New Guide on Praying the Scriptures

Bernadette Chellew with a copy of her new guide to prayer, Praying the Scriptures.

A former teacher and religious Sister says her book on praying the Scriptures is the first of more to come.

Bernadette Chellew’s Praying the Scriptures: 8 Chapters of Lectio Divina Reflections makes use of Judeo-Christian Scriptures, as well as the ancient Lectio Divina practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer, with the author promising to explore the “eight aspects of prayer” with readers.

“It’s a type of handbook to which we can keep going back as a revolving circle going deeper and deeper into the truth of our relationship with God, self and other,” Ms Chellew told The Southern Cross.

The former rector of the Catholic Bible College and former coordinator at St Augustine College describes herself as “the teacher who wanted to make herself redundant”.

Insight Into Prayer

Ms Chellew wrote the book to help readers “gain insight into the Word of God and therefore want to read the Bible more widely and deeply”.

“The book is about prayer and about reading and reflecting on passages in the Bible. I hope that readers will gain a deeper insight into prayer and how important it is as conversation with God”, she said.

The book is for use by individuals as well as by small groups of people in Christian group sessions. Catechists and religious leaders will also find assistance regarding prayer and teaching, Ms Chellew said.

Praying the Scriptures is the first in what Ms Chellew hopes will be an upcoming series of books.

“I am more than halfway on my second book, ‘Praying the Scriptures II’, and I hope to write a series on ‘Praying the Psalms’ and ‘Women and Prayer in the Scriptures’,” she said.

The Power of God

Ms Chellew also writes daily reflections on Facebook, where she shares prayers, guidance for spiritual journeys, and home retreats.

She said she relies “on the power and purpose of God for my life as an instrument of faith, hope, love, joy, care and prayer”.

The book’s blurb describes life in modern society as demanding of our time and attention, leaving little time to encounter God but proposes that “Bernadette offers a path”.

Praying the Scriptures: 8 Chapters of Lectio Divina Reflections is available as a softcover book at R150 plus packaging and postage or as an eBook in PDF format at R100, delivered by e-mail. Order online from www.lightformypath.co.za 


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Christen Torres
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