Introduction

Sometimes we find ourselves in situations that are difficult and trying. One way to retrieve our sense of balance is to read or pray the Psalms. While written in ancient times, we can adapt the meaning of a Psalm to the current times in which we live.

It can be challenging to locate multiple methods to read Psalms in a single location online. You can find links to each Psalm or the Psalms ordered according to some form. Almost all venues present the Psalms according to some religious dogma. This website offers multiple ways to read the Psalms without accompanying dogma.

What is the Liturgy of the Hours?

In the early years of the Christian Church (i.e., Catholic), people desiring to dedicate their lives to prayer and contemplation became monastics or ascetics. Originally these were primarily men known as monks. Over time these people formed groups with their lives organized by a rule of living – The Rule. Within each rule was instruction for the order to pray or read the Psalms. This became the Liturgy of the Hours, dividing the day into hours of prayer called offices. They were Vigils, Lauds, Matins, Prime, Terce, Sext, Nones, Vigils, and Compline, and they occurred roughly every three hours. Each monastic entity had a Rule developed by a learned and holy man of faith.

St Benedict of Nursia is said to be the author of Western Monastism. Written in the early 6th century his Rule was set out for he and his companions at Monte Cassino in Italy. This is the ordering of the Psalms laid out in the following pages.