The Path of Celtic Prayer

Content

As he travelled the Scottish Hebrides, author Calvin Miller sensed God calling him to a fresh adventure in prayer. Glimpsing the island of Iona, in a 'moment of epiphany' he pondered the flame of faith that has burned there for so many centuries, and what he might learn from the spiritual traditions that nurtured such centres of worship. How can the practices of the past breathe new life into our experience of living as Christians today - and what can they offer as paths for the future?

In this book he sets out six principles of prayer drawn from his reading and reflection on Celtic spirituality. These principles have been tried and tested in his own experience and are offered to help others find ways of drawing closer to the heart of the triune God, the Three-in-One, and learning to delight in his presence.

While they do not encompass the whole richness and variety of the Celtic way to devotion, they offer a starting point, a window on to a new understanding of prayer. Alongside examples of Celtic prayers and excerpts of spiritual writing, each chapter ends with prayer exercises to ground the teaching and start readers along the path of Celtic prayer.

Contents include:

• To the reader
• Introduction
• Trinity prayer: the art of loving all of God
• Scripture prayer: praying the Bible back to its author
• Long, wandering prayer: seeing life as a single, unending prayer
• Nature prayer: poetry and praise in ordinary life
• Lorica prayer: asking God for protection
• Confessional prayer: living in agreement with God
• Afterword

Endorsements

This is a beautifully crafted book by a fine writer who draws out fresh, practical and imaginative insights about prayer from ancient Celtic stories.
Michael Mitton

Author info

Calvin Miller is probably best known for The Singer trilogy, which has sold over one million copies worldwide. He has written more than forty other books and is currently a professor at Beeson Divinity School in Alabama, USA. During the 25 years that he served as a pastor in Nebraska, his church grew from ten members to more than 2,500.

• View other titles by Calvin Miller

Reviews

From The Diocese of Hereford Newspaper - Spring 2009

The book owes its being to a moment of epiphany on the ferry from Mull to Iona. Miller realised that he did not yet know as much about prayer as God wanted him to know and that prayer, as the Celts knew it, was a flame fuelled by love which could revitalise the present. He offers six ways of prayer from which he draws out fresh insights to enable us to see God with the eyes of our hearts and which will light a living centre of praise within us.

Reviewed by Celia Rees, Leominster

From North Sound Radio - July 2008

If Celtic prayer is a rather vague concept to you Calvin Miller's book provides an excellent introduction. From his own reading and reflection on Celtic spirituality he has drawn six basic principles which he sets out fully here. He hopes that these will provide 'a window on to a new understanding of prayer.'

At the end of each chapter Miller provides exercises to help readers reinforce and retain what they have learned. After a preliminary reading it is a book which will repay a second, slower reading, or it could be used as a companion or guide to personal meditation.

Reviewed by Betty McKay

Book details

• ISBN: 9781841015811
• Published: 23 May 2008
• Status:
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 144