WWW.THELEAVEN.COM | NEWSPAPER OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF KANSAS CITY IN KANSAS | VOL. 33, NO. 18 DECEMBER 16, 2011
Leaven photo by JD Benning
Benedictine Sisters Irene Nowell (left) and Susan Barber look over a copy of “Give Us This Day,” a prayer resource to which the two nuns have contributed.
DAILY BREAD FOR THE SOUL
A
New monthly provides prayer resource for laypeople
TCHISON — In a lot ly prayer,” said Brother Aelred. of ways, the new pubThe prayer resource “Give us This lication “Give Us This Day” is a monthly publication deDay: Daily Prayer for signed for daily spiritual reading. Today’s Catholic” is like It includes morning and evening the manna that fed the prayers for each day, as well as essays, children of Israel during the Exodus. features on saints and other holy perIt’s heaven-sent, delicious and sons, daily people’s Mass parts with spiritually nutritious — but what is it? readings and reflections, the order of How, exactly, does one deMass, the liturgical calenscribe it? dar, prayers and blessings, STORY BY “That’s a very good and “lectio divina” (meditaJOE BOLLIG question,” said Brother tive reading). Aelred Senna, OSB, associIt’s compact — just a ate publisher of Liturgical Press, an shade bigger than a paperback book apostolate of St. John’s Abbey in Col— and easy to stuff into a purse or a legeville, Minn. “We do struggle with pocket. It averages about 400 pages. exactly what to call it.” Sister Irene Nowell, OSB, of Mount It’s not a missalette, Mass guide, St. Scholastica in Atchison, is one of prayer book, collection of spiritual six editorial advisers for “Give Us This essays, magazine, aid for meditation Day.” She is also the Scripture editor or breviary. It’s kind of like a spiritual for the morning and evening prayers Swiss Army Knife: a portable bundle and the author of some of the reflecof tools in one handy package. tions. “In fact, the best thing we’ve come Another Atchison Benedictine, Sisup with is calling it a ‘prayer resource,’ ter Susan Barber, writes the intercesa resource that supports people in daisions for morning and evening prayer.
“The idea [for ‘Give Us This Day’] had been floating around St. John’s [University] for five or six years, but we didn’t settle down and do serious planning until the middle of 2010,” said Sister Irene. As sort of a trial balloon, the editors put together a four-day sample edition and handed out copies in March 2011 at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. People reacted to it so well that Liturgical Press decided to launch the first issue in August 2011. Part of the marketing strategy was to distribute a generous amount of complimentary copies. People really seem to like the resource. “One of the things that is delightful about this is that it has really taken off,” said Sister Irene. “We’re getting lots and lots of subscriptions, and they are coming in really rapidly.” Liturgical Press was unable to provide current or projected sales numbers. See “PUBLICATION” on page 4
For information or to subscribe, go to the website at: www. giveusthisday.org. To subscribe, go to “Subscribe Now!” on the left or right sides of the home page. Discounts are available for both the print and digital editions. For gift subscriptions, call 1 (800) 858-5450.