Book review: A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers

Review of A Catholic Woman's Book of Prayers, by Donna-Marie Cooper O'Boyle (Huntington, IN, Our Sunday, 2010, 80 pp., $7.95)

I should say at the outset that Donna-Marie is a friend of mine. Even were she not, however, my review would be no less glowing. How is it possible that so much spiritual wisdom resides in one woman? How fortunate we are to have such a gem of an individual in the Church today to help us focus on that which is truly important.

After all, there is no dearth of books on all the things wrong with the Church, whether it be on politics or teachings or scandals or anything else.

Yet in this tightly written, compact, and attractive book (it would make a terrific gift item), Donna-Marie has given us a book that focuses on the one thing that will cure the above problems and so many more: prayer, deepening our relationship with God, giving ourselves up to Him and His ineffable will, not in spite of our daily duties, but precisely in the midst of them.

My wife, who also looked at the work, did have an issue with the layout of the text. She thought it could have stood some more thought before publication.

But that has nothing to do with the treasure Donna-Marie has created for us. Now the only question remaining is: Who will come out with such a book for us men?

Get this book, read this book, and then get this book again to give away this book. It deserves dissemination far and wide.