Buby's ongoing study of Hebrew, his many years of involvement in Christian-Jewish dialogue, and his daily reflection on the psalms have been brought to fruition in this book. The subtitle aptly describes its focus, Biblical and Spiritual Reflections on the Psalms. The reflections are relatively short, a page or two at the most. However, within this framework the author provides the historical and literary information one might need to appreciate the scope and depth of the theological message of the psalm. No biblical text is provided, but he suggests that at least two different versions should be consulted as the reflections are being used. This is a fine resource for biblical prayer. --Dianne Bergant, C.S.A. in The Bible Today, May/June 2006

Psalm connection: Reading and praying the psalms can be an in-depth experience, with the right guide. For Marianist Fr. Bertrand A. Buby, the key to reading, understanding and praying the psalms is experiencing them with lebh Shomea, a listening heart. With A Listening Heart: Biblical and Spiritual Reflections on the Psalms is best read with the psalms at hand -- reading the original and commentary one right after the other. The short reflections help to explain the context and the personal understanding that comes from Fr. Buby, who has a lifetime of working with and taking apart words and ideas. The author has taken all 150 psalms in order and offers salient points to remember as you read them. An open heart and attentive ear are required to gain the maximum benefit from the prayers and prayer time. --Crux of the News, May 30, 2005

Marianist Father Bertrand A. Buby's new book, With a Listening Heart: Biblical and Spiritual Reflections on the Psalms, is the fruit of many years of daily meditation on these sacred texts. Happily for us, Buby recorded his thoughts in a prayer journal. Although done for his own spirituality, at a point in time his passion and energy for the psalms came together with the "listening heart" theme and launched him into writing this book that demonstrates how, in his words, "the psalms are the heartbeat of prayer in the Bible. They are the responses of people who are in love with God."
          Father Buby tries to get at the heart of the message by attuning his own heart and mind to the central ideas in each psalm: "I attempt to have a listening heart for what the poet is saying." Father credits his listening heart to his Marianist Family of lay branches and the spiritual Affiliates of the Society of Mary and the Daughters of Mary. "They have shared their spirit, prayers, and friendship throughout the years."
          Buby's process is, first of all, reading a particular psalm from Hebrew texts, for which his fifty years of studying the language have prepared him well. Through his long involvement in the Dayton Christian-Jewish Dialogue, he has listened to, prayed with, studied with, and celebrated with many in the Jewish community, attuning himself to their perspectives, out of which have come insights and reflections that are both fresh and revealing.
          Based on the premise that knowledge gained from study can enhance meditation, he next turns to one or more of his twenty Christian and Jewish commentaries to confirm his own "take" on the psalm in question before providing some scholarly background on it. For instance, to some psalms he assigns a title -- such as, "true wisdom," "poetic justice," "a cry for the oppressed," or "an antidote for murmuring" -- as an introduction. In other cases he provides a one-sentence preview, such as, "What a magnificent description of a storm." "A psalm of two different moods," or "An individual lifts his/her soul up to God." Some psalms are then classified as to literary genre: lamentation, thanksgiving, royal hymn, instruction, supplication, etc. Some psalms are further designated as either morning praise or night prayer. The background material is free flowing, with no formal lock-step format, rather it appears based on what Buby spontaneously judges would be helpful to the reader.
          Next, the text of the psalm itself is addressed in terms of structure, images, historic background (time and place), emotions expressed, titles used, or the situation at hand. This step, as well as the preceding one, helps the reader prepare to approach the text of the psalm itself with a listening heart.
          The final step in the process is the addition of Father Buby's own personal reflections. One example, from Psalm 64: "I relate this psalm to the power of fear which often cripples us from doing things. It often makes us immobile, anxious, and depressed. Praying this psalm can help us to be aware of fear and to overcome it along with human respect, realizing and trusting in God who overturns false fears and useless worries that we suffer from time to time." Another example, from Psalm 65: "I find myself summoning up my sentiments and devotion in verse 5. 'Happy the one whom Thou chosest, and bringeth near, to dwell in the courts.'" Or from Psalm 70: "Often such direct and simple prayer to God is just what is needed. It is like a javelin thrown into the heavens to catch God's attention. We need help right away. We, like the psalmist, are among the 'Anawim,' the poor of God who depend totally on God. No one else is able to help. We end with the pslam's plea: 'O Lord, tarry not (verse 6).'" As a self-described septuagenarian, Father finds Psalm 71 consoling, "a handy compendium for psalms that have an individual and personal tone.... This is an excellent prayer for growing old gracefully."
          Studying and praying the psalms under Buby's educated and personal guidance, as he teaches us how to listen and what to listen for, is a sound spiritual move, a source of encouragement, and an introduction to the two focal words in the Psalter, "Help!" and "Hallelujah!" -- emphasizing two basic prayer stances: on our knees begging for help, and standing tall with arms outstretched in gratitude and praise. --Marianist Soundings.

Because the psalms are used so often as a source for prayer, it should be little wonder that they are the subject of spiritual reflections like this one. Buby's book takes a highly personal approach that may be attractive to other Christian readers though the list of acknowledgments leads the reader to expect insights from the rabbinic approach to the reading and praying of the psalms -- an expectation that is only partly met. The book begins with an essay that explains the book's title. This is followed by a brief review of the literary types of the psalms and suggestions for praying the psalms. The reflections on individual psalms are short (less than two pages on the average). As the subtitle of the book suggests, the reflections begin by setting the psalm in its biblical context. This is a prelude to a short paragraph sketching the author's spiritual reflections. The text of the psalms is not given; however, Buby suggests that each psalm be read in at least two modern translations before reading his reflections. Each psalm is treated in succession and independently of related psalms. The very brief treatment given to each psalm does not allow for the kind of probing that can uncover the depth of religious insight found in the psalms. The book may help a person who has little or no acquaintance with the psalms. For others, there are more insightful treatments available. --Leslie J. Hoppe, OFM in Catholic Library World, Vol 76, #2, December 2005