The Prayer of the Presence of God

by Dom Augustin Guillerand

Learn to pray as monks pray For nearly a thousand years, monks of the Carthusian Order have withdrawn from the world so they can place themselves in the presence of God. Alone in their cells, they pray, work, and take their meals, freed from worldly distractions and the cacophony of thoughts that course through your mind and mine, when, at the end of busy days, we finally kneel down to pray. A thousand years' silence has enabled the Carthusians to perfect a way of praying suited for the cloister, but it's also right for those of us whose obligations force us to work and pray in the rush and hurry of the world. In these pages, the monk Augustin Guillerand reveals the secret of the Carthusian's remarkable prayer of the presence of God. Obviously, this way of praying excludes quick Our Father's and hasty Hail Mary's, but it also requires that we do more than pause and say our prayers slowly. In fact, the Carthusians know that the prayer of

Genres: Catholic, Spirituality

174 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2006

Reviews

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was most insightful on issues regarding the interior life. Specifically it was helpful in identifying what True Prayer is and the perfection of that prayer life as well as developing a more mature and intimate relation with God. The author shows off his inner poet with reflections in the last chapter that were largely "Praises" to God in the various means and ways we could understand as human beings.

[Mary Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some moments of real beauty and insight, but on the whole, Guillerand's experience of God is too much of a remote philosophical abstraction for me to recognize except in a remote, dim, grand sort of way. I've been meditating on Jesus in his gritty particularity, the nearness of him, and the way he and the Holy Spirit bridge our limited human capacities and bring us into the presence of God, who has truly become Abba Father rather than this Renaissance painting rendition of God.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Equal parts prayer transcribed and instruction on prayer. It will definitely be of interest to anyone who is looking more deeply into not just how to pray, but the roaming path the mind takes during prayer; the path that Holy Spirit guides one along towards communion with God.

[P K · Rating 2 out of 5]

Personally, it wasnt much help for me spiritually. Uses too lofty language (vs more common, everyday phrases) to describe the spiritual life.

[Francine Anene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, answers questions you'd never think that you know the answer to. For example, why is life hard, because we don't value what is easy. Bart Simpson is saying "Doh" somewhere. ;)