This year’s Summer School is focusing in a special way on Psalms. The Book of Psalms was the prayer book of Israel, and therefore of Jesus himself as well. From earliest times, Christians made it their prayer book too, often seeing the psalms as foreshadowing the life and ministry of Christ. Jesus himself pointed towards this kind of understanding when he said, ‘everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the PSALMS must be fulfilled’ (Lk 24:44). While the use of texts from the Book of Psalms during the Eucharist is primarily associated with the song after the first reading, the Missal actually foresees the use of verses from the Psalms at the Entrance, the Preparation of the Gifts and Communion too.

The Psalms are poetic prayers, and the range of themes and emotions they express is extraordinary. As Pope Francis said recently, ‘in them, we encounter the entire gamut of human emotions, from praise, petition and joyful thanksgiving to anguished supplication for deliverance from life’s bitter disappointments and sorrows’. We will explore several of these different themes over the course of the week. Each day’s video will include short liturgical and scriptural teaching interspersed with the singing of Psalm settings old and new. Each day’s presentation will begin and end with sung prayer, animated by ICMA Board members. The first day will also include a welcome from ICMA Chairperson, Mary Dee, and a message from ICMA President, Archbishop Éamon Martin.