The Psalms in the Liturgy
The book of Psalms is a prayer book, hymnal, and anthology of verse all rolled into one. It contains one hundred fifty ancient songs—poem-prayers that express the joys and sorrows of the Hebrew people and their longing for God. The psalms are incredibly varied in tone. Some are solemn anthems of praise that once accompanied processions of great multitudes to the temple; others record the lonely cries of a faithful soul who feels abandoned by God.
This ancient prayer book of the Hebrew people is our principal prayer book as well. The psalms are everywhere in the liturgy—in the antiphons and acclamations of the Mass, and most particularly in the responsorial psalm that follows the first reading. The psalm that is sung at Mass usually echoes the themes of the first reading, and sometimes even comments on it.
This past Sunday, we listened to the account from Acts describing the communal life in the early Church, and then the psalm comes to remind us: “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting” (Psalm 118:1). In their wonderful variety, the psalms teach us how to pray. © J. S. Paluch Co.
Continuing our journey,
Fr. Mark
