My Soul Waits: Praying with Psalms through Advent, Christmas & Epiphany

by Martin Shannon, CJ
Paraclete Press, ISBN 978-161-126-19705
$14.99
 
Praying with the Palms through Advent, Christmas & Epiphany was first published in 2017 and as with all of his other tomes, a spiritual gift anytime but especially during the fast paced hustle bustle season prior to Christmas & after.  The author is an Episcopal priest, liturgist, and writer of materials for spiritual formation at his home, the Community of Jesus on Cape Cod.

A daily devotional from First Sunday of Advent though the feast of Epiphany on January 6th.  Each day features a different psalm and not in numerical order. Each devotional closes with a spiritual statement from one of the Church Fathers.  The footnotes list all of the Church Fathers referenced and a short biography on each one.
I have found reading the Psalms in this devotional a much more meaningful way to digest the full meaning that the Psalms’ can play in an individual’s spiritual growth.  Knowing that they were the first hymns of the Jewish faith or were often times set to music.  Many of the Psalms also appear in some of the most famous Oratorio’s written by J.S. Bach in particular and Handel’s Messiah.

This tome will allow families or individuals to enjoy the 12 days of Christmas in carrying their devotional time forward through the Feast of the Epiphany.

Reviewed by Kathryn Bunch