Contemplative Prayer
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You want step-by-step guidance on Christian contemplative prayer from Thomas Merton.
- You’re drawn to short, practice-focused spiritual books that include scripture and monastic perspective.
- When you prefer lyrical prose, the scenes are sensory and immediate.
Maybe skip if...
- You prefer academic theology rather than practical spiritual exercises.
- You expect interfaith meditation techniques rather than explicitly Christian contemplative guidance.
- You need the newest edition, freshest examples, or the most current framing.
Summary
A concise manual from contemplative monk Thomas Merton outlining techniques, theological grounding, and practical steps for Christian contemplative prayer; blends scripture, personal example, and guidance for silent interiority over 116 pages.
Edition on file: 1969 • Bantam Dell Pub Group • 116 pages • ISBN 9780385092197.
Why this book now
Merton’s clear teaching on contemplative prayer answers renewed interest in silence, digital detox, and spiritual depth within contemporary Christian practice.
Reader guide
Quick signals that help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Quick Easy to move through
At 116 pages, this compact Bantam Dell paperback reads like a series of short lessons—suitable for several slow sittings or a daily practice over a few weeks.
What stands out here
This Bantam Dell edition preserves Merton’s practical, pastoral voice and tight structure, emphasizing exercises and scriptural touchstones for contemplative prayer.
Best way to approach it
Read slowly and reread short sections aloud or with silence between, practicing Merton’s exercises rather than rushing through the text.
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Expect a reflective pace and a tone shaped more by contemplation than urgency. That usually makes for a compact read that should get to its point quickly. It also has the feel of a backlist title rather than a brand-new release.
Book overview built from edition details and related-book context.