Psalm Basics for Catholics
Seeing Salvation History in a New Way
by John Bergsma
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Pub Date 16 Mar 2018 | Archive Date 16 May 2018
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Description
“I cannot even imagine a better introduction to the psalms than this book. John Bergsma has made the psalms more understandable, more singable, and even more lovable than before.”
Mike Aquilina
Author of A History of the Church in 100 Objects
In his third back-to-basics look at the Bible, popular theology professor and bestselling Catholic author and speaker John Bergsma highlights the presence of Jesus in the psalms and helps us understand their meaning in light of the story of salvation. Bergsma employs the same conversational style and simple illustrations found in Bible Basics for Catholics and New Testament Basics for Catholics to help bridge the gap between the world of contemporary Catholics and the ancient world of the Bible.
In Psalm Basics for Catholics, John Bergsma introduces us to King David, the story of Israel, and the salvation of the Jewish people through the coming of Jesus.
For more than two thousand years, Christians have sung, chanted, and prayed the psalms, a practice of worship inherited from our Jewish ancestors in faith. Whether prayed during Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, or in personal reflection, these ancient hymns continue to be a guiding light for Catholics. Yet rarely do we step back and look at how the psalms fit into the story of salvation revealed in the Bible the way Bergsma does here.
Bergsma also addresses common questions about the psalms, including
Do the psalms really predict Jesus?What do we make of the so-called curse psalms?Why do we pray the psalms in the Liturgy of the Hours?How do I read and pray the psalms?Bergsma’s insightful, practical examination of the psalms helps Catholics see how their promise is fulfilled in Christ.
Features & Benefits
Bible Basics for Catholics and New Testament Basics for Catholics have sold more than 80,000 copies combined.Bergsma is a popular, award-winning theology teacher at the Franciscan University of Steubenville who has an active speaking schedule.A Note From the Publisher
In addition to teaching scripture at Franciscan, Bergsma is a frequent guest on Relevant Radio’s Drew Mariani Show and Sacred Heart Radio’s Son Rise Morning Show. He speaks regularly at conferences and parishes nationwide. Bergsma has written for numerous academic and popular publications, including Bible Basics for Catholics, New Testament Basics for Catholics, and A Catholic Introduction to the Bible: Old Testament. He and his wife, Dawn, live with their children in Steubenville, Ohio.
Advance Praise
“I cannot even imagine a better introduction to the psalms than this book. John Bergsma has made the psalms more understandable, more singable, and even more lovable than before.”
Mike Aquilina
Author of A History of the Church in 100 Objects
“In this easy-to-read but extremely informative introduction to the psalms, John Bergsma takes you on a guided tour of the book that the Catechism calls ‘the masterwork of prayer.’ If you really want to learn how to pray with the heart and mind of Christ, then Psalm Basics for Catholics is for you.”
Brant Pitre
Professor of Sacred Scripture at Notre Dame Seminary
Author of The Case for Jesus
“The faithful have both embraced and wrestled with the psalms for centuries. There is something comforting about them, yet when read together as a whole, the Psalter can seem overwhelming and confusing. Bergsma makes this daunting book imminently accessible. From background to authorship to content, Psalm Basics for Catholics provides the tools that everyday Catholics need to grasp these ancient texts.”
Scott Powell
Director of the Aquinas Institute for Catholic Thought
“Just as the psalms are said to be the Old Testament’s ‘masterwork of prayer,’ Dr. Bergsma offers us a masterwork of the psalms.”
Sonja Corbitt
Author of Unleashed
Praise for the Bible Basics Series
“You will come to see the Bible in a whole new light, and find yourself reading it—with greater wisdom and insight—for the rest of your life.”
Scott Hahn
Author of The Creed
“Packed with nuggets of wisdom, Bergsma gives the reader a feast by offering timeless insights to get the most out of your Bible. Catechists, parents, and teachers can use it for their own personal edification and unpack the New Testament within their own families. New Testament Basics for Catholics will hold a prominent and permanent place upon my bookshelf. Rare is the book that can take something so deep and make it simple enough for a beginner to understand. This is the work of a master teacher.”
Mark Hart
Author of Behold the Mystery
“A brilliant book done in a brilliant way. New Testament Basics for Catholics is an easy way to understand the big picture of the New Testament. A must for anyone wanting to learn more about Jesus and the early Church.”
Kevin Cotter
FOCUS
“A splendid book, and acutely necessary. Every time an evangelical tries to use the Bible to attack the Church, we now have a good, accessible volume with which to respond.”
Michael Coren
Author of Why Catholics Are Right
“Even though this is a basic, non-intimidating overview of the Bible, the author is not afraid to deepen our appreciation of scripture by occasionally introducing some important technical terms and Hebrew and Greek words, always explaining them thoroughly and understandably.”
National Catholic Register
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9781594717932 |
| PRICE | US$15.95 (USD) |
Featured Reviews
Janet P, Reviewer
An excellent short introduction to the book of Psalms. It's part of the Bible that's so familiar, heard at almost every Mass, but one that is confusing. The author makes this book so clear with his insights and explanations.
We learn about the origins of the book and the relationship it has to Christ and the New Testament. While he does not linger on the role the Psalms play in monastic life because the book is for laypeople, he does not ignore it.
The bulk of the book covers an analysis of Psalms itself, by dividing the book into five parts, each with a theme. It's very enlightening and gives shape to reading this important book of the Bible.
Shane H, Librarian
I have to say that I love each of John Bergsma’s books that I’ve read. I was delighted when Ave Maria Press notified me that his latest was available via NetGalley for review.
If you are like me, you were probably wondering, “How is he going to get a whole book out of those weird little bits we sing between the readings and the stuff you have to wade through while arranging your wedding?” I almost didn’t read it. Turns out there’s far more in there than I ever imagined.
To make a long story short, the Psalms contain the whole history and future of Israel, instructions for how, when and why to pray and so much more. He breaks the Psalms down into five sections that mirror the history of Israel and explains how all the psalms point to and are fulfilled by Jesus.
You will learn a lot from this book. The opening is kind of dry, but you will get so much more out of the book if you can make it through the “background lecture”. The reason I say that is because the English language is so limiting. Some of the original Hebrew and Aramaic words are hard to translate into English because they have so much more meaning than their English counterparts. Professor Bergsma does a really good job of helping pull that extra meaning out in Psalm Basics.
Lastly, he provides some excellent instructions for going through the Psalms for study and prayer. Be sure to read this if you want to delve deeper into your faith and get more out of the Mass. It’s a fairly quick read and can be easily broken up into several sessions, which is good for parents with small children. Trust me 😊
Reviewer 455961
A fascinating, accessible and fun read for anyone, Catholic or not! AveMariaPress has published several easy-to-read books by John Bergsma and this one focusses on the Psalms. The Psalms are significant not only because it's the only book of the Bible read at every Mass but also because it's the "most popular poetry collection ever published in the world"! Bergsma's voice is conversational and friendly ; with cute stick figures and straightforward prose, he describes the books of the Psalms. I found the inclusion of the figures rather unique and also helpful as I'm a visual learner. Charts and sketches helped clarify this short book's written words. Bergsma takes difficult concepts and breaks them down. I appreciated his frequent mention of Hebrew words as well. Bergsma says, ".... this psalm is hard for modern people to understand, so let's work though it". Thank you for such a comforting and helpful guide to what is for many a misunderstood or overlooked part of our Biblical history, practice or literature, depending on your viewpoint. I look forward to checking out other works by Bergsma. Thank you!
Bernadette L, Reviewer
This book is well written and an easy to follow guide to the Psalms and how they fit into the story of salvation. More than half of the 150 psalms are attributed to David. God granted to David a covenant that made David son of God and king of the world. God promised a New Covenant after the Babylonian Exile and the Son of David, Jesus Christ, arrived to fulfill those promises. David wrote many "thanksgiving" psalms and these ancient songs are part of the present day Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass.
The Psalms are broken down into five books and the groups are according to the type of psalm.
Book I: psalms 1 - 41 (Weeping and Moaning)
Book II: psalms 42 - 72 (Triumph and Rejoicing)
Book III: psalms 73 - 89 (Descending into Grief)
Book IV: psalms 90 - 105 (Waiting around in Exile)
Book V: psalms 107 - 150 (Praising God for restoring his people from Exile)
I particularly like that the author has stated five "must know" psalms in each of the Books. I have enjoyed this study of the Psalms greatly and I know that it will increase my understanding for the future.
Thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for an ARC; all opinions are my own.
Dawn L, Reviewer
So glad I found this title! I've Always enjoyed the psalms, and this book really made it easier to understand them AND appreciate them! Definitely going to recommend this book to my fellow parishioners and even our bible study group.
Joseph W, Educator
Dr. Bergsma has a wonderfully friendly style that conveys both his knowledge of scripture and his love of it. Psalm Basics is easy to read - even without the stick figure memory aids - and understand. From there. Dr. Bergsma suggests, through the text, where to begin reading the psalms and, at the end, how to continue a lifelong engagement with them. His drawings are simple enough to be easily copied and, in that, may be one of their biggest benefits -- that by taking notes (including drawings), the reader is rehearsing the information and making it more their own. All in all, a fine, quick overview of the psalms that combines a historical and liturgical understanding with practical application to the daily life of faith.
