Thomas M. Batsis, O. Carm.

Carmelite Media - 2025
87 pp

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Prayer is an activity engaged in by most believers, whatever their faith practice. There are numerous forms of prayer, ranging from entreaties in times of distress, to expressions of thanksgiving or quiet moments of reflec-tion, to name just a few examples. Still, for many believers this experience remains something of a mystery.

The purpose of this book is to help believers come to a deeper understanding of what's involved in this journey to deepening one's faith experience. After some 60 years as a Carmelite friar, including 55 years as a priest, the author offers a series of personal reflections on the nature and process of Carmelite spirituality, with a particular emphasis on contemplative prayer.

Rather than proposing a strict format of mental prayer, Fr. Tom suggests readers identify a form of prayer evolving from one's everyday experience. He emphasizes the need to be flexible in prayer, if one is to discover that God seeks to be revealed within the context of each person's life. As an aid to this discovery, chapters touch on the development of virtues, the guidance afforded by a spiritual director, and the challenges to the development of a prayer life in the midst of a technology-addicted culture.

A section of the book includes a series of discussion and reflection questions linked to each chapter. Finally, a curated list of suggested readings is included for those readers wishing to take a deeper dive into the topics covered in the book.

The Rev. Thomas M. Batsis, O. Carm., Ph.D. is a Carmelite friar and emeritus professor of education at Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles). Following priestly ordination in 1970, he was assigned to minister as a teacher, counselor, and adminis-trator. In 1982, he received a teaching appointment at LMU, where he spent 30 years as a professor of counseling and human development. Prior to retirement in 2015, he spent three years as president of Crespi Carmelite High School.

Fr. Tom holds a master's degree in school administration and a doctorate in psychology. He is a licensed clinical psychologist. His research interests, publications, conference presentations, and consulting work encompass educational leadership, strategic planning, school crisis management, pastoral counseling, psychological assessment of seminary candidates, and Carmelite spirituality.

Father Batsis has given presentations on these topics at national and international conferences. He maintains an active interest in Catholic education and Carmelite spirituality through research, board service, weekend parish assistance, and speaking engagements.