Glimpses of Grace

Comprehensive prayer book for busy professors, educators, administrators, and students.

“The raising of one’s mind and heart to God.” This classic definition of prayer, articulated by St. John Damascene in the eighth century, expresses eloquently the essence of prayer—as well as the desire that moves many to pray. However, amid the accelerated and unpredictable nature of the academic year, it can be difficult to find the time and space to raise our minds and hearts to God. In Glimpses of Grace, Michael Lovette-Colyer meets this significant need with a comprehensive collection of thoughtful, inspiring, and contemporary prayers for each month and season of the academic year.

Designed to provide moments of recollection and renewed awareness of the privilege and blessing of the ministry of education, Glimpses of Grace gifts busy professors, educators, administrators, and students with over 110 carefully considered prayers of profound spiritual substance in an accessible format. Organized into three sections, this comprehensive resource provides a mix of traditional as well as contemporary prayers addressing the unique rhythm and reality of the academic year in Catholic colleges, universities and schools. The first part provides prayers for each movement of the school year, including a prayer to mark the start of each month, prayers to commemorate feast days of various saints and holy people as designated by the liturgical calendar and prayers relevant to civic holidays or other specially designated days. The second section provides a collection of prayers that correspond to events that occur on a regular basis in the life of an academic community. The final section of the book contains a prayer for each of the principal themes of Catholic Social Teaching.

Michael Lovette-Colyer is the chief mission officer at the University of San Diego, and an adjunct faculty member in the University of San Diego’s department of theology and religious studies. He holds a BA from John Carroll University, an MDiv from Santa Clara University, and a PhD from the University of San Diego. He is also a member of the board of trustees for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of San Diego, the Catholic Campus Ministry Association, and Nativity Prep Academy.