Into the Deep: Finding Peace Through Prayer Paperback – May 1, 2017

Read it in a little over an hour. A fantastic step by step guide to lectio divina prayer for a beginner. Highly recommend!

A favorite of spiritual directors, this deceptively simple book is a rich resource for prayer. Burke takes Lectio Divina, and calling it "Discovery Prayer," gives it 5 steps that make prayer practice easy to remember and understand. If you've always wanted to pray but didn't know where to begin, this is a great place to start!

The book was easy to read and comprehend the basic elements of mental prayer. I like how the author also explained what mental prayer is not. The prayer method brings you into a closer relation with the Blessed Trinity and does not cause you to empty yourself or your mind like eastern methods of meditation or 'Mindfulness' practices. The title is so appropriate because the book teaches you to go deeper into your prayer life and relationship with God.

This is one of those books that you can probably read in an hour, because it is so packed full of information, helpful tips, suggestions, & examples that you don't want to put it down until you've finished it. And then you'll want to read it again. Seriously, it's as close to perfect as a book can be regarding mental prayer. It covers everything from how to establish your environment, how to position your body, what accessories you need, how to use a written contract to commit to our Lord the hours of the day and the type of prayer you will be praying, and so many more useful pieces of information that will set you on your way toward successful mental prayer. Honestly, if you follow Dan Burke's information and guidance in this book, I don't see how you can fail to improve in your meditation and/or contemplation. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Five stars and then some!

Dan Burke has not disappointed his audience with his new book! He is a teacher/spiritual director that leads his readers into deeper, mature, transformational prayer. His forward, written by Matthew Kelly, touches your heart with a warm loving invitation. I was hooked--who doesn't want to know how to receive and respond to the One who Who created us because of Love? Kelly is a master of words and knows how to draw people in through the written word. He has done it once again! This is a short book, but Burke has managed to take thousands of years of teaching on prayer and condense them into a book that is easily understood, but is not "dumbed down" to be simplistic. In eight chapters he directs the reader through Lectio Divina, a powerful way of praying through Scripture. It is spiritual--but practical. Having studied Lectio as a Benedictine Oblate for several years, I can say I wish I would have had this book in hand from the beginning. It really can change your life. While Burke is Catholic, this book is written in a way that anyone would learn and grow from his teachings. It would make a wonderful gift to someone seeking to grow in their relationship with Christ. There is a chapter toward the end of the book, on which several people were interviewed about their experience with Lectio--which Burke identifies as Discoery Prayer. I enjoyed reading from people of different walks of life. But---I was keenly disappointed to see he did not include a senior citizen's point of view/experience. Nor was there an interview from a widow/widower. This is a very special group of prayer warriors and potential spiritual dynamite lost to the world. They are a group that needs to be drawn together and encouraged to discover their vocation within the Church and the world. Burke missed a rich opportunity to reach out to this population. Lastly, I would happily buy several volumes and give to friends---but it is over priced to be able to do that. $24.95 is a little pricey to buy for a prayer class or multiple friends. I am hoping this may change, in time. All-in-all, I am glad I bought this book. I learned from it, and will be looking forward to Dan's next work! P.S. I am a student at Avila Institute (which he founded with Anthony Liles). He only briefly mentions it in the book. It is an online school for Spiritual Formation and it has been the best money I have ever spent! I cannot say enough good about this Institute!

I really enjoyed reading this very clear guide to starting a prayer life. I found it understandable, succinct, and encouraging. My prayer life has been inconstant and with Dan Burke's advice and guidance, I hope to implement a fruitful and constant practic

I was greatly encouraged and blessed by this book, and also by the accompanying video series that I actually watched before I read the book. Now I am working to put into practice what I am learning and I’m finding great blessing in benefit.

Dan Burke is a solid Catholic and reliable source. This book is an easy read. A great introduction to prayer. Any book by Dan Burke is highly recommended.

This book taught me how ti pray deeply. This is a good guide on people who wants to deepen their faith and pray. I would highly recommend this.

It was nicely put together but, I should have read portions of it first. It was not what I expected.