GENERAL AUDIENCE: PRAYER TO GOD IN TIMES OF TRIAL

VATICAN CITY, OCT 23, 2002 (VIS) - In this Wednesday's general audience, celebrated in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke about "Psalm 85: Prayer to God in times of trial."

The Holy Father affirmed that Psalm 85 opens with "an intense call that the supplicant directs to the Lord trusting in His love," adding that in the middle "there is a hymn that links sentiments of thanksgiving with a profession of faith in the works of salvation that God shows to His people."

"Going against every idolatrous temptation, the supplicant proclaims the absolute oneness of God. Later, the bold hope that one day 'all peoples' will adore the God of Israel is expressed. This marvelous prospect finds its fulfillment in the Church of Christ, because He has sent His apostles to teach 'all nations'. No one can offer full liberation but the Lord upon whom all creatures depend and to whom we must turn in adoration. He reveals His admirable works which bear witness to His absolute authority in creation and in history."

After emphasizing that in the second verse the Latin translation uses the word 'holy' while referring to the faithful, John Paul II said that the "the Christian 'saint' opens himself up to the universality of the Church and prays with the Psalmist: 'All nations will come together to prostrate themselves before you, Lord, and to give glory to your name'. And St. Augustine comments: 'All people are one people and are unified in the Lord. ... Before they were separate peoples, numerous peoples; now they are one people."

"In this universal light," concluded the Pope, "our liturgical prayer becomes a breath of praise and a hymn of glory to the Lord in the name of all creatures."

AG;PSALM 85;...;...;VIS;20021023;Word: 290;