Lots of folks write to me about the use of liturgical prayer, and my book on prayer (Praying with the Church: Following Jesus Daily, Hourly, Today
) has been of help to some. But many want more than just to learn how to use liturgical prayers, which goes back (by the way) to the Psalms themselves. What many want is an introduction to what the Church or Liturgical Year is all about, and how knowing that can help them practically.

Bobby Gross has written just that book, and I am more than happy to recommend it to you: Living the Christian Year: Time to Inhabit the Story of God : an Introduxction and Devotional Guide
. This book could be of use to thousands of Christians who want to enter into the Liturgical Year with more than a bag full of ideas but not knowing how to make use of them. This book not only gives the ideas, but provides a weekly devotional to introduce how one can enter the Liturgical Year.

The practice of liturgical prayers has grown dramatically in the last few years, and you might be surprised by some of the low-church types, leaders in fact, who are now using liturgical prayers on a daily basis. But this book by Gross is about more than that:

Gross examines the Church Seasons and provides both a brief study of the themes of that part of the Church Year and devotional exercises for each week. You can enter into this book any week fo the year (it is the 12th Sunday after Pentecost today). If you’d like to see a nice Church Calendar, go to my Sidebar and scroll down to the “daily prayers” section and click on “Lectionary.” Thus,

1. Advent
2. Christmas
3. Epiphany
4. Lent
5. Paschal Triduum
6. Easter
7. Ordinary Time