REPEAT THE SOUNDING JOY: Some really nice responses to my post (immediately below) on traditional prayers.

Lots of great stuff from Amy Welborn and her commenters, including points about how ritual connects us to other people.

Verbum Ipsum on praying the daily office.

Judith Weiss of Kesher Talk: “Ahhhh. This is the Catholic version of the daily Amidah.

here

here

“To me it is an immense relief to not have to make up my own words, to have a checklist prepared for me. Esp since the sages were much smarter than me.”

And MLY: “Re traditional prayers, I agree. I say the shema every night, and it often surprises.”