Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

Psalm 23 with Gertrude the Great – Cherishing God as Shepherd The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing (v. 1) Antiphon: 1 Hear me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord! Prayer: Ah Jesus, good shepherd, make me hear and acknowledge your voice apart from everything that keeps me from you. Lift me up in your arms. Make me, your sheep newly delivered in your Spirit, rest against your breast. There teach me how I may fear you. There show me how I may cherish you. There, instruct me how I may follow you. Amen. Then, as if you were somewhat refreshed by praising your God, your king, who is in the sanctuary, rise up now with heart wide open to delight in God, your lover, throwing into him all the love of your heart so that here he may nourish you with the blessing of his gentleness and there may lead you to the blessing of his plenitude 2 of fruition 3 forever. And [say] this with these words: God, my God, because you are mine I lack nothing. And because I am yours, I will glory in you, God, my savior, for eternity. In all my sadness, you prepare for me in you the banquets of homage. 4 And where is my soul’s well- being if not in you, O God of my life? If the memory of your praise is so dulcet 5 in this misery, what will it be like, my God, when in the splendor of your divinity your

1 Antiphon – musical recitation 2 Plenitude – abundance 3 Fruition – fruit 4 Homage – honor 5 Dulcet – sweet