The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayers [Paperback]

Amy Welborn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2004

A thoughtful exploration of the history and vitality of traditional Catholic prayers.

Praying people have long relied on meditative or extemporaneous prayer to express their feelings and yearning to God. Traditional prayer, often considered rote, tends to be neglected. In The Words We Pray, author Amy Welborn offers an insightful exploration into eighteen traditional prayers and the vital role they play in the spiritual life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This book will be useful to non-Catholics who’ve ever wondered about the difference between a Hail Mary and the Salve Regina, as well as Catholics who would like to delve into the significance of some of the Church’s most important prayers. Welborn, author of several books for Catholic youth, writes that as a young adult she was "a bit of a prayer snob," finding comfort in extemporaneous personal prayers but not the rote, memorized historic prayers of the Catholic tradition. Her feelings changed around age 30, when she discovered the joys of praying the rosary and realized that there are times when our own words simply aren’t enough, and we must rely upon timeless prayers that connect us to something outside our own experience. Here, she presents and analyzes some of the Church’s most famous prayers, "worn and prayed by millions," including the sign of the cross, the Our Father (the Lord’s Prayer), the Hail Mary, the creeds, the Act of Contrition, the Jesus Prayer, the Anima Christi, the prayers of Saint Francis and others. Welborn does a fine job of drawing on her own experience as she unpacks these ancient prayers, making them accessible and beautiful to modern Catholics.
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About the Author

Amy Welborn is the author of Loyola Kids Book of Heroes, Loyola Kids Book of Saints (Loyola Press, 2003) and the Prove It series of apologetics books for youth (Our Sunday Visitor). She is the general editor of the forthcoming Loyola Classics series (Loyola Press). Amy resides in Fort Wayne, Indiana, with her family.

Product Details

• Paperback: 210 pages
• Publisher: Loyola Press (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082941956X
• ISBN-13: 978-0829419566
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #776,705 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I'm a freelance writer living in Birmingham, Alabama. I've written many books on various elements of Catholic life: spirituality, saints and history.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific resource will enrich your prayer life Immeasurably, October 27, 2004

By 

Lisa M. Hendey "Mom, Blogger, Podcaster, Author" (Fresno, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayers (Paperback)

Most Catholics, whether they actively practice their faith or not, can recite the words to the Hail Mary as instinctively as they tie their shoelaces. They may not know the meaning or origin of the words they pray, but the prayer itself is a part of their core, their identity, their soul. In her latest book The Words We Pray (Loyola Press, October 2004, paperback, 210 pages), Amy Welborn gives her readers a gift - the gift of prayer, of knowing not only the words to our favorite prayers, but the stories behind them and the occasions in life when turning to them can provide solace and joy.

I have long admired Welborn's ability to write. Picking up one of her books, or treating yourself to an article she's written is like a combination of having lunch with a friend and a tutoring session with a knowledgeable mentor. The Words We Pray continues this tradition for me, as Amy Welborn captures so effectively the essence and origin of traditional Catholic prayers. The book opens with Welborn's heartfelt description of her own "journey" towards an eventual embracing of prayers such as the Salve Regina.

The true stars of The Words We Pray are the prayers themselves. Welborn has included eighteen of the most popular and powerful Catholic prayers, and has richly described their histories and traditions. When we as Catholics turn to God in communication using these wonderful gems of our Faith, we take our place in the Communion of Saints who have over countless years turned to these prayers to seek intercession and aid. Welborn's book concludes with an interesting discussion of "where our prayers go" and the value of praying vocally, using traditional prayers. The Words We Pray serves not only as a valuable reference, but also as an invitation to a deeper and richer prayer life.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Why use old prayers, February 23, 2006

By 

P. Wharfe (Tobago, WI) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayers (Paperback)

Discovering the history and the sense of being part of the communion of saints is what this book does well. The author is frank about her very subjective perspective, so that nobody can expect a scholarly treatment of the subject. It does well what it sets out to do.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Words We Pray, June 24, 2009

By 

B. W. McNeal - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayers (Paperback)

As a returning Catholic(almost 30 years away from the Church), I have found Amy Welborn a reliable source to ease my transition back in the fold. This book refreshed my knowledge of prayers I learned as a child. It also introduced me to some I never knew or felt I should have known. I have given this book to other devout Catholics,both cradle and convert,who treasure it as I do.