The Words We Pray: Discovering the Richness of Traditional Catholic Prayers

by Amy Welborn

Traditional prayer, often considered rote, tends to be neglected by people who claim to take their faith seriously. In The Words We Pray , author Amy Welborn offers an insightful exploration into 18 traditional prayers and the vital spiritual role each one can play. This enchanting prayer book includes the history and traditional use of each prayer as well as personal anecdotes to show why the body of Catholic traditional prayers is "a treasure worth rediscovering." From the Psalms to traditional Marian prayers to the Lord's Prayer to Amen, the prayers explored in The Words We Pray are gifts from the past that can greatly benefit our spiritual life today.

Genres: Catholic

200 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Domini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm almost halfway through it, and it's fantastic. Anyone who has wondered the how and why of traditional Catholic (Christian) prayer would appreciate it and get a kick out of reading Welborn's witty style.

[Geneva Fiore · Rating 3 out of 5]

The history of the prayers was interesting but I got a consistent feeling that she was, at best, confused about Our Lady, and at worst, ashamed of her. If she didn't state so clearly that she was born and raised Catholic, I would have guessed she was a protestant convert.

[Naomi Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great addition to the library of any Catholic who is afraid that memorized prayer is "vain repetition." Welborn gives the historical background to several of the most common prayers in the Catholic tradition, and then applies them to modern life. The greatest strength of her writing is the presentation of complex ideas in clear and informal language. This book is no exception. As a convert, I discovered prayers I had not known before, and found new depths in those that were familiar. I have given this as a confirmation present to friends in RCIA, and it's always well-received.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book during Adoration, and was hoping for something different. I thought it would be more meditative on the actual words of the different prayers, but instead it was history on the prayers and how they came to be so widely used in the Catholic faith. I didn't mind that, but it wasn't always clear. The history was ambiguous on some prayers. I would rather have seen the prayers taken word for word, line for line, to delve into the true meaning and significance of what the prayer is.