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Vatican City, Vatican, 3rd
November 2004 (CNA) -
Pope John Paul II spoke
on the "Hymn of the Saved," from the Book of the
Apocalypse during this morning’s general audience in
Saint Peter’s Square, affirming that all people are
called by God to become children of God.
This hymn, he said, "brings
to the liturgy of evening prayer the simplicity and
intensity of a chorus of praise. It is in line
with the solemn vision of the opening of the Apocalypse
which presents a sort of heavenly liturgy which we,
still pilgrims on earth, join during our ecclesiastical
celebrations."
The first element of the
hymn "is the celebration of the Lord's works,” said the
Pope. “Creation reveals the immense power of God."
He pointed out that the
Book of the Apocalypse was written during the reign of
the Roman emperor Domitian who forced the people to call
him "Domunis et deus noster," and said that Christians
"refused to give such a title to a human creature" and
only applied such terms of adoration to "Our true 'Lord
and God'."
Christ, "the immolated
lamb" on the Cross who now reigns glorious, is the focus
of the canticle, said the Pope. "The beloved eternal
project of God has been fulfilled in Christ. He
has freed us from evil and has made us into a 'kingdom
of priests.' All of humanity is called to be part
of this community of the children of God."
The Holy Father said that
the hymn is "a moment of pure contemplation, joyous
praise, and a song of love for Christ in His paschal
mystery. ... In the liturgy of the Church in a sense we
already share in the festive communion of the heavenly
liturgy."
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