Inviting God Into Your Life: A Practical Guide for Prayer

Spiritual Life, Spring 2004

Inviting God Into Your Life: A Practical Guide for Prayer. By William M. Watson, SJ. Mahwah, N.J.: Paulist Press, 2003. Pp. 108. Paper. $9.95.

Marked by brevity and precision, this book calls us to live in the light of God's love through prayer. It is a practical compendium of principles to follow in our search for spiritual communion. To this end, Fr. William Watson offers a practical guidebook that discusses prayer's content, place, routine, and ritual, emphasizing the importance of regularity, simplicity, truthfulness, and avoidance of distraction. Fr. Watson speaks of the importance of the reception of the Eucharist, with more practical tips to follow, the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the Examen of Conscience as particular paths toward holiness.

He includes a beautiful, well-chosen collection of prayers, reflections, and inspirations that are short and long, well-known and lesser known, for the young and old, from, among others, St. Ignatius of Loyola, Pope John Paul II, St. Francis De Sales, Pedro Arrupe, S. J., St. Therese of Lisieux, and Teilhard de Chardin.