The Power of A Psalm

The power of prayer, in my view, cannot be over-estimated. And although God already knows our hearts, minds and all our 'whys and wherefores', being able to place all our worries in His hands is truly a liberating and wonderful experience.

But I sometimes struggle to construct prayers that I think are truly meaningful. Prayers that truly convey how I feel and what I need help with.

And so I often turn to the best source of inspiration, The Bible and in particular, the book of Psalms. This book has been used for centuries as an aid to monastic and prayer life and the celebration of Mass always includes the recitation of a psalm, in response to the First Reading, which helps to remind Catholics of these beautiful writings.

And with the revival of the Liturgy of The Hours, the psalter has made something of a come back!

For me, the Psalms are amongst the most poetic and emotive words ever committed to paper. And I often find myself turning to them for help, inspiration and comfort. In this book are contained prayers and verses for just about any occasion, feeling or experience.

The below are a few snippets of my favourite psalms.

Psalm 15 Vs. 1 - 3

Preserve me God, I take refuge in you
I say to the Lord "You are my God
My happiness lies in you alone".

Psalm 101 Vs. 1 - 3

O Lord, listen to my prayer
and let my cry for help reach you.
Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Turn your ear towards me
and answer me quickly when I call.

Psalm 102 Vs. 1 -6

My soul, give thanks to the Lord
all my being, bless His holy name.
My soul, give thanks to the Lord
and never forget all his blessings.

It is He who forgives all your guilt,
who heals every one of your ills,
who redeems your life from the grave,
who crowns you with love and compassion,
who fills your life with good things,
renewing your youth like an eagle's.


Taken from The Grail Translation, the translation used in the Catholic Liturgy.

Other translations, such as that found in the Jerusalem Bible (pictured above), amalgamate Psalms 9 and 10 and therefore Psalm 15 in the Grail Translation may be found under Psalm 14 in other versions.