Psalms: A Spiritual Commentary

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.

M. Basil Pennington, OCSO, was a monk for more than fifty years. He lived at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, Massachusetts and was the author of many modern spiritual classics, including Lectio Divina and Centering Prayer.

Phillip Ratner is a multimedia artist who works in sculpture, painting, etched glass, tapestry, drawing, and the graphic arts. Twenty years ago he opened the Israel Bible Museum in Safad, Israel. Since then, Ratner has spent most of his time there developing over 250 works of art on the Bible in sculpture, painting, and graphics. He has completed many private commissions and public works, and has earned degrees from the Pratt Institute and American University. To learn more about his work, visit www.ratnermuseum.com.