The voice of the Psalms – 1st Sunday of Advent

Subiaco (Italy). San Biagio House of Prayer of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians of the Roman Province St. John Bosco (IRO), in collaboration with the Parish of St. Gabriele of the Sorrowful Mother in Rome, proposes “The voice of the Psalms”, a reflection on the responsorial psalm of every Sunday of Advent 2023. This proposal favors the deepening of the Word through the Psalms in the context of the liturgical season of Advent, which prepares us to live Christmas.

The Pastor, Fr. Antonio Lauri, comments with a brief reflection on the psalm sung by two soloists, Sister Vilma Colombo, FMA, Animator of the House of San Biagio and Fr. Marco Cantatore, and by two female voices, Adriana Nabulon and Rosa Mastronicola. Everything is accompanied on the basis of the lyre played by Sister Monica Angulo, FMA.

The music is taken from the book: “Be the song of your praise”- Responsorial Psalms of the festive lectionary, by the Diocesan Institute of Music and Liturgy “Fr. Luigi Guglielmi”. The recording was made in the Sala Miriam Recording, Recording Room of the Parish of St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother.

The psalm of the liturgy of the first Sunday of Advent is Psalm 79 (80), with the refrain: “Make your face shine and save us, Lord”. “The context of this psalm – explains Fr. Antonio – is a national catastrophe. Israel is lost. It is in a situation of enormous difficulty in which it turns to God saying, ‘Wake up, make your face shine on us as it once was, move, show yourself, come back to us and we will return to you’. It is a cry”.

As an introduction to this Psalm, the Pastor recounts a midrash, a Hebrew story.

From Psalm 79 (80)

R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us. R.

Once again, O Lord of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong. R.

May your help be with the man of your right hand,
with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.
Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name. R.