The Psalms - Good Books Wanted

[NoelFitz]

Recently I have been reading/studying/praying the psalms and have a number of queries. In a recent thread I asked about the use in the NT of the Septuagint psalms, but I have other issues which I would like disciussed in CAs.

In following my interest the principal book I use is Walter Brueggemann’s Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit , which I find excellent. However, I would like other books, especially a Catholic book, on the Psalms.

I would be grateful for suggestions of good books on the psalms, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

Would you also like to explain why Catholics should be interested in the Psalms?

Thanks!

 

[MikeInVA]

I like Psalms Basics for Catholics by Dr. John Bergsma. It’s fairly basic, but I like how he ties the psalms together.

 

[Vico]

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Would you also like to explain why Catholics should be interested in the Psalms?
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Catechism of the Catholic Church

2586 The Psalms both nourished and expressed the prayer of the People of God gathered during the great feasts at Jerusalem and each Sabbath in the synagogues. Their prayer is inseparably personal and communal; it concerns both those who are praying and all men. The Psalms arose from the communities of the Holy Land and the Diaspora, but embrace all creation. Their prayer recalls the saving events of the past, yet extends into the future, even to the end of history; it commemorates the promises God has already kept, and awaits the Messiah who will fulfill them definitively. Prayed by Christ and fulfilled in him, the Psalms remain essential to the prayer of the Church.38

2587 The Psalter is the book in which The Word of God becomes man’s prayer. In other books of the Old Testament, "the words proclaim [God’s] works and bring to light the mystery they contain."39 The words of the Psalmist, sung for God, both express and acclaim the Lord’s saving works; the same Spirit inspires both God’s work and man’s response. Christ will unite the two. In him, the psalms continue to teach us how to pray.

2588 The Psalter’s many forms of prayer take shape both in the liturgy of the Temple and in the human heart. Whether hymns or prayers of lamentation or thanksgiving, whether individual or communal, whether royal chants, songs of pilgrimage or wisdom meditations, the Psalms are a mirror of God’s marvelous deeds in the history of his people, as well as reflections of the human experiences of the Psalmist. Though a given psalm may reflect an event of the past, it still possesses such direct simplicity that it can be prayed in truth by men of all times and conditions.

38 Cf. GILH, nn. 100-109. [General Introduction to Liturgy of the Hours]
39 DV 2. [ Dei Verbum]

 

[JGD]

St. Augustine wrote extensively on the Psalms. You can access those writings here.

 

[EugeneCharles]

As a Catholic, we pray the Psalter on Masses, sang it on chants, and pray them in the Liturgy of the Hours. The Psalms are relatable. All the expression that we feel every day comes with it. Each sorrow, anger, gladness, fear, doubt, and more! We’re not perfect and Psalms just make us feel that there’s the Lord who can forgive and understand human emotions. It’s full of life and you know… It’s just something that made us feel united and not alone. It’s the wonder of God because we can form different emotions and talk with Him in such a grand way!

This thread will offer more:

Why do people love the Psalms? Apologetics

Apart from one or two I don’t see what is love some people have for the Psalms, I prefer the Gospels; am I missing something?

 

[NoelFitz]

I like Psalms Basics for Catholics by Dr. John Bergsma. It’s fairly basic, but I like how he ties the psalms together.

Thanks. This book sounds exactly what I want and I have orderedit.
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it still possesses such direct simplicity that it can be prayed in truth by men of all times and conditions.

Vico, again thanks. I appreciate your solid, Catholic posts.
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St. Augustine wrote extensively on the Psalms. You can access those writings here .

JGD, when I study a psalm I pick out a favorite verse and then see what St Augusine wrote, using Bible software.
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It’s just something that made us feel united and not alone. I

EC, thanks. The psalms are more than a link between readings at mass.

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Thanks for the replies; each of them is solid and sound. I appreciate and am uplifted and encouraged by them, as I am with the psalms.
God bless and keep safe.

 

[NoelFitz]

In following my interest the principal book I use is Walter Brueggemann’s Praying the Psalms: Engaging Scripture and the Life of the Spirit , which I find excellent. However, I would like other books, especially a Catholic book, on the Psalms.

I would be grateful for suggestions of good books on the psalms, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

Would you also like to explain why Catholics should be interested in the Psalms?

Thanks for all the replies. They have been very helpful.
Would anyone like to comment on Walter Brueggemann as a writer for Catholics?
I ordered the recommended book by John Bergsma, but I would welcome suggestions for other books on the psalms both Catholic and Non-Catholic.
Thanks!

 

[bpd_stl]

I would be grateful for suggestions of good books on the psalms, both Catholic and non-Catholic.

You seem to be a reader. I don’t say that sarcastically, in that the only way to explore the Catholic Faith is to read, read, read! (or as a drill instructor yelled: drill! Drill! DRILL!).

I’d suggest moving into the deep end and read the Fathers of the Church. Many of them wrote homilies & commentaries on the Psalms. The can be found online with a little effort.

 

[JGD]

It was in praying the Liturgy of the Hours that I learned to “pray” the Psalms, and grew to love them.
There’s a difference in praying them versus reading, studying, meditating on them. Difficult to put into words, but when you pray them you’re talking to God - saying them to Him.

 

[NoelFitz]

Thanks for recent posts.
I read in the WWW about St Teresa of Avila:
‘Books were her standby. She never began mental prayer without some reading to collect her thoughts and put herself in the atmosphere of prayer. She returned to the book as often as needed in the course of the prayer. Daily spiritual reading assumed special importance because of the relative lack of reflection at prayer itself.’

I agree I do read.