BOOK REVIEW
New book teaches Catholics how to become pray-ers

Reviewed by Andrew Junker, The Catholic Sun
April 19, 2007

When St. Paul instructed the Thessalonians to “pray without ceasing,” he effectively challenged all Christians to do the same.

Prayer is a necessity for living out the faith. Yet if asked about their prayer lives, saints and sinners alike would probably say they could do much to improve it.

But Christians who are disappointed with their spiritual life shouldn’t despair, says a Legionary of Christ priest, Fr. Thomas D. Williams, who serves as NBC’s Vatican correspondent.

His new book, “Spiritual Progress: Becoming the Christian You Want to Be,” offers Catholics a simple, practical approach to reinvigorating their inner life.

In his introduction, Fr. Williams describes his work as a “guidebook.”

“A proper guide does not attempt to replace an experience but to accompany and enrich it,” he writes. “A trail guide does not supplant a hike over the mountain but prepares hikers to get the most out of the experience.”

This quote typifies what is so admirable in Fr. Williams’ writing. He gives a clear indication of his goals at the start of each section and offers the reader helpful analogies along the way that render difficult topics easily understood.

He says that to become real pray-ers Christians should first understand what prayer is, then recognize the common obstacles blocking fruitful prayer and finally learn how to overcome them.

The goals of a Christian

Fr. Williams begins the book by exploring what the aim of a Christian life should be. At first glance, this question seems easily answered. Indeed, Fr. Williams gives a four-fold answer that may be self-evident to Christians.

We are meant to be holy, to grow in Christian charity, to unite our wills to God’s will, and to imitate Christ in all things.

Easier said than done.

One of the greatest difficulties in achieving these goals is a lack of understanding what each facet — achieved through prayer — really is, Fr. Williams writes.

He helpfully defines each aspect, outlining the common misconceptions held about holiness, explaining what Christian love is, and offering methods to discern the true will of God.

Fr. Williams bolsters his discussion on the goals of Christian living by quoting liberally from the Gospels and various saints throughout the ages.

These sources ground the book firmly in the Christian tradition and lend it much of its persuasive power. Fr. Williams would be the first to admit that his book offers nothing new to readers.

He is merely retransmitting the truths known to Christians since the time of the Apostles, that the ultimate goal of life is union with God and that there are many distractions the world will offer to thwart that progress.

Stumbling blocks

To this effect, Fr. Williams lists many common excuses Christians make for not praying. But his tone is not condemnatory; rather, his voice remains calm, yet unwavering throughout.

Fr. Williams understands why humans place obstacles between themselves and God. He even admits to falling into many of these excuses throughout his own life.

In the book, Fr. Williams gives the reasoning behind these excuses and shines light on their emptiness. He reveals why Christians must overcome these stumbling blocks and gives advice on how to do so.

The reader makes a startling discovery around this part of the book. Hidden among Fr. Williams’ concise sentences and practical advice, great beauty and joy begin to shine through.

This is surprising at first because the book is not a mystical treatise, nor is it poetry. It is an easily understood “guidebook,” eminently practical and simple.

But because of its forthright use of Scripture and transparent prose, readers begin to move beyond the deceptions foisted on them by the world — and by themselves — and start to encounter the truth about a Christ-filled life.

When Truth is encountered, It is always startling, always beautiful, always exciting.

More than anything else, this book reminds Catholics that joy should always accompany them on the often-arduous path to Christian perfection.

Christians often forget joy amidst the humdrum banalities of everyday living, where prayer can seem like a fruitless extravagance.

Instead, fidelity to Christ through prayer is the greatest, most invigorating challenge offered to humanity, Fr. Williams writes. It is the one race worth running.

Putting it all together

With fallen nature being what it is, however, these pious feelings often fade and the Christian returns to a stultified prayer life. That’s why Fr. Williams ends the book with suggestions on making a plan of action, so that readers don’t have to depend on their fickle feelings for spiritual advancement.

The necessity of a plan of action admits that a vibrant prayer life is difficult and requires practice. But that’s OK.

Readers of this “guidebook” will know the challenges awaiting them on the trail ahead, yet it will be very hard for them to look back or ignore the calling to set off on the greatest trek of their lives.

Andrew Junker is a staff writer for The Catholic Sun. Comments are welcome. Send e-mail to letters@catholicsun.org.