As I reflected on Father James Martin, SJ’s latest book, Learning to Pray, a profound realization washed over me. I was reviewing a work by an author whose previous books had significantly shaped my faith journey and my decision to become a Jesuit priest over six years ago. A sense of awe and gratitude filled me as I thought, “God, your timing is truly remarkable.” It’s a privilege to delve into the newest insights of someone who has profoundly influenced my prayer life and vocation. This experience served as a powerful reminder of the very foundations of my prayer life, and I believe this is no mere coincidence. Learning to Pray acts as a revitalizing guide for those already familiar with prayer, leading them back to their roots, while also providing a solid and accessible starting point for individuals beginning to explore a consistent prayer practice.
Father Martin’s earlier book, Becoming Who You Are: Insights on the True Self from Thomas Merton and Other Saints, left an indelible mark on me. Its central message – that God desires me to be authentically myself – continues to resonate deeply. God’s call for conversion is, in essence, a call to align with the original, divine vision for who we were created to be.
This fundamental truth extends to all of us, and I firmly believe that Learning to Pray serves as an invaluable companion on this journey of self-discovery. Prayer is transformative; it molds and shapes us. We turn to God in prayer to gain deeper self-understanding and to uncover our true selves in the light of the divine.
In the opening pages of this comprehensive book, Father Martin addresses a common misconception: the feeling that prayer is exclusively for the “holy.” A primary aim of Learning to Pray is to dispel this notion, assuring readers that prayer is a universal practice, accessible to everyone, especially those who feel they have a long path ahead in their pursuit of holiness (myself included!).
Drawing upon his extensive experience as a priest, a person of prayer, and a spiritual director, Father Martin demystifies the approach to prayer. He achieves this by referencing both classic and contemporary spiritual masters and by dissecting complex questions about prayer into easily digestible, clear answers. Questions such as: What is prayer? What truly happens during prayer? How can I discern if I’m genuinely connecting with God and not just talking to myself? What should I do when prayer feels fruitless or when “nothing happens”? Father Martin tackles these and many other essential questions with simplicity, clarity, humor, and genuine humility.
From the outset, Father Martin clarifies that his book is intended for individuals of all faiths, and even those with no faith tradition. His focus is on elucidating the process of praying itself, rather than concentrating on the outcomes or “fruits” of prayer, which is the typical emphasis of many books on the subject.
The initial question Father Martin poses is deceptively simple yet profoundly important: Why pray? While this might seem basic to a believer, prayer is the very cornerstone of a life of faith, and we should be able to articulate its purpose. Father Martin’s response shifts the focus from ourselves to the divine: We pray primarily because God desires a relationship with us. This profound truth in itself is a powerful subject for prayerful contemplation.
I encountered this section of the book shortly after a conversation with a young man I provide pastoral guidance to at a local prison, where I serve as a chaplain. He shared a surprising thought that had spontaneously entered his mind: “What if I tried to live closer to God? What would that even be like?” I shared with him my conviction that this was not a random thought at all, but rather, a direct invitation from God. Father Martin, in his book, echoes this sentiment regarding such experiences, stating, “How else would God speak to us other than through our own consciousness?”
One of the most practically helpful aspects of Learning to Pray is Father Martin’s use of lists to systematically address common questions about prayer. This approach transforms potentially complex and abstract concepts into organized, actionable steps. For instance, Father Martin affirms that God does indeed communicate with us through our own consciousness. However, he provides a crucial clarification: not every thought that enters our mind originates from God! To help us discern between God’s voice and our own internal dialogues, Father Martin offers and elaborates on a set of criteria, framed as questions:
- Is it from the evil spirit?
- Does it make sense?
- Does it lead to an increase in love and charity?
- Does it fit with what I know about God?
- Is it a distraction?
- Is it wish fulfillment?
- Is it important?
I find this list-based approach to be an incredibly useful and concrete method for navigating the often-ethereal subject of prayer. The book is rich with other insightful lists, including: 10 reasons believers may avoid prayer, gifts to pray for, understanding surprising emotions in prayer, the value of rote prayers, and many more.
Beyond the accessible and relatable writing style, one of my favorite sections of the book is the explanation of what actually occurs within us when we pray. Having been in religious life for a significant period, I found this to be the clearest and most concise exposition of the phenomena of prayer I have encountered. I anticipate returning to this section frequently, both for my personal prayer life and as a resource for teaching others about prayer.
Father Martin breaks down the inner workings of prayer into eight categories: emotions, insights, memories, desires, images, words, feelings, and mystical experiences. This extensive section alone makes Learning to Pray an invaluable resource. Particularly impactful for me was the explanation of the role of memory in our prayer life. Memories are indeed central to my own prayer practice.
A recurring memory in my prayer is my first eight-day silent retreat in 2013, two years prior to entering the Society of Jesus. By that time, I had read Father Martin’s The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything, along with other Jesuit writings, including articles from The Jesuit Post! I was increasingly drawn to a Jesuit vocation, and my parish priest advised me to attend a retreat at the local Jesuit retreat house. During Mass on the fifth day, as the priest spoke on the theme that “with God, nothing is impossible,” I experienced a profound sense of clarity. I recognized that God’s desire for me and my deepest personal desire were one and the same: I was meant to be a Jesuit. God’s presence was so palpable in that moment that tears streamed down my face in the middle of Mass.
While doubts inevitably resurfaced after that experience, and occasionally still do, I frequently return to that memory in prayer to reconnect with God’s call. From this personal experience, I wholeheartedly agree with Father Martin’s assertion: “Memory is one of God’s greatest gifts, because it allows us to return to a past filled with grace.”
Reading Learning to Pray not only helped me reconnect with the foundational aspects of my own prayer life but also deepened my understanding of prayer itself. Perhaps most importantly, it has reignited my desire to pray even more. I am confident it will have the same enriching effect on anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with God through prayer.
