"Merton was the 20th century's most popular proponent of the Christian contemplative tradition. Now, for the first time, some of his most lyrical and prayerful writings have been arranged into a ""Book of Hours,"" a rich resource for daily prayer and contemplation in the midst of our hectic modern lives, based on the ancient monastic practice of ""praying the hours."" Deignan mines Merton's voluminous works, arranging prayers for Dawn, Day, Dusk, and Dark for each day of the week, with psalms, readings, and reflections. 224 pp. "