YOUCAT: Youth Prayer Book by Christoph Schönborn

YOUCAT: Youth Prayer Book Reviews

• 
  Sarah

  I wasn’t sure what to expect from the newly-released Youcat Prayer Book, and I wasn’t even sure how I would review it. Even if *I* love it, is it something I’ll share? Give? Promote?
  
  As it turns out, I had nothing to fear. It’s done just as well as the Youcat and it’s already a book I’m dog-earing and loving!
  
  The first section is a two-week prayer book. The second section is a series of prayers.
  
  You think it’s an accident that as I struggle with my prayer routine that this gem showed up? Me neither.
  
  After the introductory letter, entitled “You can pray,” there is a “Little school of prayer.” It was written specifically for me, thank you very much. There are ten tips/steps and they’re written in the vein I’d expect from the Youcat. They’re helpful but not complicated, simple but not down-your-nose, insightful but not so deep my brain cracked in two.
  
  The format of the two-week prayer book, the first section, includes a morning and an evening option. They include ancient prayers, traditional prayers, and psalms. Each one takes approximately two minutes, depending on the number of interruptions you have from people under four feet tall.
  
  The second section is one part treasury, one part awesome. There are categories such as “Praising the Father” and “Adoring God,” but there’s also “Being called and responding” and “Calling in time of need.” These prayers are the ones you’d expect, but there are also scripture passages, writings of mystics and saints, and much more.
  
  This is a book I’ll be using myself and sharing with quite a few others in my life.
  
  "Praying means entrusting yourself to God with everything. Praying means being silent and listening. And it means letting him into your daily life, into your flesh and your memory, into everything you say, think, and do. God has already taken the big step toward you. The path into prayer begins for you with only a small step. We invite you to take it."
  
  - From the introduction, “You can pray”
  
  Don’t consider yourself youth? Well, don’t let THAT stop you. You won’t be sorry you picked it up and let it lead you closer to God.
• 
  Maria

  My best friend gave me this when I was confirmed ~2 years ago. I've been working through it since. I would highly suggest it for anyone young-ish (like high school through college probably) or new to Catholicism. It has a fantastic collection of prayers in the back of be book: classic Catholic prayers that I should probably memorize (like the magnificat, rosary, or Gloria), prayers by circumstance, or prayers by theme (like praise or thankfulness). The first half of the book is morning and evening prayers for each day of 2 weeks which I've now realized are like a beginner's version of the true daily prayers (Idk what the real term is. I'm a new Catholic). The book is also physically sturdy so it could withstand use at a retreat or between readers.
  
  Overall it was much enjoyed and will serve as a resource on my bookshelf.
• 
  Ajda

  Amazing and inspiring!
• 
  Andrew

  Brilliant resource for young people of age and of heart. Recommended spiritual resource. Includes all of the common Catholic prayers, poems and psalms.
• 
  Siany91 Marie

  This book was there for me before I even knew I needed it.