Father Hamm wrote many prayers and homilies, and most were based on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. His method had the retreatant “place himself in the scene” of scripture and let God act directly within him.
Several lifetimes of a priestly ministry went into making this prose, and several other lifetimes of editorial devotion were brought to bear on shaping it. Together, Fr. Robert Hamm and Fr. Dominic Totaro have created a piece of spiritual substance, a piece that will endure for years to come.
God's Crossfire-Love
God's Crossfire-Love started in the late 1990s when a group of God's People began
discussing and praying prayers that Father Robert E. Hamm, S.J., had written for
retreatants and directees. Initially, he was not interested in their publication and
asked, “Nah! Who would want to use them? But his friend said, "These prayers can benefit
many, many people to deepen their prayer life.
Father Hamm wrote constantly over the years, putting a dozen boxes of prayers, homilies,
and reflections. These writings were carefully preserved and form the basis of this
book. They are not only a sign of his love for prayer, but also a commitment he has made
all his life: to lead others closer to God.
Rooted in the Ignatian Tradition
The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola have a huge impact on Father Hamm’s
writings. The way he did it was straightforward but powerful: He would get the person to
“enter into the scripture” and see how God moved in their lives. He frequently used
Scripture as God's direct address to the pray-er and/or as the pray-er's direct response
to God.
This dialogical style brought prayer to be personal and transformative. His writings
brought people to the awareness that at that moment they were experiencing something in
themselves, which was a struggle, a desire, a hope, and something God was asking from
them.
"To have prayer that will immerse you in the Bible. In order to see Father Hamm’s special understanding of the Trinity."
No prayer book that I know of is like God's Crossfire-Love. Through the way in which Father Hamm brings the reader into the scripture, prayers seem alive and personal. His insights helped me listen to God's voice in my life. This book is not for retreatants only; it's for anyone desiring to enhance their spiritual journey.
The simplicity and accessibility of Father Hamm's prayers to the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius were what came as most striking to me. The homilies and prayers are humble and clearly written, but have great theological depth. They are like an invitation to sit and chat with God. A book that I go back to many times for quiet contemplation.
Father Hamm's vision of the Trinity as God's Crossfire-Love is strong and comforting. His writing conveys the simplicity and attentiveness that he lived by. I particularly admired his homilies on how he related Scripture to the liturgical year, thus making prayer a part of daily life. This book is a gift... a gift that lives on after him.
If you have any questions about the book, have an idea for a speaking event, retreat, or consider editorial collaboration, we are happy to hear from you.
