The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book
by Monks of Glenstal Abbey

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Book Reviews of The Glenstal Book of Prayer: A Benedictine Prayer Book

Book Review: A blessing in book form
Summary: 5 Stars

The first section of the book is on daily prayer, prayer cycles that adhere to the spirit of Benedict's instructions. The section is divided into prayers for each day of the week, prayers for the 'stops' (mid-morning, noon, afternoon, and compline), and prayers for the seasons (Advent, Christmas, Lent, Easter, and Ordinary time). These give the full text of prayers, canticles, Bible readings, psalms, invocations and blessings for use at each event.

The second section highlights common prayers and recitations in the Christian tradition. These include the Lord's Prayer, the Hail Mary prayer, the Apostle's Creed, St. Patrick's Breastplate, the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, and more. Among these one gets both the Celtic and the more universal Christian sense of things.

The third section looks at ritual prayers and liturgical pieces. These include devotional prayers during activities (prayers before beginning work, prayers before and after meals), as well as prayers of vocation, guidance, and peace. This includes a section on blessings, blessings that can be given to homes, to families, to the sick, to the dead, and more.

The final section includes additional psalms and a short selection of readings from the actual Rule of St. Benedict.

The book itself is in a small format, about as wide as an average hand, which means it fits into the palm perfectly, as if it were made for being carried and used on a regular basis. The printing and paper stocks used are superb - as much as I am generally loathe to describe books in such terms, the basic construction of this book is worthy of note, as it adds 'flesh' to the prayers being given out of this text. It is a joy to read from the sensory perspective as well as the spiritual perspective.

The Glenstal Abbey taps into an ancient history, but is itself a relatively new establishment, having been founded in 1927 as the first Benedictine monastery in Ireland since the Reformation (King Henry VIII dissolved monasteries as part of his Reformations in the British Isles). This book is a great reflection of part of their community.

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