Full course description
The Psalms:
Prayer at the Heart of the Scripture
Sunday, November 30, 2025 - Saturday, December 27, 2025
Instructors
Fr. Brian Meldrum
Assistant Professor of Theology, Graduate Pastoral Formation Director, & Director of Liturgy, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Dr. Kevin Clarke
Associate Professor of Theology & Dean of the Institute for Lay Ministry, Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Teaching Assistant
Melissa Pordon
Course Description
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 for 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.
This course is not intended to be academically strenuous but to provide a shallow-entry point for those who have busy lives and need flexibility. This course is designed for personal enrichment and does not count towards any academic credit at Sacred Heart Major Seminary or for any certification in the Archdiocese of Detroit.
Contact
For questions about course content contact the instructor/teaching assistants using the Inbox on the red menu bar on the left side of your online course page.
For technical support see the Tech Support guide in the Welcome module of the course.
Textbooks
Required Readings:
No required texts for this course
Schedule of Topics:
- Introductory Module: Available beginning November 3, 2025
- Module 1: Poetry as Prayer in the Bible (November 30 - December 6)
- Module 2: The Psalms in Christian Life and Liturgy (December 7 - December 13)
- Module 3: The Fathers as Wise Guides to the Psalter (December 14 - December 20)
- Module 4: The Psalms as a Mirror of the Soul (December 21 - December 27)
Weekly Activities:
The following learning activities are available to students each week. There are no specific requirements for participating in the course. However, those who complete all the videos and self-tests will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course.
- Weekly video lectures
- Weekly recommended readings and links to additional learning resources
- Weekly self-test to see what you’ve learned
- Open online discussion for participants to share with each other what they are learning and encourage each other
The time commitment is flexible for this course. There is one weekly video lecture (~20 min). Participants who are interested in completing all recommended readings and course tasks can expect to spend around 2-3 hours/week on the course. However, levels of participation and engagement are up to the discretion of the individual.
All Equip Courses Include These Features:
- A dedicated online learning support coordinator to offer prompt assistance
- 24/7 access to the digital learning environment
- Engagement as a community of connected learners who share a common faith
- Extended access to course content after the course end date
- Learning environment support provided by Canvas (our learning management platform)
- Technical assistance provided by Sacred Heart’s IT staff
- A Certificate of Completion is awarded to those who complete the course learning activities
Technical Requirements: