This book should be declared a national treasure! We lead tremendously busy lives, with 1,001 things to do. Even so, every saint and renowned spiritual director through the ages has said the same thing: If we desire to become saints, we must spend time daily in meditation. With this book (which is in its fourth printing!), Fr. Bartunek has created an extensive, Christ-centered resource to serve as a daily meditation companion. Part I is an incredibly practical explanation of how to Christian meditation (along with a cheat-sheet!). Part II contains material to use during your meditations. The resource is a Bible study on the four Gospels, a survey of saints' writings, a guide to prayer, and a fresh introduction to Jesus rolled into one. The Better Part enables us to read, meditate, absorb and apply the Gospels to our lives, and it serves as a catalyst to personalize times of prayer, enabling us to follow the Holy Spirit's lead along the path of holiness. The portable resource has a ribbon to mark your place and contains detailed indices to help you meditate either on the liturgical seasons or the virtues you feel most in need of developing. All four Gospels are included inside the Resource, divided into 303 Units, each one with prayer-sparking commentaries under the subtitles Christ the Lord, Christ the Teacher, Christ the Friend, and Christ in My Life. It is truly a book for a lifetime.
The Better Part
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
58 of 59 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The path to holiness is not a primrose path. It is a daily battle, a daily carrying of the cross. Prayer, especially in the form of intimate daily conversations with Christ is sadly one of the most neglected weapons available to us in this battle.
The Better Part equips Christians with the resources they need to, "set of into the deep" to enter into a personal, intimate conversation with Christ. Father Bartunek Begins his book with a short prayer primer, an exposition of the basics of Christian prayer that is worth the price of the book by itself. The rest of the book contains guided meditations on the Gospels with a liberal sprinkling of quotes from the Doctors and Fathers of the Church. The book contains the entire text off all four Gospels taken from the Jerusalem Bible (an excellent and very approachable translation). Each unit is meant as a stepping off point. While reading and reflecting on each unit would be of great benefit to anyone, using them as a starting point for your own conversation with Christ is the ultimate goal.
These meditations are not of the fluffy, vague, feel-good variety that has sadly become too common these days. Father Bartunek offers deep and meaningful meditations from four aspects of our relationship with Christ: Christ the Lord, Christ the Teacher, Christ the Friend, and Christ in my life. By using the principles of concentration, consideration, conversation and commitment, each meditation should lead one to an experience of Christ's presence and a firm, concrete commitment to better imitate him.
The price of the book is not cheap, but neither is the book itself. The paper and binding is of the highest quality, meant to stand up to daily handling for years. The font is easy on the eyes and a quality ribbon is sewn into the binding so you never have to lose your place.
Father Bartunek has rendered an invaluable service to Christians everywhere. If I could have only one book (other than the Bible and Catechism) this would be it without question.
The Better Part equips Christians with the resources they need to, "set of into the deep" to enter into a personal, intimate conversation with Christ. Father Bartunek Begins his book with a short prayer primer, an exposition of the basics of Christian prayer that is worth the price of the book by itself. The rest of the book contains guided meditations on the Gospels with a liberal sprinkling of quotes from the Doctors and Fathers of the Church. The book contains the entire text off all four Gospels taken from the Jerusalem Bible (an excellent and very approachable translation). Each unit is meant as a stepping off point. While reading and reflecting on each unit would be of great benefit to anyone, using them as a starting point for your own conversation with Christ is the ultimate goal.
These meditations are not of the fluffy, vague, feel-good variety that has sadly become too common these days. Father Bartunek offers deep and meaningful meditations from four aspects of our relationship with Christ: Christ the Lord, Christ the Teacher, Christ the Friend, and Christ in my life. By using the principles of concentration, consideration, conversation and commitment, each meditation should lead one to an experience of Christ's presence and a firm, concrete commitment to better imitate him.
The price of the book is not cheap, but neither is the book itself. The paper and binding is of the highest quality, meant to stand up to daily handling for years. The font is easy on the eyes and a quality ribbon is sewn into the binding so you never have to lose your place.
Father Bartunek has rendered an invaluable service to Christians everywhere. If I could have only one book (other than the Bible and Catechism) this would be it without question.
31 of 31 people found the following review helpful
By Carl Brown
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I had lots of excuses as to why I wasn't going to like this. (why list them all?)
After reading the introduction on *how* to do a meditation, and after learning that a meditation is NOT spiritual reading, I decided to give it a try.
Not only are the meditation guides among the best (if not THE best) I've ever come across, the book is laid out in very helpful ways. Gospel readings are numbered and a handy table helps you find the gospel reading of the day. Verse numbers are omitted (again, I thought I wouldn't like that, but I do). Ribbon bookmark is included (and hard to lose). Flaps open up to help with the outline for a meditation (concentrate, consider, converse, commit)
So- what more can I say? I've used this every week now for 4 weeks and I see myself continuing to use it every day- indefinitely.
After reading the introduction on *how* to do a meditation, and after learning that a meditation is NOT spiritual reading, I decided to give it a try.
Not only are the meditation guides among the best (if not THE best) I've ever come across, the book is laid out in very helpful ways. Gospel readings are numbered and a handy table helps you find the gospel reading of the day. Verse numbers are omitted (again, I thought I wouldn't like that, but I do). Ribbon bookmark is included (and hard to lose). Flaps open up to help with the outline for a meditation (concentrate, consider, converse, commit)
So- what more can I say? I've used this every week now for 4 weeks and I see myself continuing to use it every day- indefinitely.
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Written in Fr. Bartunek's practical, readable style, The Better Part brings the practice of mental prayer within reach in two ways: first, introducing the reader to a simple step-by-step methodology for meditating on the Gospel; and second, by providing a total of 303 meditations based on distinct Gospel passages.
In other words, Father Bartunek teaches us how to fish and then gives us the fishing rod and the bait, all in one book.
Each meditation is about three pages long and looks at a specific Gospel passage from four points of view: Christ the Lord, Christ the Teacher, Christ the Friend, and Christ in My Life. Each subsection has its own specific purpose:
* The "Christ the Lord" sections help the reader to see Christ as the Lord and Master, and as a model for our own attitudes and actions.
* The "Christ the Teacher" sections give solid Catholic doctrine to enlighten the mind with lessons drawn from the Gospel passage at hand.
* The "Christ the Friend" sections give a more intimate, affective perspective on Christ, looking at him not through the mind or will alone, but through the heart.
* The subsections entitled "Christ in My Life" take
In other words, Father Bartunek teaches us how to fish and then gives us the fishing rod and the bait, all in one book.
Each meditation is about three pages long and looks at a specific Gospel passage from four points of view: Christ the Lord, Christ the Teacher, Christ the Friend, and Christ in My Life. Each subsection has its own specific purpose:
* The "Christ the Lord" sections help the reader to see Christ as the Lord and Master, and as a model for our own attitudes and actions.
* The "Christ the Teacher" sections give solid Catholic doctrine to enlighten the mind with lessons drawn from the Gospel passage at hand.
* The "Christ the Friend" sections give a more intimate, affective perspective on Christ, looking at him not through the mind or will alone, but through the heart.
* The subsections entitled "Christ in My Life" take
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Help for Prayer
This book has done more for my prayer life than any other in recent memory. It helps the reader learn the importance of personal prayer, the steps to take to make prayer a... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Tara Sz.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Indispensable prayer companion
I have been quite blessed to have received this gift of The Better Part: A Christ-centered Resource for Personal Prayer by Fr. John Bartunek of RC Spiritual Direction. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Theresa M. George
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific guide for personal prayer
If you are just getting into lectio divina, this is a good guide to use, to stimulate your praying process. Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. CINGORANELLI
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Better Part
This book is excellent for daily meditations on the Gospels. Each Gospel meditation is broken in to four parts with Christ as Lord, Teacher, Friend, and "in my life",... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jeanette Saucrda
5.0 out of 5 stars
For people who want to be closer to Christ on a daily basis,
For people who want to be closer to Christ on a daily basis, this book and approach is truly a gift. Read more
Published 3 months ago by J. Herlihy
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Better Part
We use this as our guide in. OurCatholic bible study. It presents the practical use as well as the spiritual meaning in our everyday lives. I really use it. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Nancy Yarritu
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very helpful book in one's spiritual journey
This is a book that i would highly recommend for my friends & co-"journeyers" in the spiritual life. Read more
Published 4 months ago by TSBalajadiaThelma
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Mediation book
I use this book daily to help me and my family draw closer to Christ through Scriptures. It is a very easy read! Highly recommended.
Published 4 months ago by Dan Goebel
5.0 out of 5 stars
excelllent book for daily meditations
This is a must have for your spiritual life. Excellent explanation of how to do a daily meditation, great commentaries on each section of the four Gospels, an index to the Gospel... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mary L Hodgdon
4.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful guide
This is a wonderful guide that walks you through the steps to meditative exercises. I'm slowly learning how to speak and listen to God through the His Word. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Loboto-Me
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