The Sacred Place of Prayer: The Human Person Created in God's Image

by Jean Marie Dwyer

This book considers the human person as the sacred place of prayer. The first three chapters lay philosophical, biblical and theological groundwork for the understanding of the human person as the sacred place of prayer. Subsequent chapters develop this truth more fully. The chapters on desert spirituality, illusions and finding our center give insight into how we find our true self and our place of home and belonging. A major premise is that everything flows from our creation in God’s image. Each of us is the privileged and sacred place of prayer.

Learning to be a person of prayer introduces new and wonderful elements into our life, for example, silence and reflection, which in turn can produce an ever growing sense of awe in being fully alive, fully present not only to God, but to ourselves, to creation, to our neighbor and to all the circumstances of life. An inward stillness helps us to seek God in the daily ordinariness of our lives. Setting aside times is important, even just a momentary pause in a busy day can be an oasis of stillness to re-center ourselves.

164 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

Reviews

[Allan Savage]

This work lives up to its intent to be solid food for the soul. We are encouraged to pray, not to change God's mind, but rather prepare ourselves to receive the fullness of divine life in Christ. The desert tradition of praying is presented to us from within Dominican tradition of community life. This tradition avails itself of the contributions to prayer that scripture makes. Such as being created in the likeness and image of God which is one of the major facts we must recognize in our prayer life according to Dwyer. Further, to my pleasant surprise, Dwyer begins Part I of her book with consideration of the philosopher Aristotle. It is enheartening to see philosophy return to its proper place in assisting us in our spiritual life. Aristotle guides us with the notion that everything exists with a purpose, a virtuous purpose in a divine-human relationship - and this from a pagan philosopher!

Beyond Aristotle, Dwyer moves to the treasures of the Old Testament. (However, I would have appreciated the term Hebrew Scriptures instead of Old Testament.) Now begins an inward journey according to her which ultimately leads to the outward journey that brings us to fulfillment in Christ. Christian mystical experience is addressed in chapter three in the person of Catherine of Siena. This chapter brings Part I of the book to an end with the general conclusion that human passions properly understood prepare the way for a transcendent prayer life to begin in us.Part II begins by revealing in us a process of "becoming" as the place of prayer. The Desert Fathers guide the reader here by their example of the disciplined life. Such discipline is a great asset for us even today. Then follows additional examples, traditional and modern, that point the way to finding our centre of prayer. This section also contains, at the end of each chapter, short practical suggestions to enhance growth in the spiritual life.Part III begins with a reflection on Mary and her place in the new creation. This chapter is, in fact, Christ-centred and culminates with an understanding of the human person created in God's image. That is to say, from a Christ-centered perspective, we bring God into our daily routine in which to pray is to live in a new way. Finally, the appendix is a little treasure in itself but I leave that discovery to the reader.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

This gentle book by a cloistered Dominican nun brings liberating insight and encouragement for those coming from a Protestant , evangelical tradition and for those reaching out to God anew.