VATICAN CITY, SEP 29, 2004 (VIS) - In today's general audience, which took place in St. Peter's Square, the Pope spoke about Psalm 44, "The king's wedding feast," which is a poem in honor of the Jewish sovereign, composed by a scribe.
John Paul II explained that according to Jewish tradition this text "is a hymn to the Messiah-King. Christian tradition, however, reads the passage in a Christological light, and, with the queen's presence, also in a mariological perspective."
"The profile of the royal bridegroom," he continued, "is introduced to us in a solemn way," highlighting his "beauty, a sign of interior splendor and divine blessing: 'You are the fairest of the sons of men.' Based on this verse, Christian tradition represented Christ in the form of a perfect and fascinating man. In a world marked frequently by the ugliness of sin, this image is an invitation to renew the 'via pulchritudinis' in the faith, in theology and in society and to begin our ascent towards divine perfection."
The Holy Father indicated that in the text the "relationship between beauty and justice is highlighted. … Beauty must be joined with goodness and holiness of life so that the face of God who is good, admirable and just, may shine brightly."
"The Letter to the Hebrews," he concluded, "applying the psalm to Christ, does not hesitate to recognize the divine plenitude, which is not merely symbolic, of the Son of God who enters into His glory."
Addressing his fellow Poles at the end of the audience, the Pope greeted in a special way the participants in a pilgrimage of the Solidarity movement. "This movement, born in Poland, opened up the doors to freedom in many countries in Europe. I am happy because the spirit of 'Solidarity' continues to unite so many people in our country. I hope that this healthy spirit may also penetrate a united Europe."
AG/PSALM 44/… VIS 20040929 (320)
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