CBB Review – Sacred Reading

There are a multitude of resources for daily prayer on the market today. Ave Maria Press and the Apostleship of Prayer have presented readers with another option. Sacred Reading: The 2016 Guide to Daily Prayer is based upon the ancient practice of lectio divina. It is a useful tool that will help you understand scripture more deeply in the coming year.

Each day the reader is presented with the daily Gospel reading. Built around that Gospel reading is a six-step process for prayer and meditation based upon the use of lectio devina. Those six steps are as follows:

1 – Know that God is present with you and ready to converse.

Each day begins with this simple prayer prompt. A prompt that is meant to bring the reader into the presence of God and promote a one on one conversation with their Creator. The goal is to “make sacred reading your own prayer time each day.”

2 – Read the Gospel.

As mentioned earlier, Sacred Reading includes the daily Gospel readings for the entire liturgical calendar. It is important to note for the purpose of productive prayer you may want to reread the Gospel reading to allow it to “soak in”.

3 – Notice what you think and feel as you read the Gospel.

Every faculty of your being can be used in this step. Tune in to what you have read. Sometimes “it may be a word, a phrase, a character, an image, a pattern, an emotion, a sensation – some arrow to your heart. Whatever it is, pay attention to it because the Holy Spirit is using it to accomplish something in you.”

4 – Pray as you are led for yourself and for others.

This is the time to have an intimate one on one conversation with the God of the universe. “You may thank, praise, worship, rejoice, mourn, explain, question, reveal your fears, seek understanding, or ask forgiveness. Your conversation with God has no limits. God is the ideal conversationalist. God wants to spend time with you.”

5 – Listen to Jesus.

Listen to the words spoken to your heart during this period of prayer. Keep a notebook or journal so you can reference these words later in the day or in the future. Author Douglas Leonard includes his own thoughts each day to “help you listen more actively for whatever it is the Lord might be saying to you.” This may be difficult at first but as you continue the practice daily you will realize the conversation you and Jesus are having.

6 – Ask God to show you how to live today.

“Pope Benedict XVI commented that sacred reading is not complete without a call to action: something in our praying leads us to do something in our day.” Listen to what God is asking you to do that day. Continue the conversation throughout day. God is ever present seeking to love and be loved. He and He alone can help us accomplish anything.

Sacred Reading is one of those books that once you begin to use it you will fall in love with it. It is an invaluable resource providing the framework to bring the reader into a deeper relationship with God. I started using the book this past Sunday, the first Sunday of Advent and the beginning of the new liturgical year. This after studying the introduction and familiarizing myself with the books layout and use. I must say I am impressed with its presentation and am hopeful of where its daily use will lead me on my faith journey. I encourage you to try it as well and grow in your relationship with the Almighty.

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I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.