The holy fathers of the church often advise reading the psalms in various life situations, which helps to find peace of mind, understand how great the Lord’s love is and how to deal with difficulties in your life. The Psalter is a sacred book with quite rich content; the creator of this book was King David, who never stopped glorifying the Lord under any circumstances of his life. Reading psalms is considered to be the most beneficial for the soul and a godly activity, and a person for whom this activity has become a habit will always be under the protection of the Lord.
Psalter: what is it in simple words
The Psalter is a special collection of church prayers that are read without interruption. Its peculiarity is that, unlike all the others, it can be read not standing, but sitting. The collection of prayers for the psalter includes several sections - texts for health, for peace and for every day.
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Reading the psalter is also good because you don’t have to go to church to do it. If you do not have the opportunity to come to a special service, you can pray at home, only by following certain rules, which I will discuss below.
The features of the psalter are as follows:
- The priests who are given the right in the church to read these texts are given a special privilege. They are given the opportunity to ask God for forgiveness for the sins of other people. This is not an ordinary prayer, but a real sermon that brings you closer to divine power.
- An important feature is that during prayer the priest is awarded enormous power, which protects all people from evil spirits and temptations. In churches, the psalter is usually read without interruption, and the monks change each other at certain intervals.
- In monasteries, obtaining consent to the psalter is considered a generous reward. Prayer helps both the health of those living today and calms the souls of the departed who have gone to heaven. Not all monasteries are awarded the right to perform such services; this is a special favor.
- The Psalter benefits not only the person to whom it is ordered, but also the person who reads the prayers, the temple itself, and the priests.
By reading the psalter at home, you help both yourself and the people around you. And after you feel the results of regular prayers, you will strengthen your faith in God, become stronger, healthier and more energetic, and will be able to inspire and lead other people by your example.
How to correctly read the psalter at home about health and peace
Such prayers are also a tribute to religious traditions. And like all traditions, the psalter has its own rules. They must be observed thoroughly, showing respect for God and oneself.
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There is an Orthodox custom according to which people can agree and read prayers by common agreement:
- You can team up with like-minded people and agree to read the psalter within one day. Each of you will read just one prayer, mentioning everyone else from the group in it. It is better to write down names on a separate piece of paper in advance so as not to miss or forget anyone.
- On the second day, the second prayer in turn is read. If someone from the group missed their section, they must “catch up” the next day. You should be fully aware of all the responsibility not only for yourself, but also for the group.
- As a result, the psalter, its entire book, is read at least forty times, no less. The ideal time for such prayers is before Lent.
Is it worth going it alone? It is undesirable, because you may be completely unable to do it and you will not complete the task. But, of course, you can try.
Which psalms and under what life circumstances are worth reading?
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Depending on what life circumstances a person finds himself in, he should read one or another psalm. Just reading the psalm will not be enough; you need to do it with deep faith and hope in God’s mercy, pondering the meaning of each verse. Considering the topic of in what circumstances and which psalm is better to read, it is worth bringing to the attention of Christians the following list:
- Psalm 90 will help you stop being afraid and help you establish your hope in the Lord.
- To find eternal habitation in the house of the Lord you need to read Psalm 83.
- Psalm 66 will help you ask for bounties from the Lord.
- If a person is in difficult life circumstances or even experiences despondency, he needs to read Psalm 101.
- For those who are captivated by alien thoughts, reading Psalm 136 will help.
- For those who see that anger and pride are multiplying, and people no longer have anything sacred left, reading Psalm 11 is suitable.
- For those who want to know what a person should be like to be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven, Psalm 14 will help.
- Psalm 19 will help you pray for the comfort of the oppressed.
- For those who are confused or afraid of something, Psalm 10 will be a help.
- If a person experiences persecution from his enemies, then it is worth reading Psalms 3, 24, 26, 41, 139.
- To strengthen yourself and resist the actions of the attacking enemy, you need to read Psalm 38.
- Those who do not want to lose heart as they watch the continued attacks of enemies should read Psalms 12, 25, 34, 42.
- Those who want to learn about the benefits of patience should read Psalm 39.
- If a person sincerely repents of a sin he has committed, wanting to receive forgiveness from the Lord, he needs to read Psalm 50.
- For everyone who needs to learn how to give thanks to the Lord for a long time and sincerely, reading Psalms 28, 104, 106, 134, 145-150 will be useful.
- If a person wants to remember how many blessings the Lord has given to him and all his loved ones, then it is worth reading Psalms 43,77, 88, 104, 105, 106, 113.
- You can thank the Lord for hearing and not abandoning a person in sorrow by reading Psalms 4, 45, 74, 114.
- When a person sees that the Lord is always near him and helps him along the path of life, it is worth reading Psalm 22.
The psalms not only help you learn more about the Lord, thank him, or improve your state of mind, they also help make daily life simpler, approach many difficulties more calmly and with an understanding of why they are given.
Reading the Psalter alone
If you haven’t found like-minded people and haven’t been able to gather a group to read prayers together, you can try to do it yourself, alone. But use all the patience you have. This is not an easy path, but a very valuable one.
The rules are as follows:
- Prepare a supply of wax candles. They should burn all the time during prayer. The exception is when the psalter is read while traveling or on the road.
- You cannot read prayers mentally - all words are pronounced clearly and articulately out loud. At least in a whisper, if you don’t want to disturb your family and friends.
- Focus on each word, place the emphasis correctly - the slightest mistake can radically change the meaning of the prayer, which is a sin from the point of view of the church.
- You can read texts while sitting, it is not forbidden.
Don't put a lot of emotion into the text. Your speech should flow smoothly, monotonously, it is advisable to exclude any expression of feelings from it. You can recite it a little in order to move to the level of favorable energy vibrations, but without theatricality.
If you do not fully understand the meaning of a particular prayer, there is no need to interrupt or try to understand. Your soul feels, hears and understands everything, even if your brain cannot do it. So stay calm and don't worry.
With every day and new prayer you read, you will feel more deeply your connection with God, learn to understand the meaning of all words and sentences. You just need time to raise your spiritual level, learn to turn off your mind and feel prayer in your heart.
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On the procedure for cell (home) reading of the Psalter
The verse of the Psalter begins with the reading of Prayers before the beginning of the singing of the Psalter. They are given in the section “Prayers before starting to read the Psalter”
In Orthodox liturgical and prayer practice, it is customary to divide the Psalter into 20 sections - kathisma, each of which in turn is divided into three Glories, or articles.
The poetry of the next kathisma begins with a prayer:
Come, let us worship the King our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King God.
Come, let us bow and fall down to Christ Himself, the King and our God.
Then the first article is read.
At the first
Glory,
after the poetry of the first article, the reader says:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, God! (Thrice.)
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
And reads the next article.
The second
Glory
has the same prayers as the first.
On the third
Glory:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, God! (Thrice.)
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake.
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, as it is in heaven and on earth. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, just as we forgive our debtors; and do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Then the troparia and prayer prescribed after each kathisma are read.
The versification of several kathismas or the entire Psalter ends with the reading of the section “Prayers after reading several kathismas or the entire Psalter.”
On Slavakh
During the private reading of the Psalter,
you can remember the living and the departed:
On the first
Glory:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, God! (Thrice.)
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Save, Lord, and have mercy on my spiritual father (name), my parents (names), relatives (names), leaders, mentors, benefactors (names) and all Orthodox Christians.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
On the second
Glory:
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, and now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, God! (Thrice.)
Lord have mercy. (Thrice.)
Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Rest in peace, Lord, the souls of your departed servants: my parents (names), relatives, benefactors (names), and all Orthodox Christians, and forgive them all sins, voluntary and involuntary, and grant them the Kingdom of Heaven.
And now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
On the third
Glory
- as usual.
In liturgical books, abbreviated designations for some prayers are accepted. For example, Glory, and now: it should read: Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Glory:
– Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit;
And now:
- And now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen. When indicating prayers, for example, to the Heavenly King: or Our Father: or It is worthy to eat, you must read them in full.
When it is written in the liturgical books: Trisagion. And according to the Our Father, a series of prayers should be read: Holy God...
(three times),
Glory, and now;
Holy Trinity...; Lord, have mercy (three times);
Glory, and now...;
Our Father... Then the prescribed prayers are read. The number in brackets after the prayer indicates how many times this prayer should be read. For example: Lord, have mercy (12) – (12 times).
Psalter for the Dead
Prayers for the repose in Christianity are usually read over the body of the deceased before he is buried. And one kathisma from the texts after.
Only relatives of the deceased can read such prayers. This must be done standing, without interruption, for several days until the very moment of the funeral. The process can be stopped only during the funeral service.
Relatives take turns reading prayers. If it is not possible to gather over the body of the deceased, they can each do this in their own home.
After the burial, the psalter is read for another forty days. According to Orthodox canons, this time is necessary for the soul to say goodbye to earthly life, leave the world and go to God.
By reading sacred texts for repose, you also help the soul of the deceased to cleanse himself of earthly sins and come to peace by going to heaven.
