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Rating: 
Summary: A Downright Thorough Catholic Prayer Book
Review: The Saint Joseph's People's Prayer Book is an interesting and downright thorough Roman Catholic Prayer Book. In reality, being a Vatican II Prayer Book it is appropriate for anybody with a catholic spirit, including many Anglicans, Orthodox, and Lutherans. I bought the book as an Anglican, but am now journeying to the Roman Catholic Church.There are so many prayers and types of prayers in this book that it can be a bit overwhelming at first. It is divided into 12 basic sections, consisting of 1056 pages. The 12 sections are: 1. Prayers from the Bible
2. Prayers from the Liturgy
3. Prayers from the Enchiridion of Indulgences
4. Prayers of Saints and Spiritual Writers
5. Prayers of Orthodox, Protestants, and Non-Christians
6. Prayers in Accord with the Church Year
7. Prayers to the Blessed Trinity
8. Prayers to Saints
9. Prayers for Various Occasions
10. Prayers Based on Various Relationships
11. Prayers for Popular Devotions
12. Prayer-Blessings Included in these 12 sections are Novenas, prayers to the Holy Spirit, Eucharistic Prayers, the Rite of Penance, Morning and Evening Prayer, Votive prayers, The Rosary, and popular Protestant prayers. There are even some occasional prayers that struck me as very particular, but also very good ideas, such as "a prayer before going on a date" and "a prayer before driving." There are also prayers of blessing for pets, boats, Christmas Trees, books, and even computers! Overall this is a fine prayer book that is extremely thorough. I only had a few issues with the book. First, the prayers from non-Christian traditions initially offended me. I guess if one takes the view that these prayers were actually addressed to the Trinity "sub specie" the other deities, then I have less of a problem. In other words, because these people did not have the benefit of hearing the message of Christ, then these prayers were making them ready for Christ, similar to the argument of St. Justin on why Socrates and Plato were Christians before Christ. Another issue I have (not an objection per se) is the pictures included are straight from the 1950s, and actually remind me of Jehovah's Witness literature. The pictures do have a certain nostalgic feel to them, but I am not sure if others will feel the same way. Check this one out to deepen your prayer life, even if you are not Roman Catholic.
Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive Catholic Prayerbook
Review: This is the most comprehensive Catholic prayerbook that I have seen. It begins with prayers from the Bible and continues with the Eucharist (Mass), the sacraments, and excerpts from the Liturgy of the Hours. It has prayers written by saints grouped by century. Prayers from religions other than Catholic are included: Orthodox and Protestant Christians, Jewish, religions from the East, and religions from the Americas. It continues with saints' prayers and prayers for various needs, traditional and modern, and much more. I find it to be a great reference.
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