Praying the Psalms

Among the many reasons it is important to pray the psalms is this:
the psalms make it clear that there is no part of the human condition
that cannot be brought to God. Some of the psalms express some
downright nasty human emotion. Yet they have been a part of our holy
writings for thousands of years.

Something praying the psalms helps me with is to be more honest with
myself, to come out of denial about that which I would prefer to
pretend is not true about myself. It is only when I face truth that I
am set free, it is only then that the light can pierce and ultimately
shatter that darkness.

God wants our every thought, word and deed. He wants our every
weakness. He wants our every sin, too. It is only when we are as
honest with ourselves as certain psalms demonstrate honesty, only then
will God transform our weaknesses into strengths.

Reading 02/23/08

February 23, June 24, October 24
Chapter 18: In What Order the Psalms Are to Be Said

Vespers are to be sung with four Psalms every day.
These shall begin with Psalm 109 and go on to Psalm 147,
omitting those which are set apart for other Hours;
that is to say that
with the exception of Psalms 117 to 127 and Psalms 133 and 142,
all the rest of these are to be said at Vespers.
And since there are three Psalms too few,
let the longer ones of the above number be divided,
namely Psalms 138, 143 and 144.
But let Psalm 116 because of its brevity be joined to Psalm 115.

The order of the Vesper Psalms being thus settled,
let the rest of the Hour --
lesson, responsory, hymn, verse and canticle --
be carried out as we prescribed above.

At Compline the same Psalms are to be repeated every day,
namely Psalms 4, 90 and 133.

Some thoughts:

I wrote yesterday what praying the Psalms means to me. What does it mean to you?

Reading 02/22/08

February 22, June 23, October 23
Chapter 18: In What Order the Psalms Are to Be Said

At Terce, Sext and None on Monday
let the nine remaining sections of Psalm 118 be said,
three at each of these Hours.

Psalm 118 having been completed, therefore,
on two days, Sunday and Monday,
let the nine Psalms from Psalm 119 to Psalm 127
be said at Terce, Sext and None,
three at each Hour,
beginning with Tuesday.
And let these same Psalms be repeated every day until Sunday
at the same Hours,
while the arrangement of hymns, lessons and verses
is kept the same on all days;
and thus Prime on Sunday will always begin with Psalm 118.

Some thoughts

I find myself wondering... did Jesus and His disciples pray the Psalms? When Jesus went alone to a quiet place to rest Himself and pray, did He pray the Psalms?

God's people have been praying the Psalms for millennia. These words, these thoughts, in different languages but these words, these thoughts. Psalms are both God's word to us and our words to God.

I feel a humility that I am daily encouraged to pray the same words the same thoughts, that I join in the throng lifting praise, thanksgiving, curses and imprecations. Isn't it extraordinary that we are deemed worthy?