Customer Reviews

Practical Praying

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4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Kudos to John Edward for having the bravery to write this book! It is unfortunate that Mr. Edward has to make disclaimers in this book about not endorsing or representing any particular religion, nor is he claiming any special supernatural communications from God or Mary. But this is the climate and culture we live in, where psychics are demonized for claiming what Christ said we would all do. Fortunately, Mr. Edward is able to move past this, and make you feel as if he is talking directly to you the reader.

In the book, John shares some very deep personal experiences from throughout his life that deepened and strengthened his personal relationship with Mary the Mother of Christ: childhood, the period of time that his mother became ill, and adult experiences afterward. Reading this book, you receive an intimate view into John's personal viewpoint of his relationship with God, and how Mary and the rosary plays an important part in that relationship.

He shares the basics of how the Catholic church teaches the rosary, but emphasizes that the words themselves are not so important as your "presence" in the prayer itself, leaving room open for you to put your own intentions into the prayer or use the classic form of meditatation upon the mysteries of Mary's and Jesus' life and passion.

The book also includes a workbook type section with suggestions for exercises to get into a space where you can reflect, and focus on what you want your prayer dialog to be.

Roma Downey prays the entire rosary on the CD, as well as John. There is also a guided meditation on the audio by John that is a preparation for your prayer journey, that is absolutely wonderful.

I'm confident this book will ignite a fire in Catholics like myself who may have let their rosaries gather dust over the years, to pick it back up again. I'm hoping and praying it will inspire non-Catholics to seek out the rosary, as a way to deepen their prayer life also. The included CD will help you to feel like you're not alone in your prayers, as you can pray along with Roma or John until you feel comfortable enough with the prayers, to pray them by yourself.

This is by far, my favorite John Edward book and audio.

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This is truly a wonderful and inspirational book.

In the past, I had not been sure about the authenticity of John Edward. I did, however, believe that he was providing a comfort to those suffering from grief due to the loss of a close loved-one.

So, regardless if he was truly communicating with the spirit of one passed-on or whether he was only communicating from within himself, he was still providing a service to those suffering.

This book is inspirational in that John tells how the Rosary has helped him in the loss of his Mother, Aunt, and Granmother and how it centers him in his work. Now that I have read this book, he has me believing that he is a true blessing.

The book comes with an audio CD which has the rosary spoken by Roma Downey and another version by John Edward. This is truly wonderful.

If this review has helped you, please vote.

I just finished John Edward's New book Practical Praying: Using The Rosary To Enhance Your Life. It is Mr .Edward's most personal book to date.

I feel this book is a gift.

This book is not a religious book, it is a tool to open up a PERSONAL "Prayer dialogue" with god within your own belief system.

I am Catholic, and as a child learning the rosary was very much as John explained it..And Yes I did Chuckle after reading page 27. Learning the rosary was very much like
"just another thing a kid was told to do like eat your vegetables"

If you are Catholic, you will be able to laugh, cry and relate to John's own personal Journey. You will see your childhood written on those pages. We have all had Sister Mary Terror's in our childhood....

But I feel you will be moved even if you are not familar with the rosary. This book is so much more than the historical and religious gift of the rosary...It is a gift of helping ANYONE ( no matter what religious background you came from) connect or reconnect with God.
You can apply Practical Praying to your life without having rosary beads in your hand........And that statement didnt hit me until after I read the book!

My Mom and I had a huge connection with the rosary beads. When I buried her on Good Friday last year and noticed that someone took her beads from the coffin..I gently slipped mine in her hands. I felt lost with out them. When I return home exhausted and sad..I prayed without my rosary beads for the first time....Literally within 5 minutes there was a ring at the door and someone who I appreciate very much send me rosary beads!!!
(I feel my mom heard my prayers) A note inside said they were from Mexico city!! My Mom always spoke about wanting to go to Mexico City!!! Yesterday... I held those rosary beads as I read John's book and reading about John's travel to Mexico City made me feel like My Mom and I were taking the journey together
(((thank you))))

It hit me after reading this book.....My Mom heard my prayers without the beads in my hands....and throughout this book John speaks about your own Prayer Dialogue. My Prayers were answered even though I didn't have my beads..It is really about creating your own Prayer Dialogue with God...A personal connection that I feel John Edward was very brave to share...thank you

You will also find the mini workbook in the back helpful....
Thank you John Edward for honoring your guides....Your work is very much appreciated.

I am a strong, believing Protestant, and you won't find many Protestents who pray the Rosary. But I was mysteriously attracted to the idea of it, and as if in response to a prayer, this little book came to my attention. I bought it, and ordered myself a Rosary. Using John's suggestion that I tailor my prayers to my own comfort level, I began to "pray the Rosary." My prayer life is much stronger than before, and more intentional I guess is the word he uses. I had no problem with his theology; since I'm not Catholic, it didn't sound at all like heresy. Rather it was a moving testimonial by a sincere and devout human being, whose desire it is for us all to have a relationship with God, and a strong prayer life. Thank you John for this profound gift.

For anyone who knows and loves what John Edward does, you will also love this newest book of his. If you are not Catholic, this book will guide you to pray easily and do it in a practical way. If you are Catholic and haven't prayed the Rosary in a very long time, you will take it out of it's resting place and pray.

John has always said his Faith frames what he does. None of his books demonstrate that more than this short but powerful one does.

As a non-Catholic and one of the "unchurched" in America who leads a prayerful life, I looked forward to Practical Praying by John Edward with unmitigated anticipation. The wait was well worth it. Edward, whose relaxed writing voice is eminently readable, brings to the reader an inspiring gift. In answering the simple question of how he prepares himself for his work, Edward stirs the reader to consider a "Prayer Dialogue" - praying with intention - praying the Rosary as written by the Roman Catholic Church, a more personal version, or some other prayer altogether. Edward takes us along on his journey as he finds himself accepting the fact that this is a book he must write. His account is funny (anyone know where I can get a glow-in-the-dark Rosary?), heartwarming, and moving. The accompanying CD, featuring the "angelic" Roma Downey's lyrical voice, (as well as Edward's, umm, not quite so lyrical voice) provides the novice and well as the veteran Rosary pray-er with an inspirational tool.

When I went to one of John Edward's seminars last year, I wanted to ask him one question. That question was, "how do you combine your faith, being a Catholic, and praying in your work. As I got to the venue door, someone handed me a flyer that announced his soon to be published book, "Practical Praying." My question was answered before I even got in the door!

Thank you, John, for once again sharing your personal experiences in a way that makes the reader feel as if you are speaking just to them. And, thank you for taking the time to give your readers a way to continue praying, maybe with more fervor, return to prayer and look at it in a new way, or take a chance on praying for the first time.

This small, yet dynamic book and CD is not about how to become a Catholic. It's not about everyone running out and buying a rosary so you can pray correctly. It's not even about saying the prayers in the book. It IS about answering the questions John is asked so often about "his way." And it is about finding your way to prayer in your own way.

In the face of all that has gone on recently, and in the recent past, people all over the world are asking "what can I do." John Edward has answered this question for anyone that wants to find their way to everyday prayer.

Very useful for a meditative guide to praying, not just saying, the Rosary. Especially using the CD included with the spoken prayers, I found it helped with focus. The little book, small enough to fit in your purse or brief case, reads with a practical outlook on prayer intention, and the story about how Mr. Edward came to write this book is well written.

I had been searching for a prayer book for quite sometime. I could only remember "Our Father" even after growing up in a large Catholic family and being dragged to church on Sundays. I travel a lot and always recite "Our Father" during my flights but I wanted variation...not just on those flights but as a tool for meditation as well. I am always on the go and keyed up and never can really meditate. I remember John Edward saying he used the Rosary as a form of meditation. That made complete sense to me, you would have to focus your attention on one thing and basically pray/chant continously. I didn't just want a book on the rosary however, I wanted something that had a variety of prayers like the one's I was taught in Sunday School. Just when I about gave up and was going to ask my grandmother to write down a few prayers for my "Practical Praying" hits the shelves. This is the perfect book for anyone religious, spiritual or not. You can use this book no matter which background you come from. I read this book in a few hours time and listened to the bonus cd it comes with. What a beautiful book and cd. I have to say this was like an instructional manual for those of us who aren't prayer savvy. This book has helped me in my day to day life and not just religiously. The rosary has been a wonderful tool for me to learn how to calm down and meditate. This book could not have come at a better time. I am going to buy copies as gifts for friend's and family, I am sure they will be just as happy with it as I am.

John Edward has written a clear, unsentimental, non-preachy guide to using the rosary as a tool for focusing the intention of your prayers.

Edward, a Catholic, makes it clear that he didn't write this book in an attempt to win converts. Rather, he shares his own method of using the rosary as a meditation tool, etc. He also makes mention of other religions which use similar tools --prayer beads, etc.-- for the same purpose. (So there's something for everyone in this short little guide.)

This is a good guide for anyone who:

--wants to know more about the rosary (in general),
--would like a new approach to their own daily prayer rituals
--needs a specific "how-to" for using the rosary
--is interested in a brief history of the rosary


All around, an interesting book, worth the hour or so it takes to read. (The personal information on Edward is also intriguing.)

Linda Painchuad-Steinman, PARK EDGE BOOKS