NEW CATECHESIS SERIES: PSALMS AND CANTICLES OF PRAISE

VATICAN CITY, MAR 28, 2001 (VIS) - John Paul II today began a new catechesis series on the Psalms and Canticles in the Church's Morning Prayer. Fifteen thousand pilgrims were present at today's general audience, which was held in St. Peter's Square.

"If, indeed, priests and religious have a specific charge to celebrate the 'Liturgy of the Hours'," the Pope affirmed, "it is also warmly recommended to the laity. ... It is a very encouraging sign that many lay people, both in parishes and ecclesial groups, have leaned to value this. It remains, nevertheless, a prayer which presumes an adequate catechetical and biblical formation, in order to fully appreciate it."

The Holy Father affirmed that the upcoming catechesis will aim above all "to bring forth the religious significance of the Psalms, showing how, written many centuries ago for believing Jews, they can be assumed into the prayer of the disciples of Christ. We allow ourselves to be assisted by the results of exegesis, following the school of Tradition and listening to the Fathers of the Church."

"The Fathers," the Pontiff continued, "add that in the Psalms one speaks of Christ or it is even Christ who speaks directly. ... It is thus understood how the Psalms have been able to be accepted, from the first centuries, as the prayer of the People of God."

John Paul II concluded the catechesis emphasizing that, "thanks also to the communal prayer of the Psalms, the Christian conscience recalled and understood that it is impossible to turn to the Father who lives in heaven without an authentic communion of life with our brothers and sisters who live on the earth."

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