Books

Learning to Pray, by Julie Keleman

Reviewed by Anthony Cappello

Contents - Aug 2001 - Buy a copy now Editorial: The Assumption of Our Lady: 15 August - Michael Gilchrist Melbourne's new Archbishop receives Pallium from John Paul II - AD2000 Report News: The Church Around the World After 14 years: why does AD2000 continue? - Michael Gilchrist Denver Archdiocese: the future of Catholicism - David Scott US bishops implement papal teaching on Catholic universities - Charles E. Rice Appreciating the Mass: a successful new publication - Fr Robert Egar PP Australian scholarship for African priest Letters: Balanced presentation (letter) - Denis O'Leary Letters: BEC success stories (letter) - Errol P. Duke Letters: BECs not new (letter) - John Barich Letters: Radical feminists (letter) - Dr T.R. White Letters: Statement of Conclusions (letter) - Mark Power Letters: Orthodox seminary (letter) - Paul Chigwidden Letters: Finding more priests (letter) - Theo Silvas Letters: Evolution/Original Sin (letter) - John Schmid Letters: Vatican II 'ambiguities' (letter) - George F. Simpson Letters: Choosing life (letter) - Mark Whybrow Letters: St Thomas Aquinas (letter) - Valentine Gallagher Letters: Generous response (letter) - Fr Stephen B. Muchemwa Letters: Mass leaflet (letter) - Stephanie McClarty Letters: Correct statement (letter) - Elizabeth Carr Books: Genetic Turning Points, by James Peterson - Bill Muehlenberg (reviewer) Books: The Cross of Anzac, by Tom Johnstone - Mark Posa (reviewer) Books: Hail, Holy Queen: The Mother of God in the Word of God, by Scott Hahn - Catherine Sheehan (reviewer) Books: Learning to Pray, by Julie Keleman - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: The DNA of God: Newly Discovered Secrets of the Shroud of Turin, Garza-Valdez - Anthony Cappello (reviewer) Books: The Christian Travellers' Guides: France, Britain, Italy, Germany - F.T. Long (reviewer) Events: Victorian Thomas More Winter School 2001 in Ballarat, 3 - 5 August 2001 Events: Cardinal Lustiger to visit Australia, 6 August 2001 Events: Second National Chesterton Conference, 30 Sept - 1 Oct 2001 Reflection: Clerical celibacy: Giving ourselves up completely to God and the people He loves - Fr Dennis W. Byrnes PP

LEARNING TO PRAY
by Julie Keleman
(Liguori Publications, 2000, 80pp, $9.95. Available from AD Books)

Julie Keleman several years ago wrote a booklet entitled Lent is for Children. She followed this publication with another similar publication called Advent is for Children. What she discovered in these two books was that the parents of children reading her books found them just as useful and informative for themselves.

So, in writing this third book in the series, Keleman suggests: "If you brought this booklet for your child, I suggest you read it too. Follow along with your child, even to the point of getting involved in the activities".

But this book is written for children and therefore contains a scattering of cartoons, stories and anecdotes that may assist a child in the important practice of prayer.

Like the other books in the series, Keleman's style and amusing cartoons make learning prayer quite enjoyable. It is an ideal gift for that child or grandchild whose exposure to the Catholic faith is limited. Such a book, presented in an enthusiastic manner, will surely whet the appetite for more things "Catholic".

And for the adult who finds prayer hard at times, the last prayer of the book could be just the thing: "At times, my poor brain wants to keep thinking about other things ... Sometimes the day gets so busy that finding a few minutes to talk to you is like trying to find pennies in the ocean. But even though I may find it hard to be with you, I know that you are always with me, Jesus."

Reprinted from AD2000 Vol 14 No 7 (August 2001), p. 17