[Scriptum compendiosum Psalterii intentionem declarans]

This book was bought for the convent of the brothers of the Order of Canons Regular of the blessed Augustine, Bishop, from the legacy of Lord Georgius Petrus Vallis of Saint Nicholas ant? q? cō?

A Compendious Beginning to the Scripture Declaring and Expounding the Intention of the Psalter

A decorative initial 'M' in red and blue ink features intricate filigree penwork flourishes that extend significantly into the upper and left margins.

Manna was once manna the miraculous food of the Israelites. It held delight and every flavor of sweetness. In the same way, the poem of this book holds every spiritual teaching and is applicable to every sense of any intention. When it is sung with the mind, then these are the words of the Church praising God. When it is sung by the righteous, then these are the words of one giving thanks. When it is recited by a sinner, then these are the words of one praying to God for forgiveness. When it is chanted from the depths, then these are the words of one crying out to God from distress. And wherever the intention of the singer turns, the meaning of this book will soon conform to the affection of the singer. When he blesses, it blesses; when he curses, it curses. It curses the members of the devil, it blesses the members of Christ. Our charity collects this as if it were an enchiridion manual or handbook, so that one might hold the understanding, or even the memory, of all the psalms easily and without oblivion. For it is useful and healthy to understand what never ceases to be chanted, because it increases the understanding of devotions, and while that which is sung is understood, the mind, bound by understanding, does not wander. The understanding of those singing also brings the mind to Christ,

in individual psalms, which he made present; while they chant with understanding and mouth, they think, and without a doubt, one must pray more attentively. The psalm is Christ in your mind while you chant with your mouth; Christ is in your mouth while you meditate. By this meditation you will grasp the fruit, so that in these things both testaments occur to you. The devotion of the psalms conciliates the peace of Christ, generates the congratulation of the angels, stirs up ignited mental affections, purges evils, and puts demons to flight with the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, because they cannot endure the devotion of those who sing the psalms. The devotion of the psalms prepares your spirit for the Holy Spirit and bestows all gifts. The roots of the psalms are not fixed in the earth but in heaven, because Christ is there, who is the matter of all the psalms; and indeed, the fellowship of the Church, which is the body of Christ, is there, which also contains the greater part of the psalms. The Apostle teaches the devotion of singing psalms when he says: "I will sing with the spirit, I will sing with the mind." The psalmist teaches the angelic congratulation of those singing, when he acts, saying: "In the sight of the angels I will sing to you." The psalmist reveals that the holy angels are accustomed to be mixed in with those who sing, where he says: "The princes, that is, the angels, have arrived, joined to those who sing." Whence one must take care lest the angels depart on account of our sloth. For if good spirits distance themselves from us, who will withstand the assault of the evil ones?

Hain 14571.
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