Scottish Catholic Observer

Pope Benedict XVI used his weekly general audience at the Vatican today to continue a series of catechesis dedicated to the Psalms, proclaiming that ‘man forgets but God remains faithful.’

In front of some 20,000 pilgrims at St Peter’s Square, the Pope focused his attention on Psalm 136, ‘a great hymn of praise which celebrates the Lord in the many and repeated manifestations of His goodness down human history.’

It is important to remember all of God’s gifts to humanity—from creating the earth to giving humanity His only son—because it is that very recollection of His generosity that ‘becomes the strength of hope,’ the Pope said during the audience.

The psalm praises ‘God’s mighty deeds in the creation of the world and in the history of Israel’ saving His people from their enemies and leading them to the Promised Land, the Pope highlighted.

“After each recollection of something God has given or done for His people, the psalm repeats the refrain ‘God’s love endures forever,’” the Holy Father said.

“Human history has been marked by periods of darkness and light, and the lives of individuals, too, have been coloured by difficulties and great happiness. While it may be hard to imagine the difficulties endured by the early Israelites as recounted in the Psalms, there are plenty of recent episodes in history like the dark period of Nazi and Communist persecution.

“No matter how dark the world got, God came to us, He showed He is good, has strength and that His mercy lasts forever. One can survive in these valleys of darkness and death because one remembers the Lord’s goodness, power and mercy never dies and that enduring love—that light—acts like a guiding star leading out of the darkness toward hope.”

At the end of the audience, Bishop Arthur Roche of Leeds, chairman of the International Commission on English in the Liturgy, presented the Holy Father with the British version of the new English translation of the Roman Missal.