Over the last few years I have read over 300 volumes from the Catholic Truth Society. I stumbled upon them while doing research on an author, and have been hooked ever since. I have read many in the CTS Biographies and also Saints of the Isles Series, and I loved the books in the CTS Great Saints Series. I love reading about so many saints, their lives and their times. My other favourite books form the CTS are the Prayers and Devotions books. Many of the books in this series do not even have the authors name on the cover including this volume. This is the first of the books by Ley I have read. On the title page it indicates the book was revised by Ley. I see at least two preciously published editions one in 1987 and one in 2000, and this one in 2014 with the eBook edition in 2017. The 1987 edition lists David Percival Allen Murphy as the author or editor. The description of the current edition is:
“Christian prayer is always an encounter with God. Drawing from a rich treasury of prayer, this prayer book includes many well known Catholic devotions, suited to both private and shared settings.
Christian prayer is always an encounter with God. Drawing from a rich treasury of prayer spanning the Old Testament, the Fathers of the Church and the great saints of the Middle Ages, down to more recent times, this collection will help those seeking a fuller prayer life. Often too unsure to know how to pray for ourselves, the Holy Spirit helps us in our prayer as we bring our needs before the Father. Contains a wide variety of prayers to accompany us through the day, with well known Catholic devotions, suited to both private and shared settings.”
The chapters and prayers in the book are:
Introduction to Prayer
Scripture and Christian Prayer
Abraham
Old Testament Figures
Mary
The Teaching of Jesus on Prayer
Preparing for Prayer
Beginnings
The Sign of the Cross
The Lord’s Prayer
Glory be to the Father
Daily Dedication and the Morning Offering
For children
Morning Prayer
An order for Morning Prayer
Psalm 63
Psalm 149
Scripture Reading
Short Responsory
The Benedictus (Canticle of Zechariah)
Intercessions
Concluding Prayer
Prayers Throughout the Day
Morning Prayer of St Francis
Prayer of St Thérèse of Lisieux
Prayer of Abandonment
St Patrick’s Breastplate
Prayer for Humility
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Grace before meals
Thanksgiving after meals
Prayers to our Guardian Angel
Te Deum
Act of Faith, Hope and Love
Come Holy Spirit
Prayer for Benefactors
Prayer of St Francis
Prayer for Final Perseverance
Prayer for Christian Unity
St Patrick’s Prayer
Prayer of St Richard
Prayer of St Ignatius Loyola
An Old French Prayer for Friends
Prayer to St Anthony for things that are lost
Oblatio Sui (Prayer of Self Dedication to Jesus Christ used by St Ignatius of Loyola)
Prayer of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta
Prayer of Daily Service
Prayer of St Teresa of Avila
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Evening Prayer of St Augustine
Preparing for Confession
De Profundis (Ps 130)
Act of Contrition
Traditional
Shorter Act of Contrition suitable for children
Act of Contrition
Prayer of Firm Purpose of Amendment
Prayer for Divine Mercy
Preparing for Mass and Holy Communion
Prayer of St Ambrose
Prayer of St Augustine
Prayer of St Thomas Aquinas
Adoro Te Devote
The Prayer of Humble Access
Prayer of Thomas à Kempis
Prayer of St Thomas More
Anima Christi
Prayer for protection after Mass
Prayer of Thanksgiving after Mass
Tantum Ergo
Prayer of Self-Dedication to Jesus Christ
St Teresa’s Bookmark
Act of Petition
Prayer before a crucifix
Prayers to Our Lady
Hail Mary
How to Say the Rosary
The Apostles’ Creed
The Mysteries of the Rosary
The Five Joyful Mysteries
The Five Mysteries of Light
The Five Sorrowful Mysteries
The Five Glorious Mysteries
Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)
The Angelus
Regina Caeli (by Gregory V)
A Child’s Prayer to Mary
Memorare
Prayer for England
We Fly to Thy Protection
The Church’s Oldest Prayer to Our Lady
Tota Pulchra Es
Totus Tuus
Maria, Mater Gratiae
Sancta Maria, Succurre Miseris
Prayer for Mary’s guidance
Prayers of consecration to Our Lady
In Sickness and Death
Prayer for a Happy Death
Prayer for the Sick
Prayer for the Dying
Prayer for the Dead
Prayer Immediately after Death
Exposition and Benediction
Rite of Exposition and Benediction
Exposition
Adoration
Benediction Eucharistic hymn and incensation
The Divine Praises
Evening Prayer
An order for Evening Prayer
Psalm 110
Psalm 16
Scripture Reading
Magnificat (Gospel Canticle of Mary)
Short Responsory
Intercessions
Concluding Prayer
Night Prayer
Psalm 4
Psalm 133
Scripture Reading
Short Responsory
Nunc Dimittis (Gospel Canticle of Simeon)
Concluding Prayer
Blessing
There were a few prayers I had not encountered previously, two of which I have added to my daily prayer list. I was not very fond of the translation of St Patrick’s Breastplate that is in this volume, I much prefer a different version I have been praying for years, but that is my only complaint. Because it is a prayer book I did not highlight much or mark up much in the book while reading it. A few passages or prayers I did highlight are:
“Prayer is completely bound up with our human history and our history of salvation. In the Old Testament we hear of a prayerful relationship between God and man even before the covenant with Abraham when men such as Enoch “walked with God” and Noah, who had an “upright and undivided” heart. God has always called people to respond to him in prayer.”
“In the New Testament, the most significant example of prayer after Jesus himself is that of Our Lady. As Daughter of Zion, she encapsulates in herself the whole life of prayer of Israel.”
“Like David and Solomon, she prays in the name of the people in her Magnificat and her prayer becomes a model for the prayer of the People of God. Her Magnificat “is the song both of the Mother of God and of the Church; the song of the Daughter of Zion and of the new People of God; the song of thanksgiving for the fullness of graces poured out in the economy of salvation and the song of the ‘poor’ whose hope is met by the fulfilment of the promises made to our ancestors, ‘to Abraham and to his posterity forever.’” (CCC 2619)”
“The Catechism points us particularly to the priestly prayer of Jesus, given in the Fourth Gospel and shows us that when Jesus prays, he is already teaching us how to pray. (CCC 2607) But he also taught his followers specifically how to pray in the ‘Our Father’. “Like a wise teacher he takes hold of us where we are and leads us progressively toward the Father.” We are then drawn into prayer with the Son to the Father in the power of the Holy Spirit.”
“You know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. The night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day.”
“Almighty God, you have given us this day; strengthen us with your power and keep us from falling into sin, so that whatever we say, or think, or do, may be in your service and for the sake of the kingdom. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen. May the Lord bless us, keep us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.”
“Evening Prayer of St Augustine Watch, Lord, with those who wake or weep tonight. Give the angels and saints charge over those who sleep. O Lord Jesus Christ, tend your sick ones, rest your weary ones, bless your dying ones, soothe the suffering ones, pity all the afflicted ones, shield the joyful ones, and all for your love’s sake. Amen.”
“Ascribed to St Bernard (1090-1153)
Prayer for England
In the Middle Ages, England was known as Our Lady’s Dowry, because it is said that there were more churches dedicated to Mary than to any other saint.
This prayer, in its original form written by Cardinal Merry del Val, has traditionally been said at Benediction. It is a prayer for the unity of the Church in England.
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and our most gentle queen and mother, look down in mercy upon England, your dowry, and upon us all who greatly hope and trust in you. By you it was that Jesus, our Saviour and our hope, was given to the world; and he has given you to us that we may hope still more.
Plead for us your children, whom you received and accepted at the foot of the cross, O Mother of sorrows. Pray for our separated brethren, that in the one true fold of Christ, we may all be united under the care of Pope N., the chief shepherd of Christ’s flock. Pray for us all, dear mother, that by faith, and fruitful in good works, we may all deserve to see and praise God, together with you in our heavenly home.”
This is another excellent prayer book from the Catholic Truth Society. I love having several of them on my phone as eBooks so I always have them with me. I hope the quotes above and list of prayers inspire you to give this little volume a try. In the past and still today, I find that almost every time I read a book from the Catholic Truth Society I find 2 or three others I want to read. I have an ever growing wish list of eBooks, books in print, and books out of print from the CTS that I want to track down. This book was a blessing. It is a great volume. I can easily recommend it.
