FREE ONLINE COURSE

Sunday, Nov. 30 - Saturday, Dec. 27

Jesus and his disciples knew the Psalms by heart - ancient prayers once offered in the Temple. Today, these sacred songs continue to echo in churches around the world, forming the rhythm of daily prayer and liturgy fo the faithful.

The Psalms are more than beautiful poetry; they mirror the journey of the human soul. They teach us, guide us, and model faithful responses to life’s trials and triumphs.

In this exciting course, you’ll explore this unique and central book of the Bible and discover the profound power of prayer contained in the Psalms. Join us and uncover how these timeless prayers can inspire your own spiritual life, deepen your connection to God, and transform the way you pray.

How is this course structured?

This non-credit course is being offered online using the seminary's learning-management system, Canvas. Upon signing up for the course, students will receive a username and password for accessing the online class.

The class will be conducted online giving students the freedom to engage with the material and complete course tasks around their own schedule. The class will consist of four modules which can be completed according to the individual's own pace.

Each module will be hosted by Fr. Brian Meldrum or Dr. Kevin Clarke and will include:

- Lecture Videos (~20 minutes)

- Lectio Divina Exercise (~10 minutes)

- Personal Assessment Quiz (~5 minutes)

- Supplemental Reading Material

The goal of the course is not to deliver a high level of rigor or stress, but instead engage Catholics who want to learn more about their faith.

Consider this a personal study or retreat experience, done at your own pace. This is an opportunity to grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord and with others.

What will be covered?

Module 1: Poetry as Prayer in the Bible
Module 2: The Psalms in Christian Life and Liturgy
Module 3: The Fathers as Wise Guides to the Psalter
Module 4: The Psalms as a Mirror of the Soul

presented by:

Father Brian Meldrum was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit in 2015. Before entering seminary, he studied music education and worked as a parish musician and theatre director. Father Meldrum holds Bachelor of Philosophy and Master of Divinity degrees from Sacred Heart Major Seminary, a Baccalaureate of Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, and Licentiate and Doctoral degrees in Sacred Theology from the Catholic University of America, the latter completed in 2023. He currently teaches scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where he also serves as the director of graduate pastoral formation and director of liturgy.

Dr. Kevin Clarke is the Dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry and Associate Professor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where he oversees the formation programs for lay students. He is an expert on the patristic interpretation of Scripture as well as on the thought of St. Maximus the Confessor (d. 662). He has a translation of Maximus's theological and polemical works coming out in the Fathers of the Church Series (CUA, 2026). He has co-edited books on Maximus the Confessor in the Latin West (Brill, 2026) and on Patristic Spirituality (Brill, 2022). He has published many popular articles and peer-reviewed essays. He has served as an educator for a decade and a half.