04 Laments 1 (Personal laments)

Today we will be exploring the lament psalms that are written about personal tragedy. There are two basic types: penitential psalms, which deal with the conviction of personal sin, and more general laments, which are inspired by illness, betrayal, or fear.

Watch This

Read This

David Bjorlin, “The Courage to Lament: An Analysis of Mainline Hymnody,” Liturgy 27, no. 1 (January 1, 2012): 28–37.
Bernstein, Leonard, The Joy of Music, “What ever happened to the Great American Symphony?”
Psalms 22, 41, 42, 43, 69 with commentaries in Polan textbook.
(Optional) Steven M Bryan, “Consumed by Zeal: John’s Use of Psalm 69:9 and the Action in the Temple,” Bulletin for Biblical Research 21, no. 4 (2011): 479–94.

Liturgy

Liturgies for severe illness, fear, or grief

Journal Exercise

Exercise for Day 4

Today's Class Activities

Theology: Lament Psalms, Asceticism, Penitential, Lent, Fridays, Fasting
Classwork/small group: Creativity; Psalm 22 (Jewish commentary + Polan), Psalm 69 in the context of the Passion

New music practice after this class:

Music Practice 1: Introduction to Singing

Highlights from Class

Understanding the Role of Lament in Liturgical Tradition: Lament plays a crucial role in the Liturgy of the Hours, providing a way to express personal and communal grief, and bridging the gap between personal experiences and broader cosmic suffering.
Personal, Communal, and Cosmic Dimensions of Lament: Lament functions on multiple levels—individual (personal healing), communal (shared grief), and cosmic (connection to suffering on a larger scale).
Addressing the Disparity Between Ideal and Reality: Lament helps navigate the disparity between the ideals presented in religious texts and the harsh realities of the world, offering a way to create emotional space for solidarity.
The Frequency of Lament in the Psalms: A significant portion of the Psalms (66 out of 150) are laments, which highlights their importance in religious expression and their role in processing suffering.
The Structure of Lament Psalms: Lament Psalms typically follow a structure of addressing God, presenting a complaint (often direct about fear or anger), and concluding with a turn toward hope. Psalm 88 is a notable exception, ending in unresolved despair.
The Therapeutic Power of Lament: Lament can be therapeutic, providing a way to express grief openly, which prevents internalizing pain and allows for communal sharing of burdens.
Transformation Through Lament: Repetitive patterns in both Psalms and music can shift from cycles of regret to hope, demonstrating how lament can transform suffering into a constructive emotional and spiritual process.
Bird Talker's Song as a Modern Lament: The song analyzed functions similarly to lament Psalms, using repetition and reflection to process personal struggles, offering a space for emotional and spiritual exploration.
Music as a Tool for Communal Lament: Singing together in a communal setting can create solidarity, offering a shared emotional experience that alleviates fear and strengthens bonds.
Ethical and Theological Implications of Lament: Lament expands the emotional and spiritual range of the community, deepening its relationship with God and others, while contributing to theological and ecclesial practices.