Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

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Praying the Psalms with Augustine and Friends

spiritual life, concluding with a catalogue of Psalms borrowed from Alcuin. Gertrude the Great of Helfta (1256–1301) – Gertrude seems to have been orphaned by age 4 and grew up in a monastery in what is now Germany. She was a bright child, and was well-educated at the monastery. At 25 years old, Gertrude had a vision of Jesus asking her to marry him. She looks back on that day as her conversion. She spent the rest of her life in the monastery, working, writing, and praying for those who flocked to see her. Gregory of Nazianzus (329–389) – This Gregory was archbishop of Constantinople and a friend of the brothers Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa. Together they are known as the Cappadocian Fathers. He is one of the most highly regarded theologians of the early church and is known for his skills in Greek rhetoric. Gregory of Nyssa (335–394) – This less-famous Gregory was bishop of Nyssa, brother of Basil the Great, and friend of Gregory of Nazianzus. Together, the three of them are known as the Cappadocian Fathers. Herbert, Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke (1561–1621) – Mary was a well-educated English woman who continued her brother Philip’s project of re-writing the Psalms as English poetry after he died. Together their work is known as the “Sidney Psalms.” She made use of commentaries and translations in Latin, French, English, and possibly Hebrew. Luther, Martin (1483–1546) – Luther was an Augustinian Friar as well as a German priest and professor who experienced a major personal transformation while