40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray

Sherry Hayes-Peirce reviews Jonah Soucy's book that details powerful and time-tested expressions of prayer.

40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray

by Jonah Soucy
Publisher: Sophia Institute Press

Pray your Way Through Lent

How will you journey through Lent this year? The book 40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray provides a wide variety of learning opportunities about classical and traditional prayer practices. Author Jonah Soucy has created an incredibly engaging way to guide readers through Lent. Each day of the season, you will learn the who, what, where, why, and how of 40 prayer practices, followed by an action step to experience it. 

Draw closer to God and experience Him and His love for you in a more powerful way.” (xiii) 

Prayer Is the Key to Our Relationship with God 

God seeks to be in a relationship with us. Prayer is the key to growing our relationship with God the Father, Jesus His Son, and the Holy Spirit. This book provides prayer practices that resonate with various believers and introduces readers to new ways to pray, fostering personal growth and spiritual maturity.   

Traditional forms of prayer are the products of the Benedictine, Carmelite, Franciscan, Ignatian, and Dominican religious orders and are shared within its pages. Many readers may already be familiar with some of these practices, but the action steps for each section provide an extraordinary way to pray powerfully each day.   

It invites readers to set aside a day for spiritual retreat or pilgrimage, a time to withdraw from the world's busyness and focus on prayer and reflection. The book also offers many resources and ways to serve by being Jesus' hands and feet through works of mercy and more!  

There is no greater tool for self-surrender to God’s will than through the prayerful incorporation of fasting. (51) 

An Invitation to Shift Your Thinking About Lenten Practices 

This book shifts the reader's thinking on more habitual practices during Lent. It asserts that fasting goes beyond food, incorporating the care and creation of our planet through Lectio Divina on the Canticle of the Sun. The Eucharist is “prescription medication” for the sinful and Jesus living in us. Remembering YOUR death through “Memento Mori” and employing intercessory prayer of those who have gone before us and the communion of saints. Finally, there was the opportunity to explore a diversity of music in the chapter titled “Praising God Through Song.”

When beautiful music is coupled with lyrics proclaiming the truth about who God is and how good He is, we provide an opportunity for hearts and minds to be transformed.

This chapter was my jam!  

To experience a transformation this Lent, read 40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray. Then share in the comments how one of the action steps transformed you.  

Is this a book you'd like to read? Share your thoughts with the Catholic Mom community! You'll find the comment box below the author's bio and list of recommended articles.

Copyright 2025 Sherry Hayes-Peirce
Images: Canva
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