Praying the Psalms ... with Music
The Lord Jesus urges us to ask, seek, and knock (Lk 11:5-10), to pray always and not to lose heart (Lk 18:1), and to watch at all times and pray (Lk 21:36). St. Paul also says to “pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thes 5:17-18), and to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). When we abide in Christ through the receiving His Body and Blood (the Eucharist; Jn 6:56), through bearing fruit (Jn 15:4-5), and by keeping His commandments (Jn 15:10), then we not only share in Jesus’ joy (Jn 15:11; 17:13) and in the same love Jesus and the Father share (Jn 15:10; 17:10-11, 21-23, 26), but Jesus’ words abide in us (Jn 15:7; 17:14), our prayer becomes His prayer (Jn 15:7, 16; 16:26-27), His prayer becomes our prayer (Jn 15:16; 16:25-27).
So how do we grow in this abiding, this prayer, so that we might more deeply share in the loving communion and joy of the Blessed Trinity?
One very good way is by praying the Psalms. Not just reading them, but praying them. Not just knowing things about the Psalms, but praying them. Like Jesus said, what does it profit one to gain the whole world but lose his soul? (Mt 16:26). Or as St. Paul said, what good is understanding and knowledge if I have not love? (1 Cor 13:2.) We pray that we might grow into the perfection of charity, love.
Today, then, we begin a series of articles on the Psalms directed at aiding us to pray the Psalms, and in turn, they will teach us to pray always, in all circumstances, in the Spirit.
Why the Psalms? The majority of them have been the prayers and hymns of the Jews for over 3,000 years (one longer; others more recent). They were prayed and sung by Jesus, Joseph and Mary in their family home, by all the Apostles and Disciples, by the Early Church and ever since then by all Christians. The Psalms are more often quoted in the New Testament than any other Old Testament (OT) book, and were commented upon by the Church Fathers more than any other OT book. They contain a summary of the entire OT, containing all its themes, as well as the prophetic revelation of Jesus Christ. Like all of Scripture, the Psalms are divinely inspired and so have both human authors as well as the authorship of the Holy Spirit.
The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, with rhythm, typically sung, and typically with instruments. The Church has always continued to sing or chant the Psalms, and we still do today both at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours. In fact, the English Liturgy uses the Grail translation of the Psalms as being more conducive to musical adaption. Numerous hymns and songs, traditional and contemporary, are based on the Psalms, e.g., "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" on Psalm 23. Thus, not only the content but the poetic form, rhythm and musical setting will enhance our prayer of the Psalms.
Hans Boersma writes that the early Church Fathers “were convinced that the musical form and the theological contents of the psalms were closely related.... [That] musical accompaniment and the singing of the psalms ... participates in the harmony of the universe and in Christ himself. Music, therefore, has the ability to make one grow in virtue and to heal the emotions; music tunes people and makes them more harmonious. The theology of the psalms does much the same thing, the fathers maintained. Entering into the contents of the psalms, we participate in the reality of Christ they represent. As a result, we grow in virtue and move toward the happiness that awaits us at the end of the journey.” (“Scripture as Real Presence,” [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017] p. 132.)
An online search for “Learning to Chant the Psalms” brings up many options from various traditions for learning to incorporate music into our praying of the Psalms.
The Lord Jesus urges us to ask, seek, and knock (Lk 11:5-10), to pray always and not to lose heart (Lk 18:1), and to watch at all times and pray (Lk 21:36). St. Paul also says to “pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thes 5:17-18), and to “pray at all times in the Spirit” (Eph 6:18). When we abide in Christ through the receiving His Body and Blood (the Eucharist; Jn 6:56), through bearing fruit (Jn 15:4-5), and by keeping His commandments (Jn 15:10), then we not only share in Jesus’ joy (Jn 15:11; 17:13) and in the same love Jesus and the Father share (Jn 15:10; 17:10-11, 21-23, 26), but Jesus’ words abide in us (Jn 15:7; 17:14), our prayer becomes His prayer (Jn 15:7, 16; 16:26-27), His prayer becomes our prayer (Jn 15:16; 16:25-27).
So how do we grow in this abiding, this prayer, so that we might more deeply share in the loving communion and joy of the Blessed Trinity?
One very good way is by praying the Psalms. Not just reading them, but praying them. Not just knowing things about the Psalms, but praying them. Like Jesus said, what does it profit one to gain the whole world but lose his soul? (Mt 16:26). Or as St. Paul said, what good is understanding and knowledge if I have not love? (1 Cor 13:2.) We pray that we might grow into the perfection of charity, love.
Today, then, we begin a series of articles on the Psalms directed at aiding us to pray the Psalms, and in turn, they will teach us to pray always, in all circumstances, in the Spirit.
The Psalms are Hebrew poetry, with rhythm, typically sung, and typically with instruments. The Church has always continued to sing or chant the Psalms, and we still do today both at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours. In fact, the English Liturgy uses the Grail translation of the Psalms as being more conducive to musical adaption. Numerous hymns and songs, traditional and contemporary, are based on the Psalms, e.g., "The King of Love My Shepherd Is" on Psalm 23. Thus, not only the content but the poetic form, rhythm and musical setting will enhance our prayer of the Psalms.
Hans Boersma writes that the early Church Fathers “were convinced that the musical form and the theological contents of the psalms were closely related.... [That] musical accompaniment and the singing of the psalms ... participates in the harmony of the universe and in Christ himself. Music, therefore, has the ability to make one grow in virtue and to heal the emotions; music tunes people and makes them more harmonious. The theology of the psalms does much the same thing, the fathers maintained. Entering into the contents of the psalms, we participate in the reality of Christ they represent. As a result, we grow in virtue and move toward the happiness that awaits us at the end of the journey.” (“Scripture as Real Presence,” [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2017] p. 132.)
An online search for “Learning to Chant the Psalms” brings up many options from various traditions for learning to incorporate music into our praying of the Psalms.
Dibby Green
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on August 29, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.