THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #22

We continue with our posting of the Introduction to The Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary:

 

(The translation of the Psalms and the brief introductory comments on the Psalms of this Little Office of the Blessed Virgin are taken largely from: The Psalms and Canticles by George O'Neill, S.J. [Bruce Publishing Co. 1937.] The late Father O'Neill's work has long been out of print.)

[Continued]

INTRODUCTION

 

"The Messianic Psalms, picturing the God-Man and His redemptive office, show the means by which the gap between the Divinity and the world by sin, is eventually closed and the original oneness of man with God is reestablished. Moreover, it is to be noted that, even in Psalms not strictly to be termed Messianic, the speaker or man placed face to face with God is frequently personified as the ideal Servant of Yahweh (God), the Messias, as the destined representative of mankind before its heavenly Father. Thus the Psalmist often speaks in the name of Christ, or at least in terms that may readily be placed in the Saviour's mouth." 

(Simon, Scripture Manual).

 Pope Pius X in the Vatican Gardens

Hence Pius X in his Constitution, Divino Afflatu says: "Who will not be inflamed with love for the carefully foreshadowed figure of Christ our Blessed Redeemer, whose voice St. Augustine heard in all the Psalms either singing or sighing or rejoicing in hope or mourning in present sorrow?" 

[To be continued]