PSALM 51 - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

1 / 37
About This Presentation
Title:

PSALM 51

Description:

... psalm for Ash Wednesday ... recommends selecting music for Ash Wednesday in which this psalm ... Ash Wednesday and numerous Masses in Lent. PSALM ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

Number of Views:1495
Avg rating:3.0/5.0
Slides: 38
Provided by: christophe81
Category:
Tags: psalm | ash | wednesday

less

Transcript and Presenter's Notes

Title: PSALM 51


1
PSALM 51
  • The Miserere

2
PSALM 51 Introduction
  • This psalm is traditionally known as The
    Miserere because its opening words in Latin are
    Miserere mei, Deus
  • It is attributed to David with the title
  • To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David, when Nathan
    the prophet came to him, after he had gone in to
    Bathsheba.
  • It is believed to be a psalm of repentance for
    Davids sins

3
PSALM 51 Psalm Type
  • There are five types of psalms
  • Entrance liturgy
  • Lament
  • Hymn
  • Thanksgiving
  • Royal Psalm
  • To determine the type of psalm we must look for
    key words in the text

4
PSALM 51 Psalm Type
  • We see certain words that give clues to the type
    of psalm
  • The word sin appears in v. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11
    15
  • Other words also express having sinned
  • Guilt, offense, evil
  • There are also a number of words asking for
    forgiveness
  • Mercy, cleanse, clean, restore, rescue, sacrifice

5
PSALM 51 Psalm Type
  • It is dominated by petition and is a prayer for
    forgiveness
  • This identifies Psalm 51 as a Psalm of Lament

6
PSALM 51 Theology
  • In Penitential Psalms one acknowledges their
    guilt and asks for forgiveness.
  • Psalm 51 is one of seven Penitential Psalms
  • The other Penitential Psalms are 6 32 102
    130 143
  • The Penitential Psalms stand out in stark relief
    to other psalms because of their plea for mercy

7
PSALM 51 Theology
  • This psalm is an intensely personal expression of
    penitence
  • Davids transgression of sin and his deep remorse
    are very evident
  • We see him express an extravagant descriptions of
    his distress in order to move God to pity

8
PSALM 51 Structure
  • The psalm is divided into 2 main sections
  • Psalm 513-10 asks deliverance from sin
  • The second part, Psalm 5111-19 seeks restoration

9
PSALM 51 Structure
  • Psalm 513-10 asks deliverance from sin
  • The psalm is a supplication for Divine
    Forgiveness
  • The prayer is not just act of sin but its
    emotional, physical, and social consequences.

10
PSALM 51 Structure
  • The second part, Psalm 5111-19 seeks restoration

  • Yet, the prayer is for something more profound
    than wiping the slate clean nearness to God
  • It prays for living by the spirit of God (The
    Sacrifice of Praise) (Psalm 5112-13)

11
PSALM 51 Structure
  • The last two verses ask for the rebuilding of
    Jerusalem (Psalm 5119 20-21).
  • This section is thought to be an addition from
    the Persian age, just before the reconstruction
    of the walls of Jerusalem by Nehemiah.

12
PSALM 51 Poetics
  • There is a particular literary structure to the
    psalms
  • Figures of speech, parallelisms and other
    structures appear in all psalms
  • Psalm 51 is no different and we find a number of
    these elements

13
PSALM 51 Poetics
  • In the first 2 verses we see two examples of
    synoptic parallelism

In your compassion blot out my offense. wash me
more and more from my guilt and cleanse me from
my sin
  • David makes his request with three synonyms for
    forgiveness and three synonyms for sin
  • Blot out, wash me and cleanse
  • Offenses, guilt and sin

14
PSALM 51 Poetics
  • We also see an example of chiasmus structure in
    these first verses
  • A chiasmus structure is an inversion of two
    parallel colas

Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness.In your
compassion blot out my offense
  • David acknowledges his need for mercy because of
    his offenses have mercy on me blot out my
    offense
  • He also recognizes the love of God in your
    kindness in your compassion

15
PSALM 51 Poetics
  • We also see an example of a tautology in verse
    5
  • Tautology refers to the needless repetition of
    the same idea in different words

O see, in guilt I was born,a sinner was I
conceived
16
PSALM 51 Christology
  • We interpret the psalms as the prayers to Christ,
    to the Father in Christ.
  • We try to put the psalms into 3 categories
    Christologically
  • The psalm can be used as a prayer to Christ.
  • It can be expressed as a prayer to the Father
    about Christ in praise or adoration.
  • It also can be seen as a sharing about Christ or
    as an instruction about Christ.

17
PSALM 51 Christology
  • O wash me more and more from my guilt and
    cleanse me from my sin . (4)
  • By suffering and dying on the cross we were
    washed clean in the blood of the Lamb offered in
    sacrifice upon the altar of sacrifice, upon the
    cross. He sacrificed his own life for the
    forgiveness of our sins.
  • but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,
    and immediately blood and water flowed out. (Jn
    1934)

18
PSALM 51 Christology
  • That you may be justified when you give
    sentence and be without reproach when you judge.
    (6)
  • Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to
    pass definitive judgment on the works and hearts
    of men belongs to him as redeemer of the world.
    He acquired this right by his cross. The
    Father has given all judgment to the Son (Jn
    522) Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to
    save and to give the life he has in himself.
    (Cf. Jn 317 526). (CCC 679)

19
PSALM 51 Christology
  • O see, in guilt I was born, a sinner was I
    conceived (7)
  • How did the sin of Adam become the sin of all
    his descendants? The whole human race is in Adam
    "as one body of one man".293 By this "unity of
    the human race" all men are implicated in Adam's
    sin, as all are implicated in Christ's justice.
    (CCC 404)

20
PSALM 51 Christology
  • O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. (9) A
    clean heart create for me (12)
  • The Christian must enter into this mystery of
    humble self-abasement and repentance, go down
    into the water with Jesus in order to rise with
    him, be reborn of water and Spirit so as to
    become the Fathers beloved son in the Son and
    walk in newness of life. (Rom 64) (CCC 537)

21
PSALM 51 Christology
  • O wash me, I shall be whiter than snow. (9) A
    clean heart create for me (12)
  • You have become a new creation, and have clothed
    yourselves in Christ. See in this white garment
    the outward sign of your Christian dignity. With
    your family and friends to help you by word and
    example, bring that dignity unstained into the
    everlasting life of heaven. (Rite of Baptism, 63)

22
PSALM 51 Christology
  • that I may teach transgressors your waysand
    sinners may return to you . (15)
  • After his resurrection Christ gives this mission
    to his apostles Go therefore and make disciples
    of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
    Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
    teaching them to observe all that I have
    commanded you. (Mt 2829-20) (CCC 1223)

23
PSALM 51 Christology
  • For in sacrifice you take no delight (18)
    Then you will be pleased with lawful
    sacrifice(21)
  • Jesus recalls the words of the prophet Hosea "I
    desire mercy, and not sacrifice."19 The only
    perfect sacrifice is the one that Christ offered
    on the cross as a total offering to the Father's
    love and for our salvation.20 By uniting
    ourselves with his sacrifice we can make our
    lives a sacrifice to God. (CCC 2100)

24
PSALM 51 Worship
  • With its penitential theme, this psalm introduces
    the Season of Lent
  • Psalm 51 the responsorial psalm for Ash
    Wednesday
  • The liturgy guide also recommends selecting music
    for Ash Wednesday in which this psalm is the theme

25
PSALM 51 Worship
  • The psalm continues to appear throughout Lent
  • Specifically, Psalm 51 is used as a responsorial
    pslam on the 5th Sunday of Lent in Year B
  • The responsorial focuses on v. 3 15
  • The refrain is Be merciful, O Lord, for we have
    sinned

26
PSALM 51 Worship
  • This psalm is used by the Church in
    reconciliation services
  • Its focus on pardon and cleansing make it a
    perfect prayer prior to the Sacrament of Penance
  • Typically, the phrase Have mercy, Lord cleanse
    me from all my sins is used as a responsorial

27
PSALM 51 Worship
  • The optional sprinkling rite at the beginning of
    the Mass can also include this psalm
  • Outside of the Easter season, if this option is
    used, the suggested antiphon is verse 9
  • O purify me, then I shall be clean O wash me, I
    shall be whiter than snow

28
PSALM 51 Worship
  • In the Tridentine Mass there is the asperge
    permitted only on a Sunday with Solemn Mass
  • This is very similar to the sprinkling rite
    option in the Novus Ordo
  • In the Tridentine Mass, the priest blessed the
    water, put on a cope and sprinkled the altar and
    people while Psalm 51 was chanted by the choir

29
PSALM 51 Worship
  • The Orthodox use verse 7 of this psalm in its
    funeral liturgy
  • the priest anoints the body in the sign of the
    Cross with oil and earth.  As the priest anoints
    with the oil he says Sprinkle me with hyssop
    and I shall be clean. Wash me and I shall be
    whiter than snow (http//www.goarch.org)

30
PSALM 51 Psalmody
  • Psalm 51 is found on all Fridays of Morning
    Prayer
  • It is classified as a Penitential Psalm and so is
    fitting to pray on Friday, which is a penitential
    day, the day Christ suffered and died on the
    cross.
  • It is especially emphasized in the Good Friday
    Morning Prayer
  • Ant. 1 God did not spare his own Son, but gave
    him up to suffer for our sake. (Rom 832)

31
PSALM 51 Psalmody
  • It is also found in the Morning Prayer for the
    Office for the Dead.
  • This is fitting because in the Liturgy it is
    considered a communal prayer for repentance, even
    for the souls in Purgatory, due to the communal
    effects of sin.
  • Ant. 1 The bones that were crushed shall leap
    for joy before the Lord. (cf. Ps 5110)

32
PSALM 51 Conclusion
  • Psalm 51 is a deeply penitential psalm that
    emphasizes sin, mercy and petition for
    forgiveness
  • The theme of repentance is evident throughout the
    psalm
  • Its literary structure repeatedly compares and
    contrasts sin and cleansing for sin

33
PSALM 51 Conclusion
  • The psalm has such a strongly penitential nature
    that it is easy to connect with Christ
  • This is especially true in recognizing that God,
    in His mercy, sent Christ to suffer for our sins
  • Baptism and reconciliation are just two Christian
    themes expressed

34
PSALM 51 Conclusion
  • Lastly, Psalm 51 has such a rich and descriptive
    nature to it
  • The psalm invokes physical images
  • White as snow
  • Burnt offering
  • Rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
  • There are also vivid imagery
  • Wash me from my sins
  • Create a clean heart for me
  • Open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise

35
PSALM 51 Conclusion
  • With its penitential theme and its highly
    descriptive text filled with deep imagery, it is
    not difficult to see why it is central in
    Christian worship
  • Baptism, sprinkling rites, funeral liturgies
  • Friday Morning prayer, especially Good Friday
  • Ash Wednesday and numerous Masses in Lent

36
PSALM 51 Class Project
  • Illustrate the deep and rich imagery of Psalm 51

  • Pick out a few verses from the psalm and create a
    presentation that express these verses using
    imagery
  • For example

37
PSALM 51 Class Project
v. 1 Have mercy on me, God
  • v. 4 Wash away all my guilt
Write a Comment
User Comments (0)
About PowerShow.com