Review of Praying Our Lives by Eleanor Bernstein, CSJ

Early last Monday morning, I received a phone call from another Sister of St. Joseph to share the sad news that a mutual friend and long-time colleague, Sister of St. Joseph, and wisdom woman had passed away just that morning. Eleanor Bernstein, CSJ, is known to many Sisters of St. Joseph across the United States for her four- volume office book titled Daily Prayer, Daily Bread.  I’ve known Eleanor since our days in the Liturgical Studies program at the University of Notre Dame. Over the years we kept in touch from time to time. Then she was part of our 2008 heritage pilgrimage to France.

 A few weeks ago, Ave Maria Press sent a review copy of her latest book, Praying OurLives: A Women’s Treasury of Catholic Prayers. I had not gotten around to reviewing it when the phone call about her death arrived. So this review is a bit more personal in nature. I had spoken with Eleanor a few times about this collection during the time she was putting it together. I recall her desire to put this together and her conviction that such a collection would benefit Catholic women. As I turned the pages, I realized that she was, of course, correct.  

You can go to Amazon.com and read all about Praying Our Lives: A Women’sTreasury of Catholic Prayers, view its table of contents, and of course purchase it. But what I want to say is a word about how valuable this book has already been for me. I like the way Eleanor has categorized the various prayers she includes. But this is not just one more compilation of prayers. What makes it unique is that each prayer has a little introduction that helps the reader enter into the prayer.

The only thing I find awkward about the book is that rather than naming the author of each prayer, the reader has to constantly refer to the back of the book. The authors are named in a footnote kind of way.

 

The evening of the day Eleanor passed away, I used one of the prayers in my local community. I share part of it with you here. What’s so amazing is the realization that Eleanor now knows the answers to the questions posed in this prayer.

Love Awaits Me

by Sister Marie of the Holy Spirit, Carmelite of Chalons

     What will happen on the other side,

     when all of me will have stumbled into eternity –

     I don’t know.

     I only believe that LOVE awaits me.

     I know that then,
     all that remains of me must become poor and weightless…

     But don’t think I’ll despair. No, I believe.

     I believe so much that a LOVE awaits me.

Whether you use this collection for personal prayer or in group settings, it well worth the purchase…and I can’t help but believe that each time any of us prays a prayer from this book Eleanor prays with us…and smiles a gentle, heart warming smile!

http://www.amazon.com/Praying-Our-Lives-Treasury-Catholic/dp/1594712700