1. Psummer in the Psalms

2. Direction of Intention
My God, give me the grace to perform this action with you and through love for you. In advance, I offer to you all the good that I will do and accept all the difficulty I may meet therein. Saint Ann, Pray for us.
St. Francis de Sales, Pray for us.

3. Overview Liturgy of the Hours
June 5: Introduction to the Book of Psalms
June 12: Psalms of Praise
June 19: Psalms of Lamentation
June 26: No Session
July 3: No Session
July 10: Psalms of Thanksgiving
July 17: The Theology of the Psalms
July 24: Learning to Pray the Psalms –
Liturgy of the Hours

4. Introduction to the Book of Psalms
The Book of Psalms is part of what is know as the Wisdom Literature in the Bible
Job, Psalms, Proverbs, The Song of Songs, Wisdom and Sirach
Chief purpose is instruction (not so much teaching but how to live)
A movement by ancient peoples to preserve and hand on collective wisdom
Stories and songs

6. Introduction to the Book of Psalms
In Greek: PSALM “a song sung to the accompaniment of a plucked instrument”
The Book of Psalms is the largest and most widely used book in the Bible
Personal Prayer
Communal Worship
It explores a full range of human experience in a personal and practical way

7. The Author (s) King David is attributed with authoring 73
David's personality and identity are clearly stamped on many of these psalms.
While it is clear that David wrote many of the individual psalms, he is definitely not the author of the entire collection.
Psalms 72 and 127 are attributed to Solomon, David's son and successor.
Psalm 90 is a prayer assigned to Moses.

8. The Author (s)
12 psalms 50, 73—83 are ascribed to the family of Asaph.
The sons of Korah wrote 11 psalms (42, 44-49, 84-85,87-88).
Psalm 88 is attributed to Heman
Psalm 89 is assigned to Ethan the Ezrahite.
With the exception of Solomon and Moses, all these additional authors were priests or Levites who were responsible for providing music for sanctuary worship during David's reign. Fifty of the psalms designate no specific person as author.

9. When were the Psalms Written?
Bulk of Psalms composed (orally / written) during life of David 1040 – 970 BC
Psalm 90 is the oldest in the collection is probably the prayer of Moses
Orally composed sometime between 1391–1271 BC
Psalm 137 composed during the Babylonian Captivity, from about 586 to 538 B.C.
The Book of Psalms: Compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

10. Layout of the Book of Psalms

11. Why were the Psalms recorded?
Psalms are a prayerful response to life experiences.
Of the Individual - Private Prayer
Psalm 41 – Thanksgiving after sickness
Psalm 51 – The Miserere **
Psalm 69 – Prayer in time of Old Age
Of the Community – Nation of Israel
Psalm 2 – For a Royal Coronation
Psalm 60 – Lament after Death in Battle **
For Public Worship
Psalm 24 – in Procession to Zion (Temple / Passover)
Psalm 148 – All Creation Summoned to Praise God **

12. Types of Psalms Psalms of Praise Psalms of Laments
Most likely composed for use in the temple and synagogue liturgies
Major festivals - Passover
Psalm 117
Psalms of Laments
Individual and Communal
Psalms of Thanksgiving
Royal Psalms, Wisdom Poems