Morning prayer is to…  

The essence of morning prayer is to thank God for sleep, rest and regained strength and to pray that He will help us do everything to His glory. Express this to Him with your mind and with your whole heart.
–Saint Theophan the Recluse (1815-1894)

A type of prayer…

As for meditation, I would like you to be a disciple of prayer, because without prayer there is no habitual union with God. You need a type of prayer which is suited to your temperament, your situation, your inner inclination, consequently, your heart.
–Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868)

Prayer is the only…

I feel a great attraction toward prayer… It is the only means of purifying us, of uniting us to God, and of allowing God to unite himself to us and be glorified in us. We must pray to obtain the apostolic virtues; pray that we may use them to help others, and pray also that we may not lose them while serving others.
–Saint Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682)

A psalm is…

A psalm is
a blessing on the lips of the people,
a hymn in praise of God,
the assembly’s homage,
a general acclamation,
a word that speaks for all,
the voice of the Church,
a confession of faith in song.
It is the voice of complete assent,
the joy of freedom,
a cry of happiness,
the echo of gladness.
It soothes the temper,
distracts from care,
lightens the burden of sorrow.
–St. Ambrose of Milan (339-397)