Psalms for Guidance
Advice for Times of Spiritual Desolation
If you can get a copy, consult the Spiritual Exercises of S. Ignatius. He has much to say about the cycles of "desolation" and "consolation" that we all experience.
Firstly, to remember that God allows a period of "Desolation" but eventually follows it with a period of "Consolation".
In Consolation the soul is full of energy, can see clearly ahead (not in the sense of clairvoyance), takes trials in its stride, prayer brings great sweetness and peace. These are the best times to make important decisions - granted that decisions may be thrust upon us.
In Desolation the soul is listless, can find no pleasure even in habitual recreations, may be adverse to prayer, can see no hope for the future. The soul may seek solitude out of weariness of company, or else may be inclined to plunge into loud distractions.
Ignatius' Exercises are practical. Here are his guidelines for how to cope with a Desolation -
*The soul must be reminded that this period will not last forever.
*Act against the contrary inclination. If disinclined to prayer, make a point of praying. If mental prayer is difficult, have recourse to the Formulae of the Church.
*Do not make decisions in Desolation.
* This is the time when people get a divorce, fall out with friends, lapse from the Faith, resign from their job, commit suicide. The Devil waits for these times to strike. Therefore, continue as you were until the Desolation has passed.
*Talk to somebody - or people.
Here are some recommended psalms:
(I'm using the Vulgate numbering, which runs 1 behind the AV numbering for most of the way)
"Are you....
Depressed? Read Ps 41
In need of consolation? Read Canticle of Jeremias
The victim of ingratitude? Read Ps 108
Discouraged? Read Ps 10
Falsely accused? Read Ps 7
In trouble? Read Ps 33
Impatient? Read Ps 30
Proud? Read Ps 35
Wanting in confidence? Read Ps 26
Envious? Read Ps 36
Anxious or worried? Read Ps 45
Bereaved? Read Ps 23
Bitter or critical? Read Ps 72 1-6, 21-28
Conscious of sin? Read Ps 50
Experiencing failure? Read Ps 76
Far from God? Read Ps 41
Deserted by friends? Read Ps 26
Ill or in pain? Read Ps 102
Lonely? Read Ps 22
Needing guidance? Read Ps 31
Sad? Read Ps 41
Tempted? Read Ps 1
Weary? Read Ps 115
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And a couple I have 'translated' for family prayer-books, including the great Eucharistic psalms 26 & 33...
Remember that the psalmist often gives voice to thoughts and prayers that we would not dare to utter on our own account.
Psalm 54
The prayer of the Catholic Church
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my pleading; listen unto me, and answer me.
3 In my anguish I am bewildered, because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked: for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.
4 My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me.
5 Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.
6 And I said, O for the wings of a dove: that I might fly away, and be at rest.
7 Behold, I would go far away, and in the wilderness would I remain.
8 Swiftly would I seek refuge for myself: from the windy storm and the tempest.
9 Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city.
10 Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it.
11 Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets.
12 For it was not an enemy that had insulted me, for then truly I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that rose up against me; for then I could have hidden myself from him:
13 But it was thou, my comrade, my guide, and mine intimate friend.
14 We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in companionship.
15 It would be just should death seize upon them, and that they go down alive into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and in their midst.
16 But as for me, I will cry aloud unto God; and the Lord shall save me.
17 Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and He shall hear my voice.
18 He hath delivered my soul in peace from those who assail me: for many are against me.
19 God shall hear, and afflict them, even he that abideth of old. For they do not mend their ways, neither do they fear God.
20 Each one strikes out against his closest friend, he breaks his bounden word.
21 The words of his mouth are smoother than butter, but war is in his heart: his words are softer than oil, yet are they drawn swords.
22 Cast thy care upon the Lord, and he will sustain thee: He shall never suffer the just to waver.
23 But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of destruction: bloody and deceitful men shall live out not half their days; but I will trust in thee.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my pleading.
++++++++++++++
Psalm 72 – Envy of Evildoers
Antiphon. By thy Counsel thou wilt guide me:
and at last Thou wilt take me into glory.
PSALM 72-1
1. How good is God to the upright: and the Lord, to those who are clean of heart!
2. Yet my feet almost faltered; my steps had wellnigh gone astray:
3. For I envied the wicked, when I saw the prosperity of the sinners.
4. For they have no torments, sound and healthy is their body.
5. They are free from the troubles of other men: and they are not scourged, like other men;
6. Therefore pride, like a necklace, encircles them: and violence covers them as with a robe.
7. Their iniquity proceeds from a gross heart: the thoughts of their mind overflow.
8. They scoff and speak maliciously: from on high they threaten oppression.
9. They set their mouths against heaven: and their tongue reproaches the earth.
10.Therefore do the people turn to them, and drink in their words.
And they say "How does God know?” and “Is there knowledge in the Most High?"
Behold, such are the wicked: and being ever prosperous, they increase their wealth.
13. Have I, then, in vain kept my heart clean, and washed my hands in innocence?
14. For I am stricken all the day, and am chastised every morning.
15. Had I thought: I will speak like them, I would have betrayed the generation of thy children.
16. So I took thought how to understand this: it was a perplexity in my eyes,
Until I entered into God's holy counsels, and considered the end of those wicked men.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
PSALM 72-2
18 SURELY, thou settest them on a slippery path, thou dashest them to ruins.
19. How they crashed in an instant, they are brought to an end in utter destruction.
20. As a dream when one awaketh, O Lord, so, on rising, Thou wilt spurn their image.
21. For my mind was embittered: and my heart was vexed,
22. I was senseless and knew nothing: I was as a dumb animal before Thee.
Yet I shall always be with Thee: Thou takest hold of my right hand;
By Thy counsel Thou wilt guide me, and at last Thou wilt take me into glory.
Whom else have I in heaven but Thee? And, having Thee, earth does not delight me.
My flesh and my heart waste away: but God is my portion forever.
For, behold, they who withdraw from Thee, shall perish: Thou destroyest all who are unfaithful to Thee.
28. But for me, it is good to be near God, to put my trust in the Lord God.
I will declare all thy works: within the gates of the city of Sion.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Antiphon. By thy Counsel thou wilt guide me:
and at last Thou wilt take me into glory.
++++++++++++++++
Prayer of the Christian soul - Exile upon Earth
Ps 120
In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
2 Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips, and from the tongue of the deceitful.
3 What shall he pay you in return? or what shall be done unto thee, O treacherous tongue?
4 Sharp arrows of the mighty, with coals, red-hot, blazing.
5 Alas that I abide a stranger in Meshech, that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
6 My soul hath long dwelt with those who hate peace.
7 I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. In my distress I cried unto the Lord, and he heard me.
Eucharistic Psalm
Ps 26 (i)
The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to devour me, it is they that stumbled and fell.
3 Though an army should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, even then will I trust.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, for this do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to savour the beauty of the Lord, and to behold his temple.
5 For He has hidden me in His Tabernacle, on the day of evil: he has protected me in the secret place of His Tabernacle.
He shall set me high upon a rock.
6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle joyful sacrifices: I will sing and chant praises to the Lord.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Eucharistic Psalm
Ant. Taste and see that the Lord is sweet.
Ps 33
I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall be ever on my lips.
2 My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear and be glad.
3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5 Look towards him and be enlightened: and let your faces not be ashamed.
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord is encamped around those who revere him, and delivers them.
8 Taste and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the one who seeks refuge in him.
9 Revere the Lord, ye his saints: they lack nothing who revere him.
10 Strong lions suffer want and go hungry: but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.
11 Come to me, children, and hearken: that I may teach you the fear of the Lord.
12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good?
13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
14 Turn aside from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.
15 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
16 The eyes of the Lord are upon the just, and his ears are open unto their cry.
17 They call, and the Lord hears, and delivereth them out of all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the broken hearted; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.
19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.
20 He will keep guard over all his bones: they shall not break a bone of his body.
21 The death of the wicked is very evil: and they that hate the just shall be doomed.
22 The Lord redeems the soul of his servants: and none of those who trust in him shall be desolate.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Taste and see that the Lord is sweet.
The Presence of God
Ant. Thy hand shall lead me, and Thy Right Hand shall hold me fast.
Ps 138 (i)
O Lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2 Thou hast known my lying low and my rising again. Thou understandest my thought from afar.
3 Thou seeest my walking and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4 A word is not yet on my tongue, but, behold, O Lord, thou knowest it all beforehand.
5 Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain to it.
7 Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8 If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I descend into hell, behold, thou art there.
9 If I take up the wings of the dawn, if I dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10 Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me fast.
11 If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12 Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shines as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13 For thou didst create my inner being: thou didst fashion me in my mother's womb.
I will praise thee; for I am most wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works.
14 And my soul thou knowest full well: my frame was not hidden from Thee when I was made in secret, and put together in the hidden places of thy creation.
16 Thine eyes beheld my deeds, and all were written in thy book: days were decreed, when as yet there was none of them.
17 How difficult for me are thy designs, O God, how vast the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them, they are more in number than the sand: were I to come to the end of them, I would still be with thee.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Ant. Thy hand shall lead me, and Thy Right Hand shall hold me fast.