Book review: ‘40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray’

Jonah Soucy is a graduate with a Master of Arts degree in catechetics and evangelization from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio. His book, “40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray” is an introduction or summary of various kinds or methods of prayer within the Roman Catholic Church. This includes Eastern Rites, too.  

The reader can take 40 days to read this book or read several chapters a day. The book is divided into 12 parts. The first part is an introduction into what prayer is and how it can be expressed. The second part is called “Christian Essentials,” which looks at eight important ways of praying, such as the Sign of the Cross, confession, receiving Holy Communion, reading Scripture, prayer in a group and finding God in silence. Soucy reveals how these are forms of prayer. 

The third part is called “Sacred and Traditional Methods of Prayer,” which are the Liturgy of the Hours (the prayer of the Church) and Lectio Divina, which is a prayerful slow reading of the Scriptures and other sources. Parts four through eight are about prayer methods or programs attributed to religious orders. Part four is Benedictine, which Soucy said involves Gregorian chant and Ora et Labora. Gregorian chant refers to the Liturgy of the Hours, where monks, nuns and sisters celebrate the Liturgy using Gregorian chant in English or in Latin. The work of the Benedictines can be mixing their work with prayer. Benedictines are also known for Lectio Divina. 

Part five is Carmelite, which involves the Little Way of Saint Therese, mysticism and solitude. Part six is Franciscan which Soucy said involves poverty, finding and praising God in nature. Part seven is Jesuit or Ignatian; this involves using the imagination when praying or reading Scripture. Part eight is Dominican, which Soucy suggested their method is academic and reaching out to others to spread the faith. There are other orders which have their own spirituality or prayer method; like the Augustinians which is the order that Pope Leo XIV belongs.  
    
Soucy in part nine brings in two aspects of the Eastern Rite or Eastern Christianity’s spirituality: that of the Jesus Prayer and praying with an icon. Part 10 is about seven forms of prayer; some of which are pilgrimages, like what was done last year with Holy Year when people went to Rome or to a designated place in one’s local archdiocese or diocese. Many people go to Lourdes, Fatima, Guadalupe, Spain or the Holy Land on pilgrimage which involves prayer. Other methods include novenas, litanies, and the Divine Mercy spirituality and prayer. Part 11 is Marian prayer like the Rosary, the Angelus, wearing of a scapular or Miraculous Medal, and Marian consecration. Part 12 is the conclusion.

There are footnotes, bibliographical references and spaces to take notes. There are appendices which include a list of common vocal prayers, examination of conscience, more bibliographical references, and Saint Ignatius’s rules for discernment. 

Soucy’s book is an interesting introduction to various prayer methods, styles or programs. He covers a lot of territory and tries to inspire the reader to investigate more deeply these prayer forms, etc. For that reason, the book is recommended to those interested in prayer. 

Br. Benet Exton, O.S.B., Saint Gregory's Abbey, Shawnee, is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Soucy, Jonah.  
40 Days, 40 Ways to Pray.  
Manchester, N.H.: Sophia Institute Press, 2024. 
ISBN 979-8-88911-254-9.  
273 pages.