Pope Encourages Prayer at the Start of the Day

Zenit News Agency ^ | January 16, 2003

[NYer]

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 15, 2003 (Zenit.org).- Beginning the day with prayer is the best way to face life's joys and difficulties, since it enables us to live close to God, says John Paul II.

The Pope dedicated today's general audience to a meditation on part of the longest Psalm, 118(119), in which the Psalmist rises before dawn to implore divine help. About 3,000 pilgrims attended the audience in Paul VI Hall.

The Pope's hope for all believers was "that every morning [we] open our eyes on daily life, on its joys and worries, invoking God so that he will be close to us and guide us with his word, which infuses serenity and grace."

The Psalm, found in the liturgy of lauds, invites us to invoke the help of God relentlessly. Prayer, the Pope said, is like "a dialogue, which begins when it is already night and the dawn has yet to arise, and continues throughout the day, in particular in the difficulties of life."

"At times the horizon is dark and stormy," he said. Quoting from the Psalm he added: "'Malicious persecutor draw near me; they are far from your teaching.'"

"However," the Holy Father continued, "the one who prays has an unbreakable certainty, the closeness of God with his word and his grace."

John Paul II offered at the end a Christian reading of the biblical Psalm, proposed by St. Ambrose (340-397), bishop of Milan.

This Father of the Church invites the believer to begin the day with prayer, because in this way Christ will be "the first light that shines in the secret of your heart," recalling that life must be lived in constant prayer.

"Whether we eat, or drink, we proclaim Christ, pray to Christ, think of Christ, speak of Christ! May Christ always be in our heart and on our lips!" the Pope said, quoting St. Ambrose.

The catechesis was a continuation of the series of meditations that John Paul II has dedicated to the Psalms and canticles of the Old Testament. They may be consulted in ZENIT's Web page, in the "Wednesday's Audience" section.

[NYer]

Psalms
Chapter 118

1

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever.

2

Let the house of Israel say: God's love endures forever.

3

Let the house of Aaron say, God's love endures forever.

4

Let those who fear the LORD say, God's love endures forever.

5

In danger I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.

6

The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me?

7

The LORD is with me as my helper; I shall look in triumph on my foes.

8

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one's trust in mortals.

9

Better to take refuge in the LORD than to put one's trust in princes.

10

All the nations surrounded me; in the LORD'S name I crushed them.

11

They surrounded me on every side; in the LORD'S name I crushed them.

12

They surrounded me like bees; they blazed like fire among thorns; in the LORD'S name I crushed them.

13

I was hard pressed and falling, but the LORD came to my help.

14

The LORD, my strength and might, came to me as savior.

15

The joyful shout of deliverance is heard in the tents of the victors: "The LORD'S right hand strikes with power;

16

the LORD'S right hand is raised; the LORD'S right hand strikes with power."

17

I shall not die but live and declare the deeds of the LORD.

18

The LORD chastised me harshly, but did not hand me over to death.

19

Open the gates of victory; I will enter and thank the LORD.

20

² This is the LORD'S own gate, where the victors enter.

21

I thank you for you answered me; you have been my savior.

22

³ The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

23

By the LORD has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes.

24

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.

25

⁴ LORD, grant salvation! LORD, grant good fortune!

26

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. We bless you from the LORD'S house.

27

The LORD is God and has given us light. Join in procession with leafy branches up to the horns of the altar.

28

You are my God, I give you thanks; my God, I offer you praise.

29

Give thanks to the LORD, who is good, whose love endures forever.

[NYer]

The Pope's hope for all believers was "that every morning [we] open our eyes on daily life, on its joys and worries, invoking God so that he will be close to us and guide us with his word, which infuses serenity and grace."

Papal Bump!

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[Desdemona]

BUMP!

I started using an abridged Liturgy of the Hours in the morning and evening. It helps, a lot, along with a few others for special intentions and a daily Rosary.

BTW, every translation of this Psalm I've ever sung/read says "His mercy endures forever" not "God's love". Anyone know which is correct?

[Pyro7480]

I like the translation "His Mercy endures forever" better. Then again, I'm devoted to the Divine Mercy Message and Devotion. ;-)

[Desdemona]

I like the translation "His Mercy endures forever" better.

I do too. It just strikes me as odd that the translations would be so different. This is the Psalm with the Triple Alleluia on Holy Saturday. And I just wish to know which is correct.

[NYer]

I just wish to know which is correct.

This one is from the New American Bible.

PSALM 118

[Pyro7480]

I checked the two editions of the New American Bible that are immediately handy to me, and the translation "God's Love" is used. The online Revised Standard Version Bible translate it as "steadfast love." The online King James version uses "Mercy." In the online Vulgate, however, which is still the official Bible of the Catholic Church, the Psalm, which is numbered Psalm 117, the Latin word used is "misericordia," which is definitely translated as "Mercy." So it depends on the translation.

[Pyro7480]

The online translated Tanakh, which is the Jewish version of the "Old" Testament, also uses the word "Mercy," so that settles it. ;-)

[maryz]

every translation of this Psalm I've ever sung/read says "His mercy endures forever" not "God's love". Anyone know which is correct?

I'm at work, and my Hebrew bible and dictionaries are at home, but I'll try to look it up tonight or early tomorrow.

[Catholicguy]

<> Great post with advice from a Great Pope. The Great freq. remind us of the basics. We must begin each day with prayer and end it with prayer.

I began this Advent saying to myself "Gaudete, the Lord is Nigh," upon first achieving consciousness (some question whether I ever actually do that). Then, I would talk with God and thank Him for all His Blessings. I don't see why I shouldn't begin each day with "Gaudete, the Lord is Nigh...and go on in prayer with Petition, Adoration, Reparation, Thanksgiving (PART, as a mnemonic aid to remember the purposes of the Mass).

The Psalms are wonderful but, imo, just speaking with God, in my own words (well, ok, prompted by the Holy Spirit) seems as efficacious for personal prayer. Of course, the best prayer in Christendom is Mass but I can't make it daily.

That is NOT to say one can neglect the Bible and the Psalms of course...<>

[eastsider]

life must be lived in constant prayer.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thes5:16-18)

[onedoug]

"Shema Yisrael. Adonai elohenu. Adonai echad!"

[Conservative til I die]

What? No "Pope is a child molestor" comments yet? My head's about to explode.

[maryz]

For His mercy endures forever

Sorry it took so long, but here's what I can offer:

The Hebrew line is "Kee (for) l'oLAM (forever) chesDO" (His "chesed"). Hebrew does not have a present tense for "to be" -- that's why older translations, e.g., KJV, have all present tense of "to be," as well as other words in italics -- they are supplied by the translator, not explicit in the original.

My big dictionary lists the following meanings for "CHESed": favor, goodness, love, grace, mercy, charity, kindness, benevolence, benefaction, boon. It defines the related verb, though, as "to do favors, to do charity." In modern Hebrew, the most common meaning I recall is "kindness" or "favor" (as in "do a favor") Hebrew has far fewer words than English, so very often the range covered by a Hebrew word is wider than that of any English word.

The facing translation in my Hebrew Tanakh translates, "His mercy endureth forever" -- and Jewish Bible translation tends to be extremely literal. I took a course on the Prophets once and wrote a paper on -- I think -- Amos. Some parts of the book were very difficult, so I consulted translations for passages that confused me -- some of the Catholic and Protestant ones made perfect sense, but I couldn't see how they got them from the Hebrew. I consulted a Jewish translation, and the connection to the Hebrew was clear -- I just didn't understand the English version any better than the original Hebrew. Jews don't take liberties in translation.

[Desdemona]

Thanks.