THE HOURS OF OUR LADY #25

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 authors of the Psalms spoke to God out of their own minds and hearts, and not in all particulars as a modern Christian would be moved to pray. And yet . . . . this was equally true of our Divine Lord in His recitation of the Psalms. For instance, David's words of sorrow for sin could speak for nothing in the conscience of our sinless Redeemer. We, indeed, can borrow these words in all their force. But on the part of Christ only some other intention--perhaps that of intercession for us, offered as if in our name--could give them sincerity as words of prayer. Furthermore, each Psalmist's place in history and position in society, his personal needs, his particular trials and enemies, and his exact experience of divine protection, were not identically those of Christ, as neither are they ours. Our Lord could not verify the Psalmist's situation as His own, and yet He could and did, WHEN HE WORSHIPED IN THE TEMPLE, ADOPT THE PSALMIST'S WORDS TO EXPRESS HIS OWN SENTIMENTS OF PRAISE AND PRAYER."

 

[To be continued]