Life Everlasting: Catholic Devotions and Mysteries for the Everyday Seeker

Jansen (Station to Station), director of Image Books, calls readers to prayer in this well-argued book. He posits that human beings are plagued by a deep anxiety caused by terrorism, political divisions, and economic uncertainty, and advocates for prayer as a simple alleviation for suffering. He begins his argument by explaining why prayer is vital for health, then lays out seven steps for the prayer journey (among the steps, he implores readers to be childlike, focus the mind, “make the sign” of the Lord, and cultivate silence) finally presenting traditional devotions and insights on how to develop a prayer practice. Jansen is a devotion practitioner, not just an observer, so his insights on the devotions he includes to the angels, saints, Mary, and Jesus are all imbued with an authentic piety. “We should not approach prayer as if it’s an intellectual exercise,” he declares. “Prayer should come from the heart.” Accordingly, the devotions he collects in the last part call out to the heart, inviting readers to accept God’s grace and mercy: “All devotions... should ultimately lead us to Christ, who then leads us to the Father.” Christians who would like to know more about classic devotions will welcome Jansen’s commentary and selections. (Mar.)