Customer Reviews

Praying with Saint Paul: Daily Reflections on the Letters of the Apostle Paul

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This great little resource first came to my attention when Archbishop Burke of St. Louis recommended it in his pastoral letter launching the Year of St. Paul. The book is a response to Pope Benedict's call for "special publications of Pauline texts" to mark the year. Each day's entry features a short passage from a Pauline epistle, a brief catechesis, and a concluding prayer. The catecheses are theologically rich and very practical -- pastoral is the word that best describes them. Today's entry, for instance, explains how to live the theological virtues, especially love and hope. According to the book's foreword, it is "not an academic study guide," but a handbook to help readers engage in the ancient practice of lectio divina, or "sacred reading." By the end of one year, readers "will have reflected systematically on some of the most significant passages from the corpus of Saint Paul, from the Letter to the Romans to the Letter to Philemon." Highly recommended.

If you have ever bought a Magnificat Lenten or Advent companion, you're already somewhat familiar with the format of this book. From January 1 to December 31, you're given a one-page "meditation" each day (this book can be used in any year, not just specifically 2008 or 2009). You get several days/meditations in a row that are written by one of their many contributors. Each contributor writes in a different style and has a different approach, so how much you enjoy or benefit from these meditations partly depends on whether they speak to you in your current spiritual state. Each meditation usually features only one Scripture verse (one sentence) from the writings of St. Paul. Although some entries give you two to four verses, those are the minority. Therefore, this is not where you'll get a substantial amount of writings of St. Paul (for that purpose, one might go directly to the Bible). However, this book can be a good gift for those who are not already using Magnificat or doing mental prayer daily, as a number of the meditations here can be truly inspiring to some. This book can encourage one to spend a few minutes each day to meditate on God's Word.

I thought this book was excellent. To have all of St. Pauls words in one book to view daily. Use it every day!

While trying to more fully understand St Paul's writings, a good friend loaned me this book. After finding that it more fully explains St Paul's writing's, and the fact that this book covers a reflection for each day, I returned the borrowed book, and order this copy for myself.

I have found the daily reflection on a portion of his letters is a wonderful tool for understanding. Thank you Amazon for providing this wonderful book!

I did not care for this book. To me it seemed "spiritually dry." It just did not speak to me or move me. How this could happen when writing about so great a saint as St. Paul I do not know. I ended up giving it away. A much better little book to meditate and ponder on is "My Daily Bread" by the Confraternity of the Precious Blood."

An excellent book for anyone interested in the writings of St. Paul. It offers perspectives on his writings from several different theologians.

Praying with St. Paul is a great book for becoming more intimate with St. Paul. This book delves into the levels of the Apostle Paul via daily relfections. It provides you with food for your journey. Each reflection gives you numerous topics for meditation. I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to deepen their relationship with Christ.

DRW

This is not what I expected, but a quality item. There is just so much time to read and the reflections are not quick and easy. I'm sure some would absolutely love it.

I bought this book because it was published by the Magnificat, and I trusted that they would do a good job with it. I have found the reflections to be very meaningful, and it is nice to have especially in this year that Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church are devoting to St. Paul. It will be a lifetime resource, I'm sure!

Well, I think this book is fine. It just doesn't share enough Scripture and too many assorted opinions.