Customer Reviews

The Lord's Prayer

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

 

 

This book, by Romano Guardini, takes the Lord's prayer and analyzes it line by line, with Guardini, in his profound, deep and masterful manner explaining the true nature and meaning of this prayer, and evoking more respect, insight into its depth, and understanding of its significance. A reading of any of Guardini's books is in itself a spiritual experience, for he was a man of God and a very powerful beacon of spiritual energy and strength. He was also a master of words, and this prayer is filled with words that symbolize, on a deep deep level, the nature and workings of God in our lives. As with all of Guardini's writings, I highly recommend this - he is one writer one should not be without.

Romano Guardini, the noted theologian most famous for his book entitled "The Lord", here meditates on the words and meaning found in the Lord's prayer. I've found numerous new and gainful insights and now pray the Lord's prayer on a deeper and more substantial level.

Read this book if you want truly deep, spiritual instruction. As usual, Romano Guardini's insights are the fruit of his years of prayer and study. What I like best is that whenever you read this book, it is like you tackled it for the first time. I used this book all during Lent and plan to use it in the future. My awareness of the depth of the Lord's Prayer has been greatly increased. If you want depth in your spiritual reading, read this book!

Guardini is masterful as usual. For a short book, the insights and help were terrific.

This is a good little common-sensical book to stimulate some thought about the individual petitions in the Lord's Prayer. We learn some truths about how Our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to pray; what should we acknowledge, and what should we petition.

We acknowledge who God is (He is our Father, He is in heaven, and His name is hallowed).

We acknowledge His providence (we pray for His kingdom, which only He can give us; we pray for His will do be done on earth, just like it is in heaven).

We ask for the things we need (our daily bread, forgiveness of our trespasses).

We ask that we may be like Him (when we forgive those who trespass against us).

And finally, we ask for the grace of final perseverance (to be not led into temptation and to be delivered from evil, things that only He can do).

A good little book.

I am really surprised this book ever made it to print. Guardini's Roman Catholic's worldview is an unfortunate confirmation of many Protestant caricatures. Guardini wrongly sees the heart of this prayer as praying for God's will to be accomplished (Thy will be done) and that God's will is "endangered" and "frail." He fails to see that this prayer is addressed to a sovereign God. What is worse about this book is the fact that he uses pious, flowery language without an ounce of content. A good and insightful Roman Catholic perspective on the Lord's Prayer is A. J. Cardinal Simonis' book _Our Father_. An even better and Protestant commentary is Thomas Watson's _The Lord's Prayer_. A lot is at stake: may your prayers prosper in the Gospel.