CANTICLE OF THE THREE YOUNG MEN, PRAISING GOD'S GLORY

VATICAN CITY, FEB 19, 2003 (VIS) - Pope John Paul's catechesis for today's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 10,000 faithful, centered on the Canticle of the Three Young Men, found in Chapter Three of the Book of Daniel. He called this canticle, "a magnificent hymn in praise of God's transcendent glory."

The Pope recalled that this is the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, "three young Jewish men, placed by the author in the historical context of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, the terrible Babylonian sovereign who annihilated the holy city of Jerusalem in 486 and banished the Israelites 'along the rivers of Babylon'."

Today's canticle, explained the Holy Father, "traditionally called the Canticle of 'the three young men', is similar to a torch that brings light to the darkness at the time of persecution and oppression, a time that has often been repeated in the history of Israel and the very history of Christianity."

"Sung by the three young men condemned to the fiery furnace for their fidelity to the God of Israel," he stated, "the Canticle evokes the holiness and power of the Creator, Who dwells among His people in Jerusalem. This prophetic celebration of God's closeness to His People prefigures the coming of the Son of God, Who in the fullness of time 'took flesh and dwelt among us'. In her liturgy the Church in every age takes up this song of gratitude for God's merciful love, which guides all history to its appointed end."

John Paul II said that "in their blessing, the three young men praise the Lord all powerful, who is in heaven, but also the God who is close to His people, Who wished to inhabit 'his holy temple of glory'."

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