Welcome to Family Matters. My name is Fr. Alex Goussetis, and today I’d like to offer a reflection on the book titled Practicing Prayer: A Daily Workbook. It’s a book I authored through Ancient Faith Publishing earlier this year. The first printing sold out, although a new edition is now available. So why have I waited seven months to offer a book review? Well, timing is important. The season of Advent is quickly approaching on November 15. I believe the format of this prayer workbook would be a great way to prepare for the feast of the Nativity.

Serving as a parish priest for many years, I’ve often been asked by both cradle and convert parishioners, “How do I grow in my spiritual life?” This earnest question would arise in counseling, in confession, in study groups, in personal conversations. Fortunately, the spiritual tradition of the Orthodox Christian faith offers proven resources for establishing and cultivating a relationship with God. The challenge became how to guide someone through the various expressions of prayer that the Church has developed over the centuries. Through trial and error, I developed a format that introduces many dimensions of the Orthodox spiritual life.

The effectiveness of this workbook lies in the interactive arrangement of the material. This book is not about prayer; it’s an invitation to participate in a personal and dynamic relationship with God. The main body of the workbook is composed of a series of exercises divided over a 28-day period. The exercises are designed to introduce different facets of the Orthodox prayer tradition in a concise and digestible format.

The material for each day is further divided into three sections: first, a purpose statement; second, quotations from holy Scripture or various Orthodox writers on the topic of the day; and third, the spiritual exercise for the day. For example, on day one, creating a sacred space, the top of the page offers a purpose statement for that day’s exercise. “To prepare a place in your home that will provide an atmosphere conducive to prayer.” The second section, “Wisdom for the Ages,” includes relevant quotations from St. John of Kronstadt on the importance of a sacred place. The third section introduces the task of creating your place for prayer.

Most of the exercises in the book offer a journal section to respond to the day’s task. No prior preparation is necessary for each day’s exercise. The hope is to expose the reader to the treasure of the Orthodox prayer tradition. The secondary goal is to help the reader develop a canon or rule of prayer. Ideally, your rule of prayer is developed with the direction of a spiritual guide. Usually a member of the clergy, a spiritual guide will teach and lead us through the journey. As you work through the exercises in the workbook, consult your parish priest for direction. Together you can work out what is within your limits in developing your own rule of prayer.

What are some of the other thematic exercises in the prayer workbook? Well, there are a couple days that introduce silence, stillness, and breathing techniques in your daily prayer. That’s followed by a five-day period where we incorporate the reading of Scripture during our prayer time. There are exercises on the Jesus Prayer, using the gift of music, intercessory prayer, and even exercises in preparing for the sacraments of confession and Eucharist. After completing all of the exercises, the appendix offers suggestions on what to consider next in your spiritual journey.

Earlier I noted that timing is crucial in introducing this prayer workbook. The 40-day season of Advent is fast approaching, a time of preparation for the celebration of Christ’s birth. The truth is that Advent does not offer the same liturgical focus as does Great Lent. Thus, although this book can be worked through any time of the year, Advent might serve as an ideal opportunity to use this workbook as a spiritual discipline, helping us to focus in our preparation for the Nativity feast.

After you’ve completed the workbook exercises, let me know your thoughts. Your feedback is vital in helping our Center for Family Care ministry continue to produce sound resources for the faithful.