Earthen Vessels: The Practice of Personal Prayer According to the Patristic Tradition

By Gabriel Bunge

The Fathers of the Church, deeply-rooted in the Scriptures, have left us a rich treasure as inheritance, not only of texts, but also of manners, forms and gestures of prayer. Today, western Christianity in a special way, needs to rediscover the intimate union which must exist--in prayer just as in any aspect of Christian life--between theory and practice, between contemplation and practical exercise. One learns how to pray by praying, and the whole of our being is called to participate in this work: the mind, the heart, but also the body, the gaze, the senses. Fr. Gabriel Bunge, a hermit with great spiritual discernment and profound knowledge of the Fathers of the desert, presents with masterly coherence this important unity between what one believes and what one expresses in the practice of prayer: a fascinating rediscovery of the valuable treasure contained in the teachings of the Church Fathers on the practice of personal prayer.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0898708370
• ISBN13: 9780898708370
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Ignatius Press
• Length: 225 Pages
• Weight: 1.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Praxis Not Patrology

This small volume provides a glimpse of the invaluable patristic traditions related to prayer--personal and corporate. One must agree with the eremitic Gabriel Bunge when he states that '...for a Christian, the study of the holy Fathers can never remain merely academic patrology, which does not necessarily influence the life of the one who is studying.' The organization and erudition of this work are superior and effective in conveying the wealth of our common, though sadly now mostly abandoned, heritage as followers of Christ Jesus. As one interested in things-patristic, Bunge's Earthen Vessels has taken its place as a precious addition to my library. May God bless his voice even as he blesses the Church! J. Patrick Wilkens

Scholarly, fascinating, and useful

Anyone who is at all interested in prayer, or in the Early Fathers in general, should read this book. It is extremely well-researched and well-written, and the reader will be surprised again and again at the many aspects of prayer which the world has forgotten, but which for the early Christians were of vital importance. Fr. Bunge, for example, explores in detail the question of just which direction should we face when praying, and reveals that there is a whole theology implicit in this seemingly trivial matter. He also explores such things as the question of why prayer should sometimes be said aloud, and when it should be silent; why physical posture when praying is extremely important and which postures we should adopt; what happens during prayer, the interior processes, and much else besides. The book is well-printed on excellent paper, is sewn and in a durable paper cover, is fully annotated and has a detailed bibliography, and is enlivened with many interesting pen and ink illustrations. This is a book that will repay careful study and re-reading, and, unlike so many of the 'books' we are being given today, it will not fall apart when being re-read. Ignatius Press is to be congratulated on having given us such a well-produced book at such a modest price.

Serious for every Christian, more so for every Catholic

Patrology (Study of Church Fathers) guides Fr. Gabriel Bunge O.S.B., a Benedictine Priest and Monk, as to how a person can actually pray. If you are interested in "Personal Prayers," this book is for you. These days, many priests reduce spirituality to nothing more than "social activism." While, the fundamental virtue of charity and love is expected of every Christian, nevertheless, prayer becomes the summit of one's spirituality as underscored by Fr. Gabriel. In fact, he ruminates about the paradox in the surge of books on Spirituality even as voices of "crisis of faith" are on the rise. Fr. Gabriel also explains how "theory" and "practice" blend with each other and often one cannot stop with "practice" alone. If people were contented with only service and being good to all, then they should not be thirsting for contemplative mode of prayers. So obviously, the soul craves for more. He argues, that there are innate traits within a human-being that drive him or her to contemplative mode of prayers. Prayer is a dialogue between the soul of a person and God. Deriving the inspiration from the ancient Church Fathers, is a sure way to enhance one's own relationship with God.

Perhaps the Greatest Book on Personal Prayer out there

This is one of those rare gems that you find once in a great while. For the person who in serious about their personal prayer life this book is a must have. Father Bunge critiques the problems of modern Catholic prayer and lays out a plan for individual prayer and shows the basis on the early church fathers. This is an informative and practical book! I highly recommend it.