| Vatican City (Fides Service) - The Canticle “Hymn of adoration and praise” (cfr Rev 15,3-4 - Vespers Friday Week one) was the subject of Pope John Paul II’s teaching during the weekly general audience this morning held in the Paul VI Hall in the Vatican. The Canticle is taken from the Book of Revelation and it is set in the context of St John’s vision of the last days. Seven trumpets which introduced seven divine scourges, are followed by seven cups filled with plagues, which recall the plagues of Egypt. “In the Book of Revelation the «scourge-plague» is a symbol of the judgement of evil, oppression and violence in the world. This is why it is also a sign of hope for the just” the Holy Father explained.
The hymn sung by the “just on the earth who stand «upright» with the same attitude as the Risen Lamb”, consists of a florilegium of quotations from the Old Testament, especially from the Psalms. “The first Christian community considered the Bible not only as the soul of its faith and life but also of its prayer and its liturgy, as in the Vespers we are commenting - the Pope continued -. It is significant that the canticle is accompanied by the sound of musical instruments: the just hold in their hands cithers, testimony of a liturgy wrapped in the splendour of religious music.”
The hymn of the redeemed, more than celebrating their constancy and their sacrifice, praises the great works of the Lord God Almighty: “In fact authentic prayer, besides being request is also praise, thanksgiving, blessing, celebration, profession of faith in the Lord who saves.”
Lastly the Pope underlined the universal dimension expressed in the Canticle («All the peoples you have created, will come to adore you O Lord»): “The vision is thus extended to the entire horizon and floods of people are seen converging towards the Lord to recognise his «just judgements», in other words his interventions in history to stem evil and commend goodness. Expectation for judgement present in every culture, need for truth and love felt by every spirituality contain a tending towards the Lord which only on reaching Him is placated.” (S.L.) (Agenzia Fides 23/6/2004 - Righe 25; Parole 354)
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