Chapter 4 “Praise Is For A Reason”
“Now let us turn to our first form of prayer: praise.” [p.55]
Psalm 145 has “Praise” as a subtitle in Hebrew [tehillah]: The Greatness and Goodness of God
Praise. Of David.
I will extol you, my God and king;
I will bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you;
I will praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord and worthy of much praise,
whose grandeur is beyond understanding.
One generation praises your deeds to the next
and proclaims your mighty works.
They speak of the splendor of your majestic glory,
tell of your wonderful deeds.
They speak of the power of your awesome acts
and recount your great deeds.
They celebrate your abounding goodness
and joyfully sing of your justice.
The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
compassionate toward all your works.
All your works give you thanks, Lord
and your faithful bless you.
They speak of the glory of your reign
and tell of your mighty works,
Making known to the sons of men your mighty acts,
the majestic glory of your rule.
Your reign is a reign for all ages,
your dominion for all generations.
The Lord is trustworthy in all his words,
and loving in all his works.
The Lord supports all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you;
you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
The Lord is just in all his ways,
merciful in all his works.
The Lord is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
The Lord watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he destroys.
My mouth will speak the praises of the Lord;
all flesh will bless his holy name forever and ever.
“The whole psalm … is shot through with the vocabulary of praise …. It call for the whole of human existence, indeed of the entire world, to become one single act of praise.” [pp. 55-56]
Each praise of God we utter is a confession, a statement of belief, and therefore they blend together as praise.
“One thing is certain: someday our petitions and laments will fall silent, but the praise of God will never cease. Eternal life is pure praise.” [p.70]
Praise God every day, several times a day and when you meet God our Creator you will be ready to Praise the Lord your God.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Saint Andre Bessette intercede for us.
Saint Thomas More, plead for us.
May God Be Praised!
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