Practice of Prayer

Margaret Guenther is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and retreat leader. She recently retired as professor of ascetical theology at The General Theological Seminary in New York, where she was the director of its Center for Christian Spirituality. Her other books include Holy Listening: The Art of Spiritual Direction and Toward Holy Ground: Spiritual Directions for the Second Half of Life.

Margaret Guenther is a lot of things—a professor of theology, an author, a retreat leader and an Episcopal priest. But in her latest book, The Practice of Prayer, it is evident that first and foremost she is just like the rest of us, human—allible, vulnerable and all the other things that go along with the human condition. The Practice of Prayer is refreshingly down-to-earth. In this book Guenther talks about prayer and paths to hearing God in a way that makes readers feel they are sitting by a fire having one of those deep and meaningful talks with their best friend. It's the kind of talk you later recall as having been one where a lot of the world's perplexing problems were solved.

• Chapter 1 An Introduction to Spirituality: What's in a Name?Chapter 2 Prayer as Conversation: Is Anyone Listening?Chapter 3 Varieties of Prayer: Does What I Learned in Sunday School Still Count?Chapter 4 Prayer Through the Centuries: From the Jesus Prayer to Lectio DivinaChapter 5 Practices of Prayer: Retreats, Journaling, Sacramental Confession, and Spiritual DirectionChapter 6 Finding God in the Ordinary: Your Kitchen Will Teach You EverythingChapter 7 Prayer and Parenting: How Do I Pray When the Baby is Keeping Me Up?Chapter 8 Learning Simplicity: 'Tis the Gift to Be Simple, 'Tis the Gift to Be FreeChapter 9 Praying Through Desolation: Why Have You Forsaken Me?Chapter 10 Praying in Community: Who are My Mother and My Brothers?