Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

“A smart, wise, often side-splittingly funny master class in seeking God. Any spiritual seeker—from atheist to professional religious—will cherish this bravura tome from one of our great spiritual guides, in the lineage of C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton, Gandhi, and Mother Teresa. Hallelujah & amen!”—Mary Karr, author of Lit and The Liar’s Club

One of America’s most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage teaches anyone to converse with God in this comprehensive guide to Christian prayer.

Learning to Pray is a profound and practical handbook that explains what prayer is, what to expect from praying, how to do it, and how it can transform us when we make it a regular practice to deepen our faith. 

A trusted guide walking beside us as we navigate our unique spiritual paths, Father James Martin lays out the different styles and traditions of prayer throughout Christian history and invites us to experiment and discover which works best to feed our soul and build intimacy with our Creator. Father Martin makes clear there is not one secret formula for praying. But like any relationship, each person can discover the best style for building a personal relationship with God, regardless of religion or denomination. Prayer, he teaches us, is open and accessible to anyone willing to open their heart.

If you want to deepen your prayer practice and grow in faith, Learning to Pray offers a variety of methods and approaches to prayer that are accessible and user-friendly. This book is for the beginners in prayer and those experienced in the way of the Spirit.

In this book, you’ll find compassionate spiritual guidance on how to:

• How to Pray: Discover what prayer is, what to expect from praying, and how a regular practice can transform your life, whether you’re a beginner or have been praying for years.
• Build a Relationship with God: Learn to converse with God in a personal way, moving beyond rote formulas to build genuine intimacy with your Creator.
• Explore Christian Prayer Traditions: Experiment with different styles of prayer from throughout Christian history, including the Examen, Lectio Divina, and Ignatian Contemplation, to find what best feeds your soul.
• Find Answers to Common Questions: Get trusted advice on the challenges of the spiritual life, including how to handle distractions, dryness, and doubt in your prayer practice.

Rev. James Martin, SJ, is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and author of the New York Times bestsellers Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. Father Martin is a frequent commentator in the national and international media, having appeared on all the major networks and outlets, like The Colbert Report, NPR’s Fresh Air, The New York Times, and the Wall Street Journal.