Praying with the Church Through Advent

Julie Storr reviews a new book by Father Edward Looney that focuses on the prayers of the Mass for the season of Advent.

Praying with the Church Through Advent

by Father Edward Looney

Publisher: Sophia Institute Press

It’s no secret how much I love the prayers of the Mass, so I was delighted to have the opportunity to review Praying with the Church Through Advent by Father Edward Looney. 

There are many opportunities to study the Scripture readings of the Mass, but the prayers are often neglected. However, the Mass is the highest form of prayer in the Church, and the Roman Missal is our official prayer book.  

I cannot think of a better way to pray through Advent than by praying from the Roman Missal with the whole Church. While the Collects during Ordinary Time generally remain the same during the week, during Advent and Lent we have a different prayer for each day.  

What's in this book?

In his book, Father Looney gives us the Collect for each day, and a prayer for the Immaculate Conception and for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Each day we are read the prayer and a reflection, and are given an opportunity to journal and let the prayer dwell in our heart.  

For example, on Monday of the Third Week of Advent, we pray:

Incline a merciful ear to our cry, we pray, O Lord, and, casting light on the darkness of our hearts, visit us with the grace of your Son. 

Father Looney reminds us that when we were children, we were afraid of the dark and as we grew, we are no longer afraid, but the darkness may linger with us spiritually. As we pray for the Lord to cast His light in our lives, His light may sting our eyes for a moment, and it may shine light on an area that we need to change, but His light is the sign of healing and of a new day.  

We are asked if we can name the darkness of our heart and if we have ever been challenged by a teaching of the Church or something a saint wrote. We then have the opportunity to put into words what grace we specifically want the Lord to grant to us today.  

I love how the third question of each day directs our attention back to Jesus, the one we both await and celebrate.  

I encourage you to pick up a copy of Praying with the Church Through Advent. I am confident that you, too, will come to love the treasury of prayer we have in the Catholic Church. 

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 2024 Julie Storr
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