Review 2025.04.007
Reviewers Note: It is the beginning of 2025 and one of the skills I desire to grow in is that of writing book reviews (having never done this before). I am doing this so I can better hone my writing (and reading) skills as I seek to think more critically about the books I am reading. I am sharing on Goodreads for my own personal development. I know this will be something I am always growing in so if you actually read these, please be patient with me as I develop this skill. I will also receive constructive criticism if you desire to help me become a better writer (and reader). I plan to use this disclaimer for the entire 2025 year.
Conversation With Christ by Peter-Thomas Rohrbach
119 Pages
When I purchased the book, I was not paying attention and thought it was written by Saint Teresa of Avila but it obviously was not. However, St. Teresa was the main reference for the entire book. Teaching about prayer by her example.
It was a very short book but it had a lot of good material. It was much more approachable for me than St. Teresa directly. Not to say that her books are difficult to read but they were written in the 1500s and in Spanish so there are obviously some cultural and style differences. So if you are interested in a primer on St. Teresa and her prayer life but intimidated by her books, then this is a great place to start.
One of the points that sticks out from the book is that prayer is just talking to our Father and our Friend. The illustration the author used was great.
“The story is related of a small girl who, after the reception of her first Holy Communion, was questioned tenderly by her parents as to what she had done when she arrived back at her pew and bowed her head prayerfully. She hesitated momentarily, and then said in her thin, small voice: “I prayed to Our Lord for Mommy and Daddy, and for my sister Helen, and my brother George; and then I recited the alphabet to Our Lord and told him a ghost story. “We, of course, smile indulgently at the naivete and innocence of the small child; but after reflecting on the story, we might suddenly wake to the realization that the girl possessed the proper approach to prayer— she was actually talking to Our Lord.”
If all the followers of Jesus could remember this every time we prayed, the world would be significantly different. Unfortunately we get trapped in praying to others instead of to God or we follow examples we have had of only asking for things which is not bad but also not a complete picture of prayer. How many times have you or I told God a ghost story or something equivalent?
The book contains practical advice on growing stronger in your prayer life. The author talks about the use of books and scripture to guide the time of prayer. I use both and find them both very helpful. I am a reader so words are generally more impactful in my life than other things. As I have mentioned in a previous review, I read a prayer book for 30 minutes every morning which is a modification of the form the author discusses in this book. This specifically helps me stay grounded in prayer by learning how others pray.
There are 22 chapters in the 119 page book so less than 10 pages per chapter. Some are significantly shorter and so you can read them quickly and spend time processing them. I appreciate short chapters even though it probably makes me read more to get done with one more chapter instead of letting it sink in. I know that was the case with this book because I did not remember it until I pulled up my highlights and then it all flooded back. That is not a slight on the book but on me not giving the book time to work in the depths of my soul.
I can highly recommend this book to people who want to grow in their prayer lives, are interested in meditation, and the mystics.