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Company of Voices
A new and updated edition of a much-praised work, this is vital reading for anyone who wishes to understand the nature of prayer. Down to earth and accessible, yet applauded for its scholarship, it is 'truly exciting to read' and 'full of help and sympathy for the Christian who finds prayer difficult", as reviewers said of the first edition.
Company of Voices begins with a problem that is all-too recognizable. If all that Christianity claims about life and living is true, then prayer ought to be the most natural activity in the world. Yet apart from moments of crisis when prayer arises spontaneously, it is mostly an added extra to the business of daily living, something that is a struggle to find time for. George Guiver CR sets out to find why this should be so.
His search takes him to study the practice of daily prayer throughout the Church's history: the offering of prayer several times a day in churches, cathedrals and monasteries, and individuals at their private prayer. He considers the form and content of prayers handed down over the centuries, prayer and human nature, our understanding of the Church, the varying formulas of prayer in different spiritual traditions, symbolism and gesture, prayer as work and play, wordless prayer and much more, all with the aim of learning from the past for the needs of today.
Truly breathtaking in its scope, this important study deserves its reputation as a contemporary spiritual classic.
280 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 11, 2019
Guiver's book is a tour de force of historical, liturgical, and practical theology. It is truly a massive undertaking, breathtaking in its scope and realistic yet encouraging in its pastoral sensitivity. Guiver, a practicing Anglican monk of the Community of the Resurrection, identifies the seven key marks of Christian prayer; combs through 2,000 years of history in the Catholic, Orthodox, Syrian, and Protestant traditions; and he develops sensible plans at the parish level for the regular implementation of the Office.
For Guiver, truly historic and Christian prayer engages people in multiple ways. It lifts the mind to heaven, it immerses in the Christian myth, it re-connects to God's commands, it utilizes timeless formulas, it is simultaneously work and play, it engages the body, and it unites with the entire praying community. These ideas take up the first part of the book. Guiver shows, then, how these needs are best answered by the rhythm of the Office, and not by personal, private prayer.
The middle of the book is a fascinating study of the history of the Office. Guiver develops the thesis that the so-called "Cathedral Office" (people's office) developed first, before the Monastic Office, and influenced all subsequent monastic practices of the liturgy of the hours.
The end of the book is a recapitulation and source-book for parish practice.
For Guiver, truly historic and Christian prayer engages people in multiple ways. It lifts the mind to heaven, it immerses in the Christian myth, it re-connects to God's commands, it utilizes timeless formulas, it is simultaneously work and play, it engages the body, and it unites with the entire praying community. These ideas take up the first part of the book. Guiver shows, then, how these needs are best answered by the rhythm of the Office, and not by personal, private prayer.
The middle of the book is a fascinating study of the history of the Office. Guiver develops the thesis that the so-called "Cathedral Office" (people's office) developed first, before the Monastic Office, and influenced all subsequent monastic practices of the liturgy of the hours.
The end of the book is a recapitulation and source-book for parish practice.
January 21, 2020
An excellent book, giving a concise and clear account of the history of liturgical daily prayer but also giving the wider picture. Guiver looks at how the daily office relates to the sacraments and to personal prayer, and writes with passion and wisdom on the place of regular shared prayer as part of Christian life.
The final section brings together a huge amount of reference material in a way designed to resource practitioners as well as researchers.
I'd recommend this to anyone with a general interest in the history of worship as well as anyone looking into this particular area.
The final section brings together a huge amount of reference material in a way designed to resource practitioners as well as researchers.
I'd recommend this to anyone with a general interest in the history of worship as well as anyone looking into this particular area.
December 18, 2022
I read this book for my Anglican Liturgy class at Wycliffe College (required textbook).
The main helpfulness of this book was the history of daily prayer. The author has obviously done extensive research tracing the development of the daily office throughout time as well as regionally. So I did learn a lot in that section.
There were some good nuggets here and there, but overall it wasn't a particularly helpful book (on the practical and theological side). I found the author unbalanced in emphasizing prayer and sacrament to the neglect of the word.
The main helpfulness of this book was the history of daily prayer. The author has obviously done extensive research tracing the development of the daily office throughout time as well as regionally. So I did learn a lot in that section.
There were some good nuggets here and there, but overall it wasn't a particularly helpful book (on the practical and theological side). I found the author unbalanced in emphasizing prayer and sacrament to the neglect of the word.
December 8, 2016
Great book. wish I'd read it years ago. not stellar on sourcing some of his broad generalisations, but as an overview I'm impressed.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews