By David Clayton
My book, co-authored with Leila Lawler, is now out and can be ordered from the publisher Sophia Institute Press. It is called The Little Oratory – A Beginner’s Guide to Praying in the Home. The claim in the title about the impact it will have, incidentally, not my own but is taken from a review by Scott Hahn, which I give in full below (although I do hope his assessment is correct!)
It is a practical program in mystagogy – the teaching of the mysteries of the Faith – that promotes a cultural renewal through a liturgical piety in the family and parish. It explains how to build a prayer corner – a ‘little oratory’ – as the centre of family prayer and has eight color detachable icons in standard sizes for framing, to get you started. The paintings you see in this article are from the book.
It addresses the crisis of fatherhood by explaining crucial role of fathers in family prayer. By encouraging fathers (as well as mothers!) to be an example in prayer it will help to encourage vocations for it will teach boys that prayer and worship are masculine activities as well as feminine.
As such it is a family centered, practical manual for the New Evangelisation that could be promoted by parishes or cultural centres. It explains how family prayer can be the basis for building up communities beyond the family in parishes, for example, and even the workplace.
Here is what Scott Hahn wrote about it:
‘This is one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever seen. How I wish I’d had it when I first became a Catholic, not just for myself, as a husband and father, but for my family, too. It’s a commonplace of Christian tradition to call the home a sanctuary or “domestic church,” but before a home can be a church, it must become an oratory — a place of prayer. The authors of this book know that there are many obstacles, and they show us how to overcome them. This book is inspiring yet practical, realistic yet revolutionary. If one book has the potential to transform the Catholic family (and society), this is it.’
It adapts for the family the traditional spirituality of artists that forms the person in humility so that they are open to inspiration and it engenders creativity. In addition it describes the practical (Read More)
Source: http://thewayofbeauty.org/2014/04/new-book-for-prayer-in-the-home-that-will-transform-the-family-and-society/