The Lord's Mercy Is Even Greater Than His Works

Vatican Information Service

In his catechesis during Wednesday's general audience, which was held in the Paul VI Hall in the presence of 8,000 pilgrims, Benedict XVI turned his attention to the first part of Psalm 144, "praise of divine majesty."

This psalm, said the Pope, "is an intense and impassioned celebration of divine regality. It is an expression of God's plan of salvation. He is not indifferent to human history, rather He desires to bring it into conformity with His design of harmony and peace. All humanity is called to put this plan into effect, that it might adhere to the divine salvific will, a will that extends to 'all men,' to 'all generations' and to 'all time.' A universal action that takes evil from the world and places there the 'glory' of the Lord, in other words, His effective and transcendent personal presence."

The Holy Father then went on to recall how, in the psalm, "the Lord is exalted as a loving and tender sovereign, concerned for all His creatures. ... We are not at the mercy of dark forces, nor are we alone with our freedom; rather we are entrusted to the action of the powerful and loving Lord Who has a plan for us, a 'kingdom' to establish. This 'kingdom' is not founded on power and domination, on triumph and oppression as is often the case of earthly kingdoms." It is a place of "piety, tenderness, goodness, grace and justice." As the psalm says, the Lord is "gracious and merciful, slow to anger."

Benedict XVI concluded his catechesis with a reference St. Peter Chrysologus, who noted that "even greater than the Lord's works is the Lord's mercy."

At the end of the audience, the Pope addressed a special greeting to heads of the Italian Prison Administration. "Your presence," he told them, "gives me an opportunity to remind individuals and the whole of society of respect for civil and ethical norms, which lie at the foundation of human coexistence."

In remarks to Polish pilgrims, he mentioned the celebration of the Day of Consecrated Life on February 2. "Let us thank God for religious vocations and ask Him to support with grace the sisters and brothers who have chosen chastity, poverty and obedience as the way of sanctity."

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