Psalm Basics for Catholics: Seeing Salvation History in a New Way - Paperback

by John Bergsma (Author)

"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.

Author Biography

John Bergsma is a theology professor at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. He served as a Protestant pastor for four years before entering the Catholic Church in 2001 while pursuing a doctorate specializing in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls from the University of Notre Dame.

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. His popular books include 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.