ABSTRACT
The Book of Psalms not only offers words to pray, and even an invitation to pray, it teaches us how to pray. Prayer involves more than words or even a willingness to participate. The psalms take us into a world of prayer and seek to help us find our way in that world. They set before us a particular way of praying and understanding prayer. They teach us how to pray as well as offer words with which to pray. The psalms are not simply a handy source of 'prayer texts', either to support our own feelings, sighs etc., or to fill our mouths with acceptable words. The psalms, of course, are not the only resource for prayer. Nor is their way of praying the only way. But over two millennia of Christian tradition, they have been the life-long guide and companion in prayer to countless people of faith. They have become die backbone of the Church's prayer life.
