Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day [Paperback]

Macrina Wiederkehr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 25, 2010

With over 25,000 copies sold of the hardcover version, this paperback edition of Macrina Wiederkehr's bestselling book invites readers to learn how to pray the hours through the practice of consciously pausing at the seven sacred moments of each day, making their daily passage through time a more sacred pilgrimage.

Using scripture, poetry, reflections, personal stories, and quotes from a rich array of spiritual teachers for many religions, Wiederkehr helps readers become more attuned to living in the present moment and develop a kindred spirit with the rich tradition of the sacred hours. Seven Sacred Pauses is a wonderful gift to those who seek to find balance in their busy days and to bring the practice of the Divine Hours home to their own hearts.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"You are holding in your hands not only a book of readings and instruction for the journey, but one monastic's heart of love held out to a searching world." --Paula D'Arcy, Author of Gift of the Red Bird (from the foreword)

"'Time is money, and money is scarce.' All who are driven by this double misconception get squeezed into a frantic rat race. Macrina Wiederkehr shows you a way out." --David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B., Author of The Music of Silence

"This terrific book brings the ancient prayer of the Church into modern focus as the author invites the readers to mark the moments of the day with prayer. [Wiederkehr] offers inspiration galore to feed the soul in simple, yet profound everyday--hourly--ways." --Religion Teacher's Journal

"A wonderful resource for those who routinely pray the hours, whether communally or privately. It offers an effective antidote to the monotony and distraction that can imperceptibly drain daily prayer of life and meaning. Reading this book, one will awaken to the deeper symbolic dimensions of each hour and thereby be able to redirect one's energy towards a fuller, faith-filled, cosmic participation." --Cistercian Studies Quarterly

"This inspiring devotional resource will serve as a catalyst to spur your own practice of being present and paying attention to the sacred rhythms of the day." -- --Spirituality & Practice

About the Author

Macrina Wiederkehr, O.S.B., is a popular retreat guide and author who makes her home with the monastic community of St. Scholastica in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Wiederkehr is the best-selling author of six previous books including A Tree Full of Angels and The Circle of Life, which she co-authored with Joyce Rupp. Visit her online at macrina-underthesycamoretree.blogspot.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Sorin Books (October 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933495243
• ISBN-13: 978-1933495248
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5 x 6.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,492 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions, Practices & Sacred Texts > Ritual
  • #13 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Prayer
  • #27 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Devotionals

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Poetic Adaptation of the Spirit of the Hours -- for Busy Lives Like Ours March 31, 2008

By David Crumm TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

I love well-designed little books like this one, which I can tuck into a big pocket, purse or work bag -- to add a new season of spiritual discipline to my life.

Sister Macrina Wiederkehr adapts traditional, daily cycles of prayer with thoughtful themes to focus our meditations and offers all kinds of resources: from specific prayers and readings we can use to little meditation-provoking nuggets of wisdom from a variety of writers.

In the introduction of her book, she reminds us that the original rule of St. Benedict called on monks to pray their way through all 150 Psalms each week -- a daunting task in today's busy world. So, she writes, "this book is to provide you with poetic reflection material on the spirit of the hours rather than the historical text of the hours."

I also appreciate her breadth of selections in the book from scriptures themselves to lines by W.H. Auden, Kahlil Gibran and Eleanor Roosevelt.

Nicely done. Nicely packaged. A great companion for a new season.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Christianity through the day April 12, 2008

By Dr. John Laughlin VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This is a gem of a prayer, and contemplative book. Like the monks' practice of the Daily, this gives all of us a guide and text to use in dividing and divining our day into 7 parts set aside to rememeber God and who and what we are -- or ought to be as Christians. If you ever envied the Moslems' daily call to prayer, here is your Chrisitan alternitive.

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the need to pause May 11, 2008

By Jan Broschart

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have long been a fan of Macrina which is why I purchased this book. What I got was more than I could have imagined. Her book brings us back and shows us the wisdom , many of us have forgotten , of taking the time to stop. To take a few minutes seven times a day so that we can really live our lives to the fullest. In this crazy busy world what could be important than to get in tune with the natural pauses of day and clear our minds of the clutter that keeps us from realizing the life we were meant to live.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Making the Ordinary Sacred May 15, 2008

By Pat Bailey

Format:Hardcover

Seven Sacred Pauses is a wonderful spiritual tool to help us remember the sacredness in each hour of the day. Macrina Wiederkehr has lived the monastic rhythm of the days and is able to give lay people the opportunity to recognize and honor the Divine all around us. I really find her meditations very helpful and can easily adapt them to the seasons of my life. I have given it as gifts and use it various groups from my prayer shawl ministry to EFM class. Velma Frye's accompanying CD is a terrific addition and the songs/chants serve as a shorthand to remembering the meditations.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Daily Mindfulness May 24, 2010

By Jean K. Maitha

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

In my desire to become more aware of God's Presence in my life and to find a concrete way to incorporate Paul's encouragement to pray without ceasing into my busyness, I find Seven Sacred Pauses to be an invaluable tool. It is simple, non-time consuming, and truly facilitates the goal of reminding me, in the midst of an extremely intense, fast-paced workday, that I exist to live in awareness of the God I serve. Wiederkehr's prayers are powerful and frequently enable me to focus exactly where my heart needs to be.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Seven Sacred Pauses: Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day March 5, 2009

By B. Robinson

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr has crafted a practical and do-able journey into daily "mindfullness" of the Divine in us and all creation. She goes beyond the 'How To' with beautiful reflections in poetry and prose that draw one deeper and deeper into the pause that refreshes and sustains our living in the noise and busyness of our world. Using her book to practice the pause, brings us to know how essential and necessary awareness of and response to God's presence is throughout our 'daily' days. She artfully nudges us to continuing moving along the way of living mindfully in the Church's rich prayer traditions, pointing the way to going deeper and broader in our living aware and mindful of God's presence in all our day and days.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars prayer life October 14, 2008

By G. Francis

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

If you have an active prayer life but no time, this book is for you! Macrina has made it simple to pray at different hours of the day by listing prayers, beautiful poetry, and inspiring sayings from various writers and prayerful people. The beauty is you can pick and choose the prayers and sayings, and also choose the hours of the day you want to open the book and inspire yourself. A must for the busy, prayerful person. Well written and inspiring.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Seven Sacred Pauses July 17, 2008

By Bettylou Kishler

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is a gem for those who seek to develop their spirituality. Seven pauses during the day is not always possible, but, when the pause is taken and the prayers, etc. are used, it has a very beneficial effect. The poetry written by Macrina is breathtaking.