Praying the Psalms ... the Divine Office
Last week we began looking at the Psalms in the Bible as a way to pray always (Lk 18:1; 21:36; I Thes 5:17-18; Eph 6:18). Before our life might come to be continuous prayer, we need to make the effort to pray regularly. A time of prayer each day, with some Scripture reading and meditation, is a minimum for every Christian. Adding a Psalm to read and pray would join us to the universal practice of Hebrews, Jews and Christians since the Psalms were composed.
In Jesus’ time, liturgical prayer accompanied the morning (3rd hour or 9 AM) and evening (9th hour or 6 PM) sacrifices (Ex 29:38-39) at the Temple in Jerusalem, which the Apostles continued to attend (e.g., Ac 3:1). In the synagogues, there is some but tentative evidence of regular prayer (which is part of Jewish practice today). In the early Church, there is clear evidence of the widespread practice of praying the Psalms in church liturgically as Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Over the ages, and with the rise of monasticism, these two hours were expanded to seven hours throughout the day and night.
Today these prayers of the Psalms and other Scripture readings are called the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office, and are popularly prayed by laity as well as clergy and religious.
Many non-Catholics pray them as well. Morning Prayer (Lauds) and Evening Prayer (Vespers) remain the two primary offices, and those popularly prayed by laity. Books are available (and give you the most options), but smart phone apps (many for free) with the hours for each day make praying the Hours incredibly easy, whether at home, at a work break, riding in a car or plane, or while waiting somewhere. Skip the texts, emails, and news on your smart phone and instead pull up Morning Prayer during those in-between moments during the day. “Pray always!”
Last week we also implied that praying always was a way to abide in Jesus, and so Jesus’ words would abide in us, and our prayer would become His prayer and His prayer would become our prayer.
Query: how is this possible in praying the Psalms when the Psalms were composed hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth? Jesus Himself tells us that the Psalms were written about Him: “Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44).
The early Church Fathers teach us that Christ is common to all the Scriptures because, as St. Athanasius puts it, “all have one voice in the Holy Spirit.” He says, “The Lord Himself is in the words of Scripture.” We not only see events of Christ’s life in the Psalms, but Athanasius also says that all of the reflections of Christ in the Psalms give “the perfect image for the soul’s course of life.” They show us a “type” of a “heavenly and well-pleasing life.” “It was indeed for this reason that He [Christ] made this resound in the Psalms before His sojourn in our midst, so that just as He provided the model of the earthly and heavenly man in His own person, so also from the Psalms he who wants to do so can learn the emotions and dispositions of the soul, finding in them also the therapy and correction suited for each emotion.” (Athanasius, “Letter to Marcellinus.”)
Pope St. John Paul II said (3/28/01), “The Fathers of the Church emphasized that the mystery of Christ is the key to understanding the Psalms. In the Psalms we contemplate the saving deed of God in creation and history. They speak not only of the individual person of Christ but of the total Christ, composed of Christ the head and the members of His body.”
So in praying the Psalms this week, think about what it is saying about Christ, and what Jesus’ intentions would be if He were praying that Psalm. See if the feelings and desires expressed in the Psalm resonate with you at this moment of your life; and then also pray the Psalm on behalf of Christ’s entire Body, especially for those who have such feelings and desires.
Last week we began looking at the Psalms in the Bible as a way to pray always (Lk 18:1; 21:36; I Thes 5:17-18; Eph 6:18). Before our life might come to be continuous prayer, we need to make the effort to pray regularly. A time of prayer each day, with some Scripture reading and meditation, is a minimum for every Christian. Adding a Psalm to read and pray would join us to the universal practice of Hebrews, Jews and Christians since the Psalms were composed.
In Jesus’ time, liturgical prayer accompanied the morning (3rd hour or 9 AM) and evening (9th hour or 6 PM) sacrifices (Ex 29:38-39) at the Temple in Jerusalem, which the Apostles continued to attend (e.g., Ac 3:1). In the synagogues, there is some but tentative evidence of regular prayer (which is part of Jewish practice today). In the early Church, there is clear evidence of the widespread practice of praying the Psalms in church liturgically as Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. Over the ages, and with the rise of monasticism, these two hours were expanded to seven hours throughout the day and night.
Last week we also implied that praying always was a way to abide in Jesus, and so Jesus’ words would abide in us, and our prayer would become His prayer and His prayer would become our prayer.
Query: how is this possible in praying the Psalms when the Psalms were composed hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ birth? Jesus Himself tells us that the Psalms were written about Him: “Everything written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44).
The early Church Fathers teach us that Christ is common to all the Scriptures because, as St. Athanasius puts it, “all have one voice in the Holy Spirit.” He says, “The Lord Himself is in the words of Scripture.” We not only see events of Christ’s life in the Psalms, but Athanasius also says that all of the reflections of Christ in the Psalms give “the perfect image for the soul’s course of life.” They show us a “type” of a “heavenly and well-pleasing life.” “It was indeed for this reason that He [Christ] made this resound in the Psalms before His sojourn in our midst, so that just as He provided the model of the earthly and heavenly man in His own person, so also from the Psalms he who wants to do so can learn the emotions and dispositions of the soul, finding in them also the therapy and correction suited for each emotion.” (Athanasius, “Letter to Marcellinus.”)
Pope St. John Paul II said (3/28/01), “The Fathers of the Church emphasized that the mystery of Christ is the key to understanding the Psalms. In the Psalms we contemplate the saving deed of God in creation and history. They speak not only of the individual person of Christ but of the total Christ, composed of Christ the head and the members of His body.”
So in praying the Psalms this week, think about what it is saying about Christ, and what Jesus’ intentions would be if He were praying that Psalm. See if the feelings and desires expressed in the Psalm resonate with you at this moment of your life; and then also pray the Psalm on behalf of Christ’s entire Body, especially for those who have such feelings and desires.
Dibby Green
Originally published in the print edition of the Mojave Desert News on September 5, 2019.
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is located in California City, CA. Visit our website at ollcalcity.org.