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Fifteen hundred years ago, St. Benedict established a system of ora et labora - prayer and work - that monastics still follow today. Central to this prayerful integration of body and spirit is psalmody, or chanting the psalms. On Singing the Psalms, Episcopal priest Cynthia Bourgeault shows how the psalms - 150 exquisite paeans of praise and supplication to God - can awaken rich spiritual and psychological insights. This ancient path is accessible to you today, whatever your level of vocal skill or theological understanding. An ideal support for both solitary and group practice, Singing the Psalms inclues a minipsalter (psalm book) with instructions, musical notations, and rhythmic and melodic suggestions, and more. Topics includes: How psalmody can deepen contemplative prayer, Antiphons: the verses you use to 'personalize' your psalmody, how to 'bring your mind inharmony with your voice', specific instructions for singing seven psalms and three other sacred songs, the three functions of psalmody in spiritual transformation, and how to create your own musical settings, and much more. Abridged. 3 cassettes. 4 hours.
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