A Modern View of a Rich Heritage of Prayer: Leah Libresco’s “Arriving at Amen”

[Nancy French’s note: Leah Libresco was a talented, prolific Patheos blogger on the atheist channel who announced in 2012 that she had converted to Catholicism.  Her blog can be found here…  and congratulations, Leah!]

Review by Wendi Matusic

As one who is fascinated by conversions from stanch atheism to devout Christianity, I was anxious to hear Leah Libresco’s story. As it turns out, this book was not exactly the place to get the background. And in fairness, it wasn’t titled or advertised to be. It is more like opening her biography to a page in the middle and joining her on her search for a prayer structure.

For anyone who has struggled to find a fit with daily prayer… or to commit to any daily routine or ritual for that matter… this book is a welcome account of Libresco’s challenges, successes and strategies to build a practical and spiritual prayer life. Her intellectual, analytical approach to traditional prayer is certainly unconventional with its analogies to math, science, Shakespeare and Les Miserables (yes, THAT Les Mis) and yet it reflects her desire to be true to finding a deep, meaningful understanding of God’s word.

I particularly appreciated the honesty Libresco displayed in her “failed” attempts at prayer. She allowed herself the flexibility to find what was personally meaningful and accessible. She learned from what didn’t work for her and remained open to finding what would fit.

Just as I felt I had opened to Libresco’s story somewhere in the middle, the book left me knowing there was much more of her prayer journey ahead. It also left me knowing that we can all find the path that is right for us individually if we remain flexible in our approach and focused on the truth as our path.

This book provides a fresh look at learning to pray and offers wonderful insight into the search for a deep, meaningful life of faith.

Review by Wendi Matusic

See more of the “Arriving at Amen” conversation at Patheos here.