Showing posts with label MaryDavidTotah. Show all posts
Showing posts with label MaryDavidTotah. Show all posts

Thursday, 24 April 2025

Deepening Prayer Life Defined by Prayer - Sister Mary David Totah - CTS Deeper Christianity Series

Deepening Prayer: 
Life Defined by Prayer
Mary David Totah
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860823824
eISBN 9781784693442
ASIN B073FMZR4C
CTS Booklet SP13

Deepening Prayer Life Defined by Prayer - Sister Mary David Totah - CTS Deeper Christianity Series

Over the last several years, I have read many books from the Catholic Truth Society, over 430 of them in fact, many read more than once; this all since the spring of 2018. Most were good reads; some were great reads; and a few are exceptional. This is another excellent offering, as are the others in this series I have read. It is the sixteenth in the Deeper Christianity Series that I have read, many of them have been read twice.  This is the third I have read by Mary David Totah across a few of the CTS Series. This series is one of my favourites. This booklet was originally published 2006 and the eBook was released in 2017. The description of this volume is:

“Prayer is at the heart of the Christian life, but is always a battle. This booklet explores the opportunities of some of the main methods of Christian prayer, as well as the problems and pitfalls. Sr Mary David uses the wisdom of the Church Fathers to lead the reader into a deeper relationship with God.”

The chapters in the book are:

The Nature of Prayer
A Life Characterised by Prayer

An Environment for Prayer: the Bible and the Liturgy
     Lectio Divina
     Prayer and Liturgical Life

The Practice of Prayer
     Arrow prayers
     The Jesus Prayer
     The Rosary
     The Our Father

Trials in Prayer
     Absence
     Lack of feelings
     Dryness or Spiritual Aridity
     Distractions

From Words to Silence: the Prayer of the Heart and Contemplation
     The Prayer of the Heart
     Contemplation
     Action and Contemplation
     Active Contemplation

I highlighted a few passages while reading this volume, some of them are:

“Christianity is God journeying towards the world.” Christianity is a religion of revelation; it proclaims that God’s love is always drawing near to man. Christian prayer, steeped in Lectio divina and liturgy, marked by a profoundly Scriptural character, is carried out in an aura of revelation. Salvation history is the context of the Christian’s daily life.”

“That is why the most important thing is that we give time to prayer. Here it is not a question of finding time but of offering time.”

“This is how you pray continually-not by offering prayer in words, but in joining yourself to God through your whole way of life, so that your life becomes one continuous and uninterrupted prayer.” Do not reduce your prayer to words; make the totality of your life a prayer to God” (Isaac the Syrian)”

“What counts in life and in prayer is the our voluntary gift of ourselves in the love of Christ, not the enjoyment of spiritual gifts. 1 The Christian seeks God not experiences; he lives in the luminous twilight of faith.”

“Most of our conflicts and difficulties in prayer come from trying to deal with the spiritual and practical aspects of our life separately, instead of seeing them as parts of one whole.”

“The point here is that like our Christian life, Christian prayer is going to involve participating in the paschal mystery of Christ. We have to accept death sometimes in order to rise to newness of life. Trying to avoid such death is likely to lead to prayerlessness: just as in life, such avoidance leads to escapism, a lack of depth or commitment.”

“But Lectio also denotes above all a method of reading, a slow, contemplative reading which allows the word of God to become a means of union with God. Such holy reading was both a preparation for prayer and prayer itself.”

“In this practice, we soon discover that a familiar text can be used to stir up prayer, or help us in difficult times. Letting the Word of God flow in and out of the mind develops in us an aptitude for prayer that leads to a real renewal of our lives.”

“We are invited to have Christ and his mysteries not just before our eyes but in our hearts as we open ourselves to the plan of God for us, a plan which shall have its fulfilment “at the hour of our death.””

“In the seven clauses of the Lord’s prayer we have seven lessons in prayer, seven fundamental moments in a single act of communion between ourselves and the Father.”

“Lead us not into temptation, but delivers us from evil: As our life of prayer deepens, it brings with it a sense of God’s personal guidance, protection and quiet action in our lives, as well as our weakness and inclination to sin.”

“Prayer is about a relationship; the aim of prayer is to deepen our relationship with God.”

“This means that prayer is essentially a gift which we make of ourselves to God. It is all about giving and surrendering; it is not about feelings.”

“There is no question here of success or failure: prayer is always a success when we simply come with the intention to pray.”

This is an excellent volume. I have been aware of Scupolis volume and even picked up 2 different editions of it and have read both:

The Spiritual Combat - Lorenzo Scupoli

I hope those quotes give you a feel for this excellent little volume. I love how much Sister Mary draws from the saints and Catholic writers down through the ages. It is an excellent volume for personal use or to work through in a group. 

This book is one I believe we really need today, in our current day and age with all that is going on in the world, and even the church. We need solid teaching on prayer to be able to intercede for friends, family, and the world; and to pray for our own growth in holiness. The CTS Deeper Christianity Series of books is written in such a way that they can easily be read in any order. Pick and choose the ones that interest you, read them in order, or jump around. I have been blessed by all the book in this series that I have read and can easily recommend this book and the series.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews:  2025 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.


Books in the Deeper Christianity Series:
7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit 
8 Deadly Sins Learning to Defend the Life of Grace 

Other Books by Sister Mary David Totah:
A Divine Gift: The Consecrated Life
The Spirit of Solesmes
The Joy of God: Collected Writings 
…

French editions:
La vie consacrée, un don divin
La joie de Dieu: Écrits choisis
…

The Catholic Truth Society - CTS Deeper Christianity Series 3

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Saturday, 18 March 2023

Confirmation The Spirit of Christ - Sister Mary David Totah - Sacraments Meeting Christ Series

Confirmation: The Spirit of Christ
Sacraments Meeting Christ Series
ISBN 9781860822339
eISBN 9781784694104
ASIN B073H2SQ7L
CTS Booklet DO713


Over the past few years I have read over 340 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. This is the first I have read from the Sacraments Meeting Christ Series, and the second from Sister Mart David Totah. While researching for this review I discovered that Sister Totah passed away in 2017 right around the time the eBook edition of this volume and a few of her other works were published digitally. This one was originally published in 2004. There is another CTS series on Living the Sacraments and based on rebranding I am uncertain if originally this was part of that series. But no matter what series it belongs to it was an excellent read. My youngest child is most of the way through her yearlong preparation for this sacrament as school and church. I decided to give this volume a read after our last session at the parish with the Sacramental Prep team and the other confirmandi and their sponsors. I am thankful I did, even though this is my third time through this year long process. 

The description of this volume is:

“This booklet uses scripture and the Church fathers to unlock the beauty of a life enriched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit received through the sacrament of Confirmation.

The sacrament of Confirmation is full of powerful symbolism and has a rich history going back to its origins in the very early church. This booklet uses scripture and the Church fathers to unlock the beauty of a life enriched by the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”

And the sections and chapters in the book are:

1. A Question-raising Sacrament

2. The Effects of Confirmation
     Unites us more firmly to Christ
     Makes us “perfect” Christians
     The Eucharist perfects Confirmation
     Increases the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us
     Perfects our bond with the Church
     Strength to be true witnesses of Christ
     Strength to defend the faith

3. The Liturgy of Confirmation
     Liturgy of the Word
     Presentation of the Candidates
     Renewal of Baptismal Promises
     The laying on of hands
     The anointing with chrism
     The sign of the cross
     Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit
     The Kiss of Peace

4. Yesterday and Today
     Origins of Confirmation
     In the early Church
     The Break-up of Christian Initiation
     The Forgotten Sacrament
     Age of Confirmation and Order of the Sacraments
     Our Lady and Confirmation
     Further Reading

The one sentence in this volume that stood out the most to me was:

“Confirmation makes us Christian soldiers.”

And I know that sentiment is not popular today, outside the church and even from many within. But it is one that resonates with me and my reading of church history. The volume opens with a quote from St Therese of Lisieux’s, The Story of a Soul:

“I went into retreat again for Confirmation, and I prepared myself with great care for the coming of the Holy Spirit; I can’t understand how anyone could do otherwise before receiving this Sacrament of Love... Like the Apostles I waited for the promised Holy Spirit, and was overjoyed that soon I would be a perfect Christian, and have my forehead sealed eternally with the mystic cross of this great sacrament.” 

The first chapter of this book is a series of letters back and forth between a priest Fr Murphy and a woman Mrs Smith. Mrs Smith raises many questions about why be confirmed, for her child, and for her husband who was not raised in the church. These letters in some ways read like a negative image of C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters. And to be honest they were so well written that I think this volume is worth the price first for these 10 correspondences. And I would have loved it if the rest of the volume has been written in the same fashion. But from there it explores point after pint, and these points are strongly supported by biblical quotes and quotes from the catechism. They are also supported by quotes from the Popes and Saints throughout the ages. 

This volume is a clear and concise presentation of what Catholics understand Confirmation to be and to do. It is well written. It is an engaging read and can easily be read by candidates, sponsors and parents. For most readers it can be read in a few hours or spread out reading a chapter or section a day. The material is masterfully researched and well organized and presented. This volume has left me wanting to read the other works of Sister Totah. This is another great resource from the Catholic Truth Society, I can easily recommend it.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2023 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

CTS Sacraments Meeting Christ Series:
Baptism 
Eucharist 
Anointing 
Marriage 
Holy Orders 
...

Other Books by Sister Mary David Totah:
A Divine Gift: The Consecrated Life
The Spirit of Solesmes
The Joy of God: Collected Writings 
…

French editions:
La vie consacrée, un don divin
La joie de Dieu: Écrits choisis
…

Other CTS Books and Booklets on Confirmation:
Why be Confirmed – Bishop Michael Evans
Confirmed A Treasury of Faith and Prayers
YOUCAT Confirmation Book
…






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Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Christian Fasting Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit - Sister Mary David Totah - CTS Deeper Christianity Series

Christian Fasting:
Disciplining the Body, Awakening the Spirit
CTS Deeper Christianity Series
Sister Mary David Totah
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860827723
eISBN 9781784692537
ASIN B071FD4YST
CTS Booklet SP34


I love the books and booklets that I have read from the Catholic Truth Society. I have read about 50 of these booklets over the last year, some out of print for over 100 years, and some just published in 2018. The books span a wide range of topics, from biographies, church teaching, lives of the popes, Christian living, and more. And there are several series. This book is part of the Deeper Christianity Series, and currently there are 16 tiles in print in this series, and this is the second that I have read from this series.

Fasting has been an area of interest to me for thirty years now. When I was a university student ai went to a conference with Campus Crusade for Christ over New years 1989, and the leader Bill Bright was challenging Christians, and Christian leaders to fast for the 40 days of Lent. From that point on I have been fascinated with Fasting from both the Spiritual and Physical benefits. One of the best books I have read on the subject was God's Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis. Written by a medical doctor and Christian.

This book was an interesting little read. I cannot say there was much new information for me, but it was a great refresher. Because of the size of this volume it is easily accessible and a great beginning for those considering this spiritual discipline. The chapters in the volume are:

The nature of Fasting
Fasting in Other Traditions
Fasting in the Old Testament
Fasting in the Teaching and Mystery of Christ
The Fast of the Church
Fasting and the Spiritual Life
The Friday Penance – Rediscovering Catholic Identity
The Value and Meaning of Fasting
Questions and Answers

Sister Mary David starts this book by stating:

“Fasting, in our days, has become one of the most neglected spiritual practices. Because of misunderstandings regarding the nature of fasting, Christians tend to fast very little, or disregard fasting altogether. Yet fasting was practised by Christ himself.”

She then proceeds to remind us of Jesus fast for 40 days in the desert, and of Jesus saying some spirits only come out by prayer and fasting. She also highlights Paul’s writings on the importance of fasting. In the section called ‘Physical and Spiritual Aspects’ she states:

“In the Church’s tradition, fasting is much more than a penance. Fasting for the Christian has two aspects: physical and spiritual, outward and inward. On the outward level, fasting involves physical abstinence from food and drink; yet rules about eating and drinking must never be treated as an end in themselves, for fasting has always an inward, spiritual purpose. Man is a unity of body and soul, and our fasting is a practice that involves both. So fasting will also include abstinence from evil thoughts, desires, and deeds.”

Overall Sister Mary Davis does a wonderful job in examining Fasting, in its historical context, compares it to other Christian traditions, Jewish customs, and even mentions non-Christian fasting practices. She highlights some of the church teaching on the topic, and changes to that teachings over the years. This is a well written little volume, that would be of benefit to any who read it and try and grow in knowledge and practice of this discipline. And I look forward to reading other books by Sister Mary David, and other volumes in the Deeper Christianity Series.

Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2019 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.

Books in the Deeper Christianity Series:
7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit 
8 Deadly Sins Learning to Defend the Life of Grace 


The Catholic Truth Society - CTS Deeper Christianity Series


Other Books by Sister Mary David Totah:
A Divine Gift: The Consecrated Life
The Spirit of Solesmes
The Joy of God: Collected Writings 
…





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