Christian Art | Prayer With Jesus Christ
Office Of Readings | Week 10, Saturday, Ordinary Time | A Reading From The Discourse Of Saint Ambrose On The Psalms | I Will Sing With The Spirit And I Will Sing With The Mind Also
‘I shall sing in spirit and with understanding.’
‘I Shall Sing In Spirit, And With Understanding’
Saint Ambrose begins his meditation on the Psalms by praising their special role in Scripture: not simply as theological texts, but as a unique blending of prayer, beauty, and doctrine. He writes that a psalm is ‘a blessing on the lips’, ‘a cry of happiness’, and ‘a promise of peace and harmony’. Such language reflects the early Christian sense that the Psalms were the heartbeat of both private devotion and public worship — the school of prayer, to use a phrase echoed by Saint Augustine and, centuries later, by Pope Benedict XVI.
Historical And Theological Context
In the 4th century, when Ambrose was Bishop of Milan, Christianity had emerged from persecution into imperial favour. The Psalms, long central to Jewish worship, became a cornerstone of Christian liturgy and monastic life. Ambrose introduced antiphonal singing into the Latin West and was deeply invested in using sacred music as a means of forming the heart and mind in God.
He saw the Psalms as more than sacred poetry. They were, he says, ‘a gymnasium for the soul’ — a place of training in virtue, confession, praise, and lament. In a largely oral culture, the psalms offered a way of internalising Scripture through song. For Ambrose, singing the Psalms was not entertainment, but edification: a source of strength by day, and solace by night.
Patristic Comparisons
Ambrose’s esteem for the Psalms is echoed by Saint Augustine, who considered them the voice of Christ speaking in and through the Church. Like Ambrose, Augustine believed that in the Psalms we find every human emotion made holy by being directed to God. He wrote, ‘If the Psalm prays, you pray; if it laments, you lament; if it rejoices, you rejoice.’
Ambrose also draws directly from Saint Paul, referencing 1 Corinthians 14:15 — ‘I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also’. This Pauline exhortation affirms the union of devotion and intellect, of feeling and faith, which is so central to Ambrose’s theology. For him, the psalmist is not only a singer but a prophet and teacher; his music teaches as it moves.
Musical And Spiritual Imagery
Ambrose’s most powerful image is that of the Christian soul as a lyre. Just as David used the ‘dead gut of strings’ to produce harmony, so must the believer die to sin and let virtue create harmony in their life. The music of the Psalms is not merely audible — it is lived. It is the song of repentance, thanksgiving, justice, and love.
This musical vision is deeply theological. Ambrose suggests that true harmony comes not from vocal talent but from the sanctified life. The Christian, by tuning their soul to the divine will, becomes a living psalm — a song of praise ascending to God. In this way, he presents the Psalter as both mirror and model: it reflects our inner struggles and leads us into the song of heaven.
A Reading From The Discourse Of Saint Ambrose On The Psalms | I Will Sing With The Spirit And I Will Sing With The Mind Also
What is more pleasing than a psalm? David expresses it well: Praise the Lord, for a song of praise is good: let there be praise of our God with gladness and grace. Yes, a psalm is a blessing on the lips of the people, a hymn in praise of God, the assembly’s homage, a general acclamation, a word that speaks for all, the voice of the Church, a confession of faith in song. It is the voice of complete assent, the joy of freedom, a cry of happiness, the echo of gladness. It soothes the temper, distracts from care, lightens the burden of sorrow. It is a source of security at night, a lesson in wisdom by day. It is a shield when we are afraid, a celebration of holiness, a vision of serenity, a promise of peace and harmony. It is like a lyre, evoking harmony from a blend of notes. Day begins to the music of a psalm. Day closes to the echo of a psalm.
In a psalm, instruction vies with beauty. We sing for pleasure. We learn for our profit. What experience is not covered by a reading of the psalms? I come across the words: A song for the beloved, and I am aflame with desire for God’s love. I go through God’s revelation in all its beauty, the intimations of resurrection, the gifts of his promise. I learn to avoid sin. I see my mistake in feeling ashamed of repentance for my sins.
What is a psalm but a musical instrument to give expression to all the virtues? The psalmist of old used it, with the aid of the Holy Spirit, to make earth re-echo the music of heaven. He used the dead gut of strings to create harmony from a variety of notes, in order to send up to heaven the song of God’s praise. In doing so he taught us that we must first die to sin, and then create in our lives on earth a harmony through virtuous deeds, if the grace of our devotion is to reach up to the Lord.
David thus taught us that we must sing an interior song of praise, like Saint Paul, who tells us: I shall pray in spirit, and also with understanding; I shall sing in spirit, and also with understanding. We must fashion our lives and shape our actions in the light of the things that are above. We must not allow pleasure to awaken bodily passions, which weigh our soul down instead of freeing it. The holy prophet told us that his songs of praise were to celebrate the freeing of his soul, when he said: I shall sing to you, God, on the Lyre, holy one of Israel; my lips will rejoice when I have sung to you, and my soul also, which you have set free.
Prayer With Jesus
Lord God,
You have given us the Psalms as a sacred songbook for the journey of faith.
Through their words, may we learn to weep with the sorrowful, rejoice with the faithful, and praise You with a heart made clean.
Teach us to sing with the spirit and with understanding,
That our lives may echo the harmony of Your peace,
And our actions be music rising to Your throne.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Glossary Of Christian Terms
- Psalm: A sacred song or hymn, particularly one of the 150 in the biblical Book of Psalms, traditionally attributed to King David.
- Psalter: Another term for the Book of Psalms, often used to refer to versions arranged for liturgical use.
- Antiphonal singing: A method of singing where two groups or choirs alternate verses or phrases.
- Catechesis: Religious instruction given to a person in preparation for Christian baptism or confirmation.
- Lyre: A stringed instrument used in ancient times, often associated with King David in the biblical tradition.
- Die to sin: A theological expression referring to turning away from sinful behaviours and embracing a new life in Christ.
- Harmony (spiritual): In this context, living in alignment with God’s will, producing a life of virtue and peace.
We have known the Father through the Son. Indeed, Jesus now tells the disciples that they have actually seen God the Father. This is the vision of faith, and of our knowledge, as Jesus tells us that he is in the Father and the Father in him. The unknowable, in this life to our natural senses, has become a knowable truth of faith [ … ]
King James Audio Bible | KJV | King James Version King Herod There were several individuals named Herod who played significant roles in ancient history, particularly in the history of the Roman Empire and the region of Palestine. Here is a brief overview of the most notable Herods: Herod the Great: Also known as Herod I, he was a Roman client king of Judea, ruling from 37 BC to 4 BC. He is perhaps most famous for his role in the biblical story of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. Herod Antipas: Also known as Herod II, he was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist and later had him beheaded. Herod Agrippa I: Also known as Herod III, he was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned the apostle Paul. Herod Agrippa II: Also known as Herod IV, he was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over parts of Palestine and Syria from 50 to 100 AD. He is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who heard Paul’s defence before the Roman governor Festus. These rulers, who were known as the Herodian dynasty, were not Jewish but rather descended from a Greek family that had converted to Judaism. Despite this, they were appointed as rulers by the Roman Empire and were generally unpopular among the Jewish population due to their collaboration with the Roman occupation and their often brutal methods of rule. Herod The Great Herod the Great, also known as Herod I, was a Roman client king of Judea who ruled from 37 BC to 4 BC. He was born in 73 BC in Idumea, a region in southern Palestine, and was the son of Antipater the Idumean, an Edomite who had been appointed as a governor of Judea by the Roman general Pompey. Herod rose to power after the Roman general Julius Caesar appointed him as king of Judea in 40 BC. He consolidated his power over the next few years by defeating his rivals and establishing himself as the undisputed ruler of the region. As king, Herod embarked on a massive building program that included the expansion and renovation of the Temple in Jerusalem, the construction of the port city of Caesarea Maritima, and the fortification of several cities in Judea. He also commissioned the construction of a number of palaces and other buildings, including the famous Herodium, a palace-fortress located south of Jerusalem. Despite his many accomplishments, Herod was a controversial figure who was known for his harsh rule and his willingness to use violence to maintain his power. He was married several times and had a large number of children, several of whom he had executed when they posed a threat to his rule. One of the most famous stories associated with Herod is the biblical account of the birth of Jesus, in which it is said that he ordered the slaughter of all male children in Bethlehem under the age of two in an attempt to kill the newborn Jesus. According to the New Testament, Jesus was saved by his parents, who fled to Egypt, and later returned to Palestine after Herod’s death. Herod died in 4 BC at the age of 70, leaving a legacy as one of the most significant rulers in the history of ancient Palestine. Herod Antipas Herod Antipas, also known as Herod II, was the son of Herod the Great and ruled over Galilee and Perea, two regions in Palestine, from 4 BC to 39 AD. He was born in 20 BC and was named after his father’s patron, the Roman emperor Augustus. Like his father, Herod Antipas was known for his ambitious building projects, including the construction of the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee and the expansion of the Temple in Jerusalem. He was also known for his political cunning and his ability to navigate the complex political landscape of the Roman Empire. Herod Antipas is mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who imprisoned John the Baptist, a prominent religious figure who criticized Herod’s marriage to his sister-in-law, Herodias. According to the New Testament, John was eventually beheaded at the request of Herodias’ daughter, Salome, who danced for Herod and his guests at a banquet. Herod Antipas is also mentioned in the New Testament as the ruler who oversaw the trial and execution of Jesus. Although he initially wanted to release Jesus, he ultimately handed him over to the Roman authorities at the urging of the Jewish religious leaders. Herod Antipas’ rule came to an end in 39 AD when the Roman emperor Caligula exiled him to Gaul, modern-day France. He died in exile a few years later. Herod Agrippa I Herod Agrippa I, also known as Herod III, was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled over Judea from 41 to 44 AD. He was born in 10 BC and was the son of Aristobulus and Bernice, two of Herod the Great’s children. Herod Agrippa I was well-educated and fluent in both Greek and Hebrew, and he was highly regarded by the Roman authorities for his loyalty and his ability to maintain order in Judea. He was appointed as king of Judea in 41 AD by the Roman emperor Claudius, who was impressed by his abilities and saw him as a reliable ally in the region. As king, Herod Agrippa I continued the building projects of his grandfather and expanded the Temple in Jerusalem. He also implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the lives of the […]
Saint Mark, also known as John Mark, holds a significant place in early Christian history as the author of the Gospel of Mark and a companion to both Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Born in Jerusalem, Mark grew up in a devout Jewish household. His mother, Mary, was an early Christian convert whose home served as a meeting place for the apostles and early believers (Acts 12:12) [ … ]
