The Psalms are the oldest prayers in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. They are a lexicon of the human condition-assuring us that our hopes and fears and desires are just like the rest of humanity's, and that God is always with us. Joan Chittister holds up a favorite psalm for each day so that the prayer can become a benediction that pulsates in our hearts. 'Say this month's verse from the Psalms before every reading, ' she suggests. 'By the end of the month, say it from memory. It will find a soft spot in your heart. Most of all, it will bring your heart the comfort of the ages.'
