Praying the Psalms in Friendship with God | Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P.
Nov 26, 2024
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Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., a professor of patristics and ancient languages, shares his insights on the power of the Psalms in cultivating friendship with God. He emphasizes their role as a mirror to our souls, fostering self-reflection and emotional healing. Drawing from St. Athanasius and St. Thomas Aquinas, he discusses the joy and transformative nature of this divine relationship. Listeners will learn how aligning their will with God's enhances this connection and the significance of embracing God's love through prayer.
The Psalms function as a mirror for the soul, helping individuals articulate deep emotions and foster a connection with God.
St. Thomas Aquinas teaches that true friendship with God involves aligning one’s desires with His will through the Holy Spirit.
Deep dives
The Significance of the Psalms
The Psalms hold a unique position in the Old Testament as inspired prayers that convey a wide array of human emotions and experiences. Early Christians, particularly through the teachings of St. Athanasius, recognized them as essential for spiritual healing and self-reflection. The Psalms serve as a mirror for the soul, offering words that help individuals process their feelings, whether of sorrow, repentance, or joy. By engaging with the Psalms, believers can articulate their innermost thoughts and desires, fostering a deeper connection with God.
Friendship with God through the Holy Spirit
St. Thomas Aquinas emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is integral to cultivating a friendship with God, enabling believers to share in the divine nature. According to Aquinas, true friendship involves a mutual sharing of wills, meaning that believers align their desires with God's will through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This divine friendship is characterized by joy, security, and the willingness to fulfill God's commandments as a natural expression of love. The Psalms, as a form of prayer, serve to facilitate this intimate relationship, encouraging communication and contemplation of God's presence.
The Joy Found in God's Presence
The Psalms articulate the profound joy that accompanies a relationship with God, a joy that surpasses earthly desires and material abundance. Psalm 27 expresses a longing to dwell in God's presence and savor His goodness, reflecting the believers' yearning for spiritual fulfillment. This joy is not merely emotional but is rooted in the assurance of God's love and mercy in times of distress. Ultimately, the aim of the Psalms is to guide believers toward an experience of divine joy that transforms their lives, leading them to truly enjoy God's presence above all else.
Fr. Andrew Hofer discusses the significance of the Psalms in fostering a friendship with God, highlighting teachings from St. Athanasius and St. Thomas Aquinas on how the Psalms serve as a mirror to our souls and a means to experience divine friendship through prayer and contemplation.
This lecture was given on November 4th, 2023, at The Dominican House of Studies.
Fr. Andrew Hofer, O.P., (Ph.D. Notre Dame) is professor of patristics and ancient languages at the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies where he serves as the director of the doctoral program. He authored Christ in the Life and Teaching of Gregory of Nazianzus (Oxford University Press, 2013) and The Power of Patristic Preaching: The Word in Our Flesh (Catholic University of America, 2023). He co-authored A Living Sacrifice: Guidance for Men Discerning Religious Life (Vianney Vocations, 2019). Editor-in-chief of the academic journal The Thomist, Hofer is editor or co-editor of several volumes including The Oxford Handbook of Deification, The Cambridge Companion to Augustine's Sermons, and Thomas Aquinas and the Greek Fathers. He enjoys speaking with students about their theological and spiritual questions.
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