A project of the Spirituality Committee of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales
“The Church already possesses a symphony of prayer, whose composer is the Holy Spirit, and it is the Book of Psalms. As in any symphony, it contains various “movements”, that is, various genres of prayer: praise, thanksgiving, supplication, lamentation, narration, sapiential reflection, and others, both in the personal form and in the choral form of the whole people. These are the songs that the Spirit himself has placed on the lips of the Bride, His Church. They reflect, at times, a historical situation and a religious mentality that are no longer our own. This does not mean that they are not inspired, but in certain aspects they are linked to a time and a temporary stage of revelation, as is also the case with a large part of ancient legislation. What most commends the Psalms to our attention is that they were the prayer of Jesus, Mary, the Apostles and all the Christian generations that have preceded us. When we recite them, God listens to them with that grandiose “orchestration” that is the community of saints. Jesus, according to the Letter to the Hebrews, enters into the world with a verse from a Psalm in His heart: “Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God” (cf. Heb 10:7; Ps 40:9), and He leaves the world, according to the Gospel of Luke, with another verse on His lips: “Father, into thy hands I commit my spirit” (Lk 23:46, cf. Ps 31:6).”
Pope Francis 19 June 2024
We will move into Advent praying a new translation of the psalms in our liturgy, the Abbey psalms, as well as using the English Standard version for our readings. The changes may not be so obvious but the differences will give us a chance to reflect from a new perspective. What will the new wording mean for you?
We offer the Sunday Responsorial Psalm as a focus for prayer and reflection during the week ahead for yourself or share with others. You could note your own thoughts as a possible personal journal.
Acknowledgements
Excerpts from The Psalms: A New Translation © 1963 The Grail (England) published by HarperCollins.
NOVEMBER 2024
Friday 1 November Solemnity of ALL SAINTS
Sunday 3 November 31st Sunday of the Year B
Sunday 10 November 32nd Sunday of the Year B
