We hear often that “the word of God is living and effective” (Heb 4:12). But what does that really mean for our day-to-day lives? A Joyful Noise reveals how the Psalms, sung by everyone from King David to Jesus to the Early Church Fathers to your church choir, are deeply rich and meaningful for our lives today. Author Mike Aquilina shows how to “change the racket” of modern life—to turn from noise that distracts us toward the Psalms, those ancient songs that ring with eternal truths to this very day. Each of the thirty-five Psalms found within are paired with easy-to-read modern translations of meditations from the Fathers of the Church. The text includes questions to help reflect on the Psalms and apply these meditations to everyday life. Mike Aquilina invites you to participate more fully in a tradition as old as the People of God: to turn from the clamor of life to make a joyful noise to the Lord!

About the author:

Mike Aquilina is the author of more than fifty books, including the best-selling The Fathers of the Church: An Introduction to the First Christian Teachers; The Mass of the Early Christians; and How the Choir Converted the World: Through Hymns, With Hymns, In Hymns. His reviews, essays, and journalism have appeared in First Things, Touchstone, National Catholic Register, and elsewhere. Aquilina is the Executive Vice President of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology and along with Dr. Scott Hahn has hosted several popular series on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He and his wife Terri are parents to six and grandparents to two.

Endorsements:

“What a joy to read the Psalms as they were read in the early Church. For us, as for the first Christians, the Psalms are a treasury of counsel for ordinary living, insight into the power of the sacraments, praise for God’s glory and mercy, and love for his kingdom, which is the Catholic Church. The Fathers call King David to witness as they preach fidelity in marriage, kindness in speech, and even the mercies of purgatory. As we pray this book, we recognize that ancient Church as our own, and we raise our prayer in unison—no, in communion—with the saints of long ago, who are living still.”
Scott Hahn
Professor of Scripture and Theology
Franciscan University of Steubenville

“The most beautiful book of the Bible together with the most beloved teachers in history. Another exquisite pairing from the deft hand of Mike Aquilina.”
Matthew Leonard
Author, Louder Than Words

“This is a beautiful little book. A kickstarter for Christ-centered prayer. This is for everyone who wants to pray like the first Christians prayed—and for everyone who wants to pray in the company of the first Christians.”
David Scott
Author, The Love that Made Mother Teresa