Gratitude to The Lord Who Frees Us From Fear of Death (Pope's general audience)

Vatican Information Service ^ | May 25, 2005 | Vatican Information Service

[ELS]

GRATITUDE TO THE LORD WHO FREES US FROM FEAR OF DEATH

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2005 (VIS) - In his weekly general audience, which was held this morning in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke on Psalm 115, "Thanksgiving in the Temple."

Benedict XVI pointed out to the 27,000 people present that this psalm is mentioned by St. Paul when he tells the Corinthians: "Since we have the same spirit of faith as he had who wrote 'I believed and so I spoke,' we too believe, and so we speak." The Pope referred to the spiritual harmony between the Apostle and the Psalmist "in serene faith, and sincere witness, despite human suffering and weakness." This psalm, together with Psalm 114, constitutes "a single act of thanksgiving, addressed to the Lord Who frees us from the terror of death."

The text of the psalm describes "a tormented past. The Psalmist has held high the torch of faith, even when the bitterness of desperation and sorrow rise to his lips. Around him was an icy wall of hatred and deceit, because men appeared false and unfaithful. However, the supplication becomes gratitude because the Lord has raised His faithful servant from the dark abyss of falsehood."

In off-the-cuff remarks, the Pope then added that "Christ was the first martyr, and gave His own life in a context of hatred and falsehood; yet He transformed His passion into 'Eucharist' that is 'joy and salvation'."

Returning to his prepared catechesis, he continued: "The Psalmist prepares, then, to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving, in which he will drink at the ritual chalice, the cup of sacred libation that is a sign of recognition for having been set free."

The Pope indicated how the Psalmist bears witness of his own faith in the presence of all the people and how, "having been saved from death, feels himself to be the Lord's 'servant,' and 'son of His handmaiden;' a beautiful Oriental expression indicating a person born in the same house as his master. The Psalmist humbly and joyfully professes his association with the House of God, with the family of created beings united to him in love and faithfulness."

"The entire people of God," he concluded, "thank the Lord of life, Who never abandons the just in the dark bosom of pain and death, but leads then to hope and to life."

At the end of the audience, Benedict XVI invited everyone to participate in the Mass he will celebrate at 7 p.m. tomorrow, Solemnity of Corpus Christi, in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, and in the traditional procession to St. Mary Major, in order "to express together faith in Christ, Who is present in the Eucharist."

AG/PSALM 115/...VIS 050525 (460)

[ELS]

The Pope's English summary of his catechesis:

Psalm 115 (one hundred and fifteen) is a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord who has faithfully sustained the psalmist in times of tribulation. It begins as a personal prayer but then develops into a public act of worship. The psalmist sees himself in the temple, before the people, offering a sacrifice of thanksgiving and raising the “cup of salvation”. Our Christian tradition discerns in this psalm an invitation to trust in the Lord who never abandons his faithful servants. The “cup of salvation”, evokes both the Eucharist and the Lord’s Passion, and calls each of us to engage courageously in our daily spiritual combat.

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Psalm 115 (Douay-Rheims version):

Credidi. This in the Hebrew is joined with the foregoing psalm, and continues to express the faith and gratitude of the psalmist.

Alleluia.10 I have believed, therefore have I spoken; but I have been humbled exceedingly.

11 I said in my excess: Every man is a liar. 12 What shall I render to the Lord, for all the things he hath rendered unto me? 13 I will take the chalice of salvation; and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 14 I will pay my vows to the Lord before all his people: 15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

16 O Lord, for I am thy servant: I am thy servant, and the son of thy handmaid. Thou hast broken my bonds: 17 I will sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. 18 I will pay my vows to the Lord in the sight of all his people: 19 In the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem.

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Psalm 115 (Latin Vulgate version):

10 alleluia credidi propter quod locutus sum ego autem humiliatus sum nimis

11 ego dixi in excessu meo omnis homo mendax 12 quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi 13 calicem salutaris accipiam et nomen Domini invocabo 14 vota mea Domino reddam coram omni populo eius 15 pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum eius

16 o Domine quia ego servus tuus ego servus tuus et filius ancillae tuae disrupisti vincula mea 17 tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis et in nomine Domini invocabo 18 vota mea Domino reddam in conspectu omnis populi eius 19 in atriis domus Domini in medio tui Hierusalem

[LisaFab]

Just beautiful. Thanks.

[steve8714]

Enjoy every second, do your best and give thanks to Him.

[Salvation]

Finally found that Psalm here -- numbering is different. Maybe someone smarter than me knows why.

Psalms
Chapter 116

1

¹ I love the LORD, who listened to my voice in supplication,

2

Who turned an ear to me on the day I called.

3

² I was caught by the cords of death; the snares of Sheol had seized me; I felt agony and dread.

4

Then I called on the name of the LORD, "O LORD, save my life!"

5

Gracious is the LORD and just; yes, our God is merciful.

6

The LORD protects the simple; I was helpless, but God saved me.

7

Return, my soul, to your rest; the LORD has been good to you.

8

For my soul has been freed from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling.

9

³ I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10

⁴ I kept faith, even when I said, "I am greatly afflicted!"

11

I said in my alarm, "No one can be trusted!"

12

How can I repay the LORD for all the good done for me?

13

⁵ I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the LORD.

14

I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.

15

⁶ Too costly in the eyes of the LORD is the death of his faithful.

16

LORD, I am your servant, your servant, the child of your maidservant; you have loosed my bonds.

17

I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

18

I will pay my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,

19

In the courts of the house of the LORD, in your midst, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!

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Footnotes

¹ [Psalm 116] A thanksgiving in which the psalmist responds to divine rescue from mortal danger (Psalm 116:3-4) and from near despair (10-11) with vows and temple sacrifices (Psalm 116:13-14, 17-19). The Greek and Latin versions divide the psalm into two parts: Psalm 116:1-9 and 10-19, corresponding to its two major divisions.

² [3] The cords of death: death is personified here; it attempts to capture the psalmist with snares and nets. Cf Psalm 18:6.

³ [9] The land of the living: the phrase elsewhere is an epithet of the Jerusalem Temple (cf Psalm 27:13; 52:5; Isaiah 38:11). Hence the psalmist probably refers to being present to God in the temple.

⁴ [10] I kept faith, even when I said: even in the days of despair, the psalmist did not lose all hope.

⁵ [13] The cup of salvation: probably the libation of wine poured out in gratitude for rescue. Cf Exodus 25:29; Numbers 15:5, 7, 10.

⁶ [15] Too costly in the eyes of the LORD: the meaning is that the death of God's faithful is grievous to God, not that God is pleased with the death. Cf Psalm 72:14. In Wisdom 3:5-6 God accepts the death of the righteous as a sacrificial burnt offering.

[ELS]

Pope Benedict XVI meets with Chinese pilgrims from Hong Kong following his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 25, 2005. The pope will travel to the southern Italian city of Bari on May 28 for his first pilgrimage out of Rome. REUTERS/Osservatore Romano

Pope Benedict XVI arrives to lead his weekly audience in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican May 25, 2005. The pope will travel to the southern Italian city of Bari on May 28 for his first pilgrimage out of Rome. REUTERS/Max Rossi

[ELS]

Hmm, it looks like you posted Psalm 116. I posted Psalm 115, which is the one the Pope is talking about, in the first reply.

[Pyro7480]

From Pope Benedict XVI's greeting at his General Audience, Wednesday 25 May 2005:

Tomorrow, the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ, I will preside at Holy Mass at seven o’clock in the evening, in the square of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Afterwards our traditional procession to Saint Mary Major will take place. I cordially invite all of you to join this celebration where we give witness together to our faith in Christ, present in the Eucharist.

On the calendar according to the 1970 Missal (Novus Ordo), the Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ is on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday. It was formally celebrated on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday on the traditional calendar, as this this link states. I wonder if the Holy See has kept the traditional date, or if this is something Pope Benedict has decided to do. If it is something that he decided to do, it is a good sign for traditionalist Catholics.

Speaking of the traditionalist Catholics, most would be familiar with a verse from the Psalm that Pope Benedict reflected upon at this audience (Psalm 115).

Quid retribuam Domino pro omnibus quae retribuit mihi?calicem salutaris accipiam et nomen Domini invocabo.
What return shall I make to the Lord for all He has given me? I will take the chalice of salvation, and I will call upon the Name of the Lord.

The priest says these words after he receives the Body of Christ, and right before he receives the Precious Blood of the Lord.

[ELS]

On second thought, maybe it's your source - the USCCB site - that explains the discrepancy.

[Carolina]

He looks like he's about to fly!

[Pyro7480]

I believe Salvation posted Psalm 114 joined with Psalm 115, according to the "new" numbering of the Psalms.

[ELS]

Perhaps the ordo you referenced is only for the US? Maybe the Vatican has kept the observance on Thursday. Italy, I believe, will be observing Corpus Christi on Sunday when Benedict XVI will be celebrating the closing Mass of their Eucharistic Congress.

[ELS]

Other photos, which I didn't post, indicate that it was a windy day.

[Pyro7480]

Maybe the Vatican has kept the observance on Thursday

Thanks for the information. It supports my hypothesis that Pope Benedict has decided to restore the original date for the feast of Corpus Christi.

[ELS]

Has anyone (who doesn't have to work all day) been able to catch EWTN's airing of the Angelus prayer? Their schedule lists it as being aired at 11:45am ET, but whenever I have tried to record it, I end up recording the Rosary with Mother Angelica.

[livius]

I wonder if the Holy See has kept the traditional date [for Corpus Christi], or if this is something Pope Benedict has decided to do.

I noticed that, too. I wish they'd go back to those mid-week celebrations on the day itself - putting them all on Sunday essentially makes them disappear, which of course is probably what the folks behind this really wanted, anyway.

I think it's also a very important witness for people to see Catholics celebrating feast days on their own calendar. Having a public Corpus Christi procession on a week day makes an impact - heck, having alternate side of the street parking suspended in NYC so that Catholics could go to Mass on weekday Holy Days of Obligation also made an impact. It made the Church and its liturgical activities noticeable, rather than making it look as if we do everything possible to accomodate ourselves to secular schedules because our own practices really aren't that important after all.

[livius]

I think you're right - the dates for the celebration of certain feasts are at the discretion of the national bishops' councils. In the US, of course, they decided to change it, but I think it may not have been changed in various other countries.

[AnAmericanMother]

Four different numbering systems: Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Episcopalian (of course, the Episcopalians also USED TO use their own translation, per Abp. Cranmer, back when they were actually believers . . .)

[Mershon]

Amen. Not to mention the Holy Eucharist was instituted on Holy Thursday, as well as the connection to ordaining priests to the sacred priesthood.

[Pyro7480]

Corpus Christ Procession, Oxford (England), June 2004

[Carolina]

back when they were actually believers . . .

LOL!