Book of Hours Book

This book is set up in the daily liturgical cycle, but instead of prayers from a lectionary or scripture readings, it is entirely composed of Thomas Merton's thoughts on silence, contemplation, nature, and listening to God. It's a great way to silence your soul to listen to God, and a good balance to something like the Divine Hours or the Catholic Breviary. I like how subjective it is, and its focus on silence and contemplation. It gives a great context to an anecdote I once heard: Mother Teresa was asked by a journalist, "How do you pray" She answered, "I listen to God." The journalist replied, "What does God say to you?" She answered, "He listens back."

This is the kind of spirituality that Merton helps to cultivate. It's a remedy for our culture's fractious, busy, disengaged and half-hearted way of being. Guiding us through grounding ourselves in God and slowing down to be perfectly present and attentive to his Spirit is Merton's greatest gift.