The Marian psalms of Advent

# A Important Role in Advent: The Mariological PsalmsA significant place in Advent is occupied by characteristic psalms: 23, 24, 71, 79, 84, 88, 121, and generally the *messianic psalms*, along with other poetic texts from the Old Testament (such as Hannah’s canticle and some passages from Isaiah) and evangelical texts from the **Magnificat** and **Benedictus**.The **Psalm 23** celebrates the joyful liturgy of entrance into the sanctuary, which refers, at least in part, to the transport of the ark to Jerusalem (cf. 2 Samuel 6), it proclaims the victory and glorious coming of the Messiah, typical of the **parousia**. At the same time, it presents the dispositions required of one who seeks God, seeks Him, and wishes to follow Him.To approach the Lord and have a share with Him, the righteous must possess **pure hearts** and **intact lives**. He will receive divine blessing as recompense because he already belongs to the generation that seeks God. The liturgy sees in this psalm a prophecy of the Incarnation and applies it during this time to the Virgin Mary, through whom God, who owns the universe, makes His entrance into the world. Following the example of the Virgin, every Christian should prepare to receive, as a temple, the King of glory who comes to earth in the humble form of a man.## Psalm 23

A Psalm of David. The earth and all that is in it, the firmament and all who dwell therein, are the Lord’s; for he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to falsehood, and does not swear deceitfully.
This one will receive the blessing of the Lord, and the reward of his salvation from God.

Such is the generation that seeks him, that seek the face of Jacob’s God.

“Who is this king of glory?” The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
“Who is this king of glory?” The Lord of hosts—he is the king of glory.

The Psalm 24 is the Advent Trumpet, placed at the beginning of First Sunday of Advent as an entrance chant. The verse Ad te levavi animam meam (To you, my soul ascends) opens the Missal, becoming the main motif of the celebrant’s inner disposition during Advent. This cry for help in danger, a plea from a lonely one who implores forgiveness for his sins, which are seen as the cause of his misfortune, and asks for light and help, is emblematic of human condition as described and generalized at this time. Going to meet Christ who now comes in mystery, that is, in liturgical celebration, and who will come as judge at the end of times, the Church yearns and desires her God: the path and guide are righteousness, mercy, and justice.

Psalm 24

From David. To you, Lord, I lift up my soul.
My God, in you I trust: let me not be put to shame! Let my enemies not triumph over me!
Those who hope in you will not be disappointed; but the wicked will be put to shame.
Lord, show me your ways and teach me your paths.
Guide me in your truth and instruct me, for you are the God of my salvation, and on you I wait always.
Remember, Lord, your mercy and kindness, which are everlasting.
Do not remember the sins of my youth or my past transgressions. Forgive me, O Lord, according to your great mercy, because of your goodness.
The Lord is good and righteous; therefore he guides the humble in justice and teaches them his path.
All the ways of the Lord are grace and faithfulness to those who keep his covenant and his commandments.
For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my sins, for they are many.
What man is there who fears the Lord? The Lord teaches him the right path.
He will dwell in prosperity, and his children will inherit the land.
The Lord draws near to those who fear him, and reveals himself to them in their covenant.
My eyes are ever on the Lord; for he will tread underfoot my feet.

The Psalm 71, clearly messianic, with its richness and evocative power of imagery, **proclaims the universal reign of justice and prosperity, peace and abundance, liberation and rehabilitation of** **the expected King-Messiah of Israel**. Jesus is the ideal figure of David’s descendant, the true ‘anointed’ of God, delineated with grand privileges:

• **He will do mighty deeds
• **and manifest the glory of God**

Singing this psalm during Advent also expresses the expectation of Christ the King of peace, helper and defender of the little ones and the poor, the weak and oppressed, against all violence and abuse.## Psalm 71 (Second Sunday of Advent, Year A)**From Solomon.** God, entrust your judgments to the king. Grant justice to the son of the ruler, that he may govern your people with righteousness and rule over your humble ones justly. Mountains shall bear peace for your people; hills, righteousness. He will protect the humble among the people, save the children of the poor, and crush the oppressor. He shall live as long as the sun, as long as the moon lasts, through generations upon generations. He shall come down like rain upon the grass, like showers that water the earth. Justice shall flourish in his days, and abundance of peace until the moon fails. He shall rule from sea to sea, from the great river to the ends of the earth. Before him shall bow down his enemies; they shall kiss the dust at his feet. Kings of Tarshish and the islands shall bring him gifts; kings of Arabia and Saba shall offer him presents. All kings shall serve him, all nations shall bend before him. For he delivers the wretched who cry out for help, and the poor with no helper. He has pity on the poor and needy, and saves the lives of the afflicted. He rescues them from injustice and oppression; their life is precious in his sight. Thus he shall live, and gold from Arabia shall be offered to him. They shall pray for him always, and forever bless his name. There shall be abundance of wheat in the land, its spikes shall wave on the tops of the hills like the branches of Lebanon. The cities’ inhabitants shall flourish like grass in the fields. His name shall be blessed forever; as long as the sun shines, so shall his glory endure. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel, who alone performs wonders! Blessed be his glorious name forever, and may all the earth be filled with his glory. Amen! Amen!## Psalm 72 (Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C)Psalm 72 arises in a time of calamity and exile, under dire circumstances where the horizon is uncertain. This psalm is a heartfelt invocation and an ardent prayer that springs from generous faith, imploring God to come and gather together the scattered people He loves. The images of the vine, like those of the flock gathered around its shepherd, evoke Jehovah’s eternal love for Israel.The insistence of the refrain, “**refresh us and make your face shine upon us**,” makes Psalm 79 a passionate prayer that highlights one of the main themes of this period: light. This psalm, with which the people of Israel implored God’s liberating intervention, still resonates today in the time of the Church. Indeed, the Christian Community sees itself as the flock and the vine of the Lord, objects of His loving care as a Father. Passing through difficult and painful situations at all times in its history, it begs for the visit of Him in whom it places all its trust and hope.## Psalm 79 (Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year C)Psalm 79 echoes in today’s time, that of the Church, as a prayer for help in moments of difficulty and suffering. The psalmist cries out to God, imploring Him to remember His people and intervene in their plight. **The images of judgment and salvation are intertwined throughout.** The prophet laments the destruction caused by enemies but also looks forward to God’s mercy and restoration. He calls on God to reveal Himself as a source of light and hope in darkness, promising that He will not abandon His people forever.# Psalm 84To the choir director. According to: “Like a lily among thorns.” A psalm of Asaph.Hear, O shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock. You who sit above the cherubim, unfold your power and come to save us. Restore us, Lord! Show us your face in peace, and we shall be saved.God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people, praying? You have fed them with the bread of tears, made them drink the cup of sorrow. You have turned them into a prey for their neighbors; the enemies mock them.Restore us, God of hosts! Show us your face in peace, and we shall be saved.You uprooted a vine from Egypt, drove out nations to plant it. You prepared the soil for it, and it took root and spread over the land. The mountains were covered with its shade; its branches reached the cedars of God. It sent out its tendrils to the sea, and its shoots to the river.Why have you torn down its walls, so that passersby may pluck it? And let the wild boar destroy it, and make it serve as food for the creatures of the field?Return, O God of hosts! Look from heaven above, see and visit this vine. Guard this vine that you planted, the shoot that your hand established. Let those who would burn it and cut it down perish in your presence. Stretch out your hand against the man you have chosen, against the one you have made strong.Let us not be forsaken any longer; preserve our lives, then we will praise you.Restore us, Lord God of hosts! Show us your face in peace, and we shall be saved.# Psalm for the Director of Music## A Psalm of the Sons of CoreYou have been kind to your land, Lord; you have restored Jacob’s fortune. You forgave the iniquity of your people; their sins were covered by you. You appeased all your anger; you restrained the fury of your wrath. Restore us, O God, our Savior; end your indignation against us. Will your anger last forever? Will you keep your wrath for all generations? Will you not restore life to us so that your people may rejoice in you? Show us your mercy, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what the Lord God says; for he speaks peace to his people, to those who are faithful to him, and to those whose hearts turn to him. Indeed, his salvation is near those who fear him; so that his glory may return to our land. Grace and faithfulness will again meet; justice and peace embrace each other. Truth will spring from the earth, and righteousness will look down from heaven. Finally, the Lord will give us his benefits, and our land will bear fruit. Justice will walk before him, and happiness will follow in his steps.## The Wealth of Thoughts, Gratitude, Prayer, Oracle of Favor and TrustPsalm 84 is a hopeful prayer for an age of jubilation marked by justice and peace. With it, the Church, the new Israel, gives thanks to the Lord Jesus for the work of salvation He began with His first coming in the flesh, and prays that He would bring this work to completion. The various comings of Christ throughout history have poured God’s blessings upon humanity. Ultimately, peace and justice, love and truth, the fruit of salvation, will unite heaven and earth in perfect harmony.## Psalm 88 (4th Sunday, Year B)This psalm is a memorial celebration of God’s faithfulness to the covenant: even though the sons of David broke the law, God’s word will never fail. This hymn, composed at a time when the monarchy no longer existed but royal messianism had clearly established itself, is linked to the oath made by Yahweh to David through Nathan (cf. 2 Samuel 7): political consolidations will not secure the dynasty, but God will make David’s lineage eternal.## In Christ, the Son of David according to the flesh, the Lord will conclude an eternal covenant with all humanity, based on law and justice. The patristic-liturgical tradition applies this psalm to Christ: only in Him do the promises of universal dominion acquire full truth. In Him, the announced realities are transfigured into a higher order and with a new and complete meaning.## Psalm 121 (1st Sunday, Year A)This is a pilgrimage song that addresses Jerusalem with joyful notes, the “City of Peace,” the homeland of the soul, and the place of encounter with God. Rich in inspiration and emotion, overflowing with feeling, this psalm becomes the song of the Church as she goes to meet God. By this ascending blessing, peace descends upon those who live in eager expectation. The messianic age is here seen as a universal call and a return to Sione, transformed into a escatological city.

Prayer

Advent Hymn

Most High Creator of the great stars,
Jesus, eternal light to your faithful,
Divine Redeemer of humanity,
Hear our fervent supplications.

You came, O Jesus, to save us
From death where the devil had brought us:
A remedy for a world weakened
Was your love that comforts and illuminates.

To save all of us from sin,
You came to us like a Lamb:
Born of an immaculate womb
To be sacrificed on a cross.

May your holy and omnipotent name
Be adored throughout creation:
You are, Lord Jesus, the exalted King,
All power that exists was given to you.

Fighting on earth the good fight,
We want to expand your kingdom:
You will come, divine King, at the end of time,
To proclaim your eternal glory.

To deepen your biblical Mariology during Advent, consult Pope John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptoris Mater on Mary in the pilgrimage of faith to Scripture.

Deepen your studies: explore Mariology, Theological Marian Studies, Marian Apparitions and the Postgraduate Program in Mariology.