Giving and Receiving the Gift of Prayer
Giving and Receiving the Gift of Prayer Author Interview with
Phyllis Zagano, On Prayer: A Letter to My Godchild by Lisa M.
Hendey
Catholic author and academician Phyllis Zagano, PhD, has an
impressive list of qualifications and publications. However,
when asked about herself in relation to her book On Prayer: A
Letter to My Godchild (Liguori, December, 2001, paperback 79
pages), Zagano states, "Well, my major credential for writing
this little book On Prayer is that I am a Catholic godmother. I
have two and a half godchildren--one girl and one boy whom I
sponsored at baptism, and one boy whom I sponsored at
confirmation (he's the half!)."
An educator for most of her life, Dr. Zagano has taught at
Fordham and Boston Universities and is a Researcher in the
Department of Religion at Hofstra University. This fall, she is
serving a stint as visiting associate professor of Roman
Catholic Studies at the Yale Divinity School, Yale University,
where she is teaching Roman Catholic Ecclesiology.
On first glance, Zagano's tome on prayer is inviting. Originally
written as a letter to one of her adult godchildren, the
manuscript evolved into a gift for anyone interested in further
exploration of the topic of prayer. "It speaks simply about
prayer--who we pray to and why, how we pray, what we pray for
and about. It is not complex or technical, but, then again,
neither is prayer," shares Dr. Zagano.
As a godmother myself, and one always interested in an increase
in my own prayer life, I have found On Prayer: A Letter to My
Godchild a wonderful resource. The author's counsel and
instruction are offered in a lovingly familiar tone, truly
reminiscent of a godmother wanting to share one of life's
greatest treasures with her beloved godchild. However the value
of the book extends beyond that trusted connection to reach out
to anyone looking to enhance their prayer relationship with God.
I had an opportunity to discuss On Prayer: A Letter to My
Godchild with Dr. Zagano and she shared the following thoughts
on prayer and its place in today's world.
Q: What prompted you to write this book as a gift for your
godchild?
My godchild had just turned twenty-one, and we sat together at
midnight at the kitchen table during the very large and very
lovely birthday party, and we spoke about prayer. I said I would
buy a book, and send it back, but when I went to look for one I
did not like what I found, even in the best Catholic bookstore
in Manhattan. So I sat down to write my own.
Q. How did it go from being a gift to a published book?
At first I thought I would just collect photographs, or
drawings, and scripture passages. When I spoke with my students
at the University about that idea, they impressed upon me the
need for actual instructions. So, I began at the beginning.
First I wrote about "praying"--what it means to pray. Then I
wrote about God--to whom we pray. Each day, topic-by-topic, I
would give the previous night's five pages or so to my student
assistant to look at. She would give me criticisms and comments,
and so it went
Q: What are the major themes and messages you wanted to share
with your godchild and with those who read your book?
I think sometimes people think that prayer is something beyond
the reach of the ordinary individual. It is actually as simple
as breathing--breathing in the presence of the God who loved us
into being and sustains our every breath. So the first thing I
wanted to say is that everyone can pray, and pray to a God who
created, redeemed, and continues to sanctify us every day.
Q: On the topic of being a godmother, what do you feel was your
role in your godchild's youth and how has that transitioned into
her adulthood?
None of my godchildren lives near me, so I mostly kept up with
cards and letters, presents and occasional visits. Still, they
are all my godchildren for life, and I remember them, attend
their special events, and pray for them regularly.
Q: What are some important messages you might express to someone
looking to begin or develop their prayer life?
Prayer is easy, but it takes work. The most important thing to
remember, at the beginning, is that it sometimes becomes hard,
sometimes becomes boring, and very often we are tempted to just
quit and do something else. This is especially true in our
media-saturated age, when every sort of entertainment beckons.
There is always something else to do, something else to think
about. But, if you think of it, God is the most important
relationship we can have, and praying is simply being with,
speaking to, and listening to God. I cannot think of anything
more important. So the most important message I can give is to
encourage people to believe in the importance of their
relationship with God.
Q: How can one make prayer a priority in a world filled with so
many time demands?
As I said, every sort of entertainment beckons, and we can move
from experience to experience very rapidly. Unfortunately, media
saturation does not encourage the development of an interior
life. In fact, only silence can do that. So if one is to develop
a life of prayer, he or she must find silence at some point in
the day. I know that sounds difficult for a busy mom, but there
are times in the day when she is able to be alone and quiet, if
only for a few moments. That is, the few moments when she waits
outside her child's school, she can turn off the radio--and the
cell phone. She does not need a radio in the shower, unless
perhaps some wordless classical music or jazz moves her heart to
gratitude for her life. The priority is not exactly prayer; the
priority is mindfulness of God's presence, care, and love for us
and all around us.
Q: Who is the audience for your book? What comments have you had
from your readers?
This book has been around for a few years. It was first
published by Paulist Press, and now Liguori has it out in both
English and in Spanish. It has also been published in Indonesian
and Italian, and been recorded for the blind. So, many people
have read--or heard--the book in a number of ways. I think one
of the most memorable comments I have received is that of a
middle-aged woman religious, who said she was so happy to read
that every so often we have to learn how to pray all over again.
Since we do not really talk about or prayer lives that much, I
think the audience for this book is just about anyone who wants
to pray, or wants to talk and think about prayer with someone
else.
Q: Are there any closing thoughts or comments you'd like to
share with our readers?
I think your readers might take a close look at the cover of the
book, even if they never get to see a real copy or read it. The
painting reproduced is a late 19th century painting of The
Annunciation by a black American artist, Henry Ossawa Tanner
(1859-1937) that hangs in the Philadelphia Museum of Art. It is
a modern-day depiction of the annunciation--when the Angel
Gabriel told Mary that she would be the mother of the Lord. The
angel is depicted as a pillar of light; and Mary, the young girl
seated alone in her little bedroom, looks with wonder at the
news. We are all a little like that. The Lord comes to us in
prayer and helps us understand who we are and what we are to do
in this life. Yet the journey is always a mystery, one we can
enter into more fully and more confidently when we live a life
of prayer.
In addition to her work in academia, Dr. Zagano is the series
editor of The Liturgical Press "Spirituality in History" Series,
which includes anthologies of major writers in the Benedictine,
Carmelite, Dominican, Franciscan, and Ignatian traditions. She
is at work as well on an additional book on the role of women in
the Church. For more information on On Prayer: A Letter to My
Godchild visit
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764807951/catholicmomcom
Lisa M. Hendey is a mother of two sons, webmaster of numerous
web sites, including http://www.catholicmom.com and
http://www.christiancoloring.com, and an avid reader of Catholic
literature. Visit her at http://www.lisahendey.com for more
information.