Psalms
A Spiritual Commentary
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- $22.99
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- $22.99
Publisher Description
Let the Psalms help you forge a deeper connection to the Divine.
Showing how the Psalms give profound and candid expression to both our highest aspirations and our deepest pain, the late, highly respected Cistercian Abbot M. Basil Pennington shares his reflections on some of the most beloved passages from the Bible’s most widely read book. In this companion volume to The Song of Songs: A Spiritual Commentary, Pennington is once again joined by Jewish artist Phillip Ratner, whose evocative works will lead you into more meaningful contemplation of the inner spirit of the Psalms.
Pennington describes how the monastic tradition of regular reflection on the Psalms—a technique St. Benedict called the “work of God,” or Opus Dei—can help you transform your everyday life into a powerful life of prayer. Enriched by Jewish and Christian faith, the drawings and meditations speak to every person wanting both to connect with their most human longings and to forge a vital connection with the Divine.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When news of Father Pennington's death was announced in June of 2005, readers of his previous works (Centering Prayer; Finding Grace at the Center, etc.) mourned the passing of a man of profound spirituality. In this, his final book, Pennington gives us an eloquent and moving commentary on the Psalms, infusing the text with his love for the scriptures and his sense of unity with God. Selecting 22 of his favorite Psalms, Pennington offers his own translation, followed by reflections grounded in a lifetime of study and prayer. His ability to dig beneath the text and find layers of meaning amazes the reader. He sees God, not mere words, in the Bible's sacred pages, finally proclaiming "Our God is an amazing God" as he drinks deeply from the divine fountain. There are hints that Pennington knows his time is short, but his eloquence and wonder are fully intact and emerge on every page. Illustrations by Phillip Ratner accompany each chapter. This is not merely a commentary on the Psalms, but a love letter from a man who immersed himself in their grandeur and majesty.
