together and I can tell you that they are men of deep prayer and contemplation.

You have been given a work carved from years of prayer in a beautiful church and a beautiful tradition: the Liturgy of The Hours. They do not use complicated words like Vespers or Matins that may exclude people by its language. The language used is modern and uncomplicated with recent translations of scripture and readings. Enjoy and welcome to the calm world of Glenstal where Benedictine spriituality says "You are welcome as if you are Christ Himself".

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A blessing in book form, April 8, 2005

By 

FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book (Hardcover)

The Glenstal Abbey in County Limerick, Ireland, is a wonderful place to behold. They are a Benedictine monastery, operating a school, a ministry of hospitality, and providing an expression of Benedictine spirituality in the modern world. The pattern of their liturgical and prayer life is a modified form of the ancient Benedictine structure; this book reflects what that is.

The first section of the book is on daily prayer, prayer cycles that adhere to the spirit of Benedict's instructions. The section is divided into prayers for each day of the week, prayers for the 'stops' (mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and compline), and prayers for the seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary time). These give the full text of prayers, canticles, Bible readings, psalms, invocations and blessings for use at each event.

The second section highlights common prayers and recitations in the Christian tradition. These include the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary prayer, the Apostle's Creed, St. Patrick's Breastplate, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and more. Among these one gets both the Celtic and the more universal Christian sense of things.

The third section looks at ritual prayers and liturgical pieces. These include devotional prayers during activities (prayers before beginning work, prayers before and after meals), as well as prayers of vocation, guidance, and peace. This includes a section on blessings, blessings that can be given to homes, to families, to the sick, to the dead, and more.

The final section includes additional psalms and a short selection of readings from the actual Rule of St. Benedict.

The book itself is in a small format, about as wide as an average hand, which means it fits into the palm perfectly, as if it were made for being carried and used on a regular basis. The printing and paper stocks used are superb - as much as I am generally loathe to describe books in such terms, the basic construction of this book is worthy of note, as it adds 'flesh' to the prayers being given out of this text. It is a joy to read from the sensory perspective as well as the spiritual perspective.

The Glenstal Abbey taps into an ancient history, but is itself a relatively new establishment, having been founded in 1927 as the first Benedictine monastery in Ireland since the Reformation (King Henry VIII dissolved monasteries as part of his Reformations in the British Isles). This book is a great reflection of part of their community.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for your spiritual library!, June 19, 2002

By 

E. Fittin (Morristown, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book (Hardcover)

I am a Benendictine monk and know the monks of Glenstal, and have visited their abbey. They are a marvelous community who contribute much to the church. The Book of Prayer is an outstanding addition in a world in need of prayer. Anyone who prays regularly, regardless of one's station in life, ought to have this book in their library. Few such resources are available. In addition, it is a high quality book. Buy one today, and another for a friend!