Prayer - Some Suggestions

What is prayer? How do I do it? Why isn’t God answering me?
If you want to read some good books on what prayer is and how to pray, I have three recommendations and all of them are available via Amazon.com or from the publishers' websites.

The first is Time for God by Fr. Jacques Philippe, published by Scepter Publishers.
It’s only 120 pages and very readable.

The second recommendation is Conversation with Christ by Fr. Peter Rohrbach, published by TAN Books. It is another short and easy to read book that is only 184 pages long. Fr. Rohrbach draws on the spiritual master St. Teresa of Avila and makes the subject of prayer very understandable for the laity.

Both of the above books are written for the average person and treat various subjects such as distraction, location and best time of day for praying. They both address vocal, mental, meditative and contemplative prayer. Needless to say, my copies are worn and highlighted.

Speaking of St. Teresa, and for a more scholarly work with much more in depth teaching on prayer and mysticism, I suggest Fire Within by the late Fr. Thomas Dubay, SM. Perhaps you have seen Fr. Dubay on EWTN? He has done a number of TV series – mostly on prayer. His book is published by Ignatius Press and is 358 pages of solid material that uses the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross – both doctors of the Church – and synthesizes them in an effort to bring the best of both to his readers.